A Turkish court on Wednesday sentenced Istanbul’s popular opposition mayor to over two years jail in a politically charged defamation trial that effectively bars him from standing in next June’s presidential election.

Istanbul mayor and Erdogan rival Imamoglu sentenced to jail

The mayor of Istanbul, Turkey's most populous city, was handed a two-year and seven-month prison term by a Turkish court on Wednesday for insulting the country's Supreme Electoral Council.

In addition to finding Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu guilty, the court also placed him under a political gag order that could result in his resignation. Imamoglu, a member of the Republican People's Party, the main opposition party, is anticipated to challenge the judgement.

The mayor's trial was allegedly intended to get rid of a significant opponent of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, according to critics. A presidential election is anticipated in Turkey the following year.

Imamoglu was chosen to serve as Istanbul's mayor in March 2019. Erdogan's Justice and Development Party, which had ruled Istanbul for 25 years, suffered a historic defeat as a result of his victory. Due to alleged anomalies, the 16 million-person city's municipal election results were challenged by the party.

A few months later, the election was redone as a result of the challenge, and Imamoglu again prevailed.

After calling the cancellation of valid elections an act of "foolishness" on November 4, 2019, Imamoglu was charged with insulting senior public officials.

The mayor insisted that his statements were a response to Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu labelling him "a fool" and accused Imamoglu of disparaging Turkey during a visit to the European Parliament. He denied insulting the members of the electoral council.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The mayor of Istanbul, Turkey's most populous city, was handed a two-year and seven-month prison term by a Turkish court on Wednesday for insulting the country's Supreme Electoral Council.

The mayor of Istanbul, Turkey's most populous city, was handed a two-year and seven-month prison term by a Turkish court on Wednesday for insulting the country's Supreme Electoral Council. In addition to finding Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu guilty, the court also placed him under a political gag order that could result in his resignation. Imamoglu, a member of the Republican People's Party, the main opposition party, is anticipated to challenge the judgement. The mayor's trial was allegedly intended to get rid of a significant opponent of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, according to critics. A presidential election is anticipated in Turkey the following year. Imamoglu was chosen to serve as Istanbul's mayor in March 2019. Erdogan's Justice and Development Party, which had ruled Istanbul for 25 years, suffered a historic defeat as a result of his victory. Due to alleged anomalies, the 16 million-person city's municipal election results were challenged by the party. A few months later, the election was redone as a result of the challenge, and Imamoglu again prevailed. After calling the cancellation of valid elections an act of "foolishness" on November 4, 2019, Imamoglu was charged with insulting senior public officials. The mayor insisted that his statements were a response to Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu labelling him "a fool" and accused Imamoglu of disparaging Turkey during a visit to the European Parliament. He denied insulting the members of the electoral council. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Istanbul mayor sentenced, barred from politics for insulting Turkish authorities

The Mayor of London has set aside one million pounds to tackle misogyny and sexism in schools. According to Sadiq Khan, working with young people at an impressionable age will benefit the whole of society. The plan includes eight workshops on how to implement the toolkits.

London: Schools to teach calling out sexism, Mayor Sadiq Khan launches powerful plan

In its 241-year-history, Los Angeles gets&nbsp;its first woman and second Black-Angeleno mayor&nbsp;Rep. Karen Bass after she defeated businessman and former Republican Rick Caruso to lead the city.&nbsp;

The 69-year-old Congress leader made her fortune after spending over 100 million dollars on her mayoral bid, an unusual move to vow votes such as field outreach and television advertising. Known for her skills as a coalition builder, the congresswoman focused on three major aspects "solve homelessness," "to prevent and act urgently in case of any crime," and to make Los Angeles an affordable place for working families.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nyc-mayor-declares-state-of-emergency-over-migrant-crisis-says-at-the-edge-of-a-precipice-523415">Also read |&nbsp;NYC at the edge of precipice, says mayor, declares state of emergency over migrant crisis</a>

During her campaign, Bass said that as soon as she takes control of the office, her first priority would be to declare a state of emergency on homelessness and to work to get nearly 41,000 people who sleep in tents a house, Lops Angeles Times reported.&nbsp;

After her victory, Karen sent out a loud and clear message On Wednesday evening, "The people of Los Angeles have sent a clear message: it is time for change and it is time for urgency."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-new-york-city-mayor-adams-attends-durga-puja-celebrations-with-bengali-community-522438">Also read |&nbsp;US: New York City mayor Adams attends Durga Puja celebrations with Bengali community</a>

According to the preliminary election results Caruso was leading as of early morning by a thin margin. However, on the election result day, Bass took a lead by a thin margin of six only.&nbsp;

Caruso. 63, businessman&nbsp;spent more than Bass over the election campaign but was ultimately unable to prevail his victory. He said, "I’m proud of the work we did to engage long-neglected communities, giving a voice to the unheard, and to the light we shined on the biggest challenges facing our great city." He added that for now, the city needs to support Mayor-elect&nbsp;Bass and give her support to tackle issues.&nbsp;

Bass's motives will grow stronger once she will take charge succeeding Eric Garcetti as the 43rd mayor of Los Angeles.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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In its 241-year-history, Los Angeles gets its first woman and second Black-Angeleno mayor Rep. Karen Bass after she defeated businessman and former Republican Rick Caruso to lead the city.

In its 241-year-history, Los Angeles gets its first woman and second Black-Angeleno mayor Rep. Karen Bass after she defeated businessman and former Republican Rick Caruso to lead the city. The 69-year-old Congress leader made her fortune after spending over 100 million dollars on her mayoral bid, an unusual move to vow votes such as field outreach and television advertising. Known for her skills as a coalition builder, the congresswoman focused on three major aspects "solve homelessness," "to prevent and act urgently in case of any crime," and to make Los Angeles an affordable place for working families. Also read | NYC at the edge of precipice, says mayor, declares state of emergency over migrant crisis During her campaign, Bass said that as soon as she takes control of the office, her first priority would be to declare a state of emergency on homelessness and to work to get nearly 41,000 people who sleep in tents a house, Lops Angeles Times reported. After her victory, Karen sent out a loud and clear message On Wednesday evening, "The people of Los Angeles have sent a clear message: it is time for change and it is time for urgency." Also read | US: New York City mayor Adams attends Durga Puja celebrations with Bengali community According to the preliminary election results Caruso was leading as of early morning by a thin margin. However, on the election result day, Bass took a lead by a thin margin of six only. Caruso. 63, businessman spent more than Bass over the election campaign but was ultimately unable to prevail his victory. He said, "I’m proud of the work we did to engage long-neglected communities, giving a voice to the unheard, and to the light we shined on the biggest challenges facing our great city." He added that for now, the city needs to support Mayor-elect Bass and give her support to tackle issues. Bass's motives will grow stronger once she will take charge succeeding Eric Garcetti as the 43rd mayor of Los Angeles. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Karen Bass: Los Angeles elects its first female mayor in 241 years 

A shooting Thursday in North Carolina's capital Raleigh left at least five people dead, including an off-duty police officer, officials in the southeast US city said. They further said that the suspect has&nbsp;been captured. Raleigh Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin said the shooting occurred near the Neuse River Greenway, a popular trail in the area.

"This is a sad and tragic day for the city of Raleigh. Just after 5:00 pm today, multiple people were shot," she told a press conference.

The Raleigh Police Department "has confirmed five fatalities", the mayor informed.

The suspected shooter is reportedly a white teenage male with a long gun, an ABC News affiliate reported.

There were multiple crime scenes associated with the&nbsp;shooting situation.

Helicopter footage from CNN affiliate WRAL-TV showed more than a dozen emergency vehicles lined up on a road through a wooded area.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-jury-recommends-death-sentence-to-parkland-high-school-shooter-525176">US jury spares death penalty to Parkland high school shooter, recommends life imprisonment</a>

At least four shooting victims were taken to the WakeMed hospital, it said, without providing details on the victims' conditions.

Mayor Baldwin also spoke out on the matter of gun violence that plagues the nation.&nbsp;

"We &nbsp;must do more. We must stop this mindless violence in America. We must address gun violence. We have much to do, and tonight we have much to mourn," she said.

Gun violence is a major problem in the United States where more than 34,000 people have died in shootings so far in 2022 alone, more than half of which were from suicide, according to the Gun Violence Archive website.

(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 <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.

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A shooting Thursday in North Carolina's capital Raleigh left at least five people dead, including an off-duty police officer, officials in the southeast US city said.

A shooting Thursday in North Carolina's capital Raleigh left at least five people dead, including an off-duty police officer, officials in the southeast US city said. They further said that the suspect has been captured. Raleigh Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin said the shooting occurred near the Neuse River Greenway, a popular trail in the area. "This is a sad and tragic day for the city of Raleigh. Just after 5:00 pm today, multiple people were shot," she told a press conference. The Raleigh Police Department "has confirmed five fatalities", the mayor informed. The suspected shooter is reportedly a white teenage male with a long gun, an ABC News affiliate reported. There were multiple crime scenes associated with the shooting situation. Helicopter footage from CNN affiliate WRAL-TV showed more than a dozen emergency vehicles lined up on a road through a wooded area. Also Read | US jury spares death penalty to Parkland high school shooter, recommends life imprisonment At least four shooting victims were taken to the WakeMed hospital, it said, without providing details on the victims' conditions. Mayor Baldwin also spoke out on the matter of gun violence that plagues the nation. "We must do more. We must stop this mindless violence in America. We must address gun violence. We have much to do, and tonight we have much to mourn," she said. Gun violence is a major problem in the United States where more than 34,000 people have died in shootings so far in 2022 alone, more than half of which were from suicide, according to the Gun Violence Archive website. (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 ×

Shooting rampage in North Carolina leaves 5 dead, including a police officer, suspect held

As the war in Ukraine continues, the risk of disaster at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant occupied by Russian troops is “increasing every day”, the mayor of the city where the facility is located stated.

Russia-Ukraine Crisis | Risks of disaster at nuclear plant ‘increasing every day’: Mayor

D.C. Mayor has decided to help undocumented migrants as they arrive from Texas and Arizona. Meanwhile, migrants protest against Biden's border policies.

D.C. Mayor to help undocumented migrants as they arrive from Texas and Arizona

A Mexican mayor married his alligator bride in a ritual. He kissed the alligator post-marriage. Ritual represents alligator as mother Earth.

Mexican mayor marries his alligator bride in a ritual

In a huge surprise win, a Japanese woman, who has been living in Belgium, has been selected as a mayor of a district in Tokyo after the elections. The 47-year-old woman, who is known as Satoko Kishimoto, became popular with the help of her online campaign. For a decade, Kishimoto has been living in Leuven city of Belgium along with her husband and children. She has been working as a project coordinator for the not-for-profit Transnational Institute in Amsterdam. Kishimoto has now become the mayor of Suginami city. This city encompasses 500,000 people and is more than 5,800 miles away from her present home. Kishimoto won by just 200 votes. &nbsp;

In recent weeks, Kishimoto has travelled to Japan for campaigning in person. Olivier Hoedeman, husband of Kishimoto, said that the result of the election has come as a “huge surprise”. &nbsp;

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“During the Covid crisis, when everything happened online, Satoko participated a lot in online public debates in Japan from Leuven. Satoko is very interested in politics and through her work for the Transnational Institute in Amsterdam, she knows a lot about it too. She became very popular with the progressive movement in Japan and was asked to run for mayor in Suginami,” Hoedeman told Flemish radio. &nbsp;

“Satoko lived the first 25 years of her life in Japan. After that, she moved to the Netherlands and then to Leuven, where we have lived together for more than 10 years and now have two children. The election result came as a huge surprise. Satoko defeated the conservative mayor in office. Apparently, her political message appealed to many citizens. Satoko wants less privatisation and more citizen participation,” Hoedeman added. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Hoedeman said, “Our youngest son is still in secondary school and still has a few years to go. So, moving to Japan is not going to be so easy. We still have to think about it.” &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

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In a huge surprise win, a Japanese woman, who has been living in Belgium, has been selected as a mayor of a district in Tokyo after the elections. The 47-year-old woman, who is known as Satoko Kishimoto, became popular with the help of her online campaign.

In a huge surprise win, a Japanese woman, who has been living in Belgium, has been selected as a mayor of a district in Tokyo after the elections. The 47-year-old woman, who is known as Satoko Kishimoto, became popular with the help of her online campaign. For a decade, Kishimoto has been living in Leuven city of Belgium along with her husband and children. She has been working as a project coordinator for the not-for-profit Transnational Institute in Amsterdam. Kishimoto has now become the mayor of Suginami city. This city encompasses 500,000 people and is more than 5,800 miles away from her present home. Kishimoto won by just 200 votes. In recent weeks, Kishimoto has travelled to Japan for campaigning in person. Olivier Hoedeman, husband of Kishimoto, said that the result of the election has come as a “huge surprise”. WATCH WION LIVE HERE “During the Covid crisis, when everything happened online, Satoko participated a lot in online public debates in Japan from Leuven. Satoko is very interested in politics and through her work for the Transnational Institute in Amsterdam, she knows a lot about it too. She became very popular with the progressive movement in Japan and was asked to run for mayor in Suginami,” Hoedeman told Flemish radio. “Satoko lived the first 25 years of her life in Japan. After that, she moved to the Netherlands and then to Leuven, where we have lived together for more than 10 years and now have two children. The election result came as a huge surprise. Satoko defeated the conservative mayor in office. Apparently, her political message appealed to many citizens. Satoko wants less privatisation and more citizen participation,” Hoedeman added. Hoedeman said, “Our youngest son is still in secondary school and still has a few years to go. So, moving to Japan is not going to be so easy. We still have to think about it.” (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. ×

Surprise win: Japanese woman living in Belgium becomes mayor of district in Tokyo

The mayor of the Ukrainian city of Melitopol Ivan Fedorov who was detained last week by Russian forces has now been released. ukraine's ministry of defense has released footage of President Zelensky reportedly speaking to the mayor, listen in to the conversation.

