Authorities have stated that the assailant in the school shooting in Graz was a 21-year-old Austrian man who possessed two weapons, which he appeared to have owned legally. Police reported they did not immediately have information on the man's motive, but confirmed he killed himself in a toilet after fatally shooting nine people. At least 12 others were wounded, some seriously, reported AP. Earlier, the Mayor of Graz, Elke Kahr, described the events as a "terrible tragedy," stating that at least eight people were killed in the shooting at a school in the Austrian city on Tuesday, and the suspected perpetrator also died, according to the Austria Press Agency. It added that the fatalities were seven students and one adult. Kahr mentioned that many people were taken to hospitals with injuries. However, the police said they believe the assailant acted alone. Special forces were among those dispatched to the BORG Dreierschutzengasse high school, approximately a kilometre from Graz's historic centre, following a call at 10 a.m. By 11:30 a.m., police had posted on social network X that the school had been evacuated and everyone had been taken to a safe meeting point. They also wrote that the situation was "secured" and there was no longer believed to be any danger. Police were deployed in large numbers, with police and other emergency vehicles guarding the area around the school and at least one police helicopter flying overhead, according to photos published by the regional newspaper Kleine Zeitung, as reported by AP. Graz, Austria's second-largest city, is located in the southeast of the country and has approximately 300,000 inhabitants. Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker, who is travelling to Graz, stated that the shooting "is a national tragedy that deeply shocks our whole country." He wrote in a statement posted on X, "There are no words for the pain and grief that all of us, the whole of Austria, feel now." President Alexander Van der Bellen commented that "this horror cannot be captured in words." He further said,"these were young people who had their whole lives ahead of them. A teacher who accompanied them on their way." According to AP, Interior Minister Gerhard Karner was also en route to Graz. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wrote on X, "Schools are symbols for youth, hope and the future. It is hard to bear when schools become places of death and violence." (With inputs from AP)
10 June,2025 09:14 PM IST | Graz | mid-day online correspondentPresident Donald Trump's new travel ban targeting 12 countries- mainly from Africa and the Middle East came into effect on Monday, intensifying tensions over the administration's expanded immigration crackdown, CNN reported. According to the CNN report, the new order affects citizens of Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Additionally, it imposes restrictions on individuals from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela who are outside the US and do not possess valid visas. While the proclamation does not revoke existing visas, it blocks new applications unless individuals meet specific exemption criteria. "Travelers with previously issued visas should still be able to enter the US," CNN noted, citing official guidance to American diplomatic missions. The restrictions are designed to avoid the legal chaos and mass airport confusion that followed Trump's initial travel ban during his first term. CNN reported that this time, the administration emphasized improved legal framing by focusing on visa procedures rather than outright entry bans. The move is widely seen as an attempt to avoid legal challenges that derailed earlier versions of the policy. Trump defended the action by citing security concerns, claiming that certain countries had poor screening systems or failed to cooperate with US deportation protocols. He also referenced visa overstay rates from an annual Homeland Security report, although experts have questioned the consistency and accuracy of such measurements. Notably, Trump tied the travel ban to a recent terrorist attack in Boulder, Colorado, allegedly committed by a man from Egypt--a country not included in the ban. Rights groups and immigration advocates have condemned the new order. "This policy is not about national security - it is about sowing division and vilifying communities that are seeking safety and opportunity in the United States," said Abby Maxman, president of Oxfam America. CNN highlighted that the inclusion of Afghanistan in the list has sparked backlash, especially from those aiding Afghan resettlement efforts. While exemptions exist for Afghans holding Special Immigrant Visas- typically those who worked closely with the US military- critics argue that the broader ban undermines refugee protection. Afghanistan had been among the top sources of US-bound refugees, with approximately 14,000 arriving in the 12-month period ending September 2024. Trump had previously suspended refugee admissions on his first day in office, a move echoed in this latest expansion of restrictions.
