The body of 69-year-old Alex Salmond, Scotland’s former first minister and champion of Scottish independence, will soon be flown back from North Macedonia, where he died suddenly. He passed away from a suspected heart attack at a lake resort after participating in a forum. A spokesman for the forum confirmed that repatriation procedures for his body are nearly complete, with a special flight scheduled in the coming days. Salmond was leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) and served as first minister from 2007 to 2014. He led the push for Scottish independence, bringing the country to a referendum in 2014, where independence was narrowly rejected (55% to 45%). He then resigned, to be succeeded by Nicola Sturgeon, his long-time ally turned political rival. His death marks the end of a significant chapter in Scottish political history.
A devastating explosion in Newcastle has claimed the life of a seven-year-old boy and injured six others. The blast, on 16 October, destroyed several homes, leaving the community in shock. Neighbours described the explosion as sounding like a bomb, with rubble and flames covering the area. Anthony Usher, who witnessed the destruction, heroically rescued his friend’s partner and newborn from the wreckage. Emergency services, including firefighters and a specialist search team, arrived within minutes and worked to ensure no one else was trapped in the rubble. The community has rallied to support the displaced, with a local community centre offering shelter. Authorities are continuing their investigation into the cause of the explosion, and residents are being urged to avoid the area.
Avon and Somerset police have issued an apology to Pastor Dia Moodley, who was arrested while street preaching in Bristol. Moodley, a grandfather and pastor, was detained for thirteen hours after being accused of 'racially or religiously aggravated harassment without violence'. The arrest followed an incident where Moodley answered a question contrasting Christianity with Islam and expressed his belief in binary gender. During the confrontation, he was pushed from his stepladder, and his signs were damaged. One of the signs, which contained a Bible text, was destroyed by university staff when instructed to do so by the police. Moodley, represented by the Alliance for Defending Freedom (ADF), sustained a soft tissue injury during the altercation. His counsel called the treatment 'appalling' and urged the strengthening of free speech laws to protect peaceful, lawful expression of beliefs. Although the police dropped their investigation, the event highlights concerns over discriminatory policing and the freedom to share Christian beliefs publicly.
Hundreds of protesters in Loznica, Serbia, have rallied against a planned lithium mining project by Rio Tinto in the region. This followed the ruling Serbian Progressive Party’s rejection of a draft law banning lithium and borate mining. Demonstrators carrying Serbian flags and banners announced one-hour road blockades, vowing to escalate their actions if necessary. Environmentalists argue that the mine could pollute local land and water, threatening agriculture in the region. Lithium, vital for electric vehicle batteries, is a critical material for the EU and the USA. The $2.4 billion project, if realised, could meet 90% of Europe’s lithium needs. In 2022, after mass protests, the government revoked Rio Tinto’s licences for the project. However, president Mr Aleksandar Vucic has now said that mining could start by 2028, arguing that it would significantly boost the economy.
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has suggested that the EU could learn from Italy’s controversial new policy of processing migrants offshore in Albania. She has proposed new legislation to increase deportations, noting that only 20% of irregular migrants ordered to leave EU countries actually do so. Italy’s scheme, which began on 15 October when sixteen migrants were transferred to Albanian processing centres, has sparked criticism from opposition parties and NGOs for being costly and potentially harmful to human rights. The €650 million project excludes vulnerable groups like pregnant women and children. Prime minister Giorgia Meloni defended the scheme as a courageous approach which ‘perfectly reflected the European spirit’. Recently Germany, France, and Poland have tightened their borders and immigration laws, driven in part by security concerns following violent incidents involving failed asylum seekers.
A new report by Oxfam reveals that hunger caused by global conflicts has reached unprecedented levels, with an estimated 7,000 to 21,000 people dying every day. The report, Food Wars, shows that nearly all of the 281.6 million people facing acute hunger live in countries experiencing conflict. Oxfam accuses warring parties of weaponising food, targeting vital infrastructure, and blocking aid deliveries. Conflict also drives record-high displacement, with 117 million people forcibly displaced. In areas like Sudan and Gaza, food aid is critically limited, exacerbating starvation. Oxfam points to the economic liberalisation model (focused on foreign investment and exports) as a key factor worsening inequality and instability in these regions. In particular, extractive industries, like mining in Sudan, have displaced people and degraded environments, creating unlivable conditions. The report calls on global leaders to address the root causes of this problem, and to hold perpetrators of ‘starvation crimes’ accountable under international law.
Cuba: president leads march to support Gaza
17 Oct 2024
Cuba’s president, Miguel Diaz-Canel, has led thousands of protesters in Havana to show solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. The march included around 250 Palestinian medical students and featured a large banner declaring, ‘Long live free Palestine’. The president and other leaders wore keffiyeh scarves as a symbol of solidarity. Participants expressed their support for Palestinian sovereignty and condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza. The march, originally scheduled for 7 October to mark the first anniversary of Israel's war on Gaza, was delayed due to Hurricane Milton. In June, Cuba joined a lawsuit filed by South Africa at the International Court of Justice against Israel's military actions in Gaza.
A judge has overturned changes made by Georgia's Republican-controlled state election board in August, which a conservative group argued would disrupt voting rights ahead of the presidential election on 5 November. His ruling followed a lawsuit by the conservative group Eternal Vigilance Action, which claimed the board overstepped its authority. The changes included empowering county election officials to investigate discrepancies in vote counts before certifying results. The move drew bipartisan criticism; one official warned that it would undermine voter confidence and burden election workers. Democrats, who filed a separate lawsuit, argued the rules aimed to delay certification, a mandatory part of election outcomes. The judge’s ruling follows a similar decision to block a rule requiring ballots be counted by hand, which Democrats said was another attempt to impede certification. Georgia is expected to be a key battleground state in the presidential race between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.