Author

admin

Browsing

The FBI is taking another look at the cocaine found inside the Biden administration White House in 2023, according to Deputy Director Dan Bongino. 

‘Shortly after swearing in, the Director and I evaluated a number of cases of potential public corruption that, understandably, have garnered public interest. We made the decision to either re-open, or push additional resources and investigative attention, to these cases,’ Bongino said in a post on X. 

‘These cases are the DC pipe bombing investigation, the cocaine discovery at the prior administration’s White House, and the leak of the Supreme Court Dobbs case. I receive requested briefings on these cases weekly and we are making progress. If you have any investigative tips on these matters that may assist us, then please contact the FBI,’ he added. 

The FBI did not immediately respond Tuesday to a request for further comment from Fox News Digital. 

Earlier this year, President Donald Trump said in an interview he believes former President Joe Biden or his son, Hunter Biden, left behind the infamous bag of cocaine at the White House. 

‘So … who actually left the cocaine in the White House?’ The Spectator’s Ben Domenech asked Trump. 

‘Well, either Joe or Hunter,’ Trump responded. ‘Could be Joe, too.’  

The bag of cocaine was discovered on July 2, 2023, in a storage locker near the entrance to the White House’s West Wing.  

The Secret Service discovered the cocaine and launched an investigation, which turned up inconclusive for a suspect. 

‘On July 12, the Secret Service received the FBI’s laboratory results, which did not develop latent fingerprints and insufficient DNA was present for investigative comparisons,’ it said in 2023. ‘Therefore, the Secret Service is not able to compare evidence against the known pool of individuals. The FBl’s evaluation of the substance also confirmed that it was cocaine.’

‘That was such a terrible thing because, you know, those bins are very loaded up with … they’re not clean, and they have hundreds and even thousands of fingerprints,’ Trump also said in the interview. ‘And when they went to look at it, it was absolutely stone cold, wiped dry. You know that, right?’ 

The Biden family, including the former president and Hunter, were not staying at the White House when the cocaine was discovered. Instead, the family was staying at presidential retreat Camp David in Maryland. 

Hunter Biden has a long and well-documented history with substance abuse, and he detailed his hourly need for crack cocaine in his 2021 memoir, ‘Beautiful Things.’ He has since gone through recovery efforts and has been sober since 2019, according to sworn testimony in federal court in 2023. 

Fox News’ Emma Colton contributed to this report. 

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

Cardiol Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: CRDL) (TSX: CRDL) (‘Cardiol’ or the ‘Company’), a clinical-stage life sciences company focused on developing anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic therapies for the treatment of heart disease, announces that the Company’s virtual Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (the ‘AGM’) will be webcast on May 28, 2025, at 4:30 p.m. EDT.

Cardiol Therapeutics’ 2025 AGM

When: May 28, 2025, at 4:30 p.m. EDT
Where: Virtual meeting only via live audio webcast online at: web.lumiagm.com/226536161

Additional information about the AGM, including details on how to participate and vote, is available on the Company’s website at cardiolrx.com/investors/events-presentations/.

About Cardiol Therapeutics

Cardiol Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ: CRDL) (TSX: CRDL) is a clinical-stage life sciences company focused on developing anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic therapies for the treatment of heart disease. The Company’s lead small molecule drug candidate, CardiolRx (cannabidiol) oral solution, is pharmaceutically manufactured and in clinical development for use in the treatment of heart disease. It is recognized that cannabidiol inhibits activation of the inflammasome pathway, an intracellular process known to play an important role in the development and progression of inflammation and fibrosis associated with myocarditis, pericarditis, and heart failure.

