The Dutch queen unveils a bell made from Russian weapons to show solidarity with Ukraine

The Dutch queen unveils a bell made from Russian weapons to show solidarity with Ukraine

PRAGUE (AP) — Queen Maxima of the Netherlands handed over a bell made partly from Russian weapons to a church in the Czech Republic on Thursday in a sign of solidarity with Ukraine. Known as the Bell of Freedom, it was manufactured by the Dutch Royal Eijsbouts bell foundry that used fragments of artillery shells and other weapons fired byRussia against Ukraine. "This bell has a lot of symbolism in it and it's a very special project for us," the owner of the bell foundry, Joost Eijsbouts, told the Czech public radio. "To use material designed for violence and turn it into something peaceful is a good idea." The bell will be installed in the tower of the Church of the Holy Saviour in Prague, in place of one of the original bells that were seized by the Austro-Hungarian army and turned into weapons during World War I. The Czech Republic and the Netherlands support Ukraine in its fight against Russian troops. The ceremony at the church, attended by Czech President Petr Pavel and his wife Eva, was meant to be one of the highlights of the Dutch royal couple's stay in Prague. ButKing Willem-Alexanderhad to cut short the trip and returned home late Wednesday due tothe collapse of the Dutch government.

byAlpha World

in

June 05, 2025

The Dutch queen unveils a bell made from Russian weapons to show solidarity with Ukraine

The Dutch queen unveils a bell made from Russian weapons to show solidarity with Ukraine PRAGUE (AP) — Queen Maxima of the Netherlands hande...

Read More

Daily Briefing: WorldPride comes to the nation's capital

Daily Briefing: WorldPride comes to the nation's capital

Good morning!🙋🏼‍♀️ I'mNicole Fallert. I can't stop watching the"Wicked: For Good" trailer✨ WorldPridetakes on a new sense of urgencyamid threats to LGBTQ+ Americans. President Donald Trumpis lobbying potential Senate holdoutsin an effort to push through his sweeping tax plan. Meet the content creators who saythey collectively brought in $250 millionlast year. ~ Brooke Eden, a country singer/songwriter who will be performing in Washington, D.C., at WorldPride − a global festival that promotes LGBTQ+ visibility and awareness − at a historic juncture:When the queer community's rights are increasingly in hostile crosshairs. President Donald Trump's second-term legislative agenda is on the line as the Senate gears up for a four-week sprint, during which they will seek to pass something that can also get through the House's narrow margins and onto the president's desk for signature into law. It won't be easy.As in the House, the Senate has fiscal conservatives who are concerned that the bill will add to the federal deficit and moderates who have problems with the potential impact on Medicaid health coverage. Deficit blues: Several senators have said they're worried about the massive price tag of the legislation. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has estimated that the bill would add more than $3 trillion to the federal debt over the next 10 years, adding to the country's already massive $36.2 trillion debt. Musk is fanning the flames. The Tesla CEO argues the legislation's price tag undermines the work that he did leading the Department of Government Efficiency cost-cutting project. Meanwhile, American health care is on the line:New analysis shows about 11 million Americans would lose health insurance coverage under Trump's bill, and experts say the uninsured might delay care and accrue more medical debt. How much does the government know about you?Likely more than ever. Meet the newNB.1.8.1 COVID variant. A judge temporarilyblocked the deportation of the family of a mancharged in the Boulder terror attack. The White Housebanned travelfrom 12 nations. Trump ordered an investigationof Joe Biden's alleged "cognitive decline." What's the weather today?Check your local forecast here. Family members and friends of the more than 100 construction workers detained in what was deemed Florida's largest immigration raid this year say they are having trouble locating their loved ones. Some of the laborers were sent to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility in Baker County, while some went to Miami's Krome Detention Center. Others were quickly flown to El Paso, Texas, and were still there awaiting removal as of June 3. And some are already in Mexico, just five days after being detained and bused away from their job site in Tallahassee.But others are still silent,and their friends and family are worried and waiting for a call. In an executive order issued Wednesday, President Trump declared that Harvard University's admission of international students represents a threat to the United States. In his new order, Trump listed a litany of grievances against the university, which he accuses of failing to protect Jewish students from pro-Palestinian protesters. He also noted that Harvard has long used race as a factor in admissions, which led the Supreme Court in 2023 to strike down race-based admissions policies nationwide.Trump's orderapplies to new students who would be arriving to studyat Harvard, and asks Secretary of State Marco Rubio to consider whether to also revoke the visas of current international students Jessie Jrevealedher breast cancer diagnosis. Did Malia Obamachange her name? Walton Goggins and Aimee Lou Woodaren't feuding. A caregiver dad, Bradley Cooperandhow a national crisis inspired a film. The world 361st-ranked playerreached the French Open semifinals. "Can't even outdress my Labubu." They fly on private jets to the Super Bowl, own Porsches and Lamborghinis and rack up $4,000 dinner bills on a night out. It's all in a month's work at the Bop House, a content creator mansion where eight Gen Z OnlyFans creators produce content for their combined following of nearly 90 million users across social media platforms. But teenagers, particularly young girls, who see TikToks showcasing the content creators' opulent lifestyle, may get the impression that being an OnlyFans star is aspirational.While creators in the Bop Housespoke openly with USA TODAY about their hardships growing up— and say they're not trying to be anyone's role model. The Edmonton Oilers started the 2025 Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday the same way they started their last run to a championship - by winning Game 1 in overtime.Check out the best momentsof the final so far. Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY,sign up for the email here. Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:WorldPride, LGBTQ, Trump bill, Musk, Harvard, ICE, TikTok, OnlyFans, NHL, NBA, French Open, 'Wicked': Daily Briefing

