Top World News

Oct 23, 2024 - World

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday touted the creation of a new "multipolar world order" at the BRICS summit, a gathering of world leaders he hopes will show that Western attempts to isolate Moscow over its Ukraine offensive have failed.The meeting in the city of Kazan is the largest diplomatic forum in Russia since Putin ordered troops into Ukraine in 2022, triggering a barrage of Western sanctions and international condemnation.Around 20 leaders, including from China, India, Turkey and Iran, are gathering in the central city of Kazan, where they will address topics such as developing a BRICS-led international payment system and the conflict in the Middle East.Moscow sees the platform as an alternative to Western-led international organizations like the G7 -- a position supported by key ally Chinese President Xi Jinping."The process of forming a multipolar world order is underway, a dynamic and irreversible process," Putin said at the official opening of the summit.The BRICS organization was "strengthening its authority in international affairs", Putin said, as he called on its members to consider how they could address the most pressing issues on the global agenda, including "acute regional conflicts".UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres arrived in Russia on Wednesday to attend the summit, his first visit to the country for more than two years, which has drawn scorn from Ukraine.Putin hailed Moscow's close ties and "strategic partnerships" with its partners during talks on Tuesday with leaders including Xi and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Xi, meanwhile, praised China's "profound" ties with Russia in what he called a "chaotic" world.Russia and China's relations have "injected strong impetus into the development, revitalization and modernization of the two countries", Xi said.Putin said he saw relations between Beijing and China as a foundation of global "stability."- Ukraine conflict -Security in Kazan is tight around the summit, AFP journalists at the venue reported.The surrounding Tatarstan region, around 1,000 kilometers from the Ukraine border, has previously been hit in drone attacks launched by Kyiv.But Moscow is intent on not letting the conflict overshadow the summit, and is laying out a warm welcome for the arriving leaders.Women wearing traditional Tatar costumes greeted the arriving delegations, who were offered sweet Tatar pastries made from flour and honey.Starting in 2009 with four members -- Brazil, Russia, India and China -- BRICS has since expanded to include other emerging nations such as South Africa, Egypt and Iran.Underpinning his vision of the group as a challenge to the West, Putin will hold separate talks with Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian and Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro on Wednesday.He will also meet Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.Turkey, a NATO member, is casting itself as a possible mediator between Russia and Ukraine and strives for warm relations with Moscow.Guterres will hold talks with Putin on Thursday, where the pair will discuss the Ukraine conflict, the Kremlin said.Kyiv has railed against UN chief Guterres' trip."The UN Secretary General declined Ukraine's invitation to the first Global Peace Summit in Switzerland. He did, however, accept the invitation to Kazan from war criminal Putin," its foreign ministry said in a post on X.The UN chief's spokesperson said the trip was part of his regular attendance at "organizations with large numbers of important member states" and said it offered a chance to "reaffirm his well known positions" on the Ukraine conflict "and the conditions for just peace".- Modi calls for peace -Modi, who is also casting himself as a possible peacemaker, called for a quick end to the conflict during talks with Putin on Tuesday."We have been in constant touch over the conflict between Russia and Ukraine," Modi told Putin after the two shook hands and embraced."We believe that disputes should only be resolved peacefully. We totally support efforts to quickly restore peace and stability," the Indian leader added.India has walked a tightrope since the Ukraine conflict began, pledging humanitarian support for Kyiv while avoiding explicit condemnation of Moscow's actions.Moscow has been steadily advancing on the battlefield in eastern Ukraine this year as it strengthens ties with the likes of China, Iran and North Korea.

Oct 23, 2024 - World

Inquiry preceded controversial migration deal linked to claims of abuse in increasingly authoritarian countryThe European Commission is refusing to publish the findings of a human rights inquiry into Tunisia it conducted shortly before announcing a controversial migration deal with the increasingly authoritarian north African country.An investigation by the EU ombudsman found that the commission quietly carried out a “risk management exercise” into human rights concerns in Tunisia but will not disclose its results. Continue reading...

Oct 22, 2024 - World

In today’s newsletter: Justin Trudeau says there are ‘credible allegations’ that Modi’s government was involved in the killing of a Sikh separatist in British Columbia. What does say about India’s global standing?• Sign up here for our daily newsletter, First EditionGood morning.In September 2023, Justin Trudeau stood up in parliament and made extraordinary allegations against the Indian government. The prime minister said Canadian authorities were investigating “credible allegations” about the potential involvement of Indian officials in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian Sikh separatist activist in British Columbia.Middle East | Israel has accused Hezbollah of keeping hundreds of millions of dollars in cash and gold in a bunker under a hospital in the southern suburbs of Beirut, though it said it would not strike the complex. The Sahel hospital in Dahiyeh was evacuated shortly afterwards, and Fadi Alame, its director, told Reuters that the allegations were untrue.Labour | A cross-party group of 30 MPs has urged Rachel Reeves to impose a 2% tax on wealth above £10m on Britain’s rich in next week’s budget rather than announce spending cuts that would hit the most poor hardest.Ukraine | Britain is to lend Ukraine an additional £2.26bn and allow Kyiv to spend the money on weapons to fight off the Russian invasion as part of a wider $50bn (£38.5bn) loan programme expected to be confirmed by G7 members later this week.Sudan | Refugees and aid agencies have warned of deteriorating conditions in overcrowded camps in Chad, as intensifying violence and a hunger crisis in Sudan drive huge numbers across the border. About 25,000 people – the vast majority women and children – crossed into eastern Chad in the first week of October. Read an explainer.European Union | Moldovans have voted by a razor-thin majority in favour of joining the EU, nearly final results showed on Monday after a pivotal referendum clouded by allegations of Russian interference. With 50.18% supporting EU membership, the decision was much closer than pre-referendum polls suggested. Continue reading...

Oct 22, 2024 - World

HMRC and FCA asked to look into property deals with Saifuzzaman Chowdhury now under investigation for corruption in DhakaBritish regulators have been urged by MPs to examine the relationship between London estate agents, lawyers and lenders and a former Bangladeshi government minister under investigation for alleged corruption.Saifuzzaman Chowdhury was the land minister in Bangladesh until earlier this year, when the government of Sheikh Hasina was spectacularly toppled, after her regime’s violent suppression of student protests. Continue reading...

Oct 21, 2024 - World

Coalition will now be able to hire and fire judges but faces accusations it bribed and abducted lawmakers to get its wayPakistan’s government has passed a controversial amendment to the constitution that has been accused of weakening the power and independence of the judiciary, throwing the country’s democracy into further crisis.The 26th constitutional amendment was passed in a clandestine, late-night parliamentary session that was clouded in secrecy and marred by allegations of abductions and intimidation of parliamentarians to force them to vote in favour of the bill. Continue reading...