Russia release Melitopol mayor, President Zelensky speaks to him

Mayor Eric Adams said Friday that he was officially ending New York City’s mask mandate for public schools and a proof-of-vaccination requirement for indoor dining, gyms and entertainment venues, a significant moment for a city that was once an epicenter of the pandemic.

Adams made the announcement in Times Square in Manhattan and said it was part of his efforts to reopen New York after a steep drop in coronavirus cases.

Starting Monday, students will no longer have to wear masks indoors at public schools. Children under 5 must continue to wear masks because they are not yet eligible for vaccination.

Also as of Monday, people will not be required to show proof of vaccination to visit the city’s restaurants, gyms and other venues like movie theaters. Masks are still required on public transit and in some venues, including Broadway theaters.

“It’s time to reopen our city,” Adams said Friday.

Coronavirus cases have dropped quickly over the last month after a surge caused by the omicron variant. The city is logging about 500 daily cases now and 25 hospitalisations compared with more than 40,000 cases and 1,000 hospitalisations per day in January.

Still, some health experts have raised concerns that Adams is moving too quickly to remove pandemic restrictions and that the proof-of-vaccination requirement, known as the Key to NYC program, has helped keep New Yorkers safe, especially because the city has so many international visitors.

Dr. Jay Varma, a top health adviser to the previous mayor, Bill de Blasio, wrote an opinion piece in the New York Daily News on Thursday urging Adams to keep the program.

Adams has said that the proof-of-vaccination program worked by encouraging more New Yorkers to get vaccinated. He has decided to keep vaccine mandates for city workers and for employees at private companies who are working in person.

Nearly 87% of adult New Yorkers are fully vaccinated, according to city data. Rates are lower among children; only about 56% of those ages 5-17 are fully vaccinated.

Mayor Eric Adams said Friday that he was officially ending New York City’s mask mandate for public schools and a proof-of-vaccination requirement for indoor dining, gyms and entertainment venues, a significant moment for a city that was once an epicenter of the pandemic.

Mayor Eric Adams said Friday that he was officially ending New York City’s mask mandate for public schools and a proof-of-vaccination requirement for indoor dining, gyms and entertainment venues, a significant moment for a city that was once an epicenter of the pandemic. Adams made the announcement in Times Square in Manhattan and said it was part of his efforts to reopen New York after a steep drop in coronavirus cases. Starting Monday, students will no longer have to wear masks indoors at public schools. Children under 5 must continue to wear masks because they are not yet eligible for vaccination. Also as of Monday, people will not be required to show proof of vaccination to visit the city’s restaurants, gyms and other venues like movie theaters. Masks are still required on public transit and in some venues, including Broadway theaters. “It’s time to reopen our city,” Adams said Friday. Coronavirus cases have dropped quickly over the last month after a surge caused by the omicron variant. The city is logging about 500 daily cases now and 25 hospitalisations compared with more than 40,000 cases and 1,000 hospitalisations per day in January. Still, some health experts have raised concerns that Adams is moving too quickly to remove pandemic restrictions and that the proof-of-vaccination requirement, known as the Key to NYC program, has helped keep New Yorkers safe, especially because the city has so many international visitors. Dr. Jay Varma, a top health adviser to the previous mayor, Bill de Blasio, wrote an opinion piece in the New York Daily News on Thursday urging Adams to keep the program. Adams has said that the proof-of-vaccination program worked by encouraging more New Yorkers to get vaccinated. He has decided to keep vaccine mandates for city workers and for employees at private companies who are working in person. Nearly 87% of adult New Yorkers are fully vaccinated, according to city data. Rates are lower among children; only about 56% of those ages 5-17 are fully vaccinated.

NYC mayor lifts school mask mandate and indoor vaccination rules

Mayor Eric Adams, in his first trip to Washington since taking office in New York City, encouraged mayors from across the country to be honest about the immense challenges facing cities as they recover from the pandemic, and to address them by being “radically practical.”

Adams outlined a “national urban agenda” — and perhaps a blueprint for Democrats in the years ahead — that focuses on public safety, child care and infrastructure and called for more federal funding for programs like violence interrupters.

“This is how we create safer, more prosperous cities as we recover — this is how we bring our country back,” Adams said Thursday in a featured speaking slot at the United States Conference of Mayors. “That’s being radically practical.”

Adams, a former police captain who has called himself the “future of the Democratic Party,” has captured national attention in his first weeks in office, even becoming the subject of a “Saturday Night Live” skit about his pledge to bring “swagger” to City Hall.

Since he was sworn in Jan. 1, Adams has sought to become the city’s cheerleader during an alarming wave of coronavirus cases, and he is facing other major challenges. Several incidents have proved how difficult it will be to improve public safety: On Saturday, a woman was pushed to her death at the Times Square subway station by a homeless man; four days later, a baby girl was hit by a stray bullet in the Bronx; and early Thursday, a police detective was shot in the leg.

Adams has mentioned the idea of being “radically practical” before, arguing that he wants to focus on the nuts and bolts of running an efficient city government and delivering services.

Part of that philosophy, the mayor said, involved being honest about the challenges cities are facing in the wake of the pandemic, and he encouraged his mayoral counterparts to not sugarcoat things.

“We can’t pretend that our streets and subways are safe,” he said, “when people can see that guns and violence are killing people every day.”

Adams was one of several mayors who spoke at the four-day gathering in Washington, including Lori Lightfoot of Chicago and Eric Garcetti of Los Angeles, with whom Adams, wearing his signature “Get Stuff Done” face mask, posed for a photo on Twitter. President Joe Biden was expected to close the event with a speech Friday.

Other New York City mayors have used the conference to raise their profile. In his first days in office in 2014, Bill de Blasio was welcomed as a left-wing rock star and called for a “national urban consensus” on issues like transportation and affordable housing. When Michael Bloomberg was weighing a third-party presidential campaign in 2008, he used his speech at the conference to attack partisan politics and Congress’ failure to fix immigration policy.

Adams also took aim at the federal government in his speech, even though Democrats control it.

“With so much dysfunction in Washington and division in our nation, now is the time for mayors to lead America,” he said.

Adams was introduced by Francis X. Suarez, the mayor of Miami and the president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, who noted that he, like Adams, received his paycheck in Bitcoin — part of a campaign to promote cryptocurrencies. Suarez called Adams a “dear friend, a genuine person and incredibly humble.”

Adams called for more federal funding for infrastructure, beyond the enormous federal bill approved last year, to pay for housing, transportation and environmental programs. And he called for better coordination with federal and state law enforcement officials and more funding for violence interrupters and job training.

Adams has embraced “Get Stuff Done” as the theme of his first 100 days, but he has not detailed what specifically he wants to prioritize beyond addressing violent crime. Instead of pushing one major policy idea like de Blasio, who focused on universal prekindergarten during his first months as mayor, Adams has pledged to work on the basics.

Indeed, on his first day in office, Adams said in his first televised speech: “Now is the time to be radically practical.”

“That doesn’t just mean grand plans and proposals,” he said. “It means weeding out the waste and eliminating the inefficiencies.”

Asked about his one big idea during the competitive Democratic primary last year, Adams pointed to his proposal called the “People’s Plan.” It included tax credits for poor New Yorkers, free and low-cost child care for children under 3, and an online portal called MyCity to apply for benefits like food stamps.

His first campaign ad during the general election also focused on “universal child care,” and he returned to that theme in his speech Thursday, urging the White House and Congress to approve a plan to pay for it.

“Any working-class or low-income parent who cannot work because they cannot find affordable child care will be trapped in a negative economic cycle forever,” he said.

Mayor Eric Adams, in his first trip to Washington since taking office in New York City, encouraged mayors from across the country to be honest about the immense challenges facing cities as they recover from the pandemic, and to address them by being “radically practical.

Mayor Eric Adams, in his first trip to Washington since taking office in New York City, encouraged mayors from across the country to be honest about the immense challenges facing cities as they recover from the pandemic, and to address them by being “radically practical.” Adams outlined a “national urban agenda” — and perhaps a blueprint for Democrats in the years ahead — that focuses on public safety, child care and infrastructure and called for more federal funding for programs like violence interrupters. “This is how we create safer, more prosperous cities as we recover — this is how we bring our country back,” Adams said Thursday in a featured speaking slot at the United States Conference of Mayors. “That’s being radically practical.” Adams, a former police captain who has called himself the “future of the Democratic Party,” has captured national attention in his first weeks in office, even becoming the subject of a “Saturday Night Live” skit about his pledge to bring “swagger” to City Hall. Since he was sworn in Jan. 1, Adams has sought to become the city’s cheerleader during an alarming wave of coronavirus cases, and he is facing other major challenges. Several incidents have proved how difficult it will be to improve public safety: On Saturday, a woman was pushed to her death at the Times Square subway station by a homeless man; four days later, a baby girl was hit by a stray bullet in the Bronx; and early Thursday, a police detective was shot in the leg. Adams has mentioned the idea of being “radically practical” before, arguing that he wants to focus on the nuts and bolts of running an efficient city government and delivering services. Part of that philosophy, the mayor said, involved being honest about the challenges cities are facing in the wake of the pandemic, and he encouraged his mayoral counterparts to not sugarcoat things. “We can’t pretend that our streets and subways are safe,” he said, “when people can see that guns and violence are killing people every day.” Adams was one of several mayors who spoke at the four-day gathering in Washington, including Lori Lightfoot of Chicago and Eric Garcetti of Los Angeles, with whom Adams, wearing his signature “Get Stuff Done” face mask, posed for a photo on Twitter. President Joe Biden was expected to close the event with a speech Friday. Other New York City mayors have used the conference to raise their profile. In his first days in office in 2014, Bill de Blasio was welcomed as a left-wing rock star and called for a “national urban consensus” on issues like transportation and affordable housing. When Michael Bloomberg was weighing a third-party presidential campaign in 2008, he used his speech at the conference to attack partisan politics and Congress’ failure to fix immigration policy. Adams also took aim at the federal government in his speech, even though Democrats control it. “With so much dysfunction in Washington and division in our nation, now is the time for mayors to lead America,” he said. Adams was introduced by Francis X. Suarez, the mayor of Miami and the president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, who noted that he, like Adams, received his paycheck in Bitcoin — part of a campaign to promote cryptocurrencies. Suarez called Adams a “dear friend, a genuine person and incredibly humble.” Adams called for more federal funding for infrastructure, beyond the enormous federal bill approved last year, to pay for housing, transportation and environmental programs. And he called for better coordination with federal and state law enforcement officials and more funding for violence interrupters and job training. Adams has embraced “Get Stuff Done” as the theme of his first 100 days, but he has not detailed what specifically he wants to prioritize beyond addressing violent crime. Instead of pushing one major policy idea like de Blasio, who focused on universal prekindergarten during his first months as mayor, Adams has pledged to work on the basics. Indeed, on his first day in office, Adams said in his first televised speech: “Now is the time to be radically practical.” “That doesn’t just mean grand plans and proposals,” he said. “It means weeding out the waste and eliminating the inefficiencies.” Asked about his one big idea during the competitive Democratic primary last year, Adams pointed to his proposal called the “People’s Plan.” It included tax credits for poor New Yorkers, free and low-cost child care for children under 3, and an online portal called MyCity to apply for benefits like food stamps. His first campaign ad during the general election also focused on “universal child care,” and he returned to that theme in his speech Thursday, urging the White House and Congress to approve a plan to pay for it. “Any working-class or low-income parent who cannot work because they cannot find affordable child care will be trapped in a negative economic cycle forever,” he said.

Mayor Adams promotes ‘radically practical’ agenda in Washington

New Yorkers chose Democrat Eric Adams, a former New York Police Department captain, to become the city's second Black Mayor in a landslide election.

Eric Adams elected as New York City's African-American mayor

New Yorkers head to the polls Tuesday in a mayoral election that is virtually guaranteed to elect Black former policeman Eric Adams as the next leader of America's biggest city.

The centrist Democrat is expected to trounce Republican candidate and volunteer crime fighter Curtis Sliwa in the liberal-voting bastion to become just the second African American to lead the Big Apple.

New York mayor is often described as the most difficult job in the United States after president.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/virginia-goes-to-polls-in-too-close-to-call-bellwether-election-426138">Virginia goes to polls in too-close-to call bellwether election</a>

If the 61-year-old Adams wins, he will succeed unpopular progressive Bill de Blasio, whose two-term limit ends December 31.

Adams will be tasked with leading the city's recovery after the pandemic, which has killed more than 34,000 residents and closed hundreds of thousands of businesses.

As mayor for more than eight million people, he will oversee America's largest municipal budget, crippled by the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">COVID-19 crisis</a>, and its biggest police force and public school system.&nbsp;

The moderate candidate defeated progressive rivals in June's Democratic primary by mainly pledging to crack down on violent crime that soared during the pandemic.

