Russian Strikes on Ukraine

At least four Ukrainian civilians have been killed after a 12-hour barrage of up to 600 missile and drone strikes on Saturday evening. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky denounced the Russian assault as "vile", citing one of the victims being a 12-year-old girl who was killed in Kyiv.

Despite Ukraine's Defence Minister's report that over a 100 civilian sites had been damaged by the targeted attacks, the Russian Defence Ministry asserted that the strikes had only targeted military and industrial facilities linked to Ukraine's armed forces.

Iran

UN economic and military sanctions have been reimposed on Iran 10 years since they were lifted. In 2015, Iran agreed to a landmark nuclear de-escalation deal. However, the UK, France and Germany now charge Iran for a lack of cooperation and "continued nuclear escalation" after Tehran denied inspection access with the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Tehran blamed the US-led strikes on Iranian facilities in Fordo earlier this year for rendering the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) "obsolete", an agreement that constrained Iran's ability to research or stockpile enriched uranium. Both conditions have since been violated.

UNGA- Trump, Netanyahu & Lavrov speeches

At the United Nations, President Trump gave an unusually long address at the General Assembly. Addressing issues of international immigration, the U.S. President echoed his 'American First' rhetoric and asserted the primacy of state sovereignty.

Alongside urging foreign states to tighten border control, Trump continued his usual boastful comments, claiming that he "ended seven unedable wars"

At Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address, he condemned the UK and France's recognition of the Palestinian state last week. Labelling its recognition as a "mark of shame", Netanyahu asserted the importance of Israeli military operations against Hamas, Hezbollah and Houthi rebels in the past years. During the Assembly, dozens of officials and diplomats walked out in response as hundreds of protesters gathered on Times Square.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov commented in the General Assembly, suggesting that the UK and French recognition of Palestine as belated, implying it only occurred because "there would be no one and nothing left to recognise". Lavrov further pushed back against Trump's provocative comments against Russia last week, accusing of waging a "real war" and asserted that Russia does not and never had intentions of invading NATO.

Indian Rally Stampede

Over 40 people have been reported dead with a further 51 people receiving treatment after a political rally in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. This follows a campaign rally for Indian actor-turned-politician Vijay, who is part of the TVK party. Senior members of TVK party are facing potential charges from the Indian police for homicide and neglect or negligent conduct

Starmer condemns Farage & Labour Party Conference

PM Keir Starmer reprimanded Reform UK's antiimmigration program, exclaiming that it was "immoral". Starmer outward expressed his concern given Farage's plans to eradicate 'Indefinite Leave to Remain' (ILR), labelling it as an overtly "racist policy" and that "it's a completely different thing to say we're going to reach into people who are lawfully here and start removing them".

This comes ahead of the Labour Party Conference this week in Liverpool, and with heavy scrutiny of Starmer's current leadership, many suspect Andy Burnham, Mayor of Manchester, could be a future contender. Indeed, these doubts come as Farage surges in the polls and the PM admitting that the next general election will be an "open battle" between Labour and Reform UK.

Labour's plan to build 12 new towns in England, in what is supposed mirror Clement Attlee's "housing boom" post-WII, is set to be announced in the Labour Party conference - Starmer describes the proposal as "national renewal in action".