The BRICS summit, attended by UN chief António Guterres, has sparked controversy due to his engagement with Russian President Vladimir Putin, criticized for his role in the Ukraine conflict. The summit, involving key global players like China and India, highlights diplomatic tensions and differing stances on international issues, including the Middle East and sanctions. Despite efforts to project unity, underlying fractures within BRICS are evident, with concerns about its potential anti-US orientation. The article also touches on Russia's asylum grant to British former YouTuber Graham Phillips, further complicating international relations.

The Brics summit in Kazan, Russia, hosted by Vladimir Putin, brings together leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, with discussions focusing on countering Western influence and expanding the group's membership. The summit highlights the geopolitical significance of Brics as a counterweight to Western alliances, with new members like Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the UAE being welcomed. The event underscores the growing divide between global powers, with Russia and China presenting a united front against US hegemony. The summit also addresses economic strategies, including alternative payment platforms to bypass Western sanctions. The meeting occurs amid heightened security in Kazan, reflecting the summit's importance in shaping future international relations.

The article highlights a series of suspicious deaths among prominent figures in Russia's oil and gas industry, including executives from Gazprom, Lukoil, and Novatek, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. It references the historical context of Yukos and its conflict with the Russian state, suggesting a pattern of mysterious circumstances surrounding these deaths. The narrative implies a connection between these events and broader geopolitical tensions.

Ukraine conducted drone strikes on a Russian arms depot, with Russia claiming to have intercepted 125 drones. Explosions were reported near the Ukrainian border, and Russian glide bomb attacks in Zaporizhzhia injured 13 people. Russia's recent military actions are seen as attempts to provoke the West. President Zelensky condemned Russia's attacks on civilian targets and honored Holocaust victims. The article highlights the ongoing conflict and the need for Ukraine to bolster its air defenses.

Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, faces legal challenges in France over the app's use by criminals, while his complex relationship with the Kremlin and his libertarian views are scrutinized. Telegram, a platform with nearly a billion users, is pivotal for free speech in authoritarian states but also used by various state and non-state actors. Durov's arrest marks a significant moment in tech regulation, raising concerns about digital rights and free expression. Despite allegations of ties to the Kremlin, Durov maintains a nomadic lifestyle and a controversial public image.

The Boston Harbor Islands, often overlooked, have played a significant role in Boston's history, evolving from sites of prisons and asylums to a national park and recreational hub. Dr. Pavla Simková's book, 'Urban Archipelago,' reinterprets these islands as an integral part of Boston, shaped by the city's changing values. The book, published by University of Massachusetts Press, draws on various historical sources to explore the islands' transformation and their impact on Boston's environment. While the book focuses on the islands' history from the 17th century onwards, it touches on the earlier history under Native civilians, highlighting the need for further exploration in this area.

Two key allies of the late Yevgeny Prigozhin, Ilya Gorbunov and Kirill Metelev, have been detained by Russian authorities on suspicion of involvement in organized crime, including racketeering and extortion. Their arrests coincide with the anniversary of Prigozhin's failed mutiny, which posed a significant internal threat to President Putin's regime. Both men are linked to Prigozhin's efforts to influence western elections through troll farms.

A US soldier, Black, has been sentenced to four years in a Russian penal colony. The case involves an altercation with Vashchuk, whom Black met in South Korea. The US Army did not authorize Black's travel to Russia, and the White House had warned against such travel. The article also mentions other Americans held in Russia, including journalist Evan Gershkovich and former Marine Paul Whelan. Black plans to appeal the verdict.

Anna Tsivileva, who runs the sanctioned coalmining enterprise Kolmar, has been appointed as a deputy defence minister in Russia. Other appointees include Leonid Gornin, former chief deputy finance minister, and Pavel Fradkov, son of a former prime minister and head of Russia’s foreign intelligence service. This reshuffle follows the sacking of long-serving defence minister Sergei Shoigu, who has been replaced by Andrei Belousov, in an effort to make the ministry more economically efficient amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Russia has intensified its attacks on Kharkiv, targeting civilian infrastructure, including a construction hypermarket and the international airport in Zaporizhzhia. Ukrainian officials, including President Zelensky, have highlighted the ongoing threat and called for increased European support for air defense. The EU's high representative, Josep Borrell, echoed the need for urgent assistance to protect Ukrainian towns. The destruction of key infrastructure is seen as part of a broader strategy to undermine Ukrainian identity, described by analysts as cultural genocide.