Author: WTX News Editor

Ukrainian troops now up to 30km inside Russia, Moscow says Ukrainian forces have advanced up to 30 kilometres inside Russia, marking the most significant incursion since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The offensive, taking place in Russia’s Kursk region, has entered its sixth day. Russia’s defence ministry reported clashes between its troops and Ukrainian forces near the villages of Tolpino and Obshchy Kolodez. Meanwhile, Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova…

Greek residents flee as wildfire rages uncontrolled near Athens A massive wildfire north of Athens has forced the evacuation of thousands of residents as flames, some reaching 25 meters (80 feet) high, continue to devastate the area. The historic site of Marathon is among the regions where emergency services are relocating people to safety. In the nearby town of Varnavas, properties have been engulfed by the fire, with firefighters working to rescue those trapped in…

Venezuela opposition urges global protest over poll result Venezuela’s opposition party is urging worldwide protests on August 17 in response to its claim of winning the recent presidential election. The official results, announced by the government-controlled electoral commission, declared President Nicolás Maduro the winner, granting him a third consecutive term. The opposition claims that its candidate, Edmundo González, was the true victor and demands the release of detailed polling station data. This claim has gained…

Rwandan president sworn in after 99% election win Paul Kagame has officially begun his fourth term as Rwanda’s president after securing 99% of the vote in last month’s election. While Kagame is credited with bringing peace and stability to Rwanda following the 1994 genocide, critics argue that his rule has become increasingly authoritarian, stifling dissent and democracy. Rights groups have pointed to the overwhelming electoral margin as evidence of a flawed democratic process, noting that…

Venezuelan president bans X for 10 days over Musk row Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has signed a decree blocking access to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) for 10 days after a public feud with its owner, Elon Musk. The dispute began after Maduro was declared the winner of last month’s contested presidential election. Musk called Maduro a “dictator” and a “clown,” while Maduro accused Musk of inciting hatred and violence. Amid rising anti-government…

US, Egypt and Qatar call on Israel and Hamas to resume talks The United States, Egypt, and Qatar have issued a joint statement urging Israel and Hamas to resume negotiations for a ceasefire and a hostage-release deal. The three nations have reportedly reached a “framework agreement” with only the implementation details left to finalise. Israel has agreed to send negotiators to the talks, scheduled for August 15 in Doha or Cairo, while Hamas has yet…

Teen planned ‘explosives and knives’ attack at Swift concert Austrian authorities arrested a 19-year-old on Wednesday for plotting a suicide attack at a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna. The suspect, who had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (IS), admitted to planning an attack using explosives and knives. Swift’s three sold-out shows at the Ernst Happel Stadium, expected to draw over 195,000 attendees, were cancelled as a result. The suspect had reportedly stolen chemicals from…

Yunus sworn in as interim Bangladesh leader Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, 84, has been sworn in as Bangladesh’s interim leader, pledging to uphold the constitution and restore democracy. He took the oath at Dhaka’s presidential palace, accompanied by his new cabinet members, including student leaders Nahid Islam and Asif Mahmud, who played key roles in the recent anti-government protests. This transition comes after Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh’s long-time prime minister, resigned and fled to India following…

Polish man jailed for four months for punching Danish PM A Polish man has been sentenced to four months in jail for assaulting Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. The incident occurred in June in Copenhagen, where the 39-year-old man, whose name has not been disclosed, punched Frederiksen on the shoulder.  In addition to his jail term, the man will be deported from Denmark and banned from entering the country for five years. The court also…

State of emergency declared as Ukraine launches raid into Russia A state of emergency has been declared in Russia’s Kursk region following a rare cross-border attack by Ukrainian troops. Acting regional governor Alexei Smirnov stated this move was necessary to address the consequences of the incursion. Russian officials reported that at least five civilians have been killed and 31 wounded, including six children, since the attack began. Ukraine has not officially commented on the situation,…

Iran will respond at ‘right time’ to killing of Hamas leader Iran’s acting foreign minister has vowed the country will respond to the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh at the “right time” and in an “appropriate” manner. His statement followed a day of intense diplomacy in the Middle East, including an emergency meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Saudi Arabia. During the OIC meeting, Iranian Foreign Minister Baqeri Ali Bagheri Kani…

Hamas names Yahya Sinwar as new overall leader Following two days of intensive negotiations in Doha, Hamas has appointed Yahya Sinwar as its new overall chief. Sinwar succeeds Ismail Haniyeh, who was assassinated in Tehran last week. Previously serving as the leader of Hamas inside the Gaza Strip since 2017, Sinwar will now head the group’s political wing. His appointment was confirmed by a senior Hamas official, who described the decision as a unanimous one…

