The US Supreme Court on Monday (June 27) ruled that a Washington state public school district violated rights of a football coach by suspending him for leading prayers on the field after games.

The judges sided with Joseph Kennedy, the coach. Kennedy served as a part-time assistant football coach until 2015 in Bremerton. His case has become cause celebre for conservative Christian activists.

US Supreme Court's conservative justices were in the majority in 6-3 ruling. Liberal members dissented.

The decision, authored by Justice Neil Gorsuch, held that Kennedy's actions were protected by his rights under the US Constitution's First Amendment, which protects free speech and religious expression.

Gorsuch rejected the local school district's concerns that in a public school setting Kennedy's prayers and Christian-infused speeches could be seen as coercive to students or a governmental endorsement of a particular religion in violation of the First Amendment's so-called establishment clause.

Kennedy told Reuters that the judgment was a 'big sigh of relief' for him. He fought the case for years.

"My beliefs are my personal beliefs. I would never force them upon anybody and nobody had," Kennedy said in a Zoom interview.

He added: "I know that it sounds really probably cliche, but the Constitution applies to everybody equally. It's not for the Christians or the Jews or the atheists or whoever, it is for all Americans. And that's why I thought this was such a huge win, that it's more of a freedom of speech thing to me personally, because it was just a moment between me and God. It had nothing to do with anybody else."

Jeremy Dys, Kennedy's attorney from First Liberty Institute, said the judgment was a victory, not only for Kennedy but "for people of faith &nbsp;who occupy roles as public school teachers and coaches and other staff that could otherwise be fired from their job for engaging in a private act of religious worship."

Not everyone is happy with the judgment. Rachel Laser, the CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State which represented the Bremerton School District, said the Supreme Court's decision was the 'greatest loss of religious freedom in a generation'.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The US Supreme Court on Monday (June 27) ruled that a Washington state public school district violated rights of a football coach by suspending him for leading prayers on the field after games.

The US Supreme Court on Monday (June 27) ruled that a Washington state public school district violated rights of a football coach by suspending him for leading prayers on the field after games. The judges sided with Joseph Kennedy, the coach. Kennedy served as a part-time assistant football coach until 2015 in Bremerton. His case has become cause celebre for conservative Christian activists. US Supreme Court's conservative justices were in the majority in 6-3 ruling. Liberal members dissented. The decision, authored by Justice Neil Gorsuch, held that Kennedy's actions were protected by his rights under the US Constitution's First Amendment, which protects free speech and religious expression. Gorsuch rejected the local school district's concerns that in a public school setting Kennedy's prayers and Christian-infused speeches could be seen as coercive to students or a governmental endorsement of a particular religion in violation of the First Amendment's so-called establishment clause. Kennedy told Reuters that the judgment was a 'big sigh of relief' for him. He fought the case for years. "My beliefs are my personal beliefs. I would never force them upon anybody and nobody had," Kennedy said in a Zoom interview. He added: "I know that it sounds really probably cliche, but the Constitution applies to everybody equally. It's not for the Christians or the Jews or the atheists or whoever, it is for all Americans. And that's why I thought this was such a huge win, that it's more of a freedom of speech thing to me personally, because it was just a moment between me and God. It had nothing to do with anybody else." Jeremy Dys, Kennedy's attorney from First Liberty Institute, said the judgment was a victory, not only for Kennedy but "for people of faith who occupy roles as public school teachers and coaches and other staff that could otherwise be fired from their job for engaging in a private act of religious worship." Not everyone is happy with the judgment. Rachel Laser, the CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State which represented the Bremerton School District, said the Supreme Court's decision was the 'greatest loss of religious freedom in a generation'. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Suspension of praying football coach violated his rights: US Supreme Court

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will address the G7 summit on Monday as his country reels from first Russian strike on Kyiv in weeks.

US President Joe Biden and his counterparts from the Group of Seven wealthy democracies, meeting in the Bavarian Alps, have stressed their unity in the face of Russia's aggression -- even as the global fallout worsens.

Zelensky will join G7 leaders of the United States Germany, Britain, France, Italy, Japan and Canada via video link at 0800 GMT.&nbsp;

The Ukrainian president has renewed call for more weapons and air defence systems to the country currently under attack from Russia.

Watch | G7 unveils 'Partnership for Global infrastructure' plan to counter China

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"We need a powerful air defence -- modern, fully effective. Which can ensure complete protection against these missiles. We talk about this every day with our partners. There are already some agreements. And partners need to move faster if they are really partners, not observers," he said in his daily address.