He promised to tackle wealth inequalities and reform the education system, as well.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-york-mayors-race-in-chaos-after-elections-board-counts-135000-test-ballots-394914">New York mayor’s race in chaos after elections board counts 135,000 test ballots</a>

Adams will also have to grapple with a severe lack of affordable housing, violent chaos at the notorious Rikers Island prison and the effects of more extreme weather events on New York City's creaking infrastructure.

One of his trickiest balancing acts will be trying to reform police practices while keeping onside a heavily unionized force that feels it has been underappreciated during the de Blasio era.

Adams opposes defunding the police, a policy that is a rallying cry for many on the American left. He is also seen as being friendly towards the business community and has not called for higher taxes for wealthy residents.

Reforming the police&nbsp;

He was born into poverty in Brooklyn in 1960, and was raised in a large family living in a working-class neighborhood of Queens. His mother was a cleaner, and his father was a butcher.

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&nbsp;

Adams briefly ran errands for a gang as a teenager. When he was 15, he was beaten by two NYPD officers after they arrested him for criminal trespassing.

That sparked his determination to join the NYPD so he could reform it from the inside. Adams entered the force in the mid-1980s, serving 22 years and rising to become a captain.

In 1995, he co-founded "100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care," an advocacy group designed to fight against racism in the police and that still exists today.

Adams retired in 2006, winning election to the New York State Senate that year. He served until 2013, when he was elected Brooklyn borough president, providing a springboard for his mayoral ambitions.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japanese-prime-minister-fumio-kishida-declares-victory-after-very-tough-election-425730">Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida declares victory after 'very tough' election</a>&nbsp;

Adams credits veganism with reversing his 2016 diabetes diagnosis and released a book last year that aims to turn African Americans to a plant-based diet.

Polls open at 6:00 am and close at 9:00 pm. Almost 170,000 people out of some five million registered voters have already cast ballots in early voting.

New Yorkers head to the polls Tuesday in a mayoral election that is virtually guaranteed to elect Black former policeman Eric Adams as the next leader of America's biggest city.

New Yorkers head to the polls Tuesday in a mayoral election that is virtually guaranteed to elect Black former policeman Eric Adams as the next leader of America's biggest city. The centrist Democrat is expected to trounce Republican candidate and volunteer crime fighter Curtis Sliwa in the liberal-voting bastion to become just the second African American to lead the Big Apple. New York mayor is often described as the most difficult job in the United States after president. Also Read | Virginia goes to polls in too-close-to call bellwether election If the 61-year-old Adams wins, he will succeed unpopular progressive Bill de Blasio, whose two-term limit ends December 31. Adams will be tasked with leading the city's recovery after the pandemic, which has killed more than 34,000 residents and closed hundreds of thousands of businesses. As mayor for more than eight million people, he will oversee America's largest municipal budget, crippled by the COVID-19 crisis, and its biggest police force and public school system. The moderate candidate defeated progressive rivals in June's Democratic primary by mainly pledging to crack down on violent crime that soared during the pandemic. He promised to tackle wealth inequalities and reform the education system, as well. Also Read | New York mayor’s race in chaos after elections board counts 135,000 test ballots Adams will also have to grapple with a severe lack of affordable housing, violent chaos at the notorious Rikers Island prison and the effects of more extreme weather events on New York City's creaking infrastructure. One of his trickiest balancing acts will be trying to reform police practices while keeping onside a heavily unionized force that feels it has been underappreciated during the de Blasio era. Adams opposes defunding the police, a policy that is a rallying cry for many on the American left. He is also seen as being friendly towards the business community and has not called for higher taxes for wealthy residents. Reforming the police He was born into poverty in Brooklyn in 1960, and was raised in a large family living in a working-class neighborhood of Queens. His mother was a cleaner, and his father was a butcher. Also Read | As Trump thunders about last election, Republicans worry about the next one Adams briefly ran errands for a gang as a teenager. When he was 15, he was beaten by two NYPD officers after they arrested him for criminal trespassing. That sparked his determination to join the NYPD so he could reform it from the inside. Adams entered the force in the mid-1980s, serving 22 years and rising to become a captain. In 1995, he co-founded "100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care," an advocacy group designed to fight against racism in the police and that still exists today. Adams retired in 2006, winning election to the New York State Senate that year. He served until 2013, when he was elected Brooklyn borough president, providing a springboard for his mayoral ambitions. Also Read | Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida declares victory after 'very tough' election Adams credits veganism with reversing his 2016 diabetes diagnosis and released a book last year that aims to turn African Americans to a plant-based diet. Polls open at 6:00 am and close at 9:00 pm. Almost 170,000 people out of some five million registered voters have already cast ballots in early voting.

New York poised to elect Black ex-cop Adams as mayor

Walking through what could be the charming tree-lined streets of Lichtenburg in South Africa’s rural heartland, pedestrians skirt around piles of uncollected trash. Shop fronts darkened by electricity blackouts line the main road. A recently built community center has been stolen, brick by brick.

Mayor Daniel Buthelezi believes he can turn the town around. So does Mayor Tsholofelo Moreo.

Two men simultaneously claim to be the mayor of Lichtenburg, a community of about 182,000 people 150 miles west of Johannesburg. Both are members of the African National Congress, or the ANC, the party that rules South Africa and this neglected town.

Lichtenburg is only one of dozens of towns across South Africa that have stagnated as politicians in the same party fight one another.

As South Africans go to the polls Monday to vote for local leaders, the dysfunction in their towns is testing their long-standing loyalty to the ANC — the party of Nelson Mandela, which led the struggle to liberate South Africa from the apartheid regime. With municipalities failing to provide basic services like water, electricity and trash collection, the election has evolved into a national referendum on the ANC government’s chaotic administration and failed promises.

Other towns also find themselves with dueling mayors. Just an hour’s drive southwest, the Tswaing municipality has two mayors from opposing ANC factions. Last year, voters in an impoverished town in KwaZulu-Natal province were also confounded by two mayors — in this case, from the opposition Inkatha Freedom Party.

The battle to control the modest resources of small towns and local wards has at times ended in violence. In the past month, there have been reports of at least four local councilors killed in political infighting.

“The kind of thuggery that has been going on in politics must stop, like yesterday,” said Job Mokgoro, the former premier of North West province, which includes Lichtenburg.

Mokgoro said he had tried to bring the two ANC factions in Lichtenburg to the negotiating table in 2019, when Buthelezi, then the sole mayor, was being challenged for the mayoralty by his rival, Moreo. But Mokgoro said he was shoved out of the council chamber by angry councilors, an impasse that two years later led both men to claim the mayoralty.

Mokgoro himself was removed from his position in August by the ANC's national leaders, after clashes with party factions in the province.

After the fall of apartheid, municipalities were envisioned as the democratic, grassroots platform to replace the apartheid regime’s centralized control. But this political decentralization has been exploited by corrupt or incompetent politicians, said Kevin Allan, head of Municipal IQ, an independent organization that monitors local government.

“The independence of the sphere has been exploited by local political factions,” and by corrupt individuals, creating “personal fiefdoms which overlap with regional political structures,” Allan said in a written comment to The New York Times.

Nearly two-thirds of South Africa’s municipalities are in financial distress, and more than one-third have adopted budgets they cannot fund, said Tito Mboweni, the country’s former finance minister, in his budget speech earlier this year. Many are unable to collect taxes or revenue for services rendered because their residents are too poor, or too angry to pay for nothing.

Municipal IQ has flagged Lichtenburg as one of the poorest performing municipalities in the country. It owes 600 million rand (about $39.5 million) in unpaid electric bills, and is reliant on grants from the national and provincial governments for basic services, like the town library.

The two mayors, however, have had little opportunity to find solutions, as their rivalry has resulted in disrupted meetings, and even chairs thrown across council chambers. In the mayor’s office, the wooden plaque with gold letters listing each mayor since the town’s founding has been vandalized.

Buthelezi, a 63-year-old school principal, said that he has been too afraid to enter the mayor’s office since February, when he was met by a group of burly private security guards who barred his entry.

“I cannot go there alone,” said Buthelezi. “They hired people so that when they see me there, I should be assaulted, be harassed, or other things be done that would not be good.”

Buthelezi was ousted as mayor in a vote of no-confidence by the town council last December, but he challenged the vote's legality in court and was reinstated the next month. In the meantime, though, his rival Moreo had been sworn in as the new mayor. Buthelezi has appealed to the ANC's national leaders to resolve the matter.

Still, the mayoral car — a low-slung Mercedes-Benz that seems unsuitable for the town’s potholed roads — is parked in Buthelezi’s garage.

Moreo is in his mid-30s, a spokesperson said, and started his career in government as the personal assistant to a previous mayor. Moreo did not appear for a scheduled interview earlier this month, and was later unavailable to speak by phone.

Moreo has told local media that Buthelezi was removed because of the municipality’s poor performance. Buthelezi accuses Moreo of corruption.

Their clash received national attention when South Africa’s largest dairy producer, Clover, announced in June that it would shut down its cheese factory in Lichtenburg and relocate to a town with more reliable services.

These provincial embarrassments have tarnished the ANC's national image. In a bid to restore voters’ trust, President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is not up for election Monday, has become the face of the party’s local campaign. In Lichtenburg, neither mayor is featured on campaign posters, though Moreo is on the ballot. Buthelezi is not — but said he is asking the ANC to reinstate him as mayor anyway.

Instead, it is Ramaphosa’s face beaming from campaign posters at residents, imploring them to give the ANC another chance.

“It’s just Ramaphosa all over. It’s as if Ramaphosa is running for mayor,” said Susan Booysen, head of research at the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection in Johannesburg.

Ramaphosa’s party is betting on polling that shows he is more popular than the ANC, Booysen said.

When selecting local councilors, however, the ANC has employed a “delicate and sometimes disastrous recruitment process,” she added.

To expand its base, the party appoints its allies to appease political players, Booysen said. That has allowed for patronage and poor service, particularly in municipalities that don’t receive national attention.

Still, this record does not necessarily dissuade voters. In focus groups, Booysen found that voters see the ANC as family, and the family provider, and are therefore forgiving of its shortcomings.

Voters were more likely to trust the ANC over the largely untested opposition parties, according to research from the University of Johannesburg. And many voters benefiting from social assistance said they feared that their aid could be taken away if another party came to power.

Ramaphosa’s frequent refrain on the campaign trail is that family “sticks together.” He reminds them about the houses, schools and other infrastructure the ANC government has provided since the end of apartheid.

Outside the Lichtenburg post office, Matshogo Magwatane, a 32-year-old father of two, had been waiting in line since dawn one recent day for a monthly pandemic relief grant of 350 rand (about $24).

Magwatane lost a local government job, which he blames on nepotism. He turned to selling kebabs and chicken feet on a street corner, until the piles of litter made street food a health hazard.

He describes the ruling party as a pit of snakes biting one another. Still, he said, he will vote for the ANC in Monday’s election.

“I’m going to go with the snake that will win,” Magwatane said.

Walking through what could be the charming tree-lined streets of Lichtenburg in South Africa’s rural heartland, pedestrians skirt around piles of uncollected trash.

