Israeli parliament votes to advance bill to dissolve Knesset, paving way for early elections

Image used for representative purposes Israeli lawmakers on Wednesday voted overwhelmingly to advance a bill to dissolve the Knesset, a move that could pave the way for early elections and deepen political uncertainty for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition.In a preliminary reading, 110 out of 120 members of parliament supported the motion, with no votes against and the remainder abstaining. The bill, introduced by the ruling coalition itself, now moves to committee stage before undergoing three further readings required for final approval.If ultimately passed, the dissolution would automatically trigger elections within 90 days, potentially bringing forward the vote that is currently due by October 27 at the latest.The development comes amid growing strain within Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition, particularly over disputes with ultra-Orthodox parties. They have accused the prime minister of failing to fulfil commitments to pass legislation granting military service exemption..

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Welcome to Ski Town USA, the Colorado mountain town where developers have pitched a private ski resort for the 0.01%

Michelle Petix raised her two daughters in the rural haven of Steamboat Springs, in northwestern Colorado, where they spent their childhoods skiing freely with friends or swimming in the river on balmy summer days.
“We lived off the grid, plowed our own road, built our home board by board,” Petix, 57, said of her family’s idyllic life in Routt County. “Tourism and ranching are truly a unique mixed vibe. We need a community to survive out in the rural areas.”
Tourism is the main driver of the local economy, powered by tens of thousands of visitors who come to “Ski Town USA” to hit the slopes, fly fish on local rivers, or attend the professional rodeo series held at the base of Colorado’s oldest public ski area, in operation since 1915.
Managing the influx of tourists while preserving the area’s ranching culture and history is a delicate balance. But Petix and others in the community fear that balance could soon be upended by a powerful real estate developer’s proposal to open a private..

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What led up to the 1996 Brothers to the Rescue attack in Cuba as Raul Castro is indicted for murder

Brothers to the Rescue, a group founded by Cuban exiles, is at the center of the U.S. Justice Department's decision to seek an indictment against Cuban leader Raúl Castro, a move reviving one of the lowest points in the two countries' bitter decades-long relationship.
The indictment is connected to Castro’s alleged role in the 1996 shootdown of two planes operated by the Miami-based exile group. Castro was defense minister at the time, making him the nation's highest authority after his brother Fidel.
What is Brothers to the Rescue?Brothers to the Rescue began operating in 1980 during 125,000 Cubans' unexpected emigration to the United States. Founded by emigré José Basulto, it aimed to help Cuban refugees in the Florida straits by dropping supplies from small planes and alerting the U.S. Coast Guard.
The months-long crisis began after some Cubans protested travel restrictions imposed by President Fidel Castro's communist government and Castro opened the port o..

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Regulators looking at three firms over multimillion-dollar trades before Trump’s Iran war announcement, report says

Several financial firms that profited from well-timed oil trades, made shortly before President Donald Trump announced new developments in the Iran war, are being looked at by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, according to a new report.
Moments before Trump announced he would postpone bombing Iran’s infrastructure on March 23, more than $800 millon worth of oil futures were exchanged – with at least three firms profiting from more than $15 million combined, according to data and records seen by the Wall Street Journal.
A similar pattern has emerged over the last few months, with a volume of trades made on April 7, hours before Trump announced a temporary ceasefire with Iran; April 17, minutes before Iran’s Foreign Minister announced the Strait of Hormuz was open; and April 21, minutes before Trump announced he would extend the ceasefire with Iran.
It’s led the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, an independent agency that regulates futures, swaps and bets, to open an inquiry ..