"Delays in the transfer of weapons to our state, any restrictions are actually an invitation for Russia to strike again and again."

This appeal has come after Russia struck a residential building in Kyiv. Ukraine said that the strike left one person dead and injured four others. The injured include a seven-year-old girl.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/g7-announced-600-billion-global-infrastructure-plan-to-rival-chinas-bri-492064">G7 announced $600 billion global infrastructure plan to rival China’s BRI</a>

Biden condemned the strikes, the first on the Ukrainian capital in almost three weeks, as "barbarism".

German Chancellor and G7 host Olaf Scholz said the attack showed again "that it is right to stand together and support Ukrainians".

Russia denied it had hit a civilian target.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-ukraine-war-one-dead-several-wounded-in-missile-strike-in-central-kyiv-492002">Russia-Ukraine war: One dead, several wounded in missile strike on central Kyiv</a>

The G7 summit, is being held at the picturesque Elmau Castle, runs until Tuesday. It will be followed by a meeting of NATO countries in Spain, which Zelensky is also expected to dial into.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will address the G7 summit on Monday as his country reels from first Russian strike on Kyiv in weeks. US President Joe Biden and his counterparts from the Group of Seven wealthy democracies, meeting in the Bavarian Alps, have stressed their unity in the face of Russia's aggression -- even as the global fallout worsens.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will address the G7 summit on Monday as his country reels from first Russian strike on Kyiv in weeks. US President Joe Biden and his counterparts from the Group of Seven wealthy democracies, meeting in the Bavarian Alps, have stressed their unity in the face of Russia's aggression -- even as the global fallout worsens. Zelensky will join G7 leaders of the United States Germany, Britain, France, Italy, Japan and Canada via video link at 0800 GMT. The Ukrainian president has renewed call for more weapons and air defence systems to the country currently under attack from Russia. Watch | G7 unveils 'Partnership for Global infrastructure' plan to counter China × "We need a powerful air defence -- modern, fully effective. Which can ensure complete protection against these missiles. We talk about this every day with our partners. There are already some agreements. And partners need to move faster if they are really partners, not observers," he said in his daily address. "Delays in the transfer of weapons to our state, any restrictions are actually an invitation for Russia to strike again and again." This appeal has come after Russia struck a residential building in Kyiv. Ukraine said that the strike left one person dead and injured four others. The injured include a seven-year-old girl. Also Read | G7 announced $600 billion global infrastructure plan to rival China’s BRI Biden condemned the strikes, the first on the Ukrainian capital in almost three weeks, as "barbarism". German Chancellor and G7 host Olaf Scholz said the attack showed again "that it is right to stand together and support Ukrainians". Russia denied it had hit a civilian target. Also Read | Russia-Ukraine war: One dead, several wounded in missile strike on central Kyiv The G7 summit, is being held at the picturesque Elmau Castle, runs until Tuesday. It will be followed by a meeting of NATO countries in Spain, which Zelensky is also expected to dial into. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Zelensky to address G7 summit as Russia pounds Kyiv

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will meet leaders of Sweden and Finland as well as NATO on Tuesday (June 28) ahead of the NATO Summit, said Turkish presidential spokesman on Sunday.

Both, Finland and Sweden have applied for NATO membership after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. However, their bids have been opposed by Turkiye. The country says that it has been angered by Sweden and Finland's support for Kurdish militants and arms embargoes on Ankara.

Turkiye Presidential Spokesman Ibrahim Kalin was talking with broadcaster Haberturk when he said that he himself and Deputy Foreign Minister Sedat Onal would also attend another round of talks with Swedish and Finnish delegations on Monday (June 27)

"There will be a four-way summit at the leader level with the attendance of our president in Madrid upon the request of the NATO secretary general," he said.

Kalin said Erdogan attending the talks with Sweden, Finland and NATO on Tuesday "does not mean we will take a step back from our position."

Kalin said Turkey and the Nordic countries had largely agreed on issues and would be in a better position in Madrid if they could agree on them during talks on Monday.

