Zelensky In London, Thailand Strikes Cambodia, Burning Of The Devil

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🗞️ FRONT PAGE​​

The Hong Kong Economic Journal devotes its front page to Sunday’s legislative elections in the city which saw a near-record-low turnout of only 31.9%. The elections came after the city’s worst fire in almost 80 years, which killed at least 159 people and prompted anger against Hong Kong’s China-backed authorities — overshadowing government efforts to rally support for a vote restricted to “patriots.” 

🌎 7 THINGS TO KNOW RIGHT NOW

• Zelensky meets with UK, French and German leaders amid Trump frustration. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is in London for talks with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, France’s Emmanuel Macron and Germany’s Friedrich Merz amid intense pressure over a new proposal drafted with U.S. negotiators. On Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump claimed Zelensky “isn’t ready” and shared his disappointment “that President Zelensky hasn’t yet read the proposal.” Kyiv responded that some high-level matters were better discussed face-to-face. Meanwhile, Russian drone strikes continue on cities and energy infrastructure across Ukraine. Read Pierre Haski’s analysis for France Inter: Why Peace In Ukraine May Depend On One Last Zelensky-Trump meeting.

• Thailand launches airstrikes on Cambodia. Thai forces hit Cambodian military positions amid a resurgence of fighting along the two countries’ disputed border, killing one Thai soldier and forcing about 385,000 people to flee. Four Cambodian civilians also died in fresh clashes, reigniting a century-old territorial dispute. Bangkok accuses Phnom Penh of violating a U.S.-brokered July ceasefire, while Cambodia denies firing back.

• Netanyahu to discuss second phase of Gaza plan with Trump later this month. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says phase two of the U.S.-backed Gaza plan is close but still stalled over key questions, including the formation of a multinational security force. Netanyahu has announced he will meet President Donald Trump at the end of the month to address Hamas’s disarmament, Israel’s pullback and Gaza’s future governance. He also signalled that the West Bank annexation remains on the table, even as Israeli strikes continue during the ceasefire.

• Syria marks one year since Assad’s fall. Syria prepares nationwide celebrations Monday to commemorate the ousting of Bashar al-Assad, a year after the strongman fled to Russia as forces led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa seized Damascus. Despite lifted sanctions and shifting alliances, sectarian violence, displacement and deep humanitarian needs continue to hinder the country’s fragile recovery. Meanwhile, Euronews reports on Assad’s life in exile, under strict Russian supervision in Moscow. For more, read this article: Beyond The Flag — Why Building A New Syria Begins With A Question Of Identity by Bashir Amin for Daraj, translated and adapted by Worldcrunch.

• Nigeria frees 100 abducted schoolchildren. Nigerian authorities announced that about 100 pupils who had been kidnapped from a Catholic school in central Nigeria last month have been released. The mass abduction was one of several recent attacks amid escalating kidnappings by armed groups across central and northern Nigeria.

• Lando Norris claims his first F1 world title. The 26-year-old British Formula One driver clinched the championship by finishing third in the season’s final Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi, narrowly beating Dutch-Belgian Max Verstappen by two points and delivering McLaren’s first crown since 2008. More on Formula One in this article by Emma Confrère for Le Figaro, translated from French and adapted by Worldcrunch.

• News Quiz! Following Netflix’s acquisition of Warner Brothers Discovery’s movie studio and HBO streaming networks, which of the following will still not be available on Netflix?

A. Harry Potter
B. Batman
C. The Lord of the Rings
D. Star Wars
[Answer below]

📣 VERBATIM

“This treachery will not go unpunished.”

— Benin’s President Patrice Talon condemned a coup attempt that was reportedly foiled by the West African nation’s army, as he appeared on television Sunday evening to reassure citizens that the situation was now “totally under control.” Gunfire was heard in parts of the administrative capital, Cotonou, earlier in the day, while a group of soldiers calling itself the “Military Committee for Refoundation” declared a takeover on national television. Neighboring Nigeria sent air force fighter jets to “take over the airspace to help dislodge the coup plotters” at the request of Talon’s government, a statement from Nigerian President Bola Tinubu’s office said. The former French colony has been regarded as one of Africa’s more stable democracies, but its 67-year-old president, who’s due to step down next year after completing his second term in office, has faced accusations of quashing dissent.

📰 IN OTHER NEWS

⚖️ In Frankfurt, a recent trial opened the door to holding accountable those who thought themselves safe from the law by sneaking out of Syria. Meanwhile, back in Damascus, justice that is geographically closer to the crimes seems impossible to hope for.
— DARAJ

✈️ Some of Colombia’s wealthiest families prefer to move abroad, with their money, following a custom of the super-rich in many places. They should remember, the homeland they spurn gave them all the opportunities to become rich.
— EL ESPECTADOR

⚠️ In the midst of discussions about the use of artificial intelligence, ecofascist narratives have crept in. How did this happen? What are the dangers?
— VOLCÁNICAS