Anti-Israel ‘Squad’ member fighting for her political life gets boost from House Dem leaders
A member of the progressive “Squad” who is fighting for her political life just got a boost from House Democratic leadership. Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., is running in a competitive primary election this year against an opponent who has set himself up as a more moderate pro-Israel alternative to the outspoken lawmaker. Bush, however, scored an endorsement from House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., Minority Whip Katherine Clark, D-Mass., and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar, D-N.Y., on Tuesday. THIS HOUSE DEMOCRAT BECOMES THE FIRST SQUAD MEMBER DEFEATED IN A PRIMARY “Cori has shown up for the people of St. Louis in the fight for reproductive freedom, gun violence prevention and affordable housing. We stand together to endorse Cori Bush for re-election as we collectively work hard to make life better for everyday Americans and battle the corrosive extreme MAGA Republican agenda,” the trio said in a joint statement. Bush said she was “proud” to have their support in a celebratory post on Instagram. AOC EASILY WINS DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY The two-term progressive Democrat is one of Congress’ harshest critics of Israel and its operation in Gaza. She has accused Israel’s government of waging a genocide on Palestinians and consistently voted against emergency funding for the Middle Eastern ally. It has earned her opposition from within her own party, with the group Democratic Majority for Israel backing her opponent, Wesley Bell. He has also got the support of the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), a bipartisan pro-Israel lobbying group. Earlier this year, Bush also revealed that she was the subject of investigations by the Justice Department, Federal Election Commission and House Ethics Committee over her husband’s paid role as a member of her bodyguard detail. Bush had accused so-called “right-wing organizations” of “peddling notions that I have misused campaign funds to pay for personal security services” in a Jan. 30 statement. “I have complied with all applicable laws and House rules–and will continue to prioritize the rules that govern us as federal elected officials,” she said at the time, adding, “in accordance with all applicable rules, I retained my husband as part of my security team to provide security services because he has had extensive experience in this area, and is able to provide the necessary services at or below a fair market rate.” DEMOCRAT CHALLENGER SLAMS BOWMAN’S ‘THEATER OF CONFLICT,’ SAYS PROFANITY-LACED RALLY JEOPARDIZES PARTY ‘UNITY’ House Democratic leaders had indicated early on this year that they would support all of their incumbents – even progressive lawmakers who have fueled the public fracturing of the party in the wake of Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel. CLICK HERE TO GET FOX NEWS APP Bush’s Aug. 6 primary will come weeks after Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., became the first “Squad” member to get booted from the House over their anti-Israel stances. He lost his race to Westchester County Executive George Latimer, a moderate pro-Israel Democrat who, like Bell, was backed by AIPAC.
Republican congresswoman charged with bringing gun to Virginia airport
A Republican congresswoman has been charged with bringing a gun to an airport outside Washington D.C. U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz of Indiana is facing weapons violation charges after carrying her handgun into Dulles International Airport in Virginia. “Victoria Spartz, 45, of Noblesville, IN, was charged on Friday, June 28 with a weapons violation at Dulles Airport,” a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority said Tuesday. INDIANA REP. SPARTZ FENDS OFF GOP PRIMARY CHALLENGERS IN BID TO RETAIN HOUSE SEAT The gun, a .380 caliber handgun, was detected inside Spartz’s carry-on bag during a Transportation Security Administration search. The gun was reportedly unloaded and Spartz claims to have packed it into her luggage by accident. “Last Friday, Rep. Spartz accidentally carried an empty handgun in her suitcase with no magazine or bullets, which she did not realize was in the pocket of her suitcase, while going through security at Dulles airport,” a statement from Spartz’s office said. INDIANA LOOKS TO REPEAL DRIVER’S LICENSE LAW FOR UKRAINIAN IMMIGRANTS AFTER DISCRIMINATION RULING It continued, “Rep. Spartz was issued a citation and proceeded on her international flight to the [Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly] meeting in Europe.” Spartz is a Ukrainian-born immigrant who won her seat in Indiana’s 5th Congressional District in 2021. She announced last year that she would not be seeking reelection and would not be seeking any public office at the end of her term. She walked that back in February and re-entered the race, successfully defending against multiple GOP primary challengers. She won the GOP primary for her district in May, securing her spot in the general election this November.
