issues

Bush Dodges Owl and Oil Issues During Brief West Coast Visit

President Bush sidestepped two controversial environmental issues Monday as he took a brief swing along the West Coast.

In Portland, Ore., where Bush arrived Sunday night and left Monday morning, the President avoided committing himself on protection for the northern spotted owl, the bird whose fate has been bound up with the future of the Northwest’s remaining stands of “old growth” virgin forest.

Bush called for “balance” but did not define it.

Later in the day, during a brief stop in Los Angeles before flying back to Washington, Bush avoided any comment on offshore oil drilling. Last week, he said he was within “days, not weeks” of making a decision on whether to restrict drilling off the coasts of California and Florida.

Bush is widely expected to allow drilling off at least some parts of the Southern California coast. The White House has delayed for months announcing its policy, in part out of concern for the impact a politically unpopular decision to drill would have on Republican hopes of winning this fall’s election for governor.

Politics was at the center of the trip, which brought Bush from Texas to Oregon to Los Angeles and back to Washington in about 31 hours, roughly 11 hours of it on airplanes and only about 45 minutes in public.

But he will have spent several hours in political functions, mostly behind closed doors, in efforts to raise money for Republican candidates.

The chief purpose of Bush’s three-hour stop in Los Angeles, for example, was a lunch at the Bel-Air home of David Murdock, head of Castle Entertainment, where guests paying up to $25,000 apiece were expected to contribute about $700,000 to Republican coffers.

In Oregon, GOP officials estimated Bush raised more than $750,000 for Dave Frohnmayer, the Republican candidate for governor, as he spoke to several hundred people who had paid $1,000 to eat scrambled eggs and listen to political rhetoric at 8 o’clock on a Monday morning.

Because the White House added two non-political stops to the schedule–a 20-minute visit to view the model of a planned memorial to slain policemen in Portland and another 20 minutes at an anti-drug program here–the trip is considered “presidential,” rather than purely “political.” As a result, taxpayers, rather than the GOP, foot much of the bill.

In his remarks on Frohnmayer’s behalf, Bush spoke on both sides of the spotted owl issue.

“I reject those who would ignore the economic consequences of the spotted owl decision,” he said. “I also reject those who do not recognize their obligation to protect our delicate ecosystem.”

His audience, however, left no doubt about their sympathies, loudly applauding when he spoke in favor of considering economic factors and greeting his call for environmental protection with silence.

One of the GOP candidates Bush praised, Rep. Denny Smith (R-Ore.), was even more blunt. “There are millions of owls in the world,” he said. “The bottom line is people are more important than owls.”

Outside the hotel where Bush spoke, several dozen protesters demonstrated against logging. They were joined by other demonstrators protesting about a range of issues from AIDS to the policies of the Indian government in Kashmir.

One group of protesters did a dance across a downtown Portland street representing forest creatures. In keeping with the area’s reputation for civility, the group pranced into the street only when street lights said “Walk,” quickly returning to the sidewalk each time the “Don’t Walk” sign lit up.

Later, however, some demonstrators burned American flags and piles of newspaper in a street near the hotel, sparking at least 27 arrests, police said.

Environmental activists have campaigned to preserve the owl, which lives only in dense “old growth” forests of the Northwest, in large part as a way of protecting the forest ecosystem. Environmental groups argue that the remaining old-growth forests will be entirely gone within a generation if logging of them is not restricted.

Timber companies and many timber industry workers argue that logging restrictions sought by conservationists will put them out of work.

The federal Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed protecting the owl under the Endangered Species Act and is supposed to make a decision by June 23.

Bush has little role to play in that decision. But if the owl is listed as “endangered” or “threatened,” the White House could strongly influence the required writing of a plan to protect the creature. Environmentalists, in turn, could go to court if they believe the Administration does not protect the owl sufficiently.

Source link

State Issues Apology for Policy of Sterilization

It was a dark chapter in American history. For more than half a century, California and other states forcibly sterilized 60,000 mentally ill people as part of a misguided national campaign to eliminate crime, “feeblemindedness,” alcoholism, poverty and other problems blamed for dragging society down.

On Tuesday, Gov. Gray Davis apologized, placing California in a small group of states that have issued formal regrets.

“To the victims and their families of this past injustice,” Davis said in a statement, “the people of California are deeply sorry for the suffering you endured over the years. Our hearts are heavy for the pain caused by eugenics. It was a sad and regrettable chapter … one that must never be repeated.”

As eugenics was practiced in California and 31 other states at various times between 1909 and 1964, when it stopped, individuals considered defective included alcoholics, petty criminals, the poor, disabled and mentally ill.

About 20,000 people were involuntarily sterilized in an attempt to prevent their genes from being passed on to another generation.

Eugenics was intended to “clean up the gene pool,” Paul Lombardo, an expert on the subject, said during a presentation at the Capitol only hours before Davis acted.

The policy was horribly misguided and resulted in the human rights of thousands being routinely violated by a coercive government with the support of the Supreme Court, said Lombardo, a professor at the University of Virginia School of Medicine.

He spoke at a special California Senate hearing on eugenics and the history of mandatory sterilization of supposedly defective people.

Sen. Dede Alpert (D-San Diego) said she intends to introduce a resolution that will express the Legislature’s apology.

Davis issued the official regrets shortly after state Atty. Gen. Bill Lockyer apologized for one of his predecessors, Atty. Gen. Ulysses S. Webb, who enthusiastically supported forced sterilization as “enlightened” law free of legal “inhibitions.” Webb served from 1903 until 1939.

Lockyer said it is never too late to apologize for the bigotry practiced against the disabled and others who were “seen as misfits of the time.” He said the lessons of eugenics should not be lost in this era of cloning and genetic engineering advancements.

Lombardo said later that he was stunned that a gubernatorial apology from Davis would occur so quickly.

“I never expected that I’d finish a lecture at noon and the governor would make an apology by 3:30 p.m.,” Lombardo said.

He and George Cunningham, a genetic disease expert in the state Department of Health Services, said it was unknown how many forced-sterilization victims are living in California, but suggested that the number is probably small because most sterilizations occurred before World War II.

“There is no registry of these cases,” Lombardo said.

Davis’ apology did not propose reparations or other compensation to the victims or their families.

Lombardo said it would be difficult for survivors to collect damages in a lawsuit against the government because the Supreme Court had upheld the constitutionality of forced sterilization in 1927.

He told the hearing of the Select Committee on Genetics, Genetic Technologies and Public Policy that Adolf Hitler’s Third Reich borrowed generously from U.S. laws when it imposed forced sterilization on “undesirables.”

Lombardo, a lawyer and historian, said eugenics started with the goal of encouraging development of a world of healthy individuals who would pass along their best traits to the next generation.

He said many leading minds of the late 1800s and early 1900s enthusiastically supported eugenics.

Contests were held to determine “perfect children,” movies publicized the movement, and major foundations financed eugenics research, Lombardo said.

He said supporters were successful in persuading the Los Angeles Times to run a series of favorable articles about eugenics in its Sunday magazine.

