Pakistan has voiced alarm about India’s shutdown of Pakistani embassy Twitter accounts in multiple locations.
“Deeply concerned that India has prevented the flow of information to Indian Twitter by restricting access to the following official accounts,” the Foreign Office wrote on Twitter, adding that Pakistan’s missions in Iran, Turkey, Egypt, and the United Nations are responsible for the blocked accounts.
According to India Today, the Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had previously prohibited 16 YouTube news channels, including six Pakistan-based stations, because they were “promoting falsehoods concerning India’s national security, international relations, and public order.”
Previously, Twitter had also restricted the accounts of Indian and international journalists who are critical of the Modi government.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the Twitter limitation on Monday night, describing the shrinking space for a variety of voices and access to information in India as “very worrying.”
It emphasized that social media platforms must adhere to appropriate international standards.
In a subsequent tweet, the FO requested Twitter to promptly restore access to the Pakistan missions’ accounts and uphold democratic free speech.
Radio Pakistan’s account is likewise disabled It was discovered later in the day that India had also blocked Radio Pakistan’s Twitter account.
“The social media handle […] has been blocked primarily for highlighting terrible human rights violations in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir,” according to a report by the state television.
Concerned by the development, Radio Pakistan Spokesperson Chaudhry Zameer Ashraf stated that the broadcaster adhered to international journalistic standards and maintained objectivity in its news reports.
This week’s NATO summit in Madrid occurs at a crucial point in the 73-year history of the alliance. The invasion of Ukraine by Russia has been hailed as the greatest geopolitical shock to the West since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The only military alliance capable of defending Europe against further Russian aggression is NATO, but does it have a strategy?
Less than three years ago, President Macron of France declared NATO “brain dead.” Nonetheless, from the moment Russian tanks crossed into Ukraine, the response of the West has been exceptional for its unity, quickness, and vigor. It has been revitalized with a new mission: fortifying borders and supplying weaponry.
On the day of the Madrid summit, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg announced what he termed a “fundamental shift in the alliance’s deterrence and defense” by bolstering its eastern border defenses and increasing its quick response force to over 300,000 troops.
The alliance faces various problems, including hybrid warfare, the destabilization of the Balkans, cyber strikes, the militarization of space, and the question of how to respond to China’s rising military dominance. Mr. Stoltenberg stated that for the first time, this NATO summit would address “the risks that Beijing poses to our security, interests, and values.” Here are some of the most critical problems that will likely be discussed this week.
Avoiding escalation in the Ukraine conflict NATO must perform a balancing act. The world’s most powerful military alliance, consisting of thirty members, three of which possess nuclear weapons (the United States, the United Kingdom, and France), does not wish to go to war with Russia. President Putin has often reminded the West that he possesses vast nuclear weapons and that even a minor cross-border conflict could rapidly escalate out of control.
For the past four months, the greatest difficulty has been determining how to assist Ukraine in defending itself against an unprovoked invasion without becoming embroiled in the fighting.
As horrible details of alleged Russian war crimes and massacres, supported by satellite data, have emerged, the West’s initial reluctance to deliver heavy weapons to Kyiv for fear of upsetting Moscow has been swept aside.
The Madrid meeting will need to specify how much and for how long NATO nations can give military assistance.
For the time being, Moscow is prevailing in the Donbas, a predominantly Russian-speaking region of eastern Ukraine, albeit at an enormous human and material cost. It is anticipated that Russia would attempt to retain these geographical gains, maybe by annexing them as it did with Crimea in 2014.
Without a peace treaty, NATO will face a new challenge in the future. Does it continue arming the Ukrainians, who are attempting to reclaim territory that Moscow now deems to be legally part of the Russian Federation? The Kremlin has suggested that the use of Western weapons against Russian soil would cross a red line, so drastically increasing the likelihood of escalation.
Maintaining Ukraine’s cohesion If Russia had simply attacked the Donbas and not invaded Ukraine on three sides, probably, the West would not have responded with such exceptional unity. Six rounds of EU sanctions are having a significant impact on Russia’s economy, and Germany has canceled for the time being the multi-billion dollar Nord Stream 2 pipeline that would have transported Russian gas to northern Germany.
However, the Western alliance is divided about how severely to punish Russia and how much hardship Western businesses can withstand. These will most likely surface in Madrid. Germany has been accused of dragging its feet on promised arms delivery, while Hungary, under the leadership of a prime minister with close ties to President Putin, has refused to stop purchasing Russian oil. On the opposite end of the spectrum, those nations that feel the greatest threat from Moscow, namely Poland and the Baltic states, advocate for the hardest possible stance and additional NATO deployments along their borders.
