Russia’s Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile, known as Satan II, reportedly suffered a “catastrophic failure” during a test launch, as indicated by satellite images showing a large crater at the Plesetsk Cosmodrome. The RS-28 Sarmat, crucial for modernizing Russia’s nuclear arsenal, has faced delays and testing issues. Analysts suggest the failure occurred soon after ignition, possibly due to a booster malfunction. The Kremlin referred inquiries to the defense ministry, which has not commented. The incident comes amid heightened tensions between Russia and the West due to the Ukraine conflict. Ava Sinclair 24/09/2024 2:30 am
Telegram is implementing new safety and privacy measures after CEO Pavel Durov’s arrest in France over suspected criminal activity on the platform. Durov, released on $5.56 million bail, acknowledged the app’s rapid user growth facilitated criminal abuse. Telegram will now share IP addresses and phone numbers of rule-violating users with authorities and publish quarterly transparency reports. Enhanced moderation, including AI, aims to remove illegal content from public search features. Users are encouraged to report unsafe content via @SearchReport. Penelope Kingsley 24/09/2024 2:30 am
Ukrainian war correspondent Andriy Tsaplienko predicted in 2014 that the Ukraine-Russia conflict might last a couple of years, a statement that terrified a TV anchor. Over the past decade, Tsaplienko has been detained, beaten, and injured by Russian troops, and he now believes the war could continue for another decade. Both the Ukraine-Russia war and the Israel-Hamas conflict have deep historical roots, raising the question of whether these conflicts will ever truly end. Gideon Rose from the Council on Foreign Relations notes that both conflicts have high, indivisible stakes. Ava Sinclair 23/09/2024 11:00 pm
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats (SPD) managed to fend off the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) in Brandenburg’s state election, securing 30.9% of the vote against AfD’s 29.2%. This last-minute comeback offers Scholz a slight reprieve amid discussions about his suitability as the SPD’s chancellor candidate for the upcoming federal election. However, the success is unlikely to significantly boost Scholz or the SPD, as Brandenburg’s SPD premier Dietmar Woidke had distanced himself from Scholz. Exit polls showed many SPD voters aimed to block the AfD rather than support the SPD. Nationally, the SPD is polling at 15%, behind the AfD and conservatives. Ava Sinclair 23/09/2024 11:00 pm
The New York City Department of Transportation warns of the slowest traffic of the year in Midtown due to the United Nations General Assembly, with average speeds dropping below 4 mph. Every weekday through Sept. 27 is a “gridlock alert” day. Streets like First Avenue and parts of 42nd Street are closed. Temporary bike lanes are provided, with plans for permanent ones. Traffic speeds are the lowest on record, impacting emergency response times. A detailed list of affected roads is available from the Department of Transportation. Noah Prescott 23/09/2024 11:00 pm
Sri Lanka’s new president, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, has been sworn in, promising “clean” politics and a commitment to democracy as the country recovers from an economic crisis. His victory is seen as a rejection of longstanding corruption and cronyism. Dissanayake, known as AKD, emphasized the need for a new political culture and unity among all Sri Lankans. He pledged to gather knowledgeable individuals to help lift the country and received blessings from representatives of all major religions, highlighting his focus on diversity. Ava Sinclair 23/09/2024 7:30 pm
Japan’s warplanes used flares to warn a Russian Il-38 reconnaissance aircraft that breached its airspace above Rebun Island, Hokkaido, for up to a minute in three instances. This incident followed a joint Chinese-Russian fleet sailing near Japan’s northern coasts. Defense Minister Minoru Kihara linked the violation to a joint military exercise by Russia and China. Japan scrambled F-15 and F-35 jets, using flares for the first time after ignored warnings. Japan protested to Russia and emphasized vigilance against growing China-Russia military cooperation. Japan’s military scrambled jets 669 times from April 2023 to March 2024, mainly against Chinese aircraft. Penelope Kingsley 23/09/2024 7:30 pm
Israeli strikes on Lebanon killed over 350 people, including 60 women and children, in the deadliest attack since the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war. Thousands fled southern Lebanon, causing major traffic jams. Lebanon’s health ministry reported 356 deaths and 1,246 injuries. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu urged civilians to evacuate, while Israeli forces targeted 1,300 Hezbollah sites, claiming many were hidden in residential areas. Israel estimates Hezbollah has 150,000 rockets and missiles. An Israeli strike also targeted Beirut, with no details provided. Ava Sinclair 23/09/2024 7:30 pm
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) narrowly won the Brandenburg state election, edging out the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) by 1.7 percentage points. This election, seen as a referendum on Scholz, was crucial as Brandenburg is the last regional state to vote before the federal election. Despite the SPD’s victory, Scholz’s popularity remains low due to internal conflicts and a cost-of-living crisis. Voter turnout was the highest since reunification at 72.9%. The AfD continues to gain ground in eastern Germany, following recent successes in Thuringia and Saxony. Penelope Kingsley 23/09/2024 7:30 pm
Pope Francis plans to visit Belgium and Luxembourg this week despite canceling Monday’s audiences due to a “slight flu-like state,” confirmed Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni. The 87-year-old pope, who uses a wheelchair and has faced numerous health issues, will visit Luxembourg on Thursday and spend the rest of the week in Belgium, concluding with a Mass in Brussels on Sunday. The trip includes celebrating the 600th anniversary of Belgium’s main Catholic universities and addressing clergy sexual abuse issues. Ava Sinclair 23/09/2024 4:00 pm