A closer look at the best in class sports facilities and infrastructure at The Scindia School
The Scindia School’s unwavering dedication to providing exceptional facilities and a stimulating environment has firmly established its position as a leading institution for inclusive education in India.
Indian social media app Koo, once considered as Twitter’s rival, shuts down due to…
‘We explored partnerships with multiple larger internet companies, conglomerates, and media houses but these talks didn’t yield the outcome we wanted,’ the note said.
How would a President Newsom handle border, immigration policy?
After a rough debate performance from President Biden, some Democrats have raised the possibility of him stepping aside for a new nominee, with Calif. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s name being mentioned as a possibility — but how would he handle the border crisis? Should Biden resign immediately, Vice President Kamala Harris would be the automatic successor. But if Biden were to say he didn’t wish to serve a second term, the Democratic National Convention could elect a new 2024 candidate. Newsom has been mentioned repeatedly as a potential presidential nominee, although he did not throw his hat in the ring for either the 2020 or the 2024 race. But his name has been raised in conversations in the wake of last week’s presidential debate, in which Biden was widely seen to have fared poorly. HOW WOULD A PRESIDENT HARRIS HANDLE IMMIGRATION, BORDER CRISIS? If he were to become the candidate to replace Biden, he could inherit a thorny situation at the southern border. While numbers have decreased in the last months, numbers are still high compared to pre-Biden years, after which the U.S. has seen records repeatedly broken in terms of encounters. Newsom would have some experience on this issue given he is a governor of a border state. He has also been vocal on the subject in a number of ways, and as a close Biden ally would likely represent a continuation of the approach taken by the Biden administration. In April he came out in full support of Biden’s efforts to get more funding and a comprehensive immigration reform bill from Congress. “Let’s be clear: President Biden is doing all he can to fund border security and humanitarian efforts while Republicans in Congress are choosing border chaos for political gain,” he said. Newsom supported a Biden-backed bipartisan Senate package this year which would provide more funding to border communities and cities receiving migrants, while putting some limits on entries at the border. But he joined Biden in accusing Republicans of undermining reform efforts. BIDEN VOWS TO KEEP WHITE HOUSE, UNDETERRED BY DEMOCRATIC PANIC AFTER DEBATE DISASTER His office has also previously pointed to California’s moves to provide more than $1.3 billion for humanitarian aid and related services to local communities since 2019. Awards to non-profits have allowed for over 500,000 migrants to be sheltered since 2021. But while he shares that funding-first focus, there are also signs that the governor could take more radical steps than President Biden. This year, California became the first state to offer health insurance to all illegal immigrants, regardless of age, through Medi-Cal — California’s Medicaid program. The ambitious move, which built on previous moves allowing young adults and the elderly to access insurnace, was predicted to aid more than 700,000 illegal immigrants in the state. Newsom told reporters that it was based on a principle. TRUMP MAKES CASE FOR RETURN TO ‘REMAIN IN MEXICO’ TO SOLVE HISTORIC BORDER CRISIS “In California, we believe everyone deserves access to quality, affordable health care coverage – regardless of income or immigration status,” he said. However, he later took some heat from activists when he moved to stop paying for caregivers to the homes of disabled people living in the country illegally. The move was targeted to save about $94 million as the state faced a deficit. Some outlets also noted that Newsom neither criticized nor praised a Biden executive order limiting asylum claims when encounters reach a certain level. CLICK HERE FOR MORE COVERAGE OF THE BORDER SECURITY CRISIS Instead, he focused on criticizing Republicans, claiming that the “only thing they’re interested in is playing politics.” Newsom has also taken an aggressive stance towards Florida’s efforts to send migrants to his state, suggesting he may continue the Biden administration’s strategy of suing red states that have taken immigration matters into their own hans. Last year, when Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis sent flights to California, Newsom suggested that he may file kidnapping charges against his Republican counterpart. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Biden to award Medal of Honor to Union soldiers in ‘one of the earliest special operations’ in Army history
