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NewsAssociated PressIn poorest countries, surge combines with vaccine shortage
Hati Maronjei once swore he would never get a COVID-19 shot, after a pastor warned that vaccines aren't safe. Now, four months after the first batch of vaccines arrived in Zimbabwe, the 44-year-old street hawker of electronic items is desperate for the shot he can’t get. A sense of dread is growing in some of the very poorest countries in the world as virus cases surge and more contagious variants take hold amid a crippling shortage of vaccine.
NewsAssociated PressIran nuclear deal hangs in balance as Islamic Republic votes
Iran's tattered nuclear deal with world powers hangs in the balance as the country prepares to vote on Friday for a new president and diplomats press on with efforts to get both the U.S. and Tehran to reenter the accord. The deal represents the signature accomplishment of the relatively moderate President Hassan Rouhani's eight years in office: suspending crushing sanctions in exchange for the strict monitoring and limiting of Iran's uranium stockpile. The deal's collapse with President Donald Trump's decision to unilaterally withdraw America from the agreement in 2018 spiraled into a series of attacks and confrontations across the wider Middle East.
NewsThe GuardianGhislaine Maxwell subjected to raw sewage in New York jail, lawyer says
Ghislaine Maxwell subjected to raw sewage in New York jail, lawyer saysAttorney for the British socialite, who is fighting sex trafficking charges, says Maxwell also faces ‘hyper-surveillance’ from guards Ghislaine Maxwell during an arraignment hearing on a new indictment at Manhattan federal court in New York City. Photograph: Jane Rosenberg/Reuters
- NewsReuters
Myanmar's renewed war scatters tens of thousands to forests
The displaced sleep packed together under plastic sheeting for protection from Myanmar's monsoon rains. Food is short and there are signs of disease spreading, according to people who have fled recent fighting in eastern Myanmar's Kayah State - just one of several conflicts to surge since the Feb. 1 coup toppled elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The United Nations estimates nearly 110,000 people have been displaced in Myanmar's Kayah State by the recent violence.
SportAssociated PressCruz, Ober lift Twins over Mariners 7-2
Nelson Cruz hit a three-run homer against his former team, rookie starter Bailey Ober struck out six and the Minnesota Twins beat the Seattle Mariners 7-2 on Wednesday night. Cruz’s second-deck shot to left field in the fifth inning made it 6-0 and helped snap the Twins’ three-game losing streak. “It's fun to watch," Minnesota manager Rocco Baldelli said.
NewsAssociated PressJapan set to ease virus emergency ahead of Olympics
Japan on Thursday was expected to announce the easing of a coronavirus state of emergency in Tokyo and six other areas, with new daily cases falling just as the country begins making final preparations for the Olympics starting in just over a month. Japan has been struggling since late March to slow a wave of infections propelled by more contagious variants, with new daily cases soaring above 7,000 at one point and seriously ill patients straining hospitals in Tokyo, Osaka and other metropolitan areas. Daily cases have since subsided significantly and Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga was expected to allow the downgrading of the state of emergency when it expires on Sunday to less stringent measures.
- NewsReuters
U.S. ends Cambodia aid programme over deforestation, targeting of activists
The United States is ending a Cambodian aid programme aimed at protecting one of the country's biggest wildlife sanctuaries, citing worsening deforestation and the silencing of those who speak out about the destruction of natural resources. The U.S. embassy in Phnom Penh said in a statement on Thursday that it had invested more than $100 million to combat deforestation and despite some progress high rates of illegal logging had continued in the Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary. Since 2016, Prey Lang had "lost approximately 38,000 hectares (93,900 acres) of forest, nearly nine percent of its forest cover," it said, accusing Cambodian authorities of not adequately prosecuting wildlife crimes or putting a stop to illicit activities.
NewsANICOVID-19, ageing population raises concerns over China's 'utterly deficient' health infrastructure: Dissident
Washington [US], June 17 (ANI): The COVID-19 pandemic and 2021 national census have raised concerns over the alarmingly ageing population of China and "utterly deficient" health infrastructure, Jianli Yang, a Chinese dissident and son of a former Chinese Communist Party leader.
- NewsAssociated Press
Macao closing office in Taipei amid rising Chinese pressure
The tiny Chinese autonomous region of Macao has joined its larger neighbor Hong Kong in closing its representative office in Taiwan as China seeks to intensify the diplomatic isolation of the self-governing island democracy. Macao gave no reason for the closure, which was announced Wednesday and takes effect from Saturday. As with Hong Kong, Macao is setting up a telephone hotline to provide service for any of its residents in Taiwan.
SportAssociated PressKerevi preparing to play 7s for Australia at Tokyo Olympics
Ex-Wallabies center Samu Kerevi has returned from Japan to have a shot at making Australia’s rugby sevens team for the Tokyo Olympics. The 27-year-old midfielder has been included in Australia’s team to play against Olympic champion Fiji, New Zealand and an Oceania Barbarians team in the June 25-27 Oceania Championship in Townsville, northern Queensland state. Head coach Tim Walsh announced his squad Thursday, including a first selection for Kerevi as well the return of Lewis Holland, Lachlan Anderson and Tim Anstee from their Super Rugby commitments.
NewsAssociated PressNo apology: Tavis Smiley makes comeback bid after PBS firing
Smiley, who continues to deny the claims of unwanted sexual behavior that led PBS to drop his long-running show, is attempting to rebound with the purchase of a Los Angeles radio station that will offer a Black and progressive perspective on the city and nation. Sidelined during a period of landmark racial upheaval, Smiley decided to make his own opportunity with reformatted station KBLA Talk 1580 Los Angeles.
