
Putin is downplaying skipping South Africa summit amid ICC warrant controversy
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday appeared to downplay not attending an economic summit in Johannesburg next month amid a controversy over an arrest warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court, saying he doesn't think his presence there is "more important than my presence here, in Russia.” Putin's remarks come more than a week after South African authorities said he will not attend the Aug. 22-24 gathering, which brings together a bloc of developing economies known as BRICS, because of the warrant, even though he was initially invited. The Kremlin said the Russian president will take part in the summit via video link, but didn't provide a reason for the decision and didn't say whether Putin had ever intended to attend in person. Asked about his reasons for not going, Putin told Russian journalists Saturday that he's “in contact with all colleagues," referring to the leaders of Brazil, India, China and South Africa, which together with Russia constitute the BRICS bloc, and that he doesn't “think my presence at the BRICS summit is more important that my presence here, in Russia, right now." “That's it,” Putin said, adding he will take part via video link and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will travel to the summit. Moscow has showcased the BRICS alliance as an alternative to the West’s global dominance, but this year’s meeting has proved awkward for Putin following the ICC’s move in March to indict him for war crimes relating to the abduction of children from Ukraine. South Africa is a signatory to the Rome treaty that formed the International Criminal Court and therefore has the obligation to arrest the Russian leader if he sets foot on South African territory. South Africa had given strong hints that it would not arrest Putin if he attended but had also been lobbying for him not to come to avoid the problem. Although Moscow dismissed the warrant, Putin has not traveled to a country that is a signatory to the ICC treaty since his indictment. Analysts have said that the public debate about whether the Russian leader would or would not travel to South Africa was in itself an unwelcome development for the Kremlin. Read More Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide
2023-07-30 06:20

3 prospects the Yankees could trade not named Jasson Dominguez
The New York Yankees are in desperate need of help. Which prospects could be traded to bolster this struggling lineup?As the Aug. 1 MLB trade deadline approaches, many fans are wondering what the New York Yankees can do to turn this season around. Some are wondering if they will buy at the deadl...
2023-07-30 06:17

Brittney Griner won't travel for next 2 games to focus on her mental health, team says
The Phoenix Mercury say All-Star center Brittney Griner will not travel for the team’s next two games so she can focus on her mental health
2023-07-30 05:54

Cubs activate third baseman Nick Madrigal from the 10-day injured list
The Chicago Cubs activated third baseman Nick Madrigal from the 10-day injured list Saturday and optioned infielder Miles Mastrobuoni to Triple-A Iowa
2023-07-30 05:53

Jets, Aaron Rodgers just got bulletin board material to last the whole season
Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets were handed easy bulletin board material, courtesy of the NFL Top 100.The New York Jets are pushing all their chips in. The Aaron Rodgers trade cemented the Jets as immediate title contenders, or at least title contender aspirants with the QB star-power necess...
2023-07-30 05:50

Donald Trump’s $475m ‘Hitler’ defamation lawsuit against CNN thrown out by federal judge
Donald Trump’s $475m defamation lawsuit against CNN has been thrown out by a federal judge. The former president made the assertion that the news network’s description of his election fraud claims as the “big lie” connected him to Adolf Hitler, the leader of Nazi Germany, Reuters noted. US Judge Raag Singhal at the federal court in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was nominated by Mr Trump in 2019. In a Friday night ruling, he said CNN’s statements were opinion and not fact, meaning that they cannot be the subject of a defamation claim. “CNN’s statements while repugnant, were not, as a matter of law, defamatory,” he wrote. A Trump spokesperson told Reuters: “We agree with the highly respected judge’s findings that CNN’s statements about President Trump are repugnant. CNN will be held responsible for their wrongful mistreatment of President Trump and his supporters.” The spokesperson didn’t indicate if Mr Trump intends to appeal the ruling. The lawsuit was filed in October of last year, citing five times that CNN published stories or broadcast comments calling Mr Trump’s claims that the 2020 election was fraudulent the “big lie” – a phrase also linked to Nazi Germany’s propaganda. The legal filing argued that it was “a deliberate effort by CNN to propagate to its audience an association between the plaintiff and one of the most repugnant figures in modern history”. The judge wrote that the use of the phrase “big lie” isn’t sufficient to establish a connection. “No reasonable viewer could (or should) plausibly make that reference,” he wrote. Since the start of his first campaign in 2015, Mr Trump has repeatedly attacked the media, with CNN being one of his main targets. In the face of indictments on both the state and federal levels, Mr Trump remains the favourite to win the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. Read More Trump indictment – live: GOP candidate booed off stage for criticising Trump as ex-president slams DeSantis ‘Poetic’: Trump takes stage in Iowa to song about going to prison GOP White House hopeful Will Hurd booed off stage for saying Trump is running to stay out of prison ‘Poetic’: Trump takes stage in Iowa to song about going to prison Ex-Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon joins push for third-party presidential bid as Democrats try to stop it Trump’s ‘Hitler’ lawsuit against CNN thrown out ahead of rally in Pennsylvania - live
2023-07-30 05:50

