Breaking
BreakingNews.ie
34 minutes ago
- Health
- BreakingNews.ie
Israeli strike kills 18 Palestinians as turmoil mounts over food distribution
An Israeli strike hit a street in central Gaza on Thursday, where witnesses said a crowd of people were getting bags of flour from a Palestinian police unit which had confiscated the goods from gangs looting aid convoys. Hospital officials said 18 people were killed. Advertisement The strike was the latest violence surrounding the distribution of food to Gaza's population, which has been thrown into turmoil over the past month. After blocking all food for two and a half months, Israel has allowed only a trickle of supplies into the territory since mid-May. A Palestinian boy carries a sack of food (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP) Efforts by the United Nations to distribute the food have been plagued by armed gangs looting trucks, and by crowds of desperate people offloading supplies from convoys. The strike in the central town of Deir al-Balah appeared to target members of Sahm, a security unit tasked with stopping looters and cracking down on merchants who sell stolen aid at high prices. Advertisement The unit is part of Gaza's Hamas-led interior ministry, but includes members of other factions. Witnesses said the Sahm unit was distributing bags of flour and other goods confiscated from looters and corrupt merchants, drawing a crowd, when the strike hit. Video of the aftermath showed bodies of multiple young men in the street with blood splattering on the pavement and walls of buildings. The dead included a child and at least seven Sahm members, according to the nearby Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital where casualties were taken. Advertisement Palestinians carry humanitarian aid packages near the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation distribution centre in Khan Younis (Abdel Kareem Hana/AP) There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military. Israel has accused the militant Hamas group of stealing aid and using it to prop up its rule in the enclave. Israeli forces have repeatedly struck Gaza's police, considering them a branch of Hamas. An association of Gaza's influential clans and tribes said on Wednesday they have started an independent effort to guard aid convoys to prevent looting. The National Gathering of Palestinian Clans and Tribes said it helped escort a rare shipment of flour that entered northern Gaza that evening. Advertisement It was unclear, however, if the association had co-ordinated with the UN or Israeli authorities. 'We will no longer allow thieves to steal from the convoys for the merchants and force us to buy them for high prices,' Abu Ahmad al-Gharbawi, a figure involved in the tribal effort, told the Associated Press. The move by tribes to protect aid convoys brings yet another player in an aid situation that has become fragmented, confused and violent, even as Gaza's more than two million Palestinians struggle to feed their families. Throughout the more than 20-month-old war, the UN led the massive aid operation by humanitarian groups providing food, shelter, medicine and other goods to Palestinians despite the fighting. Advertisement Israel, however, seeks to replace the UN-led system, saying Hamas has been siphoning off large amounts of supplies from it, a claim the UN and other aid groups deny. Israel has backed an American private contractor, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which has started distributing food boxes at four locations, mainly in the far south of Gaza for the past month. Thousands of Palestinians walk for hours to reach the hubs, moving through Israeli military zones where witnesses say Israeli troops regularly open fire with heavy barrages to control the crowds. Health officials say hundreds of people have been killed and wounded. The Israeli military says it has only fired warning shots.
Bloomberg
28 minutes ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
California's Newsom Sues Fox for $787 Million in Libel Suit Over Trump Call
California Governor Gavin Newsom sued Fox News for defamation over the network's coverage of a conversation he had with President Donald Trump about the use of National Guard troops to respond to protests in Los Angeles. In a lawsuit filed Friday in Delaware, Newsom accused the network of deliberately misrepresenting comments made by himself and Trump to claim that Newsom had lied about a phone conversation between the two leaders.
Bloomberg
27 minutes ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Macquarie-Owned Fiber Provider Taps Debt Advisors Amid Cash Burn
UK broadband provider KCOM Group Limited and its lenders are gearing up for debt talks as the business owned by Macquarie burns through cash. KCOM, which operates in the north of England, is working with advisors including PJT Partners Inc., according to people familiar with the matter. The company's bank lenders have also heard advisory pitches in recent days ahead of the talks, according to people with knowledge of the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the details aren't public.
Bloomberg
16 minutes ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Boeing Wins Buy Rating as Redburn Sees ‘Healthier' Company
Shares of Boeing Co. are set to make gains as the company speeds up production of commercial aircraft and takes steps to move on from a series of crises in recent years, according to Rothschild & Co. Redburn. Growth in deliveries of 737 and 787 jets could bring annual free cash flow to a record level of more than $14 billion by the end of the decade, analyst Olivier Brochet wrote in a note to clients. The analyst raised the recommendation on the shares to buy from neutral, and boosted the price target to $275 from $180.
CBS News
26 minutes ago
- Business
- CBS News
Supreme Court upholds FCC fund to expand phone and internet access
Washington — The Supreme Court on Friday upheld the Federal Communications Commission's multi-billion-dollar mechanism for expanding phone and internet access to rural and low-income communities. The high court ruled that neither Congress nor the FCC violated the Constitution with its chosen scheme for administering the Universal Service Fund, which is supported by contributions from communications carriers and funds programs designed to improve access to telecommunications services. Justice Elena Kagan authored the majority opinion for the 6-3 court, with Justices Neil Gorsuch, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito in dissent. This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
CBS News
an hour ago
- Politics
- CBS News
Supreme Court, in birthright citizenship case, says universal injunctions likely exceed courts' authority
Washington — The Supreme Court on Friday said it will allow the Trump administration to partially enforce an executive order that seeks to end birthright citizenship while proceedings in a challenge to the directive move forward, ruling that universal injunctions issued by lower courts likely exceed the authority Congress has granted them. In a widely anticipated decision involving the scope of nationwide injunctions, the high court said that the universal orders likely go beyond the equitable authority that Congress has granted to the federal courts. Justice Amy Coney Barrett authored the majority opinion for the 6-3 court, with the liberal justices in dissent. The court's ruling came in a trio of emergency appeals by the Trump administration arising out of the president's executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship. The Justice Department had asked the Supreme Court to narrow the scope of three separate injunctions that blocked implementation of Mr. Trump's policy nationwide while legal challenges brought by 22 states, immigrants' rights groups and seven individuals moved forward. But instead of swiftly deciding whether to grant the Trump administration emergency relief, the Supreme Court held arguments on whether to restrict the use of nationwide, or universal, injunctions, which are judicial orders that prevent the government from enforcing a policy anywhere in the country and against anyone. The court did not consider or rule on the merits of Mr. Trump's birthright citizenship plan, and its decision means that the executive order cannot be enforced against the states, organizations and individuals who challenged its legality. The Trump administration has said agencies have 30 days to issue public guidance about implementation of the policy.