"We have brought negotiations to a certain point. It is not possible for us to take a step back here," he also said of the talks on Monday.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will meet leaders of Sweden and Finland as well as NATO on Tuesday (June 28) ahead of the NATO Summit, said Turkish presidential spokesman on Sunday.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will meet leaders of Sweden and Finland as well as NATO on Tuesday (June 28) ahead of the NATO Summit, said Turkish presidential spokesman on Sunday. Both, Finland and Sweden have applied for NATO membership after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. However, their bids have been opposed by Turkiye. The country says that it has been angered by Sweden and Finland's support for Kurdish militants and arms embargoes on Ankara. Turkiye Presidential Spokesman Ibrahim Kalin was talking with broadcaster Haberturk when he said that he himself and Deputy Foreign Minister Sedat Onal would also attend another round of talks with Swedish and Finnish delegations on Monday (June 27) "There will be a four-way summit at the leader level with the attendance of our president in Madrid upon the request of the NATO secretary general," he said. Kalin said Erdogan attending the talks with Sweden, Finland and NATO on Tuesday "does not mean we will take a step back from our position." Kalin said Turkey and the Nordic countries had largely agreed on issues and would be in a better position in Madrid if they could agree on them during talks on Monday. "We have brought negotiations to a certain point. It is not possible for us to take a step back here," he also said of the talks on Monday. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Erdogan to meet Swedish, Finnish leaders before NATO summit

Russian President Vladimir Putin will embark on his first foreign visit since Ukraine invasion, reported Russian state television on Sunday. Putin is due to visit two former Soviet states in central Asia this week.&nbsp;

The Ukraine conflict, dubbed as 'special military operation' by Russia, has killed thousands of people, &nbsp;displaced millions more and led to severe financial sanctions from the West. Putin says these sanctions are the reason why Russia should build strong relations with countries like China, India, Iran.

Pavel Zarubin, the Kremlin correspondent of the Rossiya 1 state television station, said Putin would visit Tajikistan and Turkmenistan and then meet Indonesian President Joko Widodo for talks in Moscow.

In Tajikistan's capital Dushanbe, Putin will meet President Imomali Rakhmon, who is a close Russian ally. He is also the longest-serving ruler of a former Soviet state.

In Ashgabat, he will attend a summit of Caspian nations including the leaders of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Iran and Turkmenistan, Zarubin said.

Putin also plans to visit the Belarus city of Grodno on June 30 and July 1 to take part in a forum with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, RIA news agency cited Valentina Matviyenko, the speaker of Russia's upper chamber of parliament, as telling Belarus television on Sunday.

Putin's last known trip outside Russia was a visit to Beijing in early February.

(With inputs from agencies)

Russian President Vladimir Putin will embark on his first foreign visit since Ukraine invasion, reported Russian state television on Sunday. Putin is due to visit two former Soviet states in central Asia this week.

Russian President Vladimir Putin will embark on his first foreign visit since Ukraine invasion, reported Russian state television on Sunday. Putin is due to visit two former Soviet states in central Asia this week. The Ukraine conflict, dubbed as 'special military operation' by Russia, has killed thousands of people, displaced millions more and led to severe financial sanctions from the West. Putin says these sanctions are the reason why Russia should build strong relations with countries like China, India, Iran. Pavel Zarubin, the Kremlin correspondent of the Rossiya 1 state television station, said Putin would visit Tajikistan and Turkmenistan and then meet Indonesian President Joko Widodo for talks in Moscow. In Tajikistan's capital Dushanbe, Putin will meet President Imomali Rakhmon, who is a close Russian ally. He is also the longest-serving ruler of a former Soviet state. In Ashgabat, he will attend a summit of Caspian nations including the leaders of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Iran and Turkmenistan, Zarubin said. Putin also plans to visit the Belarus city of Grodno on June 30 and July 1 to take part in a forum with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, RIA news agency cited Valentina Matviyenko, the speaker of Russia's upper chamber of parliament, as telling Belarus television on Sunday. Putin's last known trip outside Russia was a visit to Beijing in early February. (With inputs from agencies)

Putin to embark on first foreign visit since Ukraine invasion

The Supreme Court is due to hear the plea of Maharashtra Shiv Sena MLA Eknath Shinde on disqualification notice against him and 15 rebel MLAs. The notice has been served by Maharashtra Assembly Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal. The matter will come up for hearing around 12:30 pm on Monday (June 27). A vacation bench of Justices Surya Kant and JB Pardiwala will hear the cases.&nbsp;

There are two petitions, one from Shinde and the other by rebel MLAs. The petitions challenge the disqualification notice and appointment of Ajay Chaudhary as leader of the legislative party. The move to disqualify has been termed by the rebel camp as 'illegal and unconstitutional'. The petition seeks a stay on the disqualification notice.

