Social Media

Unsubstantiated content in incorrect format removed.

A man fell to his death from a 4,000-feet-high popular tourist spot in the Grand Canyon Skywalk, officials in Arizona said. The unidentified 33-year-old male was seen on the Skywalk at the Grand Canyon West before he was caught going over the edge and plummeting into the canyon below on 5 June around 9am, officials from the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue said in a Facebook Post.

Italy has moved to block a Chinese state-owned company from taking control of tyre making giant Pirelli. The decision is part of measures announced by Italy's government to protect Pirelli's independence. Beijing-controlled chemical giant Sinochem is Pirelli's biggest shareholder, with a 37% stake in the 151-year-old Milan-based firm. It comes as tensions between Beijing and the West are in focus as the US secretary of state visits China. On Sunday, Pirelli said in a statement to investors that the Italian government had ruled that only Camfin - a company controlled by Pirelli's boss Marco Tronchetti Provera - could nominate candidates to be its chief executive. Pirelli also said the government had decided that any changes to the company's corporate governance should be subject to official scrutiny.

Russia had means, motive and opportunity to destroy Ukraine dam, drone photos and information show. BERISLAV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia had the means, motive and opportunity to bring down a Ukrainian dam that collapsed earlier this month while under Russian control, according to exclusive drone photos and information obtained by The Associated Press. Images taken from above the Kakhovka Dam and shared with the AP appear to show an explosive-laden car atop the structure, and two officials said Russian troops were stationed in a crucial area inside the dam where the Ukrainians say the explosion that destroyed it was centered. The Russian Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. FULL STORY

At more than 7 feet tall when fully extended and with 360 degree vision they’re formidable enough to make any would-be lawbreaker think twice. But Robocop they are not. These are the two robots the Singapore Police Force has introduced to patrol Changi Airport following more than five years of trials. And they are just the first such robots the force plans to deploy across the Southeast Asian city-state to “augment frontline officers” in the years to come. The robots, which have been patrolling the airport since April, are meant to “project additional police presence” and serve as extra “eyes on the ground,” according to the force, which describes them as the latest addition to its “technological arsenal.” And they are no mere gimic. During an incident, says the force, the robots are able to enforce cordons and warn bystanders using their blinkers, sirens and speakers while they wait for human officers to arrive. Members of the public can directly communicate with the force by pushing a button on the robots’ front. The Singapore Police Force said Friday that more robots would be “progressively deployed” across the city-state. FULL STORY

The Commons could now vote for Boris Johnson's right to enter parliament to be revoked, given the former prime minister has already resigned as an MP. MPs will today decide whether to sanction Boris Johnson after the privileges committee found he repeatedly misled the House of Commons. The committee's damning report found the breaches were serious enough to recommend a suspension of 90 days - a sanction long enough to trigger a potential by-election. However, Mr Johnson's decision to stand down with immediate effect means MPs will no longer be voting on his future in parliament but instead on whether they agree with the report, and whether he should be stripped of his access to the Palace of Westminster. The former PM dramatically resigned this month, arguing a letter from the committee made clear "that they are determined to use the proceedings against me to drive me out of parliament". FULL STORY

Some Republican politicians and officials fanned out Sunday to denounce Donald Trump over his handling of classified documents but also to question the motives of the US justice department in bringing an unprecedented 37-count indictment against the former president. Former New Jersey governor Chris Christie, who announced a run for the Republic presidential nomination last week, called Trump’s conduct outlined in the criminal charges “deeply disturbing”, adding that “we have to have a full trial here and fair one”.

Former Attorney General Bill Barr called former President Trump a “consummate narcissist,” adding that the former president regularly “engages in reckless conduct.” “But the fact of the matter is, he is a consummate narcissist and he constantly engages in reckless conduct that puts his political followers at risk and the conservative and Republican agenda at risk,” Barr said Sunday on CBS’s “Face the Nation.”

Swiss voters back ambitious plans to save melting glaciers in referendum The Swiss population went to the polls on Sunday to vote on a bill requiring the country to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Voters in Switzerland have backed a new law aiming to slash fossil fuel use and reach zero emissions after a referendum. The legislation, which sets a target to reach net zero by 2050, was backed by 59% of voters, according to public broadcaster SRF. It went to a public vote after the nationalist Swiss People's Party pushed back against the government's proposals, saying such measures would cause energy bills to rise. The referendum took place on Sunday after a campaign by scientists and environmental groups argued the country's melting glaciers would soon vanish completely if greenhouse gas emissions were not reduced. Swiss glaciers experienced record melting last year, losing more than 6% of their volume. FULL STORY

New Partygate video ‘shows Tories dancing, drinking and laughing at lockdown rules’ A Partygate video appearing to show Tory staff drinking, dancing and joking about “bending” Covid lockdown rules has emerged, piling further pressure on the party just days after Boris Johnson was found to have lied about rules being followed. The video, said to have been taken on 14 December, 2020, when socialising inside was banned in parts of the UK, shows for the first time, staff joking about their Christmas party at the Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ) in London breaking the rules, according to The Mirror. The party was organised by the campaign team behind Shaun Bailey’s ultimately failed bid to become mayor of London and “formal disciplinary action” was taken against four staff members over the “unauthorised” event. The party itself had been previously documented when photos first emerged last year, and police dismissed an investigation citing a lack of evidence at the time, but the video has added further evidence of the scale of the celebrations within the Conservative party. FULL STORY

Then the "what's poppin" topic has a full calender for June !

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — President Joe Biden delivered an unapologetically economic populist message Saturday during the first rally of his reelection campaign, telling an exuberant crowd of union members that his policies had created jobs and lifted the middle class. Now, he said, is the time for the wealthy to “pay their fair share” in taxes. Biden spotlighted the sweeping climate, tax and health care package signed into law last year that cut the cost of prescription drugs and lowered insurance premiums — pocketbook issues that advisers say will be the centerpiece of his argument for a second term. “I’m looking forward to this campaign,” Biden said to cries of “four more years!” before adding, “We’ve got a record to run on.”

Antony Blinken arrives in Beijing - becoming first top US diplomat to visit China in five years US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Beijing. His arrival marks the first visit of a top American diplomat to China in five years, as relations between the two countries have become increasingly frosty. Having postponed a February trip after a suspected Chinese spy balloon flew over US airspace, Mr Blinken is set to become the highest-ranking US government official to visit China since President Joe Biden took office in January 2021. During his trip, he is expected to meet with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, China's top diplomat Wang Yi and possibly President Xi Jinping. The aim of the visit is to establish open and robust communication channels between Washington and Beijing, and to ensure the American/Chinese strategic rivalry does not spiral into conflict. Full Story

Philippines passenger ship catches fire at sea The Philippine Coast Guard has used a water cannon to extinguish a fire that broke out on a passenger ferry. The Esperanza Star was travelling between provinces when the blaze started off the island of Bohol. Officials said all 120 passengers and crew on board have been accounted for and no casualties were reported. The cause of the incident is still being investigated. Video story

Reported inflammatory remark removed.

Prince William beams with three children in special photograph released for Father's Day. Prince Louis, 5, has his arms around his father's shoulders as nine-year-old Prince George and Princess Charlotte, 8, sit either side. The photograph was taken on the Windsor Estate earlier this year by Millie Pilkington. This year marks the first time William will mark the occasion with his father as monarch. It comes after King Charles marked his first Trooping the Colour as sovereign with a Buckingham Palace balcony appearance.