- Australian student protests show US campus divisions over Gaza war are going global CNN
- Australian students join US university movement with pro-Palestinian encampments ABC News
- I’ve seen the fear of Jewish students and colleagues: One academic’s plea to uni protesters Sydney Morning Herald
- Aussie uni protesters make shocking pledge news.com.au
Trump in court as hush-money trial to hear further testimony from Stormy Daniels’ lawyer – live
Keith Davidson is expected back on stand on Thursday; judge Juan Merchan will hold hearing on further claims Trump violated gag order
- Lawyer who negotiated Stormy Daniels deal to resume Trump-trial testimony
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We’re still waiting for proceedings to kick off.
As defense lawyer Todd Blanche and Donald Trump are chatting at the defense table, the ex-president appears to be more animated, more engaged, than he has generally been.
Continue reading...US campus protests: hundreds of riot police move in to disperse pro-Palestinian demonstrators at UCLA – live
Officers in tactical gear moving on to campus in latest flashpoint for mounting tensions over protests at US colleges
- Explainer: Where are US campus protests and what is happening?
- US students: share your experience of the campus protests
NYPD Deputy Commissioner, Kaz Daughtry, has confirmed that Fordham University was among a number of educational institutions which requested police assistance on campus to disperse protests.
He said that individuals who refused to disperse has been arrested without incident.
Your @NYPDnews officers continue to protect the right to peacefully protest, but lawlessness will not be tolerated. I commend the professionalism consistently displayed by our officers.
In light of the activities that are currently happening, we further request that you retain a presence on campus through at least May 22, 2024 (when commencement and diploma ceremonies are completed) to maintain order and ensure encampments are not reestablished.”
Continue reading...Danish firm behind weight-loss drug Wegovy raises profit forecast to £15.3bn
Novo Nordisk, which is now Europe’s most valuable company, also reports strong sales of diabetes drug Ozempic
Strong sales of diabetes and weight loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy have prompted the Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk to raise its 2024 profit forecast to up to £15.3bn, with supply shortages starting to ease.
Europe’s most valuable company, whose stock market value exceeds the size of the Danish economy, has struggled to keep up with runaway demand for the two weight-loss jabs.
Continue reading...Middle East crisis live: Israel’s war cabinet to meet tonight to discuss ceasefire and hostage deal
Senior Hamas official told AFP group was looking to end war but had reservations about ceasefire plan
The EU has offered Lebanon a financial package of €1bn (£855m / $1.07bn), European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said in Beirut on Thursday.
The funds would be available from this year until 2027, von der Leyen told a joint news conference with Lebanon’s prime minister Najib Mikati and Cypriot president Nikos Christodoulides.
This continued EU support will strengthen basic services such as education, social protection and health for the people in Lebanon. It will accompany urgent economic, financial and banking reforms. Furthermore, support will be provided to the Lebanese armed forces and other security forces with equipment and training for border management and to fight against smuggling.
Continue reading...Kate Forbes rules herself out of SNP leadership race to back John Swinney
Swinney tells campaign launch event he can bind party together, restore trust and achieve Scottish independence
Kate Forbes has ruled herself out as a candidate in the Scottish National party leadership contest, clearing the way for John Swinney to become the next first minister.
Forbes, a former finance secretary who came to close to winning last year’s contest, confirmed growing suspicions she had reached an agreement with Swinney to back his bid.
Continue reading...‘Greater than an encampment’: Why Gaza student protests strike a chord – Al Jazeera English
‘Greater than an encampment’: Why Gaza student protests strike a chord
Students say 'barrier of fear' has been broken as encampments take over public spaces in defence of Palestinians.
Swinney expected to become Scotland’s first minister next week after Kate Forbes rules herself out – UK politics live
Former finance secretary who was narrowly beaten by Humza Yousaf in last year’s SNP leadership contest, has announced that she will not standing this time
Swinney has confirmed he is standing for SNP leader.
John Swinney is about to speak at his press conference in Edinburgh.
Continue reading...Why South Africans are fed up after 30 years of democracy – The Economist
- Why South Africans are fed up after 30 years of democracy The Economist
- CNN 10: The big stories of the day, explained in 10 minutes CNN
- How South Africa has changed 30 years after apartheid The Economist
- South Africa's media have done good work with 30 years of freedom but need more diversity The Conversation Indonesia
- Opinion | Nelson Mandela legacy reassessed as South Africans prepare to vote - The Washington Post The Washington Post
Europe live: EU warns Georgia ‘foreign agents’ bill threatens its chances to join bloc
Bill has raised concern country is moving away from democratic norms and closer to Moscow
Nicolas Schmit, the Socialists’ lead candidate in the European elections, said he is “deeply concerned” by the violence in Tbilisi.
