'Intense phase of war with Hamas about to end,' focus to shift to Lebanon border, Netanyahu says — AP — 23 June 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 92 media reports (LINK)

An Israel offensive into Lebanon risks an Iranian military response, top US military leader says — AP — 23 June 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 51 media reports (LINK)

Russia: Gunmen open fire on synagogue, Orthodox church and police post in Dagestan region: at least 15 police officers killed — Russian news agencies — 23 June 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 187 media reports (LINK)

— There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks, which Russia's national anti-terrorism committee blamed on "terrorists"."There is no doubt that these terrorist attacks are in one way or another connected with the intelligence services of Ukraine and NATO countries," Dagestan lawmaker Abdulkhakim Gadzhiyev wrote on Telegram.

Expanding heat dome has 100 million people in 27 states bracing for extreme temperatures — abcnews — 23 June 2024 (LINK)

Israeli strikes kill at least 39 in Gaza, enclave's government media office says — ground.news: 98 media reports — 22 June 2024 (LINK)

Egypt cracks down on 16 tourism companies after 1,000+ haj deaths, including 530 Egyptians: "The tourism companies which facilitated the travel of those who died did not provide them with services of any kind, including medical" — Reuters ● — 22 June 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 30 media reports (LINK)

Militia kill at least 23 people in eastern Congo village attacks — Reuters ● — 22 June 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 9 media reports (LINK)

Iran's supreme court overturns rapper Toomaj Salehi's death sentence, orders re-sentencing — ground.news: 102 media reports — 22 June 2024 (LINK)

Three missing after heavy storms cause landslide in Switzerland: Zermatt remains inaccessible — euronews — 22 June 2024 (LINK)

Balkan countries suffer blackouts amid major heatwave: Montenegro experienced a widespread power outage, affecting most of the country, with similar issues reported in parts of Croatia, Bosnia, and Albania — ground.news: 26 media reports — 22 June 2024 (LINK)

The University of Geneva orchestra has, as of September 2024, its first female conductor. Judith Baubérot is an assistant lecturer at the Haute Ecole de Musique de Genève — slippedisc — 22 June 2024 (LINK)

Would you eat a robot? Swiss scientists want to create fully edible electronics — euronews — 22 June 2024 (LINK)

— The RoboFood project explores using edible materials to replace traditional non-edible components. For example, gelatin can be used in place of rubber, rice cookies used for foam, and chocolate films can protect robots in humid environments. Other innovative materials include a conductive ink made from activated carbon and gummy bears.

The mysterious 'ecocide' collapse of Easter Island never really happened: the population of monument-carvers could not possibly have been big enough to collapse under the demands placed on their environment, as has previously been suggested — sciencealert — 22 June 2024 (LINK)

— The collapse soon after European contact in the 1700s probably had more to do with the slave trade, enforced migration, and introduced pathogens. The new finding was based on an analysis of the rock gardens found on Rapa Nui, in which the islanders grew their food. The island could only have sustained a population of around 3,000 people, the research team thinks. This matches the number found by the first Europeans in 1722, suggesting that the Rapa Nui people were living happily and sustainably at the time. By 1877, the population numbered just over 100. Earlier surveys suggested a possible population of up to 17,000 people.

UN says up to Israel to restore order in Gaza for aid — Reuters ● — 21 June 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 9 media reports (LINK)

— U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said there is as "total lawlessness" in Gaza, where the U.N. has warned a famine looms for the population of 2.3 million after more than eight months of war between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas. "Most of the trucks with humanitarian aid inside Gaza are now looted," Guterres told reporters on Friday, adding that Israel prevented the U.N. from using Palestinian civil police for aid security. "There is total chaos in Gaza and there is no authority in most of the territory."

BBC sees hundreds of pallets of food sitting in the sun, just miles from starving Palestinians. — BBC — (LINK)

UN envoy defends failure to include Afghan women in upcoming meeting with the Taliban in Qatar — AP — 21 June 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 16 media reports (LINK)

At least 30 dead as torrential rains lash Central America: Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador — Reuters ● — 21 June 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 21 media reports (LINK)

Study confirms one type of COVID mask is 'significantly better' than others — sciencealert.com — 21 June 2024 (LINK)

— The duckbill N95 mask came out on top: it blocked 99 percent of large particles and 98 percent of small particles from getting out into the air. Overall, 98 percent of the viral load was blocked by the N95.

— "The research shows that any mask is much better than no mask, and an N95 is significantly better than the other options," says Donald Milton, an environmental health scientist and clinician at the University of Maryland.

— The researchers also tested a cloth mask (blocking 87 percent of viral load), a surgical mask (74 percent), and a KN95 mask (71 percent). The team behind the study suggests that the amount of breath allowed to escape around the sides of the widely recommended KN95 smask contributes to its bottom ranking.

— The study didn't look at virus particles going in the other direction: in other words, how much protection the masks would offer to a wearer against virus particles that might be currently circulating in the air.

