Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev warned that Ukraine joining NATO would be a declaration of war against Moscow, urging NATO to act with prudence to avoid global catastrophe. NATO leaders recently pledged support for Ukraine’s path to membership but did not specify a timeline. Medvedev, now deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, emphasized that Ukraine’s membership poses a direct threat to Moscow’s security and criticized NATO’s expansion. He reiterated that Russia would respond increasingly harshly to NATO’s actions, maintaining a standard Kremlin stance since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Penelope Kingsley 17/07/2024 2:00 am
French President Emmanuel Macron accepted Prime Minister Gabriel Attal’s resignation but retained him as head of a caretaker government as France prepares for the Paris Olympics. The caretaker government will handle day-to-day affairs until a new government is appointed. Following recent parliamentary elections, no dominant political bloc exists in the National Assembly. Attal can now serve as a lawmaker and lead Macron’s centrist allies, avoiding a no-confidence vote. The National Assembly’s opening session is scheduled for Thursday. Penelope Kingsley 16/07/2024 10:30 pm
At least two people died and thousands were injured after police fired teargas into crowds of protesting students in Bangladesh. Protests erupted on university campuses demanding an end to quotas reserving 30% of government jobs for veterans’ families, reinstated this month after a court order. Despite the supreme court pausing the ruling, students continued to protest, blocking highways and railways. Violence escalated as police and pro-government groups attacked students with teargas, batons, machetes, and rods, leading to the deployment of paramilitary forces nationwide. Noah Prescott 16/07/2024 10:30 pm
Absa Samba, who underwent female genital mutilation (FGM) at age 2, now openly criticizes the practice, highlighting its harm to women’s dignity and well-being. The World Health Organization condemns FGM as a human rights violation causing physical and psychological damage. In The Gambia, intense debates have recently culminated in a significant victory for anti-FGM activists, marking a pivotal moment in their campaign against the practice. Ava Sinclair 16/07/2024 10:30 pm
Labour’s first King’s Speech, read by King Charles, is expected to outline around 35 draft laws. Key focuses include tackling illegal migration by giving police more powers against smuggling gangs and scrapping the Conservative scheme to send asylum seekers to Rwanda. Labour also plans to introduce new workers’ rights within 100 days, including banning zero-hours contracts and removing qualifying times for unfair dismissal, sick pay, and parental leave. Noah Prescott 16/07/2024 10:30 pm
Six people, including two U.S. citizens, were found dead in Bangkok’s Grand Hyatt Erawan hotel on Tuesday, in what police suspect was a homicide. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin confirmed the victims were of Vietnamese descent, with two holding U.S. citizenship and four holding Vietnamese citizenship. The bodies were believed to have been dead since Monday. Penelope Kingsley 16/07/2024 10:30 pm
Archeologists in the U.K. have unearthed over two dozen human skeletons, dating back more than 1,000 years, in the garden of The Old Bell Hotel in Malmesbury, Wiltshire. Discovered during planning for a new building, the remains include 24 Anglo-Saxon women related maternally, as well as men and children. Believed to be from a monastic community linked to Malmesbury Abbey, the skeletons date between 670 and 940 AD. This discovery provides new insights into the abbey’s early monastic life, offering solid evidence of its historical foundation. Penelope Kingsley 16/07/2024 7:00 pm
A sea creature washed up on a New Zealand beach might be the world’s rarest whale, the spade-toothed whale, according to the Department of Conservation. The male, about 16 feet long, was found near Taieri Mouth. Spade-toothed whales are extremely rare, with only six specimens studied and no live sightings recorded. The species is classified as data deficient. The first intact specimen was found in 2010, with another stranding in 2017. This recent find could provide valuable insights, said Coastal Otago Operations Manager Gabe Davies. Ava Sinclair 16/07/2024 7:00 pm
On Monday, Houthi rebels attacked two ships in the Red Sea. Three small Houthi vessels targeted the Panama-flagged, Israeli-owned MT Bently I off Al Hudaydah, Yemen, but aborted after 15 minutes of self-protection measures. Later, a Houthi drone attacked the Liberian-flagged, Marshall Islands-owned MT Chios Lion. These incidents occurred as a U.S. aircraft carrier approached the region to secure the trade route amid ongoing conflict since the Israel-Hamas war erupted nine months ago. Penelope Kingsley 16/07/2024 7:00 pm
Weapons experts identified remnants of US-made munitions in an Israeli missile strike on a school in Nuseirat, Gaza, killing at least 22 people. Hundreds were sheltering there when two missiles hit. CNN footage showed frantic searches through rubble. A man at the scene said there was no warning and expressed defiance, stating civilians would stay despite the attacks. Abdul Kareem Al Assas, a local resident, voiced his despair. Penelope Kingsley 16/07/2024 7:00 pm