10 June,2025 11:53 AM IST | Washington | ANIThe detained crew of the Gaza-bound aid ship "Madleen"- including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and other prominent international volunteers were docked at Israel's Ashdod port on Monday evening following a controversial interception at sea, CNN reported. According to Israel's foreign ministry, the intercepted activists underwent medical checks upon arrival. Defense Minister Israel Katz said they were shown a screening of "the horror film documenting the October 7 massacre" by Hamas, but "when they saw what it was about, they refused to continue watching." He accused Thunberg and others of ignoring Hamas atrocities by "closing their eyes to the truth." The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), which organized the mission, alleged that the Israeli military "attacked" and "unlawfully boarded" the ship in international waters while it was attempting to deliver baby formula, food, and medical supplies to Gaza which remains under an 11-week aid blockade. The activists were detained after Israeli quadcopters reportedly sprayed the ship with a white paint-like substance, jammed communications, and played disturbing noises over the radio. In a livestream from the ship, activist Yasemin Acar showed the white substance on the deck, stating it was affecting her eyes. Later, in a pre-recorded video posted by FFC, Thunberg said, "If you see this video, we have been intercepted and kidnapped in international waters by the Israeli occupational forces, or forces that support Israel." CNN further reported that the intercepted aid was confiscated and would be rerouted to Gaza through official humanitarian channels, according to Israeli authorities. However, human rights attorney and FFC organizer Huwaida Arraf said, "Israel has no legal authority to detain international volunteers aboard the Madleen. This seizure blatantly violates international law and defies the ICJ's binding orders requiring unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza." The operation was also condemned by Amnesty International. "The operation of intercepting and blocking the Madleen in the middle of the night and in international waters violates international law and put the safety of those on the boat at risk," said Agnes Callamard, the organisation's secretary general. Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump weighed in, calling Thunberg a "strange" and "young, angry person" and recommending that she "go to an anger management class," according to CNN. He added, "Israel has enough problems without kidnapping Greta Thunberg." Hamas demanded the immediate release of the detainees, calling the interception "a flagrant violation of international law" and an attack on civilian volunteers. On the ground in Ashdod, around 15 people protested with placards reading, "Resist genocide" and "Stop state terror." The French foreign ministry confirmed that six of its nationals were onboard and said President Emmanuel Macron had requested their swift return. Paris also called on Israel to allow "immediate, large-scale, and unhindered access for humanitarian aid to Gaza." The Madleen is part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, a group that has long challenged Israel's naval blockade of Gaza. Prior to its interception, the ship had publicized its journey online, and activists were aware of the risks, with Thunberg telling CNN, "We know that previous experiences with flotillas like this have resulted in attacks, violence and even cases of death." Despite mounting international pressure, aid deliveries into Gaza remain minimal. A UN-backed report warned in April that one in five people in Gaza faces starvation. FFC said the confiscated aid included baby formula and essential medical supplies. Last month, another Freedom Flotilla vessel allegedly came under drone attack near Malta in international waters. Although no direct evidence was provided, the FFC blamed Israel. The Israeli military declined to comment. The Madleen departed from Sicily last Friday and was intercepted before reaching Gaza, reaffirming Israel's stated policy of preventing all unauthorized sea access to the strip.
10 June,2025 11:43 AM IST | Tel AvivCanada will meet NATO's military spending guideline by early next year and diversify defence spending away from the United States, Prime Minister Mark Carney said Monday, asserting that Washington no longer plays a predominant role on the world stage. The announcement means Canada will achieve NATO's spending target of 2 per cent of gross domestic product five years earlier than previously planned. 'Our military infrastructure and equipment have aged, hindering our military preparedness," Carney said. 'Only one of our four submarines is seaworthy. Less than half of our maritime fleet and land vehicles are operational. More broadly, we are too reliant on the United States.' According to NATO figures, Canada was estimated to be spending 1.33 per cent of GDP on its military budget in 2023, below the 2 per cent target that NATO countries have set for themselves. Canada previously said it was on track to meet NATO's target by the end of the decade. 'Our goal is to protect Canadians, not to satisfy NATO accountants,' Carney said in a speech at the University of Toronto. Canada is about to host US President Donald Trump and other leaders at a summit of the Group of Seven leading industrialised nations in Alberta on June 15-17, and before the NATO summit in Europe. NATO allies are poised to increase the commitment well beyond the 2 per cent target. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said last week that most US allies at NATO endorse Trump's demand that they invest 5 per cent of gross domestic product on their defence needs and are ready to ramp up security spending even more. "We are meeting 2 per cent. And that is the NATO target as it is today,' Carney said at a later news conference. 'We will need to spend more.' He said there will be discussions on the increased spending amount and its timeline at the NATO summit. Carney has said he intends to diversify Canada's procurement and enhance the country's relationship with the EU. 'We should no longer send three-quarters of our defense capital spending to America,' Carney said in a speech at the University of Toronto. 