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Prince Harry advised for ‘no exceptions for royalty’

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Prince Harry

The Duke of Sussex has admitted openly to using cocaine, cannabis, and magic mushrooms. The penalties for lying to immigration officials in the United States are severe. “Rahmani added there is “no exception for royalty or recreational use”. Prince Harry has been advised that there are “no exceptions for royalty” as his US visa is … Read more

US dismisses China mediation on Ukraine as not ‘impartial’

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Ukraine
  • The United States said Tuesday it does not see China as capable of being an impartial mediator between Moscow and Kyiv over the war in Ukraine.
  • White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters.
  • He noted that China has refrained from criticizing the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The United States said Tuesday it does not see China as capable of being an impartial mediator between Moscow and Kyiv over the war in Ukraine.

It was the most direct US criticism yet of China’s aim to be a middleman in efforts to end the war.

“I don’t think you can reasonably look at China as impartial in any way,” White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters.

He noted that China has refrained from criticizing the Russian invasion of Ukraine and has continued to buy Russian oil even as the West piles sanctions on Moscow’s energy industry to starve the Kremlin of money to pay for the war.

China, Kirby added, also “keeps parroting the Russian propaganda” to the effect that the US and other countries in the West are to blame for the war for giving such strong support to pro-western Ukraine over the years that Russia felt threatened and justified in invading.

In a summit rich with red carpet pomp, Chinese President Xi Jinping was visiting Russia Tuesday and met with President Vladimir Putin, with the war in Ukraine high on their agenda.

After talks Tuesday they hailed what they called a “new era” in Russian-Chinese relations.

Kirby said the two were linked not so much by an alliance but rather “a marriage of convenience, because that’s what I think it is.”

China has presented a 12-point position paper on the war which includes a call for dialogue and respect for all countries’ territorial sovereignty.

Putin said he was open to talks on Ukraine and praised Beijing’s position paper.

Kirby said Russia and China “want to change the rules of that game,” meaning the rules based international order.

Still, the United States wants to maintain channels of communication with China, he said.

Kirby added that he is not aware of China having provided military assistance to Russia. The United States has said China is considering this big step, but China denies it.

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Ex-Ambassador of US meets with Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar

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Ex-Ambassador
  • Dar shared economic policies and priorities of the government.
  • The two exchanged views on matters of mutual interest.
  • Robin Raphel underscored that both countries enjoy good relations.

ISLAMABAD: The US Ex-Ambassador Ms. Robin L. Raphel, called on Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, at Finance Division.

Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar welcomed Ms. Robin L. Raphel and shared deep rooted and strong bilateral relations with the United States on economic and trade fronts.

The Finance Minister shared economic policies and priorities of the government to address the challenging economic and socio-economic development of the population.

The two exchanged views on matters of mutual interest in the backdrop of Pak-US relations and further deepening the existing bilateral relations between the two countries.

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Liam Plunkett and Aaron Finch signed up for new T20 event US

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Liam Plunkett and Aaron Finch

Liam Plunketti is a star cricketer of England. Aaron Finch is a former Australia captain. In July, they’ll compete for the San Francisco Unicorns in Major League Cricket. Liam Plunkett, a World Cup champion for England, and Aaron Finch, a former Australia captain, are two players who have signed up for a new T20 event … Read more

Saudi Arabia frees US citizen imprisoned for tweeting

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Saudi Arabia
  • Saad Ibrahim Almadi was detained in November 2021 while visiting his family in Riyadh.
  • He was sentenced to 16 years in prison.
  • A Saudi court found Mr. Almadi guilty of attempting to destabilize the country.

Saudi Arabia has released a US citizen who had been imprisoned for more than a year over tweets critical of the kingdom.

Saad Ibrahim Almadi, 72, a Saudi national, was detained in November 2021 while visiting his family in Riyadh.

He was sentenced to 16 years in prison last year for tweets he wrote while in the United States.

Mr. Almadi’s release has received no comment from either the US or Saudi authorities.

His son, Ibrahim, acknowledged his father was in Riyadh at a family residence, but it was unclear when he would return to his home in Florida.

16-year travel ban

“All charges have been dropped but we have to fight the travel ban now,” Ibrahim told sources.

A Saudi court found Mr. Almadi guilty of attempting to destabilize the country as well as sponsoring and funding terrorists. He was also given a 16-year travel ban.

In a month, an appeals court doubled his sentence to 19 years.

This year, speaking publicly about the issue for the first time, Ibrahim told the sources that the sole evidence finally offered to the court against his father consisted of 14 tweets.

The tweets seen by the sources included criticism of the demolition of old portions of Mecca and Jeddah, concern about poverty in the country, and a reference to the slain Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

According to his son, Mr Almadi was also found guilty of failing to notify terrorism for tweets written on a second account by Ibrahim.

US President Joseph Biden said he mentioned Mr Almadi’s situation, as well as the cases of other US nationals still barred from entering Saudi Arabia, during discussions with King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman last July.

Mr Biden’s visit, some four years after Mr Khashoggi’s murder, saw him lobby for greater oil supplies and seek assistance in isolating Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.

