World
Republican presidential candidates profess strong support for Israel as war enters new phase
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Republican presidential candidates professed their strong support for Israel on Saturday as they addressed an influential Republican Jewish group during a campaign stop that coincided with Israel’s stepped-up offensive in the war against Hamas and included the exit of a high-profile contender from the 2024 race.
Former Vice President Mike Pence used his last speech as a candidate to emphasize his traditional Republican views of a robust U.S. foreign policy that contrasts with the “America First” positions taken by his old boss, former President Donald Trump, the current front-runner for the nomination.
Pence did not mention Trump while announcing he would drop out of the race. But he called on Democratic President Joe Biden to unconditionally support Israel’s incursion into Gaza, which was launched in response to Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack that resulted in more than 1,000 deaths. Israel has targeted the Palestinian enclave with airstrikes and cut off power and communications as it mounts an operation against the militant group.
Pence, after announcing his decision, urged the crowd at the Republican Jewish Coalition summit to “hold fast” to faith, family and the U.S. Constitution and he promoted America’s role “as leader of the free world.”
Trump, who in the past has received an enthusiastic reception from the Jewish group, was scheduled to speak in the afternoon, the final White House hopeful to take the stage at the annual gathering.
U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy were among backing the unequivocal right for Israel to defend itself after the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas. They also criticized Democratic officials and liberals for what they saw as a failure to sufficiently condemn antisemitism across the United States.
The Republicans made their pitches in Las Vegas hours after Israel expanded its ground operation into Gaza.
The gathering at a casino-resort on the Las Vegas Strip has typically offered an opportunity for GOP hopefuls to try to reach Jewish voters and showcase political backing of Israel, a priority for the party and its base, including Christian evangelicals. But this year’s summit comes as Israel has been plunged in crisis and put on war footing.
Scott, who frequently invokes his Christian faith, called the actions of Hamas “evil personified” and cited from the Book of Proverbs, saying, “As a Christian, I see the Jewish people as my elder brothers and sisters in faith.”
Ramaswamy, long criticized by Pence as inexperienced and wrong on foreign policy, has at times been questioned by conservatives for his views on Israel. His speech was filled with bellicose rhetoric, claiming he “would love nothing more” than for the Israeli military “to put the heads of the top 100 Hamas leaders on stakes and line them up on the Israel-Gaza border.”
He also Israel should abandon “the myth of a two-state solution ” — with a Palestinian state alongside Israel — if it wants, which drew cheers.
Though the crowd of about 1,000 coalition donors was not waring red yarmulkes with the word “Trump,” as in years past, their support of him was on display early. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who has made criticizing Trump central to his campaign, took the stage and was met with immediate boos.
The organization’s longtime benefactor, billionaire casino mogul and GOP megadonor Sheldon Adelson, became a big backer of Trump and implored coalition members to support Trump in 2016.
Adelson died in 2021. His widow, Miriam Adelson, has remained a major party donor but has pledged to stay neutral in the primary.
Many of the candidates criticized President Joe Biden, especially for a $6 billion transfer to Iran as part of a deal to release five U.S. citizens detained in Iran, which administration officials insist had not been spent.
Biden made a wartime visit to Israel this month to show support for the Israelis while also trying to blunt the war from expanding into to a broader regional conflict. Back in the U.S., Biden has asked Congress for billions of dollars in military assistance for Israel and Ukraine, linking the wars as larger global threats and that stopping Hamas and Russia are important for America’s national security.
In their remarks, most of the candidates pledged robust support for Israel. Few touched on Ukraine.
Ramaswamy, who has at times criticized U.S. aid to Israel, said he personally funded a 200-seat charter flight to get Americans out of Israel, similar to the actions a rival, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, had his state take.
Ramaswamy drew boos when he said America’s job “is to be strong at home, to mind our own affairs, to avoid foreign military entanglements that do not relate directly to our homeland here.”
Scott called the actions of Hamas “evil personified” and spoke about his work in the Senate on antisemitism legislation. He accused liberal politicians of failing to speak up enough about the marginalization and oppression of Jewish Americans.
When Scott brought up U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., the crowd booed. The lone Palestinian American in Congress has called for a cease-fire and reevalution of U.S. military aid to Israel over concerns it could be used to commit war crimes. She has been widely criticized by members of both parties who say she hasn’t explicitly faulted Hamas for the attack.
Scott said of Democrat: “They would rather embrace antisemitism within their ranks than upset their liberal base.”