CBS News
43 minutes ago
- Politics
- CBS News
Supreme Court, in birthright citizenship case, limits judges' use of nationwide injunctions
Washington — The Supreme Court on Friday limited the use of nationwide injunctions, reining in federal judges' ability to issue sweeping orders that have in recent years stymied implementation of policies from Republican and Democratic presidential administrations alike. In a widely anticipated decision stemming from President Trump's executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship, the high court said that universal orders likely exceed the equitable authority that Congress has granted to the federal courts. Justice Amy Coney Barrett authored the majority opinion for the 6-3 court, with the liberal justices in dissent. The court said it will let the Trump administration partially enforce the president's executive order while proceedings move forward, but "only to the extent that the injunctions are broader than necessary to provide complete relief" to plaintiffs who can sue, Barrett wrote. The justices did not address the question of whether Mr. Trump's order was constitutional. "Some say that the universal injunction 'give[s] the Judiciary a powerful tool to check the Executive Branch.' But federal courts do not exercise general oversight of the Executive Branch; they resolve cases and controversies consistent with the authority Congress has given them," Barrett wrote. "When a court concludes that the Executive Branch has acted unlawfully, the answer is not for the court to exceed its power, too." The birthright citizenship case The court's ruling came in a trio of emergency appeals by the Trump administration arising out of the president's executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship, which says that everyone born in the U.S. is a citizen, regardless of their parents' immigration status. The Justice Department had asked the Supreme Court to narrow the scope of three separate injunctions that blocked implementation of Mr. Trump's policy nationwide while legal challenges brought by 22 states, immigrants' rights groups and seven individuals moved forward. But instead of swiftly deciding whether to grant the Trump administration emergency relief, the Supreme Court held arguments on whether to restrict the use of nationwide, or universal, injunctions, which are judicial orders that prevent the government from enforcing a policy anywhere in the country and against anyone. The court did not consider or rule on the merits of Mr. Trump's birthright citizenship plan, and its decision means that the executive order cannot be enforced against the states, organizations and individuals who challenged its legality. The Trump administration has said agencies have 30 days to issue public guidance about implementation of the policy. The dispute over the president's attempt to unwind birthright citizenship has become intertwined with the administration's battle against nationwide injunctions. These sweeping orders have frustrated both Democratic and Republican presidents seeking to implement their agendas among gridlock in Congress, and the fight over them has been simmering for several years. The Congressional Research Service identified 86 nationwide injunctions that were issued during Mr. Trump's first term and 28 granted while former President Joe Biden was in office. As to the president's second term, the Congressional Research Service found 17 nationwide injunctions were issued during the first 100 days, though the Trump administration estimated last month there have been far more — at least 40 of these orders, and most coming from the same five judicial districts. Some of the justices have suggested in past writings that the Supreme Court would have to clarify whether nationwide injunctions are allowed at all, and members on both ideological sides of the bench have been critical of them. But the orders that blocked Mr. Trump's birthright citizenship executive order landed the issue before the Supreme Court earlier this year, though the administration has railed against them in requests to enforce its transgender military ban, fire thousands of federal probationary workers and move forward with mass layoffs of government employees. The president's executive order on birthright citizenship was one of the first that he signed on his first day back in office and is among several directives that seek to target migrants who are in the U.S. The Trump administration's immigration policies have led to high-profile clashes with the courts — namely Mr. Trump's use of the wartime Alien Enemies Act to deport alleged members of a Venezuelan gang. While the 14th Amendment has for more than a century been understood to guarantee citizenship to all people born in the U.S., Mr. Trump's order denied birthright citizenship to children born to a mother who is unlawfully present in the U.S. or who is lawfully present on a temporary basis; or whose father is neither a citizen nor lawful permanent resident. The president's order directed federal agencies to stop issuing documents recognizing U.S. citizenship to children born after Feb. 19. More than half-a-dozen lawsuits challenging the measure were filed in courts throughout the country before it took effect, and three federal district courts in Washington, Maryland and Massachusetts each blocked the government from implementing the birthright citizenship order. Federal appeals courts in San Francisco, Boston, and Richmond, Virginia, then refused requests by the Trump administration to partly block the lower court orders. The Justice Department filed emergency appeals of the three decisions with the Supreme Court in mid-March and asked it to limit enforcement of the birthright citizenship order to 28 states and individuals who are not involved in the ongoing cases. The administration said that at a minimum, the Supreme Court should allow agencies to develop and issue public guidance regarding implementation of Mr. Trump's executive order while proceedings continue. Like other requests made to the Supreme Court, the Justice Department took aim at the breadth of the injunctions issued by the district courts, which are nationwide in scope and cover states and individuals who are not involved in the litigation before them. The president and his allies have attacked judges for issuing nationwide injunctions in the slew of legal challenges to Mr. Trump's policies, and even called for some to be impeached. The Justice Department said in a filing that universal injunctions have reached "epidemic" proportions since Mr. Trump returned to the White House in January. "Those injunctions thwart the executive branch's crucial policies on matters ranging from border security, to international relations, to national security, to military readiness," Solicitor General D. John Sauer wrote. "They repeatedly disrupt the operations of the Executive Branch up to the Cabinet level." But the plaintiffs in the cases challenging the directive urged the Supreme Court to leave the district court orders in place. In a filing with the Supreme Court, officials from 18 states, the District of Columbia and San Francisco called the Trump administration's request "remarkable," as it would allow the government to strip hundreds of thousands of American-born children of their citizenship while the legal challenges move forward and render them "deportable on birth and at risk of statelessness. The states argued that the Trump administration seeks to violate binding Supreme Court precedent that recognized birthright citizenship is guaranteed by the 14th Amendment.
Washington Post
36 minutes ago
- General
- Washington Post
Read the full Supreme Court opinion on nationwide orders and birthright citizenship
The Supreme Court on Friday backed President Donald Trump's request to scale back nationwide orders that have for months blocked the administration's ban on automatic citizenship for the U.S.-born babies of undocumented immigrants and foreign visitors, a signature piece of Tump's efforts to restrict immigration. Read the full opinion — and the dissents — below. If you're unable to read the full text on mobile, the full pdf is available here.
Associated Press
23 minutes ago
- Business
- Associated Press
5 Greek government officials resign over EU farming subsidy fraud allegations
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Five high-ranking Greek government officials, including a minister and three deputy ministers, resigned Friday following allegations of involvement in corruption over the mismanagement of European Union farming subsidies. The case stems from the alleged mismanagement of EU subsidies for agriculture between 2019 and 2022 by a government agency, known by its Greek acronym OPEKEPE, tasked with handling the funds. According to the European Public Prosecutor's Office, a 'significant number of individuals' received subsidies through the agency based on false declarations, including claims of owning or leasing pastures that were in fact public land. The suspects continued submitting false declarations of livestock until 2024, maintaining subsidy payment entitlement, it added. The prosecutor's office sent a hefty case file to Greece's parliament earlier this week including allegations of the possible involvement of government ministers in an organized fraud scheme. Members of parliament enjoy immunity from prosecution in Greece that can only be lifted by parliamentary vote. In a resignation letter to the prime minister Friday, Migration and Asylum Minister Makis Voridis maintained his innocence, saying he was stepping down in order to concentrate on clearing his name. Voridis served as agriculture minister from mid-2019 to early 2021. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis accepted his resignation, as well as those of the deputy ministers of foreign affairs, agriculture and food, and digital governance, and of the general secretary of agriculture and food. Replacements for all five will be named 'in the coming days,' government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said in a statement. The European Commission announced earlier this month it would reduce the amount of farm subsidies for Greece by 5%, for a total of 392 million euros.
