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Protests in Ukraine as Zelensky signs bill targeting anti-corruption bodies

Protests in Ukraine as Zelensky signs bill targeting anti-corruption bodies4 hours agoShareSaveVitaly ShevchenkoRussia editor, BBC MonitoringShareSaveAnadolu via Getty ImagesProtesters gathered in Kyiv on Tuesday after a bill was passed targeting the country's anti-corruption bodiesPresident Volodymyr Zelensky has signed a bill that critics say weakens the independence of Ukraine's anti-corruption bodies, sparking protests in several cities and drawing international criticism.
The new law grants the prosecutor general control of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (Nabu) and Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (Sap), and critics say it undermines their authority.
In an address on Wednesday, Zelensky said both agencies would still “work” but needed to be cleared of “Russian influence”.
After the bill passed, hundreds of people gathered in Kyiv for the biggest anti-government protest since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.
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AmericasWorld

New York City has become so unaffordable residents are giving up their pets – and shelters are packed to the gills

New York City animal shelters are becoming overwhelmed as residents surrender more and more pets amid an ongoing affordability crisis, according to a new report.
The Animal Care Centers of New York City — a network of public animal shelters in Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island — told The New York Times they have 1,000 animals in their system as of last week. The shelter network is now caring for hundreds of cats, dogs and kittens. The network is also housing 50 rabbits, a dozen guinea pigs and several birds.
The increase in surrenders comes as pet owners are increasingly unable to afford their furry friends, according to the Times. People are surrendering animals “nonstop,” and the shelters are struggling to keep up, Animal Care Centers’ Communications Director Katy Hansen told the newspaper.
“Not everybody is surrendering their pet because they just don’t have time,” Hansen said. “There’s a lot of people that are just, like, really struggling. And it’s sad. You know, they come in, ..

AmericasWorld

The Latest: Trump deflects questions about Epstein files and revives old grievances

President Donald Trump on Tuesday deflected questions over the Justice Department’s decision to interview Jeffrey Epstein’s former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted of helping the financier sexually abuse underage girls and is now serving a lengthy prison sentence.
Trump instead lashed out at old grievances following a new report from his intelligence director aimed at casting doubt on long-established findings about Moscow’s interference in the 2016 election.
Trump is under pressure from conspiracy-minded segments of his political base to release more about the Epstein case. He’s tried to move on, which Democrats say is because of his association with Epstein. Trump has denied knowledge or involvement of Epstein’s crimes and said he ended their friendship years ago.
Also Tuesday, Trump said after meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the White House that the two countries had agreed on a trade deal.
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