Russia’s Economic Gamble: The Hidden Costs of War-Driven Growth – The Moscow Times

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  1. Russia’s Economic Gamble: The Hidden Costs of War-Driven Growth  The Moscow Times
  2. Is 2025 the year that Russia’s economy finally freezes up under sanctions?  Atlantic Council
  3. Russia’s economic dilemmas give Trump important leverage in negotiations on Ukraine. But will he use it?  Chatham House
  4. Putin’s Booming War Economy Poised for Soft, Bumpy Landing  Bloomberg
  5. Russia's Coming Economic Crisis May Help Trump End the Ukraine War | Opinion  Newsweek
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China’s air bases will outlast those of U.S. in Taiwan war: report – Nikkei Asia

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  1. China's air bases will outlast those of U.S. in Taiwan war: report  Nikkei Asia
  2. Concrete Sky: Air Base Hardening in the Western Pacific  Hudson Institute
  3. US should fortify, expand airbases to ward off ‘menace’ of Chinese threat: Report  Breaking Defense
  4. US Air Bases Vulnerable to China Missile Strikes, Researchers Say  Newsweek
  5. Lack Of Hardened Aircraft Shelters Leaves U.S. Airbases Vulnerable To China New Report Warns  The War Zone
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US, Arab mediators make some progress in Gaza peace talks, no deal yet, sources say – Reuters

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  1. US, Arab mediators make some progress in Gaza peace talks, no deal yet, sources say  Reuters
  2. Blinken: We’re very close to hostage deal, it’ll be handed to Trump if not finalized  The Times of Israel
  3. Updates: Blinken says ceasefire and captives deal in Gaza is ‘very close’  Al Jazeera English
  4. Hamas and Israel are negotiating the release of 34 hostages from Gaza  NPR
  5. Hamas claims it made concessions for Gaza ceasefire  The Jerusalem Post
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Royal treasures hidden since World War II recovered from cathedral – CNN

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  1. Royal treasures hidden since World War II recovered from cathedral  CNN
  2. Medieval crowns of Eastern European royalty hidden in cathedral wall since World War II finally recovered  Livescience.com
  3. After 90 years, 16th-century crowns hidden in WWII were found under Vilnius Cathedral  The Jerusalem Post
  4. Royal treasures hidden in cathedral crypt were lost for decades — until now. See them  Miami Herald
  5. Burial crowns of Lithuanian-Polish rulers discovered in Vilnius Cathedral  LRT
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Musk draws ire because ‘isn’t left-wing’: Italy’s Meloni – FRANCE 24 English

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  1. Musk draws ire because 'isn't left-wing': Italy's Meloni  FRANCE 24 English
  2. Italy's Meloni defends Musk's political comments amid Starlink talks  Reuters.com
  3. Meloni says Italy is exploring deals on telecoms security, but denies private talks with Musk  The Associated Press
  4. Meloni says Italy’s military has ‘no public alternative’ to Musk’s Starlink  Financial Times
  5. Elon Musk's Starlink talks with Italy raise concerns  DW (English)
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Lego links up with TV hit Bluey for toy sets to be launched this year

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Partnership ‘a long time coming’ and is latest expansion of Australian-made animated series

The global hit children’s TV show Bluey is to make its Lego debut with the first sets due to hit shelves later this year.

The world of Bluey, which has proved such a small-screen hit a film is to be made for global release in 2027, is to be brought to life in plastic brick form with six sets to be revealed this spring before going on sale later this year.

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Average renter would take 8.3 years to save enough for a house deposit, new Victorian analysis shows

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Exclusive: PBO report based on wage growth, house prices and rent rises says nearly a decade needed if 20% of gross income is put aside

It could take almost a decade for the average Victorian renter who puts aside 20% of their gross income to save enough money for a home deposit, according to analysis from the state’s independent Parliamentary Budget Office.

But if rents were to increase in line at the historically high rate seen in 2022 and 2023, the time needed to save for a deposit could blow out to more than 65 years.

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Trump’s NATO Vision Spells Trouble for the Alliance – The Wall Street Journal

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  1. Trump’s NATO Vision Spells Trouble for the Alliance  The Wall Street Journal
  2. Trump says NATO countries are 'taking advantage' and should contribute 5% of GDP  USA TODAY
  3. UK foreign policy chief says Trump is right to urge higher military spending from NATO  The Associated Press
  4. Europe splits on Trump’s call to dramatically boost defense spending  POLITICO Europe
  5. Post-cold war peace ‘well and truly over’, warns David Lammy  The Guardian
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Pump Russian gas or face the consequences, Fico threatens Ukraine – POLITICO Europe

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  1. Pump Russian gas or face the consequences, Fico threatens Ukraine  POLITICO Europe
  2. Fico says Slovakia could withhold Ukraine aid over halted gas supply  Reuters
  3. Slovakia's PM Urges, Threatens EU To Restart Ukraine Gas Deal  OilPrice.com
  4. Slovakia ramps up anti-Zelenskyy rhetoric amid gas transit spat  Euronews
  5. Slovak PM ramps up threats to Ukraine over its suspension of Russian gas transit  Ukrainska Pravda
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