The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri) has calculated that global military expenditure increased by 9.4 percent in 2024, with that figure rising to 17 percent in Europe - including Russia - as a result of the war in Ukraine. Europe's 693 billion dollars of military spending includes salaries and weapons procurement as well as investments in research and development.

Pope Francis was laid to rest in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore outside the Vatican after a funeral service in St Peter's Basilica on Saturday. The ceremony was attended by leading political figures from across the globe as well as an estimated 400,000 people. Commentators share emotions and observations - also with regard to Francis's successor.

A snap election is taking place in Canada today. The campaigning has centred around responses to attacks by US President Donald Trump. The ruling Liberals under Prime Minister Mark Carney, who has been in office since 14 March, have benefited from the political climate. Carney's Conservative opponent Pierre Poilievre is fighting for a change of power after almost a decade of Liberal government.

Istanbul was shaken by a series of earthquakes last week which caused damage to some 1,025 buildings, and there are fears that the Turkish metropolis with its population of around 16 million could be hit by a stronger earthquake any time now. The city's mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu and many of those in key positions of responsibility are currently behind bars. The national press assesses the situation.

In an interview at Easter, the President of the German Bundestag Julia Klöckner (CDU) criticised the churches for commenting too frequently on current issues. Instead of 'behaving like NGOs' they should concentrate on pastoral care, she said. In the wake of the death of Pope Francis, the international press asks whether and to what extent churches should take a political stance.

Donald Trump has announced that Washington and Moscow have agreed on terms for ending the war in Ukraine: "I think we have a deal with Russia," the US president said on Wednesday, adding that Russia was making a big concession by agreeing to end the war now rather than seizing the whole country. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also said that Russia was in principle ready to conclude an agreement. Trump had previously lambasted Zelensky for refusing to cede on his country's right to keep Crimea.