President Biden will on Wednesday posthumously award the Medal of Honor to two Union soldiers who pirated a locomotive deep in Confederate territory during the Civil War and then drove it 87 miles north, destroying railroad tracks and telegraph lines along the way. Private Philip G. Shadrach and Private George D. Wilson will receive the honor for their gallantry and intrepidity while participating in a covert military operation 200 miles behind Confederate lines on April 12, 1862, which became known as the Great Locomotive Chase. In what was one of the earliest special operations in U.S. Army history, Union soldiers dressed as civilians infiltrated the Confederacy and hijacked the General Locomotive in Georgia before proceeding north. LAST SURVIVING MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT FROM THE KOREAN WAR LIES IN HONOR AT US CAPITOL The goal of the operation was to destroy the Western and Atlantic Railroad between Atlanta and Chattanooga, Tennessee, and help bring about the end of the Civil War. They were pursued by Confederate forces on foot, and then later on by a succession of locomotives, including The Texas. Although the raiders caused a lot of damage, they were unable to burn bridges or damage Tunnel Hill and the train stopped 18 miles from Chattanooga after the wood they had hoped to burn was soaked by rain resulting in the locomotive running out of fuel. The plan for the Great Locomotive Chase was hatched by James J. Andrews – a Kentucky-born civilian spy and scout. Andrews and 23 other men, including Shadrach and Wilson, later became known as the Andrews’ Raiders and infiltrated the South in small groups, rendezvousing north of Atlanta at Marietta, Georgia. Six of the Union participants became the Army’s first recipients of the newly created Medal of Honor. It is unknown why Private Shadrach and Private Wilson were not originally recommended for the award. The Medal of Honor is awarded to members of the Armed Forces who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor, and it has been awarded to more than 3,500 people. COL. RALPH PUCKETT, KOREAN WAR HERO AND MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT, DEAD AT 97 According to the White House, both were deserving in 1863 and will be posthumously awarded later today. The first Medal of Honor ever bestowed went to Pvt. Jacob Parrott, who participated in the locomotive hijacking and was beaten while imprisoned by the Confederacy. Shadrach, a native Pennsylvanian and Union Army Soldier, and Wilson, a soldier from Belmont County, Ohio, were eventually captured by Confederates and executed by hanging. Biden is recognizing their courage 162 years later with the country’s highest military decoration. Shadrach, who was left orphaned at an early age, was 21 years old when he volunteered for the dangerous mission. He left home in 1861 and enlisted in the Ohio Infantry’s 2nd Regiment. Wilson was originally a tradesman who supported his family as a journeyman shoemaker. He enlisted in an Ohio-based volunteer infantry in 1861. Both The General and The Texas survived the war and have been preserved in museums. The General is located at the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History, in Kennesaw, Georgia, while The Texas is at the Atlanta History Center. The Walt Disney Corp. made a 1956 movie about the hijacking titled “The Great Locomotive Chase,” starring Fess Parker and Jeffrey Hunter. The 1926 silent film “The General,” starring Buster Keaton, was also based on the historic event. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Criticisms mount that Biden is a ‘shadow’ of himself after disastrous debate: ‘Not the same man’ from VP era
The White House has attempted to dismiss President Biden’s gaffes, miscues and mental acuity concerns as little more than the product of “cheap fakes” and misinformation, but one of Biden’s current political rivals – who previously served alongside him – says unequivocally that the Biden seen during a disastrous national debate is “not the same man” he once knew. Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Texas, served as physician to the president during both the Obama and Trump administrations and previously worked in the White House Medical Unit during the George W. Bush administration. It was during his time spent serving under former President Obama that he was able to most closely observe Biden, then the vice president. “I was in the White House when Joe Biden was VP, and the man we’ve seen since announcing his candidacy is not the same man who was VP for 8 years,” Jackson said. Fox News Digital gathered various videos showing how Biden’s once-cogent speeches and energetic public appearances during his days as vice president have given way to a drastically different demeanor as president. Thursday evening’s debate against Biden’s likely general election foe, former President Trump, significantly elevated concerns about Biden’s age and mental acuity. AFTER BIDEN’S DISASTROUS DEBATE, CAMPAIGN EMAILS SUPPORTERS ON HOW TO DEFEND HIM: ‘BEDWETTING BRIGADE’ The debate had a cascading effect within the media and some members of the Democratic Party, too, as even traditional left-wing allies slammed the president’s performance as disastrous – with some calling on the president to step aside before the election. As legacy media outlets such as the New York Times and the Chicago Tribune call on Biden to map out an exit plan – with the Times describing Biden as a “shadow of a great public servant” – Biden allies such as Obama and first lady Jill Biden have reiterated their full-throated support for the 46th