The judge overseeing U.S. Senator Robert Menendez’s corruption trial struggled to find impartial jurors due to bias towards law enforcement and cooperating government witnesses.
Accounting firms and associations are emphasizing the importance of addressing the rising cost of business and undertaking tax reform ahead of the federal budget release. RSM Australia is advocating for the permanent incorporation of business loss carry back offset rules into Australia’s income tax regime to encourage investment and bolster business resilience.
Fact: Environmental groups are demanding the immediate publication of the final findings of an administrative investigation into illegal interventions in Akamas.
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino believes that finishing in a European qualifying spot would give the club hope of improving in the next campaign.
The government is preparing subsidies for elderly people who require long-term care in nursing homes but face financial constraints.
The European Commission will reinforce Cyprus’ firefighting fleet with two aircraft this summer, amid increased risks of forest fires.
The Paphos Municipality addressed criticism on social media about the lack of bus stop shelters, clarifying that the responsibility for installing new shelters lies with the Ministry of Transport. The controversy stemmed from a photo of two women at an unsheltered bus stop, with the Municipality stating that the women have chosen to live without basic amenities.
Israel’s ground and air campaign in Gaza has killed more than 35,000 people, mostly civilians, and driven most of the enclave’s 2.3 million people from their homes. The Palestinian Health Ministry reported a death toll of 34,844, with 21,058 counted from bodies arriving at morgues and 3,715 reported online by family members. The ministry estimates that around 10,000 bodies are uncounted. The credibility of the death toll is supported by public health experts and the World Health Organization, although there are specific questions about certain casualties. Hamas does not control the figures, as the Health Ministry also answers to the Palestinian Authority ministry in the West Bank. Israeli officials have questioned the figures, but the military has acknowledged their reliability. Israel estimates that 14,000 Hamas fighters and 16,000 Palestinian civilians have been killed in the war. The Palestinian Health Ministry reports that over 70% of the dead are women and children under 18, with children representing slightly over 40% of all those killed.
Georgia’s parliament passed a “foreign agents” bill in its final reading, which now goes to President Salome Zourabichvili for approval. The bill requires organizations receiving over 20% of their funding from abroad to register as foreign agents. Critics have compared the bill to Russian legislation and have called for further protests. The European Union has warned that the bill could hinder Georgia’s integration with the bloc. Despite opposition, the ruling party in Georgia insists that the bill is necessary for transparency and to combat foreign influence.
A shortage of banknotes in Gaza is causing chaos, with only a few ATMs operational in the southern city of Rafah. Residents are facing long waits and sometimes paying fees to access cash, as armed gangs exploit the situation. The conflict has led to a lack of liquidity in the enclave, with hundreds of millions of shekels stuck in bank vaults. Essential goods remain scarce, and some merchants are profiteering from the shortage by charging high commissions. Gaza’s economy relies heavily on Israel, which has blocked cash imports since the start of the war.