Speakers in Berlin traced how Germany’s rearmament, US-led violence abroad and the repression of solidarity at home are converging in a dangerous drive toward war. BEN CHACKO reports

Meanwhile, President Zelensky says peace deal is ‘90% ready’ in New Year’s message

Investigators says Ukraine may be behind the attack

While pretending to seek peace, Europe is heading toward a collision course with Russia – using security guarantees, troop deployments, expropriation and censorship as tools, writes SEVIM DAGDELEN

The long-term effects of chemical weapons such as Agent Orange mean that the impact of war lasts well beyond a ceasefire

Israel’s genocide in Gaza persists, while the war in Ukraine continues with no negotiated settlement in sight. As Europe rearms and Britain expands its nuclear capabilities, CAROL TURNER reviews the alternatives

Snippets of news from around the globe

MARK HAZELDEN criticises the Western narrative that the incident was an escalation of Russia’s confrontation with the West, given that Belarus, a Russian ally, warned Poland of off-course drones, and the drones were unarmed, cheap wooden decoys

US President Trump’s sanctions threat appears to have little to no effect on Moscow

LIZ PAYNE condemns how Labour backs war in Gaza and Ukraine, and massive funding for Trident’s nuclear bombs, when billions are needed just to restore public services

In the conclusion of his two-part article, PETER MERTENS reveals that while global military spending hits $2.7 trillion with European arms company profits soaring 1,000%, €1 invested in hospitals creates 2.5 times more jobs than weapons

Real security comes from having a secure base at home — Keir Starmer’s reckless and renegade decision to get Britain deeper into the proxy war against Russia is as dangerous as it is wasteful, writes SALLY SPIERS

Meanwhile, Nato foreign ministers debate increased weapons spending as police investigate the bloc’s purchases of military equipment