president’s re-election. Other Democratic allies floated as potential replacement presidential candidates, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, have also remained committed to their support of Biden’s re-election efforts despite media calls for Biden to step aside. However, the Fox News Digital video compilation illustrates the differences in Biden that even some of his supporters are beginning to publicly acknowledge. “Mr. President, this honor is not only well beyond what I deserve, but it’s a reflection on the extent and generosity of your spirit. I don’t deserve this, but I know it came from the President’s heart,” Biden said in 2017 after Obama awarded him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. “Mr. President, you have creeped into our heart — you and your whole family, including Mom — and you occupy it. It’s an amazing thing that happened. I knew how smart you were. I knew how honorable you were. I knew how decent you were from the couple years we worked in the Senate, and I knew what you were capable of. But I never fully expected that you’d occupy the Bidens’ heart, from Hunter, to Ashley, my sister, all of us. All of us.” The emotional remarks, which included Biden tearing up, underscored Biden’s long political career, serving as a Delaware senator for nearly four decades before his eight years as vice president, and spurred headlines that Biden was an “effective” veep who left behind a “legacy of hard work.” BIDEN DEBATE DEBACLE: 10 EYE-OPENING MEDIA RESPONSES, FROM MSNBC PANIC TO ‘THE VIEW’ CALLING FOR REPLACEMENT Though an admitted “gaffe machine,” including describing Obama to a reporter as “the first mainstream African American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy” ahead of the 2008 election, Biden did not face nearly the same wave of criticisms as he does today over his near-daily gaffes, as well as new concerns over his mental and physical health. BIDEN’S INNER CIRCLE SILENT AS PARTY REELS FOLLOWING ‘EMBARRASSING’ DEBATE PERFORMANCE Videos from his vice presidency era show Biden speaking in the same confident tone he held throughout his Senate career, as well as footage showing him easily striding up Air Force Two’s stairs, making coherent quips while speaking to crowds and overall employing his “Scranton Joe” demeanor as a relaxed politico representing average Americans. “Man, yeah, it feels great. I’ve always loved to drive,” Biden told Jay Leno while driving his ’67 Corvette Stingray in a segment on “Jay Leno’s Garage” in 2016. “I shouldn’t say this on TV … I like speed.” The clip showed the then-VP doing a burnout with the car, which he said was a wedding gift from his dad, and bonding with Leno over their love of flashy and fast cars. Another video from Biden’s vice presidency showed him easily climbing up the steps of Air Force Two, delivering an optimistic 2012 DNC speech highlighting “America’s best days are ahead of us,” and his resolutely pro-America DNC speech in 2016 that was lauded as making “patriotism liberal again.” MOST BIDEN RALLY APPEARANCES ARE SHORTER THAN A SITCOM, HELPING FUEL STAMINA CONCERNS “We do not scare easily, we never bow, we never bend, we never break when confronted with crisis. No, we endure, we overcome and we always, always, always move forward,” he said of the United States’ strength at the 2016 DNC. “That’s why I can say, with absolute conviction, I am more optimistic about our chances today then when I was elected as a 29-year-old kid to the Senate.” “We are America, second to none, and we own the finish line,” he said, impassioned. “Don’t forget it.” OBAMA LEADING BIDEN OFF LA FUNDRAISER’S STAGE JUST LATEST EXAMPLE OF ALLIES DIRECTING PRESIDENT Outside of Biden’s official speeches supporting the Democratic Party and its allies, Biden, while vice president, was also seen on camera speaking coherently and relaxed to everyday Americans. “So here’s the deal, I’m coming for ice cream,” he said in a 2010 call, for example, to an ice cream parlor that benefited from the Recovery Act small business loan. OBAMA AGAIN STEPPING INTO ROLE AS JOE’S CLOSER AHEAD
Labour ‘99 percent certain’ to beat Blair’s 1997 election landslide: Poll
Barring a major upset in the coming hours, the Keir Starmer-led Labour Party is on course to win Thursday’s general election by a record landslide, a poll suggests. Late on Tuesday, the poll by Survation predicted that the centre-left party is “99 percent certain to win more seats than in 1997” when Tony Blair ended 18 years of Conservative rule. The United Kingdom’s new prime minister is set to inherit a country beset by economic and social woes and a deeply divided political system. The fight among those vying to dominate the opposition is less predictable, with the right-wing Conservatives, in power for the past 14 years, trying to fend off a hard-right threat led by Nigel Farage, the telegenic populist and key architect of Brexit who is hoping his Reform UK party gains traction. “The incoming government will face many serious challenges,” said Toby James, professor of politics and public policy at the University of East Anglia. “Should Labour win a predicted landslide, then parallels to [Tony] Blair’s victory [in] 1997 will be drawn. “However, the situation is much more