Cardiol has received Investigational New Drug Application authorization from the United States Food and Drug Administration (‘US FDA’) to conduct clinical studies to evaluate the efficacy and safety of CardiolRx in two diseases affecting the heart: recurrent pericarditis and acute myocarditis. The MAVERIC Program in recurrent pericarditis, an inflammatory disease of the pericardium which is associated with symptoms including debilitating chest pain, shortness of breath, and fatigue, and results in physical limitations, reduced quality of life, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations, comprises the completed Phase II MAvERIC-Pilot study (NCT05494788) and the ongoing Phase III MAVERIC trial (NCT06708299). The ongoing ARCHER trial (NCT05180240) is a Phase II study in acute myocarditis, an important cause of acute and fulminant heart failure in young adults and a leading cause of sudden cardiac death in people less than 35 years of age. The US FDA has granted Orphan Drug Designation to CardiolRx for the treatment of pericarditis, which includes recurrent pericarditis.

Cardiol is also developing CRD-38, a novel subcutaneously administered drug formulation intended for use in heart failure – a leading cause of death and hospitalization in the developed world, with associated healthcare costs in the United States exceeding $30 billion annually.

For more information about Cardiol Therapeutics, please visit cardiolrx.com.

Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking information:

This news release contains ‘forward-looking information’ within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events, or developments that Cardiol believes, expects, or anticipates will, may, could, or might occur in the future are ‘forward-looking information’. Forward looking information contained herein may include, but is not limited to statements regarding the Company’s focus on developing anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic therapies for the treatment of heart disease, the Company’s intended clinical studies and trial activities and timelines associated with such activities, including the Company’s plan to complete the Phase III study in recurrent pericarditis with CardiolRx, and the Company’s plan to advance the development of CRD-38, a novel subcutaneous formulation of cannabidiol intended for use in heart failure. Forward-looking information contained herein reflects the current expectations or beliefs of Cardiol based on information currently available to it and is based on certain assumptions and is also subject to a variety of known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause the actual events or results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward looking information, and are not (and should not be considered to be) guarantees of future performance. These risks and uncertainties and other factors include the risks and uncertainties referred to in the Company’s Annual Information Form filed with the Canadian securities administrators and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31, 2025, available on SEDAR+ at sedarplus.ca and EDGAR at sec.gov, as well as the risks and uncertainties associated with product commercialization and clinical studies. These assumptions, risks, uncertainties, and other factors should be considered carefully, and investors should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking information, and such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Any forward-looking information speaks only as of the date of this press release and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, Cardiol disclaims any intent or obligation to update or revise such forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events, or results, or otherwise. Investors are cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements and are encouraged to read the Supplement, the accompanying Base Prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference therein.

For further information, please contact:
Trevor Burns, Investor Relations +1-289-910-0855
trevor.burns@cardiolrx.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/253470

News Provided by Newsfile via QuoteMedia

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

(TheNewswire)

Edmonton, Alberta May 27, 2025 TheNewswire – Bitcoin Well Inc. (‘ Bitcoin Well ‘ or the ‘ Company ‘) ( TSXV: BTCW; OTCQB: BCNWF ), the non-custodial bitcoin business on a mission to enable independence announces a first-of-its-kind Nostr integration to allow Bitcoin Well customers in the USA to purchase bitcoin directly from their Nostr profile.

Key points:

How it Works:

  • The purchase uses the customers Cash Balance, and bitcoin is sent to an existing Lightning Wallet for security.

Why it Matters:

  • It aligns with the company’s mission to simplify self-custody bitcoin purchases.

Nostr’s Role:

    Impact:

      This move continues to position Bitcoin Well as a leader in freedom technologies by making bitcoin in self custody the standard. For detailed information keep reading, or visit https://bitcoinwell.com/blog/buy-bitcoin-with-nostr

      Why does this matter?

      Social media, specifically Nostr, is one of the most impactful technologies of our generation. Our lives, our communities and our personalities have transitioned to the digital realm. Bitcoin Well has now enabled everyone in the USA to buy bitcoin safely, directly from their Nostr account.

      In doing this, Bitcoin Well has become the easiest place to buy bitcoin! With a simple message, our customers in the USA can now purchase bitcoin in a matter of seconds; without logging in to their Bitcoin Well account.

