(NEWS, COMMENT AND ANALYSIS WITH MAINSTREAM MEDIA SOURCES)
YELLOW VESTS GATHER TO PROTEST IN PARIS SATURDAY JUNE 6, 2024
A fierce week of campaigning ahead of tomorrow's second round in the election for 577 seats in France's National Assembly.
The National Rally message focused on Emmanuel Macron his policies and what Marine Le Pen described as Macron's "coup" to make government appointments ahead of the final round of voting.
The RN also focused its attack on the 'chaos' of the Left.
Meanwhile the New Popular Front focused on demonization of the "Far-Right" and what rule by the RN would mean for France.
President Emmanuel Macron's moderate ENSEMBLE faction pulling many candidates out of three-way races to prevent RN victories.
But Mr. Macron insisting he was not willing to work with a coalition that included the "Far-Left" of the New Popular Front the La France Insoumise party led by Jean-Luc Melenchon.
However the broader coalition of New Popular Front members outside LFI and those close to Melenchon may potentially give Mr. Macron a majority in conjunction with ENSEMBLE coalition and seats of Les Republicans the traditional "Mainstream Right".
In northern France Leftist National Assembly incumbent Francois Ruffin suggested as a possible presidential candidate in 2027 saying he would not sit with Melenchon and LFI if he wins re-election.
As the week wore on projections published by pollsters suggesting the RN would fall short of an absolute majority creating doubts about whether a firm governing alliance would be found once the results are known tomorrow night.
A talking point at the end of the week attacks verbal and violent on political candidates and their supporters during the campaign.
30,000 members of law enforcement to be deployed to deal with any reaction from the public to tomorrow night's election results.
This week President Emmanuel Macron's office released a statement urging Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to prevent any 'conflagration' with Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The statement saying any conflict with Hezbollah 'would harm the interests of Lebanon as well as Israel"...AFP FRANCE-TIMES OF ISRAEL
LAWYERS FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP ASKING A FEDERAL JUDGE IN THE 'CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS' CASE TO PARTIALLY PAUSE HIS PROSECUTION.
THEY CITE THE US SUPREME COURT RULING SUPPORTING PRESIDENTIAL IMMUNITY FOR OFFICIAL ACTS...REUTERS-RADIO NEW ZEALAND
A HURRICANE WATCH IN EFFECT FOR TEXAS FROM THE RIO GRANDE TO SARGENT JUST SOUTHWEST OF HOUSTON.
TROPICAL STORM BERYL WEAKENED FROM A HURRICANE AFTER IT STRUCK MEXICO'S YUCUTAN PENINSULA NOW THE STORM MOVING OVER THE WATER AGAIN...NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER LATEST ADVISORY
"a bad episode"
Joe Biden speaking of being exhausted from a cold an jet lag going into his debate last week with Donald Trump.
TWO ISRAELI SOLDIERS SUFFERING SLIGHT WOUNDS WHEN HEZBOLLAH LAUNCHED A ROCKET ATTACK ON THE NORTHERN ISRAELI CITY OF KIRYAT SHMONA...OSINTdefender "X"
A Chinese vessel suspected of illegal undersea dredging last year has been detained by Malaysian authorities.
The "Chuan Hong" being held along with its crew for paperwork violations along with possessing unregistered containers.
Last year the vessel involved in dredging the wreckage of two British warships sunk in December 1941 off the coast of Malaysia...USNI News
US POLITICS THE FORBES/HARRIS X POLL GIVING DONALD TRUMP THE LEAD OVER JOE BIDEN.
ITS 52 TO 48 PERCENT IN A TWO-WAY RACE, 42 TO 37 PERCENT IN A MULTICANDIDATE FIELD WITH ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR. AT 16 PERCENT...REAL CLEAR POLLING LATEST POLLS
The Pentagon 'indefinitely postponing' a planned military exercise in the nation of Georgia.
The government of the nation neighboring Russia recently passed a 'foreign agents' bill aimed at curbing foreign attempts to influence its politics.
The US calling the legislation a "Russian law" and sanctioning some Georgian government officials...Radio Free Europe-Radio Liberty
THE ONLINE INFLUENCER ANDREW TATE AND HIS BROTHER TRISTIAN GIVEN MORE FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT BY A ROMANIAN COURT.
THEY ARE ALLOWED TO LEAVE ROMANIA BUT NOT THE EUROPEAN UNION.
THE TATE'S UNDER A CLOUD OF SUSPICION WITH ACCUSATIONS OF SEXUALLY EXPLOITING AND ABUSING WOMEN...BBC NEWS
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office says that the ceasefire talks with Hamas will resume next week...Voice of America-Eurasia Review...