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China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a report entitled ‘The State of Democracy in the United States: 2022’

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China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Le Monde points out that 2022 is a year of doubt for US democracy. In 2022, the US Congress was brought into another paralysis, not by riots, but by partisan fights. Two years after the Capitol riots on 6 January 2021, the US system of democracy still has difficulty in learning the lessons.   China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a report entitled “The State … Read more

Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour became the most attended female concert

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Taylor Swift
  • Taytay is already shattering records on the first day of the Eras Tour.
  • Taylor Swift began her Eras Tour at Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
  • She becomes the female artist with the most attended concert in the USA.

Taytay is already shattering records on the first day of the Eras Tour.

Taylor Swift began her Eras Tour at Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, and the tour has been a big success for the artist. Taytay is already shattering records on the first day of the programme. Back to December vocalist officially becomes the female artist with the most attended concert in the United States of America. The first concert of the Eras Tour was attended by almost 69,000 people in Arizona. Swift’s Eras Tour is a 52-city tour that will take the artist across North America.

Taylor Swift sets a new record

Madonna previously held the distinction of female artist with the most attended concert in the United States when she played at Anaheim Stadium in Los Angeles with an attendance of around 63,500 people in 1987. Taylor Swift now breaks this record with a crowd of nearly 69,000 in Arizona at the first concert of her Eras Tour.

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift)

The event has received rave reviews, with many people describing Taylor Swift as one of the industry’s most “hardworking” musicians. The tour appears to have begun with tremendous enthusiasm, but some people are suing the ticketing site. Taytay’s followers are suing Ticketmaster’s parent business, Live Nation Entertainment. The supporters were dissatisfied with the presale of the tickets, which caused turmoil as they had to wait for hours due to the rise in ticket cost and communications issues.

According to reports, the court filing accuses Ticketmaster of breach of contract through willful deception, as well as various antitrust offences, including fraud. The fans are requesting a $2500 fine from Ticketmaster for each infringement.

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Meta launched paid verification service for Facebook and Instagram users in US

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Meta paid verification

It costs $11.99 a month, or $14.99 if you sign up through a mobile app store. They must be at least 18 years old and go through a verification process that requires a photo ID.  For those already verified, Meta Verified is free. Meta just launched a paid verification service inspired by Twitter in Australia … Read more

Penn Badgley choose the ‘You’ season 4 moments he’s “Most Proud Of”

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Penn Badgley
  • Penn Badgley directed his first episode of ‘You,’ Season 4 Episode 9.
  • From the show’s launch in 2018, Badgley has played Joe Goldberg, a violent stalker.
  • Joe has a nightmare in which people from his past mock him.

Penn Badgley directed his first episode of ‘You,’ Season 4 Episode 9.

 

Penn Badgley appears to have had enough of being in front of the camera during the latest season of You, as the actor seized the chance to direct an episode of Netflix’s riveting serial murderer. From the show’s launch in 2018, Badgley has played Joe Goldberg, a violent stalker who tried all in his power to be a part of his victims’ lives. As the seasons continued, Goldberg shown a desire to change for the better; nonetheless, his murderous instincts remained a part of who he was, propelling the series’ storyline.

A memorable passage in the episode Badgley directed occurs towards the second half of season 4, in Episode 9, when Joe has a nightmare in which people from his past mock him. Beck (Elizabeth Lail) and Love represent these insecurities and regrets (Victoria Pedretti). The ladies from Joe’s past taunt him throughout the play about the reality behind his redemption arc, suggesting that no matter how hard he tries, he’ll always remain a cold-blooded murderer. Given Joe’s associations with Beck and Love, as well as their murders at his hands, it seems to reason that they would function as distorted mirrors of his thoughts.

The Gossip Girl star follows the action in the featurette with his thought process behind the segment. As his favourite shot from the show, he chooses a scene in which Joe grabs for the key only to be transported to another room. As Joe discovers he is no longer where he thought he was, he has little time to understand what has just occurred because he is confronted by Love. Badgley also notes the fans’ overwhelming desire for Pedretti’s return, which they ultimately received in the form of a particularly violent dream sequence.

What is the fourth season of you about?

Joe’s journey continues with him settling in London following the events of the previous season, which saw him faking his death and fleeing the United States in pursuit of. Marienne (Tati Gabrielle) (Tati Gabrielle). But, danger is always around the corner for the show’s protagonist, as he predictably becomes engaged in a murder mystery in London. The hunt for the murderer causes Joe to ponder on his life’s errors and his inability to acknowledge his violent nature.

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North Korea launches second ballistic missile

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North Korea ballistic missile

North Korea launched a ballistic missile on Sunday. This comes just a few days after Pyongyang conducted its second ICBM test. Kim Jong Un has called for an “exponential” expansion. According to a local South Korean news agency, North Korea launched a ballistic missile on Sunday. This was the most recent launch to occur when … Read more

Wyoming becomes first US state to outlaw abortion pills

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Wyoming
  • Wyoming has become the first state in the United States to outlaw abortion pills.
  • Violations can result in up to six months in prison and a $9,000 fine.
  • Abortion pills are the most often used technique of terminating a pregnancy.

Wyoming has become the first state in the United States to outlaw abortion pills after its governor signed legislation making prescription or selling them unlawful.

Violations can result in up to six months in prison and a $9,000 fine.

Women “upon whom a chemical abortion is performed or attempted” will not be prosecuted.

On the same day that Mark Gordon signed the measure, a Texas court was deliberating on a lawsuit that may essentially prohibit a popular abortion medication statewide.

In the United States, abortion pills are the most often used technique of terminating a pregnancy.

