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Italy displays paintings from an ancient Etruscan tomb, its latest cultural acquisition

ROME – After more than a century of diplomatic and administrative efforts to reclaim a cornerstone of Italy’s ancient cultural legacy, the Italian Ministry of Culture on Tuesday publicly unveiled the iconic fresco panels from the Etruscan Francois Tomb, the latest high-value cultural acquisition in the government’s targeted push to repatriate key pieces of the nation’s heritage to public access.

Dating back to the 4th century BCE, the celebrated painted panels were purchased earlier this year from heirs of the Torlonia family, one of Italy’s oldest noble dynasties that held the vast, rarely displayed private collection of antiquities for nearly 160 years after the tomb’s discovery. The site itself was first uncovered in 1857 by French archaeologist Alessandro Francois on the Torlonia family’s estate in Vulci, an ancient Etruscan city located in central Italy. Just six years after excavation, the frescoes were carefully detached from the tomb’s walls in the necropolis and added to the Torlonia private collection, while other artifacts recovered from the burial site were split between Francois, his archaeological colleagues, and the noble family.

Italy’s national government first launched formal efforts to take ownership of the frescoes back in 1921. The acquisition aligns with the country’s long-running national mission to recover historically significant artifacts and antiquities that were split among private owners or taken out of public ownership during the 19th-century boom in large-scale archaeological excavations across the Italian peninsula. Starting Wednesday, the fresco panels will open to the general public at Rome’s Villa Giulia National Etruscan Museum, Italy’s premier institution dedicated to Etruscan art and history. To complement the display, the exhibition has gathered jewelry, Etruscan ceramic vessels, and other small artifacts originally discovered inside the Francois Tomb, all on loan from museum collections across the globe that have held these items for decades.

According to official reports, the Italian government paid approximately 15 million euros (equal to $17 million USD) to acquire the frescoes. This purchase marks the third major high-cost cultural acquisition completed by the Ministry of Culture in 2024, following the purchase of Antonello da Messina’s *Ecce Homo* for 14.9 million euros ($16 million USD) and a rare Caravaggio portrait of Maffeo Barberini, who would later become Pope Urban VIII, for $35 million USD. All acquisition funds have been drawn from the ministry’s annual dedicated budget for cultural property purchases. Ministry officials confirmed that current Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli has shifted the department’s acquisition strategy: rather than purchasing a larger number of smaller, less significant artworks and antiquities, Giuli has prioritized acquiring fewer, high-impact pieces of exceptional cultural and historical importance to the nation.
In public comments on the acquisition, Giuli emphasized that the Francois Tomb frescoes are a “fundamental” component of Italian history, and that after more than a century outside public access, the masterpiece is finally returned to the Italian people to study and enjoy.

30 6 月, 2026
Flooding hits Ghana’s capital killing 13 people – with another storm forecast

In Ghana’s capital Accra, catastrophic flash flooding driven by an unprecedented torrential downpour has left at least 13 people dead, with authorities warning the death toll could climb further as search and recovery operations continue across the devastated city. The extreme weather event, which dumped roughly 140 millimeters of rain on the metropolis overnight Sunday – nearly three times the highest single-day rainfall recorded in 2025 – has already caused widespread destruction, submerging entire neighborhoods, destroying hundreds of structures, and leaving thousands of residents displaced or trapped. According to officials from the Ghana National Fire Service, one of the lead agencies coordinating rescue efforts, more than 470 people have been pulled from floodwaters to safety so far, with emergency response teams from the police, military, and National Disaster Management Organisation also deployed across hard-hit low-lying areas. Social media footage circulating from the region shows cars fully submerged under muddy floodwater and collapsed buildings, confirming the scale of the damage that has forced local markets and businesses across the capital to remain closed, with some small commercial operations completely washed away. As teams work to reach trapped residents, national officials have issued urgent public safety advisories, urging residents in flood-prone zones to relocate to higher ground immediately and avoid all unnecessary travel through inundated areas. “Stay indoors if you are in a safe location,” a statement from the Ghanaian president’s office read. “Do not attempt to cross flooded roads, whether on foot or in a vehicle. If your home is being inundated, move immediately to higher ground and call 112 for emergency assistance.” Compounding the risk to public safety, the flooding triggered an unexpected large fire at a local rubber factory shortly after the downpour began. Utility providers Ghana Grid Company Limited and the Electricity Company of Ghana have also enacted a temporary power shutdown across flood-impacted parts of the capital, noting that rising floodwaters have compromised critical infrastructure at multiple substations, creating life-threatening hazards for both workers and residents. The Ghana Meteorological Agency has amplified government warnings, forecasting additional heavy rain across southern Ghana – where Accra is located – from Tuesday morning through the afternoon, raising the specter of further flooding and worsening damage. Agency officials have also advised residents to avoid sheltering under trees, steer clear of downed or exposed electrical lines, and never walk or drive through standing floodwater. For many local residents, the disaster has already upended daily life and destroyed irreplaceable personal property. Philip Mensah, one flood-affected Accra resident, told reporters that his decades-long collection of 1970s vinyl records was entirely lost to floodwaters. Patience Naa Adjeley Adjei, a local schoolteacher, described hours of futile efforts to hold back water from entering her home, saying, “I have mopped my room more than eight times. I can’t even step out because my room is flooded, and outside is flooded.” While the extreme rainfall is the immediate trigger for the disaster, experts and officials alike point to longstanding structural issues that amplified the flood’s severity. Accra, one of Africa’s fastest-growing urban centers with a population of over 4 million according to the World Health Organization, has long struggled with inadequate drainage infrastructure, with clogged public gutters and widespread construction of unpermitted illegal structures on natural waterways preventing floodwater from receding. Following an aerial assessment of the damage on Monday, Ghana’s president ordered the immediate demolition of all illegal structures built on waterways, noting that “the irresponsible actions of a few individuals end up putting entire communities at risk.” Disaster and climate advocates warn the event is far from unexpected, linking the increasing frequency of extreme flooding in the region to both accelerating climate change and unplanned rapid urban expansion. This is not the first time Accra has faced catastrophic flooding: in 2015, a similar extreme weather event triggered a fuel station explosion that killed more than 150 people. Ewurabena Yanyi-Akofur, country director for WaterAid Ghana, called for urgent systemic changes to prevent future tragedies, noting that “what we are witnessing in Accra is not an isolated weather event, but part of a pattern intensified by climate change and rapid, unplanned urbanisation.” She added that stronger urban planning and pre-event preparedness measures are critical to safeguard communities before, during, and after extreme weather events strike.