Israel's spy chief David Barnea returning home after talks with mediators in Qatar.
Israel seeking a deal with Hamas on a ceasefire and release of hostages...Times of Israel...
Israeli opposition politician Benny Gantz, whose National Unity Party leads most opinion polls, saying to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this is 'not the time for ego games'.
Gantz urging Netanyahu to do all in his power to obtain freedom for the hostages in Gaza because they 'are running out of time'...Israel National News
IN FRANCE THE ATTACKS ON POLITICAL CANDIDATES AND THEIR SUPPORTERS STRESSED IN MAINSTREAM MEDIA.
THIS COMING 48 HOURS BEFORE THE FINAL ROUND OF VOTING IN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ELECTION.
INTERIOR MINISTER GERALD DARMANIN SPEAKING OF BOTH PHYSICAL AND VERBAL ATTACKS.
HE SAYS THAT PEOPLE FROM LEFT, RIGHT AND CENTER HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OF THE ATTACKS.
At 640 pm New York Time the price of oil lower at 83 dollars 44 cents a barrel down 44 cents today...MARKETWATCH
In the US the unemployment rate edged up to 4.1 percent in June. Mainstream Media reports stressing the number of jobs created more than 200,000 last month...Reuters
AT THE VATICAN A CRITIC OF POPE FRANCIS BOOTED.
ITALIAN ARCHBISHOP CARLO MARIA VIGANO KICKED OUT OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC.
THE FORMER VATICAN AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED STATES SAID THAT THE POPE KNEW ABOUT SEXUAL ABUSE INVOLVING US CARDINAL THEODORE MCCARRICK.
Rishi Sunak says he will resign as Conservative Party leader once the mechanism for his replacement is established.
Reform UK winning four seats in England and in Northern Ireland the Traditional Unionist Voice aligned with Reform winning a seat in Northern Ireland where Jim Allister defeated Ian Paisley Jr. of the Democratic Unionist Party to win the seat.
14.3 percent of the popular vote for Reform more than 4 million votes.
(610 AM EASTERN US TIME, 1110 AM UK TIME)
Only two more seats to be counted in the British Election at this point 412 seats for the Labour Party and 121 for the Conservatives, The Liberal Democrats with 71 seats.
SHUTTING DOWN WITH RESUMPTION LATER ON FRIDAY MORNING EASTERN US TIME.
Nearly half of the 650 seats in the House of Commons now declared. Labor with 231 of the 317 seats already decided.
(11 PM EASTERN US TIME, 4 AM UK TIME)
In the Boston and Skegness seat Richard Tice winning the contest for Reform UK, Reform's fourth seat won tonight.
An Independent candidate running in an area with a large Muslim population taking a seat away from the Labour Party tonight.
The Leicester South seat won by Independent Shockat Adam who defeated a Labor Party Shadow Cabinet Minister Jonathan Ashworth.
Adam getting 35 percent of the vote to Ashworth's 33 percent.
This result a rebuke of new Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's policies regarding Israel seen as too hostile to Palestinians.
A second anti-Starmer Independent elected tonight in a Labour Party area.
Reform UK winning the Great Yarmouth seat in the House of Commons the third seat won so far by Reform tonight.
We are being told tonight that the turnout for this election was 57 percent it's said to be the lowest turnout on record.
VIDEO OF NIGEL FARAGE SPEAKING FOLLOWING HIS ELECTION IN CLACTON
"Reform is coming for Labour"
That's some of what Nigel Farage said after his victory was announced in Clacton tonight Mr. Farage pointing to "something big" happening with Reform's breakthrough in this election.
Results still to be announced for some 480 of the 650 House of Commons seats.
(1030 PM EASTERN US TIME, 330 AM UK TIME)
Nigel Farage announced as the winner of the Clacton seat in the House of Commons.
The former Labor Party leader Jeremy Corbyn kicked out over his leftist views that were said to be Anti-Semitic elected as an Independent for the Islington North seat in the House of Commons.
"The change begins right here because this is your democracy, your community, your future"
Some of the words tonight from the next Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. Starmer speaking after the results for this seat were announced.
Conservative Defense Secretary Grant Shapps losing his seat to Labour tonight.
(1010 PM EASTERN US TIME, 310 AM UK TIME)
At this moment many seats being declared but hundreds more still outstanding over 540 in fact.
The Conservatives now have more popular votes than Reform the Tories around 20 percent Reform at 18 percent.
Workers Party Leftist George Galloway a strong Anti-Israel voice elected in a special election earlier this year losing his seat in Rochdale to the Labour Party.