Securing the Baltic States This region could become a significant flashpoint between NATO and Russia. This month, Russia warned of “real countermeasures” in response to Lithuania’s blocking of EU-sanctioned items en route to Russia’s Baltic exclave Kaliningrad.
The outspoken prime minister of Estonia, Kaja Kallas, has criticized NATO for being unprepared for a Russian assault over the border. Current plans call for attempting to recapture Estonian land only after Russia has already invaded. She states, “They could wipe us off the map.”
Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania were formerly, and unwillingly, members of the Soviet Union. Today, they are all sovereign nations and members of NATO. As part of what is known as the Enhanced Forward Presence, there are four multinational battle units stationed in these three nations and Poland. The United Kingdom leads in Estonia, the United States in Poland, Germany in Lithuania, and Canada in Latvia.
Nonetheless, NATO planners are well aware that these battle units would serve only as a deterrent against a future Russian attack. They are insufficient to prevent a coordinated assault by a reformed Russian army. As a genuine deterrence, Baltic leaders now want at least a division of NATO forces stationed in each country. This is expected to generate heated debate in Madrid.
Permitting Finland and Sweden to join Finland and Sweden, shaken by Russia’s massive invasion of a sovereign nation, have opted to abandon their neutrality and join Nato. The coalition welcomes them with open arms, but things are not quite that straightforward. Turkey, a member since 1952, has opposed their admission because both of these Nordic nations harbor Kurdish separatists that Turkey considers terrorists.
However, due to the importance of Finland and Sweden to NATO, every attempt will be made to find a way over Turkey’s concerns. Once they join, the Baltic Sea will become a “Nato lake” bordered by eight member states, with coordinated air defense and integrated missile systems in the future.
Will neutral Sweden and Finland join NATO? Looking further afield, NATO will need to decide if it ever plans to admit new members like Georgia and Moldova, despite the risks of further inflaming an already suspicious Kremlin.
Urgent boost in defense spending Currently, Nato countries are required to spend 2% of their annual GDP on defense, although not all of them do so. Recent data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) indicates that while the United States and the United Kingdom spent 3.5 and 2.2 percent, respectively, on defense, Germany spent only 1.3 percent while Italy, Canada, Spain, and the Netherlands fell far short of the 2 percent target. Russia allocated 4.1% of its GDP to defense expenditures.
When Donald Trump was president, he infamously threatened to withdraw the United States from the alliance if other members did not fulfill their responsibilities. This had some effect, but the invasion of Ukraine has had a greater impact. Just three days after it began, Germany declared it would commit an additional €100 billion to defense, ultimately increasing its proportion to exceed 2 percent. This Monday, the Nato head said that nine of the thirty member states have attained or beyond the 2 percent target, while 19 have concrete intentions to do so by 2024. According to Jens Stoltenberg, the 2 percent threshold “should be a floor, not a ceiling.”
If Russia is to be deterred from further aggression, military leaders and analysts in the West unanimously advocate for an immediate boost in the defense budget. However, NATO’s ability to stop a future Russian invasion has been called into question by a series of defense cuts over the past several decades.
Despite the recent increase in the United Kingdom’s defense budget, there has been an enormous amount of procurement waste. The current strength of the British Army, including those in training, is 82,000 soldiers, however, after reductions, this number will fall to 72,500. Even more worrisome is the fact that both Russia and China are ahead of the West in the development of hypersonic missiles, which can approach their target at more than five times the speed of sound and on an unpredictable flight path.
In the wake of the pandemic, worldwide food and fuel prices have increased dramatically, so budgets are already stretched thin. When there are so many other pressing demands on government spending, allocating additional funds for defense may be unpopular domestically.
However, military leaders warn that if NATO does not improve its defense now, the cost of potential Russian assault will be immeasurably higher.
On Monday, Maksym Musienko, age 26, was at work at an electronics store in the Kremenchuk shopping center, assisting customers in purchasing air conditioners to beat the summer heat.
Approximately 100 consumers were in the store at the time, according to him.
“We were working. There were many people in the store, but I cannot recall anything that occurred after that “He claims.
At 16:00 local time, a Russian missile hit the shopping mall in the city’s center. At least 18 deaths and 59 injuries were reported. The cost is anticipated to increase.
“The retail center is not a dangerous location for Russians. We believed we were far from the frontier “Maksym says.
He has many scratches, a concussion, and a shrapnel wound.
Viktoria, his wife, is by his side in the hospital. They just celebrated their wedding anniversary, and next week is her birthday.