Lombardo said eugenics was an “incredibly popular movement” and a household word in America because Americans “all wanted to help the children.” Eugenics was defined as “to be well born” and to have a “happy heritage.”

At the time, the mantra was, “Let’s get rid of crime and poverty. Let’s have healthy children. Who could argue against it?”

In 1929, California became the second state to adopt forced sterilization as law and accounted for a third of the total cases nationally during the 35 years that eugenics was state policy, he said.

Many early supporters of eugenics became disillusioned with the movement, Lombardo said, when it got sidetracked into a policy for selective breeding.

Source link

Bangkok court issues an arrest warrant for Thai co-owner of Miss Universe pageant

A court in Thailand said Wednesday that it has issued an arrest warrant for a co-owner of the Miss Universe Organization in connection with a fraud case.

Jakkaphong “Anne” Jakrajutatip was charged with fraud then released on bail in 2023. She failed to appear as required in a Bangkok court on Tuesday. Since she did not notify the court about her absence, she was deemed to be a flight risk, according to a statement from the Bangkok South District Court.

The court rescheduled the hearing for Dec. 26.

According to the court’s statement, Jakkaphong and her company, JKN Global Group Public Co. Ltd., were sued for allegedly defrauding Raweewat Maschamadol in selling him the company’s corporate bonds in 2023. Raweewat says the investment caused him to lose $930,362.

Financially troubled JKN defaulted on payments to investors beginning in 2023 and began debt rehabilitation procedures with the Central Bankruptcy Court in 2024. The company says it has debts totaling about $93 million.

JKN acquired the rights to the Miss Universe pageant from IMG Worldwide LLC in 2022. In 2023, it sold 50% of its Miss Universe shares to Legacy Holding Group USA, which is owned by a Mexican businessman, Raúl Rocha Cantú.

Jakkaphong resigned from all of the company’s positions in June after being accused by Thailand’s Securities and Exchange Commission of falsifying the company’s 2023 financial statements. She remains its largest shareholder.

Her whereabouts remain unclear. She did not appear at the 74th Miss Universe competition, which was held in Bangkok earlier this month.

This year’s competition was marred by various problems, including a sharp-tongued scolding by a Thai organizer of Fátima Bosch Fernández of Mexico, who was crowned Miss Universe 2025 on Nov. 19. Two judges reportedly dropped out, with one suggesting that there was an element of rigging to the contest. Separately, Thai police investigated allegations that publicity for the event included illegal promotion of online casinos.

On Monday, JKN denied rumors that Jakkaphong had liquidated the company’s assets and fled the country, but there has been no immediate reaction regarding the arrest warrant. She could not be reached for comment.

Jakkaphong is a well-known celebrity in Thailand who has starred in reality shows and is outspoken about her identity as a transgender woman.

Saksornchai writes for the Associated Press.

Source link

Ryanair issues stark warning for Brits flying with Christmas presents in their bags

If you’re planning a Christmas break abroad or visiting family, Ryanair has released helpful tips for transporting your gifts safely to your destination, and you may want to hold off on wrapping them up

Christmas is one of the busiest travel times, and in addition to the surge in traveller numbers, one thing that can hold up security lines and cause issues at airports is the amount of Christmas gifts packed into suitcases.

That’s why Ryanair has put together a guide on how to pack your presents, and included a stark warning about wrapping your gifts before you put them in your suitcase. If you’re planning a Christmas trip and are looking to get your gifts organised, then you might want to heed the budget airline’s advice and avoid wrapping them before you go.

“Don’t spend hours intricately wrapping gifts to carry in your hand luggage. Wrapped gifts may be opened, searched and screened by airport security staff,” a statement from Ryanair read.

Even with technology such as scanners available, airport staff may need to open your suitcase and check certain items, which means your beautiful wrapping paper could be torn off your gifts before you even get them under the tree. Ryanair’s advice, as an alternative, is to pack the unwrapped gifts and bringing a gift bag folded flat in your suitcase, which you can then use when you arrive.

The budget airline also gave advice to festive travellers about carrying valuables, advising them to place expensive or sentimental items in their smaller hand luggage bag, which goes under the seat in front of them. Avoid placing them in checked baggage or your larger cabin bag, as they may end up in the hold if the overhead lockers are full.

There was also a reminder not to carry items that look like weapons in your hand luggage. Avoid buying toy guns or slingshots for the kids in your family, as they can cause issues at security.

Passengers should also wait until they reach their destination to buy Christmas crackers. While they only give a small bang, these items are considered explosives. Party items, including sparklers, party poppers, and fireworks, should also be left at home.

Many people will be buying liquid gifts for loved ones, whether it’s a bottle of perfume, toiletries, or alcohol, so it’s worth checking the liquid rules for your arrival and departure airports. If you’re looking to buy a bottle of whiskey or a posh perfume, it may be worth waiting and getting them in duty-free, as you can then take your shopping bag on the plane with you.

While most UK airports still have the standard 100ml volume limits in place for hand luggage, some destinations, such as Dublin Airport, have relaxed their liquid rules, allowing containers of up to two litres to be carried through.

READ MORE: Holiday chief slams huge ‘blow’ for Brits as UK tourism taxes set to be introducedREAD MORE: Warning to Brits as Canary Islands placed on ‘no travel’ list

And finally, if you’re taking Christmas food with you, remember that items such as jam, preserves, soups, and custard count as liquid, so should be packed into your checked luggage. Check your departure airport’s official website for information and the latest updates to liquid rules.

Have a story you want to share? Email us at [email protected]

Source link

Kelvin Fletcher issues update on devastating injury as farm thrown into chaos

The Emmerdale star’s injury has had an impact on his farm which is the subject of an ITV reality series

Kelvin Fletcher has issued fans with a worrying health update in the latest instalment of his ITV reality series, Fletchers’ Family Farm.

In the episode aired today (November 23) the extent of the former Emmerdale star’s injuries sustained during a charity rugby match were laid bare.

The star had signed up to play alongside professional athletes Gareth Ellis, Mark Flanagan and Danny McGuire in aid of the David Lewis Centre, a charity supporting individuals with complex needs.

The soap star had initially been benched, but was later shown in the game being tackled. He admitted at the time: “I’m hoping, fingers crossed, I’ve not, but it feels like I’ve torn my bicep.”

READ MORE: Kelvin Fletcher’s fears over ‘pushing kids out of comfort zone’READ MORE: Kelvin Fletcher admits he’s ‘nervous’ as he makes emotional confession about kids

In the latest update given to viewers, he revealed a scan had now confirmed that he was indeed suffering from a torn bicep, rendering him unable to see through his commitments on the farm.

“I need to find a potential understudy,” he remarked on the programme as he weighed up whether he could still show his Lincoln Red cows at the Royal Cheshire Show.

Turning to wife Liz, he said: “My arm is killing me still. My arm’s really sore and I’m just thinking whether it’s best you taking them. You’ll be fine.” He added: “Let’s just see, but just on standby. How do you feel about that?”