UK's richest family get jail terms in Switzerland for exploiting staff — AP/AFP/dw — 21 June 2024 (LINK)

— A Swiss court has sentenced four members of the wealthy Hinduja family to up to four years and six months in jail on Friday for exploiting their domestic workers. Members of the family were accused of trafficking mostly-illiterate domestic workers from India, confiscating their passports, and forcing them to work 16-hour days in their Geneva villa without overtime pay. The domestic workers were paid between 220 and 400 francs ($250-450) a month — up to 90% less than what they could expect to earn in Switzerland. This wage was paid in Indian rupees into banks back home that the workers could not physically access.

— Prakash Hinduja and his wife Kamal were were each sentenced to four years and six months in prison. Their son Ajay Hinduja and his wife Namrata also received four-year terms. Meanwhile, the family's business manager received an 18-month suspended sentence. The court dismissed the more severe charges of human trafficking charges against the family which has roots in India.

Vaccine group Gavi seeks $9 billion to immunize world's poorest children — Reuters ● — 20 June 2024 (LINK)

WHO issues warnings on fake copies of Novo Nordisk's Ozempic weight-loss drugs — ground.news: 30 media reports — 20 June 2024 (LINK)

Dutch PM Mark Rutte set to be next NATO leader in October after rival withdraws from race — CNN — 20 June 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 117 media reports (LINK)

U.S. Supreme Court upholds Trump-era tax on foreign earnings: The ruling preserves a major source of federal government revenue. — ABC — 20 June 2024 (LINK)

Swiss National Bank cuts its policy rate for the second time running, by 25 basis points to 1.25%: the Swiss franc weakened and stocks gained — Reuters ● — 20 June 2024 (LINK)

Putin in Vietnam, seeking to strengthen ties in Southeast Asia while Russia's isolation deepens — ground.news: 63 media reports — 20 June 2024 (LINK)

Biden bans US sales of Kaspersky software over Russia ties — ground.news: 78 media reports — 20 June 2024 (LINK)

Heat wave claims lives of at least 125 in Mexico this year, hitting country’s most vulnerable — AP — 20 June 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 10 media reports (LINK)

Texas braces for up to 10 inches of rain as Tropical Storm Alberto, the first of the season, bears down — usatoday — 20 June 2024 (LINK)

Illegally brewed liquor kills at least 29 with dozens hospitalized in southern India — ground.news: 38 media reports — 20 June 2024 (LINK)

We finally know why some people seem immune to catching covid-19: Unique cell responses mean some people may be immune to catching the coronavirus, even if they are unvaccinated — newscientist — 19 June 2024 (LINK)

Israel may have 'systematically violated' laws of war, UN's OHCR says — jurist.org — 19 June 2024 (LINK) — ground.news:64 media reports — (LINK)

— Israel responded to the report by saying that the report is biased, methodology unsound, and legally incorrect. It highlighted that the UN rights office does not have access to the military information that provides the reasoning for attacks. It also alleges that the report obtains its casualty numbers from Hamas and it ignores operational considerations and limitations.

US aims to reopen Gaza pier this week to resume humanitarian aid deliveries: twice closed since it opened in May — foxnews — 19 June 2024 (LINK)

Biden envoy told Netanyahu his comments about US-supplied weapons were 'unproductive' and 'completely untrue' — CNN — 19 June 2024 (LINK)

Vladimir Putin announces a "breakthrough" new partnership with North Korea, says countries have ramped up ties to a "new level," pledging to help each other if either nation is attacked. — CNN — 19 June 2024 (LINK)

— The deal between the two autocrats raised many questions — including whether Russia's nuclear deterrent now extends to North Korea, and vice versa, or whether the two nations will now hold joint military drills.

Iran's imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi sentenced to another year in prison: she received a 15-month prison term for "propaganda against the system" and was banned from activities like owning a mobile phone and traveling abroad — ground.news: 35 media reports — 19 June 2024 (LINK)

— Mostafa Nili, her lawyer, reported that Mohammadi was sentenced to more prison time for propaganda activities against the regime, linked to comments about journalist Dina Ghalibaf. Over the past three years, Mohammadi has faced six trials resulting in a total of 13 years and three months in prison, exile, and lashes, along with additional charges in January.

Citizens Insurance seeks maximum 14% rate hike on Florida policies. Policyholders are also facing requirements to get flood insurance — tampabay.com — 19 June 2024 (LINK)

Bird flu pandemic risk high as cow cases appear and officials warn of humans' role: USDA report finds transmission likely happening when workers, cows, vehicles and equipment go to multiple farms — The Guardian UK ● — 19 June 2024 (LINK)

New law requires all Louisiana public school classrooms to display the Ten Commandments in "large, easily readable font", from kindergarten to state-funded universities — AP — 19 June 2024 (LINK)

Trump Media hits 'milestone' as stock slides nearly 10%: additional shares that had been registered earlier this year declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission — newsweek — 19 June 2024 (LINK)

— The SEC's decision allows early investors in TMTG, which is majority owned by former President Donald Trump, to exercise public warrants they hold in the company, making just over 14 million shares issuable. According to the prospectus filed with the SEC, if all warrants are exercised for cash, TMTG could receive up to $247 million in proceeds.