NewsANIArgentina reports 25,878 new COVID-19 cases
Buenos Aires [Argentina], June 17 (ANI/Xinhua): Argentina reported 25,878 new COVID-19 infections and 648 more deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing the accumulated totals to 4,198,620 and 87,261 respectively on Wednesday.
NewsReutersChina's 'wolf warrior' diplomacy is 'justified defence', envoy says
China's "wolf warrior diplomacy", an aggressive and often abrasive stance adopted by its diplomats since 2020, is simply "justified defence" against attacks by a West determined to contain it, one of Beijing's most outspoken ambassadors said. Lu's remarks signal that President Xi Jinping's recent call for Communist Party leaders to make China "more lovable" does not mean China will dial back on its assertive diplomacy, Wang Wen, a professor at Beijing's Renmin University, told Reuters.
NewsANIChina's increasing military activities near Taiwan raise 'risk of miscalculation': Pentagon
Washington [US], June 17 (ANI): Terming the recent incursion by Chinese warplane into Taiwan air defence identification zone (ADIZ) as 'destabilizing', Pentagon said Beijing's increasing military activities in the vicinity of the island increase the "risk of miscalculation".
NewsANINearly 60 German police officers injured in clashes with left-wing radicals in Berlin
Berlin [Germany], June 17 (ANI/Sputnik): Nearly 60 police officers in Berlin were injured during an attempt to evict an abandoned house occupied by left-wing radicals, the Berliner Zeitung newspaper reported on Wednesday, citing the city's law enforcement.
NewsANIUS needs to fight against Chinese harmful influence in UN: Official
Washington [US], June 17 (ANI): The United States needs to "fight" against Chinese harmful influence in the United Nations and needs to build an alliance to investigate the source of COVID-19 as well address human rights abuses in Xinjiang, a senior US official told Congress.
PoliticsAssociated PressCongress approves bill to make Juneteenth a federal holiday
The United States will soon have a new federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery. The House voted 415-14 Wednesday to make Juneteenth, or June 19th, the 12th federal holiday. Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers brought the news of freedom to enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas — two months after the Confederacy had surrendered.
SportAssociated PressSinging swimmer Simpson into final at Aussie Olympic trials
Singer Cody Simpson has qualified for the 100-meter butterfly final at the Australian Olympic swim trials but will need to vastly improve on his time in Thursday night's final to be considered for the Tokyo Games. Simpson was in the fast heat to lead off the program. It was good enough for a spot in the final behind the fastest qualifier Matt Temple's 51.79.
PoliticsReutersPushing against China, U.S. lawmakers plan pro-Taiwan bill
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Democratic and Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives will introduce legislation this week seeking to boost U.S. support for Taiwan, part of an effort in Congress to take a hard line in dealings with China. Representatives Ami Bera and Steve Chabot, the Democratic and Republican leaders of the House Foreign Affairs Committee's Asia subcommittee, will introduce the "Taiwan Peace and Stability Act," a measure "to support the diplomatic, economic and physical space" of the self-governing island. "Hopefully we're able to pass something in a bipartisan way on the House floor," Bera said in a telephone interview.
NewsThe GuardianRussian war games set stage for Biden and Putin’s head-to-head
Russian war games set stage for Biden and Putin’s head-to-head . Moscow may not play fair, but observers can take solace in reaffirmed declaration against nuclear war
NewsANIChina launches 3 astronauts to its space station
Beijing [China], June 17 (ANI): China launched three Chinese astronauts from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre to an under-construction space station on Thursday.
NewsANIApple Daily newspaper's editor-in-chief, 4 directors held under Hong Kong Security Law
Hong Kong, June 17 (ANI): In an early morning raid on Thursday, Hong Kong police arrested the chief editor and four directors of a pro-democracy Apple Daily newspaper under draconian Hong Kong security law on suspicion of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces.
NewsANIS. Africa records over 13,000 COVID-19 cases in a day
Cape Town [South Africa], June 17 (ANI): Cases of the coronavirus in South Africa continued surging as 13,246 new cases were registered over the past 24 hours, the highest number since January this year, said the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) on Wednesday night.
NewsANIIf China takes Taiwan, its 'all over': Nikki Haley urges Washington to act 'strongly' against Beijing
Washington [US], June 17 (ANI): Indian American Republican politician and 2024 GOP (another name for the Republican Party -- Grand Old Party) Nikki Haley on Wednesday (local time) said the United States must act "strongly" against China, stating that if Beijing takes control of Taiwan, it will be emboldened to seize other territories around the globe.
NewsAssociated PressHeat wave grips US West amid fear of a new, hotter normal
An unusually early and long-lasting heat wave brought more triple-digit temperatures Wednesday to a large swath of the U.S. West, raising concerns that such extreme weather could become the new normal amid a decades-long drought. Phoenix, which is seeing some of the highest temperatures this week, tied a record for the second day in a row when it reached 115 degrees (46 Celsius) Wednesday and was expected to hit 117 (47 Celsius) each of the next two days, the National Weather Service said. “Heat waves are getting worse in the West because the soil is so dry” from the region's megadrought, said Park Williams, a University of California, Los Angeles, climate and fire scientist who has calculated that soil in the western half of the nation is the driest it has been since 1895.
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