30 6 月, 2026
US Supreme Court to rule on birthright citizenship and trans athletes

As the current U.S. Supreme Court term draws to a close, the nation’s highest judicial body is preparing to issue two of the most consequential and widely anticipated decisions of the Donald Trump presidency on Tuesday, rulings that could reshape long-standing American legal and social frameworks.

The first and arguably most closely watched of the two cases centers on the Trump administration’s bid to restrict the long-standing principle of birthright citizenship, a rule that guarantees automatic U.S. citizenship to any person born on American soil. Enshrined in the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution for nearly 160 years, this principle, legally known as jus soli (or “right of the soil”), has its roots in the aftermath of the American Civil War. Ratified in 1868, the amendment’s opening citizenship clause was originally crafted to grant citizenship to formerly enslaved people born in the U.S., cementing a core tenet of equal citizenship after the abolition of slavery.

Shortly after taking office, Trump made restricting birthright citizenship a central pillar of his hardline immigration agenda, signing an executive order that directed federal agencies to deny citizenship to children born in the U.S. to parents who are in the country illegally or hold only temporary visas. This policy followed through on repeated campaign promises to overhaul the U.S. immigration system, alongside other administration actions including aggressive crackdowns on illegal border crossings and the revocation of Temporary Protected Status for hundreds of thousands of vulnerable migrants from Haiti and Syria — a move the Supreme Court previously allowed to stand.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and allied civil rights groups quickly launched a class-action lawsuit, Barbara v. Trump, challenging the executive order as unconstitutional. The entire dispute hinges on the interpretation of one key phrase from the 14th Amendment: “subject to the jurisdiction thereof.”

Administration legal arguments contend that this clause explicitly excludes children of parents who are not lawfully present in the U.S. on a permanent basis, arguing the 14th Amendment was never intended to grant birthright citizenship to the children of undocumented or temporary migrants. Trump himself has repeatedly framed birthright citizenship as a “scam” that enables both undocumented immigrants and wealthy foreign nationals to exploit the U.S. immigration system for unfair advantage.

On the opposing side, the ACLU argues that the jurisdiction clause refers exclusively to the physical presence of a person born on U.S. soil, regardless of their parents’ immigration status. The organization warns that ending birthright citizenship would create a permanent underclass of people born in the United States who are denied basic citizenship rights from birth. During oral arguments held in April, multiple Supreme Court justices appeared openly skeptical of the Trump administration’s position. Liberal Justice Elena Kagan noted that the administration was seeking to undo a legal tradition that stretches all the way back to English common law, stating “What the 14th Amendment did was accept that tradition and not attempt to put any limitations on it. That was the clear rationale.” Legal experts remain divided on whether the court will issue a broad sweeping ruling on constitutional grounds or a narrower decision tied to statutory interpretation, a distinction that could drastically alter the long-term impact of the decision.

