World
Associated PressAP PHOTOS: On patrol with police in Paris' tough suburbs
VILLIERS-LE-BEL, France (AP) — Both fuming and bragging, the man told the police officers that he used his car as a weapon during the street battle in a northern suburb of Paris, ramming the vehicle into a fighter from a rival group. On a national level, such disorder is translating into polarized and politicized debate about violence ahead of France's presidential elections next year and local elections this month.
- Reuters
UPDATE 3-Moderate Iranian candidate congratulates Raisi for election win - state media
Iran's moderate presidential candidate congratulated his hardline rival Ebrahim Raisi for winning the election, state media reported on Saturday, as the interior ministry said counting of the votes continued. Millions of Iranians voted on Friday in a contest that has been expected to hand the presidency to Raisi, a 60-year-old senior judge who is subject to U.S. sanctions for alleged human rights abuses. "I hope your administration, under the leadership of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, will make the Islamic Republic proud, improve livelihood and ensure the nation's well-being and welfare," media quoted former central bank chief Abdolnasser Hemmati as saying in a letter.
Associated PressModerate Iran candidate concedes win by judiciary chief
The sole moderate in Iran's presidential election conceded his loss early Saturday to the country's hard-line judiciary chief. It signaled the protege of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had won a vote he dominated after the disqualification of his strongest competition. Both moderate and former Central Bank chief Abdolnasser Hemmati and former Revolutionary Guard commander Mohsen Rezaei offered their congratulations to Ebrahim Raisi.
BBCWhy Ethiopia’s 'alphabet generation' feel betrayed by Abiy
PM Abiy Ahmed swept to power after mass protests, but his Oromo community still feel like outsiders.
Associated PressEXPLAINER: What is the Catholic Communion controversy?
A committee of U.S. Catholic bishops is getting to work on a policy document that has stirred controversy among their colleagues before a word of it has even been written. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops overwhelmingly approved the drafting of a document “on the meaning of the Eucharist in the life of the Church” that some bishops hope will be a rebuke for politicians who support abortion rights but continue to receive Communion. IS THIS AIMED AT PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN?
Washington ExaminerBiden White House says report US held back Ukraine aid is 'nonsense'
The White House denied reports President Joe Biden's administration froze military aid to Ukraine following the announcement of a summit this week with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Washington ExaminerBiden freezes military aid to Ukraine after Putin summit as leaders plea for help
As Russia mounted 100,000 troops on the Ukrainian border in March, the White House and the Department of Defense readied a $100 million military assistance package that was frozen once President Joe Biden announced a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to reports.
Associated PressWestern heat wave threatens health in vulnerable communities
The record-breaking temperatures this week are a weather emergency, scientists and health care experts say, with heat responsible for more deaths in the U.S. than all other natural disasters combined. With more frequent and intense heat waves likely because of climate change and the worst drought in modern history, they say communities must better protect the vulnerable, like homeless people and those who live in ethnically and racially diverse low-income neighborhoods. “This heat has an important effect on people and their health,” said Dr. Suganya Karuppana, chief medical director at the Valle del Sol community health clinics in Arizona.
CNW GroupThe Métis Nation Applauds the Passage of An Act respecting the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
The Métis Nation applauds the Senate's passage at 3rd reading on June 16th of Bill C-15, An Act respecting the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (the Act). The Bill is expected to receive Royal Assent next week. Canada is taking a historic step towards reconciliation.
Associated PressFierce Capitol attacks on police in newly released videos
Videos released under court order provide a chilling new look at the chaos at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, including body camera footage that shows a man charging at a police officer with a flagpole and tackling him to the ground. Federal judges ordered the release of the videos after media organizations, including The Associated Press, went to court to request that the Department of Justice provide access. The new videos show a Marine Corps veteran and former New York City police officer wielding a flagpole as he attacks police, as well as rioters crushing another officer into a door as he screams in pain.
Associated PressIn Iran's subdued election, many voters appear to stay home
As Iranian state TV showed people streaming to cast their ballots Friday and news anchors praised them for coming out to vote, very different scenes played out on Tehran’s streets, where many polling places appeared relatively empty. Amid rising anger and apathy over a presidential vote tipped in favor of Ebrahim Raisi, the hard-line judiciary chief cultivated by Iran's supreme leader, the election atmosphere was distinctly subdued. In past elections, long lines snaked out of polling stations.
Associated PressLeaders of Germany, France urge vigilance over virus variant
The leaders of Germany and France called for vigilance Friday to prevent the spread of a coronavirus variant that this week prompted Britain to delay the planned relaxation of pandemic restrictions in England. Chancellor Angela Merkel said that while Germany has very low numbers of new COVID-19 infections at present, the “aggressive” delta variant could lead to a rise in new cases. Portuguese authorities on Thursday banned travel in or out of the capital region over coming weekends in response to a spike in delta variant cases.
BBCEthiopia election: A sham or democratic rebirth?