NVIDIA's price surges 4% to $140 even as U.S. markets stay closed: European trading — 247wallst.com — 19 June 2024 (LINK)

— About $169 million in NVIDIA shares traded hands in Frankfurt on Wednesday. That might sound like a lot but it's only about 1/300th the recent average volume of NVIDIA's Nasdaq-listed shares!

Apple is shutting down U.S. Apple Pay Later just months after launch — 247wallst.com — 19 June 2024 (LINK)

— In its place, Apple says that users globally will be able to apply for "installment loans" from credit cards, debit cards, and lenders when checking out with Apple Pay later this year.

Apple Pay Later withdrawal likely because of a law passed in 1968 — 9to5mac.com — (LINK)

— The US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) last month proposed that Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) loans fall within the scope of the The Truth in Lending Act (TiLA).

Ecuador hit by nationwide blackout, leaving 17-18 million in the dark for several hours: Energy Minister Roberto Luque attributed the blackout to an incident involving a transmission line in southern Ecuador, leading to a "cascading disconnection" — ground.news: 81 media reports — 20 June 2024 (LINK)

— Luque stated that this blackout, the first in 20 years, highlights the fragility of the energy system and reflects the ongoing energy crisis.

Just Stop Oil spray paint private jets and 'target Taylor Swift's plane' at Stansted Airport — ground.news: 12 media reports — 19 June 2024 (LINK)

Two climate protesters from Just Stop Oil arrested after painting Stonehenge monument orange — ground.news: 256 media reports — 19 June 2024 (LINK)

Overnight Israeli airstrikes in Gaza kill 17 Palestinians, injure dozens — ground.news: 9 media reports — 18 June 2024 (LINK)

Experts: ICC, UN blamed Israel for a famine that never happened in Gaza — exclusive: Columbia University professors: "We found that the food supply entering Gaza is more than sufficient to feed all 2.2 million Gazans". They note that it is "a myth that Israel is responsible for famine in Gaza" — jpost — 18 June 2024 (LINK)

— The ICC has claimed that Israel is "causing starvation as a method of war including the denial of humanitarian relief supplies [and] deliberately targeting civilians in conflict."

— They examined the "hard data, available from such sources as COGAT and the UN," they note. Federgruen and Kivetz's research and findings demonstrate that sufficient amounts of food are being supplied into Gaza. According to their research they "demonstrate that 250 truckloads suffice to feed the entire Gazan population, in accordance with a normal diet in North America." (see Gaza suffers famine-level shortages, mass death imminent, UN-backed monitor says (LINK))

Biden to announce new executive action protecting immigrant spouses and children of US citizens: 500,000 American families and roughly 50,000 noncitizen children of immigrants — CNN — 18 June 2024 (LINK)

Gang violence in Haiti has displaced nearly 580,000 people, IMO reports — ground.news: 20 media reports — 18 June 2024 (LINK)

Holding Olympics in July will be 'nearly impossible' over extreme heat, report from athletes and scientists warns — ground.news: 10 media reports — 18 June 2024 (LINK)

UK’s richest family on trial in Switzerland for human trafficking — BBC — 18 June 2024 (LINK)

The family own a villa in Geneva's wealthy neighbourhood of Cologny, and the charges against them all relate to their practice of importing servants from India to look after their children and household. It's alleged that Prakash and Kamal Hinduja, together with their son Ajay and his wife Namrata, confiscated staff passports, paid them as little as $8 for 18-hour days, and allowed them little freedom to leave the house.

In court, one of Geneva's most famous prosecutors, Yves Bertossa, compared the almost $10,000 a year he claimed the family had spent on their dog, to the daily amount they were allegedly paying their servants.

Holding Olympics in July will be 'nearly impossible' over extreme heat, report from athletes and scientists warns — ground.news: 10 media reports — 18 June 2024 (LINK)

North Korea says Russian President Putin will arrive in the North on 18 June — ground.news: 12 media reports — 17 June 2024 (LINK)

Netanyahu disbands his inner war cabinet — Reuters ● — 17 June 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 165 media reports (LINK)

Thailand becomes first South-East Asian country to legalize same sex marriage — ground.news: 107 media reports — 17 June 2024 (LINK)

The U.S. Justice Department has filed suit against Adobe, arguing its sign-up process purposefully tricks consumers into subscriptions that are hard to cancel — fastcompany — 17 June 2024 (LINK)

Recently elected mayor shot and killed in southern Mexico — ground.news main source: AP, 15 media reports — 17 June 2024 (LINK)

— The Guerrero state prosecutor's office said Salvador Villalva Flores was on a bus was he was fatally shot in the head early on Monday in the town of San Pedro las Playas. That beach town is nearly two hours up the coast from Copala, where Villalva was elected mayor on June 2. No additional details on the shooting were provided. Guerrero is home to a number of criminal organizations vying for control of territory. At least 34 political candidates have been killed across Mexico in the run-up to and aftermath of the June 2 election.

Revealed: Engineers blew up a famous 110-year-old Swiss railway bridge near Davos after they 'forgot' to get approval — qz.com — 17 June 2024 (LINK)