The rebel camp has sought directions to the deputy speaker to not take action on the notice

The Shinde camp claimed the move was illegal since disqualification can happen only for matters in the assembly and not for skipping a party meeting.

The Eknath Shinde camp has also challenged the appointment of Ajay Choudhary as the Shiv Sena Legislature Party leader by the Thackeray camp. They have also asked the court to direct the Maharashtra government to provide security to their families.

Shinde and a sizeable chunk of Shiv Sena's strength in the assembly are camping in a hotel in Guwahati, thousands of kilometres away from Shiv Sena's power base.

Shinde in his plea stated that the Deputy Speaker has lost his position as the MVA government has been reduced to a minority and in such a situation, he has no authority to invoke provisions of the Members of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly (Disqualification on Ground of Defection) Rules, 1986, and send notices to him and 15 other MLAs, which form part of the breakaway group of 38 Sena legislators.

Shinde in his petition said, "It is common knowledge that the current government in Maharashtra, led by the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance, has lost the majority in the House as 38 of the members of the Shiv Sena Legislature Party have withdrawn their support thus bringing it below the majority in the House. However, the MVA government continues to misuse the office of the deputy speaker to ensure that they remain in power by whatever means."

(With inputs from agencies)

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The Supreme Court is due to hear the plea of Maharashtra Shiv Sena MLA Eknath Shinde on disqualification notice against him and 15 rebel MLAs. The notice has been served by Maharashtra Assembly Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal.

The Supreme Court is due to hear the plea of Maharashtra Shiv Sena MLA Eknath Shinde on disqualification notice against him and 15 rebel MLAs. The notice has been served by Maharashtra Assembly Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal. The matter will come up for hearing around 12:30 pm on Monday (June 27). A vacation bench of Justices Surya Kant and JB Pardiwala will hear the cases. There are two petitions, one from Shinde and the other by rebel MLAs. The petitions challenge the disqualification notice and appointment of Ajay Chaudhary as leader of the legislative party. The move to disqualify has been termed by the rebel camp as 'illegal and unconstitutional'. The petition seeks a stay on the disqualification notice. The rebel camp has sought directions to the deputy speaker to not take action on the notice The Shinde camp claimed the move was illegal since disqualification can happen only for matters in the assembly and not for skipping a party meeting. The Eknath Shinde camp has also challenged the appointment of Ajay Choudhary as the Shiv Sena Legislature Party leader by the Thackeray camp. They have also asked the court to direct the Maharashtra government to provide security to their families. Shinde and a sizeable chunk of Shiv Sena's strength in the assembly are camping in a hotel in Guwahati, thousands of kilometres away from Shiv Sena's power base. Shinde in his plea stated that the Deputy Speaker has lost his position as the MVA government has been reduced to a minority and in such a situation, he has no authority to invoke provisions of the Members of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly (Disqualification on Ground of Defection) Rules, 1986, and send notices to him and 15 other MLAs, which form part of the breakaway group of 38 Sena legislators. Shinde in his petition said, "It is common knowledge that the current government in Maharashtra, led by the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance, has lost the majority in the House as 38 of the members of the Shiv Sena Legislature Party have withdrawn their support thus bringing it below the majority in the House. However, the MVA government continues to misuse the office of the deputy speaker to ensure that they remain in power by whatever means." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Maharashtra political crisis: Legal battle begins between Eknath Shinde rebels and Shiv Sena

A dog is truly a man's best friend. And this pure affection does not go away even after his owner's death. A heartbreaking story has come from earthquake-struck Afghanistan. Samira SR, an advocacy and communications professional working with International Rescue Committee has shared a story that's sure to bring tears to our eyes.

What she has tweeted is a picture of a small, furry dog. We may take the dog to be just another 'cute' picture doing rounds on social media if not for the emotion of utter devastation in his eyes. The dog is surrounded by rubble of what must have been a house. To be specific, it is his departed owner's house. The recent earthquake sadly killed all members of the family of his owner. They are long gone but the dog is not ready to accept this.

According to Samira, the dog comes to the destroyed house everyday and cries because it can't see the familiar faces which, till last week, smiled warmly at him. The dog is now being taken care of by neighbours of the departed family. But the loyal dog still searches the rubble, clinging on the hope that he'll see his loved ones anytime. This sadly will never happen.