byAlpha World

in

June 05, 2025

Daily Briefing: WorldPride comes to the nation's capital

Daily Briefing: WorldPride comes to the nation's capital Good morning!🙋🏼‍♀️ I'mNicole Fallert. I can't stop watching the"...

Read More

Opinion: NFL wants you to think it's taking sports betting seriously. Don't be fooled.

Opinion: NFL wants you to think it's taking sports betting seriously. Don't be fooled.

The NFL is unmatched when it comes to, well, pretty much everything. Hypocrisy included. The NFL announced Wednesday that it ispartnering with the International Center for Responsible Gamingfor research into gambling by college students and athletes. The NFL is also giving the ICRG money so the group can update educational materials designed to prevent gambling by kids. "This initiative reflects our ongoing commitment to promoting responsible gambling and fostering a safe and supportive environment for athletes, fans, and communities," Anna Isaacson, the NFL's senior vice president of social responsibility, said in a release. Take a minute and let all that sink in. Maybe read it again. Then feel free to beat your head against the wall. The NFL, the league that haspartnerships with FanDuel, DraftKings, Caesers and other gaming companiesand last year held the Super Bowl in Las Vegas – and this year at an arena whose naming rights belong to a gaming company, is concerned about the harmful effects of gambling. Even if the end result of this partnership with ICRG is admirable and worthwhile, this is akin to an arsonist providing fire prevention tips. The NFL can't wring its hands and express concern that teenagers and young 20-somethings, whose brains are still developing, are becoming problem gamblers when it is helping to lead them down that pathway. When you contribute to the harm, you don't get credit for trying to limit its impact. "Yes, there is some hypocrisy there. That being said, it's not nearly on the same level as the gambling companies themselves," said Victor Matheson, an economist at Holy Cross who specializes in sports and gambling. "The NFL does not need addicted gamblers," Matheson said. "FanDuel and DraftKings do." The NFL is trying to have it both ways, however. It's just fine taking the money from FanDuel and DraftKings and Caesars and BetMGM and ... well, you get the picture. It's OK with allowing those companies to use their relationship with the NFL to encourage more people to bet and to bet more. Yet it acts as if it hasn't played a role in fueling a culture in which sports betting has become normalized, andyoung people, boys in particular, are gambling at younger and younger ages. More:Inside the high-stakes, high-risk world of sports betting and how it's gripping young men More:He had a debilitating sports betting addiction but didn't realize it. His story's not uncommon. There was a time when the NFL could take the moral high ground on this issue. For years, in fact, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell was hypervigilant about the league avoiding even the appearance of an association with gambling. He sent strongly worded letters to any state that tried to do an end-around the NFL's gaming prohibitions, and the league refused an ad from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority during the Super Bowl in 2003. Goodell even forced Tony Romo, then the Dallas Cowboys quarterback, tocancel a fantasy football conventionin Las Vegas in 2015. All that changed in 2018, whena Supreme Court ruling effectively legalized gambling across the country. Now sports betting is legal in all but 11 states, according to the American Gaming Association, with 32 states allowing online and mobile sports betting. Rather than standing its ground, the NFL realized there was money to be made and said, "The heck with principles!" But while the NFL is getting paid, it's ordinary people who are paying the price. "We've seen gambling companies become a little more evil," Matheson said, referring to the ease and pervasiveness of online betting. "It's much more of an addictive product now." And the NFL is an active partner in that. Ads for gaming companies are incessant during NFL broadcasts — I saw Kevin Hart so much this season, I almost felt as if he was part of my family — and some of its most famous alums are shilling for the sports books. DraftKings sponsors the NFL RedZone, the wildly popular whip-around show. Caesars has naming rights to the Superdome in New Orleans, home of the Saints and host of this year's Super Bowl. If the NFL thinks it's "fostering a safe and supportive environment" related to gambling, it's got a funny way of doing it. There is a cautionary tale for the NFL and every other sports league that has cozied up to the gaming companies. Sports and gambling have been intertwined in the United Kingdom for about half a century, to the point it is ubiquitous in the English Premier League. Ads for sports books are on the ribbon boards lining the fields, unavoidable for fans in the stands and watching on TV. Of the 20 teams in the EPL this season, 12 had a gaming company as its front-of-jersey sponsor. But as concerns about problem gambling increased, drawing the attention of the UK government, theEPL announced it would prohibit front-of-jersey sponsors by gaming companiesbeginning with the 2026-27 season. The same could happen in the United States, Matheson said. "(The NFL) isn't going to walk away from the money without an awfully good reason to do so," he said. "But I think there is a real chance they will walk away from the money, or not squawk too loudly, when restrictions are placed upon them by state governments who want to restrict the worst excesses of the gambling companies." Maybe. But even if that happens, it will not diminish the harm the NFL did so willingly. Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Is NFL serious about curbing gambling abuses? Don't bet on it.

