Watched by US military officers and delegates from Turkey and Hungary, Russia and Belarus have launched large-scale military exercises across their territories and nearby seas, showcasing advanced weaponry and tactical nuclear capabilities near NATO’s eastern flank. The drills, involving roughly 6,800 troops as well as fighter jets and missiles, practised modern combat tactics like drone-assisted infantry assaults. Relations between Washington and Minsk seem to be improving; Belarus has recently released 52 political prisoners, prompting the Trump administration to ease some sanctions. Meanwhile, NATO allies remain uneasy after Russian drones repeatedly violated Polish and Romanian airspace. European leaders worry the exercises highlight Russia’s growing nuclear reach and evolving battlefield strategies, while Moscow insists it is open to dialogue but blames Western nations for obstructing progress toward resolving regional tensions.

Ten years after Angela Merkel opened Germany’s borders to migrants with her famous ‘We can do this’ pledge, the nation continues to grapple with the political and social repercussions. Syrian refugee Anas Modamani, who arrived alone at 17 after a perilous journey and became briefly famous for a viral selfie with Merkel, now lives in Berlin with German citizenship and an IT career. Between 2015 and 2024 Germany registered 2.6 million first-time asylum requests - over a third of the EU total - primarily from Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq. While many Germans initially embraced ‘Willkommenskultur’, the mood has now changed significantly, evidenced in the rise of the far-right AfD. Current chancellor Friedrich Merz has tightened border controls, though courts have blocked some measures. As public opinion hardens - 68 percent now favour fewer refugees - applications from Syrians and Afghans have fallen. Modamani senses a colder atmosphere and says he might leave if hostility grows.

A UN commission of inquiry has concluded there are reasonable grounds to believe Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza since the 2023 war with Hamas began. The 72-page report cites four of the five acts defined under the 1948 Genocide Convention - killing, causing serious harm, deliberately inflicting life-destroying conditions, and preventing births - along with statements by Israeli leaders, as evidence of genocidal intent. It highlights widespread civilian deaths, collapsed infrastructure, repeated displacement, and a UN-declared famine. Commission chair Navi Pillay said speeches by Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials, combined with Israel’s military conduct, support the inference of intent to destroy those living in Gaza in whole or part. The commission also warned other nations of their legal duty to prevent and punish genocide, noting potential complicity if they fail to act. Israel’s government rejected the findings as false and biased, arguing that its operations are targeting Hamas in self-defence and comply with international law. Meanwhile, the long-awaited offensive by the Israeli military against Gaza City has begun: see

The massive 650,000-barrel-per-day Dangote refinery has delivered its first US gasoline export, signalling a new chapter in global fuel trade. The tanker Gemini Pearl discharged about 320,000 barrels of gasoline at Sunoco’s Linden facility in New York harbour, with Vitol purchasing the cargo from Switzerland-based Mocoh Oil and selling most of it to Sunoco. The shipment meets stringent US motor fuel standards, a key milestone for the refinery after many startup delays. Two more USA-bound cargoes are en route. While these exports demonstrate Dangote’s potential to reshape energy flows and reduce Nigeria’s reliance on fuel imports, further US deliveries may pause soon because the refinery’s gasoline unit is expected to undergo two to three months of repairs, according to an industry monitor. Meanwhile, the refinery has also begun direct fuel supplies to marketers in Nigeria, which potentially could put an end to the country's shortages. See

Syria is facing its worst drought in 36 years, devastating wheat production and deepening a nationwide hunger crisis. Farmer Maher Haddad has harvested barely a third of his normal yield, reflecting a 40% drop in wheat output across the country. The FAO estimates a shortfall of 2.73 million tonnes this year - enough to feed 16 million people - while rainfall has plunged 70%, crippling three-quarters of rain-fed farmland. Nearly 90% of Syrians already live in poverty; over 14 million are food insecure, and 9.1 million suffer acute hunger. Bread prices have skyrocketed, forcing families to borrow for daily food. Aid groups like the World Food Programme are providing emergency subsidies and direct payments to farmers, but long-term solutions such as new irrigation systems are hampered by years of war, soaring fuel costs, and economic collapse. Without sustained international support and adequate rainfall, Syria’s food crisis could escalate dramatically into 2026, threatening rural livelihoods and driving further displacement.

