Hong Kong Activist Detained in Bangkok Hours Before Flight to Canada

Graduates of the National Academy of Legal Studies and Research in Hyderabad have urged the university administration to reconsider its decision to invite Chief Justice of India Surya Kant as the chief guest at its upcoming convocation. The students have submitted a written request to the vice chancellor, registrar and faculty members. They said the university should consider constitutional values, justice and respect for citizens’ grievances while deciding who should preside over such an important academic event. The students’ concerns are linked to the Supreme Court’s handling of a petition related to police action during a protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on July 20. The protest was held under the banner of “Chalo Sansad”. The students have raised questions about the court’s decision not to list the petition for an urgent hearing at the time. In their representation, the graduates referred to reports about a hearing held on July 22. They claimed that the lawyer representing the protesters was told not to waste the court’s time. The students also cited reports that the lawyer offered to show videos of alleged police excesses during the protest. According to the petition, the chief justice reportedly declined to watch the footage, saying he did not have time. The graduates further alleged that the lawyer was not allowed to fully explain the reasons behind the protest. They said the matter deserved greater consideration because of the allegations surrounding the police action. The students also said a separate letter had previously been sent to the chief justice. The letter reportedly requested the Supreme Court to take suo motu notice of the alleged police action. According to the students’ petition, more than 170 protesters were injured during the incident. They claimed that women and children were also among those injured. The graduates said their concerns were based on the principles they had been taught during their time at the law university. They argued that constitutional rights and citizens’ freedoms were central to their legal education. They said receiving degrees from a chief guest whose recent conduct they believe raises questions about the handling of allegations of police violence would be a matter of concern. The students have therefore asked the university to reconsider the invitation. They have also sought consultation with graduating students before making a final decision. They further requested a meeting with the university administration to discuss the issue. The graduates also asked the administration to respond to their concerns without delay.

Armed gunmen launched a hours-long night-time raid on the village of Lajinge in northwestern Nigeria’s Sokoto state, killing at least 12 people and abducting several women and children. The assailants set fire to homes during the assault, causing six members of a single family to burn to death inside their residence. Local residents reported that four additional individuals sustained injuries while the attackers also rustled significant amounts of livestock. Sokoto state police forces confirmed an ongoing investigation into the assault, which follows a similar attack that left 24 farmers dead in neighbouring Zamfara state just a week prior.

Russia has sharply criticized the European Union after the bloc approved its 21st package of sanctions, saying the new measures will damage European economies more than Russia and further increase tensions between Moscow and Brussels. In a statement released by Russia’s Permanent Mission to the European Union, officials said the approval process for the latest sanctions exposed growing divisions within the EU. According to Moscow, many member states were reluctant to support additional restrictions because of the economic burden they are already facing. Russia claimed the lengthy negotiations reflected increasing concern among European governments over the impact of sanctions on businesses, energy supplies and overall economic growth. The Russian mission accused the European Union of continuing a policy of confrontation despite rising economic challenges across Europe. It said EU leaders were ignoring the financial costs of sanctions while pursuing what Moscow described as a political campaign against Russia. The statement also referred to comments by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas, who indicated that further sanctions could be introduced in the future. According to Russia, discussions on new sanctions have become a political ritual aimed at showing unity among EU member states rather than achieving practical results. Moscow argued that the restrictions have failed to weaken Russia in the way European leaders had expected. Instead, it claimed that European citizens and businesses are paying the price through higher energy costs, inflation and slower economic growth. The statement further argued that Europe’s economic difficulties have been intensified by the EU’s decision to reduce imports of Russian energy, continued financial and military support for Ukraine, and instability in global energy markets caused by ongoing tensions in the Middle East. Russian officials also pointed to a recent assessment by the European Central Bank, which highlighted geopolitical conflicts and energy market uncertainty as major risks to the European economy. Moscow said this assessment supports its argument that continued sanctions are creating additional pressure on European countries. Using a road journey as a comparison, the Russian mission said the European Union was following a path that could lead its economy into serious difficulties. It argued that EU policymakers should reconsider their current strategy instead of introducing more restrictions that, in Russia’s view, have produced limited results while increasing costs for Europe. The statement concluded by reaffirming that Russia considers the EU sanctions to be illegal unilateral measures. Moscow warned that any additional restrictions imposed by the European Union would receive what it described as an effective and appropriate response from Russia.