(935 PM EASTERN US TIME, 235 AM UK TIME)
The BBC expecting Nigel Farage to win the seat he's contesting in Clacton where the vote count is expected to be announced within the hour.
Former Conservative MP Lee Anderson who switched to Reform UK in March has won his seat in Ashfield.
The first result declared for Reform UK tonight.
(9 PM EASTERN US TIME, 2 AM UK TIME)
As the media outlets in the UK report tonight's results one item many of them are disguising is the massive popular vote loss for the Conservative Party in relation to Reform.
Reform UK according to figures shown by Channel 4 moments ago 21.3 percent of the popular vote in second place behind Labour while the Conservatives are at 19.1 percent.
Most polls trotted out in recent days gave the Tories an edge over Reform in popular vote.
The vote count will be long likely going until dawn until we get accurate information about who actually won seats in the House of Commons.
(830 PM EASTERN US TIME, 130 AM UK TIME)
The BBC noting in its reporting that Reform has finished second in contests involving Labour Party seats in areas where Brexit was approved by voters in the 2016 referendum.
In a social media video posted minutes ago Nigel Farage very optimistic noting Reform's second place finish in safe Labor Party seats in northern England with around 30 percent of the popular vote.
(725 PM EASTERN US TIME, 1225 AM UK TIME)
A long night of actually counting the votes is underway right now Northern Ireland's 19 seats counted tomorrow morning.
A brutal night for the Scottish National Party according to the projection the SNP losing 38 seats down to only 10.
NIGEL FARAGE IS WINNING A SEAT IN PARLIAMENT IN CLACTON ACCORDING TO TONIGHT'S PROJECTION.
(620 PM EASTERN US TIME, 1120 PM UK TIME)
The early projection tonight a big Labour Party win 410 seats to the Conservatives 131.
The Liberal Democrats projected at 61 seats with Reform at 13 seats, the Scottish National Party 10, Plaid Cymru in Wales with 4 seats and the Greens winning 2 seats.
Was this surprise and sudden election call by Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak designed in anticipation of future events?
Perhaps economic ones?
More likely military ones in Ukraine, Taiwan and or the Middle East?
Or in the end anticipation of a Donald Trump victory in November in the US based on insider information about Biden's mental state and the pressure being applied on his presidency by outside-foreign forces?
Mr. Sunak had the option of delaying his election call until December, but a later election may have been too late as the Trump momentum towards a November victory built up the forces sympathetic to Trump in British politics like Nigel Farage and his Reform UK may have become an even more potent threat.
Farage kept low in the first weeks of the campaign then thrust himself into leadership of Reform UK running for the House of Commons seat in Clacton.
A barrage of polls downplaying the level of support for Reform UK evident both before and after Farage's entry.
The accusation of racism against Reform rolled out when Channel 4 used a man self-identifying as a part-time actor.
That man saying he was campaigning for Reform using racist rhetoric about those of Indian heritage like Prime Minister Sunak.
And then the apparent mole likely from the Conservative Party announcing their departure as a Reform candidate expressing outrage over racism.
Back in 2015 Nigel Farage was denied the ability to win as the UKIP candidate for Parliament in South Thanet as the Conservatives flooded the vote count with 'postal ballots'.
In recent weeks accusations that Royal Mail was deliberately slowing down delivery of those mail-in ballots a Conservative campaign perhaps to build up this method they have used in the past to take out third-party threats like the one now posed by Reform UK.
One thing that can be said about the expected winner of tonight's election Sir Keir Starmer and his Labour Party is that they are certainly a "Never Trump" government in waiting.
On the outside the Starmer Labourites portraying themselves as rather bland and moderate making a public spectacle of ousting Leftist Anti-Israel notables like former leader Jeremy Corbyn.
Corbyn may win election as an Independent along with some others running in high Muslim population seats where opposition to Pro-Israel Labour policy is abundant.
Some observers like journalist Peter Hitchens warn that underneath his rather bland persona Keir Starmer is a Radical Extremist Leftist Communist.
Hitchens and others argue Starmer will use his expected large majority to hammer through extreme policies that will further harm an already harmed Britain.
"I've warned before about Sir Keir's dogmatic past, which he neither conceals nor disowns.
He belonged, in his adult life, by clear choice, to bodies of the very hard Left.
He is fervent, both about the Green ideology, which will condemn us to darkness and poverty, and about the radical sexual politics which make him so hard to pin down on the transgender issue."
In Coeur d'Alene Idaho people with crosses parading today following a controversy when the local Chamber of Commerce banned crosses and religious symbols at the 4th of July parade.
