A prominent Berlin politician was violently assaulted and suffered injuries to her head and neck, police said Wednesday, in the latest attack on elected officials that raises concern over rising political violence in Germany. Franziska Giffey, the city’s top economic official, a former mayor and an ex-federal minister, was attacked at an event in a Berlin library on Tuesday by a man who approached her from behind and hit her with a bag containing a hard device, police said. Giffey was taken to a hospital and treated. 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 May,2024 07:50 AM IST | Berlin | AgenciesRussia launched aerial attacks on energy facilities throughout Ukraine early Wednesday, targeting seven regions with more than 50 missiles as well as drones, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. The attacks also damaged the railway station and tracks in the city of Kherson, across the Dnieper River from Russian-held territory, and injured two people in Brovary, adjacent to the capital Kyiv, officials said. Russia consistently targets Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. There was a major aerial attack on energy facilities on April 27 and another a week earlier. ‘Russia’s invasion can’t be solved by rewarding Moscow’ Italy’s president told the UN General Assembly that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine can’t be solved by rewarding its aggression. Sergio Mattarella said many international partners have come to Ukraine’s defence to say solidarity must be given to nations attacked by acts that violate international law. 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 May,2024 07:50 AM IST | Moscow | AgenciesThe Israeli military said on Wednesday that it has reopened the Kerem Shalom crossing into Gaza, a key terminal for the entry of humanitarian aid that was closed nearly three days earlier after a Hamas rocket attack killed four Israeli soldiers nearby. An Israeli tank brigade seized the nearby Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt early Tuesday, and it remained closed. Associated Press journalists heard sporadic explosions and gunfire in the area overnight, including two large blasts early Wednesday. Rafah has been a vital conduit for humanitarian aid since the start of the war and is the only place where people can enter and exit. Israel now controls all of Gaza’s border crossings for the first time since it withdrew troops and settlers from the territory nearly two decades ago. US bomb shipment paused over Rafah Children stand by a missile impact crater after Israeli bombardment in Rafah. Pic/AFP The US paused a shipment of bombs to Israel last week over concerns that Israel was approaching a decision on launching a full-scale assault on of Rafah against the wishes of the US, a senior administration official, said. The shipment was supposed to consist of 1,800 2,000-pound (900-kg) bombs and 1,700 500-pound (225-kg) bombs, according to the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive matter, with the focus of US concern being the larger explosives and how they could be used in a dense urban setting. 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 May,2024 07:48 AM IST | Jerusalem | AgenciesIn a Surrey courtroom in British Columbia, members of the Sikh community gathered as three Indian nationals accused of killing Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar made their first court appearance by video. The accused, Karan Brar, Karanpreet Singh, and Kamalpreet Singh, arrived in court wearing orange jumpsuits, as pro-Khalistani protestors outside screamed slogans and brandished signs blaming the Indian government for Nijjar's death. Judge Delaram Jahani briefly questioned the suspects in court. Two of them, Brar and Karanpreet Singh, have agreed to appear again on May 21 with legal representation, while Kamalpreet Singh, who is seeking legal counsel, has yet to set a new date, reported ANI. According to the report, the trio was arrested in Edmonton last week and charged with first-degree murder and a deadly conspiracy in connection with Nijjar's June 2023 killing, which strained Canada-India relations. Canada's Prime Minister accused Indian government agents of killing Nijjar, sparking a diplomatic crisis between the two countries. However, India has denounced the allegations as false. Nijjar was tragically shot outside a gurdwara in Surrey, a suburb of Vancouver, in June last year, and a video of the incident surfaced in March this year, implying a contract killing, the report added. Canadian police released photos of the three suspects and the vehicle thought to have been used in the crime. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) nabbed the men with support from law enforcement agencies in British Columbia and Alberta, the news agency report stated. The leader of Canada's New Democratic Party, Jagmeet Singh, reiterated allegations of Indian involvement in Nijjar's killing after the arrests were made, but no evidence linking India to the crime has been shared by Canadian authorities. India has consistently denied any involvement in Hardeep Nijjar killing. "The Indian government hired assassins to murder a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil - at a place of worship. Today 3 arrests were made. Let me be clear - any Indian agent or state actor that ordered, planned or carried out this murder must be exposed and met with the full force of Canadian law. For Canada, democracy and free speech - there must be Justice for Hardeep Singh Nijjar," Jagmeet posted from his X handle. In 2023, the Canadian Prime Minister accused India of involvement in the death, which India categorically denied, calling it 'absurd and driven'. The Canadian police have also not provided any proof linking India to the killing. With ANI inputs