Walking through what could be the charming tree-lined streets of Lichtenburg in South Africa’s rural heartland, pedestrians skirt around piles of uncollected trash. Shop fronts darkened by electricity blackouts line the main road. A recently built community center has been stolen, brick by brick. Mayor Daniel Buthelezi believes he can turn the town around. So does Mayor Tsholofelo Moreo. Two men simultaneously claim to be the mayor of Lichtenburg, a community of about 182,000 people 150 miles west of Johannesburg. Both are members of the African National Congress, or the ANC, the party that rules South Africa and this neglected town. Lichtenburg is only one of dozens of towns across South Africa that have stagnated as politicians in the same party fight one another. As South Africans go to the polls Monday to vote for local leaders, the dysfunction in their towns is testing their long-standing loyalty to the ANC — the party of Nelson Mandela, which led the struggle to liberate South Africa from the apartheid regime. With municipalities failing to provide basic services like water, electricity and trash collection, the election has evolved into a national referendum on the ANC government’s chaotic administration and failed promises. Other towns also find themselves with dueling mayors. Just an hour’s drive southwest, the Tswaing municipality has two mayors from opposing ANC factions. Last year, voters in an impoverished town in KwaZulu-Natal province were also confounded by two mayors — in this case, from the opposition Inkatha Freedom Party. The battle to control the modest resources of small towns and local wards has at times ended in violence. In the past month, there have been reports of at least four local councilors killed in political infighting. “The kind of thuggery that has been going on in politics must stop, like yesterday,” said Job Mokgoro, the former premier of North West province, which includes Lichtenburg. Mokgoro said he had tried to bring the two ANC factions in Lichtenburg to the negotiating table in 2019, when Buthelezi, then the sole mayor, was being challenged for the mayoralty by his rival, Moreo. But Mokgoro said he was shoved out of the council chamber by angry councilors, an impasse that two years later led both men to claim the mayoralty. Mokgoro himself was removed from his position in August by the ANC's national leaders, after clashes with party factions in the province. After the fall of apartheid, municipalities were envisioned as the democratic, grassroots platform to replace the apartheid regime’s centralized control. But this political decentralization has been exploited by corrupt or incompetent politicians, said Kevin Allan, head of Municipal IQ, an independent organization that monitors local government. “The independence of the sphere has been exploited by local political factions,” and by corrupt individuals, creating “personal fiefdoms which overlap with regional political structures,” Allan said in a written comment to The New York Times. Nearly two-thirds of South Africa’s municipalities are in financial distress, and more than one-third have adopted budgets they cannot fund, said Tito Mboweni, the country’s former finance minister, in his budget speech earlier this year. Many are unable to collect taxes or revenue for services rendered because their residents are too poor, or too angry to pay for nothing. Municipal IQ has flagged Lichtenburg as one of the poorest performing municipalities in the country. It owes 600 million rand (about $39.5 million) in unpaid electric bills, and is reliant on grants from the national and provincial governments for basic services, like the town library. The two mayors, however, have had little opportunity to find solutions, as their rivalry has resulted in disrupted meetings, and even chairs thrown across council chambers. In the mayor’s office, the wooden plaque with gold letters listing each mayor since the town’s founding has been vandalized. Buthelezi, a 63-year-old school principal, said that he has been too afraid to enter the mayor’s office since February, when he was met by a group of burly private security guards who barred his entry. “I cannot go there alone,” said Buthelezi. “They hired people so that when they see me there, I should be assaulted, be harassed, or other things be done that would not be good.” Buthelezi was ousted as mayor in a vote of no-confidence by the town council last December, but he challenged the vote's legality in court and was reinstated the next month. In the meantime, though, his rival Moreo had been sworn in as the new mayor. Buthelezi has appealed to the ANC's national leaders to resolve the matter. Still, the mayoral car — a low-slung Mercedes-Benz that seems unsuitable for the town’s potholed roads — is parked in Buthelezi’s garage. Moreo is in his mid-30s, a spokesperson said, and started his career in government as the personal assistant to a previous mayor. Moreo did not appear for a scheduled interview earlier this month, and was later unavailable to speak by phone. Moreo has told local media that Buthelezi was removed because of the municipality’s poor performance. Buthelezi accuses Moreo of corruption. Their clash received national attention when South Africa’s largest dairy producer, Clover, announced in June that it would shut down its cheese factory in Lichtenburg and relocate to a town with more reliable services. These provincial embarrassments have tarnished the ANC's national image. In a bid to restore voters’ trust, President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is not up for election Monday, has become the face of the party’s local campaign. In Lichtenburg, neither mayor is featured on campaign posters, though Moreo is on the ballot. Buthelezi is not — but said he is asking the ANC to reinstate him as mayor anyway. Instead, it is Ramaphosa’s face beaming from campaign posters at residents, imploring them to give the ANC another chance. “It’s just Ramaphosa all over. It’s as if Ramaphosa is running for mayor,” said Susan Booysen, head of research at the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection in Johannesburg. Ramaphosa’s party is betting on polling that shows he is more popular than the ANC, Booysen said. When selecting local councilors, however, the ANC has employed a “delicate and sometimes disastrous recruitment process,” she added. To expand its base, the party appoints its allies to appease political players, Booysen said. That has allowed for patronage and poor service, particularly in municipalities that don’t receive national attention. Still, this record does not necessarily dissuade voters. In focus groups, Booysen found that voters see the ANC as family, and the family provider, and are therefore forgiving of its shortcomings. Voters were more likely to trust the ANC over the largely untested opposition parties, according to research from the University of Johannesburg. And many voters benefiting from social assistance said they feared that their aid could be taken away if another party came to power. Ramaphosa’s frequent refrain on the campaign trail is that family “sticks together.” He reminds them about the houses, schools and other infrastructure the ANC government has provided since the end of apartheid. Outside the Lichtenburg post office, Matshogo Magwatane, a 32-year-old father of two, had been waiting in line since dawn one recent day for a monthly pandemic relief grant of 350 rand (about $24). Magwatane lost a local government job, which he blames on nepotism. He turned to selling kebabs and chicken feet on a street corner, until the piles of litter made street food a health hazard. He describes the ruling party as a pit of snakes biting one another. Still, he said, he will vote for the ANC in Monday’s election. “I’m going to go with the snake that will win,” Magwatane said.

A South African town lacks water and electricity. But Mayors? It has two.

The mayor of a Taiwanese city launched a task force on Friday to look into whether negligence played a part in a fire at a residential building that killed 46 people.

The fire in the 40-year-old housing block in Kaohsiung on Thursday was the island's deadliest blaze in more than two decades and has reignited concerns about fire safety in older buildings across Taiwan.

"We will ask the task force to investigate whether there's negligence in administrative management (practices)," Mayor Chen Chi-mai told reporters. "I deeply reflect on myself, and I will not evade my responsibility."

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The 13-storey building, which previously hosted restaurants, karaoke lounges, shops and a cinema, was called a "ghost town" by local residents as it was partly abandoned.

However, the high-density building was still home to scores of people, including older adults with mobility issues and low-income families. Some 41 people were injured in the blaze.

"The government should have already taken the building down. They kept saying they were going to demolish it, but in the end they didn't do it," 70-year-old Lin Chieh-ying, who lives opposite the building, told Reuters.

Authorities have been offering incentives for urban renewal projects across Taiwan, aiming to replace older buildings that have raised concerns about safety from fires and earthquakes.

Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/rock-solid-white-house-says-us-committed-to-support-taiwan-420819">'Rock solid': White House says US committed to support Taiwan</a>

"It was unbelievable. The whole ground floor was burning, and upstairs as well," Lin said of Thursday's fire.

"However they tried, the water just couldn't reach upstairs."

The government is investigating the cause, including whether arson was to blame.

The blaze was the most deadly on the island since sixty-four people were killed in a restaurant fire in the central city of Taichung in 1995.

The mayor of a Taiwanese city launched a task force on Friday to look into whether negligence played a part in a fire at a residential building that killed 46 people.

The mayor of a Taiwanese city launched a task force on Friday to look into whether negligence played a part in a fire at a residential building that killed 46 people. The fire in the 40-year-old housing block in Kaohsiung on Thursday was the island's deadliest blaze in more than two decades and has reignited concerns about fire safety in older buildings across Taiwan. "We will ask the task force to investigate whether there's negligence in administrative management (practices)," Mayor Chen Chi-mai told reporters. "I deeply reflect on myself, and I will not evade my responsibility." Also Read | Fire in southern Taiwan leaves 46 people dead, dozens injured The 13-storey building, which previously hosted restaurants, karaoke lounges, shops and a cinema, was called a "ghost town" by local residents as it was partly abandoned. However, the high-density building was still home to scores of people, including older adults with mobility issues and low-income families. Some 41 people were injured in the blaze. "The government should have already taken the building down. They kept saying they were going to demolish it, but in the end they didn't do it," 70-year-old Lin Chieh-ying, who lives opposite the building, told Reuters. Authorities have been offering incentives for urban renewal projects across Taiwan, aiming to replace older buildings that have raised concerns about safety from fires and earthquakes. Also Read | 'Rock solid': White House says US committed to support Taiwan "It was unbelievable. The whole ground floor was burning, and upstairs as well," Lin said of Thursday's fire. "However they tried, the water just couldn't reach upstairs." The government is investigating the cause, including whether arson was to blame. The blaze was the most deadly on the island since sixty-four people were killed in a restaurant fire in the central city of Taichung in 1995.

Mayor sets up task force to probe Taiwan's deadliest fire for decades

Manila Mayor Francisco Domagoso on Monday filed his certificate of candidacy to run for May 2022 presidential elections in the Philippines.

Domagoso, 46, popularly known by his celebrity nickname Isko Moreno, and his running-mate Willie Ong, a doctor with more than 16 million followers on Facebook, filed their certificates of candidacy at the Commission on Elections, reports Xinhua news agency.

The mayor of the Philippine capital will run under the political party Aksyon Demokratiko, of which he is the President.

According to a recent survey published by Pulse Asia, 13 per cent of the Filipino respondents expressed support for Domagoso as a "probable" presidential candidate.

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Monday's development comes two days after incumbent President Rodrigo Duterte announced his retirement from politics, adding that he will not contest for Vice President in 2022 elections.

Meanwhile, his former long-time aid and Senator Christopher Go, 47, has his candidacy for Vice President.

On October 1, Filipino boxing icon and Senator Manny Pacquiao became to first candidate to file his official certificate, just days after he announced his retirement from boxing.

The May 9, 2022 elections will elect the President, Vice President, half of the 24-member Senate, members of the House of Representatives, and other local officials.

Candidates have until Friday to file their official certificates to contest the polls.

The EU had yet to formally reply to UK proposals made in July to reform the so-called Northern Ireland Protocol, he noted.

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"But from what I hear, I worry that we will not get one which enables the significant change we need.&nbsp;

"So I urge the EU to be ambitious. It's no use tinkering around the edges. &nbsp;We need significant change," Frost said.&nbsp;

"But we cannot wait for ever. Without an agreed solution soon, we will need to act, using the Article 16 safeguard mechanism, to address the impact the protocol is having on Northern Ireland."

The protocol formed part of the UK's drawn-out divorce from the EU, and was designed to prevent unchecked goods heading into the bloc's single market via the UK's only land border with the EU to Ireland.

But pro-UK unionists in Northern Ireland are opposed, arguing that border checks on goods from mainland Great Britain -- England, Scotland and Wales -- effectively creates a border in the Irish Sea, compromising the province's place in the wider UK.

Brussels insists that the protocol is not up for renegotiation, and could trigger trade reprisals should the UK invoke its Article 16, which would suspend the pact owing to extraordinary circumstances.

"That may in the end be the only way to protect our country -- our people, our trade, our territorial integrity, the peace process, and the benefits of this great UK of which we are all part," Frost warned.

Addressing the annual conference of the ruling Conservative party, Brexit minister David Frost said: "The long bad dream of our EU membership is over.

Manila Mayor Francisco Domagoso on Monday filed his certificate of candidacy to run for May 2022 presidential elections in the Philippines. Domagoso, 46, popularly known by his celebrity nickname Isko Moreno, and his running-mate Willie Ong, a doctor with more than 16 million followers on Facebook, filed their certificates of candidacy at the Commission on Elections, reports Xinhua news agency.

Manila Mayor Francisco Domagoso on Monday filed his certificate of candidacy to run for May 2022 presidential elections in the Philippines. Domagoso, 46, popularly known by his celebrity nickname Isko Moreno, and his running-mate Willie Ong, a doctor with more than 16 million followers on Facebook, filed their certificates of candidacy at the Commission on Elections, reports Xinhua news agency. The mayor of the Philippine capital will run under the political party Aksyon Demokratiko, of which he is the President. According to a recent survey published by Pulse Asia, 13 per cent of the Filipino respondents expressed support for Domagoso as a "probable" presidential candidate. Also Read: Hong Kong Stock Exchange halts trading of Evergrande shares Monday's development comes two days after incumbent President Rodrigo Duterte announced his retirement from politics, adding that he will not contest for Vice President in 2022 elections. Meanwhile, his former long-time aid and Senator Christopher Go, 47, has his candidacy for Vice President. On October 1, Filipino boxing icon and Senator Manny Pacquiao became to first candidate to file his official certificate, just days after he announced his retirement from boxing. The May 9, 2022 elections will elect the President, Vice President, half of the 24-member Senate, members of the House of Representatives, and other local officials. Candidates have until Friday to file their official certificates to contest the polls. The EU had yet to formally reply to UK proposals made in July to reform the so-called Northern Ireland Protocol, he noted. Also Read | Trial of Myanmar's Suu Kyi taking toll on her health: Lawyer "But from what I hear, I worry that we will not get one which enables the significant change we need. "So I urge the EU to be ambitious. It's no use tinkering around the edges. We need significant change," Frost said. "But we cannot wait for ever. Without an agreed solution soon, we will need to act, using the Article 16 safeguard mechanism, to address the impact the protocol is having on Northern Ireland." The protocol formed part of the UK's drawn-out divorce from the EU, and was designed to prevent unchecked goods heading into the bloc's single market via the UK's only land border with the EU to Ireland. But pro-UK unionists in Northern Ireland are opposed, arguing that border checks on goods from mainland Great Britain -- England, Scotland and Wales -- effectively creates a border in the Irish Sea, compromising the province's place in the wider UK. Brussels insists that the protocol is not up for renegotiation, and could trigger trade reprisals should the UK invoke its Article 16, which would suspend the pact owing to extraordinary circumstances. "That may in the end be the only way to protect our country -- our people, our trade, our territorial integrity, the peace process, and the benefits of this great UK of which we are all part," Frost warned. Addressing the annual conference of the ruling Conservative party, Brexit minister David Frost said: "The long bad dream of our EU membership is over.

Manila Mayor officially joins 2022 presidential race

The Socialist&nbsp;mayor&nbsp;of&nbsp;Paris, Anne&nbsp;Hidalgo, on Sunday announced plans to run for president in next year's election, joining a growing list of challengers to centrist Emmanuel Macron.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-evangelical-lutheran-church-installs-first-openly-transgender-bishop-412518">Also read |&nbsp;US Evangelical Lutheran Church installs first openly transgender bishop</a>

Speaking in the northwestern city of Rouen,&nbsp;Hidalgo&nbsp;said: "I have decided to be a candidate for the presidency of the&nbsp;French&nbsp;Republic."

