Man claims God told him to shoot pastor but gun jammed
During a church service in Pennsylvania, a man attempted to shoot Pastor Glenn Germany but his gun jammed, preventing any harm. The assailant, Bernard J. Polite, 26, approached Pastor Germany while he was preaching at Jesus’ Dwelling Place Church in North Braddock. The incident, captured during a Facebook Live broadcast, shows Deacon Clarence McCallister heroically tackling Polite, who later told authorities that "God told me to do it." Pastor Germany expressed gratitude for the divine intervention that spared his life and emphasized the incident's unifying effect on his congregation. Polite, who had no prior connection to the church, faces charges of aggravated assault and attempted homicide. Despite the attack, the community remains thankful as no one was physically harmed.
Keir Starmer faces Labour anger after Tory MP's defection
Sir Keir Starmer’s decision to welcome Tory MP Natalie Elphicke's defection to Labour has stirred mixed reactions among Labour MPs. Elphicke, previously a Conservative representative for Dover, made the unexpected switch, causing some Labour members to express confusion and dismay, despite leadership viewing it as a significant coup. Critics within the party, including Canterbury MP Rosie Duffield, find Elphicke’s switch puzzling, given her past criticisms of Labour’s policies and her controversial defence of her ex-husband, Charlie Elphicke, following his sexual assault conviction. The defection, happening just before Prime Minister's Questions, has complicated matters for Labour, already has candidates in Elphicke's constituency. (In practice, Mrs Elphicke will not contest the Dover election, as she plans to leave the Commons). Despite the internal discord and criticism from the Conservative side, labelling Elphicke as opportunistic, Sir Keir emphasises the broader strategic advantage of attracting former Conservative voters to Labour. This move, however, remains contentious among both Labour and Conservative members.
Muslim Vote group issues 18 demands to Starmer
The Muslim Vote, a grassroots campaign with backing from several organisations, has issued 18 demands to Labour's Sir Keir Starmer to regain support from disillusioned voters over his Gaza stance. These demands include apologising for his past comments on the conflict, severing military ties with Israel, enabling Muslim prayer in schools, and banning travel for Israeli politicians who support the war. The group has warned it will direct its supporters to vote for the Greens or Lib Dems unless these demands are met. Additional demands focus on domestic policies like recognising Palestine as a state, imposing sanctions on businesses in occupied territories, and implementing Sharia-compliant pensions. The campaign, which does not reveal its leaders or funding sources, gained traction as pro-Gaza activists recently won various council seats. The Muslim Vote describes itself as a broad initiative supported by organisations such as Mend, which contests the government's extremism labels. Their influence is aimed at constituencies where the Muslim vote can sway election outcomes, emphasising their role in shaping policy discussions.
AstraZeneca withdraws Covid-19 vaccine worldwide
AstraZeneca has announced the global withdrawal of its Covid-19 vaccine, Vaxzevria, citing a surplus of newer vaccines targeting emerging virus variants. The company previously halted its marketing authorization in the European Union in March, with the European Medicines Agency confirming on May 7 that the vaccine is no longer authorised. This decision reflects the reduced demand for Vaxzevria, which is no longer being manufactured or supplied. AstraZeneca stated that the variety of new vaccines available has led to this decline in use. Despite the withdrawal, the company highlighted that Vaxzevria played a crucial role in the pandemic's early stages, saving an estimated 6.5 million lives and delivering over 3 billion doses globally. Other countries, including Australia, have ceased its use, transitioning to newer vaccines since June 2021. Vaxzevria, which was administered in two doses and occasionally as a booster, is based on an adenovirus vector carrying a gene from SARS-CoV-2. While effective overall, it was linked to a rare but severe side effect, thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS), affecting about two to three per 100,000 vaccinated individuals.