09 May,2024 12:49 AM IST | Canada | mid-day online correspondentWinners of the 2024 Indiana presidential primary will be President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, who are already expected to be the front-runners for their respective parties, NBC News has projected. On March 12, both Biden and Trump had acquired the requisite number of delegates to become their respective party's nominees, guaranteeing the outcome in Indiana. According to a tracker from Decision Desk HQ/The Hill, the victory may provide Trump, who is already the presumed GOP nominee, an additional 58 delegates in a state that he is expected to win this autumn. Even though Trump was the only contender remaining on the Indiana GOP ticket, he faced off against his former competitor and UN ambassador Nikki Haley, who has garnered significant support in many state primaries despite withdrawing. In the Democratic primary in Indiana, President Biden is predicted to win all 79 delegates; but, according to current head-to-head Hoosier State polls, Trump is ahead of Biden, The Hill reported. In Indiana, Biden's name was the only one that appeared on the ballot. However, for the Republicans, Trump's name was one of two on the primary ballot, with former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley still appearing on the state's ballot despite having dropped out of the race, according to NBC News. Trump defeated Biden handily in the state in 2016 and again by double digits in 2020 before losing his attempt for re-election. In addition, voters in Indiana cast their votes in a tight six-way GOP primary on Tuesday (local time) to succeed term-limited Republican Governor Eric Holcomb. The party mobilised behind Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) to unseat the first-term senator in the upper chamber after Senator Mike Braun (R-Ind.) was predicted to win that contest. Banks' House seat, in turn, is one of six that are in contention. The long-anticipated rematch of Trump and Biden is expected to mirror the 2020 campaign, though Trump will run this time under the spectre of 91 felony charges related to allegations that he plotted to overturn his 2020 election defeat, according to CNN. The charges included that he played a lead role in the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the US Capitol; illegally took classified documents from the White House; and covered up hush money payments to an adult film star ahead of the 2016 election. However, Trump has now achieved a record of accomplishments and missteps for voters to weigh. Moreover, Biden is so far running a similar campaign to 2020, appealing to concerns over Trump's authoritarian behaviour and a middling economy. Biden's main opposition has come more from general intraparty anxiety over his age and from progressives' outrage over the administration's support for Israel in its war against Hamas in Gaza. 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 May,2024 12:42 AM IST | Washington | ANIThe United States has expressed worry about the closure of crucial crossings in Gaza due to the ongoing Israeli offensive. The closure of Kerem Shalom and Rafah crossings has disrupted the delivery of humanitarian aid, which is vital for the people of Gaza. In a briefing by the US State Department, spokesperson Matthew Miller highlighted the setback caused by the closures. He stressed the importance of swiftly reopening these crossings to ensure the continuous flow of humanitarian assistance. Miller explained that while Israel has committed to reopening Kerem Shalom soon, the situation depends on future developments, reported ANI. Miller clarified that Kerem Shalom was closed not solely due to Israeli actions but also because it was bombed by Hamas. He emphasised the urgency of reopening both Kerem Shalom and Rafah crossings, as they are critical entry points for humanitarian aid and essential supplies like fuel for water desalination and food distribution. Matthew Miller, per the ANI report, said, "Certainly, the closing of Kerem Shalom and the closing of Rafah set back the delivery of humanitarian assistance. Now, to some extent, the full answer to that question depends on what happens next and whether they're quickly reopened. And Israel has committed to reopening Kerem Shalom tomorrow - we're working to make sure that that actually happens - so humanitarian assistance can continue to come through." "Kerem Shalom didn't close just because of an action by Israel; it closed because it was bombed by Hamas," Miller added stressing on the urgency of reopening the Kerem Shalom and Rafah crossings. "We want to see it reopened as soon as possible. They've said they'll do it tomorrow. Same thing with Rafah. They said that Rafah will reopen for the delivery of fuel, which is incredibly important for the desalinization of water, it's incredibly important to fueling the trucks that deliver humanitarian assistance once it's inside Gaza, and it's incredibly important for running bakeries that deliver bread for the population there that needs it so much," Miller further said. According to the ANI report, the closures come amidst escalating tensions, with multiple airstrikes hitting Rafah and resulting in casualties. The Israeli Prime Minister's Office reiterated the continuation of military operations in Rafah to exert pressure on Hamas, while Hamas claimed responsibility for targeting Israeli forces near the border.
