The Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have disconnected from Russia’s electricity grid and joined the EU’s network, enhancing regional security. This move, accelerated by Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, marks a significant step away from post-Soviet dependence. EU chief Ursula von der Leyen and Polish President Andrzej Duda praised the transition. Despite not buying Russian electricity since 2022, the Baltic states remained vulnerable due to their connection to the Brell grid. Recent sabotage incidents in the Baltic Sea have raised concerns, prompting NATO to launch the Baltic Sentry patrol mission. Ava Sinclair 09/02/2025 9:00 pm
Kosovo’s ruling party, Vetevendosje, led by Prime Minister Albin Kurti, is projected to win 42% of the vote in the parliamentary election, securing 47 out of 120 seats, according to an exit poll. Despite leading, they fall short of a majority. The Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) is expected to get 21%, the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK) 20%, and the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) 6%. Kurti’s popularity has grown due to his efforts to extend control over the ethnic-Serb north, but this has strained relations with the EU and the US. Penelope Kingsley 09/02/2025 9:00 pm
Two rare black wolves, likely siblings, were spotted on camera in a Polish forest by SAVE Wildlife Conservation Fund. The sighting, captured by Joanna ToczydÅ‚owska, has led to efforts to study their genetics through scat collection. Black wolves are rare in Europe due to limited genetic diversity. The organization, monitoring wolves for 13 years, keeps the forest’s location secret to protect the wolves. Wolves, once nearly extinct in Poland, have rebounded, especially in central regions since the early 2000s. Penelope Kingsley 09/02/2025 9:00 pm
Sam Nujoma, Namibia’s first president, has died at 95. He led Namibia’s independence from South Africa in 1990 and served as president until 2005. Nujoma founded the South West Africa People’s Organisation (Swapo) and is remembered for promoting peace, stability, and national reconciliation. He championed women’s and children’s rights and encouraged the white community’s economic role post-independence. African leaders, including South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa, praised his contributions to Namibia’s liberation and regional unity. Nujoma’s legacy as “father of the nation” is fondly remembered by many Namibians. Penelope Kingsley 09/02/2025 5:30 pm
Israel completed its withdrawal from the Netzarim Corridor in Gaza, fulfilling a ceasefire agreement with Hamas. This six-kilometer road, previously occupied by Israeli forces, divided Gaza and was a key military zone. Palestinians are now crossing the area, despite navigating checkpoints and destruction. Hamas declared the withdrawal a victory, while Israel has not confirmed it. The withdrawal allows displaced Palestinians to return north. Israel still controls Gaza’s borders with Egypt and Israel. The ceasefire also facilitated the release of 16 hostages, with more releases expected. Noah Prescott 09/02/2025 5:30 pm
A 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck the Caribbean Sea, triggering a tsunami advisory for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The quake occurred at 7:23 p.m. Atlantic time, about 130 miles southwest of George Town, Cayman Islands. Initially reported as an 8.0 magnitude, the U.S. Geological Survey may revise the magnitude as more data is reviewed. Noah Prescott 09/02/2025 5:30 pm
Israeli forces began withdrawing from the Netzarim corridor in Gaza as part of a ceasefire deal with Hamas. This withdrawal fulfills a commitment to the truce, which paused a 15-month war. However, progress on extending the ceasefire and negotiating the release of Israeli hostages remains limited. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is sending a delegation to Qatar for talks, but expectations for a breakthrough are low. Meanwhile, tensions persist as a pregnant Palestinian woman was fatally shot in the West Bank. The ceasefire remains fragile, with its extension uncertain. Penelope Kingsley 09/02/2025 2:00 pm
UN investigator Navi Pillay criticized Donald Trump’s plan to displace Palestinians from Gaza, calling it illegal and akin to ethnic cleansing. Pillay, chair of the UN Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, emphasized that forcible displacement is an international crime. Trump proposed redeveloping Gaza as the “Riviera of the Middle East” with Israeli PM Netanyahu’s support. Pillay also condemned Trump’s sanctions on the ICC, which has issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu, and supported potential ICC apartheid charges against Israel. Noah Prescott 09/02/2025 2:00 pm
A historic Middle East shift is attracting international investors amid hopes for peace and economic recovery. Key developments include a fragile Gaza ceasefire, Assad’s ouster from Syria, a weakened Iran, and a new Lebanese government. Egypt’s successful dollar debt sale and renewed interest in Israeli and Lebanese bonds highlight optimism. However, Trump’s controversial Gaza proposal could reignite tensions. S&P Global may lift Israel’s downgrade warning if peace holds, signaling potential stability. The region’s reshaped dynamics offer a best-case scenario, though uncertainties remain. Noah Prescott 09/02/2025 10:30 am
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un views the U.S. security partnership with South Korea and Japan as a significant threat, vowing to enhance his nuclear arsenal. His recent statements suggest he is unlikely to engage in diplomacy with the U.S. soon. Kim criticized the trilateral security alliance as destabilizing the Korean Peninsula and reaffirmed his commitment to advancing North Korea’s nuclear capabilities. Amid stalled diplomacy, North Korea has condemned U.S.-South Korea military exercises, viewing them as invasion rehearsals. Ava Sinclair 09/02/2025 10:30 am