Why the stakes are so high in the nation's first attempt at free and fair elections.
Miami HeraldIf Putin isn’t rethinking his legacy after meeting with Biden, perhaps he should be | Opinion
Much to the surprise of a puzzled pundit corps, history may well conclude that, while President Joe Biden and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin produced no big-deal breaking news headline, their summit may prove to be one of the 21st century’s pivotal events.
AxiosBiden administration wants nuclear deal done before Iran's new president takes power
The Biden administration wants to finalize a deal with Iran to return to the 2015 nuclear deal in the six weeks remaining before a new Iranian president is inaugurated, a U.S. official tells Axios.Key quote: The official said it would be "concerning" if talks dragged on into early August, when Iran's transition is due to take place. "If we don't have a deal before a new government is formed, I think that would raise serious questions about how achievable it's going to be," the official said.Get
BBCEthiopia's Tigray war: Walking three days to find a hospital
People's lives in northern Ethiopia are in tatters as they deal with famine in the ruins of a war zone.
Associated PressNOT REAL NEWS: A look at what didn't happen this week
None of these are legit, even though they were shared widely on social media. THE FACTS: Both virus variants and brain wave frequencies are named using letters from the Greek alphabet. As news about the delta COVID-19 variant made headlines, posts online began falsely claiming that the new variants were being named after brain waves or frequencies.
BBCAlieu Kosiah: Liberian convicted of war crimes in Swiss court
Alieu Kosiah is the first Liberian to be convicted for acts committed during the country's civil war.
- Reuters
UPDATE 1-U.N. chief Guterres appointed for second term
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was appointed for a second-five year-term on Friday by the 193-member U.N. General Assembly. "I will give it my all to ensure the blossoming of trust between and among nations large and small, to build bridges, and to engage relentlessly in confidence building," Guterres told the General Assembly after taking the oath of office. The 15-member Security Council earlier this month recommended the General Assembly re-appoint Guterres.
PoliticoApathy greets Iran presidential vote dominated by hard-liner
As night fell, turnout appeared far lower than in Iran’s last presidential election in 2017.
- CNW Group
Statement by the Prime Minister on the reappointment of Antόnio Guterres as Secretary-General of the United Nations
The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on the reappointment of Antόnio Guterres as Secretary-General of the United Nations:
AxiosU.N. General Assembly elects António Guterres as secretary-general for second term
The United Nations General Assembly elected António Guterres for a second term as its secretary-general on Friday.Get market news worthy of your time with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free.Why it matters: The Portuguese statesman will remain as the head of the U.N. until 2027. Guterres has been steering the organization through the coronavirus pandemic, which he has described as its greatest challenge since its founding, according to the New York Times.Like this article? Get more from Axios and
Associated PressUN re-elects Antonio Guterres as secretary-general
The U.N. General Assembly unanimously elected Antonio Guterres to a second term as secretary-general on Friday, giving him another five years at the helm of the 193-member organization at a time a deeply divided world faces numerous conflicts, the growing impact of climate change, and a pandemic still circling the globe. Guterres, the only candidate for the U.N.’s top post, said he was “humbled and energized” by the support of the world’s nations and said the “driving theme” of his second term will be “prevention in all its aspects -- from conflicts, climate change, pandemics to poverty and inequality.” Just before the announcement, Estonia’s U.N. Ambassador Sven Jurgenson, the current Security Council president, read a resolution adopted by the 15-member council recommending Guterres for a second term.
Associated PressNYC mayoral primary will be big test for ranked vote system
Voters will likely pick the next mayor of New York City next week in a Democratic primary that will also be a major test of ranked choice voting, a system that lets voters rank several candidates in order of preference instead of choosing just one. Two years after city voters approved a measure to use the ranked choice system for primaries and special elections, Democrats will be asked to rank their top five out of 13 mayoral candidates on Tuesday's ballot. The primary winner will almost certainly win the November general election in overwhelmingly Democratic New York City.
Associated PressEU envoy: Ethiopian leadership vowed to 'wipe out' Tigrayans
Ethiopia’s leaders in closed-door talks with a European Union special envoy earlier this year said “they are going to wipe out the Tigrayans for 100 years,” the envoy said this week, warning that such an aim “looks for us like ethnic cleansing.” The remarks by Pekka Haavisto, Finland's foreign minister, describing his talks with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and other ministers in February are some of the most critical yet of the Ethiopian government's conduct of the conflict in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region. Ethiopia’s foreign ministry dismissed Haavisto’s comments as “ludicrous” and a “hallucination of sorts or a lapse in memory of some kind.”
“It may seem desperate at this point, but I can’t be mad at any and all efforts to get people vaccinated.”
“I won’t get rich, but I will get to live my life. That seems like reward enough.”
“Offering incentives may encourage people who are not actively opposed to vaccination but may have put it off.”
“At some point, the government is simply rewarding irresponsible behavior.”
“Sure, people should do it without needing an incentive. But what’s the alternative? Not enough people get vaccinated.”