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Gaza influencer, 11, among dozens of children killed by recent Israeli strikes | First Thing
Yaqeen Hammad is one of dozens of minors killed by Israeli attacks. Plus, US faces another summer of extreme heat
Good morning.
Eleven-year-old Yaqeen Hammad, Gaza’s youngest social media influencer, is among the dozens of children killed by Israel in recent strikes as its forces intensify their military offensive across the Palestinian territory.
How has Israel intensified its attacks on Gaza in recent days? Israeli airstrikes killed at least 52 people on Monday, including 31 in a school turned shelter that was struck as people slept, igniting their belongings, according to local health officials.
What is the latest with Israel’s aid blockade? A US-backed group tasked with delivering supplies said it had begun operations on Monday, in a plan endorsed by Israel but rejected by the UN.
How are Israel’s allies responding? The UK, France and Canada have called for Israel to end the siege of Gaza, with the British foreign secretary calling Israeli actions “monstrous”. But, as Patrick Wintour explains in Today in Focus, allies have not yet used all the tools at their disposal.
Continue reading...Europe’s “harsh words” for Israel “a positive thing”
Saul Takahashi on the EU’s shift in tone toward Israel’s war on Gaza and whether its words will lead to real action.
White House stunned as Hegseth inquiry brings up illegal wiretap claims
Exclusive: Trump advisers lose confidence in Pentagon leak investigation Hegseth used to justify firing three top aides
The White House has lost confidence in a Pentagon leak investigation that Pete Hegseth used to justify firing three top aides last month, after advisers were told that the aides had supposedly been outed by an illegal warrantless National Security Agency (NSA) wiretap.
The extraordinary explanation alarmed the advisers, who also raised it with people close to JD Vance, because such a wiretap would almost certainly be unconstitutional and an even bigger scandal than a number of leaks.
Continue reading...Trump pardons former sheriff convicted of bribery
The US president says Scott Jenkins is a "victim of an overzealous Biden Department of Justice".
French first lady seen shoving President Macron in the face in viral clip and more top headlines – Fox News
- French first lady seen shoving President Macron in the face in viral clip and more top headlines Fox News
- Emmanuel Macron's wife seen shoving him in the face in viral clip as France's first couple arrives in Vietnam Fox News
- Classroom crush to face push: Key moments in the Macrons' relationship Sky News
- ‘It’s Nonsense’: Macron Plays Down Video of Shove From Wife The New York Times
- Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron’s scandal-plagued relationship: From student-teacher affair to the shocking physical altercation New York Post
Unable to Justify Their Army Killing Children in Gaza, Israelis Retreat Into Deep Denial – Haaretz
- Unable to Justify Their Army Killing Children in Gaza, Israelis Retreat Into Deep Denial Haaretz
- Israeli Airstrike Kills at Least 7 of a Doctor’s Children, Gaza Officials Say The New York Times
- Girl tells Al Jazeera how she escaped school inferno Al Jazeera
- Israel Bombs Home of Gaza Pediatrician, Killing 9 of Her 10 Kids, in Latest Attack on Health Workers Democracy Now!
- Israeli airstrikes kill 54 people in Gaza Vatican News
France’s National Assembly to vote on long-debated bill legalizing end-of-life options – AP News
- France’s National Assembly to vote on long-debated bill legalizing end-of-life options AP News
- France’s National Assembly votes in favour of legalising assisted dying The Guardian
- France’s lower house of parliament adopts bill to allow adults with incurable illness to take lethal medication ABC News
- French MPs back law to allow assisted dying BBC
- French lawmakers pass assisted dying bill in historic first vote politico.eu
Sweden hauls in Israeli ambassador over Gaza humanitarian crisis – politico.eu
- Sweden hauls in Israeli ambassador over Gaza humanitarian crisis politico.eu
- Sweden to summon Israeli ambassador over Gaza Reuters
- Sweden to summon Israeli envoy as Scandinavian leaders escalate criticism over Gaza aid The Times of Israel
- Finnish leaders urge Israel to follow international law, allow aid to reach Gaza Yle
- Sweden, Norway condemn Israel's Gaza aid blockade - Shafaq News شفق نيوز
Germany’s Merz: No more range limits for weapons to Ukraine – DW
- Germany's Merz: No more range limits for weapons to Ukraine DW
- Germany's Merz says Western allies no longer impose range limits on Ukrainian weapons Le Monde.fr
- What Germany’s Green Light for Ukraine to Strike Inside Russia Means for the War Time Magazine
- Germany's chancellor ends weapons range limits for Ukraine despite Russian nuclear threats Fox News
- US, Europe lift ‘range restrictions’ on Ukraine missiles: Why it matters Al Jazeera
The New Dark Age – Yahoo
- The New Dark Age Yahoo
- Trump’s attack on science is growing fiercer and more indiscriminate The Economist
- Funding is drying up, and so are career options. Some budding scientists are debating abandoning their research. The Boston Globe
- Reversing the brain drain: Can Europe successfully woo scientists amid US research cuts? France 24
- Trump Has Cut Science Funding to Its Lowest Level in Decades The New York Times
EU ministers approve new 150 bln-euro arms fund – Reuters
- EU ministers approve new 150 bln-euro arms fund Reuters
- EU approves €150 billion for ‘SAFE’ arms fund to boost defence France 24
- Updated: EU formally adopts $170 billion defense plan amid Russia's war against Ukraine The Kyiv Independent
- EU’s SAFE joint defence lending programme wins final Council approval Euractiv
- Europe’s defense awakening needs a second engine politico.eu
Anger as Zimbabwe leader approves new radio levy for motorists
The measure sparks criticism from motorists and opposition, who see it as an extra tax burden.