      ‘This is a great achievement for our team!’ said Adam O’Brien, founder and CEO of Bitcoin Well. ‘We are deeply committed to make buying bitcoin directly to self custody better than using a custodial exchange. This is a huge step in the right direction. We are meeting bitcoiners where they are and allowing them to buy bitcoin safely.’

      How does it work?

      Once a customer links their npub (the social network identifier used by the Nostr protocol) to their Bitcoin Well account from their profile page , they can DM the Bitcoin Well Nostr profile with the command words to purchase bitcoin. The command words are:

      • /buy $21.00 (or any dollar amount)

      • /stack 69,000 sats (or any amount of sats)

      After a simple ‘/confirm’ response, the customer’s Cash Balance in their Bitcoin Well account will be used to buy bitcoin, and the bitcoin will be sent to their predetermined payment address over the Lightning Network.

      To maintain security, bitcoin can only be sent to a Lightning Wallet which has already been added to their Bitcoin Well account.

      What is Nostr?

      Nostr is a decentralized social media protocol which is censorship resistant and runs on a network of relays, rather than centralized servers. This means that the users of the platform control the posts (known as ‘notes’) rather than the owner of the social media platform. This is particularly impactful for the Company because it means we have full control over our message servers; which hasn’t been the case in the past.

      Historically, our messaging platforms have prohibited us from creating a ‘text to buy’ type of service. Even our payment providers have been limited in the past. With the addition of the Nostr protocol we can be certain that this level of censorship will not impact us, or our customer’s ability to buy bitcoin. Furthermore, there is an added layer of protection for the customer’s privacy.

      About Bitcoin Well

      Bitcoin Well is on a mission to enable independence. We do this by making bitcoin useful to everyday people to give them the convenience of modern banking and the benefits of bitcoin. We like to think of it as future-proofing money. Our existing Bitcoin ATM and Online Bitcoin Portal business units drive cash flow to help fund this mission.

      Join our investor community and follow us on Nostr , , and to keep up to date with our business.

      Bitcoin Well contact information

      To book a virtual meeting with our Founder & CEO Adam O’Brien please use the following link: https://bitcoinwell.com/meet-adam

      For additional investor & media information, please contact:

      Adam O’Brien

      Tel: 1 888 711 3866

      ir@bitcoinwell.com

      Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release .

      Forward-looking information

      Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute forward-looking information, which is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as ‘anticipate’, ‘plan’, ‘estimate’, ‘expect’, ‘may’, ‘will’, ‘intend’, ‘should’, or the negative thereof and similar expressions. All statements herein other than statements of historical fact constitute forward-looking information including, but not limited to, statements in respect of Bitcoin Well’s business plans, strategy and outlook. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information including, but not limited to, the risk factors described in Bitcoin Well’s annual information form and management’s discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2024. Forward-looking information should not be unduly relied upon. Any forward-looking information contained in this news release represents Bitcoin Well’s expectations as of the date hereof and is subject to change. Bitcoin Well disclaims any intention or obligation to revise any forward-looking information, except as required by applicable securities legislation.

      Copyright (c) 2025 TheNewswire – All rights reserved.

      News Provided by TheNewsWire via QuoteMedia

      This post appeared first on investingnews.com

      Blue Sky Uranium (TSXV:BSK,OTC:BKUCF)provides investors with a compelling opportunity to gain exposure to the uranium market through its strategic foothold in Argentina’s emerging uranium sector. Backed by a substantial resource base, robust project economics, and a strong joint venture partnership, the company has a clear pathway to potential production.

      Blue Sky Uranium is positioning itself as a leading force in uranium exploration and development in Argentina. As part of the renowned Grosso Group—pioneers in Argentine mineral exploration since 1993 and contributors to four major mineral discoveries—Blue Sky leverages decades of in-country expertise and well-established local partnerships.