The second landmark decision due Tuesday addresses a separate divisive cultural and legal issue: whether U.S. states have the authority to bar transgender athletes from competing on women’s and girls’ school and college sports teams. The cases before the court stem from laws passed in Idaho and West Virginia, which require public school and college sports teams to be organized based on an athlete’s sex assigned at birth. Transgender students in both states have challenged the bans, with one arguing the policy violates equal protection guarantees under the U.S. Constitution, and the other claiming it contradicts federal civil rights legislation.

Currently, more than two dozen U.S. states have enacted similar restrictions on transgender athlete participation, making the Supreme Court’s ruling a decision that will impact trans students across nearly half the country. Banning transgender athletes from competing in categories aligned with their gender identity has been a top policy priority for Republican officials at both the state and federal level during the Trump administration.

Proponents of the bans argue that transgender women hold an inherent biological advantage over cisgender women — athletes assigned female at birth — a position that received backing earlier this year from the International Olympic Committee (IOC). In March, the IOC announced new rules limiting the women’s Olympic category to biological females, following an 18-month review of existing scientific research. The IOC working group concluded there was a “clear consensus” that male sex provides a measurable performance advantage in all sports that rely on strength, power, and endurance.

Critics of the state-level bans push back on both scientific and ethical grounds, arguing the policies amount to unlawful, unfair discrimination against transgender students and dispute the claim that there is a universal scientific consensus on inherent competitive advantage for all trans women athletes.

With the Supreme Court holding a 6-3 conservative majority, observers noted that during more than three hours of oral arguments in January, at least five justices appeared inclined to uphold the state-level bans. A ruling upholding the restrictions would set a binding nationwide precedent that reshape how civil rights protections are applied to transgender students in public education across the United States, a outcome that would ripple through state education and athletic policies for decades to come. As crowds of supporters gathered outside the Supreme Court building this week holding signs in favor of the transgender athlete bans, the nation waits for two decisions that will define the trajectory of American law and society for a generation.

30 6 月, 2026
Cultural exchanges bring Shanghai and New York closer

Two of the world’s most iconic waterfront metropolises, Shanghai sitting on the banks of the Huangpu River and New York along the Hudson, have renewed their cross-Pacific cultural connection through a landmark humanities dialogue that deepens mutual understanding between young people of China and the United States.

On June 29, the core session of the third season of “Bund: A Global Urban Humanities Dialogue between Shanghai and New York” — titled “From Shanghai to New York: A Century-Long Cultural Journey Inspiring New China-US Dialogue” — took place at the China Institute of America in Manhattan, bringing together emerging scholars, artists and academic leaders from both nations to explore the intersections of technology, art and cross-cultural philosophy.

The gathering builds on decades of people-to-people exchange between the two port cities, which share a foundational identity shaped by water and a shared ethos of openness and inclusiveness. Unlike formal high-level diplomatic talks, this dialogue centered on elevating youth engagement and bridging cultural divides through creative and intellectual collaboration, creating a dedicated space for younger generations to exchange ideas and advance cross-cultural mutual learning.

Yu Yougen, education counselor at the Chinese Consulate General in New York, emphasized that the event represents far more than a cross-border academic exchange. “This is not only an academic dialogue across geographical boundaries, but also a cultural exchange that connects history with the future,” he said. Noting the decades of close, productive exchange between the two cities, Yu added that what travels across the Pacific Ocean between the Huangpu and Hudson extends far beyond exhibitions and discussions: it carries the shared desire of people from both countries to learn from one another.

Yu Jin, president of the China Institute of America, framed the gathering as both a reflection on a century of people-to-people connection and a stepping stone for future collaboration. Founded in New York in 1926 by pioneering figures including Chinese scholar Hu Shih and leading American educators John Dewey and Paul Monroe, the China Institute is one of the oldest non-profit organizations in the U.S. focused on advancing U.S.-China understanding through cultural and educational programming. Yu Jin expressed hope that through deepened partnerships with East China Normal University and other collaborating institutions, the dialogue will help more young people develop cross-cultural awareness and build lasting connections across borders.

Zhang Huihong, deputy chair of the University Council of East China Normal University, echoed that sentiment, noting that the two cities share far more than their status as leading global hubs. “Shanghai and New York are both cities shaped by water and recognized as international metropolises. Although they are thousands of miles apart, they share similar city spirits of openness and inclusiveness,” she said, adding that the event aims to unlock new opportunities for people-to-people exchange between the two nations through collaborative cultural creation and transoceanic dialogue.

Complementing the core dialogue, a companion art exhibition will run at the China Institute gallery from July 9 to 30, featuring more than 100 works created by students and faculty from East China Normal University. The exhibition draws direct inspiration from Mei Lanfang’s historic 1930 tour of the United States, a landmark moment that introduced Chinese Peking Opera to American audiences and cemented its place as a foundational milestone in U.S.-China cultural exchange.

