Cash-strapped Beijing drinkers turn to unlicensed homebars

Hajj Pilgrimage in MeccaMore than 1.4 million Muslims have commenced this year's Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, following last year's tragic incident where 1,300 people died due to extreme heat. In response, Saudi authorities have enhanced safety measures, including planting trees, installing cooling units, and banning children under 12, while enforcing fines for unregistered pilgrims. The first day's rituals included changing into Ihram, circling the Kaaba, and traveling to Mina, with guidelines to mitigate heat effects...

Karine Jean-Pierre, former press secretary for Joe Biden, has left the Democratic Party and plans to publish a tell-all book titled Independent: A Look Inside a Broken White House, Outside the Party Lines, detailing her experiences during Biden's presidency, including the circumstances leading to his decision to not seek a second term. Her departure is seen as controversial among Democrats, especially following recent critical revelations about Biden's health and the party's struggles after losing to...

During the Run for Their Lives walk in Boulder, Colorado, Ed Victor witnessed a Molotov cocktail attack that injured 15 participants, including an 88-year-old Holocaust survivor. The suspect, 45-year-old Mohamed Soliman, was charged with attempted murder and a federal hate crime, reportedly targeting the group for its pro-Israel stance while chanting hate-filled slogans. This incident reflects a broader trend of escalating violence against the Jewish community amid rising antisemitism in the U.S. Full Article

Ukraine executed a significant drone attack, dubbed ‘Operation Spider Web,’ on Russian airfields, damaging or destroying at least 41 nuclear-capable fighter jets, including advanced models like the A-50 and Tu-160, with estimated losses reaching £5 billion. Following the strikes, which Putin labeled a serious threat, he warned of a necessary response, while Ukraine’s SBU revealed that Artem Tymofieiev masterminded the operation. In retaliation, Russia launched missile strikes on Ukrainian cities, resulting in civilian casualties and...

High winds and a warm, dry spring have led to a significant wave of wildfires in Canada, with over 200 fires reported, half of which are out of control, burning close to 2.2 million hectares—seven times the ten-year average. Saskatchewan and Manitoba have declared emergencies, prompting thousands to evacuate, while smoke from the fires has spread across the Atlantic, affecting air quality in the U.K. Alberta is also impacted, with major disruptions to oil production...

ACCORDING TO THE unofficial ideologue of Israel’s government, Bezalel Smotrich, the finance minister, claims the war in Gaza is progressing positively, with a new aid distribution plan seen as a “game-changer” against Hamas. Despite his previous opposition to ceasefires, he now supports the government's aim to defeat Hamas, although the ultra-Orthodox coalition partners may threaten the government over a military service exemption law for religious students. Smotrich's stance indicates his willingness to remain in the...