byAlpha World

in

June 05, 2025

Opinion: NFL wants you to think it's taking sports betting seriously. Don't be fooled.

Opinion: NFL wants you to think it's taking sports betting seriously. Don't be fooled. The NFL is unmatched when it comes to, well, ...

Read More

What time is the NBA Finals today? TV channel and time for Thunder vs. Pacers

What time is the NBA Finals today? TV channel and time for Thunder vs. Pacers

USA TODAY and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article. Pricing and availability subject to change. The highly anticipated2025 NBA Finalshave arrived, featuring theOklahoma City Thunderagainst theIndiana Pacers. The series will kick off in Oklahoma City on Thursday, marking the beginning of a promising showdown. After a 13-year wait, the Thunder have secured their spot in the NBA Finals, defeating theMinnesota Timberwolvesinfive games in the Western Conference finals. Similarly, the Pacers have made a triumphant return to the Finals for the first time since 2000, overcoming theNew York Knicksinsix games in the Eastern Conference finals. Both teams are now on a quest to etch their name in history. For the Pacers, it would be their first NBA championship. For the Thunder, it would mark their first title in Oklahoma City (the franchise won an NBA title as the Seattle SuperSonics in 1979). The 2025 NBA Finals schedule is here, and it's time to mark your calendars for the thrillingGame 1between the Thunder and the Pacers. PACERS VS. THUNDER ODDS:NBA Finals feature biggest favorite in years TheOklahoma City Thundervs.Indiana PacersGame 1will tip off at 8:30 p.m ET at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City. Date:Thursday, June 5 Time:8:30 p.m. ET TV:ABC Stream:ESPN+, SlingTV, Fubo Location:Paycom Center (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) The 2025 NBA Finals between the Thunder and Pacers will air on ABC. Fans can stream it onFubo(offers a free trial) and SlingTV. Watch the NBA Finals with Fubo All times Eastern.*-if necessary Game 1,June 5:Pacers at Thunder | ABC,Fubo| 8:30 p.m. Game 2,June 8:Pacers at Thunder | ABC,Fubo| 8 p.m. Game 3,June 11:Thunder at Pacers | ABC,Fubo| 8:30 p.m. Game 4, June 13: Thunder at Pacers | ABC,Fubo| 8:30 p.m. Game 5, June 16: Pacers at Thunder | ABC,Fubo| 8:30 p.m.* Game 6, June 19: Thunder at Pacers | ABC,Fubo| 8:30 p.m.* Game 7, June 22: Pacers at Thunder | ABC,Fubo| 8 p.m.* The biggest stories, every morning. Stay up-to-date on all the key sports developments bysubscribing to USA TODAY Sports' newsletter. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:What time is the NBA Finals Game 1 today? TV channel and time