Spanning prints, paintings, illustrations, animations and AI-generated works, the exhibition explores how contemporary creators can reimagine traditional Chinese art and intangible cultural heritage through modern design principles and emerging digital technologies. Wei Shaonong, a professor in the School of Design at East China Normal University, explained that the project encourages young creators to reconnect with their cultural roots while reinterpreting traditional motifs for contemporary audiences. “Traditional Chinese culture contains rich artistic elements, and we hope students can reinterpret them through today’s artistic language and creative approaches. In this process, they learn from tradition while exploring how traditional art can remain connected to contemporary life,” he said.

Reflecting on Mei Lanfang’s enduring legacy, Wei noted that the legendary performer offered a timeless lesson for cross-cultural communication. Even though Peking Opera operated within a cultural context far removed from most 1930s American audiences, Mei’s tour was a resounding success because he grasped a core principle: when introducing art and culture to a new audience, creators must adapt their storytelling to resonate with shared understanding. “The great inspiration we gained from Mei Lanfang’s visit is that cultural communication requires translating not only language, but also the way stories are told and the cultural context behind them,” Wei added.

The event also included the launch of “Collaborative Learning,” an in-person intercultural roundtable discussion initiated by Paul J. D’Ambrosio, a professor of Chinese philosophy at East China Normal University. D’Ambrosio emphasized that cultural exchange thrives through diverse, accessible forms of engagement beyond traditional academic scholarship. “As scholars, we should remember that cultural exchange happens through many different forms,” he said. “It can happen through films, music, entertainment and many other creative expressions. While academic research and focused discussions remain important, we also need to stay open to broader forms of communication.”

30 6 月, 2026
False hope and schadenfreude: Familiar feelings for Germany after another World Cup flop

For German men’s soccer, another World Cup campaign has ended in another disappointing early exit — a bitter outcome for one of the sport’s most storied powerhouses, which had entered the tournament holding tentative hopes of lifting a fifth World Cup trophy and rebuilding its squandered reputation.

Unlike its 2018 and 2022 campaigns, Germany did manage to clear the group stage for the first time since its 2014 World Cup triumph. But that small milestone offered little consolation after Monday’s knockout round opener in Foxborough, Massachusetts, where unranked underdog Paraguay defeated the four-time champions on penalties to send them packing.

“We messed it up,” captain Joshua Kimmich told reporters immediately after the final whistle. The early elimination marked a familiar bitter pill for Kimmich, who was also part of the 2022 Qatar squad that crashed out in the group stage, and he offered no excuses for the underperformance.

“As a child, when you watched the national team during tournaments, it was always semifinals, finals, or world champions. There was always lots of success. You grew up with that, cheering them on,” the 31-year-old said, as he apologized to fans for failing to meet sky-high expectations. “All of us who were on the pitch should feel that, rather than looking to blame someone else. We blew it,” Kimmich stated, per reporting from German news agency dpa.

Head coach Julian Nagelsmann has become the central target of fan and media criticism following the exit, after a series of controversial selection decisions that have come under intense scrutiny. Most notably, Nagelsmann reversed months of public denials to recall veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer from international retirement just weeks before the tournament began.

The 40-year-old Neuer failed to live up to his legendary billing, with many analysts arguing he was directly at fault for Ecuador’s game-winning goal in the final group stage match — a result that only narrowly allowed Germany to advance. His selection came at the cost of Hoffenheim keeper Oliver Baumann, who many argued deserved the starting spot. “I gave it my all,” Neuer said of his performance.

Nagelsmann only yielded to public pressure late to hand striker Deniz Undav his first start against Paraguay, but the tactical move failed to deliver the intended impact. Undav, a Kurdish Yazidi player who had notched three goals and two assists coming off the bench in his first two tournament appearances, was unable to add to his score sheet against the underdogs. The coach also drew fire for leaving highly touted forward Nick Woltemade on the bench until the final minutes of extra time against Paraguay; Woltemade ended up as one of three German players who missed their penalties in the deciding shootout.

Nagelsmann had built high expectations ahead of the tournament, openly stating that Germany’s goal was to win the entire title. Four games later, that bold promise lies in tatters. Germany’s campaign ended with two wins — against first-time qualifier Curaçao and Ivory Coast — followed by back-to-back losses to Ecuador and Paraguay.

For Paraguay, the upset victory sparked wild celebrations across the capital city of Asunción. The result was one of the biggest upsets of this year’s tournament: few German fans could name a single Paraguayan player before kickoff, and most German supporters had already begun looking ahead to a projected round of 16 clash with defending champions France.

“You have to beat such a team,” Neuer said of Paraguay. “That’s a fact when you want to measure yourself against teams like France.”

Nagelsmann has publicly committed to staying on as head coach, though he faced additional criticism for his sharp, defensive responses to reporter questions after the match. German national team director Rudi Völler offered the coach a measured vote of confidence. “I’m still convinced that he’s probably the right one to continue,” Völler said. “It’s not only up to me.”

