Children Among 23 Dead in Kyiv Drone Barrage
Overnight on August 28th Russia carried out its latest and most deadly drone strike bombardment of Kyiv, leaving 23 dead. Including four children. Ukrainian forces have said Russia fired around 600 drones and 30 ballistic and cruise missiles against the capital in the early hours of the morning. Among key locations hit include the EU's diplomatic mission and nearby British Council. Ursula Von Der Leyen has since made a statement that there had been a “massive strike on Kyiv which also hit our EU offices.” She added that Vladimir Putin “must come to the negotiating table.” When a residential block targeted in the south-eastern Darnytskyi district on Kyiv's left bank left children aged two, 14 and 17 dead, it is now more apparent than ever that any progress towards peace made at Trump’s Alaska meeting with Putin was superficial at best. Whilst the Kremlin has said it is ‘still interested’ in negotiations, this grim and brutal attack that has left so many innocent civilians dead must now emphasise to Trump and other world leaders that Putin’s ‘word’ cannot be trusted. This has been evident since well before the beginning of the invasion and is becoming increasingly impossible for the West to ignore. Any peace negotiations going forward will be laced with cynicism and uncertainty, as Russia once again shows the undeniable and continued aggressiveness of their war machine. This cannot be so easily controlled by flattery and false promises, as President Trump continues to assume.
National Flag Displays Across England tied to Far-Right Hate Drive
National flags have been appearing more across England. An online campaign, #OperationRaisetheColours, has fuelled a guerrilla movement marked by displays of St. George’s Cross and Union Jack flags including being over flyovers and painted on roundabouts. The advocacy group Hope not Hate says several of the campaign’s organizers have ties to far-right activists. Tommy Robinson, co-founder of the now-defunct English Defence League, has publicly backed the campaign on X — joined by the platform’s owner, U.S. tech billionaire Elon Musk. In Britain, displaying flags in windows and public places is typically reserved for special occasions such as royal weddings and sporting events, yet this eruption of flag pride is undeniably a display of hatred and resentment towards immigrant communities in Britain, whom the far right has deliberately used to scapegoat for the country’s wider problems. Rather than a patriotic display of love and pride in a country built on immigration (a products of our history and particularly our colonial past), it is being used to ridicule, isolate and scare migrant communities across the country. The rhetoric around immigrants and asylum seekers in particular has become toxic. It is no longer about trying to logically solve the issue of small boats or a system ill-equipped to deal with the numbers of refugees arriving on our shores, it is a plainly racist campaign directed by far-right figures like Nigel Farage, seeking to exploit this issue for political gain. Now this toxic issue has reached a point where the British flag has been hijacked by prejudice and hatred, representing a frightening omen of what our country could become with its continuation; a hostile and racist ‘island of strangers’.
Minneapolis Church Shooting Leaves Two Children Dead and a Community in Shock
Minneapolis is reeling after a devastating shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church during a morning school Mass on August 27. Two children, eight-year-old Fletcher Merkel and ten-year-old Harper Moyski, were killed and at least 18 others injured when a gunman opened fire into the packed sanctuary filled with pupils, teachers and parishioners. The attacker, identified as 23-year-old Robin Westman, used multiple legally purchased firearms including a rifle and a shotgun before taking their own life inside the church. Authorities say there is no evidence of a direct grievance with the parish but hundreds of pages of journals and scheduled online posts paint a disturbing picture. Investigators describe writings filled with praise for past mass shooters, violent fantasies about children and antisemitic and racist themes. Federal officials are now treating the case as both a hate crime and an act of domestic terrorism. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said Westman’s own words made clear the intent: a desire to watch children suffer. Acting US Attorney Joseph Thompson called the attack one of pure hatred, stating it was a deliberate act of terror against the innocent. Political leaders responded swiftly. Mayor Jacob Frey urged Congress to take action on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, arguing that thoughts and prayers are not enough. Governor Tim Walz ordered state flags lowered to half-staff while calling for calm and unity. The White House condemned the violence as a desecration of a sacred place of worship. The city has begun to mourn. Vigils and memorials have drawn hundreds, with flowers, candles and handwritten notes surrounding the steps of the church. Clergy from across denominations joined together in prayer services, while neighbours offered support to grieving families. For many in Minneapolis, the loss of two young children in a place meant to be safe has left a wound that will take years to heal.
Add comment
Comments