Latest news with #pro


Irish Daily Star
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Daily Star
Colorado terror attack: Horrific details of victims' injuries revealed by police
Multiple have suffered burn injuries, ranging from "very serious to more minor," after a suspect threw Molotov cocktails at a pro- Israel demonstration in Boulder, Colorado , on Sunday afternoon, according to Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn. At least one person has been confirmed as critically injured after the police chief said earlier that some of the injuries may prove to be life-threatening . A suspect has since been detained without incident by police after being treated for minor injuries. Recalling the incident, eyewitnesses described a shirtless male suspect throwing incendiary devices at a crowd of peaceful pro-Israel demonstrators pleading for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza at the Pearl Street Mall on Sunday afternoon. Read More Related Articles Melania Trump signals her 'anger' at Trump in humiliating and very public way Read More Related Articles Karoline Leavitt accused of 'plastic surgery' on five areas of her face 'to look like Melania' Video footage being circulated on social media shows the shirtless male suspect screaming at the crowd. Several law enforcement bodies were immediately dispatched to the scene. The FBI has branded the incident as an act of terrorism while local police have maintained that an investigation is still underway, with Chief Officer Redfearn adding that it is "too early to speculate motive." Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said in a statement that he was "closely monitoring" the situation while condemning the "hate-filled act," which he described as "unacceptable." President Donald Trump has also been briefed about the attack, CNN reports. A shirtless male suspect has been detained for allegedly throwing incendiary devices at a crowd of peaceful pro-Israel demonstrators Colorado's Attorney General Phil Weiser, a descendant of Holocaust survivors, said the attack appears to be "a hate crime given the group that was targeted." The pro-Israel gathering was organized by Run For Their Lives, a global initiative launched in the aftermath of the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack to demand the immediate release of the Israeli hostages in Gaza. Several chapters have been launched by Jewish communities across the country since the war, including in Boulder. Smoke billows from the scene after a suspect threw Molotov cocktails at the pro-Israel protestors Boulder's Jewish community released a joint statement about the attack. "We are saddened and heartbroken to learn that an incendiary device was thrown at walkers at the Run for Their Lives walk on Pearl Street as they were raising awareness for the hostages still held in Gaza," they wrote. "Our hearts go out to those who witnessed this horrible attack, and prayers for a speedy recovery to those who were injured." "When events like this enter our own community, we are shaken. Our hope is that we come together for one another. Strength to you all."


eNCA
2 days ago
- Politics
- eNCA
South Koreans rally for presidential hopefuls days before vote
Thousands of supporters of South Korea's two leading presidential candidates rallied in Seoul on Saturday, three days before a vote triggered by the ex-leader's disastrous declaration of martial law. Tuesday's election caps months of political turmoil sparked by Yoon Suk Yeol's brief suspension of civilian rule in December, for which he was impeached and removed from office. All major polls have put liberal Lee Jae-myung well ahead in the presidential race, with a recent Gallup survey showing 49 percent of respondents viewed him as the best candidate. Kim Moon-soo, from the conservative People Power Party (PPP) that Yoon left this month, trailed Lee on 35 percent. Organisers from both camps told police they expected tens of thousands of supporters to rally in Seoul on Saturday. In Seocho, in the south of the capital, Lee supporters gathered holding signs condemning Yoon's "insurrection". "I believe the outcome of the presidential election is already decided," Lee Kyung-joon, a Lee supporter, told AFP. "I came to today's rally to help condemn the forces involved in the martial law attempt," he said, referring to ex-president Yoon's political allies. Yoon is on trial for insurrection and Kwon Oh-hyeok, one of the organisers of Saturday's rally, said a Lee Jae-myung victory in Tuesday's vote was crucial to holding him accountable. "Isn't the People Power Party's decision to run in the snap election -- triggered by Yoon's removal from office -- an insult and a betrayal of the people?" Kwon told rally participants. "Fellow citizens, we must win by a landslide to deliver the justice this moment demands." In Gwanghwamun Square on the other side of town, conservatives -- including supporters of disgraced ex-leader Yoon -- filled the streets holding signs that read "Yoon Again" and "Early voting is invalid!" Yoon's martial law attempt, which he claimed was necessary to "root out" pro–North Korean, "anti-state" forces, emboldened a wave of extreme supporters including far-right YouTubers and radical religious figures. AFP | Pedro Pardo Many have spread unverified content online, including allegations of Chinese espionage and fraud within South Korea's electoral system. That sentiment was on full display at Saturday's conservative rally, where protesters called for the dissolution of the National Election Commission over a series of mishaps during the two-day early voting period this week. "People believe the root of all these problems lies with the National Election Commission, and that it should be held accountable," protester Rhee Kang-san told AFP. Ex-president Yoon sent a message to the conservative rally through a group led by a far-right Christian figure, which was read aloud by a supporter on his behalf. "Our country is now facing a grave and unprecedented crisis," Yoon's message said, urging people to vote for the PPP candidate Kim. "If we miss this opportunity, we may have to pay a heavy price in time and sacrifice, and the restoration of free democracy and a normal state may no longer be possible," the former president said, according to supporter Lee Dong-ho, who read the message aloud and shared it with AFP. - Deepening polarisation - Both frontrunner Lee Jae-myung of the liberal Democratic Party and conservative challenger Kim have cast the race as a battle for the soul of the country. More than a third of those eligible cast their ballots in early voting on Thursday and Friday, according to the election commission. AFP | ANTHONY WALLACE Overseas voting reached a record high, with nearly four-fifths of the 1.97 million eligible voters casting their ballots last week. Experts say that, regardless of who wins, South Korea's polarisation is likely to deepen. If Lee wins, the conservatives "will do whatever it takes to undermine him and his government, whether their logic makes sense or not", political analyst Park Sang-byung told AFP. "Unless the PPP distances itself from Yoon's extremist base, it could turn to misinformation -- such as unfounded claims of election fraud -- to mobilise the right against Lee. That's a troubling prospect," he said. Whoever succeeds Yoon will also have to grapple with a worsening economic downturn, one of the world's lowest birth rates, the soaring cost of living and bellicose neighbour North Korea. He will also have to navigate a mounting superpower standoff between the United States, South Korea's traditional security guarantor, and China, its largest trade partner. By Claire Lee


Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Zohran Mamdani: NYC mayoral candidate's family and education
Image credits: Getty Images Z ohran Mamdani is a New York State Assembly member from Queens and a democratic socialist who is currently one of the 12 candidates running to become the next mayor of New York City. Recently, Mamdani has been all over the news due to Trump ally and far-right political activist Laura Loomer, targeting him with a post warning, "Get ready for another 9/11." — LauraLoomer (@LauraLoomer) Loomer, who is known for her incendiary voice on social media posted on the social media platform X that "A pro HAMAS Muslim socialist is about to be the next Mayor of NYC" referring to Mamdani and his alignment towards Palestine. Ever since Mamdani and everything about him has been trending on the internet. While much is known about his political endeavours, here's all you need to know about his family life and education. Zohran Mamdani: Family life Image credits: Getty Images, X/@emmagf Zohran Kwame Mamdani was born on October 18, 1991 in Kampala, Uganda to parents Mira Nair and Mahmood Mamdani. Zohran's mom Mira Nair, is a popular Indian-American filmmaker known for her works such as 'Salaam Bombay!' and 'Monsoon Wedding'. His father is an Indian-born Ugandan academic who currently serves as a professor at Columbia University and also as a chancellor of Kampala International University in Uganda. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo Mamdani was provided his middle name 'Kwame' in honour of the Ghanaian politician Kwame Nkrumah. The 33-year-old recently got hitched to his wife, Rama Duwaji, a Syrian artist based in Brooklyn whose illustrations have appeared in The New Yorker, The Washington Post and more. Zohran Mamdani: Education Image credits: Getty Images At five, Mamdani and his family moved to Cape Town, South Africa where he attended the St. George's Grammar School. At seven, the Mamdanis moved to New York where he graduated from the Bank Street School of Children and Bronx High School of Science. He completed his bachelor's in Africana Studies from Bowdoin College in 2014. Zohran Mamdani: Next mayor of New York? Image credits: Getty Images Mamdani has been involved in organizations and politics ever since he was in college. During his time at Bowdoin, he co-founded the Students for Justice in Palestine. In 2017, he volunteered for the campaign of New York City Council candidate Khader El-Yateem, was the campaign manager for Ross Barkan's bid for New York State Senate and worked as a field organizer for democratic socialist Tiffany Caban's campaign for Queens District Attorney. He has been a member of the New York State Assembly since 2019 when he first announced a campaign in the 36th district which encompasses Astoria and Long Island City, in Queens. He is a practising Muslim, who follows the Shia branch of Islam. For his campaign as the candidate for the mayoral election in New York, Mamdani has been quite successful. His first fundraising cycle brought in more money than any other candidate. Additionally, he is aiming to freeze the rent, make buses and child care free, launch a Department of Community Safety and create city-owned grocery stores among other things. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change