IN THE NETHERLANDS THE FARMERS AND CITIZENS PARTY NOW CONTROLS THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE BUT THE PRESSURE IS ON TO CONTINUE RESTRICTIVE MANURE POLICIES IMPOSED BY THE EUROPEAN UNION.
MANY IN PARLIAMENT EVEN IN PARTIES ALIGNED WITH THE GOVERNMENT WANT A MANURE POLICY IN PLACE THAT INVOLVES REDUCING THE CATTLE POPULATION OF THE COUNTRY.
In his Independence Day message to Joe Biden Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan speaking of creating a "strategic partnership" with the United States.
Mr. Pashinyan will be in the US next week to participate in the 75th anniversary NATO summit.
Armenia has been traditionally aligned with Russia in security matters through the Central States Treaty Organization (CSTO)...Tass Russia
IN NORWAY A COURT SENTENCING AN IRANIAN-BORN NORWEGIAN MAN TO 30 YEARS IN PRISON FOR A DEADLY ATTACK ON GAY PRIDE CELEBRATIONS.
TWO KILLED AND NINE WOUNDED IN THE JUNE 25TH, 2022 SHOOTINGS AT THREE LOCATIONS IN THE CENTER OF OSLO...AL JAZEERA QATAR
Communists in Nepal switching sides to the opposition. They joined with the opposition Nepali Congress in a new coalition seeking to govern Nepal for the next three years...Morning Star UK
JOINT NAVAL MANUEVERS INVOLVING CHINESE AND RUSSIAN WARSHIPS OFF THE COAST OF SOUTH KOREA.
THREE CHINESE SHIPS AND ONE RUSSIAN VESSEL WILL PERFORM ANTI-SUBMARINE AND AIR DEFENSE DRILLS. THEY WILL ALSO PRACTICE SEA RESCUES...TASS RUSSIA
In the French election campaign leftist politician Francois Ruffin breaking with La France Inoumise and its leader Jean-Luc Melenchon.
Ruffin seeking to win a National Assembly seat in northern France saying he will not sit with LFI if he is elected.
The National Rally is warning that Emmanuel Macron wants to prevent them from getting a majority of seats by building a coalition that includes the Leftist Melenchon.
The final round of voting this Sunday...(Info from BFM-TV France)
China removing several Japanese ships from disputed waters in the South China Sea.
A China Coast Guard spokesman urging Japan to 'immediately stop all illegal activities in these waters"...ANADOLU AGENCY TURKEY (TURKIYE)
That message from media personality Tucker Carlson indicating he has an interview with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky...Tucker Carlson "X"
(Updated) LATE LAST NIGHT A BOIL WATER ADVISORY FOR WASHINGTON DC AND NEARBY AREAS INCLUDING ARLINGTON COUNTY, THE PENTAGON AND REAGAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
AN INCIDENT INVOLVING DROP IN WATER FLOW FROM THE WASHINGTON AQUEDUCT CREATING CONCERN OVER EFFECTIVE DISINFECTION OF THE WATER SUPPLY.
THE BOIL WATER ADVISORY BEING CALLED A 'PRECAUTION' (UPDATE) THE BOIL WATER ORDER WAS LIFTED THIS MORNING (WUSA)...WUSA 9 WASHINGTON DC
US POLITICS DONALD TRUMP RAISED 331 MILLION DOLLARS IN THE SECOND QUARTER WITH JOE BIDEN RAISING 264 MILLION DOLLARS.
THAT'S A 67 MILLION DOLLAR ADVANTAGE FOR TRUMP.
FIGURES PROVIDED TO THE FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION SHOWING TRUMP WITH 284.9 MILLION DOLLARS ON HAND AND BIDEN TRAILING WITH 240 MILLION...ASSOCIATED PRESS-DONG-A-ILBO SOUTH KOREA
Greece changing its labor laws to allow a six-day 48-hour work week.
The expanded work week will apply to some industries in the name of increasing productivity.
Businesses that operate 24-hours a day will be able to use the expanded work hours.
The overtime is supposed to be voluntary for workers with any taking the overtime getting 40 percent more pay (double pay) for the extra eight hours...BBC News
Mainline Protestant churches in the United States holding annual conferences with a new leader appointed for the Episcopal Church.
Dr. Sean Rowe speaking of uncertainty in the coming years the church committing itself to full inclusion of LGBTI+ persons as children of God.
Rowe will be installed in a scaled down event in November designed to reduce its carbon footprint.
It took three times for the Episcopal Church in the US to pass a resolution regarding the conflict between Israel and Hamas currently underway.
