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French President Emmanuel Macron is undertaking a last-minute reshuffling in government agencies in order to prevent National Rally leader Jordan Bardella from governing as he wishes, former party leader Marine Le Pen believes. The RN is widely expected to gain a plurality in this Sunday’s runoff.
RN and its allies secured the lead in the first round of the snap parliamentary election last week, while projections in the French media anticipate the party ultimately winning between 230 and 280 seats in the 577-seat National Assembly. “It’s a kind of administrative coup d’état,” Le Pen told France Inter radio on Tuesday, commenting on press reports that claimed Macron was rushing to appoint senior civil servants, including to top EU jobs. Over the past days, Macron reportedly appointed several top officials, including the military governor of Paris, the new chief of the General Staff of the French Air Force, the new director of the EU at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and three ambassadors. He also proposed in Brussels last week reappointing Thierry Breton as France’s European commissioner. According to Le Pen, “the aim” of such appointments is “to prevent Jordan Bardella from governing the country as he wishes,” should the RN win a majority in Sunday’s runoff. Le Pen said that if her party came to power, it would reverse these appointments so it “could govern.” Candidates across France have withdrawn ahead of Sunday's second round of parliamentary elections. This concerns 131 candidates from the left-wing coalition and 82 from President Macron's party, French media report. They are withdrawing as a strategy against Marine Le Pen's right-wing radical Rassemblement National (RN). In France, voting takes place in districts. Only the winner of a district gets a seat in parliament. By leaving only one candidate in most districts against Le Pen's party, the parties hope to still win and thus prevent a right-wing radical majority in parliament. For example, left-wing French voters do not vote for their preferred party, but for the party that has the greatest chance of winning against RN. When you want to counter the electorate’s vote, the results of elections, by appointing people of your own, so that they prevent you within the state from being able to carry out the policy that the French want … I call that an administrative coup d’état,” Le Pen concluded. Macron called early parliamentary elections after the RN’s strong performance in last month’s European Parliament elections. The party formerly led by Le Pen and now by Bardella won 30 of the 81 French seats in the EU legislature. The first round of early parliamentary elections was held on June 30. The RN and its allies came in first with 33.15% of the vote. The left-wing alliance New Popular Front took second place with 27.99%, while Macron’s Ensemble coalition garnered just 20.04%. The Blog Tags Widget will appear here on the published site.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in Astana, where the leaders of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) members and observer states are expected to discuss a wide range of global and regional issues on July 3-4.
The Russian president’s plane landed in Astana around 5am local time on Wednesday, according to the Kremlin. Putin’s program “includes a range of very important bilateral contacts,” as Moscow considers the summit to be a good opportunity for talks with the leaders who will attend, according to foreign policy aide Yury Ushakov. Ahead of the main protocol events, Putin is expected to meet the leaders of Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Mongolia, as well as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Xi Jinping of China. The Russian leader is also expected to hold talks with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The SCO was founded in 2001, and initially included Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. In 2017 the organization was joined by India and Pakistan, while Tehran became a full-fledged member in 2023. The Blog Tags Widget will appear here on the published site.
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US President Joe Biden said on July 1 the Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity set a “dangerous precedent” that could turn presidents into kings, and called on the American people to “dissent” by rejecting Donald Trump in November’s election.
In calm, measured remarks from the White House, Mr Biden said the decision meant Trump was highly unlikely to go on trial before the Nov 5 election for his role in seeking to overturn the results of the 2020 election. The US Supreme Court found on July 1 that Trump cannot be prosecuted for any actions that were within his constitutional powers as president, but can be for private acts, in a landmark ruling recognising, for the first time, any form of presidential immunity from prosecution. “This nation was founded on the principle that there are no kings in America,” Mr Biden said, adding that no one is above the law. With the Supreme Court decision, he said, “that fundamentally changed”. He said the court’s decision meant there were now virtually no limits on what a president could do. “It’s a dangerous precedent, because the power of the office will no longer be constrained by the law,” he said. “The only limits will be self-imposed by the president alone.” Mr Biden, 81, was making his first set of remarks at the White House since his shaky debate against Trump last week led to calls for him to step aside as the Democratic Party’s standard-bearer for the election. After he stumbled over his words on the Atlanta debate stage, his remarks and comportment will be scrutinised for signs that he is up to the job of running for re-election and of governing the country for four more years. Mr Biden said he sided with liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who wrote that she feared for US democracy in her dissent in the 6-3 decision. “Now the American people will have to do what the court should have been willing to do, but will not. The American people will render judgment on Donald Trump’s tenure,” he said, alluding to the November presidential election. “I concur with Justice Sotomayor’s dissent today,” he added. “So should the American people dissent. I dissent. May God bless you all. May God help preserve our democracy,” Mr Biden said in closing. Asked on Fox News about the President’s remarks, House Speaker Mike Johnson called them “despicable” and “dangerous”, and accused the President of “trying to undermine the Supreme Court”. Mr Biden is running for re-election against Trump and has been sharply critical of his rival’s actions related to the Jan 6, 2021, raid on the US Capitol by Trump’s supporters, who believed Trump’s false claims that he had won the 2020 election. The Blog Tags Widget will appear here on the published site.
