Syrian rebels seize control of Aleppo city in a lightning offensive

Over the past two decades, the author has dedicated her career to understanding and addressing the challenges faced by young women, founding ROX and researching the lives of over 50,000 girls. Drawing from personal experiences of struggling with societal expectations and body image issues, she highlights the ongoing struggle girls face to be heard and accepted. The author's recent research reveals troubling trends of girls silencing themselves and experiencing declining confidence, impacting their potential and...

Serbian oil company Naftna Industrija Srbije (NIS) faces financial sanctions from the United States due to its Russian ownership, according to Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić. The U.K. and EU are likely to follow suit, potentially halting oil shipments through a pipeline from Croatia. NIS is mostly owned by Russia's Gazprom and Gazprom Neft, with the U.S. sanctions possibly taking effect by January 1. Full Article

An alleged Chinese spy banned from the UK was reportedly invited to Buckingham Palace by Prince Andrew, visiting the royal residence, St James's Palace, and Windsor Castle. Despite claims of being a "close confidante" of Andrew, the Duke of York insists he cut ties with the individual when concerns arose, stating that their interactions were through official channels and not sensitive in nature. This scandal follows Andrew's previous controversy for his association with Jeffrey Epstein,...

A Dutch court rejected a request by 10 pro-Palestinian NGOs to halt the Netherlands' weapons exports to Israel, citing the state's policy discretion and advising against hasty judicial intervention, as reported by Al Jazeera. The court dismissed the NGOs' claims that the Dutch government, as a Genocide Convention signatory, should prevent genocide by Israel, mentioning civilian casualties in Gaza and alleged use of Dutch weapons by Israel in warfare. The ruling came despite the NGOs'...

Harvard University President Alan M. Garber addressed faculty members, stating that they need to rethink their messaging in response to criticism from Congress and the public following the Republican Party's election sweep. Garber acknowledged bipartisan frustrations with Harvard and emphasized the importance of listening to public criticism with empathy and humility. The university's communications strategy will be modified moving forward in response to concerns about Harvard's image and reputation. Full Article

In July, Nigel Farage of Reform UK won a seat in the House of Commons on his eighth attempt, aiming to shake up Britain's traditional two-party system. Farage predicts a political revolution with hundreds of newcomers under the Reform UK label by the next election in 2029, challenging both the Conservative and Labour parties as he gains momentum and becomes a frontrunner for the position of Prime Minister. The UK's political landscape is shifting towards...