difficult than that inherited by Blair … The economy was booming in 1997, whereas it has seen sluggish growth at best recently. Prices remain high following record inflation,” James told Al Jazeera. “There is large government debt, which will make spending on cash-strapped public services difficult.” From left, top row: Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer, Labour’s Keir Starmer and Scottish National Party leader John Swinney. From left bottom row: Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey, Conservative premier Rishi Sunak and Reform’s hard-right leader Nigel Farage [File: AP Photo] But as six weeks of campaigning draws to a close, Labour is taking nothing for granted and urging Britons to vote. Turnout was 67.3 percent at the last election in 2019, down from 68.8 percent in 2017. In 1997, turnout was relatively high at 71.4 percent, although lower than the previous poll – 77.7 percent in 1992 – which was won by Conservative leader John Major. Survation expects Labour will secure 42 percent of the vote, leading to 484 of a total 650 seats, and the Conservatives are “virtually certain to win a lower share of the vote than at any past general election” with 23 percent, it added, citing heavy losses in former Conservative heartlands. Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, in office since October 2022, called the election in May as economic data pointed to a recovery, with inflation at a lower level than in previous months. “Labour could be heading for a large majority, with the Conservatives becoming the main opposition. Eyes will be on how many seats the Reform party can win, given the threat that Nigel Farage poses to the Conservative Party, but also developments in France,” said James, referring to recent electoral successes of Marine Le Pen’s far-right movement. He characterised Sunak’s tenure as “short and extremely difficult”. “He has faced significant challenges with the aftermath of the pandemic, the effects of the Ukraine war on inflation and [the] challenge of holding the Conservative Party together. Few prime ministers have faced so many significant challenges within such a short period. The aim was to stabilise the ship, but there are few significant policy achievements to point to.” ‘Politicians often weaponise migration to score votes’ As well as the economy, party campaigns have focused on immigration. The Conservatives, who led Britain’s exit from the European Union on a promise to lower migration, have failed to achieve that goal. Net migration to the UK dropped 10 percent to 685,000 in 2023, compared with a year earlier, but remained above average historical levels. The majority of people travelled for work or study, with far fewer – 29,437 undocumented migrants and refugees – arriving last year via the perilous journey across the English Channel from France. Former Conservative premiers, such as David Cameron and Theresa May, had pledged to bring net migration down to the tens of thousands. “Politicians often weaponise migration to score votes ahead of an election and too often we see a race to the bottom between parties over who will impose the toughest policies toward asylum seekers,” warned Emilie McDonnell, UK advocacy and communications officer at Human Rights Watch. “The next UK government needs to reset the narrative on migration and push back against the fear-mongering and dehumanising rhetoric that is inevitable post-election,” she told Al Jazeera. Labour has promised to scrap the controversial Rwanda scheme cultivated by the Conservatives, which aims to deport undocumented refugees and migrants to process asylum claims in the African nation. To date, no such flights have taken off due to legal opposition and humanitarian concerns. “Abandoning the Rwanda scheme and resuming asylum processing for people arriving irregularly are essential to restoring refugee protection in the UK,” said McDonnell. “However, much more is needed to create a fair and humane asylum system and to show that the UK will do its fair share to protect the world’s refugees, including by greatly expanding safe pathways, repealing the Illegal Migration Act that bans seeking asylum, and introducing a strict time-limit on detention.” Hundreds of thousands of protesters, including scores at British university campuses, have called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza over the past nine months [Anealla Safdar/Al Jazeera] Observers are also keeping a close eye on British towns and cities that are home to large Muslim communities where Labour is expected to shed some support given its stance on Israel’s war on Gaza. Starmer, like Sunak, supports Israel and regularly talks of its “right to defence” even as almost 38,000 Palestinians have been killed. Pro-Palestine protesters are planning another big march on Saturday in London. According to the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) and its partners, police have not offered march organisers any central London start or end point for the demonstration “in contrast to every other occasion”. PSC leader Ben Jamal said: “Keir Starmer is facing his first test on the willingness of his government to support the right to peaceful protest, including for protest to take place near Westminster.