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Didier Deschamps stuck with the 4-3-3 system he’s been playing recently, but with a crucial change: Antoine Griezmann in for Ousmane Dembélé. These are obviously two very different types of player, but I suspect Deschamps was thinking less about tactics and more about the fact that Dembélé just hasn’t played well recently. He kept the same structure to the side, with that midfield three of Aurélien Tchouaméni, N’Golo Kanté and Adrien Rabiot. Domenico Tedesco also had decisions to make. Belgium played a kind of 4-4-2 that became a 3-4-3 in possession. The big call was moving Kevin De Bruyne into a deeper double pivot role next to Amadou Onana. It was not great. Attentive readers are currently saying “But Grace! You said to play De Bruyne deeper a few days ago and they did it!” And it’s true, I did say that. But come on, Domenico, this deep? My idea was to make the 4-2-3-1 more of a 4-3-3. Tedesco had him receiving the ball from the centre backs. Look at the passmap from Between the Posts to understand how not to progress the ball. They just couldn’t get it to any of their dangerous players. France, therefore, controlled the territory pretty well. But they didn’t exactly do a lot with that control. I don’t understand the benefits of this 4-3-3 system Deschamps is playing. Playing Tchouaméni, Kanté and Rabiot together is aesthetically awful, yes, but it was totally unnecessary against a flimsy Belgian double pivot. Jérémy Doku was a bigger problem out wide. I would’ve moved Rabiot over to the right flank to help double up on Doku, then had Griezmann get involved in the middle. As it was, France struggled to create through the midfield, and Griezmann looked uncomfortable on the right. Once again, it all had to happen through Kylian Mbappé and the left flank. France took mediocre chance after mediocre chance throughout this game, and one of them finally went in! Randal Kolo Muani struck a pretty speculative shot from wide that took a huge deflection of Jan Vertonghen (who you probably assumed had retired a few years ago) to go in. So it goes. France were certainly the better side here, but that doesn’t mean they were particularly good. Next up they will be facing another side that did not look particularly good today. I can already sense what the narrative is going to be for that one, so let’s talk about the other game.
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The caretaker Dutch government had finalized preparations for the expected transfer of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine before leaving office, lawmakers have been told.
The Netherlands is part of a group of European countries that have pledged to donate US-made military aircraft from their fleets to Kiev. The first of 24 F-16s promised by the Dutch government will be transferred “soon,” according to a letter sent to the parliament by outgoing Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren. The correspondence informed lawmakers that all necessary permits for the donation had been issued. MPs will be informed about the progress of the transfer confidentially, Ollongren said in the letter, which was published on Monday. Her tenure as defense minister has now ended, with Prime Minister Dick Schoof and his cabinet assuming power on Tuesday. The new government was formed after months of coalition talks following an election last November. The transition is not expected to significantly affect the Netherlands’ policy on Ukraine, according to national media, since the coalition agreement between four Dutch centrist and right-wing parties includes a pledge for continued support for Kiev. Ukraine claims that it needs F-16s to defend against Russian long-range missile barrages and to challenge Moscow’s air superiority over the front line. Moscow has described the long-expected donations as dragging Western nations further into the Ukraine conflict and raising the risk of direct confrontation with Russia. Ukrainian officials have said F-16 missions will be conducted from airfields inside Ukraine, but reserve aircraft will be kept at bases belonging to Eastern European NATO member states. Moscow has warned that any location from which fighter jets take off to attack Russian targets will be fair game for retaliation. The plan to use US-made aircraft against Russia is undermined by the limited Western capacity to train Ukrainians how to operate them, according to media reports. Kiev was promised as many as 60 jets, but will only have 20 pilots ready to fly them this year, Politico revealed last month. On Tuesday morning, the Russian Defense Ministry released footage showing a missile strike at Ukraine’s Mirgorod airfield in Poltava Region. The Russian military said the attack, which reportedly took place on Monday, destroyed five Ukrainian Su-27s fighter jets and damaged two others. The Blog Tags Widget will appear here on the published site.