She was at home when the explosion occurred and immediately dialed her husband’s number, thinking the worst.
She states, “He took up his phone and reported that he was in the middle of the flames.”
Viktoria’s neighbors assisted her in reaching the retail center.
She says, “Everything was black, and then the neighbors told us he was in the hospital.
Maksym says, “We did not invade anyone; we just want to exist.”
Among the next chamber, a man named Mykola recalls waking up in the ruins beside his wife.
“We attempted to escape. I assisted my wife and a girl along the road. I observed supine individuals, some of whom were unresponsive. The flames became larger, and I was walking on glass “he continues.
His wife is also receiving treatment in the hospital. Mykola ensures that he sends her a message every two hours.
“I did not anticipate this happening,” he says. “I believed they were attempting to destroy our infrastructure. I never imagined they would strike a shopping center. There are also children and ladies. It is a safe location.”
This once-safe location is now a tangled mess. Rescuers are currently at the scene, attempting to disassemble the site’s remaining wreckage.
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine referred to the strike as a “bold terrorist act,” while the leaders of the G7 group of wealthy nations stated that indiscriminate attacks on civilians constituted a war crime.
A memorial to the deceased has been erected adjacent to the ruins of the structure. A constant flow of people are arriving to light candles, offer flowers, and pay their condolences to the deceased. Others are awaiting news on the missing.
Anna revealed that she had friends working in the shopping center’s drugstore with tears in her eyes.
“My friends there are all under 30 years of age. My son should have been there “She stated,
“How are they behaving? We are going to get killed. I want Russia to accept responsibility for its actions.”
Finance Minister Miftah Ismail informed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday that Pakistan could get $2 billion from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
“Miftah Ismail relayed a message in the morning stating that we should receive $2 billion from the IMF, rather than $1 billion. I responded by stating that obtaining independence is our true objective. Easier said than done, “Minister of Planning and Development’s “Turnaround Pakistan” meeting.
The prime minister emphasized the need for all sectors to work together for the country’s prosperity, as well as the need for independence. He stated that self-reliance ensures political and economic independence.
The prime minister’s remarks came hours after Ismail’s announcement that the nation has received combined economic and financial objectives for the seventh and eighth assessments of its IMF bailout program.
About the recent inauguration of a massive development project in Bangladesh, PM Shehbaz stated that his counterpart had boasted that they had accomplished this feat without the assistance of international donors.
“Certainly, this is a major accomplishment,” he said, adding that Pakistan lacked neither resources nor skills.
He mentioned Reko Diq as evidence that Pakistan had squandered billions on a project that had yet to yield a profit. Prime Minister Shehbaz stated that Pakistan was submerged in debt, stating that the country’s liabilities vastly outnumbered its assets.
The establishment of the 1,200-megawatt Haveli Bahadur Shah Power Plant by the previous PML-N administration was lamented.
“When you take into consideration the electricity we were scheduled to receive, which was intended to power the farm sector, our businesses, and provide work for millions of people, it is clear that we suffered a tremendous loss.”
The prime minister stated in his speech that Pakistan had nothing to show for its seventy-five years of freedom. “But wailing over spilled milk will accomplish nothing,” he remarked.
A few weeks ago, he said, there was a risk that the country would run out of edible oil. He stated he has written and spoken with Indonesian President Joko Widodo over this matter.
“The Indonesian president indicated he would issue instructions,” he added, adding that he directed a minister to travel to Indonesia on his dime and remain there until the vessels departed for Pakistan.
“This is one illustration. When you desire employment, various doors open.”
Prime Minister Shehbaz continued by stating that Pakistan was confronting a multitude of problems and urging the nation to rise above personal interests and conflicts.
“New regimes blame their predecessors. We must decide on altering the country’s destiny, and to do so, we must work day and night. Until this is accomplished, we will continue to move in circles “he remarked.
“Builders and furniture retailers will be taxed” In his speech, the finance minister announced that the government will tax builders and furniture retailers.
“I will bring builders, real estate brokers, automobile dealers, and carpenters within the tax net. And I would make things simpler for them,” he said, emphasizing that Pakistan could only become “self-sufficient” if it did so “If all citizens, even the wealthy, paid taxes.
“We have placed taxes on the sons of the prime minister. I am paying more in taxes. We can only ask the nation to sacrifice if we make sacrifices ourselves “He indicated.
He reasoned that the government had imposed direct taxes rather than indirect taxes because direct taxes were non-inflationary. This year, we will collect 33 percent more tax revenue than the previous year, which is an accomplishment.