In a statement late yesterday, the US state department said Georgia’s western trajectory is at risk.
Use of force to suppress peaceful assembly and freedom of speech is unacceptable, and we urge authorities to allow non-violent protesters to continue to exercise their right to freedom of expression.
Continue reading...Minister ‘sorry’ as veterans find ID card not valid for English elections
Johnny Mercer says he will ‘do all I can’ to change rules after veteran turned away from polling station
The veterans minister has apologised to former military personnel who have been prevented from using their veterans ID in order to vote in the local elections in England on Thursday.
Downing Street said it would “look into” changing the controversial new rules, which require photo ID in order to vote, to allow veterans’ ID cards on to the list of valid identification.
Continue reading...Iran says journalists charged after BBC report on protester death – BBC.com
- Iran says journalists charged after BBC report on protester death BBC.com
- Iran denies report IRGC molested, killed teen protester during Mahsa Amini unrest The Times of Israel
- Iran files charges over BBC report on teen girl allegedly killed by security forces in 2022 protests The Associated Press
- Iranian teenager 'sexually assaulted and beaten to death' for anti-hijab protest The Telegraph
- Secret Documents Show Iranian Forces Assaulted And Molested Teen Killed In Custody, Says BBC Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty
Peloton CEO steps down as beleaguered company cuts 15% of workforce
Fitness company’s sales boomed during the Covid pandemic as gyms closed but sales collapsed as the world reopened
Barry McCarthy has stepped down as CEO of Peloton, the company said on Thursday, as it decided to cut 15% of its workforce to tackle a post-pandemic slump in demand for its connected fitness equipment.
In a note, McCarthy said: “Hard as the decision has been to make additional headcount cuts, Peloton simply had no other way to bring its spending in line with its revenue.”
Continue reading...Watchdog rejects request to investigate Tory MP over City lobbying complaint
Parliamentary commissioner for standards says there was not sufficient evidence to justify opening investigation into John Baron
Parliament’s standards watchdog has turned down a request to investigate a senior Conservative MP over whether he used his role on the Commons Treasury committee to lobby for changes to City rules.
The parliamentary commissioner for standards, Daniel Greenberg, said a request submitted on behalf of campaign group Unlock Democracy had not provided any evidence that John Baron MP was not acting in the public interest, or breached any rule related to lobbying, that would be sufficient to justify opening an investigation.
Continue reading...UCLA students describe violent attack on Gaza protest encampment: ‘It was terrifying’
Slow response from authorities left students shocked as people wearing white masks attacked pro-Palestine protesters
When Meghna Nair, a second-year student at the University of California, Los Angeles, saw a masked group of people headed toward the pro-Palestine encampment on campus late on Tuesday evening, she expected trouble.
“I knew where they were going. I had an idea what they planned to do,” she said. “I didn’t know what to do.”
Continue reading...Campus protests: UCLA students in standoff with police as demonstrations spread across US
More than a thousand supporters at a pro-Palestine encampment in California face arrest by police, a day after it was attacked by pro-Israel counter-protesters
Tensions are growing at the University of California where hundreds of police in riot gear have gathered after warning pro-Palestinian protesters to disperse or face arrest, a day after their encampment was violently attacked by masked counter-protesters.
Police began forming lines near the encampment at the Los Angeles campus and ordered the dispersal of more than a thousand people who had gathered in support of the protesters on Wednesday night, warning over loudspeakers that anyone who refused to leave could face arrest.
Continue reading...London protesters block coach taking asylum seekers to Bibby Stockholm
Dozens of demonstrators in Peckham surround coach before it can take people to barge in Dorset
A standoff was under way in London on Thursday after a coach sent to collect asylum seekers and take them to the Bibby Stockholm barge was surrounded by protesters.
Dozens of demonstrators blocked the coach before it was able to pick up passengers, surrounding it on all sides. Hours later, the bus was still at the scene while protestors were also sitting in front of a number of police vans carrying a number of people who were arrested.
Continue reading...European court upholds Italy’s right to seize prized Greek bronze from Getty Museum, rejects appeal – The Associated Press
- European court upholds Italy's right to seize prized Greek bronze from Getty Museum, rejects appeal The Associated Press
- Italy can seize ancient statue in US, European court says Financial Times
- Ancient bronze must be returned to Italy by Getty Trust, ECHR rules The Telegraph
- European Court Backs Italy in Greek Statue Dispute With Getty Museum U.S. News & World Report
US Gaza protests: Calling the cops on free speech
It turns out, many self-professed defenders of free speech care to safeguard the right to right-wing free speech alone.