The Socialist mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, on Sunday announced plans to run for president in next year's election, joining a growing list of challengers to centrist Emmanuel Macron.

The Socialist mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, on Sunday announced plans to run for president in next year's election, joining a growing list of challengers to centrist Emmanuel Macron. Also read | US Evangelical Lutheran Church installs first openly transgender bishop Speaking in the northwestern city of Rouen, Hidalgo said: "I have decided to be a candidate for the presidency of the French Republic."

Paris mayor Hidalgo announces French presidential bid

The New York City mayor’s race plunged into chaos Tuesday night when the city Board of Elections released a new tally of votes in the Democratic mayoral primary and then removed the tabulations from its website after citing a “discrepancy.”

The results released earlier in the day had suggested that the race between Eric Adams and his two closest rivals had tightened significantly.

But just a few hours after releasing the preliminary results, the elections board issued a cryptic tweet revealing a “discrepancy” in the report, saying that it was working with its “technical staff to identify where the discrepancy occurred.”

By Tuesday evening, the tabulations had been taken down, replaced by a new advisory that the ranked-choice results would be available “starting on June 30.”

Then, around 10:30 p.m., the board finally released a statement, explaining that it had failed to remove sample ballot images used to test its ranked-choice voting software. When the board ran the program, it counted “both test and election night results, producing approximately 135,000 additional records,” the statement said. The ranked-choice numbers, it said, would be tabulated again.

The extraordinary sequence of events seeded further confusion about the outcome, and threw the closely watched contest into a new period of uncertainty at a consequential moment for the city.

For the Board of Elections, which has long been plagued by dysfunction and nepotism, this was its first try at implementing ranked-choice voting on a citywide scale. Skeptics had expressed doubts about the board’s ability to pull off the process, though it is used successfully in other cities.

Under ranked-choice voting, voters can list up to five candidates on their ballots in preferential order. If no candidate receives more than 50% of first-choice votes in the first round, the winner is decided by a process of elimination: As the lower-polling candidates are eliminated, their votes are reallocated to whichever candidate those voters ranked next, and the process continues until there is a winner.

The Board of Elections released preliminary, unofficial ranked-choice tabulations on Tuesday afternoon, showing that Adams — who had held a significant advantage on primary night — was narrowly ahead of Kathryn Garcia in the ballots cast in person during early voting or on Primary Day. Maya Wiley, who came in second place in the initial vote count, was close behind in third place. The board then took down the results and disclosed the discrepancy.

The results may well be scrambled again: Even after the Board of Elections sorts through the preliminary tally, it must count around 124,000 Democratic absentee ballots. Once they are tabulated, the board will take the new total that includes them and run a new set of ranked-choice elimination rounds, with a final result not expected until mid-July.

Some Democrats, bracing for an acrimonious new chapter in the race, are concerned that the incremental release of results by the Board of Elections — and the discovery of an error — may stir distrust of ranked-choice voting and of the city’s electoral system more broadly.

In a statement late Tuesday night, Wiley laced into the Board of Elections, calling the error “the result of generations of failures that have gone unaddressed,” and adding: “Sadly it is impossible to be surprised.”

“Today, we have once again seen the mismanagement that has resulted in a lack of confidence in results, not because there is a flaw in our election laws, but because those who implement it have failed too many times,” she said. “The BOE must now count the remainder of the votes transparently and ensure the integrity of the process moving forward.”

Garcia said the release of the inaccurate tally was “deeply troubling and requires a much more transparent and complete explanation.”

“Every ranked choice and absentee vote must be counted accurately so that all New Yorkers have faith in our democracy and our government,” she said. “I am confident that every candidate will accept the final results and support whomever the voters have elected.”

And Adams noted the “unfortunate” error by the Board of Elections and emphasized the importance of handling election results correctly.

“It is critical that New Yorkers are confident in their electoral system, especially as we rank votes in a citywide election for the first time,” he said in a statement released Tuesday night. “We appreciate the board’s transparency and acknowledgment of their error. We look forward to the release of an accurate, updated simulation, and the timely conclusion of this critical process.”

If elected, Adams would be the city’s second Black mayor, after David Dinkins. Some of Adams’ supporters have already cast the ranked-choice process as an attempt to disenfranchise voters of color, an argument that intensified among some backers on Tuesday afternoon as the race had appeared to tighten, and is virtually certain to escalate should he lose his primary night lead to Garcia, who is white.

Surrogates for Adams have suggested without evidence that an apparent ranked-choice alliance between Garcia and another rival, Andrew Yang, could amount to an attempt to suppress the votes of Black and Latino New Yorkers; Adams himself claimed that the alliance was aimed at preventing a Black or Latino candidate from winning the race.

In the final days of the race, Garcia and Yang campaigned together across the city, especially in neighborhoods that are home to sizable Asian American communities, and appeared together on campaign literature.

To advocates of ranked-choice voting, the round-by-round shuffling of outcomes is part of the process of electing a candidate with broad appeal. But if Garcia or Wiley were to prevail, the process — which was approved by voters in a 2019 ballot measure — would likely attract fresh scrutiny, with some of Adams’ backers and others already urging a new referendum on it.

By Tuesday night, though, it was the Board of Elections that was attracting ire from seemingly all corners.

Betsy Gotbaum, the city’s former public advocate who now runs Citizens Union, a good-government group, warned that “the entire country is watching” the Board of Elections. “New Yorkers deserve elections, and election administrators, that they can have the utmost faith in,” Gotbaum added.

A comparison between first-place vote totals released on primary night and those released Tuesday offered some insight into how the 135,000 erroneous votes were distributed. The bottom four candidates received a total of 42,000 new votes, roughly four times their actual vote total; the number of write-in ballots also skyrocketed to 17,516 from 1,336. Adams and Yang received the highest number of new votes.

It was not known, however, how the test votes were reallocated during the ranked-choice tabulations, making it impossible to determine how they affected the preliminary results that were released and then retracted.

When accurate vote counts are in place, it is difficult, but not unheard-of for a trailing candidate in a ranked-choice election to eventually win the race through later rounds of voting — that happened in Oakland, California, in 2010, and nearly occurred in San Francisco in 2018.

The winner of New York’s Democratic primary, who is almost certain to become the city’s next mayor, will face Curtis Sliwa, the founder of the Guardian Angels, who won the Republican primary.

According to the now-withdrawn tabulation released Tuesday, Wiley, a former counsel to Mayor Bill de Blasio, nearly made it to the final round. She finished closely behind Garcia, the former sanitation commissioner, before being eliminated in the penultimate round of the preliminary exercise.

After the count of in-person ballots last week, Garcia trailed Wiley by about 2.8 percentage points. Asked if she had been in touch with Wiley’s team, Garcia suggested there had been staff-level conversations.

“The campaigns have been speaking to each other,” Garcia said in a phone call Tuesday afternoon, saying the two candidates had not yet spoken directly. “Hopefully we don’t have to step in with attorneys. But it is about really ensuring that New York City’s voices are heard.”

Wiley ran well to the left of Garcia on a number of vital policy matters, including around policing and on some education questions. Either candidate would be the first woman elected mayor of New York, and Wiley would be the city’s first Black female mayor.

Adams, a former police captain and a relative moderate on several key issues, was a non-starter for many progressive voters who may have preferred Garcia and her focus on competence over any especially ideological message.

But early results suggested that Adams had significant strength among working-class voters of color, and some traction among white voters with moderate views.

City Councilman I. Daneek Miller, an Adams supporter who is pressing for a new referendum on ranked-choice voting, suggested in a text message on Tuesday that the system had opened the door to “an attempt to eliminate the candidate of moderate working people and traditionally marginalized communities,” as he implicitly criticized the Yang-Garcia alliance.

“It is incumbent on us now to address the issue of ranked voting and how it is being weaponized against a wide portion of the public,” said Miller, co-chair of the Black, Latino and Asian Caucus on the City Council.

Other close observers of the election separately expressed discomfort with the decision to release a ranked-choice tally without accounting for absentee ballots.

“There is real danger that voters will come to believe a set of facts about the race that will be disproven when all votes are in,” said Ben Greenfield, a senior survey data analyst at Change Research, which conducted polling for a pro-Garcia PAC. “The risk is that this could take a system that’s already new and confusing and increase people’s sense of mistrust.”

The New York City mayor’s race plunged into chaos Tuesday night when the city Board of Elections released a new tally of votes in the Democratic mayoral primary and then removed the tabulations from its website after citing a “discrepancy.

The New York City mayor’s race plunged into chaos Tuesday night when the city Board of Elections released a new tally of votes in the Democratic mayoral primary and then removed the tabulations from its website after citing a “discrepancy.” The results released earlier in the day had suggested that the race between Eric Adams and his two closest rivals had tightened significantly. But just a few hours after releasing the preliminary results, the elections board issued a cryptic tweet revealing a “discrepancy” in the report, saying that it was working with its “technical staff to identify where the discrepancy occurred.” By Tuesday evening, the tabulations had been taken down, replaced by a new advisory that the ranked-choice results would be available “starting on June 30.” Then, around 10:30 p.m., the board finally released a statement, explaining that it had failed to remove sample ballot images used to test its ranked-choice voting software. When the board ran the program, it counted “both test and election night results, producing approximately 135,000 additional records,” the statement said. The ranked-choice numbers, it said, would be tabulated again. The extraordinary sequence of events seeded further confusion about the outcome, and threw the closely watched contest into a new period of uncertainty at a consequential moment for the city. For the Board of Elections, which has long been plagued by dysfunction and nepotism, this was its first try at implementing ranked-choice voting on a citywide scale. Skeptics had expressed doubts about the board’s ability to pull off the process, though it is used successfully in other cities. Under ranked-choice voting, voters can list up to five candidates on their ballots in preferential order. If no candidate receives more than 50% of first-choice votes in the first round, the winner is decided by a process of elimination: As the lower-polling candidates are eliminated, their votes are reallocated to whichever candidate those voters ranked next, and the process continues until there is a winner. The Board of Elections released preliminary, unofficial ranked-choice tabulations on Tuesday afternoon, showing that Adams — who had held a significant advantage on primary night — was narrowly ahead of Kathryn Garcia in the ballots cast in person during early voting or on Primary Day. Maya Wiley, who came in second place in the initial vote count, was close behind in third place. The board then took down the results and disclosed the discrepancy. The results may well be scrambled again: Even after the Board of Elections sorts through the preliminary tally, it must count around 124,000 Democratic absentee ballots. Once they are tabulated, the board will take the new total that includes them and run a new set of ranked-choice elimination rounds, with a final result not expected until mid-July. Some Democrats, bracing for an acrimonious new chapter in the race, are concerned that the incremental release of results by the Board of Elections — and the discovery of an error — may stir distrust of ranked-choice voting and of the city’s electoral system more broadly. In a statement late Tuesday night, Wiley laced into the Board of Elections, calling the error “the result of generations of failures that have gone unaddressed,” and adding: “Sadly it is impossible to be surprised.” “Today, we have once again seen the mismanagement that has resulted in a lack of confidence in results, not because there is a flaw in our election laws, but because those who implement it have failed too many times,” she said. “The BOE must now count the remainder of the votes transparently and ensure the integrity of the process moving forward.” Garcia said the release of the inaccurate tally was “deeply troubling and requires a much more transparent and complete explanation.” “Every ranked choice and absentee vote must be counted accurately so that all New Yorkers have faith in our democracy and our government,” she said. “I am confident that every candidate will accept the final results and support whomever the voters have elected.” And Adams noted the “unfortunate” error by the Board of Elections and emphasized the importance of handling election results correctly. “It is critical that New Yorkers are confident in their electoral system, especially as we rank votes in a citywide election for the first time,” he said in a statement released Tuesday night. “We appreciate the board’s transparency and acknowledgment of their error. We look forward to the release of an accurate, updated simulation, and the timely conclusion of this critical process.” If elected, Adams would be the city’s second Black mayor, after David Dinkins. Some of Adams’ supporters have already cast the ranked-choice process as an attempt to disenfranchise voters of color, an argument that intensified among some backers on Tuesday afternoon as the race had appeared to tighten, and is virtually certain to escalate should he lose his primary night lead to Garcia, who is white. Surrogates for Adams have suggested without evidence that an apparent ranked-choice alliance between Garcia and another rival, Andrew Yang, could amount to an attempt to suppress the votes of Black and Latino New Yorkers; Adams himself claimed that the alliance was aimed at preventing a Black or Latino candidate from winning the race. In the final days of the race, Garcia and Yang campaigned together across the city, especially in neighborhoods that are home to sizable Asian American communities, and appeared together on campaign literature. To advocates of ranked-choice voting, the round-by-round shuffling of outcomes is part of the process of electing a candidate with broad appeal. But if Garcia or Wiley were to prevail, the process — which was approved by voters in a 2019 ballot measure — would likely attract fresh scrutiny, with some of Adams’ backers and others already urging a new referendum on it. By Tuesday night, though, it was the Board of Elections that was attracting ire from seemingly all corners. Betsy Gotbaum, the city’s former public advocate who now runs Citizens Union, a good-government group, warned that “the entire country is watching” the Board of Elections. “New Yorkers deserve elections, and election administrators, that they can have the utmost faith in,” Gotbaum added. A comparison between first-place vote totals released on primary night and those released Tuesday offered some insight into how the 135,000 erroneous votes were distributed. The bottom four candidates received a total of 42,000 new votes, roughly four times their actual vote total; the number of write-in ballots also skyrocketed to 17,516 from 1,336. Adams and Yang received the highest number of new votes. It was not known, however, how the test votes were reallocated during the ranked-choice tabulations, making it impossible to determine how they affected the preliminary results that were released and then retracted. When accurate vote counts are in place, it is difficult, but not unheard-of for a trailing candidate in a ranked-choice election to eventually win the race through later rounds of voting — that happened in Oakland, California, in 2010, and nearly occurred in San Francisco in 2018. The winner of New York’s Democratic primary, who is almost certain to become the city’s next mayor, will face Curtis Sliwa, the founder of the Guardian Angels, who won the Republican primary. According to the now-withdrawn tabulation released Tuesday, Wiley, a former counsel to Mayor Bill de Blasio, nearly made it to the final round. She finished closely behind Garcia, the former sanitation commissioner, before being eliminated in the penultimate round of the preliminary exercise. After the count of in-person ballots last week, Garcia trailed Wiley by about 2.8 percentage points. Asked if she had been in touch with Wiley’s team, Garcia suggested there had been staff-level conversations. “The campaigns have been speaking to each other,” Garcia said in a phone call Tuesday afternoon, saying the two candidates had not yet spoken directly. “Hopefully we don’t have to step in with attorneys. But it is about really ensuring that New York City’s voices are heard.” Wiley ran well to the left of Garcia on a number of vital policy matters, including around policing and on some education questions. Either candidate would be the first woman elected mayor of New York, and Wiley would be the city’s first Black female mayor. Adams, a former police captain and a relative moderate on several key issues, was a non-starter for many progressive voters who may have preferred Garcia and her focus on competence over any especially ideological message. But early results suggested that Adams had significant strength among working-class voters of color, and some traction among white voters with moderate views. City Councilman I. Daneek Miller, an Adams supporter who is pressing for a new referendum on ranked-choice voting, suggested in a text message on Tuesday that the system had opened the door to “an attempt to eliminate the candidate of moderate working people and traditionally marginalized communities,” as he implicitly criticized the Yang-Garcia alliance. “It is incumbent on us now to address the issue of ranked voting and how it is being weaponized against a wide portion of the public,” said Miller, co-chair of the Black, Latino and Asian Caucus on the City Council. Other close observers of the election separately expressed discomfort with the decision to release a ranked-choice tally without accounting for absentee ballots. “There is real danger that voters will come to believe a set of facts about the race that will be disproven when all votes are in,” said Ben Greenfield, a senior survey data analyst at Change Research, which conducted polling for a pro-Garcia PAC. “The risk is that this could take a system that’s already new and confusing and increase people’s sense of mistrust.”