'We will invest in new submarines, aircraft, ships, armed vehicles and artillery, as well as new radar, drones and sensors to monitor the seafloor and the Arctic.' Canada has been in discussions with the European Union to join an EU drive to break its security dependency on the United States, with a focus on buying more defence equipment, including fighter jets, in Europe. Carney's government is reviewing the purchase of US F-35 fighter jets to see if there are other options. 'We stood shoulder to shoulder with the Americans throughout the Cold War and in the decades that followed, as the United States played a predominant role on the world stage. Today, that predominance is a thing of the past,' Carney said in French, one of Canada's official languages. He added that with the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the United States became the global hegemon, noting that its strong gravitational pull became virtually irresistible and made the US 'our closest ally and dominant trading partner.' 'Now the United States is beginning to monetise its hegemony: charging for access to its markets and reducing its relative contributions to our collective security,' Carney said. Carney later said at the news conference that it was 'understandable' that the US is providing a lower degree of security. 'So we are stepping up,' he said. Trump's calls to make Canada the 51st US state have infuriated Canadians, and Carney won the job of prime minister after promising to confront the increased aggression shown by Trump. The prime minister said "a new imperialism threatens.' 'Middle powers compete for interests and attention, knowing that if they are not at the table, they will be on the menu," Carney said during his speech. Carney said the long-held view that Canada's geographic location will protect Canadians is increasingly archaic. European allies and Canada have already been investing heavily in their armed forces, as well as on weapons and ammunition, since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
10 June,2025 09:03 AM IST | Toronto | APIsrael's Foreign Ministry says 12 activists, including Greta Thunberg, have disembarked in the Israeli port of Ashdod after their Gaza-bound boat was seized. They are undergoing medical checks to ensure they are in good health. The ministry has published photographs on social media of Thunberg in the port of Ashdod. The activists are expected to be transferred to a detention facility ahead of deportation from Israel. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
10 June,2025 08:56 AM IST | Jerusalem | APDelegations from the US and China were set to meet in London on Monday to try and shore up a fragile truce. A Chinese delegation led by Vice Premier He Lifeng is due to meet US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer at an undisclosed location in the city. The talks follow negotiations in Geneva last month that brought a temporary respite in the trade war. The two countries announced May 12 as the date for a 90-day suspension of most of the 100 per cent-plus or more tariffs they had imposed on each other. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
10 June,2025 08:39 AM IST | London | AgenciesAn explosion at a storage site for unexploded ordnances at a US military base on Japan’s southern island of Okinawa injured four Japanese soldiers, though the injuries are not life threatening, officials said on Monday. The four soldiers sustained finger injuries while working at a facility that belongs to Okinawa prefecture and temporarily stores unexploded ordnance, mostly from wartime and found on the island, local officials said. One of the harshest battles of World War II was fought on Okinawa. Prefectural officials said the injuries were not life threatening, but no other details were immediately known. The US Air Force said in a statement that the explosion occurred inside the facility managed by the Okinawa prefectural government at Kadena Air Base’s munitions storage area. It said no US servicemembers were involved in the incident. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
10 June,2025 08:35 AM IST | Tokyo | AgenciesTensions in Los Angeles escalated on Sunday as thousands of protesters took to the streets in response to President Donald Trump’s extraordinary deployment of the National Guard, blocking off a major freeway and setting self-driving cars on fire as law enforcement used tear gas, rubber bullets, and flash bangs to control the crowd. Some police patrolled the streets on horseback while others with riot gear lined up behind Guard troops deployed to protect federal facilities including a detention centre where some immigrants were taken in recent days. Police declared an unlawful assembly, and by early evening many people had left. But protesters who remained grabbed chairs from a nearby public park to form a makeshift barrier, throwing objects at police on the other side. Others standing above the closed southbound 101 Freeway threw chunks of concrete, rocks, electric scooters and fireworks at California Highway Patrol officers and their vehicles that were parked on the highway. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
10 June,2025 08:28 AM IST | Los Angeles | AgenciesRussia launched 479 drones at Ukraine in the war’s biggest overnight drone bombardment, the Ukrainian air force said on Monday. Apart from drones, 20 missiles of various types were fired at different parts of Ukraine, according to the air force, which said the barrage targeted mainly central and western areas of Ukraine. Ukraine’s air defences destroyed 277 drones and 19 missiles in mid-flight, an air force statement said, claiming that only 10 drones or missiles hit their target. It was not possible to independently verify the claim. Russia’s aerial attacks usually start late in the evening and end in the morning, because drones are harder to spot in the dark. Russia has relentlessly battered civilian areas of Ukraine with Shahed drones during the more than 3-year war. The attacks have killed more that 12,000 Ukrainian civilians, according to the United Nations. The country says it targets only military targets. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