The disconnect between Germany’s inflated pre-tournament hopes and harsh on-pitch reality was perfectly highlighted by a widely mocked social media post from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. “What a match, @DFB_Team! You thrilled our country with your commitment and team spirit at this World Cup. We’re proud of you,” Merz wrote on X shortly after the loss.

The post was immediately met with widespread ridicule from users across the political spectrum, who flooded the comment section asking “which match” Merz was referring to. The phrase “which match” quickly began trending on the platform. “I honestly don’t know which was worse. The match or this analysis,” wrote Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, a senior politician from Germany’s Free Democratic Party.

30 6 月, 2026
Indonesia sentences Gojek founder to 10 years for graft over procurement of school laptops

JAKARTA, Indonesia – A high-profile corruption case that has gripped Indonesia for months reached a major verdict Tuesday, when the nation’s anti-graft court handed a 10-year prison sentence to Nadiem Anwar Makarim, former education minister and co-founder of Southeast Asian tech giant Gojek. The conviction centers on allegations that Makarim abused his cabinet position to steer a massive government laptop purchase toward Google’s Chromebook devices, at a time when Google was evaluating a major investment in Gojek’s parent company.

A five-judge panel at Jakarta’s Corruption Court ruled that Makarim’s actions constituted deliberate, systematic abuse of public office during a period of unprecedented crisis for Indonesia’s education sector. In addition to the prison term, the court ordered Makarim to repay 809 billion Indonesian rupiah, equivalent to roughly $45.2 million – a sum prosecutors argue reflects the personal benefit he gained from Google’s eventual investment in PT Aplikasi Karya Anak Bangsa, Gojek’s parent entity that later merged to form GoTo Group. A separate fine of 1 billion rupiah (approximately $55,870) was also imposed. Prosecutors have previously alleged that the improper purchasing decision cost Indonesian state coffers $125 million in total losses.

Presiding Judge Purwanto S. Abdullah emphasized that as a high-ranking public official, Makarim had a duty to model ethical leadership, but instead violated that trust. “The defendant, as a minister who should serve as a role model, abused his authority. His actions were deliberate, structured and systematic,” Abdullah said. “As a high-ranking official, the defendant exacerbated the situation during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the education sector was already in crisis.”

The ruling notes that there is no finding that Makarim’s advocacy for Chromebooks actually altered Google’s investment decision. Three former Google executives testified during the trial that the company’s investment in GoTo was completely separate from the Indonesian government’s purchasing choice. The sentence handed down Tuesday is also far shorter than the 18-year prison term prosecutors had requested. Judges explained they reduced the penalty due to Makarim’s age of 41, noting he is still in a productive period of life and that the sentence should not eliminate his opportunity for rehabilitation and future contribution to society. Pre-trial detention time served since Makarim’s arrest in September will also be deducted from his sentence.

Makarim was not the only defendant in the case. Two former education ministry officials and a one-time tech consultant were also convicted, receiving sentences of up to four and a half years. A fourth person linked to the scheme remains at large, with an active arrest warrant from Indonesian authorities.

The trial, which launched in January, has attracted intense public scrutiny across Indonesia. Hundreds of motorcycle taxi drivers, the core workforce of the ride-hailing industry Makarim helped build, have frequently attended court sessions to express their support for the Gojek co-founder.

Judges further found that Makarim’s push to adopt Google’s ChromeOS and Chrome Education Upgrades – products exclusively licensed by the U.S. tech firm – was motivated by personal conflict of interest, and that he deliberately disregarded guidance from his ministry’s own legal bureau as well as national policies requiring government procurement to prioritize domestic products. “The defendant maintained the Chromebook policy by systematically removing officials who opposed it during his tenure as education and culture minister,” Abdullah added.

The verdict was not unanimous. In a dissenting opinion, panel member Andi Saputra argued that prosecutors had failed to present sufficient evidence to sustain a conviction and that Makarim should be acquitted. Makarim has maintained his innocence from the start of the investigation. Following the reading of the verdict Tuesday, he issued a statement calling the sentence excessive and confirmed he plans to file an appeal with a higher court.

30 6 月, 2026
Son Heung-min ‘indescribably hurt’ by South Korea’s World Cup exit, vows to ‘win the hearts’ of fans

After the South Korean men’s national football team crashed out of the World Cup in the group stage, the team’s iconic captain Son Heung-min has issued a public apology to the nation’s fans, opening up about his profound emotional pain and vowing to win back public support for the national side going forward.

In an extensive Instagram post shared late Monday, the global football star — who currently plies his trade with Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles FC and remains a national hero in his home country — acknowledged he fully grasps the depth of public disappointment surrounding the team’s underwhelming tournament run. The outcome has already sparked sharp public backlash, including public criticism from South Korea’s president and the resignation of head coach Hong Myung-bo.