French researcher admits military secrets charges, claims Russia
Laurent Vinatier, a researcher for a conflict mediation organisation, was arrested for breaching Russia’s ‘foreign agents’ law. A French researcher has admitted to criminal charges related to collecting sensitive military information, Russian investigators have claimed. Laurent Vinatier pleaded guilty during questioning to failing to register as a foreign agent while illegally collecting sensitive military information, the Investigative Committee of Russia said on Wednesday. The French researcher joined a list of Western citizens detained by Moscow when he was arrested by the Federal Security Service (FSB) last month. “The French citizen has pleaded guilty in a criminal case on illegal collection of information in the field of Russian military activities,” the Investigative Committee said in a statement. “During the interrogation, he admitted his guilt in full.” Potentially increasing Western concerns, the FSB then declared in a statement that Vinatier, who had worked long-term in Russia for the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD) NGO, had “collected information of a military and military-technical nature that could be used to the detriment of the security of the Russian Federation”. The accusations against him could result in a sentence of five years in prison, according to reports. ‘Propaganda’ The 47-year-old researcher’s arrest came as tension rose between Moscow and Paris, with French President Emmanuel Macron calling for a hard line regarding the war in Ukraine. Following the arrest, Macron insisted that the employee of the Swiss-based conflict mediation group HD had never worked for the French state and demanded his immediate release, calling the “propaganda” against him “does not match reality”. However, a court last month placed him in pre-trial custody until August 5. Russia has not charged or publicly accused Vinatier of working with any foreign intelligence agency or directly engaging in espionage. However, authorities have previously arrested people for breaching the “foreign agents” law before charging them with more serious offences. Laurent Vinatier, an adviser to the Swiss nonprofit Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, French national Laurent Vinatier, allegedly collected information of a ‘military-technical nature’, Moscow, June 7, 2024 [Maxim Shemetov/Reuters] The Investigative Committee said seven witnesses from whom Vinatier had tried to collect military information had been questioned. “A linguistic forensic examination has been scheduled based on audio recordings of these meetings,” the committee said in its statement. In a statement following Vinatier’s arrest, HD said: “In the course of HD’s activities as an impartial and independent mediation organisation, our people work around the world and routinely meet with a wide range of officials, experts and other parties with the aim of advancing efforts to prevent, mitigate and resolve armed conflict.” ‘Hostage diplomacy’ Under Russian law, people who collect, report, or share information about Russia’s military or security services must register as “foreign agents”. Critics say the legislation has been used to clamp down on dissent. Its use has also risen since the Kremlin launched its war on neighbouring Ukraine in February 2022. US-Russian journalist Alsu Kurmasheva was arrested last year for failing to register as a “foreign agent”. More serious allegations of spreading false information about the armed forces have since been levelled against her. Several other Western citizens have been arrested in Russia since the Ukraine war began, which has put relations at their lowest ebb since the midst of the Cold War. US reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was arrested in March 2023 on espionage charges, went on trial behind closed doors last month. Several other US citizens have been arrested recently. Among the higher profile detainments is that of US security executive Paul Whelan, who was arrested in Moscow for espionage in 2018. US-Russian citizen Ksenia Karelina was put on trial for high treason last month after donating $50 to a Ukrainian charity. Russia has indicated that it is open to the idea of a prisoner exchange involving Gershkovich and others, claiming that contacts with the US have taken place. The US has in turn accused Russia of conducting “hostage diplomacy”. Adblock test (Why?)
Asbestos: The toxic mineral endangering millions in India
Asbestos is deadly, but India continues to be the world’s largest importer of the toxic mineral. 101 East investigates. Once used as an insulating material in buildings around the world, asbestos as been banned in more than 60 countries following the discovery that it causes deadly diseases. But in India, the world’s largest importer of the toxic mineral, millions of citizens continue to be exposed to asbestos. Research estimates more than six million Indians could contract asbestos-related diseases in the coming decades. Activists are demanding the government act now to protect citizens. 101 East investigates India’s Silent Killer. Adblock test (Why?)