Even though Pakistan was no longer in danger of defaulting on its debt, the minister advised that the government and the people must proceed with caution and “maintain discipline.”
He also thanked the people for their support of the government and its comprehension of the need to increase gasoline and diesel prices.
At least 46 bodies were discovered in an abandoned truck outside of San Antonio, Texas.
A fire official reported that 16 individuals, including four children, were taken to the hospital.
The survivors were suffering from heat stroke and heat fatigue and were “hot to the touch.”
People smugglers use San Antonio, which is 250 kilometers (150 miles) from the US-Mexico border, as a significant transit route.
Human traffickers frequently utilize trucks to transfer unauthorized migrants after meeting them in rural regions in the United States.
“They undoubtedly had families and were seeking a better life,” said San Antonio’s mayor, Ron Nirenberg. It is nothing less than a terrible human tragedy.
Charles Hood, commander of the San Antonio fire department, informed reporters that first responders arrived at the area around 18:00 local time (23:00 GMT) in response to reports of a body.
“We shouldn’t be able to enter a vehicle and find piles of bodies inside. None of us arrive at work with that in mind “he remarked.
He noted that the vehicle, whose driver had abandoned it, lacked functioning air conditioning and contained no potable water.
Monday’s high temperature in San Antonio, Texas was 39.4 degrees Celsius (103 degrees Fahrenheit), and it is believed that the victims died from heat exhaustion and dehydration.
Marcelo Ebrard, the foreign minister of Mexico, stated that two Guatemalans were among those hospitalized. The nationality of the remaining victims was first unclear.
Three individuals are being detained, and the investigation has been turned over to federal officials.
Consul General Rubén Minutti has been deployed to the area, and the consulate in San Antonio has stated that it will provide “all help” if any Mexican citizens are among the deceased.
Edward Reyna, a security guard at a nearby lumber yard, was not startled to hear the news when he reported for his night job. He stated that he had lost count of the number of times he had witnessed migrants jumping from the train that passes directly by where the truck was discovered.
Mr. Reyna stated, “I figured someone was going to get harmed sooner or later.” The cartels responsible for their importation do not care about them.
This story has already occurred in San Antonio, but not on this scale. In 2017, ten deceased immigrants were discovered in a similar tractor-trailer in front of a Walmart on the city’s south side.
The extreme south side of San Antonio is a corridor with two major routes that connect the city to Texas border communities.
In this area of San Antonio, mostly rural areas, a few junkyards, and a few expanding neighborhoods make it easy for a truck of this size to go unnoticed – until it doesn’t.
US Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, whose department has assumed responsibility for the probe, stated, “Human smugglers are heartless individuals who abuse and imperil vulnerable people for profit.”
Greg Abbott, the Republican governor of Texas, attributed the fatalities to US Vice President Joe Biden’s “deadly open border policies.”
Beto O’Rourke, the Democratic candidate running against Mr. Abbott, described the reports as “devastating” and demanded immediate action to “dismantle human smuggling gangs and replace them with increased legal migration pathways.”
Immigration is a difficult political subject in the United States, where in May a record number of 239,000 undocumented migrants were apprehended attempting to enter the country from Mexico, with many taking highly dangerous and hazardous routes.
Large numbers of people continue to cross from Central American nations such as Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador, putting US law enforcement officials on track to surpass the record 1.73 million border arrests made in 2021.
Many undocumented migrants, fleeing poverty and violence in Central America, pay large sums of money to people smugglers to cross the US border.
In the past several years, there have been numerous instances of migrants perishing during their voyage, but none as tragic as what was uncovered on Monday.
Gustavo Garcia-Siller, the Catholic Archbishop of San Antonio, tweeted following the discovery of the tragedy: “Pity them, Lord. They anticipated a better life.”
He continued, “Once again, the lack of guts to address immigration reform is taking and ruining lives.”
Matt Houston, a KENS5 local reporter in San Antonio, told that, if this is indeed a people-smuggling incident, it would be the bloodiest of its sort in American history.
He stated that the dangers families confront when entering the United States are severe, and that the region has been experiencing a heatwave in recent days.
The search for survivors of Russia’s devastating attack on a packed retail center in Ukraine continued through the night.
At least one thousand consumers were inside the mall when a Russian missile struck, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who called the incident “one of the worst terrorist strikes in European history.”
Russian long-range bombers fired a missile that struck a shopping mall in Kremenchuk, Poltava’s principal city, regional governor Dmytro Lunin said. At least 18 people were killed and 59 required medical attention.