The third version condemning the October 7th attack on Israel and the Israeli government's 'acts and laws that result in the fragmentation, segregation and dispossession against the Palestinian people and the Occupied Territories"...Church Times...
The Presbyterian Church USA taking a stand against Christian Zionism that supports Israel and investment in Israel.
At its biennial convention this week the PCUSA approving those resolutions rejecting any comparison of "Biblical Israel" to modern Israel and also calling for divestment from Israel Bonds as well as General Electric and Palantir Technolgies for their involvement in Israeli 'occupation'...Israel National News
THE US CENTRAL COMMAND REPORTING TWO HOUTHI RADAR SITES DESTROYED IN YEMEN. TWO DRONE BOATS ALSO DESTROYED IN THE RED SEA...US CENTRAL COMMAND "X"
A senior Hezbollah commander killed in an Israeli strike.
Hezbollah launching more than 100 rockets into Israel in retaliation...BBC News
SECURITY AT SOME US MILITARY BASES IN EUROPE ADJUSTED AFTER THE RAISED LEVEL OF ALERT IN RECENT DAYS.
WHILE BASES IN GERMANY HAVE DECIDED TO REDUCE THE ALERT LEVEL TO WHERE IT WAS BEFORE, BASES IN ITALY REMAIN ON THAT HEIGHTENED ALERT STATUS.
EVENTS IN THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN INVOLVING ISRAEL AND LEBANON CITED...OSINTdefender "X"
The Commandant of the United States Marine Corps General Eric Smith says the Marines aim to shut down the sea lanes coming out of China in any conflict.
Smith says this will be accomplished by dispersal of forces from the islands south of Japan to Australia.
He also says the efforts of Marines will be in conjunction with other branches of the US military.
Those forces will use rocket systems to prevent China from using the seas beyond its territory...USNI News...
(Comment) This points to the US need to prevent China from using the sea lanes to sustain its economy through trade with other nations.
The US wants to build a force in the "Indo-Pacific" that will have the sea lane cutoff capability to counter any Chinese notion of using force to unify economically powerful Taiwan with the mainland.
Two injured, one missing in an explosion at a munitions factory in Camden, Arkansas.
Explosives were involved in the blast.
A local official told the "Arkansas Democrat-Gazette" earlier today shortly after the explosion that first responders were not being allowed onto the facility.
The British Election tomorrow a poll done for GB News by "People Polling" showing Reform UK at 20 percent to the Conservatives 16 percent with the Labor Party leading at 36 percent.
Expectations are of a major Labor victory tomorrow with an overwhelming majority in the House of Commons.
The scene this evening in Clacton where Reform leader Nigel Farage made his final speech of the campaign.
Farage brought into the crowd in an armored vehicle from which he spoke...
NIGEL FARAGE APPEARS AND SPEAKS 6:15 INTO THE VIDEO
(UPDATED) IN THE CARRIBEAN SEA HURRICANE BERYL PASSING CLOSE TO THE SOUTH COAST OF JAMAICA.
Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan and associates acquitted in a case relating to protests in 2022 against the country's electoral commission.
The jailed Mr. Khan and key associates still face numerous other charges brought against them...ANI News India
IN CENTRAL ASIA CHINESE PRESIDENT XI JINPING MEETING RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN.
THEIR MEETING ON THE SIDELINES OF THE CHINESE-LED SHANGHAI COOPERATION ORGANIZATION SUMMIT IN KAZAKHSTAN...TASS RUSSIA
US politics Democrat governors meeting Joe Biden at the White House.
Concerns being expressed by them about Mr. Biden's debate performance last week and whether he is up to the job of running for re-election...(News Agencies)...
But the governors said after they meeting they remain supportive of Mr. Biden.
US political polling new polls from CBS News, Yahoo News and Economist/You Gov all giving Donald Trump the lead over Joe Biden in various scenarios by anywhere from two to four percentage points...REAL CLEAR POLLING
CANADIAN POLITICS PRESSURE ON PRIME MINISTER JUSTIN TRUDEAU FOLLOWING THE BY-ELECTION LOSS IN TORONTO MORE THAN A WEEK AGO.
EIGHT LIBERAL MP'S CALLING FOR AN URGENT CAUCUS MEETING TO DISCUSS THE LOSS OF A 'SAFE SEAT' TO THE OPPOSITION CONCERVATIVES.
ONE CURRENT MP AND A FORMER CABINET MINISTER HAVE CALLED ON MR. TRUDEAU TO STEP DOWN...(CBC RADIO ONE NEWS 1 PM TODAY EASTERN)
The markets today.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average down 23.85 points.