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Every person in the house this dog belongs to was killed in the earthquake. Neighbours said they took him with them to feed/take care of. He keeps coming back to the destroyed house and wails. 
Ochki village in Gayan, Paktika.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AfghanistanEarthquake?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AfghanistanEarthquake</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Afghanistan?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Afghanistan</a> <a href="https://t.co/A7oCoGIn2V">pic.twitter.com/A7oCoGIn2V</a>
— Samira SR (@SSamiraSR) <a href="https://twitter.com/SSamiraSR/status/1541103612574609409?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 26, 2022</a></blockquote>
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At least 1,000 people were killed, 2,000 injured and 10,000 homes destroyed in the 6.1-magnitude earthquake on Wednesday (June 22). Helping thousands of Afghans is also a challenge for countries that had imposed sanctions on Afghanistan. The United Nations and several other countries have rushed aid to the affected areas, with more due to arrive over the coming days.

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A dog is truly a man's best friend. And this pure affection does not go away even after his owner's death. A heartbreaking story has come from earthquake-struck Afghanistan.

A dog is truly a man's best friend. And this pure affection does not go away even after his owner's death. A heartbreaking story has come from earthquake-struck Afghanistan. Samira SR, an advocacy and communications professional working with International Rescue Committee has shared a story that's sure to bring tears to our eyes. What she has tweeted is a picture of a small, furry dog. We may take the dog to be just another 'cute' picture doing rounds on social media if not for the emotion of utter devastation in his eyes. The dog is surrounded by rubble of what must have been a house. To be specific, it is his departed owner's house. The recent earthquake sadly killed all members of the family of his owner. They are long gone but the dog is not ready to accept this. According to Samira, the dog comes to the destroyed house everyday and cries because it can't see the familiar faces which, till last week, smiled warmly at him. The dog is now being taken care of by neighbours of the departed family. But the loyal dog still searches the rubble, clinging on the hope that he'll see his loved ones anytime. This sadly will never happen. Every person in the house this dog belongs to was killed in the earthquake. Neighbours said they took him with them to feed/take care of. He keeps coming back to the destroyed house and wails. Ochki village in Gayan, Paktika.#AfghanistanEarthquake #Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/A7oCoGIn2V — Samira SR (@SSamiraSR) June 26, 2022 × At least 1,000 people were killed, 2,000 injured and 10,000 homes destroyed in the 6.1-magnitude earthquake on Wednesday (June 22). Helping thousands of Afghans is also a challenge for countries that had imposed sanctions on Afghanistan. The United Nations and several other countries have rushed aid to the affected areas, with more due to arrive over the coming days. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Afghanistan quake: Dog comes to departed owner's house and cries each day

NATO leaders will urge Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan to lift his veto over Finland and Sweden's bid to join the military alliance when they meet for a three-day summit on Tuesday, as the West strives to send Russia and China a signal of resolve.

Taking place in the shadow of Russia's war in Ukraine, the Madrid gathering comes at a pivotal moment for the transatlantic bond after failures in Afghanistan and internal discord during the era of former U.S. President Donald Trump, who threatened to pull Washington out of the nuclear alliance.

Negotiations among an often-fractious organisation are still under way, diplomats said, but leaders also hope to agree to provide more military aid to Ukraine, increase joint defence spending, cement a new resolve to tackle China's military rise and put more troops on stand-by to defend the Baltics.

Spain, whose king will host a dinner for leaders, is also pushing for more NATO focus on the southern flank to address migration and militant groups in the Sahel region of Africa.

The leaders of Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea are expected to attend part of the summit, part of a broader U.S. strategy for a more assertive Western presence in the Indo-Pacific region to counter China.

"We will do more to ensure we can defend every inch of allied territory, at all times and against any threat," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said in a speech last week.

Although British and U.S. officials have advised against a Baltic request for permanent multinational forces in the region, the summit is likely to settle on a compromise of promising rapid reinforcements.

Germany has already said it will put more troops at the ready to defend Lithuania should Russia seek to seize NATO territory and Britain is expected to do the same for Estonia, while Latvia is looking to Canada to pledge more troops there.

TURKEY VETO

NATO - created in 1949 to counter the Soviet threat - is under no treaty obligation to defend Ukraine, as the former Soviet republic is not a NATO member.

But Russian President Vladimir Putin's Feb. 24 invasion has sparked a geopolitical shift as once neutral countries Finland and Sweden seek to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and Ukraine has formally become a candidate to join the European Union.