Associated Press
15 minutes ago
- Lifestyle
- Associated Press
Hungary's LGBTQ+ community defies government ban on Pride march
BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Hungary's LGBTQ+ community is preparing for a face-off with the country's autocratic government, and plans to push ahead with a march in the capital on Saturday despite a government ban and threats of legal repercussions. The populist party of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in March fast-tracked a law through parliament that made it an offense to hold or attend events that 'depict or promote' homosexuality to minors aged under 18. Orbán earlier made clear that Budapest Pride — marking its 30th anniversary this year — was the explicit target of the law. But on Friday, Pride organizers along with Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony, European Commissioner Hadja Lahbib and Vice President of the European Parliament Nicolae Stefanuta said the march will take place Saturday despite official threats of heavy fines for participants and even jail time for the liberal mayor. They expect the march to be the largest ever Pride event in Hungary. 'The government is always fighting against an enemy against which they have to protect Hungarian people ... This time, it is sexual minorities that are the target,' Karácsony told a news conference. 'We believe there should be no first and second class citizens, so we decided to stand by this event.' A crackdown on LGBTQ+ rights Critics of the Pride ban and other Hungarian legislation targeting LGBTQ+ communities say the policies are reminiscent of similar restrictions against sexual minorities in Russia. Hungary's recent law allows authorities to use facial recognition tools to identify individuals that attend a prohibited event. Being caught could result in fines of up to 200,000 Hungarian forints ($586.) Orbán, seen as Russian President Vladimir Putin's closest ally in the European Union, has in recent years prohibited same-sex adoption and banned any LGBTQ+ content including in television, films, advertisements and literature that is available to minors. His government argues exposure to such content negatively affects children's development. But opponents say the moves are part of a broader effort to scapegoat sexual minorities and consolidate his conservative base. Fines and facial recognition After police rejected several requests by organizers to register the Pride march, citing the recent law, Karácsony joined with organizers and declared it would be held as a separate municipal event — something he said does not require police approval. But Hungary's government has remained firm, insisting that holding the Pride march, even if it is sponsored by the city, would be unlawful. In a video on Facebook this week, Hungary's justice minister, Bence Tuzson, warned Karácsony that organizing Pride or encouraging people to attend is punishable by up to a year in prison. At the news conference Friday, Karácsony sought to dispel fears that police would impose heavy fines on Pride attendees. 'Police have only one task tomorrow: to guarantee the safety and security of those gathered at the event,' he said. Speaking to state radio on Friday, Orbán said that attending Pride 'will have legal consequences, but it can't reach the level of physical abuse.' 'The police could disperse such events, they have the right to do so. But Hungary is a civilized country,' he said. Right-wing counter-demonstrations On Thursday, radical right-wing party Our Homeland Movement announced it had requested police approval to hold assemblies at numerous locations across the city, many of them on the same route as the Pride march. Later, a neo-Nazi group said it too would gather Saturday at Budapest City Hall, from which the Pride march is set to depart. The group declared that only 'white, Christian, heterosexual men and women' were welcome to attend its demonstration. European officials respond Hungary's Pride ban has prompted a backlash from many of the country's partners and allies. Over 30 foreign embassies signed a joint statement this week expressing their commitment to 'every person's rights to equal treatment and nondiscrimination, freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.' European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen posted on social platform X on Wednesday, calling on Hungarian authorities to allow Pride to proceed 'without fear of any criminal or administrative sanctions against the organizers or participants.' More than 70 members of the European Parliament, as well as other officials from countries around Europe, are expected to participate in Saturday's march. Lahbib, the European Commissioner, said Friday that 'all eyes are on Budapest' as Pride marchers defy the government's ban. 'The EU is not neutral on hate,' she said. 'We cannot stay passive. We cannot tolerate what is intolerable.'
The Guardian
34 minutes ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Ex-Doge employee ‘Big Balls' gets new Trump administration position
Edward Coristine – the 19-year-old who quit Elon Musk's controversial, so-called 'department of government efficiency' (Doge) earlier this week, where he gained notoriety in part for having used the online moniker 'Big Balls' – has in fact been given a new government job, this time at the Social Security Administration (SSA). Coristine, whose lack of experience and super-loyalty to Musk saw him become a flashpoint for outrage at Doge's ruthless but haphazard efforts to slash government spending and fire thousands of workers, resigned from Doge earlier this week. However a spokesperson for SSA, Stephen McGraw, told Wired magazine that he was now working for that department. 'His work will be focused on improving the functionality of the Social Security website and advancing our mission of delivering more efficient service to the American people,' McGraw told Wired. Coristine may have previously worked for the SSA, but reporting on his employment history is conflicted. Doge caused chaos early on in the new Trump administration by muscling into dozens of departments and forcing access to computer systems, in a blaze of publicity and combative announcements. A high school graduate, Coristine's experience before Doge was largely limited to a few months working for Neuralink – which Musk owns – and as an intern for a cybersecurity company, which Bloomberg reported fired him for leaking company secrets. Reuters also reported that Coristine had provided tech support to a cybercrime gang that had bragged about trafficking in stolen data and harassing an FBI agent. At Doge, Coristine was dropped into several major government agencies as they went about slashing services and terminating thousands of workers. Last month, Reuters reported that Coristine was one of two Doge associates promoting the use of artificial intelligence AI across the federal bureaucracy. Musk also left Doge in May after months working by Donald Trump's side then falling out with him. Doge, however, continued to operate until Trump's budget chief, hard right nationalist Russell Vought, who says he wants government employees 'in trauma'. On Friday the Washington Post reported, citing anonymous sources, that Doge's latest target was the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), attempting to slash gun restrictions. Nick Robins-Early and Reuters contributed reporting
The Guardian
36 minutes ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
US supreme court limits judges' power on nationwide injunctions in apparent win for Trump
