Ukrainian foreign minister resigns ahead of expected reshuffling of government leaders

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, one of Ukraine’s most recognizable faces on the international stage, has submitted his resignation ahead of an expected reshuffling of government leaders. Meanwhile, Russian strikes killed at least seven people Wednesday in the Ukrainian city of Lviv near the Polish border, a day after one of the deadliest missile attacks since the war began. Kuleba gave no reason for stepping down. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated last week that the reshuffle was imminent, with the war poised to enter a critical stage and to mark its 1,000th day in November.

Grenfell fire inquiry ended with a damning report

LONDON (AP) — Now that an independent inquiry has completed its investigation into Britain’s deadliest residential fire since World War II, survivors and bereaved relatives are demanding that criminal charges be brought against those responsible for the blaze that killed 72 people in 2017. The Grenfell Tower inquiry released its final report on Wednesday, a 1,700-page document that detailed how the failings of government, the construction industry and firefighters led to the deaths at a high-rise apartment building in west London more than seven years ago. It says the disaster was entirely avoidable.

Boko Haram militants on motorcycles attacked a Nigerian village, killing over 100, residents say

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (AP) — Residents in northeastern Nigeria say at least 100 villagers were killed when suspected Boko Haram Islamic extremists opened fire on a market, on worshippers and in people’s homes. The killings in Yobe state’s Tarmuwa council area are the latest episode of violence in the 15-year-long war on the extremists. Officials gave a much lower death toll of 34, a common occurrence. Local media reported that the extremists claimed responsibility for the attack, accusing villagers of informing security operatives about their activities.

Sweden’s foreign minister announces shock departure from politics

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Sweden’s Foreign Minister Tobias Billström who steered the Scandinavian country through sometimes a bumpy road to NATO membership and stood tall on supporting Ukraine, says he’ll leave the government next week. Billström stunned the political establishment Wednesday by saying on X that he had been consiering the move “for some time.” Billström, who has been foreign minister since 2022, took Sweden through what he called “a sometimes challenging NATO process.” The Scandinavian country became the 32nd member of the military alliance in March. Billström has not announced what he’ll do next and his replacement has not yet been named.