Liz, clearly unimpressed replied: “Well not great, obviously,” as Kelvin reassured her that “despite the adversity, despite the hiccups we’re still going to go.”

Later in the episode, Liz revealed her anxiety about showing the cows, telling the cameras: “Where I thought I was just going to be having a lovely day at the Cheshire show with the kids, no pressure, no worries, I’m now told I’m going to have to step it up and potentially be the one that’s in the ring with the cow because of Kelvin’s injury.”

She continued: “I feel underprepared, more than last year. Even though he is a beautiful and calm temperament, it’s how does he respond to those other bulls. But we’re in it now, what can we do? We’re going.”

Not content with just a torn muscle, Kelvin was also seen suffering a paper cut as wife Liz joked he was a “delicate flower” before embracing him tightly.

Fletchers’ Family Farm airs on ITV1 every Sunday, with episodes available to stream via ITVX

Source link

Louise Thompson says she’ll never be able to have another child after trauma of son’s birth and series of health issues

LOUISE Thompson has revealed she will never be able to carry another child due to severe health issues following the birth of her son Leo.

The Made In Chelsea star, 35, came close to dying after going into labour with her son four years ago.

Leo is Louise’s only childCredit: Instagram
Louise gave birth via an emergency cesarean and lost over three litres of blood – before expieriencing a second devastating haemorrhage at homeCredit: Louise Thompson instagram

The harrowing ordeal led to a myriad of health issues, the most recent of which saw Louise bravely reveal she had a stoma.

Following Leo’s birth she suffered multiple injuries including a post-natal haemorrhage, developing Asherman’s Syndrome, in which scar tissue in the uterus becomes ‘glued’ together, worsening bowel problems and emergency surgery.

Her injuries mean that she cannot carry another child.

Louise also has post-traumatic stress as a result of the horrific complications she endured and now relies on a stoma bag.

READ MORE ON MATERNITY CARE

SCANDALS

‘Failing’ NHS maternity units probed as Health Sec apologises to ‘gaslit’ families


MUM’S THE WORD

Major change to maternity care for ALL pregnant women as NHS ditches key aim

She believes women are being deterred having children due to a growing number of horror stories.

She told Daily Mail: “It’s something that a lot of people within my circle are talking about fairly regularly – the population problems we have.

“Thousands of women are crying out to me about this topic.

“Speaking on my own personal experience, I won’t be able to carry another child.

“So immediately that puts us in a position where we are part of that problem now.”

She is now an advocate for women’s health and maternity rights, and has spoken about her ordeal to the Birth Trauma All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG).

Louise teamed up with former Conservative MP Theo Clarke to set up the APPG and is now launching a petition urging the Government to appoint a commissioner dedicated to overseeing maternity care.

Their goal is to reach the 100,000 signatures needed to trigger a Parliamentary debate.

Louise has spoken about her distressing birth experience in the past.

The former reality star lost three-and-a-half litres of blood following the arrival of her son Leo by emergency C-section.

Things got even worse when Louise eventually returned home and suffered another haemorrhage, during which she lost five litres of blood and woke up in intensive care.

She previously spoke about the “uncertainty” around having another child.

She said last year on Lorraine: “It’s still fairly inconclusive. I will never mentally be strong enough to carry a child and, physically, I have something called asherman syndrome where my uterus is glued together with scar tissue.

“I suppose in one sense, it’s a bit of a miracle that I didn’t have to have a hysterectomy, so I do still have a womb.

jungle rumble

I’m A Celeb star Ruby Wax’s secret feud with TV rival who ‘stole her career’


XMAS SPIRIT

Town goes wild celebrating ‘Xmas for alcoholics’ as girls faceplant in street

“I had a year with no periods, then I had a surgery to try and fix that and then that ended up in another haemorrhage so where I am left currently is that the hospital have sort of said ‘It would be too threatening.

“We wouldn’t want to do another surgery in that area. Let’s let you live’. Equally I am so grateful to have one beautiful, healthy child who has lots of friends and cousins. I do have ovaries and embryos so there is a chance I could freeze some eggs… when I am ready…”

Louise Thompson with her fiance Ryan as they announced they were expectingCredit: Instagram / Louise Thompson
The former reality star admitted she initially struggled to connect with her son after he was bornCredit: instagram

Source link

Foreign Office issues warning for popular holiday destination

The Foreign Office put out a ‘serious illness’ alert on Tuesday

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has issued an urgent warning for Brits travelling to a hugely popular holiday destination. Nearly a million UK visitors are thought to travel to India each year, and on Tuesday, November 18, the FCDO updated its travel advice for those heading to the South Asian country.

Those travelling to India are now being cautioned: “There has been an increase in cases of serious illness caused by alcoholic drinks containing methanol in popular travel destinations around the world. Even small amounts of methanol can kill. It is not possible to identify methanol in alcoholic drinks by taste or smell.”

Additional guidance on the Government’s Travel Aware website states: “Methanol is toxic even in small amounts. It is an industrial alcohol made from distilling wood and can be found in many commercial products, like antifreeze, fuel and paint thinners. In some parts of the world methanol products are sometimes illegally mixed with ‘real’ alcohol such as spirit-based drinks and cocktails.”

Identifying methanol poisoning can prove challenging as initial symptoms mirror those of regular alcohol consumption. However, early warning signs include vomiting, impaired judgement, loss of balance and drowsiness.

Between 12 and 48 hours after having a drink, you might experience symptoms such as stomach pain, dizziness, rapid breathing, shortness of breath, blurred vision or even blindness, falling into a coma, or having seizures. If you or anyone you’re travelling with starts to show any of these signs, it’s crucial to seek immediate medical help.

According to Government advice, problems with your sight are a major warning sign and can also occur 12-48 hours after your first drink. Methanol poisoning can lead to blurry vision, difficulty looking at bright lights, and in some cases, total loss of sight.

If you start seeing “snowfield vision” (like the snowy static on an old telly) or tunnel vision, it’s vital to get urgent medical assistance.

Other countries where the FCDO has issued warnings about methanol poisoning are Ecuador, Kenya, Japan, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Uganda, Russia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Turkey, Costa Rica, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and Fiji.

Source link

Brian May details ‘wake-up call’ as he issues health update after stroke

Queen guitarist Brian May was a guest on Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh on Sunday afternoon.

Queen’s legendary guitarist, Brian May, opened up about his health scare during a chat on ITV’s Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh.

This follows the star’s recent update to fans about his ‘future plans’ on the programme.

Last year, the 78-year-old rocker experienced a minor stroke that left him unable to use one of his arms, an ordeal he described as ‘scary’.

Acknowledging that this “little health hiccup’ came out of the blue, Brian has since told his fans that he’s now regained movement in his arm.

Alan commented: “We were concerned, you had a bit of a stroke. But, you seem to be fully recovered, that was last year.”

Brian responded: “I’ve had a number of things, Alan, yeah, the stroke was one of them.

“I’ve been lucky, I get these things, but I seem to be able to get out of them. They give you a wake-up call.”