The US supreme court has supported Donald Trump's attempt to limit district judges' power to block his orders on a nationwide basis, in an emergency appeal related to the birthright citizenship case but with wide implications for the executive branch's power. The court's opinion on the constitutionality of whether some American-born children can be deprived of citizenship remains undecided and the fate of the US president's order to overturn birthright citizenship rights was left unclear. But the court's fractured 6-3 ruling has left the fate of the president's order to strip citizenship from some American-born children dangling in constitutional uncertainty without deciding whether newborns can be deprived of their rights if their parents lack legal status. The court's ruling in Trump v CASA, Inc will boost Trump's potential to enforce citizenship restrictions, in this and other cases in future, in states where courts had not specifically blocked them, creating a chaotic patchwork. Trump's January executive order sought to deny birthright citizenship to babies born on US soil if their parents lack legal immigration status – defying the 14th amendment's guarantee that 'all persons born or naturalized in the United States' are citizens – and made justices wary during the hearing. The real fight in Trump v CASA Inc, wasn't about immigration but judicial power. Trump's lawyers demanded that nationwide injunctions blocking presidential orders be scrapped, arguing judges should only protect specific plaintiffs who sue – not the entire country. Three judges blocked Trump's order nationwide after he signed it on inauguration day, which would enforce citizenship restrictions in states where courts hadn't specifically blocked them. The policy targeted children of both undocumented immigrants and legal visa holders, demanding that at least one parent be a lawful permanent resident or US citizen. The 14th amendment to the US constitution's citizenship clause overturned the 1857 Dred Scott ruling that denied citizenship to Black Americans. The principle has stood since 1898, when the supreme court granted citizenship to Wong Kim Ark, born in San Francisco to Chinese immigrant parents who could not naturalize. More details soon…
Irish Times
34 minutes ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
Opposition parties continue to boycott pairing arrangements for absent Ministers
Opposition parties have continued to boycott the pairing arrangement with Government Ministers, almost five months after a bitter row erupted in the Oireachtas over speaking rights for Independent TDs who supported the Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael Coalition. Whips from Opposition parties confirmed this week the protest is continuing. 'Pairs have not been reinstated,' said Sinn Féin whip Pádraig Mac Lochlainn . 'We still feel very strongly about what happened and the way the [Michael] Lowry group was supported by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. 'We are not co-operating with pairs, and don't intend to reinstate a pairing arrangement anytime soon,' Mr Mac Lochlainn said. Facilitating pairs is a long-standing custom in the Dáil. They are most commonly used when a Minister travels abroad on official business, or when a Government TD is sick or incapacitated. READ MORE In an arrangement brokered between the Government Chief Whip and the whips from the main Opposition parties, a TD from the Opposition benches agrees to absent themselves from the chamber for the vote, essentially cancelling out each other's vote. The Labour Party also confirmed separately it is not offering support for pairs at the moment. 'We have not given any pairs yet,' said Duncan Smith of the Labour Party . Other Labour sources said the party may review that stance in the future. The Social Democrats has not given any pairs in this Dáil but acting leader Cian O'Callaghan said its policy had not changed and it did offer pairs in 'rare and exceptional circumstances'. 'If there was a bereavement or illness for example, we would facilitate. The last time we had a pair (arrangement) was when (then minister for climate change) Eamon Ryan went to the COP conference and Jennifer Whitmore offered a pair,' Mr O'Callaghan said. [ Is it time for the Social Democrats to end Eoin Hayes's purgatory? Opens in new window ] He said that with party leader Holly Cairns on maternity leave until September, the party is effectively offering a pair. 'We are already down one vote and we are not keen to reduce our Dáil representation any further,' Mr O'Callaghan said. The Government's working majority in the 174-seat Dáil is such that the boycott of pairing arrangements has not yet impacted on any votes when significant divisions have been called. It has a majority of 20 and would need to lose the support of nine TDs to lose a vote in the House. When Barry Heneghan and Gillian Toole, two Independent TDs who support the Government, voted with the Opposition in May on a Sinn Féin Bill in support of Palestine , the Government still comfortably won the vote by a margin of 87 to 75. A spokesman for Government Chief Whip Mary Butler said she was managing the scenario in a situation where Government Ministers were constantly travelling to Brussels and elsewhere on Government business. The Chief Whip has asked for pairs at the business committee but none have yet been offered by the Opposition. There was an automatic pairing arrangement in the Dáil whenever a Minister attended a session of Seanad Éireann but that is no longer operating. 'We have asked for the reinstatement of that pairing arrangement,' said the spokesman. 'Seanad business has had to be suspended in recent weeks because of the unavailability of a pair. That is suboptimal.' Withdrawing from pairing arrangements is one of the few procedural tactics an Opposition party can use to put pressure on a Government, thereby threatening its Dáil majority. Pairing arrangements become essential when a government has a very small majority, or is in a minority position. In late 1982, the minority government of Charles Haughey was facing a confidence vote. The Fianna Fáil TD for Clare, Bill Loughnane, died suddenly and the Carlow-Kilkenny TD Jim Gibbons – a bitter opponent of Haughey within the party – was seriously ill in hospital. In the absence of a pair, Fianna Fáil considered the possibility of taking the very ill Mr Gibbons from hospital by ambulance to vote in the Dáil. It did not happen and the vote was lost, precipitating the fall of the government. 'Daddy' Trump meets Nato, while defence, trade and Gaza dominate EU summit Listen | 44:28
CBC
20 minutes ago
- General
- CBC
Republicans, X accused of spreading racism, Islamophobia in posts about NYC's Mamdani
Zohran Mamdani's Democratic primary upset this week in New York City has sparked anti-Muslim posts that have included death threats and comments comparing his candidacy to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. There were at least 127 violent hate-related reports mentioning the mayoral candidate or his campaign in the day after polls closed, said CAIR Action, an arm of the Council on American-Islamic Relations advocacy group, which logs such incidents. Meanwhile, Republicans in Congress including Andy Ogles, Nancy Mace and Marjorie Taylor Greene have been accused of spreading anti-Muslim rhetoric both by advocates and Democrats. "We call on public officials of every party — including those whose allies are amplifying these smears — to unequivocally condemn Islamophobia," said Basim Elkarra, executive director of CAIR Action. Born in Uganda to Indian parents, Mamdani would be the city's first Muslim and Indian American mayor if he wins the November general election. He became a U.S. citizen in 2018. The New York City Police Department said earlier this month its hate crime unit was probing anti-Muslim threats against Mamdani. X the biggest offender, advocacy group says Overall, CAIR noted about 6,200 online posts that mentioned some form of Islamophobic slur or hostility in a daylong time frame, which the organizations said was a five-fold increase from a typical day. The advocacy group said its hate-monitoring system includes its own scraping and analysis of posts, online submissions by the public and notifications from law enforcement. About 62 per cent of the anti-Muslim posts against Mamdani originated on X, CAIR Action said. People close to Republican President Donald Trump, including one of his sons, are among those spreading anti-Muslim rhetoric, advocates said. Donald Trump Jr., the president's son, wrote on X on Wednesday that "New York City has fallen," while sharing a post that said New Yorkers had "voted for" Sept. 11. Mace, a Republican House member from Carolina, opined in similar fashion, posting a picture of Mamdani in a type of robe often worn by Muslim men in traditional Islamic ceremonies, with the text: "After 9/11 we said 'Never Forget.' I think we sadly have forgotten." In fact, then-president George W. Bush visited the Islamic Center of Washington, D.C., on Sept. 17, 2001, to emphasize that the attackers were violent zealots who didn't represent the "true faith of Islam." "Women who cover their heads in this country must feel comfortable going outside their homes," he said. "Moms who wear cover must be not