Don't scrap care plans for SEN children’s educational needs, say MPs
MPs have warned against scrapping education, health and care plans (EHCPs) for children with special educational needs and disabilities. In a new report, the education select committee calls for EHCPs to remain as a vital 'backstop of accountability' for families, alongside statutory minimum standards for SEND provision in all schools. The eight-month inquiry highlights the unsustainable strain on the system, with 638,745 children now holding EHCPs - the highest since their introduction. Despite a decade of rising funding, outcomes for many pupils remain poor, and parents often face exhausting battles to secure support. The committee recommends more training for teachers, greater specialist provision, and funding increases in line with inflation. Campaigners stress that EHCPs give children enforceable rights, while the Government insists reforms will strengthen provision and reduce the need for conflict. MPs argue that long-term sustainability requires an inclusive, well-resourced education system backed by cross-agency cooperation.
Russia and Belarus conduct military exercises as NATO feels the heat
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.
Germany: ten years after Merkel opened borders to migrants
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.
Israel has committed genocide, says UN inquiry
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
Nigeria: new chapter in global fuel trade with first export to USA
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: worst drought in decades pushes millions to the brink
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.