STRASBOURG, France (Reuters) - Ursula von der Leyen has spent weeks trying to convince European Union lawmakers to back her for a second term as president of the European Commission. A day before a knife-edge vote, many said they still have not decided whether to support her. The European Parliament...

European Commission Chief Von Der Leyen Faces Precarious Vote on New Term

STRASBOURG (Reuters) -Ursula von der Leyen won a second term as president of the European Commission on Thursday after pledging to create a continental "defence union" and to stay the course on Europe's green transition while cushioning its burden on industry. Members of the European Parliament backed von der Leyen's...

EU Commission Boss Von Der Leyen Elected for Second Term

Ursula von der Leyen, who is expected to be confirmed as European Commission president for a second term on Thursday, is one of three women in the five top European Union jobs. Here is an overview of the four women and their male colleague, future EU council chief Antonio Costa:
- Von der Leyen: president - 
The first woman president of the bloc's executive arm was a relative unknown outside Germany when she was tapped for the top job in Brussels and barely made it over the line, voted in by the European Parliament with just nine votes to spare.

The EU's women-led top team

The EU Commission president has won a comfortable majority from MEPs for a second term, but the Left bloc remains resolutely opposed to Ursula von der Leyen. We speak to Manon Aubry, the co-president of the Left group, about why she voted against von der Leyen, while also discussing international issues such as Ukraine and Gaza. Aubry, a prominent member of the France Unbowed party, also tells FRANCE 24 that President Macron must “admit that he lost the (parliamentary) election” and appoint a prime minister from the left-wing alliance – the New Popular Front.

Macron must 'admit he lost the election': Left group co-president Manon Aubry

Business Insider

Estonia has ramped up its defense spending and believes it could hold out for a couple of weeks before reinforcements came, if Russia attacked.

Estonia says it could hold out against a Russian attack 'for a couple of weeks' before NATO arrives

A faulty software update continues to cause technological havoc worldwide, grounding flights, knocking down some financial companies and news outlets, and disrupting hospitals, small businesses and government offices. Story by Peter O'Brien.

Global cyber outage grounds flights, hits banks, hospitals

TEHRAN, Iran -- Iran’s newly elected president said his government will create "balance in relations with all countries” in line with national interests and the prerequisites for peace but stressed to the United States that his country “will not respond to pressure.”. Masoud Pezeshkian penned “My Message...

Iran's president vows balance with all countries, warns US country won't be pressured

BEIJING/HONG KONG (Reuters) -China's Communist Party removed its former foreign and defence ministers, Qin Gang and Li Shangfu, from its Central Committee on Thursday during a meeting of its largest top decision-making body, state news agency Xinhua reported. The two officials had been removed from their jobs last year. The...

China's Communist Party Removes Ex-Foreign, Defence Ministers From Top Body

The Gaza ministry said thousands of people living in crowded displaced persons' camps were now at risk of contracting the highly infectious disease that can cause deformities and paralysis. UN agencies have been campaigning for four decades to eradicate polio, most often spread through sewage and contaminated water, but there...

Poliovirus detected in Gaza sewage: Gaza, Israel health ministries

North Carolina State

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Town Talks

Death Disclosure Laws and Property Disclosures in North Carolina. In North Carolina, there is no legal obligation for homeowners or real estate agents to disclose if a death has occurred in a home, whether by natural causes, murder, or suicide. However, if a potential buyer directly inquires about any deaths on the property, the seller is required to provide that information.

If someone dies at your house do you have to tell a potential buyer? What North Carolina law says

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo took a long-awaited dip in the River Seine on Wednesday morning in a bid to prove the water is clean enough to host the outdoor swimming events at the Olympics later this month. A historic scene since swimming in the Seine has been prohibited for almost a century. The Seine had until recently repeatedly failed daily water quality tests.