If accepted, Finland and Sweden's inclusion into NATO would bring about the expansion of the alliance that the Russian leader aimed to prevent.

"I think it sends an important message to Putin. And I think it would actually significantly strengthen the alliance," U.S. Senator Angus King said of Finland and Sweden, following a trip to Finland, Latvia and Turkey.

However, Turkey is also testing that unity, angered by what it says is Helsinki and Stockholm's support for Kurdish militants and arms embargoes on Ankara.

A Turkish government official involved in the talks between the three countries and NATO's Stoltenberg told Reuters it would be difficult to reach a deal at the summit, saying that Sweden and Finland must first address Turkish concerns.

"There were meetings, but unfortunately steps we expected are not being taken," the official said.

Sweden has set up a process for ongoing consultations, diplomats said. But two senior NATO diplomats said the dispute was less about technical benchmarks and more about politics.

Erdogan's stance has proved popular at home before a June 2023 presidential election as he seeks to challenge U.S. and European priorities. In recent weeks, he has threatened more military operations in northern Syria, stoked tensions with fellow NATO member Greece and declined to join Western sanctions on Russia over the Ukraine war.

"I think there's nearly zero chance that this issue will be resolved at the Madrid summit," said Soner Cagaptay, a Turkey analyst at the Washington Institute, a U.S. think-tank.

U.S. President Joe Biden could hold a meeting with Erdogan in the margins of the NATO summit to push for progress with Finland and Sweden, whose leaders will be in Madrid.

But Cagaptay added that Erdogan could try to use the situation to boost his popularity and call a possible snap election in November ahead of the official June 2023 vote.

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&nbsp;

NATO leaders will urge Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan to lift his veto over Finland and Sweden's bid to join the military alliance when they meet for a three-day summit on Tuesday, as the West strives to send Russia and China a signal of resolve.

NATO leaders will urge Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan to lift his veto over Finland and Sweden's bid to join the military alliance when they meet for a three-day summit on Tuesday, as the West strives to send Russia and China a signal of resolve. Taking place in the shadow of Russia's war in Ukraine, the Madrid gathering comes at a pivotal moment for the transatlantic bond after failures in Afghanistan and internal discord during the era of former U.S. President Donald Trump, who threatened to pull Washington out of the nuclear alliance. Negotiations among an often-fractious organisation are still under way, diplomats said, but leaders also hope to agree to provide more military aid to Ukraine, increase joint defence spending, cement a new resolve to tackle China's military rise and put more troops on stand-by to defend the Baltics. Spain, whose king will host a dinner for leaders, is also pushing for more NATO focus on the southern flank to address migration and militant groups in the Sahel region of Africa. The leaders of Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea are expected to attend part of the summit, part of a broader U.S. strategy for a more assertive Western presence in the Indo-Pacific region to counter China. "We will do more to ensure we can defend every inch of allied territory, at all times and against any threat," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said in a speech last week. Although British and U.S. officials have advised against a Baltic request for permanent multinational forces in the region, the summit is likely to settle on a compromise of promising rapid reinforcements. Germany has already said it will put more troops at the ready to defend Lithuania should Russia seek to seize NATO territory and Britain is expected to do the same for Estonia, while Latvia is looking to Canada to pledge more troops there. TURKEY VETO NATO - created in 1949 to counter the Soviet threat - is under no treaty obligation to defend Ukraine, as the former Soviet republic is not a NATO member. But Russian President Vladimir Putin's Feb. 24 invasion has sparked a geopolitical shift as once neutral countries Finland and Sweden seek to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and Ukraine has formally become a candidate to join the European Union. If accepted, Finland and Sweden's inclusion into NATO would bring about the expansion of the alliance that the Russian leader aimed to prevent. "I think it sends an important message to Putin. And I think it would actually significantly strengthen the alliance," U.S. Senator Angus King said of Finland and Sweden, following a trip to Finland, Latvia and Turkey. However, Turkey is also testing that unity, angered by what it says is Helsinki and Stockholm's support for Kurdish militants and arms embargoes on Ankara. A Turkish government official involved in the talks between the three countries and NATO's Stoltenberg told Reuters it would be difficult to reach a deal at the summit, saying that Sweden and Finland must first address Turkish concerns. "There were meetings, but unfortunately steps we expected are not being taken," the official said. Sweden has set up a process for ongoing consultations, diplomats said. But two senior NATO diplomats said the dispute was less about technical benchmarks and more about politics. Erdogan's stance has proved popular at home before a June 2023 presidential election as he seeks to challenge U.S. and European priorities. In recent weeks, he has threatened more military operations in northern Syria, stoked tensions with fellow NATO member Greece and declined to join Western sanctions on Russia over the Ukraine war. "I think there's nearly zero chance that this issue will be resolved at the Madrid summit," said Soner Cagaptay, a Turkey analyst at the Washington Institute, a U.S. think-tank. U.S. President Joe Biden could hold a meeting with Erdogan in the margins of the NATO summit to push for progress with Finland and Sweden, whose leaders will be in Madrid. But Cagaptay added that Erdogan could try to use the situation to boost his popularity and call a possible snap election in November ahead of the official June 2023 vote. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