Son wrote that a simple apology could never measure up to the letdown fans have felt, adding: “I don’t dare to convey the disappointment and hurt of the fans with a single word ‘sorry,’ so even saying those words feels insufficient.”

The 33-year-old, who has described the World Cup as the “child’s dream stage” throughout his career, shared his raw personal grief over the exit. “The ‘child’s dream stage’ that I always talked about has collapsed. I’m indescribably stuck and hurt. To be honest, it’s still not easy to accept this reality,” he added.

South Korea’s Group A campaign got off to a promising start with an opening victory over the Czech Republic, but the side dropped consecutive matches to Mexico and South Africa, ultimately failing to claim one of the tournament’s knockout stage spots as a top-three third-place finisher. Son, who was named to the bench for the decisive final group fixture against South Africa, left the tournament without registering a single goal, and said he carries personal accountability for falling short of the expectations placed on the team.

“I couldn’t repay the time, heart, and constant support and love that the fans gave,” he said of his own performance.

In a move that quashed speculation about his imminent retirement from international football, Son made clear he intends to continue representing his country. “I will do my best in my position again to win the hearts of the Korean people and football fans,” he stated.

Son also issued a plea to the South Korean public, asking supporters to rally around the current squad rather than heap criticism on the young players. He called on fans to “send warm support and encouragement rather than criticizing and hurting all the players.”

30 6 月, 2026
South Africa deploys police for widespread protests by groups opposing illegal immigration

On Tuesday, thousands of South African protesters took to the streets across multiple provinces of the country, joining organized demonstrations demanding the immediate departure of all undocumented migrants from the nation’s borders. The demonstration, organized by several prominent local anti-illegal-immigration groups, set Tuesday as a non-negotiable deadline for all unauthorized migrants to leave South Africa, a framing that has put the country on edge amid lingering memories of violent unrest tied to similar past actions.

The organizing coalitions behind the protests, which include high-profile movements such as March and March, Operation Dudula, and Progressive Forces, argue that undocumented migrants exacerbate South Africa’s persistent systemic challenges. Protesters claim that migrants’ willingness to accept lower wage levels pushes native South African workers out of formal employment, while also blaming unauthorized immigration for driving spikes in violent crime and other social ills across the country. Bongani Cindi, one protester participating in the Johannesburg demonstrations, pushed back against common criticism that the movement is rooted in xenophobia, saying the groups are only raising legitimate concerns about domestic challenges. “We are not fighting anyone,” Cindi noted. “Our country has got a lot of problems. We have influx of illegal immigrants who are committing crimes that we can’t even take anymore. So we need them to leave us in peace, so we can sort our house.” Another Johannesburg protester, Nkele Thebe, echoed this sentiment, saying “After today, we’ll be dealing with our president and our nation. We don’t want an outsider to come interfere.”

This self-imposed deadline has not received any official recognition from South Africa’s national government, which has stressed that only formal state authorities hold the legal power to enforce the country’s existing immigration regulations. Ahead of the protests, President Cyril Ramaphosa held a closed-door meeting with leaders of several participating groups on Monday night, where he urged organizers and attendees to commit to peaceful, lawful demonstration action.

Despite the call for calm, security officials have taken extensive precautions to prevent a repeat of the violence that marred previous anti-immigration protests, when migrant-owned properties were targeted, foreign national businesses were vandalized, and public infrastructure was destroyed in unrest. South African police have deployed hundreds of trained officers to major protest hotspots, including the Gauteng provincial hub of Johannesburg, the KwaZulu-Natal coastal city of Durban, and Eastern Cape province, where past anti-immigration demonstrations turned deadly. Private security teams have also been deployed to at-risk areas to supplement official police resources. As of Tuesday morning, early reports confirmed gatherings of protesters in parts of Durban, as well as additional mobilization across North West and Free State provinces. In Johannesburg, many foreign-owned small businesses preemptively closed their doors ahead of expected protest activity.

The threat of renewed violence has already triggered a wave of voluntary repatriation among thousands of undocumented migrants, the vast majority of whom originate from neighboring southern African nations Zimbabwe and Malawi. Migrants have flocked to their respective national embassies and consulates across South Africa to request emergency transportation back to their home countries. Border crossing data shows a sharp increase in traffic at the Beitbridge border checkpoint connecting South Africa to Zimbabwe, with multiple daily buses carrying returning migrants departing South Africa. In Durban, thousands of Malawian citizens have already exited the country through a temporary repatriation center set up to process returning nationals.

30 6 月, 2026
Animal welfare activists in Montenegro worried about horses in scorching European heat

As a record-shattering heat wave that has already parched Western Europe rolls across the Balkan Peninsula this week, a long-neglected crisis has been thrown into sharp relief in the small Adriatic nation of Montenegro: the persistent lack of protections for thousands of abandoned animals, left to roam unprotected in deadly triple-digit temperatures.

