While you were sleeping - world news wrap

While you were sleeping - world news wrap

Theresa May is set to become the next Prime Minister of the UK after her only opponent, Andrea Leadsom, dropped out of the contest to become leader of the ruling Conservative Party.

Fifty-nine-year-old May backed staying in the European Union (EU), while Ms Leadsom campaigned to leave it in the recent Brexit referendum.

Ms Leadsom apologised to Ms May yesterday after suggesting that she would make a better candidate for Prime Minister because she was a mother.

Ms May will take over on Thursday (NZ time), when David Cameron says he will tender his resignation to the Queen.

While you were sleeping - world news wrap

(Reuters)

Ms May has been serving as Home Secretary since 2010, and will become the UK's second female Prime Minister, and the first since Margaret Thatcher in 1990.

Police in the troubled region of Kashmir say up to 30 people have been killed in clashes between militant protestors and Indian security forces.

It's the worst violence Kashmir has witnessed in years, and India is sending in 800 fresh troops to help restore order.

Kashmiri militants want independence from Indian rule, or a merger with Pakistan, which also claims sovereignty over the region.

While you were sleeping - world news wrap

(Reuters)

India and Pakistan have battled over Kashmir since India was partitioned in 1947, and have fought three major conflicts there.

The Indian government has warned Pakistan not to interfere with the current situation in Kashmir.

Government troop districts in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo have been shelled by rebel fighters, with state media reporting eight killed and dozens injured. 

While you were sleeping - world news wrap

(Reuters)

A human rights monitoring group claims the rebels fired more than 300 artillery shells as they looked to break open a new route into the city, but the progress of their ground troops was checked after a heavy bombardment from government aircraft.

Aleppo was once Syria's main commercial and industrial hub, but near-constant fighting since 2012 has destroyed large parts of the city. The United Nations say up to 300,000 people are trapped in the city's eastern suburbs.

The president of South Sudan has ordered a ceasefire with rebel factions loyal to Vice-President Riek Machar.

Over 200 people have been killed in the recent fighting in the capital city of Juba, with many of the combatants child soldiers under the age of 18. It's estimated more than 15,000 child soldiers have been pressed into South Sudan's civil war in recent months.

While you were sleeping - world news wrap

(Reuters)

South Sudan has only existed for five years but is now considered a failed state, with the conflict displacing more than 2 million people while another 2.5 million face severe food shortages.

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