He stated that 36 individuals are still missing following the attack.
As rescuers continue to sift the smoldering ruins, determining the number of casualties has proven challenging.
Overnight, according to Mr. Lunin, over a thousand individuals dragged sheets of twisted metal and broken concrete. Several hours after the fire was extinguished, clouds of dark smoke still emanated from the wreckage as drones flew overhead.
The Poltava administration has designated three days of mourning in honor of the victims.
Earlier, President Zelenskyy posted a video to his Facebook page depicting dust and orange flames engulfing the shopping center.
“The attackers fired rockets towards the shopping center, where there were over a thousand citizens… “The number of victims is unfathomable,” commented the president on Facebook.
In a joint statement, the G7 leaders, who met on Monday and pledged to assist Ukraine “for as long as it takes,” condemned the heinous attack on a Kremenchuk shopping center.
Following the incident, Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who was present at the meeting, condemned the “barbarity” of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The United Nations mirrored these comments, describing the act as “disgraceful.” The UN Security Council has planned an extraordinary meeting for Tuesday in New York to discuss the incident, per Ukraine’s request.
Dmitry Polyansky, the first deputy permanent representative of Russia to the United Nations, highlighted many anomalies that he did not mention in Russia’s first official statement on the missile strike. He stated on Twitter that Ukraine was responsible for the event.
Mr. Zelenskyy emphasized that the target shopping center posed “no threat to the Russian army” and lacked “strategic value.” He accused Russia of undermining “people’s attempts to live a normal life, which so enrages the invaders.”
Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, reported that one missile struck a commercial center and another a sports arena in the city.
According to the Ukrainian military, the shopping center was struck by missiles fired by Russian Tu-22M3 long-range bombers over the Kursk region in western Russia.
Mayor Vitaliy Maletskiy posted on Facebook that the bombing “targeted a densely populated region that had no ties to the military whatsoever.”
The strike occurred as Russia launched a full-scale assault on Lysychansk, the last Ukrainian stronghold in the eastern Luhansk province.
According to the local governor, Moscow troops were “pouring fire” on Lysychansk from the ground and the air.
The most recent strikes occurred just one day after huge explosions rocked the Ukrainian capital on Sunday morning, leaving a neighboring nursery with a crater in its courtyard.
Vitali Klitschko, the mayor of Kiev, stated that one person was murdered, four people were injured and a seven-year-old girl was rescued from the wreckage.
Officials suspect the attack was carried out in an attempt to scare Ukraine ahead of international summits on Monday and in the following days, where support for the country would be a major topic of discussion.
At a G7 conference in Germany on Monday, the world’s largest economic powers agreed to “continue to give financial, humanitarian, and military support for Ukraine for as long as it takes.”
Speaking via video link at the conference, President Zelenskyy emphasized the need of aiding Ukraine in its struggle against Russia.
G7 leaders vowed to pursue a cap on the price of Russian oil, increase taxes on Russian imports, and apply more punitive measures.
Boris Johnson stated that the committee was “working” to resolve the current grain situation in Ukraine.
The leaders stated in a statement, “We will not rest until Russia finishes its cruel and foolish war against Ukraine.”
According to NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, the military alliance will also agree to provide Ukraine with further military support, like secure communication and anti-drone technology, when they meet in Spain for a summit.
In her second public engagement within two days, the Queen attended a parade of the armed forces in Edinburgh.
Her Platinum Jubilee in Scotland was commemorated by a parade at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
She was also given the Edinburgh Castle key in the palace’s gardens.
The 96-year-old monarch and members of her family landed in Scotland on Monday to begin a week of royal festivities north of the border.
She participated in the traditional Ceremony of the Keys, which marked the beginning of Royal Week, shortly after her arrival.
It was her first public appearance since the Platinum Jubilee celebrations, as she has limited her public appearances due to mobility issues.
She has vowed to continue serving the nation “to the best of my abilities with the assistance of my family.”
The parade and presentation of the Edinburgh Castle key commemorate the 200th anniversary of King George IV’s visit to Scotland in 1822, during which the castle key was first delivered to the monarch.
Buckingham Palace stated that Tuesday’s event provided an opportunity for the Army, Royal Navy, and Royal Air Force to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in Scotland.
As the Queen entered the grounds, a royal salute was rendered, and Lord Lyon, King of Arms, presented her with three senior representatives from the services.
Three cadets from each military then marched the Edinburgh Castle key through the gardens before giving it to the castle’s governor, Major General Alastair Bruce of Crionaich.