The NASDAQ up 159.54 points or .88 percent.
At 453 pm New York Time the price of oil 83 dollars 63 cents up 82 cents or .99 percent for today...MARKETWATCH
IN JAPAN A FORCED STERILIZATION LAW RULED UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
THE RULING BY JAPAN'S TOP COURT INVOLVES A LAW UNDER WHICH THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WERE FORCIBLY STERILIZED BETWEEN 1948 AND 1996.
THE COURT RULING ALSO CLEARS THE WAY FOR VICTIMS TO MAKE COMPENSATION CLAIMS AGAINST THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT...AFP FRANCE-STRAITS TIMES SINGAPORE
A Taiwanese fishing vessel seized by Chinese authorities in the area of the Kinmen Islands just off the coast of China.
The fishing vessel operating during what is considered a no-fishing period...REUTERS-INDIA TODAY
THE US FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION APPROVING A NEW DRUG TO TREAT ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.
'KISULNA', PRODUCED BY ELI LILY, DETERMINED TO MODESTLY SLOW THE PROGRESS OF ALZHEIMER'S.
IT CAN BE USED IN THE EARLY STAGES OF THE DISEASE TO DELAY THE DISEASE ABOUT SEVEN MONTHS.
THE BENEFIT OF THE DRUG WILL HAVE TO WEIGHED AGAINST OTHER FACTORS INCLUDING THE NEED FOR REGULAR IV INFUSIONS AND POTENTIAL SIDE EFFECTS LIKE BRAIN SWELLING...CBC NEWS CANADA
NEW ZEALAND PRIME MINISTER TO ATTEND NATO SUMMIT NEXT WEEK
(NEWS, COMMENT, ANALYSIS)
New Zealand not officially a member of NATO but Prime Minister Christopher Luxon going to Washington DC next week for the 75th Anniversary NATO Summit.
He'll be meeting with leaders from other nations not normally associated with NATO including Australia, Japan and South Korea.
It's a sign that NATO is moving towards becoming bigger and setting itself up to be an alliance against not just Russia, but China and North Korea...ONE NEWS NEW ZEALAND
THE AFRICAN NATION OF SIERRA LEONE IMPOSING A NEW LAW ESTABLISHING THE AGE OF MARRIAGE AS 18.
THERE ARE CRIMINAL PENALTIES INCLUDING AT LEAST 15 YEARS IN JAIL AND FINES EXCEEDING TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS.
THIS MOVE PUTS SIERRA LEONE IN LINE WITH LAWS PASSED ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD TO STANDARDIZE MARRIAGE AT THE AGE OF 18...NEWS AGENCIES-FRANCE 24
A dozen former government officials say the Biden Administration has 'undeniable complicity' in the killing of Palestinians in Gaza by Israel.
Their joint statement from the officials who quit over US Israel policy saying US laws are being violated with US support of Israel including ongoing shipments of weapons...REUTERS-JERUSALEM POST
JOE BIDEN TALKING ABOUT HIS TRIPS AROUND THE WORLD EARLIER IN JUNE TO EXPLAIN HIS DEBATE PERFORMANCE LAST WEEK....BBC NEWS
ALLEGATIONS LEVELED AT INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR.
SATELLITE IMAGERY PRESENTED BY THE CENTER FOR STRATEGIC AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES ALLEGING INCREASED DEVELOPMENT OF SPY FACILITIES AT FOUR CUBAN MILITARY BASES.
THE ESPIONAGE ACTIVITIES ARE SUSPECTED OF BEING LINKED TO CHINA.
CSIS IS A FOREIGN AND DEFENSE POLICY THINK-TANK BASED IN WASHINGTON DC...VOICE OF AMERICA-USA
The Philippines and China speaking of wanting to "de-escalate tensions" in the South China Sea.
Talks between Philippine and Chinese officials in Manila.
But the talk of de-escalation tempered by the qualifier of 'without prejudice to their respective positions".
There have tense incidents in the disputed territory of the South China Sea in recent weeks...BENAR NEWS MALAYSIA
MORE THAN 470 PEOPLE ARRESTED IN SOUTHERN TURKEY FOLLOWING RIOTS AIMED AT THE SYRIAN REFUGEE COMMUNITY.
(Updated) New York Judge Juan Merchan agreeing to delay sentencing of Donald Trump from July 11th to September 18th.
Earlier prosecutors in New York agreed that the judge in President Trump's "hush money" case should delay sentencing.