The iconic guitarist told Alan that experiences like these teach you that it’s time to make changes in your life, reports Devon Live.

When asked how he’s made adjustments, Brian revealed he’s ramped up his exercise routine and started paying more attention to his diet.

He added: “I keep moving, I do my biking a lot of times a week. I do a hundred lengths in the pool once a week. To me, that’s what’s keeping me going. That’s what’s keeping me alive.

“I have proof! I have all the bloods that they do and all the evidence that we get and they go, ‘you’re doing the right things Brian’. So, for now, I’m still here.”

Alan remarked: “We’re delighted you’re still here. We’re glad to have you with us here.”

Brian’s wife and actress Anita Dobson has also spoken out about the stroke, revealing to the Sunday Telegraph that he had been ‘diligently following medical advice’

She remarked: “He takes his tablets, does his exercises. He’s a good boy.”

When questioned if she needs to nudge him, the actress added: “Sometimes with the tablets. I’m not often dictatorial but it’s important, because it’s his life.”

Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh is available to watch on ITVX.

Source link

Trump issues secnd pardons for crimes related to Jan. 6

Nov. 15 (UPI) — President Donald Trump has issued second pardons to supporters who breached the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, this time on separate related offenses.

The clemancy for Dan Wilson and Suzanne Kaye were announced online on Saturday by Ed Martin, a longtime supporter of the Jan. 6 rioters who is the Justice Department’s pardon attorney.

They were signed Friday by Trump.

“Thank you: Post! Danny Wilson is now a free man. When I was DC’s U.S. Attorney, and now as U.S. Pardon Attorney, I advocated for this clemency, which the president granted Friday.@POTUSThank you,” Ed Martin posted on X with a copy of the pardon.”

In another post with the document, Martin wrote: “Thank you: POTUS! The Biden DOJ targeted Suzanne Kaye for social media posts-and she was sentenced to 18 months in federal lock up. President Trump is unwinding the damage done by Biden’s DOJ weaponization, so the healing can begin.”

In May 2024, Wilson pleaded guilty to conspiracy to impede or injure a federal officer and was sentenced to five years in prison.

But the Louisville, Ky., man was in prison for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person and possession of an unregistered firearm. He was sentenced in August 2024 to prison until 2028.

It stems from when his home was searched in June 2022 as part of the federal government’s investigation of the intrusion.

A White House official told Politico that “because the search of Mr. Wilson’s home was due to the events of January 6, and they should have never been there in the first place, President Trump is pardoning Mr. Wilson for the firearm issues.”

When Trump retook office on Jan. 20, he pardoned him along with clemency to about 1,500 Jan. 6 defendants, including pardons and commutations.

But Wilson had remained in prison on another conviction, along with a few other defendants for other federal crimes.

The Department of Justice at the time said “numerous firearms and ammunition” were recovered and forbidden because of previous felony convictions.

“For too long, my client has been held as a political prisoner by a government that criminalized dissent,” George Pallas, his attorney, said in a statement to CBS News. “President Trump’s pardon rights this wrong and sends a clear message that peaceful Americans will not be persecuted for their beliefs. Mr. Wilson is innocent, he has always been innocent, and this pardon proves it.”

Wilson had occasionally discussed bringing firearms to the Capitol, but ultimately arrived unarmed.

During the day, he posted messages and spoke to other members of his far-right groups, the Oath Keepers and Gray Ghost Partisan Rangers militia.

Initially, the Justice Department argued that Trump’s pardons did not extend to Wilson’s gun charges, but later changed its position. They received “further clarity on the intent of the Presidential Pardon.”

U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich, who oversaw Wilson’s case, criticized extending the pardon to cover offenses discovered in the course of the investigations. He was nominated by Trump.

Kaye, of Boca Raton, Fla., was sentenced two years ago to 18 months in prison for threatening to shoot FBI agents who had sought to question her about her involvement in the Capitol attack.

She denied that she had been at the Capitol that day, according to court records obtained by The New York Times. Before meeting FBI agent, she posted a series of videos online threatening the agents.

Jeremy Brown, also an Oath Keeper, was released from a seven-year sentence after his attorneys and the Justice Department claimed the pardon covered Brown’s unrelated conviction for illegally possessing classified information and grenades.

Elias Costianes also was released from jail after the Justice Department declined to fight the appeal of his conviction for illegally possessing firearms.

Edward Kelley was recently sentenced to life in prison for conspiring to kill the officers and FBI agents who investigated his involvement in the Jan. 6 attack. Kelley had contended Trump’s pardon covered the conspiracy charge, but the Justice Department opposed him.

The Justice Department has opposed efforts by David Daniel after the FBI discovered child pornography on his computer during a Jan. 6-related search.

Source link

Trump issues two pardons related to investigation into January 6, 2021 riot | Donald Trump News

Suzanne Ellen Kaye was convicted for threatening to shoot FBI agents, and Daniel Edwin Wilson for conspiring to impede or injure police offers and illegal firearm possession.

United States President Donald Trump has issued two new pardons related to the investigation into the January 6, 2021 US Capitol insurrection.

White House officials said on Saturday that one pardon was given to a woman convicted of threatening to shoot FBI agents who were investigating a tip that she may have been at the US Capitol. Trump issued the second pardon for a defendant who had remained behind bars despite the sweeping grant of clemency for Capitol rioters because of a separate conviction for illegally possessing firearms.

Recommended Stories

list of 3 itemsend of list

These pardons are the latest example of Trump’s willingness to use his constitutional authority to help supporters who were scrutinised as part of the massive January 6 investigation that was conducted by the administration of former US President Joe Biden and that led to charges against more than 1,500 defendants.

With a stroke of his pen and within hours of being sworn in for his second term in January of this year, Trump upended the largest prosecution in the history of the US Department of Justice.

He freed from prison people caught on camera viciously attacking police as well as leaders of far-right groups convicted of orchestrating violent plots to stop the peaceful transfer of power after Trump’s 2020 election loss.

Suzanne Ellen Kaye, of Florida, was released last year after serving an 18-month sentence. After the FBI contacted her in 2021 about a tip indicating she may have been at the Capitol on January 6, she posted a video on social media citing her right under the US Constitution’s Second Amendment to carry a gun, and threatened to shoot agents if they came to her house.

Kaye testified at trial that she didn’t own any guns and didn’t intend to threaten the FBI, according to court papers. She told authorities she was not at the Capitol on January 6 and wasn’t charged with any Capitol riot-related crimes.

Trump also pardoned Daniel Edwin Wilson of Kentucky, who was under investigation for his role in the riot when authorities found six guns and roughly 4,800 rounds of ammunition in his home.

Wilson, who had been scheduled to remain in prison until 2028, was released Friday evening following the pardon, his lawyer said on Saturday.

A White House official said on Saturday that “because the search of Mr. Wilson’s home was due to the events of January 6, and they should have never been there in the first place, President Trump is pardoning Mr. Wilson for the firearm issues”.

Wilson had been sentenced in 2024 to five years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to impede or injure police officers and illegally possessing firearms at his home.