Just 2.5 miles outside central Podgorica, Montenegro’s capital, dozens of unclaimed horses have been spotted wandering open terrain adjacent to an unregulated landfill and informal settlements. With no access to shade, clean drinking water or sufficient food as temperatures climb close to 104 degrees Fahrenheit, animal welfare activists warn the animals face a growing risk of heat exhaustion and death.

Activists stress that this crisis is unfolding not in a remote, unpopulated region, but within a short distance of the capital’s core. “This is only 4 kilometers from the city center. It is not in the middle of nowhere,” said Marta Darmanovic, a prominent Montenegrin animal protection advocate. Darmanovic blasted the national government for failing to address the decades-old problem of abandoned animals, pointing out that Montenegro still lacks any dedicated shelter infrastructure for large animals — including stray livestock, confiscated animals and wild species.

“Montenegro has effectively legalized animal abuse because it has failed to provide even minimum infrastructure needed for the regulations to be enforced,” Darmanovic added.

This year’s heat wave is one of the most severe on record across Europe, breaking all-time temperature benchmarks in dozens of nations, overwhelming public health systems, and forcing millions of people to seek emergency relief from the swelter. In France, this week’s high temperatures have already outpaced those of the devastating 2003 heat wave, which killed an estimated 15,000 people, most of them elderly.

The issue of animal welfare carries particular weight for Montenegro, a country of just 620,000 people that has set a target of completing accession negotiations and joining the European Union by 2028. As an official EU candidate country, Montenegro is required to implement and enforce comprehensive animal welfare regulations to meet membership standards.

Local authorities have pushed back against criticism, noting that the city of Podgorica has already built dedicated shelters for stray dogs and cats, and municipal inspectors are working to address the issue of abandoned large animals within existing legal frameworks. Branko Kovacevic, head of Podgorica’s Municipal Inspection Administration, told reporters that abandoned horses and other large domestic animals keep reappearing even after interventions, and that agencies are acting within the limits of current legislation. “As far as the law allows us, we deal with the problem,” Kovacevic said, but acknowledged a critical gap: “unfortunately, nobody is responsible” for providing ongoing food and water to the roaming animals.

While the Balkans is accustomed to hotter summer temperatures than much of Northern and Western Europe, national authorities have still issued public health warnings urging residents to stay indoors in the peak heat hours and stay hydrated. Meteorologists forecast that temperatures across the region will begin to cool starting Tuesday, bringing some relief.

Across the border in eastern Croatia’s Osijek, local zoos have taken proactive steps to keep their resident animals cool during the heat wave, with keepers serving custom frozen treats made from fruit and meat. Zeljko Busljeta, an employee at Osijek Zoo, told Croatia’s national public broadcaster HRT that many primate species have chosen to stay in climate-controlled indoor enclosures to rest, and staff offer cold watermelon, cantaloupe, grapes, lemonade and iced tea to help the animals beat the heat.

30 6 月, 2026
A new test for Democrats – where they stand on Israel

Four months out from the 2026 U.S. midterm elections, a sharp internal rift over Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has emerged as a defining fracture for the Democratic Party, one that could reshape the party’s leadership and policy trajectory ahead of November’s general election contests.

Recent results from 2026 Democratic primary elections, which select the party’s general election candidates, have made clear that attitudes toward Israel have become a wedge issue pitting the party’s progressive base against its long-standing establishment leadership. No race has highlighted this divide more clearly than last week’s contest for New York City’s 10th Congressional District, where two liberal, Jewish candidates who both opposed Donald Trump’s political agenda and identified as Zionist ran on starkly different platforms about Israel.

City Comptroller Brad Lander, the progressive candidate in the race, labeled Israel’s military operation in Gaza a genocide, pledged to oppose new U.S. military funding for Israel, and refused to accept any campaign donations from the powerful pro-Israel lobbying group the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). His opponent, incumbent Congressman Dan Goldman, had also criticized the Israeli government and opposed West Bank settlement expansion, but stopped short of describing the Gaza campaign as genocide and had previously accepted AIPAC contributions. Goldman centered his campaign on addressing rising antisemitism and secured endorsements from prominent Orthodox Jewish community leaders, a key voting bloc in the district.

When ballots were counted, Lander’s unapologetic criticism of Israel secured him a landslide victory over Goldman. The win came as part of a broader pattern: in two other New York City Democratic primaries, progressive candidates endorsed by outspoken Israel-critic and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani all defeated more moderate opponents who took softer stances on the issue. These results signal a growing schism that is expected to ripple through upcoming high-stakes contests, including August’s closely watched Democratic Senate primary in Michigan.

Because New York’s congressional districts are heavily Democratic, primary victors like Lander are nearly guaranteed to win general election seats in Congress. Once in Washington, their presence is expected to force more urgent, contentious policy debates over U.S. military funding for Israel and push the entire Democratic Party to re-evaluate its long-standing messaging on Israel and the Gaza conflict.