Threat made against Irish PM Simon Harris and his family The Gardaí (Irish police) are currently investigating a threat made against Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Simon Harris, his wife, and children. The threat, which included references to knives, was posted on Instagram over the weekend, as reported by RTÉ. Despite the intimidation, Harris remains steadfast in his commitment to his role. “The laws of the land apply to people online just as much as offline,”…

Nobel Peace Prize winner to lead Bangladesh interim government Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, a prominent critic of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has been appointed as the interim leader of Bangladesh. The 84-year-old economist and microloan pioneer was chosen following Hasina’s abrupt departure from the country, which came after weeks of violent protests demanding her resignation. The protests, initially sparked by university students opposing civil service job quotas, quickly evolved into a widespread anti-government movement.…

Bangladesh celebrates after PM Sheikh Hasina flees country Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has stepped down following weeks of violent anti-government protests, ending her over two-decade-long dominance in the country’s politics. The 76-year-old leader reportedly fled to India on Monday. Celebrations erupted in the streets, with some protesters storming the prime ministerial palace and causing damage. In the wake of Hasina’s resignation, President Mohammed Shahabuddin ordered the release of former prime minister Khaleda Zia and…

Mexican journalist killed while under police protection Alejandro Martínez, a Mexican journalist known for reporting on violent crime, was killed while under police protection in Guanajuato. Martínez, also known as “The Son of the Lone Ranger,” was shot by unknown gunmen while travelling with two security guards. He succumbed to his injuries in the hospital. Mexico is one of the most dangerous countries for journalists, with over 150 media workers killed since 1994, according to…

UN staff fired over possible links to 7 October attack The United Nations announced that nine staff members from the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) may have been involved in the 7 October Hamas-led attack on Israel. UN deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq confirmed that these individuals would be terminated following an investigation prompted by Israeli allegations. The attack resulted in around 1,200 Israeli deaths and 251 people being taken as hostages to Gaza. In…

Today’s news summary – Paper Talk If you are someone who reads every perspective of a story, here is a news summary of all of today’s front pages from today’s newspapers; summarised in a 2-minute read

Bangladesh clashes: 90 killed in anti-government protests At least 90 people were killed in Bangladesh on Sunday during escalating clashes between police and anti-government protesters. The violence follows a campaign of civil disobedience led by student leaders demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The unrest, initially sparked by a call to abolish quotas in civil service jobs, has evolved into a broader anti-government movement. In one of the deadliest incidents, 13 police officers…

IDF failures led to aid workers’ deaths – Australia An Australian government review has concluded that “serious failures” by the Israeli military led to a deadly drone strike on an aid convoy in Gaza on April 1, which killed seven workers from the World Central Kitchen (WCK). The victims included aid workers from Australia, Canada, Poland, the UK, the US, and a Palestinian colleague. The review found that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) did not…

Ukraine receives first F-16 fighter jets from the US Ukraine has received its first American-made F-16 fighter jets, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced during a ceremony at an undisclosed airbase. Standing beside two of the jets, Zelensky expressed gratitude to allies for providing the aircraft, which they had initially been reluctant to send. He emphasised that while these jets significantly enhance Ukraine’s air force, which mostly uses outdated Soviet-era planes, more F-16s are still needed.  Zelensky…

At least 30 dead in third Israeli strike on a school in a week Dozens of people have reportedly been killed in Israeli air strikes on two schools in Gaza, according to Palestinian rescuers and news outlets. Many of the victims were displaced individuals seeking shelter at these schools. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed the strikes, stating they targeted Hamas “command and control centres” located within the schools in Gaza City. This incident marks…

Calls for foreigners to leave Lebanon as war fears grow Several nations have advised their citizens to leave Lebanon, fearing a broader Middle Eastern conflict. This comes after Iran threatened severe retaliation against Israel, blaming it for the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. Israel has not commented on the incident, which occurred just hours after Israeli forces killed Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut. Western officials are concerned that Hezbollah, supported by…

Italy opens controversial migrant centre in Albania Italy has launched its first of two planned migrant camps in Albania, marking the start of Europe’s first “offshoring” scheme for managing migrant arrivals. The camp, located in the northern Albanian port of Shengjin, will house up to 3,000 migrants per month who are rescued en route to Italy. These centres, fully managed and funded by the Italian government, are designed to handle migrants picked up in international…

Hamas leader’s funeral draws crowds in Iran Thousands gathered in Tehran for the funeral of Ismail Haniyeh, the political chief of Hamas, who was killed in a strike on Wednesday. Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, led the prayers before Haniyeh’s body was transported to Qatar for burial. While Israel has not directly commented on the assassination, Iranian officials allege that the attack was carried out by Israel. US media reports indicate that Ayatollah Khamenei…