'Political aim' achieved: Paris Mayor takes dip to prove Seine clean ahead of Olympics

The Associated Press

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Kenyan President William Ruto on Friday appointed the first 11 members of his Cabinet, retaining six former ministers in the key portfolios of defense and interior. Last week, Ruto dismissed all but one minister and said he would form a broad-based government that would help him address issues that led to monthlong protests. The protests started as calls for legislators to vote against a finance bill that was proposing new taxes and later morphed to calls for the president’s resignation over bad governance. The president on Friday retained the former ministers in interior and defense, but he has yet to appoint a finance minister, under whose area of responsibility the contentious budget falls. The country’s public debt has been increasing and Ruto defended the proposed taxes as a way to repay debt and increase internal revenue collection. Demonstrators have been calling for a fresh start accusing the former ministers of incompetence, corruption and displays of opulence amid the high cost of living.

Kenya president retains 6 former Cabinet ministers in first batch of appointments

California State

The HD Post

CALIFORNIA – Starting July 1, landlords will only be allowed to collect one month’s rent for the security deposit on a rental property. Assembly Bill 12, signed into law last October, says regardless of whether the residential property is unfurnished or furnished, only one month’s rent can be charged in addition to any rent for the first month paid on or before initial occupancy.

Law limiting security deposits goes into effect July 1

Reuters

BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Hungary does not want NATO to become an "anti-China" bloc, and will not support it doing so, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Thursday. In comments on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Washington, he also said Ukraine's admission to the military alliance would weaken unity in the group.

Hungary will not support NATO becoming 'anti-China' bloc, minister says

Defense News

Ljubljana aims to secure funds from the European Union to finance “the construction of joint military capabilities” together with other member states.

Slovenia picks howitzers, air defense systems and armored vehicles

Gosper, who served two stints as International Olympic Committee vice-president and was twice elected to its executive board, passed away after a short illness. "Kevan was one of the true giants of the Olympic movement, not just in Australia but globally," said Australian Olympic Committee president Ian Chesterman. "His loss...

Former IOC vice-president Kevan Gosper dies

The Independent

 Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban gave a blunt four-word response when he was asked what more Europe can do to tackle migration.Mr Orban attended a 47-member European Political Community summit at Blenheim Palace on Thursday (18 July), as Sir Keir Starmer promised to repair ties with European countries.Speaking to reporters, Mr Orban was asked: “What more can Europe do to tackle migration?”.He replied: “Don't let them in.”Asked about a Donald Trump victory in the US, Mr Orban said it would be “the best news for everybody”, describing the former president as a “man of the peace”.      Read More               Starmer and Zelensky embrace as Labour leader hosts first major European summitLabour MP tells Keir Starmer he’d swim through vomit to scrap two-child benefit capKeir Starmer addresses safety of politicians after assassination attempt on Trump      

Hungarian prime minister’s blunt response when asked what more Europe can do to tackle migration

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo finally swam in the Seine Wednesday after putting it off multiple times. The latest test of the water quality shows that the river is currently safe to swim in. But are Parisians ready to take the plunge? Katrine Lyngso reports.

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo swims in Seine to quell scepticism over water quality

The discovery of plants and animals found nowhere else on earth has meant that the largest rainforest in Southern Africa will now be better protected from damage caused by mining and logging. Mabu forest in Mozambique is part of a newly recognized ecoregion and home to the famous sky islands, and as it turns out, some pretty unique residents as well.

Mozambique: New discoveries could save Mabu rainforest

Hugo Auradou, 20, and Oscar Jegou, 21, were arrested in Buenos Aires two days after their team played Argentina in the city of Mendoza. Last Friday, they were charged with aggravated rape of a woman they had met in a bar after the match. The 39-year-old complainant says she was...

French rugby players accused of rape granted house arrest for now

NewsBreak

Five more years for Ursula von der Leyen: Can EU Commission chief stay the course?

Ursula von der Leyen has been as confirmed the head of the European Commission for a second five-year term. She won a comfortable majority on July...

Five more years for Ursula von der Leyen: Can EU Commission chief stay the course?

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