海角大神

Democrats released their 2024 election report. The Democratic National Committee released a long-awaited internal report analyzing why Kamala Harris lost the 2024 presidential election to Donald Trump, after months of delays and mounting accusations of a cover-up. The 192-page report presents 鈥渉ard truths鈥� about the state of the party, saying since the 2008 election Democrats have 鈥渧acillated between stagnation and retrogression鈥� and 鈥渓ost the confidence we once received from everyday Americans.鈥� It also accuses the Harris campaign of writing off rural voters and failing to address people鈥檚 economic concerns, as well as failing to define Ms. Harris as a candidate.

Utah declared a drought emergency. The announcement by the Mountain West state follows high temperatures and low snowpack. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox urged residents to reduce outdoor water use and fix irrigation leaks. 鈥淲e can鈥檛 control the weather, but we can control the tap,鈥� he said on Thursday. Utah is one of seven states that rely on the Colorado River, which continues to struggle under the effects of climate change and overuse. New Mexico on Wednesday also declared a drought, along with 鈥渟evere fire conditions.鈥�

The German chancellor proposed a step toward the European Union for Ukraine. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz wants the EU to extend an 鈥渁ssociate membership鈥� to Ukraine. Ukraine wants to fully join the EU, but the process takes years. An associate membership would provide further security for Ukraine in the interim, though it would not have a vote. It is unclear what other EU nations think of the plan, but it speaks to Mr. Merz鈥檚 desire to take leadership role on Ukraine.

A congressional committee is taking aim at cyberscams. It is pressing AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile to strengthen protections. The move comes as Congress intensifies scrutiny of scams that cost Americans an estimated $200 billion in 2024. In letters, lawmakers asked the companies to explain how they monitor scams, collect data, and stop bad actors. Americans get tens of billions of unwanted calls and messages each year, despite mandated caller ID authentication technology. Industry groups say carriers block billions of scams annually. Consumer advocates seek stronger measures. 鈥� The Associated Press

A Taiwanese novel won the International Booker Prize. Y谩ng Shu膩ng-z菒鈥檚 鈥淭aiwan Travelogue鈥� became the first-ever novel translated from Mandarin to win the prestigious literary award. The novel, a story of two women undertaking a culinary journey in Japanese-occupied Taiwan in 1938, previously won the 2024 National Book Award for Translated Literature. Taiwanese American translator Lin King told The Booker Prize Foundation that the story delves into the complexities of Japanese colonialism, but with humor and good food. 鈥淣o matter how difficult times are, I believe that humans always manage to find flickers of levity and deep wells of love,鈥� she said.

Researchers examined an ancient pyramid鈥檚 durability. The Great Pyramid of Giza was built to last, with its colossal base, symmetry, and bedrock footing. Now, scientists from Egypt鈥檚 National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics have mapped and tested less obvious structural features, including inside chambers, and their role in helping the iconic tomb stand strong for 4,600 years. With seismometers, they checked 鈥渁mbient vibrations鈥� and found remarkably even distribution and stability. 鈥淸W]hile I would hesitate to claim that they intentionally designed the pyramid specifically for earthquake resistance,鈥� one researcher told Reuters, 鈥淚 do think they developed architectural and geotechnical solutions that naturally produced structures with exceptional long-term resilience.鈥�

鈥� Compiled from wire reports, where noted, and by Monitor writers around the world

Even before the war, Iran鈥檚 economy was in trouble 鈥� fueling massive anti-regime protests that ended in a deadly crackdown. Now, ordinary Iranians are struggling, caught between a failing economy and a regime that鈥檚 even more determined to crush dissent.

On the surface, Republican leaders remain staunchly pro-Israel. But a clear, generational shift is emerging, as younger conservatives have grown skeptical of U.S. aid to Israel and of Jewish political influence in the U.S.聽

With the United States under Donald Trump withdrawing from international humanitarian efforts, there would seem to be an opportunity for a middle power like Norway to step into the gap. But just how feasible is that, really?

In his new book, 鈥淔ar-Right France,鈥� journalist and Financial Times senior editor Victor Mallet examines the far right鈥檚 transformation from outside the mainstream to a party garnering the support of 30% to 40% of French voters.

Before its annual meeting began Monday, the World Health Assembly was poised to make difficult decisions on a proposed treaty that could 鈥渞eshape the architecture of global health security,鈥� as some participants put it.

Instead, a big announcement the day before ended up reshaping the discussions at the assembly, the world鈥檚 highest-level health policy forum.

On May 17, the World Health Organization made an unprecedented declaration about an epidemic of a rare type of the Ebola virus in Central Africa. The WHO added that the regional emergency was 鈥渙f international concern鈥� because of the outbreak鈥檚 鈥渟cale and speed.鈥澛�

As the assembly opened, WHO officials helped shift the discussions by highlighting lessons learned from previous Ebola outbreaks, especially the use of nonmedical steps such as alleviating fear and building up community trust.

They praised the caring and courageous efforts of frontline healthcare workers in countries affected by the crisis 鈥� Congo and Uganda 鈥� saying it was hard to recall a previous response that was so quick and decisive.

鈥淓bola is a very serious disease, but it is one that we know how to control,鈥� said Mohamed Janabi, WHO鈥檚 director for Africa, according to UN News. 鈥淚t does not mean people should panic. It means the global system is working as it should be, detecting and responding very decisively.鈥�

鈥淔ear by itself is an outbreak,鈥� he added.

Officials also noted the importance of a quick response to manage fear. 鈥淭he speed of the response in the first days is essential to interrupt transmission and avoid a wider spread of this epidemic,鈥� Dr. Marie Roseline Belizaire, the WHO emergency director for Africa, told UN News.

The WHO now also encourages health officials to work with each community, especially religious and traditional leaders, as well as healers. 鈥淲e are not going to come and dictate our science ... but rather work with them,鈥� Dr. Belizaire said. And the agency has also learned in recent years not to name each outbreak of a disease with a term likely to incite fear.

Taking such calming actions has been called 鈥渇ear-guarding.鈥� As a global report stated after the 2014鈥�2016 Ebola epidemic in West Africa: 鈥淩esponding to fear and misinformation will be one of the most critical challenges in handling future pandemics.鈥