New York mayor’s race in chaos after elections board counts 135,000 test ballots

In a strange development, a town in northern Croatia, Legrad, is selling its abandoned houses for one kuna, which is 11.83 in Indian rupees. This is because of a drastic fall in the population of the town.&nbsp;

Legrad was once the second-biggest population centre in Croatian territory. However, the population rate was deeply affected after the disintegration of the Austro-Hungarian Empire a century ago. This was also when new borders left it sidelined.

<img alt="Croatian town Legrad" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="bf7e91a7-4311-4d2e-8e81-c929c600da6f" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/2021-06-11T105554Z_2_LYNXNPEH5A0IT_RTROPTP_3_CROATIA-LIFE.JPG" />

Image: Reuters

Town's Mayor, Ivan Sabolic said, "We turned into a border town with few transport connections to other places. Since then the population has been gradually falling".&nbsp;

The fascinating deal comes with a few conditions. People who wish to settle in this town must be financially solvent and under the age of 40. They also need to commit to staying at least 15 years.

<a href="https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/this-croatian-town-is-selling-houses-at-rs-12-here-is-the-reason-101623513749714.html">Also Read |&nbsp;Chicago man jumps into Lake Michigan for 365th straight day</a>

As per Sabolic, the offer had attracted lots of interest from abroad.&nbsp;

The town is a perfect fit for all nature lovers as it is surrounded by green fields and forests. It shares borders with Hungary and has around 2,250 inhabitants. This is just 50 percent of the people that lived here 70 years ago.&nbsp;As of now, 17 properties have been sold. The houses on offer are not in a good state. Some are half-ruins with doors and windows missing and their walls covered with mould.

The municipality has promised an amount of 25,000 kuna towards any refurbishments needed, and for new residents wishing to buy a privately-owned home. As per the mayor, The town will cover 20 percent of the price or up to 35,000 kuna.&nbsp;

In a strange development, a town in northern Croatia, Legrad, is selling its abandoned houses for one kuna, which is 11.83 in Indian rupees. This is because of a drastic fall in the population of the town.

In a strange development, a town in northern Croatia, Legrad, is selling its abandoned houses for one kuna, which is 11.83 in Indian rupees. This is because of a drastic fall in the population of the town. Legrad was once the second-biggest population centre in Croatian territory. However, the population rate was deeply affected after the disintegration of the Austro-Hungarian Empire a century ago. This was also when new borders left it sidelined. Image: Reuters Town's Mayor, Ivan Sabolic said, "We turned into a border town with few transport connections to other places. Since then the population has been gradually falling". The fascinating deal comes with a few conditions. People who wish to settle in this town must be financially solvent and under the age of 40. They also need to commit to staying at least 15 years. Also Read | Chicago man jumps into Lake Michigan for 365th straight day As per Sabolic, the offer had attracted lots of interest from abroad. The town is a perfect fit for all nature lovers as it is surrounded by green fields and forests. It shares borders with Hungary and has around 2,250 inhabitants. This is just 50 percent of the people that lived here 70 years ago. As of now, 17 properties have been sold. The houses on offer are not in a good state. Some are half-ruins with doors and windows missing and their walls covered with mould. The municipality has promised an amount of 25,000 kuna towards any refurbishments needed, and for new residents wishing to buy a privately-owned home. As per the mayor, The town will cover 20 percent of the price or up to 35,000 kuna.

Croatian town Legrad selling houses for less than $1. Here is all you need to know

A key expert has warned that the coronavirus pandemic is far from over after Spaniards celebrated the end of a six-month lockdown with abandon and paid little heed to precautions like masks and social distancing. 
 
In remarks to the national daily El Pais, the president of Spain's Epidemiological Society, Elena Vanessa Martinez, warned there are still many infected people who could pass the virus on, DPA news agency reported.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="COVID 19 : Spain ends Covid state of emergency">COVID 19 : Spain ends Covid state of emergency</a> 
 
She noted that people having more contact could lead to more infections. 
 
"In this situation, I am concerned about the false security signal sent with the end of the emergency and the end of the night curfew," Martinez said.

Watch |&nbsp;

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Most of restrictions expired at Sunday midnight, including the nationwide night curfew, which was lifted in most places but remains in force in a several others. 
 
Travel within Spain is also allowed again, as are in-person family visits. 
 
"I can finally visit my son, my daughter-in-law and my grandchildren in Cadiz," said Asuncion, an 82-year-old widow. 
 
Spain's left-wing government has also urged caution. "The pandemic is not over yet," Deputy Prime Minister Carmen Calvo on Saturday. 
 
Officials are concerned that the past year could repeat itself: in June the government declared a 'new normal' with many restrictions easing. 
 
By November, coronavirus numbers spiked again and the government had to pull the emergency brake and declare the state of emergency, which formed the legal basis for nationwide restrictions.

A key expert has warned that the coronavirus pandemic is far from over after Spaniards celebrated the end of a six-month lockdown with abandon and paid little heed to precautions like masks and social distancing.

A key expert has warned that the coronavirus pandemic is far from over after Spaniards celebrated the end of a six-month lockdown with abandon and paid little heed to precautions like masks and social distancing. In remarks to the national daily El Pais, the president of Spain's Epidemiological Society, Elena Vanessa Martinez, warned there are still many infected people who could pass the virus on, DPA news agency reported. Also read | COVID 19 : Spain ends Covid state of emergency She noted that people having more contact could lead to more infections. "In this situation, I am concerned about the false security signal sent with the end of the emergency and the end of the night curfew," Martinez said. Watch | Most of restrictions expired at Sunday midnight, including the nationwide night curfew, which was lifted in most places but remains in force in a several others. Travel within Spain is also allowed again, as are in-person family visits. "I can finally visit my son, my daughter-in-law and my grandchildren in Cadiz," said Asuncion, an 82-year-old widow. Spain's left-wing government has also urged caution. "The pandemic is not over yet," Deputy Prime Minister Carmen Calvo on Saturday. Officials are concerned that the past year could repeat itself: in June the government declared a 'new normal' with many restrictions easing. By November, coronavirus numbers spiked again and the government had to pull the emergency brake and declare the state of emergency, which formed the legal basis for nationwide restrictions.

Spain celebrates end of lockdown, expert warns pandemic isn't over

Sadiq Khan was re-elected London Mayor on Saturday as had been widely expected, providing some joy to the opposition Labour Party which has suffered a series of disappointing results in other local elections.

Khan, who became the first Muslim to head a major Western capital after his victory in 2016, saw off his main challenger, Shaun Bailey, the candidate from Prime Minister Boris Johnson`s Conservative Party.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="PM Johnson's party sweeps aside Labour in northern English town">PM Johnson's party sweeps aside Labour in northern English town</a>

He won by 55.2 per cent to Bailey's 44.8&nbsp;per cent in a result which had been widely predicted, although his winning margin was smaller than his victory five years ago.

"I am deeply humbled by the trust Londoners have placed in me to continue leading the greatest city on earth," Khan said, who focused his campaign on creating jobs and boosting London`s tourism economy.

"I promise to strain every sinew to help build a better and brighter future for London after the dark days of the pandemic."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="IPL in London? Mayor Sadiq Khan reveals his ambitions for British capital">IPL in London? Mayor Sadiq Khan reveals his ambitions for British capital</a>

Khan, a former member of parliament who replaced Johnson as leader of the British capital with a population of almost nine million people, has faced criticism over rising violent crime in the capital, particularly stabbings involving teenagers.

His record on the issue and other security issues led to a series of angry Twitter spats with former US&nbsp;President Donald Trump.

Khan's success comes after a bruising set of results for Labour in local elections in its former heartlands in central and northern England - known as the party`s "Red Wall" - which followed a disastrous performance in the 2019 national vote.&nbsp;

While Johnson has enjoyed wide success elsewhere in England, the opposition party has become increasingly dominant in the British capital.

Analysts attribute this to the city's younger, more ethnically-diverse and more pro-European Union population, which unlike most of England, overwhelmingly opposed Brexit.

Sadiq Khan was re-elected London Mayor on Saturday as had been widely expected, providing some joy to the opposition Labour Party which has suffered a series of disappointing results in other local elections.

Sadiq Khan was re-elected London Mayor on Saturday as had been widely expected, providing some joy to the opposition Labour Party which has suffered a series of disappointing results in other local elections. Khan, who became the first Muslim to head a major Western capital after his victory in 2016, saw off his main challenger, Shaun Bailey, the candidate from Prime Minister Boris Johnson`s Conservative Party. Also read | PM Johnson's party sweeps aside Labour in northern English town He won by 55.2 per cent to Bailey's 44.8 per cent in a result which had been widely predicted, although his winning margin was smaller than his victory five years ago. "I am deeply humbled by the trust Londoners have placed in me to continue leading the greatest city on earth," Khan said, who focused his campaign on creating jobs and boosting London`s tourism economy. "I promise to strain every sinew to help build a better and brighter future for London after the dark days of the pandemic." Also read | IPL in London? Mayor Sadiq Khan reveals his ambitions for British capital Khan, a former member of parliament who replaced Johnson as leader of the British capital with a population of almost nine million people, has faced criticism over rising violent crime in the capital, particularly stabbings involving teenagers. His record on the issue and other security issues led to a series of angry Twitter spats with former US President Donald Trump. Khan's success comes after a bruising set of results for Labour in local elections in its former heartlands in central and northern England - known as the party`s "Red Wall" - which followed a disastrous performance in the 2019 national vote. While Johnson has enjoyed wide success elsewhere in England, the opposition party has become increasingly dominant in the British capital. Analysts attribute this to the city's younger, more ethnically-diverse and more pro-European Union population, which unlike most of England, overwhelmingly opposed Brexit.

Labour's Sadiq Khan re-elected as London mayor

These are times when a positive change is taking over the world and one such example is of Liverpool which has collectively elected its first-ever Black female mayor.

Joanne Anderson, a 50-year-old, became the first woman and first Black female mayor to lead the city by winning 59 per cent (46,493) of the total votes against her opponent Stephen Yip.

The six-foot-tall, Labour member promised the take the city on a "restorative path" and assured that Liverpool will have "the best accountability and transparency structures in the country".

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The first black woman to be directly-elected Mayor in the UK, and the first female Mayor of Liverpool. 
 
History made 🌹 <a href="https://t.co/7WyNI01OCb">pic.twitter.com/7WyNI01OCb</a>
— Joanne Anderson (@Joanne4Mayor) <a href="https://twitter.com/Joanne4Mayor/status/1390698217566838785?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 7, 2021</a></blockquote>
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She also apologised to the locals of Liverpool for the ‘political scandal’ that had shaken the city in December after the former mayor was arrested over corruption claims, which he denies.