In July, protests over fuel price hikes erupted across Angola, paralysing parts of the capital Luanda and spreading to other provinces. Sparked by a taxi drivers’ strike, these demonstrations quickly turned violent, leaving at least thirty dead and thousands arrested. Many residents now fear speaking openly, wary of reprisals. The unrest exposed deep social and economic inequalities in the oil-rich nation, where youth unemployment stands at 54% and over a third of the population survives on less than £1.50 a day. Young people, frustrated by poverty, corruption, and lack of opportunity, led the protests, which sociologists describe as a response to decades of misgovernance since the civil war ended in 2002. President João Lourenço condemned the violence as foreign manipulation but faces criticism for failing to diversify the economy or curb high inflation. As Angola prepares to celebrate fifty years of independence, many fear further unrest before the 2027 elections if systemic issues remain unaddressed.

Seoul’s household landscape is shifting as single-person homes become the city’s most common household type, according to a 2024 report. Nearly 1.66 million residents now live alone - about 40% of all households - while two-person households make up 26.2% and four-person homes 12.3%. An aging population underscores the trend: people 60 and older represent 20.2% of residents, and more than 30% of households include someone 65 or older. Marriages, which plunged during the pandemic, rebounded to 42,471 in 2024, with an average first-marriage age of 34.3 for men and 32.4 for women; international marriages comprise roughly 10%. Divorces declined overall, but the average age at divorce has risen, with one-quarter now among those 60 and older. Meanwhile, households with young children have fallen over 40% since 2016, reflecting persistently low birth rates. City officials plan inclusive policies to counter social isolation, support young adults’ housing needs, and foster a more child-friendly environment.

Former president Jair Bolsonaro was rushed to a Brasília hospital after experiencing severe hiccups, vomiting, and low blood pressure while under house arrest, his son announced. Bolsonaro, who has endured ongoing intestinal problems and six surgeries following a 2018 stabbing, had visited the same hospital days earlier for skin lesion biopsies. On 11 September Brazil’s supreme court sentenced him to 27 years and three months in prison for plotting a coup after losing the 2022 election to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva; he has not yet been imprisoned because of appeals and procedural delays. In a separate case, a federal court has fined him one million reais (£138,000) for racist remarks made in 2021. Bolsonaro has denied wrongdoing, claiming to be the victim of political persecution, and Donald Trump has also called the trial a ‘witch-hunt’, but Lula has spoken of a ‘historic decision’ which safeguards Brazil’s democratic principles. Public opinion remains sharply divided over his sentence and political future.

A Vatican-led commission has confirmed that more than 1,600 Christians have been killed for their faith since the year 2000. The project, initiated by Pope Francis and supported by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), draws on verified testimonies to highlight persecution across denominations. ACN’s John Newton described how believers worldwide face discrimination, harassment, abductions, and killings. He cited the 2015 martyrdom of 21 Egyptian construction workers, as well as this year’s massacre of 200 Christians in Nigeria where families were displaced, homes burnt, and victims slaughtered. 'These tragedies are underreported,' Newton said, stressing that such violence rarely makes global headlines. The commission acknowledges the true death toll may be even higher. Yet Pope Leo XIV urges Christians to find hope in the faithfulness of martyrs, whose witness testifies to the gospel’s unstoppable power and the ultimate triumph of good over evil. Their sacrifice continues to inspire courage and strengthen the global Church.

Across the USA, a historic spiritual shift is unfolding as Millennials and Gen Z turn to faith in record numbers. At the premiere of CBN’s new film The Revival Generation, one commentator compared it to the Jesus Movement of the 1970s, describing it as 'seismic’. Former presidential candidate Dr Ben Carson says cultural conditions are ripe for revival, noting that past awakenings often followed crises. He sees growing openness among young people weary of empty alternatives and hungry for truth. The American Bible Society reports a 29% rise in Bible use among Millennials from 2024 to 2025, with Gen Z engagement increasing from 11% to 15%. Congressman Marlin Stutzman says this generation is searching beyond the flood of online information, longing for stability that only truth provides. From college campuses to local communities, many discern God stirring a new movement of faith, bringing hope to a generation eager for transformation.