intimidated in America. That's not the America I know. That's not the America I value." Democrats slam Tennessee lawmaker Tennessee's Ogles arguably went the furthest, raising an accusation that Mamdani lied on his citizenship forms while attaching a letter he wrote to Pam Bondi, asking the U.S. attorney general to investigate the matter. "He needs to be DEPORTED. Which is why I am calling for him to be subject to denaturalization proceedings," said Ogles, who referred to Mamdani as "little Muhammad." Mamdani enjoyed rapping in earlier years, and Ogles, in his letter to Bondi, cited one rap he alleged expressed support for individuals convicted of terrorism-related offences. "The unhinged racism and xenophobia from my Republican colleagues truly knows no bounds," said House Democrat Nydia Velazquez of New York on X, referring to the Ogles post. Ritchie Torres, also a House Democrat from New York said it was "profoundly unAmerican" to demand the deportation of an American citizen "simply because he is Muslim." "It is no secret that I have profound disagreements with Zohran Mamdani. But every Democrat — and every decent person — should speak out with moral clarity against the despicable Islamophobic attacks that have been directed at him," Torres said in a post from his personal account. House Democrats condemn Andy Ogles: The White House, which did not respond to a request for comment, has denied claims of discrimination against Muslims. Trump and his allies have said they oppose Mamdani and others due to what they call the Democrats' "radical left" ideology. The U.S. president has pursued domestic policies that rights advocates have described as anti-Muslim, including banning travel from some predominantly Muslim or Arab countries in his first term and attempting to deport pro-Palestinian students in his current term. He began commenting on national politics in earnest with the rise of social media, and was the prime driver of a conspiracy theory suggesting former president Barack Obama was not born in the United States and that Hawaiian documents regarding Obama's birth were forgeries. Trump has not commented on Mamdani's religion or ethnicity but characterized him as a "100 per cent communist lunatic" in a social media post this week. Fends off antisemitism allegations Mamdani, a self-described democratic socialist and a 33-year-old state lawmaker, declared victory in Tuesday's primary after former New York governor Andrew Cuomo conceded defeat. Cuomo could conceivably still run in November's citywide election; candidates have until Friday to request removal from the ballot. Republicans have called Mamdani antisemitic, citing his pro-Palestinian advocacy and his criticism of Israel's ongoing military assault on Gaza after an attack by Hamas militants in October 2023. Mamdani has condemned antisemitism and has the backing of New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, who is Jewish. Lander also ran in the Democratic primary and the two candidates implored their supporters in the ranked-choice voting to look to the other as a second choice rather than Cuomo. Human rights advocates have noted rising antisemitism and Islamophobia since the start of the Israel-Gaza war, including the shooting of two Israeli embassy staff in Washington and the stabbing of a Muslim child in Illinois. Mamdani and other pro-Palestinian advocates, including some Jewish groups, said their criticism of Israel's military action is wrongly conflated with antisemitism.
Daily Mail
34 minutes ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Resignations, axing the Ukraine flag, scrapping a floods team in a flood-hit county, and a row with firefighters: How Reform UK's new councillors are 'sowing chaos' in town halls
It has been less than two months since Reform UK had more than 650 councillors elected - but Nigel Farage 's party is already accused of causing havoc in town halls. A damning dossier has revealed the 'chaos and confusion' that Reform councillors are sowing across England after their local elections success on 1 May. As well as winning hundreds of council seats, the insurgent party also seized control of 10 local authorities in a major breakthrough. But critics are questioning Reform's ability to govern at a local level following a series of disputes over the past eight weeks. This includes the scrapping of a floods team in a flood-hit county, the banning of the Ukraine flag, and a bitter row with firefighters. The party has also faced embarassment by the resignations of a slew of councillors - just weeks after their election - as well as claims of Reform councillors sharing far-right content on social media. In addition, the party was left red-faced by vowing to scrap Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) in areas where none existed. A Tory spokesman said: 'This all just goes to show that you cannot trust Reform in power. 'Local residents need to know that vital services will be delivered, their bins will be collected, and their tax money well spent. 'But it seems in just one short month since the local elections all Reform councils are delivering is chaos and confusion, with the public left to suffer the consequences. 'The British public deserve real leadership, not just showbiz and broken promises. 'Only Kemi Badenoch and the Conservatives will give this country the representation it deserves.' The dossier of Reform's missteps reveals how the party has suffered... A slew of resignations Little more than a week after being elected as a Reform councillor, Andrew Kilburn announced he will no longer take up his role on Durham County Council. It came after he failed to declare that he worked for the council when standing for election, which is against the law. Reform said it looked forward to contesting a subsequent by-election in the Benfieldside ward. In Staffordshire, Wayne Titley resigned as a county councillor just two weeks after being election. He won the Eccleshall and Gnosall division for Reform, but was engulfed in a row about a post on his Facebook account. It called on the Royal Navy to use 'a volley of gun fire' with the aim of 'sinking' small boats in the Channel. Mr Titley quit for 'personal reasons', while Reform faced criticism over the triggering of a by-election which would cost local taxpayers an estimated £27,000. Separately, up to a dozen Reform councillors have faced claims of sharing far-right and Islamophobic social media content, including the sharing of posts by Britain First. There have also been departures of Reform councillors in Kent and Warwickshire. Reform suspended Kent county councillor Daniel Taylor, who now sits as an independent, following 'a matter which is now with the police'. And, in Warwickshire, the recently-elected county council leader resigned to leave his 18-year-old deputy in charge. Reform councillor Rob Howard, who was in power for 41 days, said he had made the decision with 'much regret' and cited health reasons for his departure. Flags fury Reform sparked anger by taking down an LGBTQ+ Pride flag at Durham County Hall, while a Ukrainian flag erected by the previous administration was also removed. Liberal Democrat county councillor Ellie Hopgood said: 'We know from their social media posts that Reform councillors are keener on Russia's flag than Ukraine's or Pride's.' She added it was a 'petty and mean-spirited act' ahead of a Pride in Armed Forces event. But the council's deputy leader, Reform's Darren Grimes, defended the decision to fly the Union Jack, flag of St George and the County Durham flag. 'Together, they represent every Briton, gay or straight, black or white, Christian, Sikh, or otherwise, who has fought, died, and sacrificed under those colours,' he said. 'Flying our national and local flags is an act of unity. Swapping them out for niche political symbols is just more toxic identity politics.' Reform had previously been forced to clarify its stance on the flying of flags from council buildings. The party had announced that Reform-controlled councils would only fly the Union Jack or St George's flag. But there was uproar after it was claimed this would also ban the flying of county flags, such as the red rose flag of Lancashire. Reform later clarified that it would allow the flying of county flags. A floods row Lincolnshire County Council's flood and water management scrutiny committee was axed by Reform when it took control of the local authority in May. This was despite Lincolnshire suffering some of the worst flooding in its history during deluges from Storm Babet and Henk, along with fresh flooding in January. Opponents criticised the move as 'reckless, foolhardy, and wrong'. But Reform claimed it would save money and simplify the council without harming efforts to combat flooding. Council leader Sean Matthews promised the new administration would work 'longer and harder on flooding than ever before'. 