      The company’s flagship Amarillo Grande Project is a unique, company-led discovery marking Argentina’s newest uranium-vanadium district. Spanning over 145 kilometers and covering more than 300,000 hectares in Rio Negro Province, this district-scale project hosts the largest NI 43-101-compliant uranium resource in Argentina at its Ivana deposit. With this strategic asset, Blue Sky is well-positioned to become the country’s first domestic uranium supplier, supporting a growing nuclear energy program that currently relies entirely on imported fuel.

      Company Highlights

      • Significant Uranium Resource: Controls the largest NI 43-101 compliant uranium resource in Argentina with 17 Mlbs U3O8 in indicated resources and 3.8 Mlbs in inferred resources, plus valuable vanadium credits.
      • Low-cost Production Potential: Near-surface mineralization with no blasting required, hosted in loosely consolidated sediments, making for potentially low mining costs.
      • Strategic JV Partnership: Secured an earn-in agreement with COAM to advance the Ivana deposit with no funding required by Blue Sky through development. COAM will spend up to US$35 million to earn up to a 49.9 percent interest, and can further earn up to 80 percent by funding development costs to production (up to US$160 million).
      • Strong Uranium Market Fundamentals: Global uranium market faces supply deficits with increasing demand from nuclear power generation, with prices strengthening significantly since 2023.
      • Domestic Market Opportunity: Argentina has three operational nuclear plants with others under construction or planned, yet imports all uranium for fuel. National legislation guarantees purchase of domestically produced uranium.
      • ISR Project Pipeline: New projects in the Neuquen Basin provide future growth through potential in-situ recovery operations, a method that produces 57 percent of the world’s uranium with minimal environmental impact.

      This Blue Sky Uranium profile is part of a paid investor education campaign.*

      Click here to connect with Blue Sky Uranium (TSXV:BSK) to receive an Investor Presentation

      This post appeared first on investingnews.com

      NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES.

      Saga Metals Corp. (the ‘Company’ or ‘SAGA’) (TSXV: SAGA) (OTCQB: SAGMF) (FSE: 20H) a North American exploration company focused on critical mineral discovery in Canada, is pleased to announce that it has closed a first tranche (the ‘ First Tranche ‘) of its non-brokered private placement announced on May 2, 2025 (the ‘ Offering ‘) for gross proceeds of $1,239,700.10. The Company has also received a 30-day extension to close the Offering from the TSX Venture Exchange, and accordingly expects to close the final tranche of the Offering on or before June 25, 2025.

      On closing of the First Tranche, the Company received gross proceeds of $444,200.10 from the issuance of 1,480,667 flow-through units at a price of $0.30 per unit (‘ FT Units ‘) and $795,500 from the issuance of 3,182,000 hard dollar units at a price of $0.25 per unit (‘ HD Units ‘).

      Each FT Unit consists of one flow-through common share (a ‘ FT Share ‘) as defined in subsection 66(15) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the ‘ Tax Act ‘), and one transferable common share purchase warrant (a ‘ Warrant ‘). Each Warrant will entitle its holder to purchase one common share in the capital of the Company (a ‘ Warrant Share ‘) at a price of $0.50 for 24 months from the closing date of the Offering (the ‘ Closing Date ‘). The Warrants and the Warrant Shares underlying the FT Units will not qualify as ‘flow-through shares’ under the Tax Act.

      Each HD Unit consists of one common share (a ‘ HD Share ‘) and one Warrant.

      All securities issued in connection with the First Tranche are subject to a hold period of four months and one day following the Closing Date pursuant to applicable securities laws.

      In connection with the First Tranche, the Company paid an aggregate of $31,710.01 in finder’s fees and issued 108,616 finder’s warrants (each, a ‘ Finder’s Warrant ‘) to certain finders. Each Finder’s Warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one common share of the Company at a price of $0.50 per share for a period of 24 months from its date of issue.

      Each of the Warrants and Finder’s Warrants will be subject to the right of the Company to accelerate the expiry date of the Warrants and Finder’s Warrants to a date that is 30 days following dissemination of a news release announcing such acceleration if, at any time, after the Closing Date, the closing price of the Company’s common shares equals or exceeds $0.75 for a period of ten consecutive trading days on the TSX Venture Exchange.