He presented the key to the Queen, who returned it to the governor “in appreciation for the symbolic display of loyalty by our armed personnel.”
Maj. Gen. Bruce stated afterward that the Queen was in “first-class, brilliant form.”
The fact that she participated in both the arrival ceremony and is now in her palace in the heart of Edinburgh and walking out into the garden to view her armed forces is quite remarkable,” he continued.
The Queen is anticipated to remain in the Palace of Holyroodhouse, her royal home in Edinburgh, until 1 July.
Tuesday afternoon, Princess Royal will confer honors at a Palace investiture ceremony.
James McGoldrick, assistant general secretary of the United Nations, and Ross McEwan, chief executive of the Royal Bank of Scotland, will be among those honored.
Alex Scott, a TV analyst, and former England defender plans to remain as a football presenter despite getting sexist remarks.
She disclosed to the Radio Times that she has received tweets recommending she stick to ironing and cooking, but that she feels a “duty to change stereotypes.”
Scott, 37, has also been criticized for her accent, and a prominent lawmaker has suggested she take elocution classes.
The former Strictly performer told that she wished to remain on the air despite receiving harassment.
The ex-Arsenal right-back, who made 140 appearances for England, has experienced opposition since switching to television presenting, including from former Labour minister and ex-Lords member Digby Jones, who criticized her accent and asked if she should receive elocution lessons.
The TV host, who is also a guest host on the One Show, stated that she informed Barbara Slater, the BBC’s head of sport, that she “didn’t want to be taken off the air, because then who wins?
Scott said: “I’ve received numerous tweets suggesting that I should be at home ironing or cooking.
“Those do not concern me, but occasionally people threaten my life, which must be regarded seriously.
I must alter attitudes by occupying this chair and discussing football.
England is among the favorites for the beginning of the Women’s European Championship on July 6.
On the first night, England will meet Austria at Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium under the direction of Dutch manager Sarina Wiegman, who won the 2017 Women’s European Championship with the Netherlands.
The Football Association reports that the number of women and girls playing female football has gradually increased throughout the years.
Scott stated that the game’s expansion has had negative consequences and that diversity within the teams must be addressed.
She stated that concrete pitches in council estate areas “are no longer as necessary” since “academies have sprung up two hours distant, and an inner-city street youngster lacks the financial resources to attend them.”
“When she looks at the England squad, one of the girls I tutor does not see herself represented… This should be addressed, “She stated,
Walgreens Boots Alliance admits that it is abandoning an auction of the main high street pharmacy in the United Kingdom because of the deteriorating financial climate.
In response to volatile global debt-financing markets, the owner of Boots the Chemist has abandoned plans to sell Britain’s largest high-street drugstore firm.
Walgreens Boots Alliance confirmed that, following a lengthy auction process, it had elected to maintain control of Boots.
The New York-listed healthcare behemoth stated in a statement that it had performed a comprehensive strategic review, but would now retain control of the “successful” Nottingham-based company.
“WBA is delighted by the productive discussions it has had with a variety of parties and the strong interest it has received from prospective buyers.”
“However, since the commencement of the process, the global financial markets have experienced major and unanticipated shifts.
“Because market uncertainty has had a significant influence on the availability of finance, no third party has been able to submit an offer that sufficiently reflects Boots and No7 Beauty Company’s high potential value.
Therefore, WBA has determined that it is in the best interests of its shareholders to continue focusing on the expansion and profitability of the two companies.
The decision will cast questions on the long-term strategy of a UK high street mainstay that had been deemed as non-core to the survival of its American parent company.
WBA stated on Tuesday that it was dedicated to investing in Boots’ future, but that it was open to pursuing a sale or other type of corporate action in the future.
In recent weeks, the £5.5bn auctions of Boots have stalled significantly, with the sole bidder to make a binding offer – a consortium of Apollo Global Management and Reliance Industries – putting its hopes on the perseverance of four lenders.
Apollo and the Indian behemoth Reliance have lined up Royal Bank of Canada, Credit Suisse, Santander, and Bank of America to assist in financing a substantial portion of the £5 billion-plus deal.
Boots was one of the largest leveraged buyouts in Europe; yet, mounting concerns about the global economy had prompted significant skepticism among the major banks that finance leveraged buyouts.
WBA was willing to keep sizable minority ownership in Boots for the deal to be finalized, due to the difficulty bidders were having in financing a deal.
Another potential bid from Asda’s owners, Mohsin and Zuber Issa and TDR Capital, had been even more precarious.
Goldman Sachs-advised WBA had been in negotiations with potential purchasers for months.