Trump has said he would likely sue the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) next week for as much as $5bn after the British media company admitted it wrongly edited a video of a January 6, 2021 speech he gave, but insisted there was no legal basis for his claim.

The controversy centres on the BBC’s edit of Trump’s remarks on the day his supporters stormed the US Capitol.

Source link

BBC apologizes to Donald Trump over Jan. 6 speech, issues retraction

Three days after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened it with a $1 billion defamation lawsuit over misleading editing of a speech he gave on Jan. 6, Britain’s BBC issued a retraction but refused to pay compensation. Photo by Andy Rain/EPA

Nov. 14 (UPI) — The BBC issued a retraction and a formal apology to U.S. President Donald Trump for edits to a speech he gave ahead of the Jan. 6 riots on Capitol Hill that made it appear as if he was inciting his supporters to violence.

The British public service broadcaster apologized Thursday night via the corrections page on its website, with the apology the lead story across all of its news platforms on television, radio and online during the evening and first thing Friday morning.

BBC Chairman Samir Shah also penned a personal written apology to the White House, however, the BBC indicated it would not be paying compensation, as demanded by Trump.

The retraction said an edition of Panorama titled Trump: A Second Chance, broadcast on Oct. 28, 2024, used excerpts lifted from different parts of Trump’s speech in a way that inadvertently made it appear they were contiguous.

The BBC’s version had Trump saying, “We’re going to walk down to the Capitol and I’ll be there with you. And we fight. We fight like hell,” when his actual words were, “We’re going to walk down to the Capitol, and we’re going to cheer on our brave senators and congressmen and women.”

The BBC said it accepted that this “gave the mistaken impression that President Trump had made a direct call for violent action.”

“The BBC would like to apologize to President Trump for that error of judgment.”

However, the notice made no mention of compensation, one of President Trump’s key demands in his letter threatening the BBC with a $1 billion lawsuit alleging the program had defamed him and giving it until 5 p.m. EST on Friday to respond.

A BBC spokesman said the corporation strongly disagreed “there is a basis for a defamation claim.”

There was no immediate response from either the White House or Trump’s legal counsel.

The Panorama program was not an isolated incident, according to The Telegraph, which said the BBC’s Newsnight program did something very similar with the same speech in a broadcast in 2022.

A spokesman for Trump’s legal team said that from the latest revelation it was “now clear that the BBC engaged in a pattern of defamation against President Trump” and accused it of attempting to try to influence the outcome of the 2024 election.

The debacle has sparked a furious debate about editorial impartiality at the BBC, which is funded by a $229 annual license that every household with a TV must pay, prompting calls for an overhaul of internal processes and procedures.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy acknowledged the BBC’s editorial rules were “in some cases not robust enough and in other cases not consistently applied,” and appeared to suggest the replacement for director-general Tim Davie, who quit Sunday, must be from a journalism background.

Davie spent the first half of his career as a senior marketing executive at PepsiCo before joining the BBC’s marketing division.

The opposition Conservative’s Shadow Culture Secretary, Nigel Huddleston, said he was waiting to see if Trump accepted the BBC’s response to be the “fulsome apology” he was entitled to receive.

“I do not want the British license fee payer or the rest of the BBC to pay the price for poor editorial decisions made by BBC journalists, he said in a post on X.

“However, we would all be in a better position if the BBC had never made these errors in the first place. The BBC needs a fundamental review of processes and procedures to ensure that such failures in impartiality never happen again.”

President Donald Trump signs the funding package to reopen the federal government in the Oval Office of the White House on Wednesday. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo

Source link

Pilot issues ‘category 3’ alert to passengers who ignore aeroplane mode

The captain has explained the truth behind aeroplane mode and what happens if people ignore it

A pilot has warned why it is essential to use a phone’s aeroplane mode on a flight – with ‘sudden’ issues possible at certain key moments. Savina Paül, an A330 pilot outlined the problems that arise when people ignore the warnings issued on planes over use of the mode.

The captain warned planes are essentially like big computers. Systems on modern aircraft like the Airbus A330 are highly computerised and sensitive to small electrical impulses or external interference, he said.

She says passengers should wait for a few minutes before turning on mobile phones after landing. And she said they should keep them in aeroplane mode throughout the flight – even if the journey is short.

“One phone is fine, but all of them at once isn’t,” she said. She added simply: “Listen to us when we ask you to switch your mobile phone to airplane mode”. She made the remarks while speaking on the Spanish podcast ‘Supersónicos Anónimos’.

She told listeners that using your phone’s ‘aeroplane mode’ is a real safety measure. In particular, she said the issue is not just around a single device being switched on, El Confidencial reports.

Instead, she said it is the total effect of large numbers of active mobile phones during a flight. And in particular, this is a problem during high-precision approaches, known in aviation as category 3 – or autoland.

She said: “One mobile phone switched on does nothing, but 300 mobile phones at once, especially during a high-precision approach, can cause interference.”

She told the pod that the interference directly affects the aircraft’s instruments. She spoke about incident while a plane was on the runway: “While taxiing, suddenly a fault warning ‘master caution’ appears and then disappears. Sometimes this is because people turn on their mobile phones as soon as they land.”

Content cannot be displayed without consent

She added: “The plane is basically a computer, and these things happen,” she said – and cautioned that even a small error can trigger momentary alerts in the control systems.

In an excerpt of the pod broadcast on TikTok, she was again asked if it was really necessary to have flight mode on. She said: “If travellers are listening to this, please don’t ignore us regarding airplane mode on phones. It may seem silly, but it’s not.”

She then added: “I’ll be honest with you. One mobile phone switched on does nothing, but 300 mobile phones at once, especially during a high-precision approach, a category 3, when you need everything to work perfectly, can certainly cause interference.

“It’s just that the interference is not by radio, which is what people believe. No, there is interference with the instruments.”

Source link

Global Sumud Flotilla as a Transnationalism Practice in Palestinian Humanitarian Issues

Over the past decade, we have seen again how the suffering experienced by the people of Gaza continues in the midst of global political forces that are silent on the sidelines. The Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) as a new form of global solidarity emerged and was formed to turn a blind eye to this injustice. This movement itself sails across the country’s borders carrying messages of humanity and peaceful resistance as a form of opposition to Israel’s blockade policy that closes Palestinian land, air, and sea access to the Gaza Strip (Global Sumud Flotilla, 2025). The failure of formal diplomacy to open humanitarian channels has led international civil society to take the initiative to take over the role to show the world that now geopolitical conditions no longer limit and bind global solidarity to take steps on humanitarian issues like this.

The author considers that the Global Sumud Flotilla movement is a real representation of the practice of transnationalism, where this movement is a network of cross-border communities that move together with the same goals and basic human values. The moral, social, and political dimensions are all combined into one in the GSF; this is a concrete example of the active role of global civil society in humanitarian issues in Palestine. For this reason, the author will focus this discussion on three main aspects, namely the origins and actors behind the formation of the GSF movement, the human values and transnational solidarity that underlie this movement, and its relevance in the era of globalization, which is a manifestation of transnational society.