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Krungthep Turakij, aka Bangkok Biz News, become fourth Nation group to introduce an AI-generated news reader.
Following Nation TV, Post Today and Thansettakij, another Nation Group media arm, Krungthep Turakij, also known as Bangkok Biz News, has launched an artificial intelligence (AI) reporter named “KATIE” on its platforms. The move strengthens Krungthep Turakij’s position as Thailand’s top economic, business and investment news channel with over 37 years of experience. KATIE, an AI-generated female reporter, joined Krungthep Turakij’s panel of key opinion leaders this week. She will update the latest events in Thailand and around the world in the “Krungthep Turakij News Update” programme, available daily on its website and via social media channels. “2024 is truly the year of AI. Although there has been continuous AI development in the past, its practical applications have only started to become clear this year. We believe that AI will play an increasingly significant role from now on. It is not a fad, but a technology embedded in every dimension of life,” Nation Group vice chairman Somchai Meesen said. "Nation Group is continuously adapting to every technological trend and innovation that enhances the news consumption experience,” he went on. “We are keen to utilise these advancements to deliver more comprehensive, accessible and verifiable news.” Somchai added that Krungthep Turakij’s website recently introduced a feature that reads the news in three languages—Thai, Chinese, and English. This move reflects Nation Group’s belief that the world of news consumption can expand beyond boundaries, allowing foreigners to follow Thailand's latest events directly. “As Thailand's leading economic and investment media, we continuously strive to improve our platforms and embrace new technologies that enhance our news delivery capabilities,” added Krungthep Turakij managing director Wirayut Saengkrachang. “We have closely monitored the advancements in AI technology, aiming to utilise them in our operations. Our news team has already used AI in various aspects," he said. "The launch of 'KATIE' marks another proud milestone for us. While AI may not yet be seamlessly human-like, it is similar to humans in needing constant learning and development. There is much more for us to learn and improve. As long as we do not stop, we will keep getting better every day.” The Blog Tags Widget will appear here on the published site.
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Flare-ups between Chinese and Philippine vessels in the South China Sea have drawn greater regional and even global attention, posing a challenge to Beijing’s preference for a bilateral approach to resolving maritime disputes.
Beijing is deeply concerned about the internationalisation of the South China Sea dispute, according to observers, even as its high-handed approach to asserting its expansive claims to the resource-rich waters spark concern, criticism and even resentment. “The South China Sea issue has long been internationalised, which is definitely not something Beijing would like to see,” a senior researcher from the government-linked Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) said on condition of anonymity. “But that’s the new reality we have to live with.” High-seas confrontations have intensified as Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr, unlike his Beijing-friendly predecessor Rodrigo Duterte, pursues a “paradigm shift” in policy to counter China’s maritime assertiveness, bolstering Manila’s defence alliance with the US despite repeated warnings from Beijing. Manila has also expanded its network of security partnerships – including with Japan, Australia, India and the European Union – and dialled up protests against what it says is Beijing’s aggressive behaviour in the disputed waters. More worryingly for Beijing, according to the CASS researcher, a growing number of countries in Asia, Europe and beyond have followed Washington’s lead in not only putting forward Indo-Pacific strategies but also sending warships to the South China Sea for patrols and exercises. As a focal point in the intensifying US-China feud, the South China Sea dispute has consistently been brought up at the Group of 7 and Nato summits and various international security gatherings. “We oppose China’s militarisation, and coercive and intimidation activities in the South China Sea,” G7 leaders said in a statement on June 14 following their annual summit. They also expressed “serious concern about [China’s] increasing use of dangerous manoeuvres and water cannons against Philippine vessels”. The CASS researcher said that “from China’s perspective, it is not just a maritime dispute, but more importantly part of the rivalry between a rising power and an established power”. “There is clearly a concerted effort led by the US to internationalise the South China Sea issue, with Manila’s courtship of external powers to push back against Beijing.” With a significant increase in both the frequency and ferocity of maritime incidents, the expert warned of the rising danger of an unintended conflict where the US and its allies could be dragged in. The US State Department on June 18 condemned China’s “escalatory and irresponsible actions” – renewing a warning about being obliged to defend the Philippines under a 1951 treaty – a day after yet another collision between Chinese and Philippine vessels in disputed South China Sea waters. Both sides traded blame over the incident, with Manila saying eight sailors were injured and two rubber boats were damaged when the Chinese coastguard took “aggressive and reckless” action in intercepting a routine resupply mission to a Philippine military outpost in the contested Second Thomas Shoal, known in China as Renai Jiao. Beijing put the responsibility for the confrontation “entirely with the Philippine side”, saying the handling of the incident by the Chinese coastguard was “reasonable, legal and professional”. The Blog Tags Widget will appear here on the published site.