NATO to pledge aid to Baltics and Ukraine, urge Turkey to let in Nordics

India logged 17,073 new coronavirus infections, raising its tally to 4,34,07,046, while the daily positivity crossed 5 per cent after over four months, the Union Health Ministry said on Monday.

The death toll climbed to 5,25,020 with 21 fresh fatalities, data updated at 8 am by the ministry stated.

The active cases increased to 94,420, comprising 0.22 per cent of the total infections.

The national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.57 per cent, the ministry said.

An increase of 1,844 cases was recorded in the active COVID-19 case count in a span of 24 hours, as per the data.

The daily positivity rate was recorded at 5.62 per cent, while the weekly positivity rate was recorded at 3.39 per cent, it stated.

The daily positivity crossed 5 per cent after a gap of 139 days.

The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,27,87,606, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.21 per cent.

According to the ministry, 197.11 crore doses of vaccine have been administered in the country so far under the nationwide COVID-19 inoculation drive.

India's COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16. It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19. The country crossed the grim milestone of two crore cases on May 4, 2021, three crore on June 23 and four crore cases on January 25 this year.

The 21 new fatalities include six from Kerala, five from Maharashtra, four from Delhi, two each from Goa and Punjab and one each from Jammu and Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh, the data stated.

India logged 17,073 new coronavirus infections, raising its tally to 4,34,07,046, while the daily positivity crossed 5 per cent after over four months, the Union Health Ministry said on Monday.

India logged 17,073 new coronavirus infections, raising its tally to 4,34,07,046, while the daily positivity crossed 5 per cent after over four months, the Union Health Ministry said on Monday. The death toll climbed to 5,25,020 with 21 fresh fatalities, data updated at 8 am by the ministry stated. The active cases increased to 94,420, comprising 0.22 per cent of the total infections. The national COVID-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.57 per cent, the ministry said. An increase of 1,844 cases was recorded in the active COVID-19 case count in a span of 24 hours, as per the data. The daily positivity rate was recorded at 5.62 per cent, while the weekly positivity rate was recorded at 3.39 per cent, it stated. The daily positivity crossed 5 per cent after a gap of 139 days. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,27,87,606, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.21 per cent. According to the ministry, 197.11 crore doses of vaccine have been administered in the country so far under the nationwide COVID-19 inoculation drive. India's COVID-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 2020, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16. It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19. The country crossed the grim milestone of two crore cases on May 4, 2021, three crore on June 23 and four crore cases on January 25 this year. The 21 new fatalities include six from Kerala, five from Maharashtra, four from Delhi, two each from Goa and Punjab and one each from Jammu and Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh, the data stated.

India records 17,073 new Covid cases, 21 deaths; daily positivity rate 5.62 per cent

G7 Summit: Partners of leaders take the Nordic Walk

Mama Mia! Worst Italian drought makes Milan fountains go dry

The United States on Monday (June 27) announced fresh G7 sanctions on Russia. These new sanctions are targetted at Russia defence industry. The aim appears to be slowing down Russian war machine in Ukraine

"G7 leaders will align and expand targeted sanctions to further restrict Russia's access" to Western technology that can support the Russian arms industry, the White House said.

And the US will also "aggressively target Russian defence supply chains... and limit Russia's ability to replace the military equipment it has already lost during its brutal war".

Watch | G7 leaders agree to ban gold imports from Russia

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News agency AFP quoted an unnamed American official to say that G7 nations have made progress in talks to set a price cap on Russian oil imports.