'Whether you think it's man-made or a natural cycle of events, we won't neglect flooding,' he said. 'We were elected on a mandate of reducing waste and simplifying the council, and this will do that.' Firefighters dispute It was revealed earlier this month how firefighters are threatening to strike in Reform-controlled council areas in a row over pensions being stripped back. The row came after the party's deputy leader, Richard Tice, said Reform would take an axe to 'unaffordable' final salary schemes. He said Reform-controlled councils would stop offering such generous terms to new recruits. Mr Tice added that staff on existing contracts would have to accept lower annual pay rises to balance out the huge cost of funding their retirement. But the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) said it would 'fiercely resist' the plans, which it described as 'an assault on the pensions of firefighters and council workers'. FBU general secretary Steve Wright said: 'It's outrageous that the multi-millionaire deputy leader of Reform UK has declared war on firefighters who pay into council workers' pension schemes.' Mr Tice insisted he had ' not mentioned firefighters nor their pension terms', adding: 'What I have said is that we should not be taking on new council staff on the defined benefit schemes because they are unaffordable going long into the future.' The FBU said firefighters pay into local authority-funded pension schemes, and that 'it's their hard earned cash that Reform wants to raid'. LTNs embarrassment Reform's pledge to remove all Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) from the council areas it now controls risked leaving the party red-faced - after the 10 local authorities said they do not actually have any in place. Derbyshire, Doncaster, Durham, Kent, Lancashire, Lincolnshire, North Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Staffordshire and West Northamptonshire all told The Guardian they had no such schemes. Tory ministers pursued a growth of LTNs in the wake of the Covid pandemic in 2020 as it sought to encourage more people to walk or cycle in towns and cities. But their implementation by local authorities has proved unpopular with drivers and residents - with many instances of road bollards being vandalised - for forcing them away from their usual routes.
Reuters
35 minutes ago
- Business
- Reuters
Breakingviews - AkzoNobel sale flags India's foreign capital angst
MUMBAI, June 27 (Reuters Breakingviews) - What's good for Indian tycoons is not always good for India. Dutch paint maker AkzoNobel ( opens new tab is selling a controlling stake in its local unit to the domestic JSW Group. The deal fits into its goal to focus its global portfolio amid a hypercompetitive market – but it also deepens India's capital outflow woes. The $12 billion maker of the Dulux paint brand on Friday said it would offload, opens new tab up to a 75% stake in Akzo Nobel India to privately held JSW Paints for $1.1 billion. It will retain full control over its local powder coatings business and research unit. The proceeds from the sale will be used to cut debt and buy back shares of the parent. The transaction comes at an opportune time for AkzoNobel, which decided last October to concentrate on coatings in key geographies. It eases the company away from a market shaken up by the entry last year of local tycoon KM Birla's Grasim Industries ( opens new tab, whose discounts to grab market share are hurting the margins of incumbents. It makes financial sense too, valuing Akzo Nobel India at 22 times EBITDA, more than twice the multiple at which the parent's Amsterdam-listed shares trade. Inspired by these sorts of punchy valuations, multinationals in India have been paring stakes in local units. British American Tobacco (BATS.L), opens new tab sold shares in ITC ( opens new tab to raise $1.5 billion last month, and U.S. appliance maker Whirlpool (WHR.N), opens new tab plans to slash its stake in its Indian business to 20% from 51%. Less benign reasons underpin other transactions. Germany's Siemens sold 90% in its loss-making wind turbine division to TPG amidst cutthroat competition. Swiss drugmaker Novartis is looking for a buyer for its Indian operations, which it says are relatively small, opens new tab compared to other geographies. The slate of assets on offer bodes well for Indian founders looking to grow through acquisitions. But it undermines India's vaunted position as a haven for global capital. Net foreign direct investment during the eight months to the end of November 2024 dropped, opens new tab to $500 million from $8.5 billion in the same period of 2023, per data from the Reserve Bank of India. Blame it on repatriations by global firms, which stood at $44.5 billion for the 12 months ended March 2024, having risen every year since March 2020. Strong valuations aren't exactly bad news. But if they wind up making India look less of a magnet for global capital, they're not uniformly good news either. Follow Shritama Bose on Linkedin, opens new tab and X, opens new tab.
Fox News
23 minutes ago
- Politics
- Fox News
Nearly 200 House Dems reject resolution condemning violent anti-ICE riots in LA
Nearly 200 House Democrats voted against a resolution condemning the anti-ICE riots in Los Angeles earlier this month. 215 voted in favor, with all Republicans that voted backing the resolution. The resolution was led by Rep. Young Kim, R-Calif., and the rest of the Golden State's Republican congressional delegation. "Peaceful protests are a constitutional right, but vandalism, looting, violence, and other crimes are not. Protecting public safety shouldn't be controversial, which is why I am leading the California Republican delegation in a resolution to support law and order as we continue to see unrest," Kim stated when introducing the resolution. "I hope Governor Newsom can come together with President Trump to stop the riots, lower the temperature, and keep our communities safe," she added. "Let's be clear: the riots escalated before the National Guard was sent in and were enabled by California's soft-on-crime policies – peddled for years by Governor Newsom, Sacramento, and local prosecutors – that have allowed for lawlessness and endangered public safety of hardworking Californians," Kim continued. It was introduced on June 17, and it acknowledges that peaceful protests should be welcomed in the United States, but calls out the criminal elements that unfolded in the area earlier this month. "These protests quickly escalated into violent riots across Los Angeles, where acts of arson, widespread looting, property destruction, and vandalism were committed, blocking streets and highways, lighting streets on fire, throwing rocks at law enforcement vehicles, and assaulting Federal and local peace officers," the resolution states. Earlier this month, Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman said that the protest was an excuse for bad actors to commit crimes, such as stealing from businesses, committing property damage and assaulting law enforcement. "This group wanted to commit crimes," Hochman said at the time. "They looked at the protest as a cover, an opportunity to go ahead and ply their illegal trade and commit a whole variety of crimes that, in many ways, has done a huge disservice to the legitimate protesters out there." Some Democrats criticized the resolution, as a legal battle ensured whether President Donald Trump was able to send in the National Guard as the civil unrest went on. Many Republicans have argued it was necessary, while many California Democratic Leaders like Gov. Gavin Newsom said troop deployment was an instigator. "This resolution ignores those facts to score political points," Rep. Nanette Díaz Barragán, D-Calif., said on the House floor in opposition to the resolution, saying troop deployment "only escalated tensions and further unrest" while adding that Democrats have called for prosecutions of those who have acted violently. "Your daily reminder that Trump still has 4,946 troops sitting around LA doing nothing. Meanwhile, he has weakened our border safety operations -- slashing the National Guard's fentanyl and drug interdiction force by 32 PERCENT. He is actively endangering our communities by keeping these troops in LA," Newsom posted to X on June 25. Meanwhile, debate ensues about the ICE operations and deportation efforts nationwide, as ICE agents face a 500% increase in assaults, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
