Cortney Merritts, husband of former US Representative Cori Bush, has been charged with wire fraud for allegedly receiving over $20,000 in fraudulent Covid relief loans. Merritts is accused of misrepresenting his business finances to secure these government funds. There is no accusation against Bush in this case, despite previous scrutiny over campaign payments.
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Royal Caribbean has halted trips to Manzanillo, Mexico, after the U.S. Department of State issued a Level 4 travel advisory due to high crime and kidnapping rates. Colima, the state where Manzanillo is located, has a murder rate five times the national average. Despite warnings, Princess Cruises still plans to visit the city.
Panama released dozens of migrants deported from the US who were held in a remote jungle camp, amid human rights concerns. ​The illegal migrants have been told by the Panama authorities that they have 30 days to leave Panama but if they need to extend that they can do it for 60 days.
The UN's top expert on torture, Alice Jill Edwards, has urged Russia to provide urgent medical care to Ukrainian detainees from Crimea, citing serious, life-threatening conditions. She highlighted ongoing systematic torture, with detainees suffering beatings, lack of medical care, and poor detention conditions. Edwards called on Moscow to end these abuses and ensure proper treatment for those unlawfully imprisoned, many on political grounds.
Thailand’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra declared her financial assets worth $400 million, including investments, cash, and luxury items like designer handbags and watches. This follows regulations requiring disclosures to the National Anti-Corruption Commission. Shinawatra, assuming office in September, continues the family’s legacy in leadership, with her father, Thaksin Shinawatra, being a significant influence in Thai politics.
Kilauea volcano in Hawaii has erupted again, sending lava over 300 feet into the air. The eruption on Halemaumau Crater's floor began at 10:16 am, with significant hazards from volcanic gas emissions and windblown volcanic glass affecting the surrounding areas.
French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou faces his first vote of no confidence in parliament Thursday, with the motion unlikely to pass. The speech sparked condemnation from most of the opposition in parliament where Bayrou is well short of an absolute majority, making his government highly vulnerable to a no-confidence vote that, if successful, would force it to resign.
Hamas has agreed to release three more Israeli hostages on Saturday, following mediation by Egypt and Qatar, ensuring the continuation of the ceasefire in Gaza. The group had threatened delays, accusing Israel of violating truce terms. Egypt and Qatar resolved the dispute, maintaining their role as key mediators in the conflict.
Rahima Mahmut, executive director of stop Uyghur genocide, urged the UK parliament's human rights committee to take action against forced labor in UK supply chains, particularly in cotton production linked to China's Xinjiang region. She emphasized that many products from the region are tainted by slave labor. Mahmut’s testimony has prompted widespread calls for accountability, with activists urging the UK to prevent complicity in human rights abuses. Last year, a UK court ruled that... Expand
New Zealand's Parliament overwhelmingly rejected the controversial Treaty Principles Bill, designed to redefine the Treaty of Waitangi, with a vote of 112 to 11. The bill sparked significant debate about Indigenous rights and prompted large-scale protests. Despite its defeat, scrutiny of Maori rights continues as the government considers further changes to laws referencing the Treaty.
Elon Musk is expected to launch the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) in the White House Complex, aimed at reducing government expenses. This initiative, co-led by Vivek Ramaswamy, intends to dismantle bureaucracy and cut wasteful spending. DOGE's mission is set for completion by July 4, 2026, while ethics rules and legal frameworks could complicate Musk’s involvement.