At the BRICS+ summit in Kazan, Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted leaders from over 20 developing nations, showcasing Russia’s global alliances despite Western isolation efforts over Ukraine. Putin dismissed allegations of conspiratorial ties with Trump and chaos in Western politics as “nonsense.” He mentioned future U.S. relations depend on its next administration but warned of potential escalation. Putin acknowledged North Korean troops in Russia, citing a new security pact. The summit highlighted Russia’s focus on engaging the Global South, with new members like Egypt and Iran joining the bloc. Noah Prescott 25/10/2024 11:00 am
The BRICS summit in Kazan marks a significant international gathering for Russia since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Despite global condemnation, Putin aims to showcase support from emerging economies like China, India, and South Africa, alongside new members Egypt, UAE, Ethiopia, and Iran. The summit highlights a coalition challenging Western dominance, particularly the US. However, diverse interests within BRICS may limit a unified stance. The event contrasts with last year’s virtual participation by Putin due to an ICC arrest warrant, underscoring shifting global dynamics. Ava Sinclair 25/10/2024 7:30 am
An Israeli airstrike on a compound in southeast Lebanon killed three journalists, including staff from Al-Mayadeen TV and Hezbollah’s Al-Manar TV. The strike targeted chalets rented by media outlets, with no prior warning from the Israeli army. Al-Manar correspondent Ali Shoeib reported that the area was known to house journalists. The Hasbaya region, previously spared from violence, has become a refuge for journalists amid ongoing border tensions. This incident follows previous attacks on media personnel in the region, including a drone strike in November 2023 and shelling in October. Ava Sinclair 25/10/2024 7:30 am
A group of young design students in London is creating emojis featuring Black and mixed-race hairstyles like afros, braids, cornrows, and locs to challenge beauty stereotypes and tackle “texturism.” Led by Olivia Mushigo, the Rise.365 team aims to address the lack of representation in current emojis. The students are submitting their designs to Unicode, hoping to make digital spaces more inclusive. This initiative follows previous efforts to diversify emojis, such as Apple’s 2015 release of racially diverse emojis. Penelope Kingsley 25/10/2024 7:30 am
Georgia’s upcoming election is framed by opposition groups as a choice between aligning with Russia or Europe. They aim to end the 12-year rule of the Georgian Dream party, accused of leaning towards Russia, and revive Georgia’s EU membership bid. Georgian Dream, led by Bidzina Ivanishvili, rejects this narrative, claiming to be the party of peace. The election is influenced by memories of Russia’s 2008 invasion. Despite promises to join the EU by 2030, the process is stalled due to a controversial law affecting media and NGOs. Noah Prescott 25/10/2024 7:30 am
The Israel-Gaza conflict has intensified, with Hamas launching a deadly attack on Israel in October 2023, prompting an Israeli ground invasion. The war has caused massive displacement and humanitarian crises in Gaza. Hostilities have also escalated between Israel and Hezbollah, leading to Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon and significant casualties. The U.S. has been involved diplomatically, despite tensions with Israeli leadership. The conflict has destabilized the region, with severe humanitarian impacts and ongoing violence. Penelope Kingsley 25/10/2024 7:30 am
Armed gangs in Haiti have attacked U.S. Embassy vehicles and a U.N. helicopter, prompting the embassy to prepare evacuations of diplomatic staff. The U.N. helicopter, carrying 18 people, was hit by gunfire but landed safely. These attacks, linked to changes in police anti-gang operations, raise concerns about potential disruptions to flights and U.N. humanitarian aid services. Haiti recently faced a temporary halt in international cargo services after previous attacks on boats and the kidnapping of crew members. Ava Sinclair 25/10/2024 7:30 am
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer stated that the UK “can’t change our history” when asked about reparations for the transatlantic slave trade. Despite calls from Commonwealth leaders for reparations and an apology, Chancellor Rachel Reeves ruled out payments. The issue is not on the summit agenda, but Commonwealth leaders plan to discuss reparatory justice. King Charles emphasized understanding history to address past inequalities. The summit in Samoa includes leaders from 56 countries, focusing on open discussions about challenging historical issues. Noah Prescott 25/10/2024 4:00 am
The BRICS Plus summit in Kazan highlighted the bloc’s potential to reshape global governance and economic development. With nearly doubled membership, BRICS offers Russia an alternative diplomatic and economic platform amid Western sanctions. However, despite progress, the summit revealed limitations, as most members refrained from condemning the West or fully supporting an alternative global system. The bloc now includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the UAE. The meeting attracted 36 world leaders, including UN Secretary-General António Guterres, emphasizing its growing influence. Noah Prescott 25/10/2024 4:00 am
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Canada will reduce its immigration targets, lowering the number of new permanent residents to 395,000 in 2024, 380,000 in 2026, and 365,000 in 2027. This decision follows criticism of the Liberal government’s initial plan to admit 500,000 immigrants annually. Trudeau acknowledged the need to balance labor demands and population growth post-pandemic, emphasizing sustainable immigration. He cited housing affordability and the misuse of temporary foreign worker programs as concerns, aiming to stabilize population growth for better infrastructure planning. Penelope Kingsley 25/10/2024 4:00 am
