MagnaCartaPolitics

A aryan Bora, Political Columnist Diplomats from both Russia and Ukraine talk about peace, but the battlefield tells a different story. It has been nearly 10 months, and Russia’s losses in Ukraine have been increasing faster than at any point since the full-scale invasion began in 2022, according to BBC analysis. This grim trend contrasts sharply with intensified negotiations pushed by Washington. Since early 2025, Russian media have published roughly 40% more obituaries than during the same period last year. Behind those notices lies a staggering figure of almost 160,000 Russian soldiers confirmed killed. The actual toll is likely much higher, perhaps between 243,000 and 352,000, once unrecorded deaths are accounted for. The timing is revealing, with casualty spikes appearing to follow moments of diplomatic momentum rather than military necessity. Losses surged sharply after Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin discussed ending the war and again around their high-profile meeting in Alaska....

Aaryan Bora, Political Columnist Anthony Albanese was heavily booed at Bondi this weekend, and the booing was so loud and expressive as the public revealed their feelings. The public didn’t just protest the government but also struggled to process shock, grief, and anger after experiencing its deadliest mass shooting in nearly three decades. The severe attack on a Jewish festival at Bondi Beach is now officially declared a terrorist incident, forcing Australia into an uncomfortable reckoning. Fifteen people were killed, and the attack was inspired by Islamic State ideology. For a nation that has long prided itself on strong gun laws and social cohesion, the violence shattered assumptions of safety from atrocities seen elsewhere. Albanese’s response has been swift, and while it has not been universally welcomed, he announced a review of federal police and intelligence agencies, arguing that the rapidly changing security environment demands new scrutiny of how extremism is identified and...

Aaryan Bora, Political Columnist     Vanesa Zackova, Political Editor All the European leaders have gathered in Brussels as President Volodymyr Zelensky delivers a straightforward and blunt message: time and money are running out very quickly. Ukraine is heading towards a challenging period, as it may face a major and serious financial crisis by spring. Ukraine will face tough choices, including cutting drone production during a critical stage of the war.  At the centre of the debate are €210bn in frozen Russian assets, mostly held in Europe and largely managed by Belgium-based financial services firm Euroclear. For months, the EU has limited their support and itself to handing Ukraine the interest generated by those funds. Under mounting pressure, Brussels is considering something more consequential: using these assets as the basis for a multi-billion-euro loan. Ukraine’s response and views are straightforward. Zelensky estimates a funding gap of around €45–50bn by ...

Zuzana Moscakova, Chief Reporter A deadly attack at Bondi Beach has shaken Australia and pushed Prime  Minister Anthony Albanese into a fierce political battle over safety, unity and  leadership. The deadly attack at Bondi Beach has plunged Australia into grief and  uncertainty. As the nation mourns the victims, the tragedy has also pushed the  country into a political storm, placing Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the  centre of an intense and emotionally charged debate. Albanese, who leads Australia’s Labor government, moved swiftly after the  attack to condemn the violence and offer condolences to families and  communities affected. He called for unity and urged Australians not to allow  hatred or fear to fracture the nation. His message was calm and deliberate, but  it did little to slow the political momentum that followed. Within days, the focus shifted from mourning to policy. Albanese raised the  possibility of strengthening g...

Aaryan Bora, Political Columnist        Vanesa Zackova, Political Editor Washington D.C., has revived an age-old tactic by seizing foreign-flagged vessels in international waters and near foreign coastlines. This week, the U.S. military boarded and detained the vessel known as Skipper, an oil tanker operating off Venezuela’s coast. The U.S. claims the tanker is sanctioned and tied to illicit activities, prompting Caracas to denounce the action as an act of international piracy. Footage released shows troops descending ropes from helicopters in a gritty, Hollywood-style scene more reminiscent of a blockbuster film than a Hague-approved operation. President Donald Trump, never one to shy from grandiosity, declared it “the largest one ever seized,” a superlative that’s questionable in factual terms but effective in optics. The tanker is accused of transporting illicit oil linked to Iran, Venezuela, Hezbollah, and the IRGC’s Quds Force—forming a geopolitical bingo card o...

Zuzana Moscakova, Chief Reporter        Loyal Daniel, Political Editor From December 10, children under 16 will no longer be allowed on Instagram, TikTok,  Facebook and other major platforms. The law forces companies to verify ages or face  huge fines, while critics warn that it could isolate teens and raise privacy concerns.  Parents and advocates say it protects young people from cyberbullying, addictive  content, and online risks, but legal challenges have already begun. The federal government of Australia has passed a world-first law banning children under 16  from holding accounts on most major social media platforms. From 10 December 2025, these  services must deactivate existing “under 16” accounts and stop new ones from being created.  Platforms that fail to comply face fines of up to A$49.5 million. Under the measure, social media companies - including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok,  Snapchat, X (formerly Twitter), YouTu...

Zuzana Moscakova, Chief Reporter        Vanesa Zackova, Political Editor President Donald Trump told a female reporter to be “quiet, piggy” aboard Air Force One after she attempted to ask a follow-up question about newly released files related to Jeffrey Epstein. The journalist, Catherine Lucey, a White House correspondent for Bloomberg News, had asked the president on why the documents were not being released if, as the president claimed, they contained nothing incriminating. As she began asking her question, Trump leaned forward, pointed at her, and said, “Quiet. Quiet, piggy.” A White House official later defended the president’s behaviour, arguing that the reporter had acted in what they described as an inappropriate and unprofessional manner toward colleagues on the flight. The official added, “If you are going to give it, you have to be able to take it.” This is one of many incidents that follow a series of similar remarks directed at women in the press. Report...