      The gross proceeds from the FT Units will be used by the Company for ‘Canadian exploration expenses’ that are ‘flow-through critical mineral mining expenditures’ (as such terms are defined in the Tax Act) on the Company’s Labrador, Canada properties. The net proceeds of the HD Units will be used by the Company for administrative and general working capital.

      Certain insiders of SAGA participated in the First Tranche, acquiring an aggregate of 442,000 HD Units for aggregate gross proceeds of $110,500. Participation of such insiders in the Offering constitutes a ‘related party transaction’ as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions (‘ MI 61-101 ‘) and is exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 as neither the fair market value of the securities issued to the insiders nor the consideration paid by the insiders exceeded 25% of SAGA’s market capitalization.

      The securities of SAGA have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the ‘ U.S. Securities Act ‘), or any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold, within the United States, unless exemptions from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws are available.

      No securities regulatory authority has reviewed or approved of the contents of this news release. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities of SAGA in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

      About Saga Metals Corp.

      Saga Metals Corp. is a North American mining company focused on the exploration and discovery of critical minerals that support the global transition to green energy. The company’s flagship asset, the Double Mer Uranium Project, is located in Labrador, Canada, covering 25,600 hectares. This project features uranium radiometrics that highlight an 18km east-west trend, with a confirmed 14km section producing samples as high as 0.428% U 3 O 8 and uranium uranophane was identified in several areas of highest radiometric response (2024 Double Mer Technical Report).

      In addition to its uranium focus, SAGA owns the Legacy Lithium Property in Quebec’s Eeyou Istchee James Bay region. This project, developed in partnership with Rio Tinto, has been expanded through the acquisition of the Amirault Lithium Project. Together, these properties cover 65,849 hectares and share significant geological continuity with other major players in the area, including Rio Tinto, Winsome Resources, Azimut Exploration, and Loyal Lithium.

      SAGA also holds additional exploration assets in Labrador, where the company is focused on the discovery of titanium, vanadium, and iron ore. With a portfolio that spans key minerals crucial to the green energy transition, SAGA is strategically positioned to play an essential role in the clean energy future.

      On Behalf of the Board of Directors

      Mike Stier, Chief Executive Officer

      For more information, contact:
      Saga Metals Corp.
      Investor Relations
      Tel: +1 (778) 930-1321
      Email: info@sagametals.com
      www.sagametals.com

      The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the accuracy or adequacy of this release. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

      Cautionary Disclaimer

      This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as ‘will’, ‘may’, ‘should’, ‘anticipates’, ‘expects’, ‘believes’, and similar expressions or the negative of these words or other comparable terminology. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking information pertaining to the Company’s plans and objectives in respect of the terms and conditions of the Offering, the gross proceeds of the Offering, the use of proceeds from the Offering, and the anticipated closing dates of additional tranches of the Offering and the Offering. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations include, but are not limited to, changes in the structure of the Offering, the state of equity and debt markets, fluctuations in commodity prices, delays in obtaining required regulatory or governmental approvals, environmental risks, limitations on insurance coverage, risks and uncertainties involved in the mineral exploration and development industry, and the risks detailed in the Company’s final prospectus in Manitoba and amended and restated final prospectus for British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario dated August 30, 2024, filed under its SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca, and in the continuous disclosure filings made by the Company with securities regulations from time to time. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company will update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements only as expressly required by applicable securities law.

      News Provided by GlobeNewswire via QuoteMedia

      This post appeared first on investingnews.com

      Spearmint Resources Inc. (CSE: SPMT) (OTC Pink: SPMTF) (FSE: A2AHL5) (the ‘Company’ or ‘Spearmint’) announces that it intends to complete a consolidation of its issued and outstanding common shares (the ‘Shares’) on the basis of one new Share (a ‘Post-consolidated Share’) for every ten currently outstanding Shares (the ‘Consolidation’). The Company also announces it intends to change its name and its trading symbol in connection with the proposed Consolidation.