10 June,2025 08:23 AM IST | Kyiv | AgenciesThe Israel Defense Forces (IDF) today confirmed the body of the Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar who was killed last month in an air strike has been located. The announcement followed last week's confirmation that he had had been assasinated in a strike on the European hospital in Gaza, May 13, where Sinwar was hiding. Sinwar, aged 49, was the younger brother of Yahya Sinwar, the leader who masterminded the October 7 invasion of Israel, who was killed after being shot by IDF soldiers eight months ago. The siblings were both born - and later killed - in the Khan Yunis area of Gaza. Mohammed was a part of the 2011 negotiations that saw Yahya released as one of 1,027 Palestinian terrorists freed in exchange for captive Israeli Gilad Shalit. At some point in his terror-career history, Mohammed Sinwar was nicknamed "The Shadow" by Israeli intelligence, as he was so elusive. He even skipped his father's funeral to avoid being known to authorities. Despite this, more recently, the Shin Bet were aware of his movements and managed to exact a precision assassination as he hid. A joint Statement by the IDF Spokesperson and Shin Bet (ISA) Spokesperson said: "The body of Mohammad Sinwar, head of the military wing of the Hamas terrorist organization, has been located. "In a targeted operation by IDF and Shin Bet forces in the Southern Command, and after the completion of the identification process, it has been confirmed that the body of Mohammad Sinwar was found in an underground route beneath the European Hospital in Khan Yunis. "Sinwar was eliminated along with Rafah Brigade Commander Mohammad Shabaneh in a joint operation by the IDF and Shin Bet on May 13, 2025, while they were inside an underground command and control complex currently being operated by IDF forces. "During the searches in the underground route, items belonging to Sinwar and Shabaneh were found, along with additional intelligence materials which have been transferred for further investigation. "Additional terrorist bodies were also discovered during the operation; their identities are under examination." IDF footage showed a lifeless figure wrapped in a plastic bodybag being dragged from a tunnel opening underneath the hospital. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz last week praised the IDF and Shin Bet, and sent a stark warning to other potential Hamas leaders. In a public statement he wrote: "Az al-Din al-Haddad in Gaza and Khalil al-Hayya abroad - and all their partners in crime - you're next. "It's now official - the arch-murderer Mohammad Sinwar was eliminated along with Rafah Brigade Commander Mohammad Shabana and the gang of villains who were with them beneath the European Hospital in Gaza, and has been sent to meet his brother at the gates of hell. "Congratulations to the IDF and Shin Bet on the flawless execution. Israel's long arm will reach all those responsible for the murders and atrocities of October 7, wherever they may be - near or far - until their complete elimination. "Az al-Din al-Haddad in Gaza and Khalil al-Hayya abroad - and all their partners in crime - you are next." Az al-Din al-Haddad is the leader of the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza City, and Al-Hayya is part of Hamas' leadership and resides in Qatar. Alongside Mohammed Sinwar, Muhammad Shabana, Commander of Hamas' military wing, and senior commander Mahdi Kuwar, were also killed in the strike. At least 1,180 people were killed, and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas's attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the 55 remaining hostages (including Hadar Goldin, taken before October 7), 32 are believed to be dead.
09 June,2025 01:32 PM IST | Tel Aviv | ANIIn a significant political stride for the Indian diaspora in the United States, Sanjay Singhal and Sukh Kaur, both Indian Americans, have won city council runoff elections in Texas, while Carol McCutcheon has been elected as Mayor of Sugar Land, a Houston suburb with a large Indian-origin population. In Sugar Land's District 2, Sanjay Singhal, a retired energy executive and graduate of IIT Delhi, secured a decisive victory over his nearest rival Nasir Hussain. According to unofficial results from Fort Bend County, Singhal received 2,346 votes to Hussain's 777. "This victory belongs to the residents of District 2," Singhal told supporters. "I am deeply grateful for the community's support and ready to serve with transparency and dedication." Singhal, who has lived in Sugar Land for over 30 years with his wife, their two sons and daughters-in-law, ran on a platform focused on public safety, infrastructure improvements, and accountable governance. In San Antonio, Sukh Kaur, a Sikh American and education reformer, scored a landslide victory to retain her District 1council seat, defeating challenger Patty Gibbons with 65 per cent of the vote. "I think we really talked to the community and shared that we want to work," Kaur told media after the results. "And one of the things that we said is District 1 is about preserving our history while still moving our district forward." Kaur, a nonprofit leader who lives in San Antonio with her husband and two children, has focused her public service on affordable housing, safer neighbourhoods, and improved transit systems. In a closely watched mayoral contest in Sugar Land, Carol McCutcheon defeated William Ferguson to become the city's new mayor, succeeding Joe Zimmerman. McCutcheon secured 6,103 votes, while Ferguson received 5,402, according to unofficial tallies. McCutcheon, a retired reservoir engineer with decades of public service experience, said she entered the race to help guide Sugar Land's growth with "strategic vision". Her priorities include improving crime response, supporting law enforcement, and ensuring quality of life for residents. Additionally, Jim Vonderhaar won the City Council At-Large Position 1 seat with 6,048 votes, defeating Maggy Horgan who received 4,278. The latest round of municipal elections reinforces Texas' status as a growing hub of Indian-American civic engagement and leadership, with expanding representation in key urban centres like Houston and San Antonio. Swearing-in ceremonies for the new council members and mayor are expected in the coming weeks. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
09 June,2025 09:13 AM IST | Houston | PTIADVERTISEMENT