Defense lawyers for Mr. Trump arguing that the US Supreme Court decision regarding Presidential immunity raises questions about his conviction...(News Agencies)...Irish Independent
US POLITICS TEXAS DEMOCRAT CONGRESSMAN LLOYD DOGGETT CALLING ON JOE BIDEN TO DROP OUT OF THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.
DOGGETT CITING BOTH THE POLLING PERFORMANCE OF MR. BIDEN AS WELL AS HIS DEBATE PERFORMANCE LAST THURSDAY NIGHT...NEWSWEEK...
POLLS IN THE US PRESIDENTIAL CONTEST CNN'S LATEST POLL PUTS TRUMP AHEAD OF BIDEN 49-43 PERCENT. THAT BECOMES 41-35 IN A MULTICANDIDATE FIELD WITH ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR. AT 14 PERCENT.
TWO OTHER POLLS ONE FROM USA TODAY/SUFFOLK GIVING MR. TRUMP A LEAD AND ANOTHER FROM I&I/TIPP PUTTING BIDEN SLIGHTLY AHEAD...REAL CLEAR POLLING
In the British election two days before the vote Royal Mail shooting down claims that postal ballots are delayed especially in Scotland.
The Election Commission insisting that distribution of those mail-in ballots is moving forward with 'no large-scale issues'.
In previous elections the Conservative Party has been noted as a major user of postal ballots sometimes leading to legal charges.
That happened in 2015 when the Tories used postal ballots to defeat Nigel Farage in the South Thanet constituency. Farage, who now leads Reform UK, ran under the UKIP banner back then...BBC News
MORE THAN 100 PEOPLE KILLED IN A STAMPEDE AT A RELIGIOUS EVENT IN INDIA.
PEOPLE WERE LEAVING A TENT WHERE THOUSANDS HAD GATHERED IN THE NORTHERN CITY OF LUCKNOW WHEN THE CRUSH OCCURRED.
FRENCH POLITICS MARINE LE PEN SAYING THAT PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON IS PREPARING AN 'ADMINISTRATIVE COUP' IN ANTICIPATION OF THE NATIONAL RALLY WINNING A SHARE OF POWER.
APPOINTMENTS UNDER CONSIDERATION INCLUDE A NEW DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL POLICE ACCORDING TO LE PEN.
MEANWHILE 218 CANDIDATES PULLING OUT OF THE FINAL ROUND OF VOTING ON SUNDAY IN HOPES OF DENYING THE NATIONAL RALLY A MAJORITY IN THE ASSEMBLY...(NEWS AGENCIES)
The latest messaging from insider sources is that Israel is to launch an offensive operation in Lebanon the second half of July.
According to "Bild" in Germany Israel will attack unless Hezbollah stops firing on Israel...YNET News Israel
NORTH KOREA SAYS IT TEST FIRED A NEW TACTICAL BALLISTIC MISSILE EARLY YESTERDAY.
THE MISSILE SAID TO HAVE CONTAINED A LARGE WARHEAD.
SOUTH KOREAN OFFICIALS SAY THEY IDENTIFIED TWO MISSILE LAUNCHES EARLY MONDAY ONE OF WHICH MAY HAVE FAILED...YONHAP NEWS AGENCY SOUTH KOREA
REPUBLICAN US REPRESENTATIVE VICTORIA SPARTZ OF INDIANA CHARGED FOR CARRYING AN EMPTY HANDGUN IN HER SUITCASE.
THE INCIDENT HAPPENED LAST FRIDAY AT WASHINGTON'S DULLES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
SPARTZ GIVEN A CITATION BEFORE CONTINUING ON HER FLIGHT TO A MEETING IN EUROPE...NEW YORK POST
30 PEOPLE HURT WITH AN AIRLINER HIT BY 'STRONG TURBULENCE' OVER THE ATLANTIC OCEAN MAKING AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN BRAZIL.
THE AIR EUROPA BOEING 787-9 DREAMLINER FLYING FROM MADRID TO MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY CARRYING 325 PASSENGERS WHEN IT EXPERIENCED THE TURBULENCE...BBC-RADIO NEW ZEALAND
The state grand jury documents in the case of Jeffrey Epstein that led to a deal with federal prosecutors over his sex trafficking operation involving underage girls released.
The documents from the 2006 grand jury probe in Palm Beach County, Florida show a pattern of the teenage girls being depicted as prostitutes-law breakers by local prosecutors...PALM BEACH POST...JULIE K. BROWN "X"...(Additional posts by Julie K. Brown On "X")
THE ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE (ADL) SUING IRAN, SYRIA AND NORTH KOREA OVER THE BRUTAL HAMAS ATTACK ON ISRAEL LAST OCTOBER 7TH.