She also acknowledged her record of being the first female and Black mayor and thanked the city locals for helping her achieve it. "Liverpool has always been a city of firsts – one that does things differently and that charters its own path. Today, we made history," she said.

Anderson also opened up about how she had not ever intended to enter the world of politics or contest for Mayor. "It hasn’t been a lifelong ambition, but I could see our city was in peril," she explained.

Sharing her experiences of bankruptcy she promised to bring the city out of the financial crisis caused due to the coronavirus pandemic. She also assured to continue raising her voice for violence against women and girls and promote equality and diversity in the city.

However, she has also announced her support for the campaign of scrapping mayoralty, for which a referendum will be held in 2023 on the continuation of the role.

These are times when a positive change is taking over the world and one such example is of Liverpool which has collectively elected its first-ever Black female mayor.

These are times when a positive change is taking over the world and one such example is of Liverpool which has collectively elected its first-ever Black female mayor. Joanne Anderson, a 50-year-old, became the first woman and first Black female mayor to lead the city by winning 59 per cent (46,493) of the total votes against her opponent Stephen Yip. The six-foot-tall, Labour member promised the take the city on a "restorative path" and assured that Liverpool will have "the best accountability and transparency structures in the country". The first black woman to be directly-elected Mayor in the UK, and the first female Mayor of Liverpool. History made 🌹 pic.twitter.com/7WyNI01OCb — Joanne Anderson (@Joanne4Mayor) May 7, 2021 × She also apologised to the locals of Liverpool for the ‘political scandal’ that had shaken the city in December after the former mayor was arrested over corruption claims, which he denies. She also acknowledged her record of being the first female and Black mayor and thanked the city locals for helping her achieve it. "Liverpool has always been a city of firsts – one that does things differently and that charters its own path. Today, we made history," she said. Anderson also opened up about how she had not ever intended to enter the world of politics or contest for Mayor. "It hasn’t been a lifelong ambition, but I could see our city was in peril," she explained. Sharing her experiences of bankruptcy she promised to bring the city out of the financial crisis caused due to the coronavirus pandemic. She also assured to continue raising her voice for violence against women and girls and promote equality and diversity in the city. However, she has also announced her support for the campaign of scrapping mayoralty, for which a referendum will be held in 2023 on the continuation of the role.

'City of firsts': Liverpool elects first ever black female mayor

Donald Trump was the first U.S. President in 156 years to not have a pet in the White House. The long-standing tradition is now back with Joe Biden's dogs- Champ and Major. WION's Molly Gambhir introduces you to America's first pets.

Gravitas: Meet America's first pets

US election 2020: Mayor Wilbur Beast the doggo in the house!
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While the United States counts ballots to decide its next president: Republican Donald Trump or Democrat Joe Biden, a town has done the unfathomable: Wilbur Beast, a dog has been elected as Mayor in the US!

Wilbur Beast is a French bulldog and the new Mayor of Rabbit Hash in Kentucky.

The “Beast” won by 13,143 voted, as reported by Fox News. This marks the biggest sweep for a candidate in the town.

US election 2020: Beast, the doggo wins big

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<blockquote cite="https://www.facebook.com/RabbitHashUSA/posts/4687146024690262" class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore">Posted by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/RabbitHashUSA/">Rabbit Hash Historical Society</a> on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/RabbitHashUSA/posts/4687146024690262">Tuesday, 3 November 2020</a></blockquote>
</div>

"Mayoral election in Rabbit Hash has been called! Wilbur Beast is the new mayor with an amazing 13,143 votes (highest winning total ever) toward an election total of 22,985!" the Rabbit Hash Historical Society, within whose ambit the town falls, said in a Facebook post on Wednesday.&nbsp;

But the spirit of democracy lies in healthy competition. Wilbur Beast contested the election against Jack Rabbit, the beagle, and Poppy, the golden retriever.

The position of the town’s ambassador will be retained by Lady Stone, a 12-year-old border collie.

US election 2020: Beast will perform many duties

Rabbit Hash is an unincorporated community running along the Ohio River, and has elected a dog as mayor since the 1990s, according to Kentucky(dot)com.

As part of the voting process, community members donate $1 to the Historical Society during elections.

Once Wilbur takes charge as the town’s mayor, he is expected to help raise funds for the Rabbit Hash Historical Society.

US election 2020: Mayor Wilbur Beast the doggo in the house! While the United States counts ballots to decide its next president: Republican Donald Trump or Democrat Joe Biden, a town has done the unfathomable: Wilbur Beast, a dog has been elected as Mayor in the US!

US election 2020: Mayor Wilbur Beast the doggo in the house! While the United States counts ballots to decide its next president: Republican Donald Trump or Democrat Joe Biden, a town has done the unfathomable: Wilbur Beast, a dog has been elected as Mayor in the US! Wilbur Beast is a French bulldog and the new Mayor of Rabbit Hash in Kentucky. The “Beast” won by 13,143 voted, as reported by Fox News. This marks the biggest sweep for a candidate in the town. US election 2020: Beast, the doggo wins big Posted by Rabbit Hash Historical Society on Tuesday, 3 November 2020 "Mayoral election in Rabbit Hash has been called! Wilbur Beast is the new mayor with an amazing 13,143 votes (highest winning total ever) toward an election total of 22,985!" the Rabbit Hash Historical Society, within whose ambit the town falls, said in a Facebook post on Wednesday. But the spirit of democracy lies in healthy competition. Wilbur Beast contested the election against Jack Rabbit, the beagle, and Poppy, the golden retriever. The position of the town’s ambassador will be retained by Lady Stone, a 12-year-old border collie. US election 2020: Beast will perform many duties Rabbit Hash is an unincorporated community running along the Ohio River, and has elected a dog as mayor since the 1990s, according to Kentucky(dot)com. As part of the voting process, community members donate $1 to the Historical Society during elections. Once Wilbur takes charge as the town’s mayor, he is expected to help raise funds for the Rabbit Hash Historical Society.

Forget Biden and Trump, this American town just elected a dog as mayor

Manila city Mayor Isko Moreno feels insulted. Calling the mislabeling an attack on the Philippine sovereignty, he clarified that&nbsp;he is not the Governor of China but the Mayor of Manila.

Moreno&nbsp;has shut down four stores that sold the Ashley Shine hair care product. Now, he is asking the government to deport all Chinese citizens who are importing such strangely-labelled products and selling them in his city.

Mayor Isko Moreno is very popular in the Philippines. He is even seen as a Presidential candidate for 2022 elections. So, his posts lit up the social media platforms and a hashtag of #ProvinceOfChina began to trend.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-anti-china-clamour-in-the-philippines-323800/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Filippinos started noticing many more Ashley Shine products carrying labels listing Manila as a province of China. That prompted other politicians to join the battle.

Lawmaker Jericho Nograles started shooting off letters to authorities. He has called for blacklisting of the Chinese manufacturer and&nbsp;termed the mislabeling a repulsive offense against the Philippines.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/philippines-dual-bomb-blast-two-female-suicide-attackers-carried-bomb-blasts-323209">Also read|&nbsp;Philippines dual bomb blast, Two female suicide attackers carried bomb blasts</a>

The Mayor Isko Moreno wants criminal charges filed against the distributor Elegant Fumes Beauty Products.

The Presidential office is portraying the incident as being trivial — something that doesn't deserve the attention of the President Rodrigo Duterte. His spokesperson said "no one believes we are a province of China."

However, the Filipinos have always been angered by Chinese actions, and especially China's illegal claims over the Philippine territories in the South China sea.

Also, previously, textile products have identified Philippine cities as part of China. A geotag on Facebook and Instagram once displayed: the Philippines, the province of China.

It is not a matter of belief, but perception. A perception that China is out to get the Philippines and&nbsp;that the government&nbsp;is not standing up to it. The Filipinos believe this mislabeling is yet another attempt of China to mess with their minds.

Manila city Mayor Isko Moreno feels insulted. Calling the mislabeling an attack on the Philippine sovereignty, he clarified that he is not the Governor of China but the Mayor of Manila.

Manila city Mayor Isko Moreno feels insulted. Calling the mislabeling an attack on the Philippine sovereignty, he clarified that he is not the Governor of China but the Mayor of Manila. Moreno has shut down four stores that sold the Ashley Shine hair care product. Now, he is asking the government to deport all Chinese citizens who are importing such strangely-labelled products and selling them in his city. Mayor Isko Moreno is very popular in the Philippines. He is even seen as a Presidential candidate for 2022 elections. So, his posts lit up the social media platforms and a hashtag of #ProvinceOfChina began to trend. Filippinos started noticing many more Ashley Shine products carrying labels listing Manila as a province of China. That prompted other politicians to join the battle. Lawmaker Jericho Nograles started shooting off letters to authorities. He has called for blacklisting of the Chinese manufacturer and termed the mislabeling a repulsive offense against the Philippines. Also read| Philippines dual bomb blast, Two female suicide attackers carried bomb blasts The Mayor Isko Moreno wants criminal charges filed against the distributor Elegant Fumes Beauty Products. The Presidential office is portraying the incident as being trivial — something that doesn't deserve the attention of the President Rodrigo Duterte. His spokesperson said "no one believes we are a province of China." However, the Filipinos have always been angered by Chinese actions, and especially China's illegal claims over the Philippine territories in the South China sea. Also, previously, textile products have identified Philippine cities as part of China. A geotag on Facebook and Instagram once displayed: the Philippines, the province of China. It is not a matter of belief, but perception. A perception that China is out to get the Philippines and that the government is not standing up to it. The Filipinos believe this mislabeling is yet another attempt of China to mess with their minds.

'Governor of Manila, not China': Isko Moreno's statement takes over Twitter with #ProvinceOfChina

London's mayor calls for a ban on Sunday's march. WION accesses letter by London's Mayor.

Anti-India march in London on Diwali

A Japanese mayor who came under fire after telling his subordinate to burn down a building in the way of a road construction project offered to resign on Friday.

Fusaho Izumi, from Akashi city near Kobe in western Japan, was recorded ranting at a senior city official who was struggling to evict tenants and the owner of the building, as he sought to expand an existing road.

"Are you stupid?" he said in the tirade recorded in June 2017.

"Make them evict! You go and start a fire today and get arrested! Burn it! No joke! Go and destroy the building now!"

The recording was released to the local media this week. It immediately made national headlines and was replayed time and time again on television shows.

On Friday, Izumi told a nationally televised news conference his actions "must not be tolerated."

"After all the news reports, the city hall has received many calls. This is interrupting the city's operations. If the city hall cannot operate smoothly, it will cause trouble for local citizens," he said.

"It's clear that I lacked quality as a leader," he admitted.

A Japanese mayor who came under fire after telling his subordinate to burn down a building in the way of a road construction project offered to resign on Friday.

A Japanese mayor who came under fire after telling his subordinate to burn down a building in the way of a road construction project offered to resign on Friday. Fusaho Izumi, from Akashi city near Kobe in western Japan, was recorded ranting at a senior city official who was struggling to evict tenants and the owner of the building, as he sought to expand an existing road. "Are you stupid?" he said in the tirade recorded in June 2017. "Make them evict! You go and start a fire today and get arrested! Burn it! No joke! Go and destroy the building now!" The recording was released to the local media this week. It immediately made national headlines and was replayed time and time again on television shows. On Friday, Izumi told a nationally televised news conference his actions "must not be tolerated." "After all the news reports, the city hall has received many calls. This is interrupting the city's operations. If the city hall cannot operate smoothly, it will cause trouble for local citizens," he said. "It's clear that I lacked quality as a leader," he admitted.

Under-fire Japan mayor Fusaho Izumi resigns after ordering arson

Approximately 600 homes have been swallowed by lava flows from Kilauea Volcano on Hawaii's Big Island since early last month, marking its most destructive eruption in modern times, Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim said&nbsp;on Thursday.

The latest estimate of property losses from Kilauea, one of the world's most active volcanoes, far surpasses the 215 structures consumed by lava during an earlier eruption cycle that began in 1983 and continued nearly nonstop over three decades.

Kim said Kilauea, one of five volcanoes on the Big Island, formally known as the Island of Hawaii, has never destroyed so many homes before in such a short period of time.

The latest volcanic eruption, which entered its 36th day&nbsp;on Thursday, stands as the most destructive in the United States since at least the cataclysmic 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens in Washington state that reduced hundreds of square miles to wasteland, according to geologist Scott Rowland, a volcano specialist from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

A similar, extremely violent eruption from Fuego volcano in Guatemala this week killed more than 100 people as it ejected deadly super-heated "pyroclastic" flows of lava and ash through nearby towns.

The latest damage appraisal from Kilauea came moments after Governor David Ige, on a visit to Hawaii County Civil Defense headquarters in Hilo, the island's biggest city, signed a memorandum of understanding furnishing $12 million in immediate state disaster relief to the island.

Ige and Kim also announced the formation of a task force of federal, state and local officials to devise a recovery plan for communities devastated by the eruption, with an eye toward preventing such major property losses in the future.

"Our responsibility is to try to work with the community to rebuild out of harm's way," Kim said.

County civil defense officials had a day earlier put the confirmed number of homes destroyed during the past month at 130, all of them in and around the Leilani Estates community, where lava-spouting fissures opened up on the volcano's eastern flank on May 3.