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Russia is seeking China’s help in developing an Arctic sea route that could almost halve the journey time between Europe and Asia, although the heightened geopolitical risk and Moscow’s suspicion about Beijing’s intentions in the region may limit their scope for cooperation. Russia hopes the Northern Sea Route (NSR) will become a year-round shipping lane as global warming makes it possible to send ships through waters that were previously only passable in summer. Some shipping is already using the route, but at the moment it is only passable for around 20 to 30 days a year along a 5,600km stretch between the Kara Sea, off the northwest coast of Siberia, to the Bering Strait, which separates Russia from Alaska. But as more of the Arctic’s ice melts, the route may eventually be extended to Scandinavia and offer easier access to the North Sea than the Baltic. Travelling between Shanghai and St Petersburg along this route would take a cargo ship around 20 days, compared with around 36 days via the Red Sea and Suez Canal, according to Russian media. Cargo carried along the route could reach 270 million tonnes by 2035 - a nearly 10-fold increase on 2022, according to Rosatom, the Russian agency that oversees the sea lane. The impact of Western sanctions following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has increased Moscow’s sense of urgency in developing and expanding its use. Although China relies on the sea to transport more than 60 per cent of its trade by volume so the route could help offset the risk from using existing routes, Wang Yue, a doctoral researcher at Tampere University in Finland, said “Russia is significantly more motivated than China” to develop the route. Wang, who specialises in security and geopolitics in the Arctic, said the importance the two countries attached to the route “greatly varied”. “For Russia, the Arctic region is a top strategic and economic priority, and the NSR is crucial for transporting its abundant Arctic resources to the market,” he said. “In contrast, while the Arctic is important to China, it is just one of many emerging strategic areas, and the NSR is merely a valuable alternative to traditional shipping routes.”
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Visual delights wow visitors to Phitsanulok’s Phu Hin Rong Kla as the begonias come into bloom in The Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park in Phitsanulok province.
It is all abloom with the colourful, heart-shaped leaves of Begonia Arenosaxa, a flowering plant in the Begoniaceae family that is often found in rainforests during the rainy season. Visitors to the Lan Hin Pum – Pha Chu Thong natural trail will be treated to a spectacular vista of reddish leaves spread all over the ground, adding more colour to the already verdant rain forest. Situated about 130km from Phitsanulok city centre, the 307 sq km mountainous park extends east into Loei and Phetchabun provinces nearly 40 km from the Laotian border. The park has recorded sightings of rare wild animals in its forest areas including leopards, leopard cats, Asian black bears, Asian golden cats, hog badgers, serow and barking deer, as well as more than 200 bird species. The park is also historically significant as it was the scene of fighting between communist insurgents and the Royal Thai Armed Forces between 1968 and 1972, which resulted in the insurgents surrendering with the help of the Hmong community present in the area. The Blog Tags Widget will appear here on the published site.
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Constructor Standings
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FORMULA 1 QATAR AIRWAYS AUSTRIAN GRAND PRIX 2024 - Top 10 Sprint Qualifying Results
FORMULA 1 QATAR AIRWAYS AUSTRIAN GRAND PRIX 2024 - Sprint Race Results
FORMULA 1 QATAR AIRWAYS AUSTRIAN GRAND PRIX 2024 - Top 10 Qualifying Results
FORMULA 1 QATAR AIRWAYS AUSTRIAN GRAND PRIX 2024 - Race Results
2024 Formula 1 World Championship Drivers' Standings
2024 FORMULA 1 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP CONSTRUCTOR STANDINGS
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