Georgia condemns Ukraine for its protests over health of former president Saakashvili
Georgia's Foreign Ministry criticized Ukraine on Tuesday for urging the Georgian ambassador to return to Tbilisi for consultations over the poor health of imprisoned former president Mikheil Saakashvili, who is also a Ukrainian citizen. The Foreign Ministry called Ukraine's action “an extreme form of escalation.” Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry had summoned Georgian Ambassador George Zakarashvili to express its protest over the apparent significant deterioration in the health of Saakashvili, who was convicted of abuse of power while he was president in 2004-2013. “The decision of the Ukrainian authorities causes serious damage to the strategic relations between the two countries and represents a direct interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign state,” Georgia’s Foreign Ministry said in its statement. Saakashvili appeared severely emaciated Monday during a videolink testimony to a court considering a new abuse-of-power case against him. Saakashvili and his supporters claim that he has been poisoned while imprisoned and that he now weighs about 60 kilograms (132 pounds), half of what he weighed when he was arrested in October 2021. Speaking from a private clinic where he is being held, he told the court that despite his poor health, he is “spiritually fit and determined to serve the country,” according to local news site Agenda. Saakashvili, who became Georgia’s president after leading the Rose Revolution protests that drove the previous president out of office, left for Ukraine after the end of his second term. He was later convicted in absentia of abuse of power and sentenced to six years in prison. He was arrested in October 2021 after returning to Georgia to try to bolster opposition forces before nationwide municipal elections. He is now on trial on charges connected to the violent dispersal of an opposition rally in 2007. Saakashvili holds Ukrainian citizenship and was governor of that nation’s Odesa region in 2015-16. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday called on Georgia to send Saakashvili to Ukraine for medical treatment. Read More Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide
1970-01-01 08:00
Chechnya Milashina attack: Armed thugs beat up Russian journalist and lawyer
Yelena Milashina had received threats from Chechnya's leader before, but went to hear a court verdict.
1970-01-01 08:00
Five victims of deadly Philadelphia shooting identified
Five victims, including one teenager, who were killed during a mass shooting in Philadelphia have been identified by police. Four adult men and one child were killed during the shooting which took place in Kingsessing on Monday evening. The victims are Lashyd Merritt, 20, Dymir Stanton, 29, Ralph Moralis, 59, Joseph Wamah Jr, 31, and Daujan Brown, 15. Police said two children were also injured as a result of the shooting – a 13-year-old and a two-year-old. As of Monday evening, both children were in stable condition. The names of the two injured have not been released yet. The tragic shooting unfolded on Monday evening after a gunman, armed with an AR-15-style rifle, a handgun, multiple magazines and wearing a bulletproof vest opened fire in a neighbourhood. Police responded to reports of gunfire around 8.30pm local time and apprehended the suspected shooter after pursuing him on foot. The suspected shooter, an adult male, was taken into custody Monday night. Local authorities later took another suspect into custody but said they were unsure how the second suspect may be connected to the suspected gunman. In a press conference on Monday night, police commissioner Danielle Outlaw said authorities had “no idea” why the suspected gunman chose to open fire in the neighbourhood. Police were working to determine if the suspected shooter had any connection to the victims. Philadelphia mayor Jim Kenney expressed frustration over the tragic shooting on Tuesday saying the United States needs to “re-examine” how it approaches gun laws. “Where does a person like this get an AR-15,” Mr Kenney said to reporters before the city’s Fourth of July celebrations on Tuesday. “Where does a person like this get a semi-automatic handgun? Where does a person like this buy a Kevlar vest?” “This country needs to re-examine its conscious when it comes to Congress or the state legislature and figure out how we get these guns out of these people’s hands,” Mr Kenney added. President Joe Biden also issued a statement on the shooting saying he and First Lady Jill Bien are grieving for the victims and their families while asking Congress to enact stricter gun control l aws. Mr Biden said: “We pray for the day when our communities will be free from gun violence.” Read More Philadelphia mass shooting – live: Five victims identified as 40-year-old Kingsessing gunman’s motive unclear Biden renews call for assault weapons ban after ‘tragic and senseless’ spate of July 4 shootings Five adults dead and two children wounded: What we know about mass shooting in Philadelphia
1970-01-01 08:00
White powder found at White House identified as cocaine - Washington Post
WASHINGTON A white powder found inside the White House late on Sunday, which led to the temporary closure
1970-01-01 08:00
Trump news – live: Truth Social SPAC agrees to SEC settlement as Trump’s past comments on indictment resurface
Most presidents, current and former, typically spend America’s Independence Day celebrating the values of US society that bring its citizens together, joining in the festive and unifying themes of the national holiday. And then there’s Donald Trump. The twice-impeached, twice-indicted former president spent his 4 July morning fuming at his enemies from behind a keyboard, re-”Truth”-ing a vulgar message aimed at President Joe Biden and the tens of millions of Americans who voted for the Democratic commander-in-chief in 2020. ““F**k Biden and f**k you for voting for him”, read the post. It was just another pebble in the avalanche of bizarre behaviour that Mr Trump has long known for; the attack was amplified by the former president at roughly 2am, hours before he would apparently wake up and decide to share a slightly-less caustic message to his followers. “Happy FOURTH OF JULY to everyone. We are working hard, we will take back our Country, and MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN”. Though, he added that the 2024 election would be “our LAST GREAT CHANCE” to do so. Read More Trump’s own words about an indicted president come back to haunt him Ex-Trump spokesperson claims she saw him show off documents on Mar-a-Lago dining patio Chris Christie reacts to ‘control freak’ Trump’s classified documents comments: ‘He’s scared’
1970-01-01 08:00
Prominent Russian journalist 'severely beaten' in attack in Chechnya
Elena Milashina, a prominent Russian journalist who uncovered the horrific crackdown on gay men in Chechnya, was "severely beaten" alongside a lawyer in an attack in the southern Russian republic, according to her employer Novaya Gazeta.
1970-01-01 08:00
Kennedy wins in his major league return and De La Cruz has 4 hits as the Reds beat the Nats 8-4
Brett Kennedy won in his return to the majors as the Cincinnati Reds beat the Washington Nationals 8-4 thanks to a big offensive showing
1970-01-01 08:00
Roller coaster riders stuck upside down for hours at Wisconsin festival
Festivalgoers got more of an adventure than they bargained for Sunday when a roller coaster ride got stuck at a fair in Wisconsin, leaving them hanging upside down for hours.
1970-01-01 08:00
Who won the 2023 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest?
The 2023 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest triumphantly happened after reports came out that it would be canceled. Here's who won.Torrential downpours and flash flooding put the annual Fourth of July Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest in jeopardy for several hours on Tuesday. The conte...
1970-01-01 08:00
West Virginia AD Wren Baker looks for 'smoother waters' after challenging first 7 months
West Virginia athletic director Wren Baker has been on the job only seven months, yet he's done a lot
1970-01-01 08:00
US talents Sophia Smith, Alyssa Thompson headline the rising stars at the Women's World Cup
The Women's World Cup will be a showcase for some of the best young soccer players in the game
1970-01-01 08:00
Wembanyama and Mbappé the big draws as Olympic soccer and basketball tickets go on sale
More tickets go on sale Wednesday for four sports at the Paris Olympics that will be staged in cities far from the French capital, including soccer and basketball
1970-01-01 08:00
