German controversy surrounds jail term for transgender far-right extremist
Marla-Svenja Liebich was sentenced two years ago to a total of one year and six months in prison without parole.
Non-binary park ranger fired for hanging trans pride flag in Yosemite
Shannon ‘SJ’ Joslin among group who hung 66ft flag on El Capitan as others could face prosecution under protest laws
A Yosemite national park ranger was fired after hanging a pride flag from El Capitan, while some park visitors could face prosecution under protest restrictions that have been tightened under Donald Trump.
Shannon “SJ” Joslin, a ranger and biologist who studies bats, said they hung a 66ft-wide transgender pride flag on the famous climbing wall that looms over the California park’s main thoroughfare for about two hours on 20 May before taking it down voluntarily. A termination letter they received last week accused Joslin of “failing to demonstrate acceptable conduct” in their capacity as a biologist and cited the May incident.
Continue reading...Big box retailer Target names new CEO as business struggles
The promotion of the former CFO was not received well customers have shifted to competitors like Walmart.
US health agency workers accuse RFK Jr of fueling violence against them
Over 750 workers in a letter said HHS secretary’s rhetoric played a role in recent attack at CDC’s Atlanta headquarters
More than 750 current and former federal health employees on Wednesday accused health and human services (HHS) secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr of fueling harassment and violence directed at government healthcare staff.
In a letter sent to Kennedy and members of Congress, the group accuses RFK Jr of contributing to “the harassment and violence experienced by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) staff”, citing decisions such as removing members from a CDC vaccine advisory panel, questioning the safety of the measles vaccine, and firing key CDC staff as actions that sow distrust in federal medical professionals.
Continue reading...Leading conservationist in South Africa denies smuggling rhino horns worth $14m
John Hume was allegedly part of an international rhino horn trafficking syndicate, prosecutors say.
Texas can’t require public schools to display Ten Commandments in class, judge rules
Law temporarily blocked after group sought preliminary injunction, saying it violated first amendment protections
Texas cannot require public schools to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom, a judge said on Wednesday in a temporary ruling against the state’s new requirement, making it the third such state law to be blocked by a court.
A group of Dallas-area families and faith leaders sought a preliminary injunction against the law, which goes into effect on 1 September. They say the requirement violates the first amendment’s protections for the separation of church and state and the right to free religious exercise.
Continue reading...Watch: Fire rages at Milan airport check-in desk
Footage shared on social media shows a man knocked to ground after smashing an advertisement screen.
Israel Denies Gaza Famine: What’s the Evidence?
Israel’s military and prime minister deny starvation in Gaza, but mounting famine-related deaths contradict this.
South African minister investigated for historical racial slurs on social media
Gayton McKenzie given deadline to apologise, undergo sensitivity training and delete posts
South Africa’s sport, arts and culture minister, Gayton McKenzie, is under investigation by the country’s human rights commission for historical social media posts containing a highly offensive racial slur, reigniting a debate about racism, identity and the lingering effects of colonialism and apartheid.
McKenzie, an anti-immigrant populist from the Coloured community with a history of stirring up controversies, was given a Wednesday evening deadline by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) to issue an approved apology, undergo sensitivity training, donate to an agreed charity and delete the X posts, which were still online at the time of publication.
Continue reading...Why did Trump deploy the National Guard in Washington, DC?
Trump deployed National Guard troops in Washington, DC, citing crime, even as city data shows rates have been falling.
Israel to call up around 60,000 reservists before planned offensive on Gaza City, says Israeli military official – as it happened
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Israel is “killing all prospects” for peace in the Middle East, Jordan’s foreign minister has said amid escalating international outrage over Israel’s plans for a new large-scale offensive in Gaza City and plans to massively expand Jewish settlements in the West Bank.
Ayman Safadi made his remarks during a visit to Moscow on the same day that the Israeli defence minister, Israel Katz, approved a plan to conquer Gaza City, an urban area home to hundreds of thousands of people in the north of the Palestinian territory.
Continue reading...Loan ‘irregularities’ led to collapse of Prax Lindsey oil refinery
Administrator was appointed after parent company State Oil was given new information about £783m loan
The Prax Lindsey oil refinery collapsed after “material irregularities” were discovered in a complex £783m loan facility that funded the wider group, it has emerged.
The refinery on the Humber estuary in northern England – one of just five left in the UK, – was suddenly plunged into administration in late June, prompting calls from furious government ministers for an investigation into Winston Soosaipillai, Prax Group’s oil tycoon owner.
Continue reading...Archaeologists to excavate Glasgow skatepark – with help from skaters
Kelvingrove park is site of Scotland’s first skatepark, Kelvin Wheelies, which has been covered in rubble for decades
Scotland’s first outdoor skatepark – currently buried beneath rubble in Glasgow’s Kelvingrove park – will be excavated next week in an attempt to preserve its legacy.
Archaeologists at the University of Glasgow are inviting volunteers to join them as they begin their excavation and survey work at the former Kelvin Wheelies park, which has been underground for more than three decades.
Continue reading...Bus crash fire kills dozens of Afghans deported from Iran
Around 80 people have been killed in a bus crash that caught fire in Afghanistan’s Herat province.
Your Next Vacation Could Be a ‘Coolcation’ – AOL.com
- Your Next Vacation Could Be a 'Coolcation' AOL.com
- In Norway, Are ‘Coolcations’ Taking a Toll? The New York Times
- ‘Coolcations’ are booming again as tourists prioritize quieter, off-peak trips CNBC
- Hotter Summers and Overcrowding Threaten Europe’s Tourist Economies Bloomberg.com
- More tourists look to Greek vacations through autumn, winter stockwatch.com.cy
US-Mexico border wall to be painted black to stop climbers
Using black paint to make the entire US-Mexico border wall hotter and harder to climb was reportedly Trump's idea.
Confrontation between Tunisia’s General Union, President Saied escalates
While the confrontation was inevitable, the union's power has been weakened, analysts say.
Japan proposes ‘economic zone’ linking Indian Ocean to Africa, seeks greater role in the region – AP News
- Japan proposes 'economic zone' linking Indian Ocean to Africa, seeks greater role in the region AP News
- JICA to designate four Japanese cities as 'hometowns' for African nations The Japan Times
- TICAD African development conference gets underway in Japan | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News nhk.or.jp
- Japan eyes low-cost debt to mitigate Africa blow from aid cuts Financial Times
- TICAD: In Japan, private-sector optimism over Africa is cautious but growing The Africa Report.com
China FM in Afghanistan, offers to deepen cooperation with Taliban rulers
Mining, Belt and Road participation feature in trilateral meetings between China, Afghanistan and Pakistan in Kabul.
Iran says moment for ‘effective’ nuclear talks with US not yet reached
Iran's FM sceptical about resuming talks with the US, says Iran cannot break ties with UN nuclear watchdog.