Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, hosted by President Biden at a state dinner, emphasized his close relationship with Vladimir Putin during his first visit to Russia since the Ukraine war began. Images of Modi embracing Putin signal India’s intent to maintain deep ties with Russia, despite U.S. efforts to strengthen relations with India. The visit, coinciding with NATO meetings, drew criticism from Washington and Kyiv. Ukrainian President Zelensky condemned the meeting, calling it a blow to peace efforts. Modi’s visit underscores India’s reliance on Russian weaponry, energy, and technology.

Gabriel Whitaker 09/07/2024 11:30 am

As NATO celebrates its 75th anniversary, it prepares to welcome former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte as its new secretary general on October 1, succeeding Jens Stoltenberg. Rutte, known for his trans-Atlanticism and consensus-building, is expected to maintain alliance cohesion amid challenges, including a potential second Trump presidency. Rutte’s past relationship with Trump may help deter the former president from undermining NATO if reelected. Trump previously criticized NATO and suggested conditional adherence, raising international concerns. Rutte’s diplomatic skills, including respectful pushback, are seen as assets in navigating future US relations.

Penelope Kingsley 09/07/2024 11:30 am

A rescue team has been deployed to a remote region on Sulawesi island after a landslide near an illegal gold mine killed at least 11 people and left 45 missing. The landslide in Bone Bolango district, Gorontalo province, buried miners and residents. Rescuers, facing thick mud and ongoing rain, must walk 20km to the site. So far, 23 people have been rescued, including six injured, and 11 bodies recovered. Torrential rains also caused severe flooding in nearby villages.

Liam Harrington 09/07/2024 10:00 am

As NATO leaders meet in Washington, Ukraine’s future is uncertain. Despite pledges to support Ukraine against Russian forces, the potential return of Donald Trump to the White House casts a shadow. A Trump victory could reduce U.S. aid to Ukraine and pressure Kyiv to concede to Russian demands. Trump has avoided criticizing Russia’s invasion and questioned NATO’s value, while his allies are skeptical of large U.S. military aid to Ukraine. Former Trump aides have suggested a peace plan requiring significant Ukrainian concessions, including abandoning NATO membership aspirations.

Liam Harrington 09/07/2024 8:31 am

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Moscow as a “huge disappointment and a devastating blow to peace efforts,” coinciding with a Russian missile attack on a children’s hospital in Kyiv. Modi met Russian President Vladimir Putin, marking his first visit to Russia since the invasion of Ukraine. The visit included friendly interactions, while Russian missiles killed at least 38 people and injured 190 in Ukrainian cities. Modi praised India-Russia relations but did not address the strikes, announcing new consulates in Yekaterinburg and Kazan.

Ava Sinclair 09/07/2024 8:30 am

Russia sentenced playwright Svetlana Petriychuk and theater director Yevgenia Berkovich to six years in prison for “justifying terrorism” over their 2020 play “Finist, the Brave Falcon,” which depicted Russian women marrying ISIS members. Despite being based on real cases and initially unnoticed by law enforcement, the play was later criticized for allegedly promoting radical feminist ideology and glorifying terrorists. The authors argued it was a cautionary tale. The play, funded by the Russian Culture Ministry and awarded the Golden Mask, may have led to their persecution due to Berkovich’s antiwar poems amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Ava Sinclair 09/07/2024 8:30 am

The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem condemned an Israeli raid on Holy Family School in Gaza City, which killed at least four people, including a senior Hamas official. The Israeli military claimed the school was used as a militant hideout. This attack followed a raid on a UN-run school that killed 16 people. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees expressed outrage at repeated attacks on its facilities. Thousands of Palestinians have sought shelter in civilian infrastructure amid the ongoing conflict, with Israel accusing militants of hiding in these places.

Penelope Kingsley 09/07/2024 5:30 am

A study in Lancet estimates the true death toll from Israel’s war on Gaza could exceed 186,000, considering indirect deaths from destroyed infrastructure, health facilities, and food systems. Gaza’s Ministry of Health reports over 38,000 direct deaths since October 7. Indirect deaths, from factors like disease, could continue even if the war ends now. The study suggests indirect deaths could be three to 15 times higher than direct deaths, with a conservative estimate of four indirect deaths per direct death. This could affect nearly 8% of Gaza’s pre-war population.

Liam Harrington 09/07/2024 5:30 am

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi began a two-day visit to Russia, his first since the Ukraine invasion, complicating ties between the longtime allies and pushing Russia closer to India’s rival, China. Modi will meet President Vladimir Putin in Vladivostok, their first meeting in Russia since 2019. Despite strong Cold War-era ties, Russia’s closer relationship with China has strained its partnership with India. Modi has avoided condemning Russia’s actions in Ukraine, emphasizing peaceful resolution. India and China have become key buyers of Russian oil post-Western sanctions. Modi skipped the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Kazakhstan.

Gabriel Whitaker 09/07/2024 4:00 am

French voters kept the far right out of power, but the snap parliamentary election called by President Macron resulted in a hung parliament and political uncertainty. The left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) coalition thwarted Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally (RN) party, winning 182 seats and becoming the largest group in the 577-seat National Assembly. Macron’s centrist Ensemble alliance recovered to secure 163 seats. Despite avoiding a far-right government, French politics remains disordered, raising questions about the next prime minister and the effectiveness of Macron’s gamble.

Noah Prescott 09/07/2024 4:00 am