More recently a huge river of lava that has crept several miles across the landscape to the eastern tip of the island engulfed two entire seaside housing subdivisions - Kapoho Beach Lots and Vacationland.

Over the course of about three days, a rolling wall of molten rock measuring half-mile across and 10- to 15-feet tall buried hundreds of homes, while vaporizing a small freshwater lake and filling in an inlet called Kapoho Bay, extending about a mile out from what had been the shoreline.

Kim said Vacationland, a private development believed to comprise roughly 160 homes, was completely erased, and that at least 330 houses were devoured by lava at Kapoho Beach Lots. The rest were

The rest of the losses have occurred in the Leilani Estates area, where the toll of destruction has been steadily rising by the day.

"So if you combine the three of them (Kapoho, Vacationland and Leilani), we're talking about 600 homes," he told reporters. "I'm talking about 600 families. Don't forget the farmers, don't forget the ranchers, don't forget all the employees for them."

An estimated 2,500 people have been displaced by evacuations across the island since the eruption began five weeks ago, spouting fountains of lava and high concentrations of toxic sulfur dioxide gas through about two dozen volcanic fissures at the foot of the volcano.

Plumes of volcanic ash belched into the air by periodic daily explosions from the crater at Kilauea's summit have posed an additional nuisance and health hazard to nearby communities.

So too have airborne volcanic glass fibers, called "Pele's Hair," wispy strands carried aloft by the wind from lava fountains and named for the volcanic goddess of Hawaiian myth.

Seaside residents and boaters also have been warned to avoid noxious clouds of laze - a term derived from the words "lava" and "haze" - formed when lava reacts with seawater to form a mix of acid fumes, steam and glass-like particles when it flows into the ocean.

Frequent earthquakes, mostly of relatively small magnitude but numbering in the thousands, have persisted throughout the eruption, adding to the jitters of residents living closest to the volcano.

In addition to destroying homes and other structures, lava flows have knocked out telephone and power lines, causing widespread communication outages, and forced the shutdown of a geothermal energy plant that normally provides about a quarter of the island's electricity.

Kim said Kilauea, one of five volcanoes on the Big Island, formally known as the Island of Hawaii, has never destroyed so many homes before in such a short period of time

Approximately 600 homes have been swallowed by lava flows from Kilauea Volcano on Hawaii's Big Island since early last month, marking its most destructive eruption in modern times, Hawaii County Mayor Harry Kim said on Thursday. The latest estimate of property losses from Kilauea, one of the world's most active volcanoes, far surpasses the 215 structures consumed by lava during an earlier eruption cycle that began in 1983 and continued nearly nonstop over three decades. Kim said Kilauea, one of five volcanoes on the Big Island, formally known as the Island of Hawaii, has never destroyed so many homes before in such a short period of time. The latest volcanic eruption, which entered its 36th day on Thursday, stands as the most destructive in the United States since at least the cataclysmic 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens in Washington state that reduced hundreds of square miles to wasteland, according to geologist Scott Rowland, a volcano specialist from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. A similar, extremely violent eruption from Fuego volcano in Guatemala this week killed more than 100 people as it ejected deadly super-heated "pyroclastic" flows of lava and ash through nearby towns. The latest damage appraisal from Kilauea came moments after Governor David Ige, on a visit to Hawaii County Civil Defense headquarters in Hilo, the island's biggest city, signed a memorandum of understanding furnishing $12 million in immediate state disaster relief to the island. Ige and Kim also announced the formation of a task force of federal, state and local officials to devise a recovery plan for communities devastated by the eruption, with an eye toward preventing such major property losses in the future. "Our responsibility is to try to work with the community to rebuild out of harm's way," Kim said. County civil defense officials had a day earlier put the confirmed number of homes destroyed during the past month at 130, all of them in and around the Leilani Estates community, where lava-spouting fissures opened up on the volcano's eastern flank on May 3. More recently a huge river of lava that has crept several miles across the landscape to the eastern tip of the island engulfed two entire seaside housing subdivisions - Kapoho Beach Lots and Vacationland. Over the course of about three days, a rolling wall of molten rock measuring half-mile across and 10- to 15-feet tall buried hundreds of homes, while vaporizing a small freshwater lake and filling in an inlet called Kapoho Bay, extending about a mile out from what had been the shoreline. Kim said Vacationland, a private development believed to comprise roughly 160 homes, was completely erased, and that at least 330 houses were devoured by lava at Kapoho Beach Lots. The rest were The rest of the losses have occurred in the Leilani Estates area, where the toll of destruction has been steadily rising by the day. "So if you combine the three of them (Kapoho, Vacationland and Leilani), we're talking about 600 homes," he told reporters. "I'm talking about 600 families. Don't forget the farmers, don't forget the ranchers, don't forget all the employees for them." An estimated 2,500 people have been displaced by evacuations across the island since the eruption began five weeks ago, spouting fountains of lava and high concentrations of toxic sulfur dioxide gas through about two dozen volcanic fissures at the foot of the volcano. Plumes of volcanic ash belched into the air by periodic daily explosions from the crater at Kilauea's summit have posed an additional nuisance and health hazard to nearby communities. So too have airborne volcanic glass fibers, called "Pele's Hair," wispy strands carried aloft by the wind from lava fountains and named for the volcanic goddess of Hawaiian myth. Seaside residents and boaters also have been warned to avoid noxious clouds of laze - a term derived from the words "lava" and "haze" - formed when lava reacts with seawater to form a mix of acid fumes, steam and glass-like particles when it flows into the ocean. Frequent earthquakes, mostly of relatively small magnitude but numbering in the thousands, have persisted throughout the eruption, adding to the jitters of residents living closest to the volcano. In addition to destroying homes and other structures, lava flows have knocked out telephone and power lines, causing widespread communication outages, and forced the shutdown of a geothermal energy plant that normally provides about a quarter of the island's electricity.

Rivers of lava destroyed 600 homes in Hawaii's Big Island: Mayor

London mayor Sadiq Khan will be arriving in Mumbai tomorrow as part of his first official tour to three Indian cities to promote the British capital&#39;s resilience and strengths post-Brexit.

Apart from Mumbai, Khan would be visiting Delhi and Amritsar and then fly to Lahore, Islamabad, and Karachi in Pakistan on his six-day tour to six cities.

As part of the Indian leg of the trade mission aimed at promoting new business links between India and London, the London mayor has a series of meetings planned with senior politicians, business leaders, regional leaders as well as Bollywood personalities.

His central message will be that the British capital remains open to Indian talent post-Brexit.

&quot;Following last year&#39;s EU referendum, it is far more important to get the message of London is open out far and wide and I will be taking that message to India and Pakistan,&quot; he said on the eve of his visit.

Khan would be taking the Jet Airways&#39; recently launched third direct London-Mumbai flight.

&quot;Jet Airways is doing their bit to ensure that the London-India relationship really takes off. The new flight comes as a major boost for the relationship between our two countries and an opportunity to not only deepen and expand our economic ties but to forge even closer social and cultural ties too,&quot; he said.

Mumbai-headquartered Jet Airways recently added a third direct flight between London and Mumbai, taking the total number of direct flights between London and India to four ? with two existing direct routes to Mumbai and one to Delhi.

Jet Airways&#39;s CEO, Vinay Dube, said it reflects the confidence the company has in the robustness of the UK market.

&quot;Whenever people in India think about travelling abroad, the very first city that comes to mind is London. At Jet Airways, we try and follow our customers, and want to play our part in bringing India and the UK closer together,&quot; he said.

&quot;The UK is very important to us. The mayor is going on a trade mission and there is a wide spectrum of travellers on this circuit who are flying Jet. Every aspect is growing,&quot; he said.

The mayor of London?will be accompanied by his Deputy Mayor for Business, Rajesh Agrawal. Their packed itinerary in India will include discussions on business and investment, infrastructure and the environment as well as visas and other opportunities to work together more closely.

London mayor Sadiq Khan will be arriving in Mumbai tomorrow as part of his first official tour to three Indian cities to promote the British capital's resilience and strengths post-Brexit

London mayor Sadiq Khan will be arriving in Mumbai tomorrow as part of his first official tour to three Indian cities to promote the British capital's resilience and strengths post-Brexit. Apart from Mumbai, Khan would be visiting Delhi and Amritsar and then fly to Lahore, Islamabad, and Karachi in Pakistan on his six-day tour to six cities. As part of the Indian leg of the trade mission aimed at promoting new business links between India and London, the London mayor has a series of meetings planned with senior politicians, business leaders, regional leaders as well as Bollywood personalities. His central message will be that the British capital remains open to Indian talent post-Brexit. "Following last year's EU referendum, it is far more important to get the message of London is open out far and wide and I will be taking that message to India and Pakistan," he said on the eve of his visit. Khan would be taking the Jet Airways' recently launched third direct London-Mumbai flight. "Jet Airways is doing their bit to ensure that the London-India relationship really takes off. The new flight comes as a major boost for the relationship between our two countries and an opportunity to not only deepen and expand our economic ties but to forge even closer social and cultural ties too," he said. Mumbai-headquartered Jet Airways recently added a third direct flight between London and Mumbai, taking the total number of direct flights between London and India to four ? with two existing direct routes to Mumbai and one to Delhi. Jet Airways's CEO, Vinay Dube, said it reflects the confidence the company has in the robustness of the UK market. "Whenever people in India think about travelling abroad, the very first city that comes to mind is London. At Jet Airways, we try and follow our customers, and want to play our part in bringing India and the UK closer together," he said. "The UK is very important to us. The mayor is going on a trade mission and there is a wide spectrum of travellers on this circuit who are flying Jet. Every aspect is growing," he said. The mayor of London?will be accompanied by his Deputy Mayor for Business, Rajesh Agrawal. Their packed itinerary in India will include discussions on business and investment, infrastructure and the environment as well as visas and other opportunities to work together more closely.

London mayor Sadiq Khan to visit Mumbai tomorrow

Waseem Akhtar, the mayor elect of Karachi, one of Pakistan&#39;s largest and most populous cities, vowed on Wednesday to run the city from his prison cell after he was detained last month on allegations that he helped militants and criminals.&nbsp; 
 
Akhtar&#39;s Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) had &nbsp;swept the local elections in December, but was prevented from taking office because of delays in finalising local council elections in parts of the city. The final voting took place on Wednesday. 
 
He arrived in an armoured police vehicle at the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation building to vote in elections that give MQM a secure lead. 
 
&quot;Thank you Karachi, which has gone through this election in such difficult times,&quot; Akhtar said after he voted, according to media reports. 
 
&quot;It will go down in history that such an election has never before taken place in Pakistan.&quot; 
 
Under Pakistan law, politicians can govern from police custody but there is still ambiguity over how Akhtar will run the city from a prison cell. According to media reports, he is not expected to be released before taking his oath, the ceremony for which might take place on August 30. 
 
Media reports also quoted Akhtar&rsquo;s lawyer saying that the new mayor would run Karachi through video link for the whole term of office if necessary. 
 
Akhtar has reportedly said that he would ask the chief minister of Sindh to allow him to open an office in jail and make &quot;new rules&quot; so that people can access him. 
 
MQM has dominated Karachi, which is also Pakistan&rsquo;s richest city, for decades but a paramilitary crackdown since 2013 has chipped away its power base. 
 
A number of MQM members were arrested last year after being accused of murder, torture and racketeering. The party however denies any link to crime and accuses security forces of extra-judicial killing of its members, 
 
Senior Karachi-based members in the &nbsp;MQM pledged this week &nbsp;to reduce the influence of the party&rsquo;s London-based leader, Altaf Hussain, who on Monday urged supporters to attack the office of a TV channel in clashes that left one dead. 
 
(Reuters)

Akhtar was detained last month over allegations of helping militants and is not due to be released before the oath ceremony

Waseem Akhtar, the mayor elect of Karachi, one of Pakistan's largest and most populous cities, vowed on Wednesday to run the city from his prison cell after he was detained last month on allegations that he helped militants and criminals. Akhtar's Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) had swept the local elections in December, but was prevented from taking office because of delays in finalising local council elections in parts of the city. The final voting took place on Wednesday. He arrived in an armoured police vehicle at the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation building to vote in elections that give MQM a secure lead. "Thank you Karachi, which has gone through this election in such difficult times," Akhtar said after he voted, according to media reports. "It will go down in history that such an election has never before taken place in Pakistan." Under Pakistan law, politicians can govern from police custody but there is still ambiguity over how Akhtar will run the city from a prison cell. According to media reports, he is not expected to be released before taking his oath, the ceremony for which might take place on August 30. Media reports also quoted Akhtar’s lawyer saying that the new mayor would run Karachi through video link for the whole term of office if necessary. Akhtar has reportedly said that he would ask the chief minister of Sindh to allow him to open an office in jail and make "new rules" so that people can access him. MQM has dominated Karachi, which is also Pakistan’s richest city, for decades but a paramilitary crackdown since 2013 has chipped away its power base. A number of MQM members were arrested last year after being accused of murder, torture and racketeering. The party however denies any link to crime and accuses security forces of extra-judicial killing of its members, Senior Karachi-based members in the MQM pledged this week to reduce the influence of the party’s London-based leader, Altaf Hussain, who on Monday urged supporters to attack the office of a TV channel in clashes that left one dead. (Reuters)

Karachi mayor-elect: Will run city from prison cell

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