France 24
2 days ago
- Politics
- France 24
South Koreans rally for presidential hopefuls days before vote
Tuesday's election caps months of political turmoil sparked by Yoon Suk Yeol's brief suspension of civilian rule in December, for which he was impeached and removed from office. All major polls have placed liberal Lee Jae-myung well ahead in the presidential race, with a recent Gallup survey showing 49 percent of respondents viewed him as the best candidate. Kim Moon-soo, from the conservative People Power Party (PPP) that Yoon left this month, trailed behind at 35 percent. Organisers from both camps told police they expected tens of thousands of supporters to rally in Seoul on Saturday. In Seocho, in the south of the capital, Lee supporters gathered holding signs condemning Yoon's "insurrection". "I believe the outcome of the presidential election is already decided," Lee Kyung-joon, a Lee supporter, told AFP. "I came to today's rally to help condemn the forces involved in the martial law attempt," he added, referring to ex-president Yoon's political allies. Yoon is currently on trial for insurrection, and Kwon Oh-hyeok, one of the organisers of Saturday's rally, said a Lee victory in the June 3 vote was crucial to holding him accountable. "Isn't the People Power Party's decision to run in the snap election -- triggered by Yoon's removal from office -- an insult and a betrayal of the people?" Kwon told rally participants. "Fellow citizens, we must win by a landslide to deliver the justice this moment demands." On the other side of town, in Gwanghwamun Square, conservatives -- including supporters of disgraced ex-leader Yoon -- filled the streets holding signs that read "Yoon Again" and "Early voting is invalid!" Yoon's martial law attempt, which he claimed was necessary to "root out" pro–North Korean, "anti-state" forces, emboldened a wave of extreme supporters including far-right YouTubers and radical religious figures. Many have spread unverified content online, including allegations of Chinese espionage and fraud within South Korea's electoral system. That sentiment was on full display at Saturday's rally, where protesters called for the dissolution of the National Election Commission over a series of mishaps during the two-day early voting period this week. "People believe the root of all these problems lies with the National Election Commission, and that it should be held accountable," conservative protester Rhee Kang-san told AFP. - Deepening polarisation - Both frontrunner Lee of the liberal Democratic Party and conservative challenger Kim have cast the race as a battle for the soul of the country. More than a third of those eligible cast their ballots in early voting on Thursday and Friday, according to the election commission. Overseas voting reached a record high, with nearly four-fifths of the 1.97 million eligible voters casting their ballots last week. Experts say that regardless of who wins, South Korea's polarisation is likely to deepen. If Lee wins, the conservatives "will do whatever it takes to undermine him and his government, whether their logic makes sense or not", political analyst Park Sang-byung told AFP. "Unless the PPP distances itself from Yoon's extremist base, it could turn to misinformation -- such as unfounded claims of election fraud -- to mobilise the right against Lee. That's a troubling prospect," he said. Whoever succeeds Yoon will also have to grapple with a worsening economic downturn, one of the world's lowest birth rates, the soaring cost of living and bellicose neighbour North Korea. He will also have to navigate a mounting superpower standoff between the United States, South Korea's traditional security guarantor, and China, its largest trade partner.


Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Who is Megha Vemuri, MIT president who spoke out about university's Israel ties
Megha Vemuri, the president of Massachusetts Institute of Technology's class of 2025 called out Israel in her speech during the institute's graduation ceremony. Asaduddin Owaisi on Friday reposted a post by the news channel Drop Site which showed class president Megha Vemuri condemning the university's ties with Israeli military and the defence industry. She said that last spring MIT's undergraduate body and student union voted to cut ties with the 'genocidal Israeli military'. Students stood in solidarity for the pro Palestine activist on the campus. She also said that suppression was faced by pro Palestine supporters especially from university officials. Speaking on the university's ties with Israel she claimed that Israel is the only foreign military with which MIT has active research ties with. Born and raised in Alpharetta, Georgia, Megha Vemuri has been a prominent figure in student life at MIT. She recently completed her undergraduate degree in computer science, neuroscience, and linguistics from MIT and served as president of the graduating class. According to her Linkdin account, in 2021 she began her Bachelor's degree at MIT and was also a part of class council. She did her high school from Alpharetta High School in Georgia and passed out in 2021. Beyond her academic achievements, she also has experience as a research assistant at McGovern Institute for Brain Research. She is also a part of Written Revolution, which is a MIT student group and provides a platform to revolutionary ideas. Before that she worked as a research intern with the UCT Neuroscience Institute in South Africa. At MIT she was also artificial Intelligence teacher and helped create a curriculam related to neuroscience for high school students in Jordan. In 2021, she received the National Merit Scholar award, that recognises high school students for their strong PSAT. She has also published two research articles based around bird species and their social behaviour.