byAlpha World

in

June 05, 2025

What time is the NBA Finals today? TV channel and time for Thunder vs. Pacers

What time is the NBA Finals today? TV channel and time for Thunder vs. Pacers USA TODAY and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this art...

Read More

Former Republican David Jolly launches longshot bid for Florida governor as a Democrat

Former Republican David Jolly launches longshot bid for Florida governor as a Democrat

Democrats face a huge uphill climb in 2026 to retake Florida's governorship for the first time in more than two decades, but David Jolly says he is up to the challenge. Jolly, a former Republican congressman who left the party in large part because of his opposition to President Donald Trump, is announcing Thursday that he is running for governor, making him the first notable Democrat to get into the race. "Let's end the politics of division and return Florida to voters who simply want an economy that works, the best education system in the world, safe communities and a government that stays out of their doctor's offices and family decisions," Jolly said. He said he wants to focus on lowering housing and insurance costs, boosting public education funding and "implementing new gun safety measures." Jolly was a Republican member of Congress from the Tampa area from 2014 to 2017. In a bit of political irony, he lost his seat to former Gov. Charlie Crist. Crist, like Jolly, left the Republican Party to run as a Democrat. He made failed Democratic bids for governor in 2014 and 2022. It's a connection Republicans in the state have already been making, comparing Jolly's Republican-turned-Democrat bid for governor to Crist's own failed political evolution. "No matter the issue, David Jolly has been on all sides of it," Florida GOP Chairman Evan Power said in a statement last month when Jolly first floated a campaign. "Floridians won't be swayed. Under Republican leadership, Florida enjoys low inflation, fiscal responsibility, and a thriving economy. School choice and parental rights are prioritized, and support for the rule of law is unmatched. We aren't going backward with a flip-flopping political relic." Since he left the Republican Party, Jolly has become a vocal anti-Trump voice and has boosted his national profile as a regular commentator on MSNBC. Jolly is not only the first major Democrat to enter the 2026 race; he may have a somewhat easy path to the nomination. Former state Sen. Jason Pizzo, who has considerable personal wealth, recently left the party and has said he is running for governor as an independent, removing a potential obstacle who had been considered one of the top-tier potential Jolly opponents in a primary. After having spent years as one of the country's most tightly divided swing states, Florida has become an overwhelmingly GOP-dominated state. Republicans control all levers of power in state government, and Democrats have not held the Governor's Mansion since the late 1990s. Jolly, however, thinks a focus away from the sort of culture war-driven, sharp-elbowed politics that has defined Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis' two terms in office is a way to break through. "This is a different type of issue-driven, results-focused campaign, and it will be driven not by anger and division but by optimism and solutions," Jolly said. "We are building a new coalition of Floridians who deeply care about their state and are desperate for real answers to real problems that are putting our quality of life at risk." On the Republican side, U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds has already announced he is running for governor, and he quickly picked up an endorsement from Trump. He has raised over $15 million and is considered the front-runner on the GOP said, even as DeSantis' wife, Casey, considers her own campaign for governor. Despite Republicans' many advantages, Jolly says the state, after more than 20 years of GOP leadership, is ready for a change. "We can champion the Democratic values of an economy where everyone has the opportunity to succeed, and we can create a government that actually serves seniors, veterans, and those in need," he said.

byAlpha World

in

June 05, 2025

Former Republican David Jolly launches longshot bid for Florida governor as a Democrat

Former Republican David Jolly launches longshot bid for Florida governor as a Democrat Democrats face a huge uphill climb in 2026 to retake ...

Read More