Hope leads Windies to first ODI win over India in four years
West Indies captain Shai Hope played the sheet anchor role to perfection in taking his team to a series-levelling six-wicket victory over India in the second One-Day International of a three-match series...
2023-07-30 05:49

Trump indictment – live: Trump’s ‘Hitler’ lawsuit against CNN thrown out ahead of rally in Pennsylvania
Donald Trump’s $475m defamation lawsuit against CNN has been thrown out by a federal judge ahead of his rally in Pennsylvania. The former president made the assertion the news network’s description of his election fraud claims as the “big lie” connected him to Adolf Hitler, the leader of Nazi Germany, Reuters noted. US Judge Raag Singhal at the federal court in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was nominated by Mr Trump in 2019. In a Friday night ruling, he said CNN’s statements were opinion and not fact, meaning that they cannot be the subject of a defamation claim. “CNN’s statements while repugnant, were not, as a matter of law, defamatory,” he wrote.Republican Presidential candidate Will Hurd was booed off the stage after he criticised former President Donald Trump at an Iowa Republican dinner. Meanwhile, Will Hurd, a former CIA officer and Texas representative, was the only candidate to go after Mr Trump at a GOP dinner on Friday. “Listen, I know the truth is hard. But if we elect Donald Trump we are willingly giving Joe Biden four more years in the White House,” he said. Read More Trump hit with more charges as Mar-a-Lago worker added to documents case Iran war plans, deleting security footage, a third defendant: Key takeaways from new Trump documents charges Carlos De Oliveira: Who is second Trump aide now charged in Mar-a-Lago secret documents case
2023-07-30 05:46

Victims of Larry Nassar sue university over alleged ‘secret decisions’ in sex abuser’s case
Victims of convicted sex offender and former Michigan State University sports doctor Larry Nassar have sued the college over allegations that officials made “secret decisions” against releasing documents in the case. The women and their relatives have accused MSU of holding secret votes that led to the university’s refusal to hand over more than 6,000 documents to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel‘s office. Ms Nessell led an investigation into what the school knew about the abuse perpetrated by Nassar, but the probe ended in 2021 because the university didn’t provide documents related to the scandal. The victims said they are not seeking money in the suit filed on Thursday. Instead, they said they want accountability from the university and its elected trustee board. “We contend that board members made a behind-closed-doors secret decision not to release the records in blatant violation of the Open Meetings Act,” Azzam Elder, an attorney representing the victims, said in a press release. “They followed that up with violations of the Freedom of Information Act when we requested emails that might show they discussed and made a closed-door decision on the matter in violation of law.” Nassar has admitted to molesting some of the US’s top gymnasts under the guise of medical treatment. The disgraced doctor was convicted in 2018 to 40 to 175 years in prison over ten counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and possession of child sexual abuse images. At the time the accusations against him emerged in 2016, Nassar had been employed by MSU for more than two decades, with some of the athletes who were molested alleging they reported the abuse since the 90s. MSU did not immediately respond to The Independent’s request for comment. In the past, the university has cited attorney-client privilege as the reason they refused to release documents in the case. “This is about who knew what, when at the university,” victim Melissa Brown Hudecz told the Associated Press ahead of Thursday’s lawsuit filing. “We can’t heal as a community until we know that everyone who enabled a predator is accountable. By protecting the 6,000 secret documents and anyone named in them, the board is adding to survivors’ trauma with their lack of institutional accountability.” The lawsuit comes just days after Nassar was stabbed multiple times by another prisoner in a federal prison in Florida. The prisoner who stabbed Nassar said that he responded with violence following alleged comments made by Nassar that “he wanted to see girls play in the Wimbledon women’s tennis match,” according to the AP. Read More Formed to combat Olympic sex abuse, SafeSport center is struggling 6 years after opening Michigan urologist to stand trial on sexual assault charges connected to youth hockey physicals Woman left topless in prison cell accuses police of sexual assault as hours of footage ‘missing’
2023-07-30 05:26

NFL Rumors: Vikings put unhappy Pro Bowler on trade block
The Vikings already let go of several pieces in this offseason's fire sale. One more player, star pass-rusher Danielle Hunter, could be heading out of Minnesota as well.As the 2023 NFL season creeps closer and closer, many teams are going through the same phase: making disgruntled players h...
2023-07-30 05:23

Jimmy Graham is grateful to be back with the Saints and confident he can still play
Jimmy Graham offers several reasons why he could be a playmaker again for the New Orleans Saints
2023-07-30 05:20

Morocco wants normal ties with Algeria- king says
RABAT King Mohammed VI said on Saturday Morocco hopes for a return to normality and open borders with
2023-07-30 05:17