09 May,2024 12:41 AM IST | Washington | mid-day online correspondentPresident Joe Biden hosted Klaus Iohannis, the president of Romania, on Tuesday at the White House, with the two leaders celebrating their joint cooperation on issues including international security, the economy and continued support for Ukraine. The meeting in the Oval Office was meant to mark Romania's two decades as a NATO member, according to the White House. At the start of the meeting, Biden joked he advocated for NATO accession for Romania when he was a senator '180 years ago' and said the alliance was stronger for the country's inclusion. Biden noted that Romanian and American troops have fought and trained alongside one another and praised Romania for having 'stepped up' to assist Ukraine in fending Russia's invasion. 'The United States is committed to standing with you,' Biden told Iohannis. In turn, Iohannis thanked Biden for hosting him and called the transatlantic alliance 'a cornerstone of our democratic way of life.' He said he intended to make progress toward a visa waiver for Romanian travellers to the US but that the most important topic was 'to find a way to reinstall peace' in Europe and to ensure that Russian President Vladimir Putin doesn't win. 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
08 May,2024 11:51 PM IST | Washington | APIsrael Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Tuesday at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem met with Israel Defence Forces (IDF) widows and orphans, who have lost the father of a family, the Swords of Iron War against Hamas terrorists in Gaza. The Prime Minister heard from the widows and orphans about their fathers and husbands - dedicated and loving family men - who have fallen. He also listened to the stories of their heroism during the events of October 7 and in the fighting in the Gaza Strip. Prime Minister Netanyahu embraced the family members and shared in their pain, and said that their loved ones fell in defence of the homeland. He added that the testament of the fallen is to complete the mission until total victory over Hamas, an objective that Israel will not shrink from. "There are stories of great heroism here," said Netanyahu. "It is not just thousands of people; it is the State of Israel that owes them its existence. This is neither a phrase nor mere words. IDF Widows and Orphans Organization CEO Shlomi Nahumson said, "When you go around the streets of Jerusalem, the south, in Tel Aviv, you look left and right and you see the people, who are alive today, and they are going to work, and they are going to school and to kindergarten, and they are maintaining their daily routine, thanks to your fathers." 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
08 May,2024 03:00 PM IST | Tel Aviv | ANIThe official start of the trial against former US President Donald Trump in the affair surrounding the retention of secret government documents has been postponed indefinitely. The previously planned start of the trial on May 20 has been cancelled, the judge in charge, Aileen Cannon, announced in a letter on Tuesday. She said unresolved legal issues were behind the postponement. It is therefore unlikely that the trial will begin before the US presidential election in November. The decision is a success for the Republican candidate, as he is trying to delay the start of a possible trial as much as possible. The 77-year-old hopes to move back into the White House after the presidential election. Trump is currently also on trial in a court in New York in connection with hush money payments to a porn actress. But this trial is not Trump's only legal problem. Trump was hit with federal charges in the document affair last year. He is accused of unlawfully retaining highly-sensitive information from his time as president between 2017 and 2021. In August 2022, the FBI raided Trump's mansion in Florida and seized several sets of documents classified as top secret. Trump is also accused of conspiring to obstruct the investigation. He is alleged to have tried to use associates to make footage from surveillance cameras disappear and to have boxes of documents taken away. Trump pleaded not guilty when the charges were presented in Miami last year. His lawyers are still trying to avert the trial, invoking Trump's immunity as president. They argue that keeping the documents as personal records was an official act of the president. 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
08 May,2024 02:23 PM IST | Washington | IANSPresident Joe Biden condemned the "ferocious surge of antisemitism in America and around the world" during a Tuesday ceremony to remember victims of the Holocaust at a time when the Hamas attack on Israel and controversy over the war in Gaza have sparked new waves of violence and hateful rhetoric toward Jews. "We're at risk of people not knowing the truth," Biden said of the horrors of the Holocaust, when 6 million Jews were systematically killed by Nazi Germany and its collaborators. "This hatred continues to lie deep in the hearts of too many people in the world." Biden's remarks at the Capitol played out out as pro-Palestinian protests " some of which have involved antisemitic chants and threats toward Jewish students and supporters of Israel " rock college campuses across the country. Biden has struggled to balance his support for Israel after the October 7 Hamas attack " the deadliest day for Jews worldwide since the Holocaust " with his efforts to constrain its war on the militant group in Gaza. "This hatred continues to lie deep in the hearts of too many people in the world," Biden said of antisemitism, saying that on October 7, Hamas "brought to life" that hatred with the killing of more than 1,200 Israelis, mostly civilians. "Not 75 years later, but just seven and a half months later, and people are already forgetting, they're already forgetting, that Hamas unleashed this terror that it was Hamas that brutalised Israelis, that it was Hamas that took and continues to hold hostages," Biden said. "I have not forgotten, nor have you. And we will not forget." Biden, whose relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has