News

Royal College of Nursing set for historic nationwide strike

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has voted to take strike action across the UK for the first time in the union’s history. Members will be striking to fight against worsening pay and conditions, as the latest union to take action in this year’s wave of strikes. 

Overcrowding leads to chaos at Manston asylum seeker centre 

On Sunday, a terrorist detonated petrol bombs at a Kent Asylum Seeker Processing Centre, shortly afterwards taking his own life. The evacuation of this centre led approximately 700 asylum seekers to the now infamous Manston Processing Centre, following what had already been weeks of chaos involving overcrowding and reports of harrowing conditions even leading to the outbreak of disease.

Bolsonaro loses out to Lula in Brazilian Premiership race 

Former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, commonly known as Lula, beat far-right incumbent Jair Bolsonaro on Sunday. Bolsonaro, who has wrought havoc on the country since he came to power in 2019, is the first President of Brazil to lose an election while incumbent in over 3 decades.

Scottish capital for Scottish capitalists

The future is “inherently unpredictable,” First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told the gathered journalists at Bute House. So unpredictable is the future that the SNP have planned Scotland’s demise – or glory – in 100 pages worth of detail in “A Stronger Economy with Independence”.

Rishi Sunak to be appointed new Prime Minister

Following the announcement late Sunday night that former Prime Minister Boris Johnson would not be standing in the Tory Leadership election, it looked like it would be a straight run-off between former Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, and leader of the House of Commons, Penny Mordaunt. However, after failing to meet the required 100 votes from Tory MPs, Mordaunt dropped out of the race, leaving “Dishy Rishi” to be coronated as the third Tory Prime Minister in two months with no need for a contest. 

US prepares to invade Haiti, sparking mass protest

The United States and Mexico have drawn up plans to invade Haiti, on the grounds of “stabilising” the country. Such proposals have received the blessing of Haiti’s Prime Minister, Ariel Henry, but have been met with mass opposition by Haitian citizens. 

CPC National Congress opens

The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China comes together this week, with delegates representing nearly 100 million members. The first day of the Congress was opened by President Xi Jinping, who yesterday told the Congress that the “central task of the CPC will be … building China into a great modern socialist country”.

High Court endorses robbery of Venezuelan gold

The UK High Court has ruled against the Venezuelan government over their right to access their country’s gold reserves. This follows a request by Juan Guaidó, who the British government recognises as Venezuela’s ‘real’ President, to appeal previous rulings on the matter. The Bank of England currently holds £1.4 billion of the Venezuelan people’s gold reserves.

Solidarity strikes to take Nigeria by storm

Muhammadu Buhari, the President of Nigeria, has said that the strikes which are due to take place on 26 and 27 July are “uncalled for and illegal.’’ The solidarity strikes are in support of academics who have been striking as members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) since 14 February 2022