Discussion

The history of the formation of the Global Sumud Flotilla movement is rooted in an international network that has also tried to penetrate the blockade of Gaza through the sea route since 2010, namely the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) movement. Based on information from the official website of GSF (2025), there are more than 30 organizations from various parts of the world that are involved in this initiative, including Europe, Latin America, and Asia. It is not because of the state’s agenda or political interests, but the reason they sail is because of the humanitarian mission they bring, namely “Break the siege, break the silence.” There are various actors who participate in this movement, ranging from humanitarian activists and civil society leaders to journalists anddoctors, so this proves that the global community can also collaborate or cooperate outside the state structure. Keck and Sikkink (1998) put forward the theory of transnational advocacy networks; within the framework of this theory can be a strong example of how this network of cross-border activism uses their moral solidarity to oppose state power.

The main value that underlies or is the foundation of this movement is an Arabic term, namely “Sumud,” which means constancy or fortitude. Well, in this Palestinian context, sumud reflects the determination of the Palestinian people who are trying to survive and protect their homeland even in the midst of the colonial siege and violence that constantly hits them. This value was then adopted by the global community that is a member of the GSF as a form of symbolic solidarity that underlies their movement so that it is not only the Palestinian people who have constancy but also the common spirit of humanity who are moving to oppose and reject the injustices that occur. GSF volunteers stated that in this mission they not only brought the issue of aid but also defended the dignity of humanity in the face of the ruling military power (Harakah Daily, 2025).

            The practice of transnationalism in the GSF is very clear, and we can see it in how this movement operates. All coordination is carried out in full by global civil society networks through various mechanisms, such as donations, digital campaigns, and international advocacy, so no single country is the main leader or sponsor in this movement. In breaking through the blockade of Gaza, global civil society faces various major challenges, but the presence of this GSF shows us all how this cross-border collaborative movement can suppress world public opinion. Every voyage they make can be used as an alternative space for diplomacy or citizen diplomacy, which emphasizes the position of the global community, which plays an important role in encouraging international humanitarian issues.

In addition to bringing physical aid, such as food, medical equipment, clothing, and so on, the GSF also plays a powerful symbolic role that is no less important. For example, when their ship was attacked by the Israeli navy, which occurred in October 2025, these volunteers did not show their fear of the Israeli navy (Kumparan, 2025). Instead, they showed and affirmed their determination to continue sailing to give freedom to the Palestinian people, especially in the Gaza Strip. The attitude shown by these volunteers reflects how the sense of transnational solidarity can transcend and eliminate their fear of repression. So, these people are actually not just volunteers but also a real form of global moral resistance to structural injustice.

The GSF movement also showed the world an important shift in international political practice. We can see that in humanitarian issues, which used to only move and become the realm of state diplomacy, it has now changed with the takeover by a global civil society network that has a common vision. The biggest challenge for the international community in dealing with this problem lies not only in the physical blockade of Gaza but also in the moral blockade that occurs here, which makes many countries reluctant to take action (Dall’Asta, 2025). For this reason, the GSF is here as the antithesis of state passivity, which shows countries and the whole world that if the citizens of the world unite and take collective action, then they can break through the global political impasse, as happened to the state.

From an academic point of view, the Sumud Flotilla has actually expanded the meaning of transnationalism, as explained by Scholte (2005) in his book entitled “Globalization: A Critical Introduction,” that social relations that cross national borders are built on the basis of shared values and goals, not because of national sovereignty. The GSF here affirms the existence of a global civil society that works in parallel with the nation-state system. In addition, this kind of cross-border solidarity can create a transnational form of humanity that is arguably more organic, so it means that the world community forms a network of collective action to deal with the ongoing global crisis.

Although this impact has not been able to end the blockade of Gaza, the existence of the GSF itself has had a great moral impact. This movement revived our awareness that in fact world politics does not only belong to the elite and the state but also belongs to all of us, belonging to the citizens of the world who care about it. Not only that, this movement also shows how a human value is able to penetrate walls or boundaries in geopolitics. This kind of initiative plays a very important role in building global awareness of what is happening in Palestine, that the struggle of the Palestinian people is a universal humanitarian struggle (Saleem & Khurshid, 2025).

Conclusion

The three arguments above, which focus on the origins and actors behind the GSF movement, the underlying and foundational humanitarian values, and its relevance as a manifestation of this transnational society, have shown that the Global Sumud Flotilla movement is a tangible form of cross-border solidarity on humanitarian issues in Palestine. This movement confirms to the world that the moral strength possessed by global civil society can be a real alternative to diplomacy that has repeatedly failed to uphold justice. Thus, we can conclude that the Global Sumud Flotilla is not only a symbol of humanitarian shipping but also a form of real representation of the birth of a transnational society that plays an active role in fighting for global humanity. And it also reminds us that true humanity does not know the state border but is something that is born or created from the collective consciousness to continue to sail against the injustice that exists in this world.

Source link

I’m A Celebrity legend issues stark warning to 2025 stars

Former Coronation Street star Sue Cleaver has issued a warning to those preparing to enter the I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! jungle in Australia this year

Sue Cleaver has issued a warning to the stars preparing to become campmates on I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! The actress, who left her long-running role as Eileen Grimshaw on Coronation Street earlier this year, took part in the 2022 edition of the ITV reality series and has now spoken of how bored and hungry she was during her time on the show.

The former dinnerladies star was back in her usual seat on the panel of Loose Women on Thursday alongside Kaye Adams, Frankie Bridge and Nadia Sawalha, where she reminded them that viewers at home only ever see a trimmed down version of the action in the camp, which is filmed for 24 hours a day.

She said: “You only ever see the edited version from a 24-hour period. If you aren’t doing a trial, you’re in the camp doing nothing. There’s no books, nothing. You’re in a hammock kicking a stick. I made a pair of shoes out of some twigs. They didn’t show that on the telly.”

READ MORE: Kelly Brook’s I’m A Celebrity pay revealed – and how she compares to campmatesREAD MORE: Lisa Riley to avoid I’m A Celeb’s toughest challenge

“You’re gonna be starving, you literally are starving. It’s two tablespoons of rice, two tablespoons of rice. Oh my God, I’ve never touched it since.”

This year, those heading into the jungle include Sue’s fellow soap legend Lisa Riley, who is known for playing Mandy Dingle on Emmerdale, Spandau Ballet star Martin Kemp and presenter Alex Scott amongst a host of others. Sue insisted the new contestants on the programme have to be ‘strong’ to get through it, and it is as ‘tough’ as it seems.

She added: “I would say you have to be strong. I’d watched it for years and I always thought that when they cameras weren’t rolling, there would be tea and cakes round the corner, there isn’t! It is very, very tough.

“There are spiders on the bed, somebody does come in and grapple a snake and take it away in the middle of the night. If you have any issues…you’ve got to be strong!” Sue previously spoke of how taking part in the programme allowed her to open up to the idea of new experiences.