The Wyoming bill, which was passed by the state’s Republican-controlled legislature earlier this month, makes it illegal to “prescribe, dispense, distribute, sell or use any drug for the purpose of procuring or performing an abortion”.

The bill is set to go into force on July 1.

It does not cover morning-after medications or therapy to save a woman’s health or life.

It also exempts treatment of a “natural miscarriage according to currently accepted medical guidelines”.

Wyoming American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) advocacy director Antonio Serrano criticised the bill, saying “a person’s health, not politics, should guide important medical decisions – including the decision to have an abortion”.

Wyoming has only one abortion clinic: the Women’s Health & Family Care Clinic in Jackson.

The state is one of many where legal battles over abortion laws have raged since the Supreme Court overturned the landmark 1973 Roe v Wade decision legalising abortion.

More than a dozen states have passed near-total abortion prohibitions, many of which have been overturned by the courts.

Mr Gordon, a Republican, also stated that he would allow a separate, broader bill that prohibits abortion except in restricted cases to become law without his signature on Sunday. Both this restriction and the ban on abortion medicines may face legal challenges. It is unclear when a broader prohibition might go into effect.

More states have imposed limits on abortion medicine, such as requiring a doctor’s visit before purchasing a pill.

Meanwhile, in Texas, Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, an appointment of former President Donald Trump, is scheduled to decide soon on whether mifepristone, a routinely used abortion pill, should be sold in the United States, in a decision that may limit access to the medicine statewide.

Mifepristone may be administered at home and is used in more than half of all pregnancy terminations in the United States.

The court is due to rule on a complaint brought in Texas by an anti-abortion organisation claiming that the drug’s safety was never adequately researched by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which authorises medications.

The administration of President Joe Biden has maintained that the approval of mifepristone was fully backed by science.

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Danish Prince Joachim is shifting to the United States

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Danish Prince Joachim

Prince Joachim and Princess Marie will be relocating to Washington, D.C. The second son of Queen Margrethe will begin a new position at the Danish Embassy. Queen Margrethe insisted that the arrangements had been in place for some time. Danish Prince Joachim is visiting the United States. Prince Joachim and Princess Marie will be relocating … Read more

Cambodia is happy to get back “priceless” stolen Angkor jewelry

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Cambodia
  • Gold crowns, necklaces and amulets were among the trove of treasures from the Angkor period.
  • The Cambodian culture ministry characterised the items,
  • US returned 30 looted items, including bronze and stone statues of Buddhist and Hindu deities.

Cambodian leader Hun Sen unveiled a collection of stolen Angkor crown jewellery on Friday which was recently returned to the kingdom after decades in Britain, pleading for other long-lost treasures to be handed back.

Gold crowns, necklaces and amulets were among the trove of treasures from the Angkor period, which ran from the ninth to 14th centuries AD when the Khmer empire dominated vast parts of Southeast Asia.

The Cambodian culture ministry characterised the items — expected to go on display at the national museum — as “priceless cultural heritage”.

This handout photo taken and released by Cambodia’s Government Cabinet (Photo by AFP)

“I appeal to museums, institutions and Khmer artefact collectors to continue to return those items voluntarily to Cambodia,” Hun Sen told the ceremony.

“Heritage items should be returned to their country of origin.”

The culture ministry last month discreetly received 77 pieces from the family of the late, disgraced British art dealer Douglas Latchford.

Two 10th-century sculptures recently returned by the United States were also displayed on Friday.

This handout photo taken and released by Cambodia’s Government Cabinet (Photo by AFP)

Dominic Williams, the British ambassador to Cambodia, tweeted that it was an “extraordinary privilege to see these previously stolen artefacts displayed in their ancestral home”.

When he died in 2020, Latchford was awaiting trial in the United States for art trafficking, and the same year his family agreed to return the antiquities to Cambodia.

This handout photo taken and released by Cambodia’s Government Cabinet (Photo by AFP)

The family returned five stone and bronze artefacts in 2021.

Thousands of antiques and artefacts were stolen from Cambodia during the conflict and genocide of the Khmer Rouge regime in the 1970s.

Last year, the United States returned 30 looted items, including bronze and stone statues of Buddhist and Hindu deities that were carved more than 1,000 years ago.

The Cambodian government has been negotiating with other countries, including the United States, and private collectors to return more Khmer artefacts to the kingdom.

This handout photo taken and released by Cambodia’s Government Cabinet (Photo by AFP)

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Australia buys 220 US Tomahawk missiles

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Australia
  • Australia requested approval from the US State Department to purchase up to 220 long-range.
  • Tomahawk cruise missiles for its navy ships and the US nuclear-powered subs it bought this week.
  • The US will sell Australia three Virginia-class submarines under the bigger deal.

Australia requested approval from the US State Department to purchase up to 220 long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles for its navy ships and the US nuclear-powered subs it bought this week. Australia had US State Department approval.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency said the deal could cost 1.3 billion Australian dollars ($895 million), including upkeep and logistics assistance.

The statement said the sale would enhance Australia’s ability to work with US maritime forces and other allies and contribute to tasks of mutual interest.

AUKUS—a US-Australia-UK agreement—authorizes the buy. Over 20 years, the three nations will share technology and resources to build a new fleet of nuclear-powered submarines.

The US will sell Australia three Virginia-class submarines under the bigger deal. Australia and the UK will build new nuclear-powered submarine ships to strengthen allies in the Indo-Pacific, where China has been building up its military.

