Your trusted source

The Canadian military's second-in-command has resigned after playing golf with the country's former defence chief, who is under investigation for sexual misconduct. Lieutenant General Mike Rouleau said he invited General Jonathan Vance to play golf "to ensure his wellness". In his former role, Lt Gen Rouleau had authority over military investigators looking at the case against Gen Vance. Lt Gen Rouleau said the pair did not discuss details of the investigation.

Source: bbc.com

An auction for a ride into space next month alongside Jeff Bezos and his brother ended with a winning $28 million bid Saturday. The Amazon founder’s rocket company, Blue Origin, did not disclose the winner’s name following the live online auction. The identity will be revealed in a couple weeks — closer to the brief up-and-down flight from West Texas on July 20, the 52nd anniversary of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin’s moon landing.

Source: apnews.com

Plastic bottles have been converted into vanilla flavouring using genetically engineered bacteria, the first time a valuable chemical has been brewed from waste plastic. Upcycling plastic bottles into more lucrative materials could make the recycling process far more attractive and effective. Currently plastics lose about 95% of their value as a material after a single use. Encouraging better collection and use of such waste is key to tackling the global plastic pollution problem.

Source: theguardian.com

China's mission to the European Union urged NATO on Tuesday to stop exaggerating the "China threat theory" after the group's leaders warned that the country presents "systemic challenges". NATO leaders on Monday had taken a forceful stance towards Beijing in a communique at United States President Joe Biden's first summit with the alliance.

Source: reuters.com

“We do not see this new government as any less bad than the previous one, and we condemn the announcements of the new prime minister Naftali Bennett in support of Israeli settlements,” the Palestinian prime minister Mohammad Shtayyeh said, referring to hundreds of thousands of Jewish Israelis who have taken land in the occupied West Bank. “The new government has no future if it does not take into consideration the future of the Palestinian people and their legitimate rights,” Shtayyeh added.

Source: theguardian.com

Two Javan rhinoceros calves have been spotted at an Indonesian national park, offering a rare sighting of one of the world's most endangered mammals. The pair -- ranging in age from three months to one year -- were caught on footage snapped by camera traps in March at Ujung Kulon national park, the environment ministry said. On the westernmost tip of Java island, Ujung Kulon is the last remaining wild habitat for Javan rhinos.

Source: france24.com

Home advantage at the European Championship may not count for much when Hungary faces a Portugal team with scoring talent and one particular player looking to make history. Cristiano Ronaldo needs six more goals to become the all-time leading scorer for a men’s national team. If the defending champions go far at Euro 2020, Ronaldo could indeed break Iran striker Ali Daei’s record of 109 goals. And he’ll get his first chance to add to his total on Tuesday against the Hungarians at the Puskas Arena.

Source: apnews.com

A fan has been seriously injured after falling from a stand at Wembley stadium during England's victory over Croatia. Witnesses saw the spectator fall at around 2pm, when the game kicked off. They then plunged towards seats and concrete below, according to reports. A spokesperson for the stadium said the person had been taken to hospital and was in a serious condition. UEFA confirmed that a spectator fell from the stands and was taken to hospital in a serious condition.

Source: dailymail.co.uk

Iraqi authorities said Sunday the remains of 123 people killed by Islamic State group jihadists had been removed from a mass grave in a bid to identify them. The Badush prison massacre was one of the worst crimes IS carried out after it seized control of a third of Iraq in a lightning offensive in 2014.

Source: france24.com

A 76-year-old man believed to be the head of the world's largest family has died in India's Mizoram state. Ziona Chana, the head of a religious sect that practised polygamy, died on Sunday, leaving behind 38 wives, 89 children and 36 grandchildren. Chana reportedly suffered from diabetes and hypertension.

Source: bbc.com

Author Matthew Dennison wrote in his new biography: “In her ninth decade Elizabeth continued to dedicate herself to the same principles. “She did not contemplate abdication, she told her cousin Margaret Rhodes, ‘unless I get Alzheimer’s or have a stroke’. The consensus among royal experts has been aligned with this sentiment and firmly reinforce that the Queen would never abdicate. Even after the death of her beloved Prince Philip in April, commentators remained certain Her Majesty will remain monarch until the very end.

Source: dailystar.co.uk

Ned Beatty, the Oscar-nominated character actor who in half a century of American movies, including Deliverance, Network and Superman, was a booming, indelible presence in even the smallest parts, has died. He was 83. Beatty’s manager, Deborah Miller, said Beatty died on Sunday of natural causes at his home in Los Angeles, surrounded by friends and loved ones.

Source: theguardian.com

Thousands of people in Madrid are protesting the Spanish government’s plan to issue pardons to a dozen separatist leaders who were convicted for their roles in a failed push for the Catalonia region's independence, the biggest challenge to the country’s unity in recent history. The demonstration on Sunday was organized by a civil society group to promote a united Spain and took place at a central square that has become a symbol for far-right political rallies.

Source: france24.com

Most current coronavirus rules will remain in place for another four weeks after the planned 21 June unlocking, government sources have told the BBC. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is due to confirm the delay later at a news conference. The extension will be put to a Commons vote this month and could trigger a sizeable Conservative backbench rebellion.

Source: bbc.com

A drone rigged with explosives fell on a school in Saudi Arabia's Aseer province on Sunday, Saudi state TV and state news agency (SPA) said, adding no injuries were reported. The agency said civil defence authorities had received a report that a projectile launched from Yemen by the Houthi movement had fallen on a school in Aseer. The projectile turned out to be a drone, the agency reported, citing the Aseer civil defence directorate.

Source: reuters.com

U.S. President Joe Biden said Britain's Queen Elizabeth reminded him of his mother and that she had asked about Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. After tea with the 95-year-old British monarch at Windsor Castle, Biden told reporters: "I don't think she’d be insulted but she reminded me of my mother, the look of her and just the generosity."

Source: reuters.com

Novak Djokovic captured his second French Open title as he recovered from being outplayed for two sets by Stefanos Tsitsipas to win 6-7(6) 2-6 6-3 6-2 6-4 on Sunday.

Source: reuters.com

The outgoing head of the Israeli spy agency Mossad has given a revelatory interview about the country's operations against Iran. Yossi Cohen gave details about the theft of Iran's nuclear archive. The warehouse raid in 2018 ferried tens of thousands of documents out of the country to Israel. He also hinted at Israeli involvement in the destruction of Iran's nuclear facility at Natanz, and the assassination of a nuclear scientist. Mr Cohen retired as the head of Mossad last week.

Source: bbc.com