Macron Briefed Zelenskiy on His Call With Putin, People Say
Macron and his Russian counterpart agreed to coordinate their approach on Iran in their first phone call since 2022.
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Miami Herald
35 minutes ago
- Miami Herald
Man Claiming To Be Jesus Christ Is Sent To Russian Prison Camp
A religious sect leader who claimed to be the reincarnation of Jesus Christ has been sentenced to 12 years in a Russian prison camp. A court in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk sentenced Sergei Torop, a former traffic officer who called himself "Vissarion," for harming the mental and physical health of his followers. Two of his associates also received lengthy sentences. All three denied charges against them. Torop founded the Church of the Last Testament in 1991 and his group has been the subject of media scrutiny in Russia for years, during which he has attracted thousands of followers. His arrest and sentencing to a tough prison camp will likely mark the end of a sect which had lasted for more than three decades. Torop, 64, founded his movement after what he described as a divine revelation and it grew in popularity during the post-Soviet ideological vacuum of the 1990s. A regular fixture in the Russian media, thousands visited him at remote settlements in Siberia over the years and there was a core group of about 300 living in isolation on a hill they called the Abode of Dawn. He imposed strict rules on his followers, prohibiting them from consuming meat, alcohol, or tobacco, and discouraging the use of money. Followers of Torop's community, including those who came from other regions, lived in several villages in the Kuragan and Karatuz districts of the Krasnoyarsk region. Torop and two other of his sect's leaders, Vladimir Vedernikov and Vadim Redkin, were arrested in 2020 in a helicopter raid that involved Russia's main intelligence service, the FSB. Accused of creating a religious organization that violated the civil rights of its members and caused bodily harm, a criminal case established how between 1991 and 2020 Torop and his associates had used "psychological violence" against followers whom they exploited for money and labor. On Monday, the Zheleznodorozhny District Court in Novosibirsk handed down sentences against the trio for causing "moral harm" to 16 people, leaving six with "serious health problems" and one with "moderate" harm, according to a statement by the regional prosecutor's office. There was also a theft of funds of more than 5 million rubles ($63,000) from the Krasnoyarsk region's budget, the statement added. Russian prosecutor's office said in a statement: "Between 1991 and worked to subordinate other people to his power, by using psychological violence against them, causing harm to their health." The court awarded 45 million rubles ($572,000) in damages to the victims and state prosecutors. The men denied the charges and Torop and Vedernikov got a 12-year sentence while Redkin received 11 years, although it is not clear if they will appeal. Related Articles Ukraine Pulls in US Diplomat Over Trump Aid SurpriseWhile World Watches Iran, Putin Makes Headway in UkraineTrump Reacts as Russia Deploys 50K Troops Near UkraineRussia's Officials Keep Contradicting Putin on War Economy 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Bob Vylan Frontman Speaks Out After Band Is Dropped From Manchester Music Festival
The punk rap duo Bob Vylan have spoken out after it was reported that they had been dropped from a music festival in Manchester. Over the weekend, the band caused controversy when they led the crowd at their Glastonbury set in a chant of 'death to the IDF', in reference to Israel's army. After facing condemnation from UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer, the BBC – which broadcast the set live and uncensored on its iPlayer service – and Glastonbury's organisers, it was revealed that a criminal investigation was underway following sets by both Bob Vylan and fellow performers Kneecap. On Wednesday, BBC News reported that, in the wake of the controversy, Bob Vylan had been dropped from the line-ups of Radar Festival in Manchester, and Kave Fest in France. Reacting to the news, frontman Bobby Vylan wrote on Instagram: 'Silence is not an option. We will be fine, the people of Palestine are hurting.' 'Manchester we will be back,' he then vowed. Bobby previously addressed the Glastonbury furore in an Instagram post captioned: 'I said what I said.' He and bandmate Bobbie Vylan then released a joint statement which read: 'We are not for the death of Jews, Arabs or any other race or group of people. We are for the dismantling of a violent military machine. A machine whose own soldiers were told to use 'unnecessary lethal force' against innocent civilians waiting for aid. A machine that has destroyed much of Gaza.' Referring to the activist group Palestine Action and fellow Glastonbury performers Kneecap, the duo continued: 'We, like those in the spotlight before us, are not the story. We are a distraction from the story. And whatever sanctions we receive will be a distraction. 'The government doesn't want us to ask why they remain silent in the face of this atrocity. To ask why they aren't doing more to stop the killing. To feed the starving. The more they talk about Bob Vylan, the less they spend answering for their criminal inaction. 'We are being targeted for speaking up. We are not the first. We will not be the last. And if you care for the sanctity of human life and freedom of speech, we urge you to speak up, too.' Avon and Somerset Police said on Tuesday: 'Video footage and audio from Bob Vylan and Kneecap's performances at Glastonbury Festival on Saturday has been reviewed. 'Following the completion of that assessment process we have decided further enquiries are required and a criminal investigation is now being undertaken. A senior detective has been appointed to lead this investigation.' Police Open Criminal Investigation After Bob Vylan And Kneecap's Glastonbury Sets 'We Are Not The Story': Bob Vylan Speak Out After Glastonbury Set Sparks Criminal Investigation Bob Vylan Frontman Breaks Silence After Glastonbury Controversy Sparks Police Investigation
Miami Herald
2 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Ukraine Pulls in US Diplomat Over Trump Aid Surprise
The Ukrainian foreign ministry called in a top U.S. diplomat in Kyiv to discuss American military aid to the country, after the Trump Administration scrapped a planned weapons shipment because of concerns about its own diminishing stockpiles. John Ginkel, Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, met with Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Mariana Betsa on Wednesday, July 2, after he was invited there by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha. "The Ukrainian side emphasized that any delay or slowing down in supporting Ukraine's defense capabilities would only encourage the aggressor to continue war and terror, rather than seek peace," said a release from the foreign ministry. The ministry added that "strengthening Ukraine's defense capabilities and increasing coordinated transatlantic pressure on the aggressor are critically important" to securing peace by ending Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine. The U.S. said it is halting some shipments of weapons to Ukraine amid concerns that its own stockpiles have declined too much. It did not specify exactly what shipments would be withheld. It was a setback for Ukraine as it tries to fend off escalating attacks from Russia, which has amassed 50,000 troops near the border with Ukraine's Sumy region. President Donald Trump said he is watching the situation closely. Certain munitions were previously promised to Ukraine under the Biden administration to aid its defenses during the more than three-year-old war. The pause reflects a new set of priorities under Trump and came after Defense Department officials scrutinized current U.S. stockpiles and raised concerns. "This decision was made to put America's interests first following a review of our nation's military support and assistance to other countries across the globe," White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said in a statement. "The strength of the United States Armed Forces remains unquestioned—just ask Iran." An unnamed Ukrainian official told the Financial Times they were counting on the delivery of the systems and that their military planning was significantly affected as a result of the cancellation. Trump said after the NATO leaders' summit in the Netherlands that he was considering sending more Patriot missiles to Ukraine, which Kyiv had requested to help it defend its skies against the Russian missile and drone attacks raining down on its cities. U.S. Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby said in a statement to the media that the Pentagon "continues to provide the President with robust options to continue military aid to Ukraine". This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow. This article includes reporting by The Associated Press. Related Articles While World Watches Iran, Putin Makes Headway in UkraineUkraine Sees Mixed Results at the 2025 NATO Summit | OpinionWhat F-16 Loss Means For Ukraine's Air PowerUkraine Rebukes NATO Member for Plea To Forgive Putin 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
