Author: News Desk

Hong Kong convicts 14 activists of subversion in biggest security case Hong Kong has found 14 pro-democracy activists guilty of subversion, marking the largest application of the China-imposed National Security Law to date. The convicted individuals include former lawmakers Leung Kwok-hung and Helena Wong, journalist-turned-campaigner Gwyneth Ho, and ordinary citizens like nurse Winnie Yu who participated in the 2019 mass protests. These activists were among 47 charged with attempting to “overthrow” the government by organising an unofficial primary in 2020 to select candidates for office. The court ruled on Thursday that their election to the legislature would have “[created] a…

Deadly end to Mexico campaign as local candidate shot The leading candidates in Mexico’s presidential election have concluded their final campaign rallies ahead of Sunday’s vote. The campaign has been marked by violence, including the recent assassination of a mayoral candidate in Guerrero state. Nationally, either Claudia Sheinbaum, an ally of the left-wing incumbent President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, or Xóchitl Gálvez, a former senator from the main centre-right party, is poised to become Mexico’s first female president. Sheinbaum, the frontrunner, addressed supporters in Mexico City’s central Zócalo Square, praising the positive changes since President Obrador’s election in 2018. She…

Israel extends control of Gaza’s entire land border The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have announced that they have taken control of the Philadelphi Corridor, a strategically important buffer zone along the Gaza-Egypt border. This move means Israel now controls Gaza’s entire land border. An IDF spokesman claims that about 20 tunnels used by Hamas for weapon smuggling have been discovered within the zone. However, Egyptian sources have denied this claim, suggesting Israel is attempting to justify its military operations in Rafah, a city in southern Gaza. Tensions with Egypt have increased following this announcement. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, an IDF…

Gaza war could go on for rest of 2024, says Israel PM’s aide A senior Israeli official has said that the conflict with Hamas in Gaza is expected to last for at least the remainder of the year. Tzachi Hanegbi, the prime minister’s national security adviser, told Israel’s Kan public radio that the fighting in Gaza will continue for at least another seven months. Hanegbi also mentioned that Israel’s military has taken control of 75% of the buffer zone along the Gaza-Egypt border and is continuing its assault on the southern city of Rafah. Residents of Rafah reported increased Israeli…

Power cuts could last for days in storm-hit Texas Authorities in Texas have warned of prolonged power outages following severe weather that left hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses without electricity. Texas was previously hit by deadly storms and tornadoes over the Memorial Day weekend, resulting in at least 24 fatalities across several states. The region remains at risk for hail, damaging winds, and flash flooding, with similar conditions expected in Kansas and eastern Colorado, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). Additionally, extreme heat is affecting southern Texas and southern Florida, with temperatures expected to rise in the…

Counting under way in South Africa’s crucial election Votes are being counted in South Africa’s most closely contested election since the African National Congress (ANC) came to power 30 years ago. Long lines formed outside polling stations nationwide, reminiscent of the historic 1994 election. Despite polls officially closing at 2100 local time (1900 GMT), the electoral commission assured that everyone still in line would be allowed to vote. Initial results are expected to begin arriving Thursday morning, with final results anticipated over the weekend. The ANC has seen a decline in support due to widespread dissatisfaction with corruption, crime, and…

Diane Abbott vows to stay on as MP as Labour descends into chaos over botched suspension Diane Abbott has vowed to stay on as the MP for her London constituency as the row over her future threatens to derail Labour’s important announcements on health and the economy. In her first public speech on the escalating situation on her selection, which has sent the party’s election campaign into turmoil, Ms Abbott told supporters she intended to stay on as MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington for “as long as it is possible”. The future of the trailblazing MP, who was…

Palestine march in London sees 40 arrested and police officers hurt | UK News Three police officers were injured and 40 people arrested during a protest in London against Israel’s war in Gaza, Palestine, on Tuesday night. One officer suffered a serious face injury after she was hit by a bottle thrown from the crowd that gathered at Downing Street. Two officers were left with minor injuries. Police are working to identify the suspect who threw the bottle. As protests continue on university campuses, a pro-Palestine demonstration kicked off at around 6pm outside Westminster. Dozens of Palestinian flags and banners…

Akshata Murty: Britain’s potential first lady goes on campaign trail in bid to boost Rishi Sunak’s election hopes There is no bias in the title provided. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailWhen Rishi Sunak took the podium to deliver his prime minister’s speech at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester last October, there was little he could say that hadn’t already been leaked to the media. But he did have one secret weapon, in the form of his wife, Akshata Murty.Taking to the stage in…

EU keen to deepen ties with a Labour PM but will not offer radical concessions UK relationship ‘isn’t taking up as much of our mental space as it was a few years ago’, says EU diplomat Since 2016, Britain’s Conservatives have compared the European Union to Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union, described a senior EU official’s remarks as “bizarre and stupid” and threatened to break international law with a unilateral rewrite of the Brexit deal. So an incoming Labour government does not have to do much to strike a different tone. But while the EU is ready to deepen ties…