Following her stint in the jungle, Sue went play Mother Superior, the part made famous by Dame Maggie Smith, in Sister Act: The Musical,

She told Prima magazine: “My 50s have been the happiest decade of my life. I’m happy with myself and where I am, so I’m looking forward to seeing what the next decade brings. “Since doing I’m A Celeb, my eyes have been opened to all these new experiences.

“Now, I’m just thinking, ‘Right, what’s my next challenge?’”

The star, who lost weight on the ITV reality show due to food rationing, discussed what she believes to be “unfair expectations” on women to look and eat a certain way, which she refuses to buy into.

She said: “I lost some weight in the jungle, but I’m not obsessing over diets: life is hard enough!

“There’s always going to be outside pressure and unfair expectations placed on women, but I refuse to get pulled into it. Let’s just let women be women – we have enough difficulties and struggles as it is.”

Join The Mirror’s WhatsApp Community or follow us on Google News , Flipboard , Apple News, TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads – or visit The Mirror homepage



Source link

Brits urged ‘check with provider’ as Foreign Office issues package holiday alert

Some operators have ‘paused or cancelled’ flights and package holidays to this popular destination

The UK Foreign Office has issued a package holiday warning as Brits travelling to a popular destination could see their plans cancelled. In the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has provided an update on holidays to Jamacia.

It explained that some operators have “paused or cancelled” flights and package holidays to the Caribbean destination. This update was provided on November 11, two weeks after the storm first hit.

On the FCDO website it explained: “Hurricane Melissa made landfall as a major hurricane in Jamaica on Tuesday 28 October. Hurricane Melissa brought exceptional levels of rainfall and strong winds to the whole of Jamaica, causing widespread damage to roads and infrastructure and disruption to electricity and other utilities services, including internet.

“There are also shortages of food and water and access to currency. Access to healthcare in worst affected areas is limited. All Western parishes have suffered significant damage.

“The worst affected parishes are currently Westmoreland, St Elizabeth, St James, Hanover and Manchester.” As per the latest reports, 45 people were killed by Hurricaine Melissa while another 15 remain missing.

Staying safe

The FCDO continued: “Exercise caution if you are travelling within Jamaica. Continue to follow the guidance of local authorities.

“If your hotel is unable to provide accommodation, get in contact with other hotels in the area to see if they have capacity.” If you need consular assistance, you can contact the FCDO on:

  • +1 (876) 936 0700 (Jamaica)
  • +44 (0) 20 7008 5000 (UK)

Travel plans

The FCDO stated that all airports have re-opened – however, not all flights are operating. “All the airports have re-opened, with Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay operating a limited number of commercial flights while repairs are made to the terminal. For updates and flight schedules, see @MBjairport for Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay and @NMIA for Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston,” it said.

“Flights may not be direct and could transit other countries. Check for messaging from your airline or travel provider as some operators have paused or cancelled flights and package holidays to Jamaica following Hurricane Melissa.”

Before flying anywhere the FCDO says you should follow its foreign travel checklist:

  • Research your destination
  • Get insured before you go
  • Check your documents for travel
  • Consider your health
  • Prepare for the unexpected

For full details on this, visit the Government website here.

Source link

BA passenger issues warning to avoid specific seat or face ‘complete hell’

Flying long-haul can come with its challenges, and one passenger has issued a stark warning after they booked a specific seat on their British Airways flight and found themselves in ‘complete hell’

Checking in for a flight 24 hours ahead of its departure has proven to be a vital step in our travel plans, allowing us to secure our preferred seat, particularly on long-haul flights. However, sometimes, despite our best efforts, we are dealt the short straw.

One passenger discovered this during their 14-hour British Airways flight from Kuala Lumpur (KUL), the capital of Malaysia, to London (LHR) after opting to book the window seat in 41A. Despite a view out of the plane often being favourable among travellers, this passenger labelled it “complete hell” as they had “no window” and limited space on the Boeing 787.

But those weren’t her only issues with the seat.

READ MORE: I went on an adults-only trip to one of UK’s best family holiday parks — everyone asked me 1 questionREAD MORE: I visited seaside town named best place to retire — it’s perfect for weekends with £83 hotels

In a bid to warn others about booking this specific seat on a BA flight, they shared a photo of their limited leg room, which showed a silver box fixed underneath the seat in front on the left-hand side, thought to be the entertainment system. This forced the passenger in 41A to shift his feet and legs further to the right, bringing him closer to his flight neighbour.

In the Reddit post, the passenger revealed: “I had the misfortune of picking a window seat 41a on the Boeing 787 from KL to London. It’s a 14-hour flight, and I honestly don’t see how this seat could possibly be sold. There’s no window, it’s narrowing as the fuselage narrows, so you get less room to your left, they’ve chucked the entertainment box in your footspace, and then I was sat next to two larger men.

“It was honestly complete hell. I don’t see how any of that is possibly acceptable in the slightest. They shouldn’t even sell the seat at all. Luckily, after on hour, the stewardesses felt so bad for me because I clearly looked incredibly squashed (186cm tall) that they moved me for free. I just wanted to warn people, never ever ever book this seat. Literally would rather fly Ryanair for 14 hours.”

While the passenger was thankfully able to move seats, they titled the Reddit post “A warning to everyone about 41a and 41K.”

The post was met with a flurry of comments as other travellers expressed their sympathy for the situation during a long-haul flight.

One wrote: “I freaking hate those stupid boxes. What a disaster of a design.” A second added: “REALLY old tech too. Could be 1/10th the size with WAY less power draw.”

A third experienced a similar situation as they explained: “Experienced this damned thing for the first time from LHR to Boston yesterday. I’m 6″2 and I’ve flown plenty long haul to the west coast and never been as uncomfortable as I was on this flight.

“The front of my left leg – under my knee cap to halfway down my shin – is still numb right now, even after loads of walking.”

Another expanded: “That box is the IFE box. It’s a mini computer which runs multiple screens. But it’s a bit crap where they placed it. Economy is a challenge at the best of times, especially when you’re in a corner like that. Glad they moved you!”

“The aircraft itself is great, the problem is the airlines that decided to squeeze as many seats as possible. If I’m not mistaken, some Japanese airlines have one less seat per row on the Dreamliner, making the journey much more comfortable,” another traveller noted.

British Airways has been contacted for comment.

Do you have a travel story to share? Email [email protected]

Source link

BBC Breakfast star issues ‘danger’ warning as tragic news confirmed

BBC Breakfast presenter Sally Nugent shared a devastating news update on Monday

A BBC Breakfast star issued a “danger” warning as tragic news was confirmed on Monday (November 10).

During today’s edition of the hit morning programme, presenters Sally Nugent and Jon Kay brought viewers the latest headlines from Britain and beyond.

Sports updates came from Jane Dougall in the studio, whilst Carol Kirkwood provided weather forecasts throughout the broadcast.

At the start of the show, Sally revealed that a typhoon had struck the Philippines, forcing one million residents to flee their homes. Tragically, two people have lost their lives.

“A powerful typhoon which struck the Philippines has now passed into the South China Sea, leaving at least two people dead and causing widespread flooding,” Sally announced, reports the Express.