      Completion of the Consolidation, name change and symbol change are subject to approval by the Canadian Securities Exchange (the ‘CSE‘). The effective date of the Consolidation, name change and symbol change will be announced in a subsequent news release.

      It is anticipated that the Consolidation will reduce the number of outstanding Shares from 287,828,583 Shares to approximately 28,782,858 Post-consolidated Shares, subject to adjustment for rounding. The Board of Directors of the Company believes that the consolidation of the Shares will both enhance the marketability of the Company as an investment and better position the Company to raise the funds necessary to execute the Company’s business plan.

      No fractional Post-consolidated Shares will be issued as a result of the Consolidation. As required under the Business Corporations Act (BC), any fractional Shares remaining after the Consolidation that are less than one half of a Share will be cancelled and any fractional Shares that are at least one half of a Share will be rounded up to one whole Share.

      The exercise price and number of Shares of the Company, issuable upon the exercise of outstanding options and warrants and conversion of outstanding convertible debentures, will be proportionally adjusted upon the implementation of the proposed Consolidation in accordance with the terms thereof.

      Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

      Contact Information
      Tel: 1604646-6903
      www.spearmintresources.ca

      info@spearmintresources.ca

      ‘James Nelson’
      President
      Spearmint Resources Inc.

      Forward-Looking Statements

      This news release contains forward-looking information which is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this press release include that the Company intends to consolidate its share capital. These forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. Risks that could change or prevent these statements from coming to fruition include that the Company may not obtain approval for the Consolidation from the CSE. The forward-looking information contained herein is given as of the date hereof and the Company assumes no responsibility to update or revise such information to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.

      To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/253436

      News Provided by Newsfile via QuoteMedia

      This post appeared first on investingnews.com

      North Korea has arrested four people it claims bear responsibility for a launch accident last week that left leader Kim Jong Un’s newest warship lying on its side and partially submerged in a shipyard, state-run media has reported.

      The four people detained included Ri Hyong Son, vice department director of the Munitions Industry Department of the Party Central Committee, “who was greatly responsible for the occurrence of the serious accident,” a report from the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Monday said.

      On Sunday, KCNA said three others had been detained: Kang Jong Chol, chief engineer of the Chongjin Shipyard where the accident occurred, Han Kyong Hak, head of the hull construction workshop, and Kim Yong Hak, deputy manager for administrative affairs.

      Kim last week called the botched launch, which he witnessed, “a criminal act” and vowed to punish those responsible.

      Last Wednesday’s accident resulted from a malfunction in the launch mechanism that caused the stern of the as-yet unnamed 5,000-ton destroyer to slide prematurely into the water, crushing parts of the hull and leaving the bow stranded on the shipway, KCNA reported on Thursday in a rare admission of fault from an otherwise highly secretive state.

      State media reported on Friday that the damage to the warship was less than North Korea’s initial estimate, saying there were no holes in the hull, although it was scratched along the starboard side. It also said “a certain amount of seawater flowed into the stern section.”

      Repairs could take about 10 days, the report said. Though analysts are skeptical.

      Kim had ordered the destroyer to be restored before the late June plenary session of the ruling Workers’ Party, calling the matter one of national honor.

      Tarp covers

      Satellite imagery shows most of the warship covered in blue tarps at the launch site, making it difficult for experts to determine the full extent of the damage it suffered.

      But analyst Carl Schuster, a former US Navy captain, said repair work could take up to six months, well beyond Kim’s June target.

      “If the hull damage extends across the ship’s port side covered by the tarp, then we are looking at four to six months of repair work,” he said.

      Repairs could be complicated depending on the amount of sea water that entered the warship, according to Schuster.

      The interior of the ship would need to be thoroughly flushed with fresh water and then dried to prevent “salt crust” from forming on metal surfaces, he said.

      “If it gets into joints and things, then it becomes destructive,” Schuster said.