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UK radio station mistakenly reports death of King Charles

A former British pirate radio station on Wednesday apologised “for any distress caused” after accidentally announcing the death of King Charles.
The erroneous announcement was made on Tuesday afternoon due to a computer error at its main studio in Maldon in eastern Essex, Radio Caroline said in a post on social media.
The error had triggered the so-called death of a monarch procedure “which all UK stations hold in readiness while hoping not to require”, station manager Peter Moore said.
“Radio…

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Far-right Israeli minister condemned for taunting handcuffed Gaza flotilla activists

Far-right Israeli minister condemned for taunting handcuffed Gaza flotilla activists1 hour agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleDavid GrittenOffice Of Itamar Ben Gvir/Handout via ReutersFar-right Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir posted a video showing himself taunting detained flotilla activistsThere has been international condemnation of Israel's treatment of pro-Palestinian activists who were on board a Gaza-bound aid flotilla intercepted by Israeli naval forces.
The UK, France, Italy, Canada and the US were among the countries which expressed outrage after far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir posted a video showing himself taunting activists kneeling with their hands tied behind their backs.
His actions also drew rare criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said they were “not in line with Israel's values”.
A rights group representing the 430 people from more than 40 countries who took part in the Global Sumud Flotilla demanded their ..

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US charges Raul Castro as Trump administration ratchets up pressure on Cuba

The United States announced on Wednesday criminal charges against former Cuban leader Raul Castro over his alleged role in the 1996 downing of two civilian aircraft operated by the Miami-based exile group Brothers to the Rescue, an incident that killed four people.
The indictment, unsealed by Acting US Attorney Todd Blanche in Miami, includes charges of conspiracy to kill US nationals, destruction of an aircraft and four individual counts of murder against Castro and five other co-defendants….

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Rosenberg: Putin enjoys Xi’s Chinese welcome but heads home without pipeline deal

Rosenberg: Putin enjoys Xi's Chinese welcome but heads home without pipeline deal3 hours agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleSteve RosenbergRussia Editor, MoscowEPAPutin and Xi Jinping have met more than 40 timesFor a moment you could have mistaken Beijing for Moscow.
As Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping walked the red carpet towards the Great Hall of the People, a Chinese military band played the romantic Russian classic Moscow Nights.
“If only you knew how these Moscow Nights are dear to me,” goes the refrain.
Hidden in the notes, was there a hint of political romance?
Even bromance…?
“My dear friend,” said Putin to Xi.
“My old friend,” said Xi to Putin.
It was the language of two leaders who like to show they've built a special relationship. They have had plenty of time to do so: they have met more than 40 times over the years.
In their public statements they spoke of “strategic co-operation” between their nations, about “partnership”, “mutual respect”, “friendship” and “t..

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Indian family of 4 completes 3 months in Texas ICE detention; 12-year-old bleeding in stool, his sister vomiting frequently

An Indian family of four was arrested by ICE and taken to a family prison. (Left: Guri; right: Manpreet and her mother) The Indian family of four – parents and two kids — completes almost 90 days at Dilley detention center in Texas, with their future looking bleak and their health deteriorating. They were arrested in February during a routine check-in appointment and were put in the controversial center which reopened after the Donald Trump administration resumed family detentions last year. YouTuber Ms Rachel, who had been advocating for shutting the ICE detention centre, visited Dilley and met the Indian family.”I never thought i'd be advocating to get families out of prison. It was an honor to meet with this hardworking, kind family. Please free them. Guri is not getting proper care for bleeding when he goes to the bathroom which is dangerous medical neglect,” Ms Rachel wrote.Guri is the 12-year-old boy of the family who has been experiencing blood in his stools. This started ..

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Do not travel for any reason: US Ebola alert for Congo, South Sudan, Uganda; level 3 alert for Rwanda

US issues travel alert amid the outbreak of Ebola in DRC and Uganda. The US Department of State issued a level 4 alert for the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), South Sudan, or Uganda, urging Americans not to travel to either of these countries for any reason, considering the Ebola outbreak. For Rwanda, the department issued a level 3 alert asking Americans to reconsider traveling. The travel alerts are in response to the CDC and WHO's declaration on recent Ebola outbreak.”Medical services in South Sudan are extremely limited. Adequate medical treatment, as well as access to routine an emergency procedures, is often unavailable, and even minor health issues could require medical evacuation. All medical services, including medical evacuation, are at your expense. If you purchase additional medical insurance, be sure to keep records of all medical services paid for and provided,” the US Department wrote in the advisory for South Sudan.Ebola is a rare, severe and often fatal he..

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