THOSE NATIONS ACCUSED OF PROVIDING MATERIAL SUPPORT TO HAMAS IN CONNECTION WITH ATROCITIES COMMITTED IN ISRAEL THAT DAY...YNET NEWS
AT LEAST NINE KILLED WHEN A CAR PLOUGHED INTO A CROWD IN SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA. FOUR OTHERS INJURED.
THE CAR WAS TRAVELING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION AND STRUCK TWO CARS BEFORE HITTING PEDESTRIANS...YONHAP NEWS AGENCY SOUTH KOREA
Former advisor to President Trump Steve Bannon reporting to a federal prison in Connecticut.
He's serving a four-month sentence for refusing to testify before the Democrat controlled committee that probed the events of January 6th...AFP FRANCE-DIGITAL JOURNAL
Israel ordering a mass evacuation of civilians in the eastern part of the Gaza city of Khan Younis.
Israeli forces were on the attack in the city earlier this year.
Israel currently concluding military action in the nearby city of Rafah...ITV UK
SPAIN'S SUPREME COURT REBUFFING AN ATTEMPT BY PRIME MINISTER PEDRO SANCHEZ'S GOVERNMENT TO OBTAIN AMNESTY FOR FORMER CATALAN LEADER CARLES PUIGDEMONT.
THE COURT SAYING PUIGDEMONT'S CHARGES OF EMBEZZLING PUBLIC FUNDS ARE NOT COVERED BY AN AMNESTY LAW APPROVED BY SPAIN'S PARLIAMENT.
AMNESTY FOR PUIGDEMONT AND OTHER CATALAN INDEPENDENCE ADVOCATES PART OF THE AGREEMENT ENABLING MR. SANCHEZ'S GOVERNMENT TO HAVE A MAJORITY IN PARLIAMENT...NOS NETHERLANDS (TRANSLATION PROMPT)
The US Supreme Court ruling 6-3 that President Donald Trump has partial immunity from prosecution.
The court deciding on Mr. Trump's challenge to his prosecution by the Biden Administration Justice Department in relation to January 6th and use of classified documents.
Chief Justice John Roberts writing an opinion that official acts are immune from prosecution while unofficial acts are not...
IN SOUTH AFRICA THE NEW COALITION GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED.
CABINET MINISTERS FROM VARIOUS PARTIES SHARING POWER WITH THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS...UPI
The markets today.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average up 50.66 points.
The NASDAQ rose 146.70 points or .83 percent.
At 445 pm New York Time the price of oil rising to 83 dollars 38 cents a barrel one dollar 85 cents or 2.27 percent higher...MARKETWATCH
IN THE BRITISH ELECTIONS INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES CHALLENGING THE WALL OF PRO-ISRAEL POLICY OFFERED BY THE MAJOR POLITICAL PARTIES.
THE INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES INCLUDING PROMINENT LEFT OF CENTER ACTIVISTS LIKE GEORGE GALLOWAY AND FORMER LABOR LEADER JEREMY CORBYN MAY TAKE SEATS AWAY FROM THE LABOR PARTY IN THURSDAY'S VOTE...AL JAZEERA QATAR (VIDEO EMBED)
In Canada an agreement between striking airline mechanics and WestJet. The strike impacted tens of thousands of travelers on a busy holiday weekend...CBC News
Kenyan President William Ruto saying his country will have to borrow more money. Ruto pulling back from legislation that would have raised taxes 2.7 billion US dollars...BBC News
THE US JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SEEKING A PLEA DEAL FROM AEROSPACE GIANT BOEING AS IT LEVELS FRAUD CHARGES OVER TWO FATAL PLANE CRASHES.
THE PLEA DEAL WOULD INCLUDE BOTH A FINANCIAL PENALTY AND INDEPENDENT OVERSIGHT OF THE COMPANY'S SAFETY AND COMPLIANCE PRACTICES FOR THREE YEARS.
A LAWYER REPRESENTING CRASH VICTIMS CALLS THE US JUSTICE DEPARTMENT'S PLANS A 'SWEETHEART DEAL'...BBC NEWS...ASIA ONE
THE ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR
(UPDATED WHEN ABLE)
RELEASED GAZA HOSPITAL DIRECTOR SPEAKS OF ISRAELI TORTURE
The governor of Russia's Belgorod Region says a seven-year-old girl was killed and seven others wounded in Ukrainian attacks in the last 24 hours...Tass Russia
Russian specialists looking into the guidance system of the American made ATACMS missiles used by Ukraine to attack Russia...RIA NOVOSTI RUSSIA (TRANSLATION PROMPT)