Finding a suitable solution for Boots’ £8 billion pension system, one of the largest private retirement funds in the United Kingdom, was one of the main obstacles facing prospective acquirers.
An apparent early frontrunner in the Boots auction, a joint proposal from Bain Capital and CVC Capital Partners, had withdrawn due to skepticism regarding the price tag of up to £6 billion.
Rosalind Brewer, chief executive officer of the WBA, stated, “We have now concluded a comprehensive examination of Boots and No7 Beauty Company; the result reflects quickly changing and difficult financial market conditions beyond our control.”
“It is an exciting time for these companies, who are perfectly positioned to continue capitalizing on future potential afforded by the expanding healthcare and beauty markets.
“The board and I continue to believe that Boots and No7 Beauty Company have solid fundamental value, and we will remain open to all alternatives to maximize shareholder value for these businesses and throughout our organization over the long term.”
Boots, like many retailers, experienced a tumultuous era, and as a result of a restructure of its Nottingham head office and store management teams, announced 4,000 job losses in 2020.
In addition, it has been involved in disputes with landlords over late rent payments.
Shortly before the pandemic, Boots designated approximately 200 of its UK outlets for closure in response to shifting buying preferences.
The history of Boots dates back to 1849 when John Boot opened a natural medicines business in Nottingham.
In 1933, the company launched its 1,000th store in the United Kingdom.
For WBA chairman Stefano Pessina, a decision to sell Boots would have marked the end of his engagement with one of Britain’s most recognizable brands.
The Italian octogenarian orchestrated the 2006 merger of Boots and drug wholesaler Alliance Unichem, with KKR acquiring the merged company for £11 billion the following year.
Walgreens purchased a 45 percent stake in Alliance Boots in 2012 and completed its acquisition of the company two years later.
A seven-year-old child sustained foot burns after treading on a discarded grill buried on the beach.
Alex Adenaike stated that her daughter, Simi, was now awaiting the results of a skin graft evaluation.
She had just arrived in Swansea Bay with her family when her mother heard her emit a horrible scream.
Swansea Council cautioned that barbecues remain hot for hours after use and that burying them in the sand is “just irresponsible and foolish.”
Ms. Adenaike of Mount Pleasant, Swansea, stated that her daughter was originally in too much pain to communicate.
“We had just arrived at the beach and were eager to have some fun,” she explained.
“Almost soon, the children began playing and were running about in the sand. My kid ran back after hearing a terrible cry and returning to the scene of the incident.
She was in such much anguish that she could not tell us what had occurred. Eventually, we observed that one of her feet was quite crimson and burned.
Other beachgoers assisted us in applying water to her burn, and we rushed her to the hospital.
The family discovered a disposable grill buried in the sand and was informed by other guests that a party had buried it before departing.
Ms. Adenaike remarked, “This is quite distressing, and my daughter will require additional treatment and potentially a skin graft.”
She stated that BBQ bins were nearby.
Tips for enjoying a safe beach barbecue:
Ensure that you are permitted to barbeque there. Place the grill on a non-combustible surface that will not melt. Do not bury used grilling equipment or coals.
Before discarding, rinse your grill with cold water. Use grill bins where they are supplied.
Remember to properly dispose of all other litter as well
The cabinet member for the community stated that grills remain dangerously hot for hours after usage and can cause severe burns.
He stated that the council had built special trash cans to prevent individuals from leaving trash behind.
Mr. Anderson continued, “Anyone who believes it is acceptable to bury barbecues or other rubbish in the sand during a day trip is reckless and inconsiderate of the injuries they can bring to beachgoers.”
Boris Johnson has referred to queries about his leadership as “political commentary” as rumors of potential defections of his MPs to the Labour Party intensify.
The prime minister told media yesterday from Germany that his premiership is now “solid” after surviving a vote of confidence “a couple of weeks ago.”
When asked by reporters about the reports, the prime minister stated, “These are matters for pundits.”
Mr. Johnson stated that his responsibility is to “carry on with the agenda” established by his government.
The prime minister told broadcasters, “I believe this falls within the area of political commentary, which I leave to great journalists like yourself.”
When pressed further about his allusion to “political commentary,” Mr. Johnson elaborated, “I believe it is my responsibility to discuss our policies, what we are doing for the country, and what has occurred at the G7.
Numerous people could provide an opinion on that.
When asked whether his premiership would end if lifelong Conservatives defected to the Labour party, the prime minister replied, “There are enough individuals who are paid to make a political commentary; leave that to them.”