“What we’re seeing is that in much of the Democratic base – especially in urban, progressive, young demographics – public criticism of Israel acts as a signal that a candidate rejects the status quo and is going to Washington to deliver change,” explained Tali DeGroot, vice president of political and digital strategy at J-Street, a group that supports Israel’s right to exist but has criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel’s military actions in Gaza. As American public opinion shifts, DeGroot noted, Democratic voters “want to see elected officials engage with nuance on this complicated issue.”

While J-Street endorsed Goldman, it took the unusual step of also listing Lander as an approved candidate for voter consideration. Lander additionally secured the backing of Jews for Racial and Economic Justice (JFREJ), a left-leaning social justice group that has called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and an end to U.S. weapons sales to Israel.

At Brooklyn polling places on primary day, Lander voters repeatedly cited his stance on Israel and endorsement from Mamdani as the top factors driving their support. Many argued that the Democratic Party’s national leadership has lost touch with the base’s shifting views on the conflict.

“I learned a lot watching a Jewish leader work through his relationship to Zionism, to Israel, and to opposing genocide in Gaza,” said Perrin Roosevelt Ireland, a Park Slope, Brooklyn voter who supported Lander. “Watching his journey has been really powerful to me, and I appreciate a leader who learns in public.” Ireland added that she believes top congressional Democrats Chuck Schumer, the Senate Majority Leader, and Hakeem Jeffries, the House Minority Leader – both New York delegates who have broadly supported Israel – are out of step with the views of many of their own constituents.

The current conversation around Israel is rooted in the outbreak of the Israel-Gaza war: Israel launched its military campaign in Gaza after the October 7, 2023, attack led by Hamas, which killed roughly 1,200 people in southern Israel and took 251 hostages. Since the campaign began, the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health – whose casualty figures are considered reliable by the United Nations – reports that at least 73,058 people have been killed in Israeli attacks, including more than 21,280 children. Multiple international, Israeli human rights groups, independent UN experts, and scholars have accused Israel of genocide in Gaza, claims Israel has strongly denied. Last week, a three-member UN-appointed commission of inquiry released a report concluding that Israeli authorities deliberately targeted Palestinian children and committed genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. The panel does not officially represent the UN, but its findings amplified existing global criticism. Israel’s foreign ministry rejected the report as “libellous propaganda.”

New polling confirms that U.S. public opinion of Israel has shifted dramatically over the past year. An April Pew Research Center survey found that 60% of all U.S. adults hold an unfavorable view of Israel, up from 53% in 2025. Fully 80% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independent voters now view Israel unfavorably, an 11-point increase from 2025. The shift has also touched the Republican Party: more than half of Republicans under 50 now hold an unfavorable view of Israel, and former President Trump has publicly expressed frustration with Netanyahu, with the party’s “America First” isolationist wing openly criticizing the U.S.-Israel alliance.

Dina Smeltz, managing director of public opinion and foreign policy at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, noted that American public opinion initially leaned heavily toward Israel after the October 7 attack. “But then as it retaliated against those attacks and carried out a lot of military action in Gaza that resulted in a big humanitarian crisis, attitudes toward Israel have fallen quite a bit,” Smeltz explained.

As the Democratic base’s views shift, some voters and Jewish organizations have expressed concern over Israel becoming a polarizing partisan issue. Haile Soifer, CEO of the Democratic Jewish Council of America, called it “regret that Israel became a divisive issue in these races, especially in NY-10.”

Rob Geaillig, a Brooklyn resident who voted for Goldman, said he believed Lander was “far too liberal for this area.” Though a registered Democrat, Geaillig voted for Trump in 2024, citing discomfort with how far left the Democratic Party has shifted on the issue of Israel. It is important to note that not all pro-Israel Democratic incumbents lost in last week’s primaries: several New York incumbents who supported Israel won their renomination contests.

Mainstream Democratic leaders, including Schumer and Jeffries, have walked a careful middle path: they have criticized Netanyahu’s leadership and the scale of Israel’s military action in Gaza, while continuing to support broad U.S. military and diplomatic backing for Israel. Still, there are clear signs the congressional Democratic caucus is shifting toward a harder line on Israel. In April, 40 Democratic senators supported a symbolic motion to express congressional disapproval of proposed new military sales to Israel; only seven Senate Democrats, including Schumer, joined Republicans to block the motion. While non-binding, the vote exposed widespread growing frustration among Democratic lawmakers with the ongoing military campaign.

Sam Geisler, a 37-year-old Lander voter, warned that any Democratic incumbent who continues to approve military aid for Israel should expect to face tough primary challenges in upcoming cycles. “We’ll see if the national party learns. I don’t have a whole lot of faith,” Geisler said. “They’re going to learn when they keep getting voted out.”

30 6 月, 2026