      But the flushing work cannot begin until the ship is righted and any holes in the hull are patched, he said.

      KCNA reported Monday that “the work for completely restoring the balance of the warship is being actively conducted,” but it did not give a timeline.

      South Korean lawmaker and defense analyst Yu Yong-weon said last week that rushing the launch of the ship likely led to the problems encountered on Wednesday and warned hasty repairs could cause more problems down the line.

      Schuster echoed that thinking, saying optics may be more important than military value to the Kim regime.

      “If Kim Jong Un says, ‘I want that ship fitted out in six months,’ they’ll take shortcuts to make it happen. And usually when you do that you wind up with a ship that’s not, shall we say optimal for operations? But it meets the propaganda criteria.”

      This post appeared first on cnn.com

      An Austrian appeals court has overturned conservative former Chancellor Sebastian Kurz’s recent perjury conviction and the resulting eight-month suspended prison sentence, news agency APA reported on Monday.

      The ruling removes Kurz’s only criminal conviction, taking away a serious obstacle to a future political comeback for the 38-year-old, although prosecutors have yet to decide whether to charge him over potential corruption-related offenses in a separate investigation that forced him from office in 2021.

      The court was not immediately available for comment. Kurz denies all wrongdoing.

      “I have been confronted with accusations for years. There have been numerous court hearings – a huge amount of confrontation with these accusations. You have all witnessed how much this has been celebrated and that it has now all collapsed,” he said outside the court.

      The case centered on whether Kurz was merely kept informed of deliberations on the appointment of executives for newly created state holding company OBAG when he was chancellor, or was in fact making the decisions. The appointments were formally his finance minister’s responsibility.

      Kurz testified to a parliamentary commission of inquiry in 2020 that he was “involved in the sense of informed.” The judge who heard the case at first instance ruled that was not true and Kurz played an active role.

      “What has come out is what I have always said, namely that I did not tell any untruths in the committee of inquiry,” Kurz said.

      Kurz has left the Austrian People’s Party (OVP) and quit politics but some individuals within the OVP hope he will return if there is a change of party leadership, even though polling suggests the majority of Austrians do not want him to stage a comeback.

      Kurz led his party to election victories in 2017 and 2019 by adopting a hard line on immigration similar to that of the far-right Freedom Party (FPO), which won the last parliamentary election in September.

      He now works as a consultant and tech entrepreneur and says he is happy in his new career.

      Having come second in the last election, the OVP leads the current three-party centrist coalition government headed by OVP Chancellor Christian Stocker.

      This post appeared first on cnn.com

      French President Emmanuel Macron’s office moved swiftly on Monday to defuse attention around a viral video showing his wife Brigitte pushing his face away as they deplaned in Vietnam for the first leg of a Southeast Asia tour.

      The short clip shows the aircraft door opening with Macron appearing in the doorway. Seconds later, both of Brigitte Macron’s hands reach from the side and presses against the president’s face in what looks like a sudden shove.

      Macron appears momentarily surprised but quickly regains his composure and waves to the press outside.

      As the couple descend the steps, Macron offers Brigitte his arm, which she does not take, opting instead to hold the railing.

      The Élysée initially denied the incident on the plane, before later moving to downplay its significance.

      It was a “moment of togetherness,” according to an Élysée source.

      “No more was needed to feed the mills of the conspiracy theorists,” the source added, saying pro-Russian trolls were quick to spin the moment into controversy.

      Macron has been at the forefront of efforts to agree a coordinated European response to defending Ukraine following Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.

      The incident in Hanoi comes as Macron faces another swirl of online disinformation. Earlier this month the Élysée dismissed as “fake news” a viral claim – amplified by Kremlin officials – that the French president was using cocaine aboard a train to Kyiv alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

      The rumor, traced back to pro-Russian accounts, falsely claimed a crumpled tissue Macron picked up was a cocaine bag. The Élysée posted a rebuttal online with the caption: “This is a tissue. For blowing your nose… When European unity becomes inconvenient, disinformation makes a simple tissue look like drugs.”