KFC plans to invest £1.5bn in UK and Ireland, creating thousands of jobs
Fast-food chain’s plan on back of booming fried chicken market includes opening 500 new restaurants
KFC is to invest almost £1.5bn and create thousands of jobs in the UK and Ireland over the next five years, as the fast-food chain seeks to capitalise on the booming popularity of fried chicken.
The chain, which is celebrating its 60th year of operations in the UK, said it plans to invest £1.49bn to grow and upgrade its existing 1,000-outlet estate.
Continue reading...New Zealand teen dies in viral rugby-style tackle game
He was critically injured in a game of "run it straight", which has become a social media trend.
NSW MP Gareth Ward allegedly raped political staffer after Parliament House event, trial hears
Independent MP for Kiama has pleaded not guilty to sexually assaulting a 24-year-old in 2015 and an 18-year-old in 2013
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New South Wales independent MP Gareth Ward allegedly raped a political staffer in his home in 2015 after he invited the man to stay over following an event at Parliament House, a court has heard.
Ward, who at the time of the alleged offending was the Liberal MP for Kiama, is facing an expected four-week trial at Sydney’s Downing Centre after being charged with five criminal offences.
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Continue reading...Blow to Minns as turf club votes down plan to sell Sydney racecourse to NSW to build 25,000 homes
Premier says he is ‘disappointed’ after Rosehill decision and ‘it feels like a golden opportunity has slipped through our fingers’
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The Minns government has had a major hole punched in its strategy to boost housing in Sydney after the Australian Turf Club members voted not to sell Rosehill racecourse, earmarked for a major housing development.
The New South Wales government had offered $5bn for the site, and proposed it would accommodate 25,000 new homes and a proposed Metro stop.
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Continue reading...Could the French Pedophile Doctor Joël Le Scouarnec Have Been Stopped Earlier? – The New York Times
- Could the French Pedophile Doctor Joël Le Scouarnec Have Been Stopped Earlier? The New York Times
- Victims in French Le Scouarnec child abuse trial shocked at public indifference BBC
- Former surgeon faces 20 years in prison as France's largest child sexual abuse trial comes to an end NBC News
- French court to sentence former surgeon who abused children for decades The Guardian
- French court to rule on paedophile surgeon Le Scouarnec who abused children for decades France 24
ABC doing ‘all the heavy lifting’ as commercial networks abandon local kids’ TV drama
Just $1.75m spent on genre across free-to-air networks as advocates warn of ‘broader erosion’ of cultural investment
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Australian commercial television networks have all but given up on creating local children’s drama, advocates say, with just $1.75m spent on the genre across all commercial free-to-air networks in 2023-24.
But that’s $1.75m more than the previous year, according to the latest report card by the communications regulator, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (Acma).
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Continue reading...Uganda accused of ‘state bigotry’ and attacks on LGBTQ+ people
Report from Human Rights Watch criticises Museveni regime for arbitrary arrests and detentions, violence and extortion since draconian new law enacted
The Ugandan authorities have “unleashed abuse”, perpetrating widespread discrimination and violence against LGBTQ+ people in the two years since the world’s harshest anti-gay laws were enacted, according to a new report by Human Rights Watch (HRW).
The government’s policies in Uganda had encouraged attacks and harassment against people and organisations seen as being supportive of gay rights, said researchers from the rights group.
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