“Typhoon Fung-wong hit the country’s east coast last night as a super typhoon, with winds reaching speeds of 143 mph. Nearly one million people were evacuated after warnings of a high risk of threat to life.”

BBC correspondent Jonathan Head highlighted the alarming situation in a pre-recorded report from Cabanatuan City in the Philippines.

“Well, the storm has actually long since passed but, as you can see, it’s still raining very heavily,” he said.

“The big concern for this community, and so many others that are low-lying in the Philippines, is actually these water levels are now rising very fast. That’s because the huge amounts of rain that were dumped by the typhoon have collected on the mountains, and they have soaked the terrain there.

“They’re filling up the rivers and that water is feeding down to cities like this one lower down.”

Jonathan continued: “We’ve really watched this water come up and we see people wading into their houses, retrieving possessions, furniture, pets as well.

“They now realise that even people who might have a second floor, this water might rise that high. It’s an illustration of the many different, unpredictable risks that come with typhoons.

“The challenge initially was to protect people from the ferocity of the storm as it passed through this area… There’s a lot of clearing up to do, but these rising water levels are a real concern.”

The correspondent concluded: “[Although] this typhoon appears to have left the country far less damaged than expected, there are still dangers that it has left behind.”

BBC Breakfast airs daily on BBC One at 6am

Source link

Turkiye issues arrest warrant for Israel’s Netanyahu over Gaza ‘genocide’ | News

Turkiye accuses Israeli officials of ‘genocide and crimes against humanity’ over Israel’s war on Gaza.

Turkiye says it has issued arrest warrants for genocide against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior Israeli officials.

Among 37 suspects listed are Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and army chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, according to a Friday statement from the Istanbul prosecutor’s office, which did not publish the complete list.

Recommended Stories

list of 3 itemsend of list

Turkiye has accused the officials of “genocide and crimes against humanity” that Israel has “perpetrated systematically” in its war on Gaza since October 2023.

“The October 17, 2023, attack on the al-Ahli Baptist Hospital claimed 500 lives; on February 29, 2024, Israeli soldiers deliberately destroyed medical equipment; … Gaza was placed under blockade, and victims were denied access to humanitarian aid,” it said.

The statement also refers to the “Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital”, built by Turkiye in the Gaza Strip and bombed by Israel in March.

Israel denounced the move as a “PR stunt”.

“Israel firmly rejects, with contempt, the latest PR stunt by the tyrant [President Recep Tayyip] Erdogan,” Foreign Minister Gideon Saar posted on X.

The Palestinian group Hamas welcomed the announcement, calling it a “commendable measure [confirming] the sincere positions of the Turkish people and their leaders, who are committed to the values of justice, humanity and fraternity that bind them to our oppressed Palestinian people”.

Turkiye’s announcement comes almost one year after the International Criminal Court (ICC)  issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former defence minister, Yoav Gallant, for alleged “war crimes”.

Turkiye last year also joined South Africa’s case accusing Israel of genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Israel’s war on Gaza has killed at least 68,875 Palestinians and wounded 170,679 since October 2023.

Source link

Trump adds new reason to deny immigrants visas: health issues

Foreigners seeking visas to live in the U.S. might be rejected if they have certain medical conditions, including diabetes or obesity, under a Thursday directive from the Trump administration.

The guidance, issued in a cable the State Department sent to embassy and consular officials and examined by KFF Health News, directs visa officers to deem applicants ineligible to enter the U.S. for several new reasons, including age or the likelihood they might rely on public benefits. The guidance says that such people could become a “public charge” — a potential drain on U.S. resources — because of their health issues or age.

While assessing the health of potential immigrants has been part of the visa application process for years, including screening for communicable diseases such as tuberculosis and obtaining vaccine history, experts said the new guidelines greatly expand the list of medical conditions to be considered and give visa officers more power to make decisions about immigration based on an applicant’s health status.

The directive is part of the Trump administration’s divisive and aggressive campaign to deport immigrants living without authorization in the U.S. and dissuade others from immigrating into the country. The White House’s crusade to push out immigrants has included daily mass arrests, bans on refugees from certain countries, and plans to severely restrict the total number permitted into the U.S.

The new guidelines mandate that immigrants’ health be a focus in the application process. The guidance applies to nearly all visa applicants but is likely to be used only in cases in which people seek to permanently reside in the U.S., said Charles Wheeler, a senior attorney for the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, a nonprofit legal aid group.

“You must consider an applicant’s health,” the cable reads. “Certain medical conditions — including, but not limited to, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, cancers, diabetes, metabolic diseases, neurological diseases, and mental health conditions — can require hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of care.”

About 10% of the world’s population have diabetes. Cardiovascular diseases are also common; they are the globe’s leading killer.

The cable also encourages visa officers to consider other conditions, such as obesity, which it notes can cause asthma, sleep apnea, and high blood pressure, in their assessment of whether an immigrant could become a public charge and therefore should be denied entry into the U.S.

“All of these can require expensive, long-term care,” the cable reads. Spokespeople for the State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the cable.

Visa officers were also directed to determine whether applicants have the means to pay for medical treatment without help from the U.S. government.

“Does the applicant have adequate financial resources to cover the costs of such care over his entire expected lifespan without seeking public cash assistance or long-term institutionalization at government expense?” the cable reads.

The cable’s language appears at odds with the Foreign Affairs Manual, the State Department’s own handbook, which says that visa officers cannot reject an application based on “what if” scenarios, Wheeler said.

The guidance directs visa officers to develop “their own thoughts about what could lead to some sort of medical emergency or sort of medical costs in the future,” he said. “That’s troubling because they’re not medically trained, they have no experience in this area, and they shouldn’t be making projections based on their own personal knowledge or bias.”

The guidance also directs visa officers to consider the health of family members, including children or older parents.

“Do any of the dependents have disabilities, chronic medical conditions, or other special needs and require care such that the applicant cannot maintain employment?” the cable asks.

Immigrants already undergo a medical exam by a physician who’s been approved by a U.S. embassy.

They are screened for communicable diseases, such as tuberculosis, and asked to fill out a form that asks them to disclose any history of drug or alcohol use, mental health conditions, or violence. They’re also required to have a number of vaccinations to guard against infectious diseases such as measles, polio and hepatitis B.

But the new guidance goes further, emphasizing that chronic diseases should be considered, said Sophia Genovese, an immigration lawyer at Georgetown University. She also noted that the language of the directive encourages visa officers and the doctors who examine people seeking to immigrate to speculate on the cost of applicants’ medical care and their ability to get employment in the U.S. considering their medical history.

“Taking into consideration one’s diabetic history or heart health history — that’s quite expansive,” Genovese said. “There is a degree of this assessment already, just not quite expansive as opining over, ‘What if someone goes into diabetic shock?’ If this change is going to happen immediately, that’s obviously going to cause a myriad of issues when people are going into their consular interviews.”

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF — the independent source for health policy research, polling, and journalism.

Source link