“My job is to execute the agenda we’ve developed; it’s a tremendous agenda, and I’m extremely thrilled about it. We are making tremendous progress on all fronts; I’ll leave it to you to elaborate.”
The Sunday Times reported over the weekend that the Prime Minister was facing three new threats to his leadership, with MPs discussing defections, fresh letters of no confidence being sent, and mutinous cabinet ministers contemplating an attack.
The prime minister told media yesterday from Germany that his premiership is now “solid” after surviving a vote of confidence “a couple of weeks ago.”
George Eustice told that Mr. Johnson still has the backing of his cabinet despite the resignation of one of his top team members last week.
“The support of the prime minister is ours. “We endorse the prime minister,” stated the environment secretary.
“We work together, and we stick together during tough times.
“And even when you get disappointing election results, as we did last Thursday, we have a vital agenda that we’re working on, and that’s what we’re all concentrating on.”
It followed the prime minister’s statement that he was certain of winning the next election and was “actively considering” a third term, despite recent political instability.
“I am actively considering the third term and what could occur then. Mr. Johnson told reporters on the closing day of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kigali, Rwanda, “I will examine that when the time comes.”
A source from Downing Street afterward claimed that he may have been joking.
The Conservatives lost their former strongholds of Tiverton and Honiton to the Liberal Democrats and the red-wall seat of Wakefield to the Labour Party last week.
The electoral losses have renewed worries about Mr. Johnson’s leadership within the Conservative Party.
Oliver Dowden, who resigned as Tory co-chairman early Friday morning in the wake of the defeats, stated that he and Conservative supporters were “distressed and dismayed by recent events” and warned Boris Johnson that “someone must take responsibility.
“I believe he will achieve success,” he continued.
Labour has dared the Conservatives to hold an early general election, with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer calling Mr. Johnson, “Bring it on.”
Zara Aleena, 35, was assaulted while strolling along Cranbrook Road in Ilford, east London, near Gants Hill station. Later, she died in the hospital.
According to her acquaintances, the woman who was allegedly murdered by a stranger early on Sunday morning had a “gentle soul.”
A 29-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder in an “opportunistic stranger attack,” according to police.
Her friend Sophie commented, “She was the kindest and most optimistic person you could ever meet.”
“She illuminated the entire room,” she added. She could converse with anyone for hours.
On Sunday at approximately 02:45 BST, Ms. Aleena, a resident, was discovered by members of the public and paramedics responded to the assault scene.
Ch Supt Stuart Bell stated in a statement, “It is now thought she was the victim of an opportunistic stranger attack. Her family is aware of this, and they will be kept informed.”
He stated that there was no proof that any weapons were used in the assault that resulted in Ms. Aleena’s tragic head injuries.
A postmortem assessment indicated that she suffered “many severe injuries.”
A friend of the victim told that she declined a taxi ride home, opting instead to walk the two-mile distance. Ms. Aleena was renowned for being a swift walker who enjoyed walking.
Ch Supt Bell stated that a comprehensive forensic assessment of the crime scene and surrounding area had been conducted, as well as house-to-house interviews, while police worked “at pace” to determine what had occurred.
Other friends of Ms. Aleena described her as “very kind and lovely, she never spoke ill of anyone.”
Karina, who did not disclose her last name, and Sherit Nair characterized her as someone who cared for and looked after all of her friends and was a “lifeline” for her mother and grandmother since she did all of their shopping and managed their medicine.
The friends, who had known Ms. Aleena for years, reported that she graduated in October after years of rigorous study and had just been employed at the Royal Courts of Justice for a few weeks.
They suspect she was on her way home following a night out with friends when she was attacked, and she preferred to walk rather than drive.
Rafia Ahmed, a resident, stated that she and her friends were concerned about their safety and whether or not they should only venture out in groups.
“It terrifies you because it is actually on our doorstep. As a woman, you hesitate before venturing out alone”.
According to data collected by the Met Police, British Transport Police, and the City of London Police, a third of London’s 45 homicide victims in 2022 were female.
By the same time last year, there had been 58 homicide victims in London, 12 of them were female, including Sarah Everard, who was murdered by a police officer, and Sabina Nessa, a primary school teacher.
In the following days, a large police presence is anticipated to continue in the region.
Ch Supt Bell stated that he understood Ms. Aleena’s death to be a “terrifying incident”.
It is our responsibility to ensure that women do not have to alter their behavior and can go about their business feeling safe at whatever time of day or night.
“Officers cannot be present everywhere at all times. We urge members of the community, particularly women, to report any suspicious or unwanted behavior or to seek assistance if they feel endangered”.