Tomahawk rockets debuted in the 1991 Gulf War. They use several customized devices to fly at high subsonic speeds at low altitudes. The US Navy says US and UK subs and ships can fire them.

Only the UK has bought US Tomahawks. Japan recently announced plans to buy hundreds of the missiles, which can reach over 1,000 kilometers (621 miles), to strengthen its defenses.

Friday, Australian Defense Minister Pat Conroy told the ABC that the ADF could use Tomahawks before the first of three US-made Virginia-class subs arrives in 2033.

The Australian government wanted Tomahawks for the Royal Australian Navy’s Hobart-class ships when the AUKUS deal was revealed in 2021.

Conroy told the ABC that this is part of the government’s plan to give the ADF the best tools to attack from afar and deter enemies. “We promote peace and stability by creating doubt in potential threats.”

This week, former Labor Prime Minister Paul Keating has strongly criticized the multibillion-dollar AUKUS deal, which Australia’s two largest political parties support.

Keating, who led the nation from 1991 to 1996, called it “the worst international decision by an Australian Labor government” in over 100 years.

He wrote that Australia is ensuring that the US, an Atlantic force, will rule Asia for 50 years.

“We just don’t need them,” Keating said of subs. He said adding diesel-electric submarines to Australia’s Collins-class submarine fleet would defend its coasts.

AUKUS could cost $368 billion (or $245 billion) over 30 years.

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US announces $4.5 mln programme for Pakistani farmers

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Punjab Announces Rs100 Billion Interest-Free Loan Scheme for Farmers
  • USAID announced new activities in Pakistan to promote smart agriculture.
  • Senator Sherry Rehman and Monica Medina led their respective sides.
  • The officials and experts engaged on climate and environmental issues.

ISLAMABAD: The United States announced a $4.5 million programme from its Department of Agriculture to strengthen fertilizer efficiency and effectiveness for Pakistani farmers among other initiatives at the conclusion of the second meeting of the US and Pakistan Climate and Environment Working Group.

Minister for Climate Change Senator Sherry Rehman and the US Department of State’s Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs Monica Medina led their respective sides.

The officials and experts engaged on climate and environmental issues, including climate change, energy transition, water management, climate-smart agriculture, air quality, biodiversity, and waste management, including plastics recycling.

The two sides discussed the impacts of the devastating floods in Pakistan in 2022 and emphasized the importance of building resilience to the impacts of climate change.

The United States expressed support for Pakistan’s “Living Indus” initiative to restore the ecological health of the Indus River Basin.  The two governments recommitted to tackling the climate crisis through cooperation on climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Both governments resolved to continue deepening their bilateral partnership through the US-Pakistan “Green Alliance” framework.  The “Green Alliance” would help the two countries jointly face the climate, environmental, and economic needs of the present and future, especially through partnerships on agriculture, water, and clean energy.

Regarding agriculture, the two sides discussed the importance of adopting modern farming practices and innovative seed varieties to bolster resilience against climate change.

On water management, the governments identified technical assistance, governance, and water efficiency mechanisms as areas ripe for cooperation.  They emphasized the importance of supporting nature-based solutions and building community resilience to climate change.

The US and Pakistan also acknowledged their long history of working together to advance sustainable economic growth.  For example, in the 1960s, the US supported Pakistan’s “Green Revolution” to improve agricultural crop yields and strengthen food security.

They committed to advancing future cooperation in agriculture, water, and energy transition through the US-Pakistan “Green Alliance” framework.

Through the Climate and Environment Working Group, the two governments made new commitments to partner together.

The US announced new programmes in Pakistan, including the programme to strengthen fertilizer efficiency and effectiveness for Pakistani farmers.

The USAID announced new activities in Pakistan to promote climate-smart agriculture and climate finance.

The US Army Corps of Engineers would start sharing weather data on glacial melt with the Ministry of Climate Change and other local stakeholders to strengthen Pakistan’s flood forecasting and disaster response capabilities.

Pakistan informed the United States about the approval of its new National Clean Air Policy and explained its recent waste management actions, including on plastics.

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Poland: Russian spy network accused of sabotage was arrested

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Poland
  • Six persons were held on suspicion of installing concealed cameras.
  • According to RMF FM, the cell had devised sabotage plots.
  • After the Ukraine crisis, Russia and the West’s decades-long spy war has escalated.

Two Polish government officials informed the sources that a number of foreign people had been arrested on suspicion of spying for Moscow.

RMF FM stated that Polish security agencies had dismantled a Russian spy network.

Six persons were held on suspicion of installing concealed cameras to film transport infrastructure used to transfer supplies to Ukraine, according to the report.

According to RMF FM, the cell had devised sabotage plots.

After the Ukraine crisis, Russia and the West’s decades-long spy war has escalated.

Poland is one of Ukraine’s greatest allies, and its security forces have arrested many people on suspicion of espionage for Russia since the invasion last February.

The organization, according to the radio station, has planted dozens of cameras alongside railway junctions and vital transportation routes in Poland’s Podkarpackie area, which borders Ukraine.

Military and humanitarian goods to Ukraine

These were discovered at a small regional airport that has been transformed into an international logistical hub for transferring military and humanitarian goods to Ukraine.

Military and cargo planes from the United States and Europe regularly fly into and out of the Rzeszow-Jasionka airport, where US troops can be seen beside their Humvees, to give supplies to waiting trucks on their way to the Ukrainian border.