Fox News
40 minutes ago
- Business
- Fox News
Top moments from the Trump-Biden debate that changed the course of the 2024 election
Former President Joe Biden's disastrous presidential debate with now-President Donald Trump one year ago Friday changed the course of the 2024 election. The octogenarian Delawarean appeared on-stage tired and with a raspy voice, while some of his responses were at times unintelligible, leading to Trump landing several wisecracks in response. While giving a response about wealthy Americans paying sufficient taxes, Biden said there are at least 1,000 billionaires – first muttering "1,000 trillionaires" – in the U.S. and that they purportedly pay only 8.2% in taxes. "If they just paid 24%; 25%, either one of those numbers, they'd raise $500 million – billion I should say in a 10-year period. We'd be able to wipe out the debt," and "all those things we need to do [with] child care, elder care." His response went on for several more seconds, transitioning into a sidewinder about making every person eligible for "what I've been able to do with COVID," before mumbling for several seconds and declaring, "We finally beat Medicare." When moderator Jake Tapper turned to Trump for a response, he said: "Well, he's right, he did beat Medicare, he beat it to death." Biden also claimed to have reduced illegal immigration at the southern border by 40% over the course of his term. "It's better than when [Trump] left office. And I'm going to continue to move until we get the total ban on the total initiative relative to what we can do with more Border Patrol and more asylum officers," Biden said. "I really don't know what he said at the end of that sentence. I don't think he knows what he said either," Trump replied. Trump also sharply criticized Biden for "destroy[ing] our country," and that he came out with a "nothing" border plan to score a few political points. The current president also labeled Biden "a Palestinian" – a title he also bestowed on Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., who is Jewish – in relation to how they have responded to the Israel-Gaza conflict, after Biden accused him of disrespecting the military. Biden said his late son, former Delaware Attorney General Joseph Beau Biden III, contracted glioblastoma from being stationed near burn pits in Iraq. He went on to accuse Trump of the widely-debunked "suckers and losers" line about World War I casualties buried in a French cemetery. "My son was not a loser, he was not a sucker – you're the sucker, you're the loser," Biden fumed, speaking sternly through gritted teeth. "First of all, that was a made-up quote – suckers and losers – they made it up; it was in a third-rate magazine," Trump replied. The Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg cited multiple anonymous sources in publishing the bombshell allegations in September 2020.
The Independent
18 minutes ago
- Business
- The Independent
Charities warn PM's major backdown over welfare cuts not enough
The government offered concessions on the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill to avoid a major Commons defeat, following significant opposition from Labour backbenchers. The compromises include protecting Personal Independence Payments (PIP) for all existing claimants and delaying changes to PIP eligibility for new claimants until November 2026. Despite these concessions, numerous charities and campaign groups, including Amnesty International and the Disability Benefits Consortium, continue to oppose the bill, arguing it will entrench poverty and create a two-tier benefits system. Critics warn that the revised bill remains 'fatally flawed' and will push future disabled claimants into hardship, urging MPs to continue to vote against it. While some Labour rebels view the concessions as a 'workable compromise,' others still plan to vote against the bill, believing the adjustments do not go far enough.
The Independent
an hour ago
- Business
- The Independent
Court update in Spain's battle with airlines over controversial charges for larger bags
A Spanish court has temporarily blocked a government-imposed fine on budget airlines, including Ryanair, over controversial charges for larger cabin bags. The consumer ministry had levied the penalty, arguing that practices such as charging passengers for carry-on luggage violated customer rights. However, the airlines appealed the decision, prompting the court to intervene. The court ruled that it was currently impossible to fully resolve the complex issue, and that forcing the airlines to pay the fine while their appeal was ongoing would place undue financial strain on the companies. This injunction means the airlines' current baggage policies can remain in effect until a definitive ruling is made, marking an initial victory for the carriers in their challenge against the Spanish government. Ryanair and Norwegian Air logged the appeal after they were fined 109.6 million euros ($128.40 million) last year, saying they believe the fine has no basis. Irish carrier Ryanair, Europe's largest in terms of passengers, said at the time that it would take its appeal to Spain's courts. "These illegal and baseless fines, which have been invented by Spain's Consumer Affairs Ministry for political reasons, are clearly in breach of EU law," said its CEO, Michael O'Leary. Madrid's administrative court ordered both airlines to issue bank guarantees worth 111.8 million euros, equivalent to the sanctions plus interest, while the suspension is in place, it said in a statement. Industry group ALA praised the court's decision and claimed that the fines have no basis. It argued the fines "limit customers' ability to choose, and distort (the European Union's) common market". It said airlines would continue their charging policy until a final ruling is issued. Other airlines were also fined by Spain's consumer rights ministry last year. ALA said it hoped the court ruling will be later applied to all airlines. The ministry imposed a combined sanction of 179 million euros to all the airlines, which also included IAG's low-cost unit Vueling, easyJet, and Volotea. It argued they violated customers' rights when charging for larger carry-on bags, picking seats or boarding pass print-outs and not allowing cash payments at check-in desks or to buy items on board.
The Verge
an hour ago
- Business
- The Verge
The FTC has reopened claims for Fortnite settlement refunds: here's how you can submit one
Eligible Fortnite players who felt bamboozled into making unwanted purchases have been given a second chance to request a refund. The Federal Trade Commission has reopened applications to receive refunds from the $245 million settlement that Epic Games reached with the agency until July 9th, after previously closing requests in February. The agreement was announced in 2022 as part of a broader $520 million FTC settlement over privacy violations and alleged use of design tricks that duped players into accidentally buying in-game items. The first wave of 629,344 refunds was issued in December 2024, with the FTC now announcing that it sent out 969,173 new payments on Wednesday and Thursday, bringing the total amount of refunds to nearly $200 million. You can apply to receive a refund by visiting Specific details about eligibility are also available on the site, but the FTC says you can submit a claim if: You were charged in-game currency for items you didn't want between January 2017 and September 2022. Your child made charges to your credit card without your knowledge between January 2017 and November 2018. Your account was locked between January 2017 and September 2022 after you complained to your credit card company about wrongful charges. Applications are limited to Fortnite players in the US who are aged 18 or over, otherwise, the FTC says a parent must apply on your behalf. The FTC says it expects additional payments to be sent out in 2026 'after we have reviewed and validated all claims.'