grown strained over his government's push to invade the southern Gaza city of Rafah, said American support for Israel is "iron clad...even when we disagree." Biden steered clear of the upcoming presidential election in his speech. But his address comes as former President Donald Trump has criticized the incumbent for not doing more to combat antisemitism " while ignoring his own long history of rhetoric that invokes the language of Nazi Germany and plays on stereotypes of Jews in politics. The Capitol event, hosted by the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, also featured remarks from House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries. The campus protests have posed a political challenge for Biden, whose coalition has historically relied on younger voters, many of whom are critical of his public support for Israel. Biden said "There's no place on any campus in America" or any place in America for antisemitism or threats of violence. He added, "We're not a lawless country " we are a civil society" In conjunction with Biden's speech, his administration was announcing new steps to combat antisemitism on colleges campuses and beyond. The Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights was sending every school district and college in the nation a letter outlining examples of antisemitism and other hate that could lead to federal civil rights investigations. The Department of Homeland Security was moving to educate schools and community groups about resources and funding available to promote campus safety and address threats. And the State Department's special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism was meeting with technology companies on how to combat the rise in hateful conflict online. On Monday, Doug Emhoff, the husband of Vice President Kamala Harris and the first Jewish spouse of a nationally elected American leader, met with Jewish college students at the White House about the administration's efforts to combat antisemitism. He heard students describe their own experiences with hatred, including threats of violence and hate speech, his office said. Trump's campaign on Monday released a video on Yom Hashoah, Israel's Holocaust remembrance day, that aimed to contrast the 2024 presidential candidates' responses on antisemitism. The video shows images of Trump visiting Israel and speeches he has given pledging to stand with Jewish people and confront antisemitism, while showing footage of the protests on campuses and clips of Biden responding to protesters upset with his administration's support for Israel in its war against Hamas. One of the clips shows Biden saying, "They have a point," but does not include the next sentence in which Biden said, "We need to get a lot more care into Gaza." Biden campaign spokesman James Singer said in response that "President Biden stands against antisemitism and is committed to the safety of the Jewish community, and security of Israel " Donald Trump does not." 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
08 May,2024 02:22 PM IST | Washington | APA top Pakistan Army general on Tuesday said that any dialogue with jailed former prime minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party could happen only if it "earnestly apologises" in front of the nation, promises to adopt "constructive" politics and forgoes "politics of anarchy". Maj-Gen Ahmed Sharif, the Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) - the media wing of the Pakistan military - made the remarks in a press conference in Rawalpindi just two days before the first anniversary of May 9 violence. On May 9 last year, violent protests erupted after the arrest of Khan by paramilitary Rangers from the premises of the Islamabad High Court. His party workers vandalised a dozen military installations, including the Jinnah House (Lahore Corps Commander house), Mianwali airbase and the ISI building in Faisalabad. The Army headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi was also attacked by the mob for the first time. Maj Gen Sharif rejected the rumours about talks with Khan's party, saying that no talks would be held with a group that "attacks the army and malign it". Any dialogue with Khan's party could happen only if it "earnestly apologises in front of the nation, promises to adopt constructive politics and forgoes politics of anarchy," the army spokesman said. When asked about May 9, he said: "Firstly, May 9 is not just the Pakistan Army's case but the entire country's. "If, in any country, an attack is launched on its army, symbols of its martyrs are insulted, its founder's house is set on fire, hatred is created between its army and public, and if the people behind it are not brought to justice, then there is a question mark on that country's justice system. "We believe that if we have to maintain trust in the justice system of Pakistan, then May 9 perpetrators " both the perpetrators and those commanding them " must be sentenced according to the Constitution and the law." Hours later, Khan's party hit back at the army spokesman, saying he showed "a mind full of contradictions because at the end of it all I could not understand anything". "We challenge them on all the things he said to bring evidence for it before the nation and the easiest way for that " is to institute an independent transparent judicial inquiry," PTI spokesperson Raoof Hasan told the media in Islamabad. Hasan said that the army spokesman wanted a commission to start the probe from 2014 sit-in by the PTI but it should also be tasked to the cipher case, the PTI government's ouster, the attempted assassination on Imran Khan, audio leaks and the alleged rigging in the February 8 elections. The PTI spokesman said that he could not understand "why there is such frustration and what are the factors that propel them again and again to give such statements, which have no rationale or logic?" Hasan claimed that multiple attempts were made to target PTI and the passage of time, there was an increase in the "intensity and venom" against the party. 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
08 May,2024 12:59 PM IST | Islamabad | PTIADVERTISEMENT