Because the location is deemed so critical, Washington has placed American Patriot air defense systems to safeguard the airstrip.

On his trip to Kyiv, US Vice President Joe Biden landed at the airport.

According to RMF FM, security at key infrastructure locations has been increased.

On Thursday morning, Poland’s Interior Minister, Mariusz Kaminski, who is in charge of the Polish Internal Security Agency (ABW), whose personnel allegedly made the arrests, is scheduled to talk to the media about the RMF FM report.

In the last year, several people have been arrested for spying. Prosecutors charged a Russian national who has lived in Poland for a long time with espionage for Russia between 2015 and 2022 last month.

The individual, who owned a business in Poland, is said to have been associated with historical reconstruction groups, where he met with Polish military members.

He was arrested in April of last year after an inquiry revealed that he reportedly collected information on the organizational structure of Polish military formations in the country’s northeast.

The ABW detained a Spanish national of Russian ancestry last year in Przemysl, south-eastern Poland, on suspicion of spying for Moscow. He was identified as an agent for Russia’s military intelligence service (GRU).

In March of last year, Tomasz L., a Polish employee of the Warsaw Registration Office, was arrested on suspicion of passing operationally valuable material to Russian intelligence agents.

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Pakistan, US reaffirm to promote cooperation in energy sector

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Pakistan-US Energy Security Dialogue was held in Islamabad Pakistan, US reaffirmed commitment to promoting energy security US Assistant Secretary Geoffery Pyatt met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the United States have reaffirmed their commitment to promoting economic growth, energy security and partnership in long-term flood rehabilitation efforts. This understanding came during a meeting … Read more

Russia pilots careless in drone collision, US says

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Russia
  • The United States has accused Russia of irresponsible behaviour.
  • American drone plunged into the Black Sea after colliding with Russian fighter planes.
  • Russia has denied any touch between its two Su-27 fighter fighters.

The United States has accused Russia of irresponsible behaviour after an American drone plunged into the Black Sea after colliding with Russian fighter planes.

Russian planes are reported to have thrown gasoline into the path of the drone, which the US claims was in international airspace at the time of the accident.

The US brought down the damaged MQ-9 Reaper drone when it became “unflyable,” according to the Military.

Russia has denied any touch between its two Su-27 fighter fighters.

The main question is whether the encounter was simply an attempt by Russia to interrupt the American drone’s job or a purposeful attempt to bring it down.

According to US military authorities, the event occurred on Tuesday about 07:03 Central European Time (06:03 GMT) and lasted approximately 30-40 minutes.

The fighter planes dropped gasoline on the drone many times before the crash in a “reckless, ecologically unsound, and unprofessional way,” according to a statement.

According to a spokesperson Brig Gen Pat Ryder, the drone was “unflyable and unmanageable, therefore we pulled it down,” and the impact likely damaged the Russian aircraft.

He stated that the planes were able to land after the event.

Reaper drones are surveillance aircraft with a wingspan of 20m (66ft).

According to Brig Gen Ryder, the Russians have not retrieved the drone.

The United States’ National Security Council’s John Kirby told: “Without getting into too much detail, what I can say is that we’ve taken steps to protect our equities with respect to that particular drone.”

According to Russia’s defence ministry, the drone crashed after a “sharp manoeuvre” and was flying with its transponders switched off. Transponders are communication devices that enable the aircraft to be tracked.

Prof Michael Clarke, visiting professor in war studies at King’s College, told that the collision was “almost certainly an accident”.

The ex-director general of the defence and security think tank Royal United Services Institute said: “I don’t believe any pilot could deliberately do that [only colliding with another aircraft’s propeller] without seriously endangering their aircraft and own life.”

The event shows the growing danger of a direct confrontation between Russia and the United States over the Ukrainian conflict.

To protest the move, the United States summoned Russian Ambassador Anatoly Antonov to Washington.

During the discussion, Russian state media cited Mr Antonov as stating that Moscow considered the drone incident as “a provocation” and that “the unacceptable activity of the US military in the close proximity to our borders is a cause for concern”.

After Russia’s takeover of Crimea in 2014, tensions have increased over the Black Sea.

With Russia’s full-fledged invasion of Ukraine, the United States and the United Kingdom have increased reconnaissance and surveillance planes, always flying in international airspace.

According to the US, there has been a “pattern of dangerous actions by Russian pilots” interacting with allied aircraft in the region.

This suggests that the drone’s downing might have been caused by a mistake made by a Russian pilot who came too near when they “buzzed” the drone.

Nevertheless, if this was a planned strike on a US aircraft by a Russian warplane, observers believe it would be a tremendous provocation and a significant escalation.

In such situation, the strike would be interpreted as an attempt by the Kremlin to put the US reaction to the test.

Western allies have worked hard to prevent the Ukrainian conflict from turning into a direct confrontation with Russia. Yet that is all that happened over the Black Sea. The United States must now assess its reaction.

As US military chiefs cautioned in their statement, this was a risky conduct that “could lead to miscalculation and unintended escalation”.

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Japan: Court ordered retrial of country’s longest-serving death

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Japan
  • A Japanese court granted a retrial to the world’s longest-serving death row.
  • Iwao Hakamada, 87, spent nearly five decades on death row after being convicted.
  • Japan’s criminal justice system has a conviction rate of 99.9%.

A Japanese court granted a retrial to the world’s longest-serving death row convict on Monday, the latest twist in a legal saga that dates back to the 1960s.

