Author: Olive Metuge
The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the fraud conviction of a Philadelphia-area government contractor. Stamatios Kousisis was found guilty, along with Alpha Painting and Construction, after they failed to comply with a contract provision intended to promote diversity. Prosecutors insisted that federal wire fraud laws apply equally to cases in which the defendant uses deception to enter into a transaction that doesn’t harm the victim financially. On Thursday, the justices agreed. The court in recent years has resisted what it sees as the federal government’s overly expansive readings of federal fraud laws, so Thursday’s decision was a relatively rare victory…
Sand, sea, and zero spend…Not every great beach day in Dubai comes with a price tag. Some of the city’s best stretches of sand are completely free. Whatever you’re in the mood for – a quiet day by the water, a scenic swim, or a lively spot for people-watching – these free beaches in Dubai have it all. Here are 7 of the best free beaches in Dubai 2025 where the only thing you need to bring is yourself, a towel, and maybe some sunscreen.Click through the gallery 3 of 12 Kite BeachFor those who like a bit of action…
Getty ImagesCivil defence teams carry a body after the strike in Khan YounisAn Israeli air strike on Gaza hit the home of a doctor and killed nine of her 10 children, the hospital where she works in the city of Khan Younis says.Nasser hospital said one of Dr Alaa al-Najjar’s children and her husband were injured, but survived. Graeme Groom, a British surgeon working in the hospital who operated on her surviving 11-year-old boy, told the BBC it was “unbearably cruel” that his mother, who spent years caring for children as a paediatrician, could lose almost all her own in…
Warning: This story includes an archival image of dead bodies.Canada’s relationship with Israel has travelled a long way since 2015, when prime minister Stephen Harper and aspiring rival Justin Trudeau competed to claim the title of best friend of the Jewish state.After winning his majority in 2011, Harper realigned Canada’s votes at the United Nations, joining a firmly pro-Israel bloc comprised of the U.S. and a group of Pacific island microstates that normally follow Washington’s lead. That bloc would often be joined by a wider circle of pro-Israel nations; on the most controversial matters, however, its core members voted alone with Israel…
The Trump administration on Friday night withdrew its request to pause an order by a federal judge in San Francisco that blocked the federal government from implementing large-scale reductions in the federal workforce. In a two-paragraph letter, U.S. Solicitor General D. John Sauer told the justices that Senior U.S. District Judge Susan Illston had issued a new order, known as a preliminary injunction, to replace an earlier order that they had asked the justices last week to pause. The government has now gone to a federal appeals court, Sauer explained, asking it to put Illston’s new order on hold. If the…
Chic sips, this way… Sharjah is emerging as quite the spot for cool and creative cafes. Serving up quality coffee and even better vibes, these are the best cafes in Sharjah perfect for your next get-together in the UAE’s creative capital.Parka BakehouseIn a modern barn-style setting, Parka Bakehouse is new in Aljada. Its glass walls flood the breezy space with natural light, and inside shades of cream and warm woods make the space feel cosy and modern. The breakfast menu puts regional twists on classic, with poached eggs served in a spinach and pistachio sauce, avo on top of zaatar labneh…
This article was produced for ProPublica’s Local Reporting Network in partnership with the Invisible Institute and co-published with the Chicago Sun-Times and WBEZ. Sign up for Dispatches to get stories like this one as soon as they are published. Reporting Highlights Repeat Offenders: Chicago police failed to stop troubling behavior in their ranks, records show. Over a dozen officers faced multiple sexual misconduct allegations. Zero Tolerance: The Chicago Police Department adopted a new sexual misconduct policy in 2023 amid controversy. Records show the department has struggled to implement it. First-of-Its-Kind Analysis: The Invisible Institute and ProPublica reviewed more than 300…
The European Union’s trade chief said the 27-member bloc is committed to securing a trade deal with the US based on “respect” not “threats”.It comes after US President Donald Trump threatened to slap a 50% tariff on all goods sent to the US from the EU.”The EU’s fully engaged, committed to securing a deal that works for both,” EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic said after a call with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.”EU-US trade is unmatched & must be guided by mutual respect, not threats. We stand ready to defend our interests.”Earlier on Friday, Trump…
U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says he has talked to Canadian health officials about sparing a flock of ostriches in British Columbia that have been ordered killed due to avian flu fears.In a statement posted to X, Kennedy says that he spoke with Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) president Paul MacKinnon on Thursday to discuss the fate of the roughly 400 ostriches at Universal Ostrich in Edgewood, B.C. where avian flu was detected in two dead birds in December 2024.In a letter to MacKinnon and posted to X, Kennedy reiterates that he is “respectfully requesting” the CFIA “consider not culling the…
This article was updated on May 23 at 3:43 p.m. A government watchdog group on Friday urged the Supreme Court to deny the Trump administration’s request to pause an order by a federal judge in Washington, D.C., that would require the Department of Government Efficiency to provide information in a lawsuit filed under the Freedom of Information Act. Lawyers for Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington told the justices that, under the guise of seeking to put the “narrowly-tailored” order on hold, the government was actually asking the court to weigh in on whether DOGE is in fact a…