Arab News
39 minutes ago
- General
- Arab News
German lawmakers vote to suspend family reunions for many migrants
BERLIN: German lawmakers voted Friday to suspend family reunions for many migrants, part of a drive by the new conservative-led government for a tougher approach to migration. Parliament's lower house voted 444-135 to suspend the possibility of family reunions for two years for migrants who have 'subsidiary protection,' a status that falls short of asylum. At the end of March, more than 388,000 people living in Germany had the status, which was granted to many people fleeing Syria's civil war. New Chancellor Friedrich Merz made tougher migration policy a central plank of his campaign for Germany's election in February. Just after he took office in early May, the government stationed more police at the border and said some asylum-seekers trying to enter Europe's biggest economy would be turned away. The bill approved Friday is the first legislation on migration since Merz took office. It will suspend rules dating to 2018 that allowed up to 1,000 close relatives per month to join the migrants granted limited protection, with authorities making case-by-case decisions on humanitarian grounds rather than granting an automatic right for reunions. Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt told lawmakers that the change would result in 12,000 fewer people being able to come to Germany each year and 'break a business model' for smugglers. People often know they won't get full recognition as refugees, 'but they set off for Germany because it is known that, even without asylum recognition ... you can have your family follow,' Dobrindt said. 'That is a significant pull effect and we are removing this pull effect today.' Dobrindt said 'our country's capacity for integration simply has a limit.' Liberal opposition lawmakers decried the government's approach. Marcel Emmerich, of the Greens, described the legislation as 'an attack on the core of every society, on a truly central value — the family.' 'Anyone who wants integration must bring families together,' he said. The far-right, anti-migration Alternative for Germany described the move as a very small step in the right direction. German governments have for years faced pressure to curb migration as shelters across the country filled up. The administration of Merz's predecessor, Olaf Scholz, already had taken some measures including the introduction of checks on all Germany's borders. Asylum applications declined from 329,120 in 2023 to 229,751 last year and have continued to fall this year.
National Post
an hour ago
- Business
- National Post
Vogue is hiring after Anna Wintour says she is stepping down as editor-in-chief
Anna Wintour is stepping down as Vogue editor-in-chief but will retain editorial control over the storied magazine. Article content The longtime Vogue powerhouse told staff Thursday she's seeking a head of editorial content to handle more of the day-to-day operations. But she's holding on to plenty of power to keep her a force at the magazine that built her reputation in fashion. Article content Article content Article content Article content Wintour will remain chief content officer for Conde Nast and global editorial director of Vogue. The news shook the fashion world and Wintour-watchers on social media amid breathless headlines that she was 'stepping down' from the magazine. The new lead will report directly to Wintour in her capacity as global editorial director, Vogue said in a statement posted to its website later Thursday. Article content 'Anybody in a creative field knows how essential it is never to stop growing in one's work. When I became the editor of Vogue, I was eager to prove to all who might listen that there was a new, exciting way to imagine an American fashion magazine,' Wintour told staff. Article content 'Now, I find that my greatest pleasure is helping the next generation of impassioned editors storm the field with their own ideas, supported by a new, exciting view of what a major media company can be,' she added. Article content Article content As chief content officer, Wintour will continue to oversee every Conde Nast brand globally, including Vogue, Wired, Vanity Fair, GQ, AD, Conde Nast Traveler, Glamour, Bon Appetit, Tatler, World of Interiors, Allure and more, with the exception of The New Yorker. Article content Article content 'In effect, the addition of a new editorial lead for Vogue US will allow Wintour greater time and flexibility to support the other global markets that Conde Nast serves,' the Vogue statement said. Article content Wintour also oversees the annual Met Gala, fashion's biggest night and a major fundraiser for the fashion wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. And she'll remain involved in Vogue World, a traveling fashion and cultural event the magazine began in 2022. Article content Article content Four years ago, Conde Nast changed its editorial structure, bringing together editorial teams around the world for the first time. Every market where Conde Nast operates has a head of editorial content led by a global editorial director. The new role at American Vogue is part of that reorganization. The new structure has already been rolled out at other Vogue titles around the world.
National Post
an hour ago
- Health
- National Post
FIRST READING: B.C. politician pushes bill to force schools to say drugs are bad
Article content TOP STORY Article content The B.C. Conservatives are calling for measures to keep 'radical drug lobbyists' out of schools after a school event that featured info cards on how to do drugs such as cocaine, meth and GHB. Article content Article content 'This isn't education. It is grooming kids into drug culture,' said B.C. Conservative MLA Steve Kooner in a Tuesday statement endorsing his private member's bill that, if passed, would compel schools to 'explicitly discourage drug use.' Article content The event in question was a Pride festival sanctioned by the Nanaimo-Ladysmith Public Schools District. Article content After accompanying her 10-year-old to the event, Nanaimo, B.C. mother Ruth Taylor alerted local media to the presence of postcard-sized leaflets that local media described as 'drug use information cards.' Article content A card labelled 'meth,' for instance, details the drug's euphoric effects, its reported ability to increase libido and even includes recommended dosages. Article content The NDP invite the pro-drug lobby into BC schools. Conservatives are fighting to get them out. — Steve Kooner MLA (@SteveKooner) June 24, 2025 Article content 'A light dose is around 5-10 mg, a common dose is around 10-30 mg, and a strong dose is 30-40 mg,' it reads. Article content A card for GHB, a common date-rape drug, reads that the substance can 'make the user feel more relaxed and more sociable.' It adds, 'G can also increase libido.' Article content The cards were among the literature offered at a booth run by AIDS Vancouver Island, a harm reduction non-profit funded in part by government bodies such as Island Health and the Public Health Agency of Canada. Article content Taylor told Chek News that she confronted AIDS Vancouver Island about the materials being inappropriate for schoolchildren, but that 'they were not receptive to what I was saying' and 'the cards stayed for the remainder of the event.' Article content AIDS Vancouver Island didn't respond to a National Post query before press time. In a statement provided to Global News on Monday, the group said it was told the event was for older children and that they stood by 'the fundamental importance of youth receiving honest, factual and appropriate substance use and sexual health materials.'
South China Morning Post
an hour ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Will the US strikes on Iran push China and North Korea to ramp up their nuclear arms programmes?
Instead of crushing Tehran's nuclear programme, Israeli and US strikes on Iranian facilities in the past week might have dealt a blow to international nuclear non-proliferation efforts. Analysts warned that the attacks might not only encourage Iran to accelerate its nuclear weapon programme, but also prompt countries such as China and North Korea to expand their deterrence efforts The pre-emptive strikes also risked setting a precedent for US adversaries to justify similar action against any serious efforts by the US' Asia-Pacific partners to gain their own nuclear weapons, they said. After a series of Israeli assaults on Iran's nuclear sites, the US on Sunday deployed more than 125 aircraft and a submarine in an operation to attack three Iranian nuclear sites The targeted action against Iran – which Israel sees as an existential threat – was one of the largest efforts to set back Iranian enrichment efforts. Following the strike, Iran's parliament unanimously agreed to suspend all cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations nuclear watchdog that monitors the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT).