Iwao Hakamada, 87, spent nearly five decades on death row after being convicted of quadruple murder in 1968. New evidence led to his release seven years ago.

According to Kiyomi Tsunagoe, a lawyer on his defence team, the Tokyo High Court ruled Monday that “Hakamada cannot possibly be identified as the culprit” because the main evidence presented to finalise his death penalty was untrustworthy.

She went on to say that the Tokyo court upheld the decision not to send Hakamada back to prison because he was likely to be found not guilty.

“Hakamada’s case is known globally, and there always remained the risk that he could be sent back to prison and face the death penalty again, despite evidence pointing to his innocence,” Tsunagoe said.

Japan‘s criminal justice system has a conviction rate of 99.9% and relies heavily on confessions. Outside of the United States, it is the only major developed democracy that uses the death penalty.

Hakamada was charged with robbery, arson, and the murder of his boss, his boss’ wife, and their two children in 1966. In Shizuoka, central Japan, the family was discovered stabbed to death in their incinerated home.

The former professional boxer-turned-factory worker initially pled guilty to all charges before changing his plea during the trial. Despite repeatedly alleging that police fabricated evidence and forced him to confess by beating and threatening him, he was sentenced to death in a 2-1 decision by judges. Six months later, the lone dissenting judge resigned from the bench, demoralised by his inability to prevent the sentencing.

The evidence against Hakamada was a pair of blood-splattered black trousers and his confession. The alleged motives ranged from a request murder to theft.

However, a DNA test in 2004 revealed that the blood on the clothing did not match either Hakamada or the victims’ blood type.

On the basis of his age and fragile mental state, the Shizuoka District Court ordered a retrial and released Hakamada while he awaited his day in court in 2014. However, four years later, the Tokyo High Court denied the retrial request.

The decision to retry Hakamada was made on Monday after the Supreme Court ordered the Tokyo High Court in 2020 to reconsider its previous decision not to reopen the case.

The court ruled Monday, according to Tsunagoe, that there was a strong possibility that investigators had planted five pieces of clothing allegedly worn by Hakamada during the 1966 murders in the miso paste tank where they were discovered.

The defence team, according to Tsunagoe, has argued that the evidence used to finalise Hakamada’s death sentence was fabricated. On Monday, the presiding judge agreed with the defence that the reddish colour of the bloodstains on Hakamada’s clothing would have turned black after several months in the miso tank, according to Tsunagoe.

Prosecutors must decide whether to appeal the retrial to the Supreme Court by next Monday. If the defence can persuade them not to, the retrial will take place at Shizuoka District Court, where Hakamada was initially tried, though the timeline remains uncertain, according to Tsunagoe.

“If prosecutors file a retrial after all these decades to the Supreme Court, it will display the extent to which Japanese justice is not functioning,” Tsunagoe said.

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Andrés Manuel López says Mexico is safer than United States

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Mexico
  • There is no issue with traveling safely through Mexico says Andrés Manuel López.
  • The statement came after the kidnapping incident of Americans.
  • Yet, the event has created ongoing tensions between Mexico’s president and US authorities.

Mexico, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador claimed on Monday, is a safer country than the United States, weeks after the high-profile kidnapping of four Americans drew global attention to the country’s security crisis.

“Mexico is safer than the United States. There is no issue with traveling safely through Mexico. That’s something the US citizens also know, just like our fellow Mexicans that live in the US,” he said during his daily morning press briefing.

In early March, the kidnapped Americans were traveling in the Mexican border city of Matamoros when they were attacked by gunmen suspected to be associated with the Gulf cartel. The incident killed two Americans and a Mexican bystander.

On Friday, the Texas Department of Public Safety advised that residents avoid travel to Mexico during spring break, citing the risk of cartel violence.

Why the paranoia?

When asked about security in Mexico by a local reporter, López Obrador emphasized his country’s appeal to American visitors and ex-pats, who have flocked in recent years to attractive coastal areas as well as Mexico City to take advantage of the better weather and lower cost of living. Every year, US tourists bring in billions of dollars for Mexico.

“US government alerts say that it’s safe to only travel [in the states of] Campeche and Yucatan. If that were the case, so many Americans wouldn’t be coming in to live in Mexico City and the rest of the country. In the past few years is when more Americans have come to live in Mexico. So, what’s happening? Why the paranoia?”

The Mexican president also claimed there was “a campaign against Mexico from conservative US politicians that don’t want this country to keep developing for the good of the Mexican people.”

While portions of Mexico are popular tourist destinations, violent crime, such as kidnapping and human trafficking, is prevalent throughout the country, particularly in border areas. Mexico has one of the highest homicide rates in the world, and the country has been plagued by an epidemic of disappearances, with more than 100,000 Mexicans and migrants still missing.

Mexican officials’ incompetence and corruption have also eroded public faith; last year, a Mexican government investigation accused the country’s own military and police of the infamous disappearance of 43 students in 2014.

The US State Department has “do not travel” advisories in place for six of Mexico’s 32 states, including northeast Tamaulipas state, where Matamoros is located. It warns Americans to “reconsider travel” to seven Mexican states and “exercise increased caution” in 17 states.

China will fully extend its borders to foreigners, but there will be immediate challenges.

We don’t take orders from anyone

Six persons have been arrested in connection with the tragic Matamoros kidnapping, and Mexico has deployed hundreds of security officers to the area in an effort to protect “the well-being of citizens,” according to the military ministry.

