Politics
Israel launched a ground invasion of southern Lebanon, initially sending small numbers of troops over the border but then preparing to deploy additional forces. They were soon engaged in heavy fighting with Hizbullah, Iran’s biggest proxy militia in the region, in which Israeli troops were killed. More than 1,000 Lebanese combatants and civilians have been killed and over 1m displaced. Iran lashed out with a direct attack on Israel, firing around 200 ballistic missiles. A man was killed in the West Bank when a missile fragment fell on him. No other deaths were reported. Binyamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, said Iran would pay a “heavy price”.
Iran’s strike came in the aftermath of Israel’s assassination of Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hizbullah in Lebanon since 1992, in air strikes on southern Beirut that targeted the group’s headquarters. Israel has now killed most of Hizbullah’s military leadership in the past two weeks and destroyed perhaps half of its 120,000 or more rockets and missiles.
Two Palestinian gunmen killed seven people in a shooting and knife attack in Tel Aviv. The two terrorists were shot and “neutralised” by a security officer and nearby civilians, according to the police.
Kenya’s Parliament started proceedings to impeach Rigathi Gachagua, the country’s deputy president, over his alleged role in anti-government protests in June. Dozens of people were killed in the protests, which nearly unseated the government.
At least 45 people died and more than 100 were missing after smugglers forced migrants off two boats travelling from Yemen to Djibouti. The incident makes 2024 the deadliest year on record for migrant sea crossings between the Horn of Africa and Yemen. Most recently, 196 people had drowned while trying to cross in June.
The hard-right Freedom Party (FPö) won the most votes in Austria’s general election, the first time it has claimed victory. Its chances of forming a government are slim. Karl Nehammer, the country’s incumbent chancellor, whose conservative People’s Party (ÖVP) came second, may try to hammer together a coalition of Social Democrats, liberals and Greens. The ÖVP and the FPö have been coalition partners before; the last one ended in 2019. But Mr Nehammer has ruled out the inclusion of Herbert Kickl, the FPö’s leader, in any new alliance.
Mark Rutte took over from Jens Stoltenberg as NATO’s secretary-general. In his first speech Mr Rutte reiterated the alliance’s commitment to Ukraine, warning that the cost to the West would be much higher if Russia won the war. Meanwhile, nine people were killed in Russian drone attacks on a hospital in Sumy, in north-east Ukraine. Six people were killed in Russian shelling on Kherson, which lies close to the front line. And Vuhledar fell to Russian troops. The town had managed to withstand the invaders for two years.
The end of a deep history
Britain’s last remaining coal-fired power station officially shut down, bringing an end to 142 years of coal-fired electricity generation in the country. The world’s first coal-power station was built in London in 1882 by Thomas Edison. Plans to phase out coal were announced in 2015, when about a quarter of Britain’s electricity was generated by the fossil fuel. Britain’s greenhouse-gas emissions have fallen by more than half since 1990.
After two years of negotiations, Britain said it would hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. As part of the deal America will still be able to use the military base on Diego Garcia, a strategic hub for navy ships and long-range bombers in the Indian Ocean. The British government said the new treaty “will address wrongs of the past”. Former inhabitants of the Chagos Islands will be allowed to resettle there.
Ishiba Shigeru became Japan’s new prime minister, following a contest in the Liberal Democratic Party to replace Kishida Fumio. Mr Ishiba named his cabinet, but also called a snap general election for October 27th. The new finance minister is Kato Katsunobu, who was a health minister under Abe Shinzo and is a firm believer in Abenomics. He has called for a stimulus package that boosts wages and capital spending.
Responding to the latest bout of sabre-rattling from North Korea, South Korea displayed its Hyunmoo-5 ballistic missile at a military parade for the first time. The powerful weapon has been developed as a bunker-buster. Yoon Suk-yeol, South Korea’s president, warned the North that if it attacked, “That day will be the end of the North Korean regime.”
At least 224 people died in flooding and landslides in Nepal. Kathmandu, the capital, registered the highest daily rainfall for decades.
S. Iswaran, a former transport minister in Singapore, was sentenced to 12 months in prison for receiving $300,000 in gifts while in office and obstructing justice. Mr Iswaran had pleaded guilty to the charges, in the first corruption case involving a Singaporean minister since 1986.
Claudia Sheinbaum was sworn in as Mexico’s president, the first woman to hold the job. Ms Sheinbaum is from the same left-wing party as her predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador. In a speech she sought to reassure investors that their investments in Mexico would be safe following judicial reforms that have been criticised for undermining the rule of law. She reiterated that the central bank would remain independent.
Argentina’s statistics agency recorded a big jump in poverty, with 53% of Argentines living under the poverty line in the first six months of this year, compared with 42% in the previous six months. Javier Milei, the president, has cut subsidies for transport and fuel as part of his drive to normalise the economy. A spokesman blamed the rise in poverty on the “disastrous situation” that the government inherited from left-wing administrations.
In Canada Justin Trudeau survived a vote of no confidence in Parliament, the second in under a week. After two stinging by-election defeats the prime minister is facing calls to hold an early general election, especially from the opposition Conservatives, who are ahead in the polls. The Bloc Québécois, which wants independence for Quebec, has promised to support the Liberal government, but only if it boosts the state pension.
A deadly tempest
Hurricane Helene left a trail of destruction across six American states, killing about 200 people. Hundreds of people are reported to be missing. North Carolina bore the brunt. The category 4 storm made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region, packing sustained winds of 140mph (225kph).
J.D. Vance and Tim Walz, the two vice-presidential candidates in America’s election, held a televised debate. The candidates were amiable, focusing on domestic policy. Viewers were equally split on who came off the better.
Jimmy Carter celebrated his 100th birthday. The former American president, who has been receiving hospice care for 19 months, has said he is determined to vote for Kamala Harris in November’s election.