"We're still in final discussions with other G7 counterparts working to finalise this, but we're very close to a place where G7 leaders will have decided to urgently direct relevant ministers to develop mechanisms to set a global price cap for Russian oil," the official said.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/g7-announced-600-billion-global-infrastructure-plan-to-rival-chinas-bri-492064">G7 announced $600 billion global infrastructure plan to rival China’s BRI</a>

The goal of the plan is to starve the Kremlin of its "main source of cash and force down the price of Russian oil".

In addition to this, G7 leaders have agreed that money from higher tariff imposed on Russian exports should be funnelled as Ukraine aid.

President Joe Biden and other G7 leaders "will seek authority to use revenues collected by any new tariffs on Russian goods to help Ukraine and to ensure that Russia pays for the cost of its war," a senior US official said.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The United States on Monday (June 27) announced fresh G7 sanctions on Russia. These new sanctions are targetted at Russia defence industry. The aim appears to be slowing down Russian war machine in Ukraine "G7 leaders will align and expand targeted sanctions to further restrict Russia's access" to Western technology that can support the Russian arms industry, the White House said.

The United States on Monday (June 27) announced fresh G7 sanctions on Russia. These new sanctions are targetted at Russia defence industry. The aim appears to be slowing down Russian war machine in Ukraine "G7 leaders will align and expand targeted sanctions to further restrict Russia's access" to Western technology that can support the Russian arms industry, the White House said. And the US will also "aggressively target Russian defence supply chains... and limit Russia's ability to replace the military equipment it has already lost during its brutal war". Watch | G7 leaders agree to ban gold imports from Russia × News agency AFP quoted an unnamed American official to say that G7 nations have made progress in talks to set a price cap on Russian oil imports. "We're still in final discussions with other G7 counterparts working to finalise this, but we're very close to a place where G7 leaders will have decided to urgently direct relevant ministers to develop mechanisms to set a global price cap for Russian oil," the official said. Also Read | G7 announced $600 billion global infrastructure plan to rival China’s BRI The goal of the plan is to starve the Kremlin of its "main source of cash and force down the price of Russian oil". In addition to this, G7 leaders have agreed that money from higher tariff imposed on Russian exports should be funnelled as Ukraine aid. President Joe Biden and other G7 leaders "will seek authority to use revenues collected by any new tariffs on Russian goods to help Ukraine and to ensure that Russia pays for the cost of its war," a senior US official said. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

US announces fresh G7 sanctions aimed at Russian defence sector

Britain's Royal Mail is commemorating an LGBTQI+ event in London considered landmark development for gay rights in the UK. Royal Mail has released a set of eight illustrate stamps. These illustrations are made by award-winning artist Sofie Birkin.

On July 1, 1972, a group of people gathered in London's famed Trafalgar Square. The group then marched to Hyde Park chanting &nbsp;“Gay is fun! Gay is proud! Gay is beautiful!”.

Although events of the community had been taking place before, this one was first with the name 'Gay Pride'. The event was inspired by such events that had been taking place in the US.

Homosexuality had been decriminalised in the UK 1967 but police arrests of gay and homosexual men continued even after that. The Pride march of 1973 was organised to demand greater equality in the eye of law for gay people.

“The vibrant, colourful Pride events that take place in towns and cities across the UK today trace their origins to a small number of people who marched through central London half a century ago to raise awareness of discrimination and inequality," said David Gold, the director of external affairs and policy at Royal Mail. He was quoted by The Guardian. 
 
You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

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Britain's Royal Mail is commemorating an LGBTQI+ event in London considered landmark development for gay rights in the UK. Royal Mail has released a set of eight illustrate stamps.

Britain's Royal Mail is commemorating an LGBTQI+ event in London considered landmark development for gay rights in the UK. Royal Mail has released a set of eight illustrate stamps. These illustrations are made by award-winning artist Sofie Birkin. On July 1, 1972, a group of people gathered in London's famed Trafalgar Square. The group then marched to Hyde Park chanting “Gay is fun! Gay is proud! Gay is beautiful!”. Although events of the community had been taking place before, this one was first with the name 'Gay Pride'. The event was inspired by such events that had been taking place in the US. Homosexuality had been decriminalised in the UK 1967 but police arrests of gay and homosexual men continued even after that. The Pride march of 1973 was organised to demand greater equality in the eye of law for gay people. “The vibrant, colourful Pride events that take place in towns and cities across the UK today trace their origins to a small number of people who marched through central London half a century ago to raise awareness of discrimination and inequality," said David Gold, the director of external affairs and policy at Royal Mail. He was quoted by The Guardian. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Royal Mail releases stamps to commemorate Gay Pride march

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