Yet, the event has created ongoing tensions between Mexico’s president and US authorities.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, where the victims of the Matamoros attack are from, announced last week that he intends to introduce legislation designating the cartels as foreign terrorist organizations and authorizing the US military to operate in Mexico to dismantle drug labs, which are typically run by such criminal organizations.

López Obrador described the notion as an “offense to the people of Mexico” and a “lack of respect for our independence.”

“We are not a protectorate of the United States or a colony of the United States. Mexico is a free, independent, sovereign country. We don’t take orders from anyone,” López Obrador said at a news conference.

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North Korea: Decides to use military deterrents offensively

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North Korea
  • North Korea has decided to take “significant practical” war deterrence measures.
  • The decision was made at a meeting of the ruling party’s military commission.
  • All such drills enrage North Korea, which sees them as practise for an invasion.

North Korea has decided to take “significant practical” war deterrence measures, according to state media, a day before Seoul and Washington begin their largest joint military exercises in five years.

The decision was made at a meeting of the ruling party’s military commission presided over by Kim Jong Un, the country’s leader.

“The meeting discussed and adopted the important practical steps for making more effective, powerful and offensive use of the war deterrent,”.

The report stated that the move was made to “deal with the current situation in which the war provocations of the United States and South Korea have crossed the red line,” but did not elaborate on the measures.

The “Freedom Shield” exercises, scheduled to begin Monday, will focus on the “changing security environment” caused by North Korea’s redoubled aggression, according to the allies.

All such drills enrage North Korea, which sees them as practise for an invasion.

The country has stated that its nuclear and missile programmes are for self-defense.

Analysts believe North Korea will use the drills as an excuse to carry out more provocations, such as missile tests and possibly a nuclear test.

According to reports, Kim ordered North Korea’s military to ramp up preparations for a “real war” on Friday.

Kim told soldiers to be ready for “two strategic missions, that is, first to deter war and second to take the initiative in war” while inspecting a fire assault drill.

Washington and Seoul have increased defence cooperation in response to North Korea’s growing military and nuclear threats, which has conducted increasingly provocative banned weapons tests in recent months.

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China’s new defence minister is a general sanctioned by the US

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China
  • China appointed a US-approved general as its new defence minister on Sunday.
  • The country’s rubber-stamp legislature unanimously confirmed the appointment of General Li Shangfu.
  • His appointment was one of several confirmed by China’s National People’s Congress.

China appointed a US-approved general as its new defence minister on Sunday.

During a session on Sunday, the country’s rubber-stamp legislature unanimously confirmed the appointment of General Li Shangfu, a veteran of the People’s Liberation Army’s modernization drive.

Given Li’s background, experts say the appointment will be closely watched in Washington, even though the position is largely diplomatic and ceremonial.

Former US President Donald Trump’s administration sanctioned Li and China’s Equipment Development Department, which he was in charge of at the time, for purchasing Russian weapons, including a Su-35 combat aircraft and an S-400 surface-to-air missile system, in 2018.

His appointment was one of several confirmed by China’s National People’s Congress on Sunday. Four new vice premiers were also appointed: Ding Xuexiang, He Lifeng, Zhang Guoqing, and Liu Guozhong.

Following Li Qiang’s nomination, all four will serve as vice premiers on the State Council, the body in charge of reviving China’s economy after three years of strict zero-Covid restrictions.

The appointment of Li Shangfu as defence minister comes at a time when relations between Beijing and Washington are becoming increasingly strained.

According to defence experts, his appointment was most likely a reward for his work in modernising China’s military.

Li was named deputy commander of the PLA’s then-new Strategic Support Force in 2016, an elite body tasked with accelerating China’s space and cyber warfare capabilities development. According to Reuters, he was then appointed head of the Central Military Commission’s (CMC), China’s governing defence body, which is led by the country’s leader, Xi Jinping.

Defense experts believe Li’s background as a technocrat and aerospace engineer who worked on China’s satellite programme will be important in his new role.

“The operational and technological background of the next Chinese defense minister is especially pertinent given that the PLA aims to become a world-class military by 2049,” James Char from Singapore’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies

“I think he has been elevated to this position because he’s delivered for Xi Jinping in key areas of modernisation,” Singapore-based security analyst Alexander Neill from Hawaii’s Pacific Forum think-tank told Reuters.

“This is someone who will have to hold their own in front of an international audience.”

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Saudi Arabia wants security assurances from United State

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Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is looking for security guarantees from the US. In exchange for normalizing relations with Israel. Which could change the Middle East’s political landscape. Saudi Arabia is relying on the United States for security assurances and assistance with its civilian nuclear program in exchange for normalizing relations with Israel. This situation sets the stage … Read more

Mice created with two biological males, an unthinkable feat in field of science

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mice scientists

Scientists in Japan have produced mice with two biological fathers. The researchers used male mouse stem cells to produce mature eggs. Scientists are looking to produce human eggs in the lab. According to reports, scientists in Japan have produced mice with two biological fathers in an effort to mimic the procedure in people. Many media … Read more

Georgia’s parliament to drop foreign agents law after protests

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Georgia
  • Georgia’s parliament formally revoked a “foreign influence” bill.
  • Senior officials in the United States and the European Union have also expressed concern.
  • Thousands of people protested outside Georgia’s parliament for a second night.

