China’s military criticized the transit of two German naval ships through the Taiwan Strait, claiming it increased security risks and sent the wrong signal. Beijing monitored and warned the vessels, asserting the strait is within Chinese jurisdiction. Germany’s Defense Minister Boris Pistorius defended the transit, citing international waters and safety. The Taiwan Strait is a major trade route, and this marks the first German naval passage in two decades. The ships were traveling from South Korea to the Philippines. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had little to comment on the matter. Ava Sinclair 14/09/2024 6:30 pm
Three American citizens, Marcel Malanga, Tyler Thompson Jr., and Benjamin Reuben Zalman-Polun, have been sentenced to death in Congo for participating in a failed coup led by Malanga’s father, Christian Malanga. The defense plans to appeal. The State Department is monitoring the situation, with spokesperson Matthew Miller noting the ongoing legal process. Six people, including Christian Malanga, were killed during the coup attempt. Ava Sinclair 14/09/2024 6:30 pm
A military court in Congo sentenced 37 people, including three Americans, to death for participating in a coup attempt. The defendants, who also included a Briton, Belgian, Canadian, and several Congolese, can appeal the verdict. Fourteen were acquitted. The coup, led by Christian Malanga, targeted the presidential palace and resulted in six deaths. Malanga was killed resisting arrest. His son Marcel Malanga, and Americans Tyler Thompson Jr. and Benjamin Reuben Zalman-Polun, were convicted. Thompson’s family claims he was unaware of the coup plans. The verdict was broadcast live. Ava Sinclair 14/09/2024 3:00 pm
Iran commemorates two years since Jina Mahsa Amini’s death in custody, which sparked widespread anti-government protests and the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement. Despite global solidarity and significant unrest, the regime brutally suppressed the protests, resulting in at least 500 deaths and over 20,000 arrests. Amini’s death marked a societal shift, with many women, especially Gen Z, increasingly defying the hijab mandate. Journalist Hedieh Kimiaee notes this as a sign of long-standing anger among Iranian women. Despite President Raisi’s death and Masoud Pezeshkian’s election, political repression and economic issues persist. Penelope Kingsley 14/09/2024 3:00 pm
Iran has launched the Chamran-1 research satellite into orbit using the Ghaem-100 carrier, advancing its aerospace program despite Western objections. The 60kg satellite aims to test orbital maneuvering technology. The Ghaem-100, a three-stage, solid-fuel launcher by the IRGC, previously sent a satellite above 500km. Western nations warn such technology could be used for ballistic missiles, but Iran insists its activities are peaceful and compliant with UN resolutions. The launch occurs amid accusations of Iran supplying missiles to Russia, which Iran denies. Iran has faced setbacks and sanctions, especially post-2018 after the US exited the nuclear deal. Ava Sinclair 14/09/2024 3:00 pm
Germany and Central Europe brace for heavy rains and flooding this weekend, with storms already impacting the Czech Republic, Poland, and Austria. Flooding has caused fatalities in Romania and power outages in the Czech Republic. In Brno, Czech Republic, a hospital evacuated 180 patients due to rising water levels. Southwestern Poland has seen more rain than during the 1997 ‘millennium flood.’ Emergency services are on high alert as rivers threaten to overflow. Penelope Kingsley 14/09/2024 3:00 pm
Moscow threatened to reduce Kyiv to a “giant melted spot” if Ukraine uses Western long-range missiles to strike deep inside Russia. Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, issued the threat amid U.S. and U.K. deliberations on allowing Kyiv to use Western weapons against Russian targets. Medvedev claimed Russia has grounds to use nuclear weapons but might use newer technologies instead. He criticized Western patience and warned of the severe consequences of a nuclear conflict. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and U.S. President Joe Biden discussed Ukraine’s potential use of British-made Storm Shadow missiles without reaching a decision. Noah Prescott 14/09/2024 3:00 pm
North Korea released its first-ever photos of a uranium enrichment site, showing Kim Jong Un touring the facility and calling for an exponential increase in the nuclear arsenal. The images, released by state media KCNA, provide a rare glimpse into the secretive nuclear program, banned under UN resolutions. Kim visited the Nuclear Weapons Institute and a production base, instructing an increase in centrifuges to boost nuclear weapon production. The visit coincided with North Korea firing short-range ballistic missiles, aimed at South Korea, citing threats from a U.S.-led military bloc. Penelope Kingsley 14/09/2024 3:00 pm
Severe flooding in Myanmar, triggered by Typhoon Yagi, has displaced over 230,000 people and killed at least 33, according to officials. The ruling junta has requested foreign aid, and temporary relief camps have been set up. Reports suggest the death toll could be as high as 160. The capital Naypyidaw is among the worst-hit areas. Rescue efforts are ongoing, but resources are limited. Scientists link stronger, more frequent storms to climate change. Myanmar is also grappling with a civil war that has displaced over 2.6 million people. Ava Sinclair 14/09/2024 3:00 pm
Gisèle Pelicot, a 72-year-old mother and grandmother, is at the center of a high-profile trial in Avignon, France, where 51 men, including her husband of 50 years, are accused of raping her. Pelicot has become a symbol of courage and resilience, revealing that her husband drugged her and allowed men to abuse her for over a decade. The trial, which has garnered significant media attention, is notable for Pelicot waiving her right to anonymity, aiming to shift the shame onto the accused. The trial is set to run until December. Ava Sinclair 14/09/2024 3:00 pm