      The Kremlin’s foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova fueled the claim, suggesting the scene was part of a wider European dysfunction. French officials condemned the campaign as part of ongoing efforts by Moscow to weaken Western unity on Ukraine and manipulate peace discussions through false narratives and social media manipulation.

      This post appeared first on cnn.com

      An Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldier released during a ceasefire-hostage deal has said one of her biggest fears during captivity were strikes carried out by Israel.

      Na’ama Levy, one of five IDF female soldiers released in January, made the comments during a weekly rally at Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square on Sunday demanding the return of hostages.

      “They (strikes) come unexpectedly. At first you hear the whistles, you pray that it won’t fall on us, and then – the explosions, a noise so loud that it paralyzes the body, and the ground shakes,” Levy told a crowd of thousands.

      “Every time, I was sure that this was the end of me. It was one of the scariest things I experienced there and that’s also what endangered me more than anything,” she continued, describing an incident where a strike caused the house she was in to partially collapse.

      “That was my reality. It’s their reality now,” she said, referring to those still in captivity.

      “Even now, at this very moment, there are hostages who hear those whistles and explosions, they’re there trembling with fear. They have nowhere to run, only to pray and cling to the walls with a terrible feeling of helplessness.”

      The comments from Levy come as the families of Israeli captives held in Gaza intensify their criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and as Israel comes under growing pressure to end the war in Gaza.

      Earlier this month, Netanyahu said that defeating Israel’s enemies is the “supreme objective” and more important than securing the release of the remaining hostages in Gaza – drawing backlash from representatives of hostage families.

      Levy urged for the return of all Israeli hostages, saying there will be “no victory” otherwise.

      “There’s no way in (Israel) they really understand what we’re going through and are still leaving us in Gaza.”

      In the early months of the war, another Israeli hostage expressed similar fears of being killed by Israeli strikes, Israeli media outlet Ynet reported, based on audio it said was leaked from a meeting between released hostages, their families, and Netanyahu.

      The fear was that “it would not be Hamas, but Israel, that would kill us, and then they would say Hamas killed you,” said the hostage, who was released in one of the first deals.

      Levy’s comments on Sunday also came after Netanyahu appointed a new chief for the country’s Shin Bet security agency on Friday, Maj. Gen David Zini, who has reportedly voiced opposition to hostage deals. The families of hostages have blasted the choice.

      According to Israel’s Channel 12 News, Zini said in meetings of IDF general staff: “I oppose hostage deals. This is a forever war.” The report does not provide a specific date for Zini’s comments. Channel 12 says it was a position he repeated often over the past year.

      “If the report is accurate, these are shocking statements, worthy of unequivocal condemnation, especially coming from someone who is expected to hold the fate of the hostages in his hands,” the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said in a statement at the time.

      In his previous position as the head of the Training Command and General Staff Corps in the IDF, Zini had little influence on hostage negotiations. But as head of the Shin Bet, he could have a significant role considering the agency’s participation in previous rounds of indirect negotiations with Hamas.

      “Appointing a Shin Bet chief who prioritizes (Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu’s war over the return of the hostages is a sin upon a crime and an injustice to the entire people of Israel – a blow to the value of solidarity and the sacred duty to leave no one behind,” the forum said.

      In recent weeks, Israel has come under growing pressure to end the war in Gaza as the enclave faces widespread starvation amid a severe shortage of humanitarian aid.

      The United Kingdom has paused trade talks and sanctioned extremist settlers in the West Bank. Canada and France have threatened sanctions. And the European Union – Israel’s biggest trade partner – is reviewing its landmark Association Agreement with the country. In the words of one Israeli minister, their patience has worn thin over Israel’s decision to expand the war.

      The kidnapping of Levy emerged as one of the first to make headlines as the Hamas-led October 7 attack unfolded.

      Video released by Hamas showed Levy, who was aged 19 at the time, being dragged by her hair at gunpoint with her hands bound.

      This post appeared first on cnn.com