According to the country’s public broadcaster, Georgia’s parliament formally revoked a “foreign influence” bill that sparked major protests and an international outcry this week.

The announcement came a day after the country’s ruling party said it would scrap the proposed legislation, and just hours after tens of thousands of people protested outside Georgia’s parliament for a second night. Senior officials in the United States and the European Union have also expressed concern about the bill.

The contentious legislation would have required organisations that receive 20% or more of their annual income from abroad to register as “foreign agents” or face heavy fines – a proposal that rights experts warned would chill civil society in the country and harm democracy.

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Mexican drug cartel turns in own men for US kidnapping killings

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Mexico
  • The Scorpions Group has apologized for kidnapping four US citizens.
  • The Scorpions Group allegedly left a letter with the men.
  • Mexican authorities handed over the bodies of the two deceased men to US.

According to reports from the Mexican border city of Matamoros, the Scorpions Group, a splinter group of the Gulf Cartel, has apologized for kidnapping four US citizens last week, killing two of them, and has turned over the men it believes are responsible.

Many Mexican newspapers published a photograph on their front pages that appears to show five men lying face down on the ground, their hands tied and their T-shirts pulled up above their heads. It was apparently taken just as police arrived.

The Scorpions Group allegedly left a letter with the men in which it apologized to the people of Matamoros, the US victims and their families, and a Mexican woman killed last week when the gang opened fire on a white minivan carrying Americans.

According to the reports, a copy of the letter was obtained from a law enforcement official in the state of Tamaulipas.

“We have decided to turn over those who were directly involved and responsible for the events”, the letter reads, saying the five had “acted under their own decision-making and lack of discipline”. The letter also accuses the men of breaking the cartel’s rules over “protecting the lives of the innocent”.

Meanwhile, police have cordoned off a health clinic in Matamoros where cartel members allegedly took injured US citizens for treatment. According to reports, the gang took the four Americans there, but the two with the most serious injuries, Shaeed Woodard and Zindell Brown, died soon after.

According to reports, Mexican authorities handed over the bodies of the two deceased men to US officials in Matamoros on Thursday afternoon, and their remains were repatriated.

The latest developments come as some in Mexico have questioned the initial version of events. The group was said to have travelled to Matamoros so that one of them, Latavia McGee, could undergo a cosmetic medical procedure at the city’s clinic. She was said to have been accompanied to the appointment by three friends.

According to Reports, three of the four Americans were convicted of minor drug-related offences, but one was charged with manufacturing prohibited narcotics with the intent to distribute.

According to Reports, the Mexican authorities are looking into the possibility that the four Americans were kidnapped because they were mistaken for rival cartel members encroaching on their territory.

The inquiry into the Americans’ background comes as the political temperature surrounding the Matamoros incident continues to rise. Several Republican politicians in the United States, including South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, have called for the use of US military force against Mexico’s drug cartels.

Specifically, he’s proposing a plan to designate Mexican drug cartels as “Foreign Terrorist Organisations” in order to, as he put it, “unleash the fury and might of the United States against (them)”.

That rhetoric prompted a furious response in Mexico from President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador who said “Mexico was not a protectorate or a colony of the United States”. Senator Graham’s proposal for military intervention was described as “unacceptable” by Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard.

In the midst of the tense relations, US Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall is in Mexico for a meeting with President Lopez Obrador to discuss the US’s worsening fentanyl and synthetic opioid crisis.

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Germany: shooting occurred at Jehovah’s Witness hall

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Germany
  • According to reports, 6 dead and a number of people injured in shooting.
  • According to police, the gunman acted alone and is presumed dead.
  • Police discovered a dead person at the scene who they believe was a perpetrator.

A number of people were killed in a shooting at a Jehovah’s Witness meeting hall in Hamburg, Germany.

According to police, the gunman acted alone and is presumed dead. It is unclear whether the attacker is one of the six or seven people killed, as reported by German media.

As yet, “there is no reliable information on the motive”, police say.

The shooting on Deelböge street in the city’s Gross Borstel district also injured several people.

Police say they discovered a dead person at the scene who they believe was a perpetrator, and that their investigation is ongoing.

Police were called around 21:15 (20:15 GMT) to reports of shots fired in the building, according to police spokesman Holger Vehren.

Officers who went in found people who “may have been seriously injured by firearms, some of them fatally”, he said.

“The officers also heard a shot from the upper part of the building and went upstairs, where they also found a person. So far we have no indications that any perpetrators fled.”

He stated that police had not yet identified the victims and that work at the crime scene was ongoing.

“All we know is that several people have died here, several people have been injured, they have been taken to hospitals,” Mr Vehren said.

The reasons behind the shooting were “still completely unclear”.

An alert was sent on the federal warning app, NINAwarn, at around 21:00 (20:00 GMT) telling locals that “one or more unknown perpetrators shot at people in a church”.

Residents in the area were told not to leave their homes while the police operation was ongoing.

Footage showed police escorting people out of the meeting hall, some of whom were being taken to ambulances.

Andy Grote, the Interior Minister of Hamburg, announced on Twitter that police special forces and a large number of officers had been dispatched to the scene.

The police have urged the public not to make assumptions or spread rumours.

Jehovah’s Witnesses are a Christian-based religious organisation.

The denomination was founded in the United States near the end of the nineteenth century by Charles Taze Russell. The movement’s headquarters are in New York.

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