European leaders meet to discuss Russia and the Ukraine war after a surge in attacks by both sides in September. More sanctions are under discussion and new defences against Russian drones. So what next for peace efforts or are Russia and Europe moving closer to conflict?

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Despite Western sanctions, Russia's military spending has fuelled its war economy. Three years into the war in Ukraine, growth is stalling, energy revenues are plunging, and the budget deficit is widening.

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Thousands of migrants from sub-Saharan Africa wait near the coast in Tunisia for an opportunity to make the treacherous voyage across the Mediterranean. Under an agreement signed with the European Union, the Tunisian government does what it can to stop them. NGOs and migrants accuse the Tunisian coastguard of deliberately sinking migrant boats at sea, leaving those on board to drown. Others say migrants are regularly bused out to the desert and abandoned.

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Pete Hegseth, a Fox News anchor turned Secretary of Defense, summoned US military leaders from around the world to present a new, “anti-woke” vision for the military – one without transgender troops, “fat” generals, or beards. Then, he closed with a prayer. It’s all part of a long-running mission to end diversity measures and push forward a Christian nationalist agenda in the US armed forces

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There may be an end in sight to Israel's devastating war on Gaza. Hamas and Israel appear to have agreed to most of the conditions of Donald Trump's 20-point ceasefire plan. But there’s a lot that’s not agreed upon… Like how the withdrawal of Israeli troops will take place? And the presence of an Israeli security buffer zone inside Gaza. Or what the interim governing authority will look like? And the ultimate question, when will Israel end its illegal occupation of all Palestinian territory?

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President Trump has released a Gaza “peace” plan that would put Gaza under a Trump-chaired “Board of Peace”. While some in the international community have welcomed the move, some question the fact that it bypasses Palestinians and offers no path to statehood. So, with Netanyahu pledging not to fully withdraw from Gaza, will this deal bring genuine peace or cement the status quo?

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All children - wherever they are in the world - deserve to be children: to explore, laugh and play, especially since play is a vital path to their learning and growth. But what about Palestinian children’s play time - or lack thereof? This is a human right taken from them by Israel.

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France's political turmoil deepens - President Emmanuel Macron's fifth prime minister in less than two years quits after just 27 days, his government lasted just 14 hours. The Left and Right want elections, and for Macron to quit. So, what's next for France?

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A ceasefire agreement for Gaza - and cautious hope among Palestinians of an end to two years of genocide. US President Donald Trump announced the deal after putting pressure on Israel to agree. What impact has the war had on Israeli-US relations?

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Acclaimed author Omar El Akkad writes a powerful reflection of Western hypocrisy over Gaza in his book, One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This. We speak to El Akkad on the immense suffering that has occurred over the past two years of Israel's genocidal war and examine how Western liberals failed the people of Gaza.

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