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World
Ferry tickets to Capri were temporarily halted due emergency
![Ferry tickets to Capri were temporarily halted due emergency](https://static.euronews.com/articles/stories/08/52/30/58/1200x675_cmsv2_02c36f0f-53d1-5ef6-bc15-6bfbd3ca2dfa-8523058.jpg)
Thousands of keen island-hoppers had to remain on Italian mainland as the mayor of one of the country’s most popular islands, Capri, temporarily banned tourists.
A water emergency prompted the mayor of one of Italy’s most popular islands, Capri, to order a halt to the arrival of tourists on Saturday. The move was prompted by a water crisis that has deprived some areas of any water supply.
Mayor Paolo Falco said that without a water supply, it is impossible to guarantee essential services to “thousands of people” who travel to the island daily during the tourist season.
“The health and hygiene situation is explosive, we have taken our countermeasures and activated the crisis unit and issued a restrictive order,” he said.
The emergency was caused by a failure in the mainland’s water system that provides vital supplies to the famous island.
At the moment water is still being supplied to most of Capri, but some isolated areas of the upper municipality of Anacapri are already dry. Only local reservoirs supply the network, which in the absence of supplies from the mainland risks being run out.
Meanwhile, tanks are expected to reach the island to support essential services that require water.
The Mayor’s order was notified shortly after 9am causing an immediate stop to boat crossings.
The move has created long lines of passengers at the ticket offices at the ports of the southern city of Naples, the departing point for most ferries to Capri.
Ferries and hydrofoils that had already departed for Capri were contacted by radio by the maritime authorities, which ordered them to return to the mainland.
World
No fairytale return to Germany for Lewandowski
![No fairytale return to Germany for Lewandowski](https://www.reuters.com/resizer/v2/B3W3YESAUVN3TNAHNXJ2WV3E6E.jpg?auth=ba6af687600504b71b5c18c7dc2760381485b1aad725fecd9e007d3e62fe3c52&height=1005&width=1920&quality=80&smart=true)
World
Medical intern surprises would-be sexual abuser with hidden talent: 'Those lessons saved my life'
![Medical intern surprises would-be sexual abuser with hidden talent: 'Those lessons saved my life'](https://static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/06/thai-medical-intern.gif)
Thai medical intern fights off drunken male nurse
A petite Thai medical intern uses Muay Thai kicks to fight off a drunken male nurse assaulting her in a hospital. Petcharaporn Phadungjai, 22, said she was working a nightshift when the colleague crept up behind her and groped her. (via ViralPress)
A medical intern in Thailand fought off a drunk nurse who tried to grope her one night, busting out fighting skills that helped her kick her would-be assaulter to the curb.
“I have been doing Muay Thai boxing since I was a kid,” Petcharaporn Phadungjai, 22, told reporters. “I know how to kick, knee and punch someone. I know how to wrestle with them. It was my instinctive reaction to protect myself.”
“I’m lucky my grandfather taught me self-defense skills when I was a young girl,” she added. “Those lessons saved my life.”
CCTV footage from around midnight shows the 30-year-old male nurse approaching Petcharaporn from behind as she picked up some food before leaving for the night. He first circles behind her as though just wandering around the area aimlessly before turning and reaching for her.
ANIMAL CARETAKERS IN THAILAND ‘SHOCKED’ AFTER SURPRISE BIRTH OF RARE TWIN ELEPHANTS
Petcharaporn Phadungjai, a 22-year-old medical intern in Thailand, fought off a would-be sexual abuser with Muay Thai. (ViralPress)
As soon as the nurse’s arms wrap around the intern, she grabs him and drives him back towards the far wall. He keeps a strong grip on her, but as soon as she faces him, she drives her knee into his groin, giving herself a chance to pull free.
Once separated, she kicks him again, striking him in the stomach before setting into a defensive stance and yelling at him to back off.
DOZENS ARRESTED AS THAI POLICE DISMANTLE CRIME NETWORK THAT FACILITATED LONG-TERM STAYS FOR FOREIGNERS
![Medical intern assault](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/06/1200/675/viralpress_girl_power__8_of_33_.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
A petite Thai medical intern used Muay Thai kicks to fight off a drunk male nurse assaulting her in a hospital. Speaking out publicly for the first time since the incident, Petcharaporn Phadungjai, 22 (pictured) said she was working a nightshift when the colleague crept up behind her and groped her in Samut Prakan, Thailand. But he was unaware that her hobby is Muay Thai boxing, and she kneed him in the crotch then kicked him in the stomach to subdue the alleged attacker.
The hospital reported the incident to the police and fired the nurse as allegations that he had similarly harassed other female interns emerged, ViralPress reported.
Petcharaporn said she had ordered dinner but could not pick it up herself, so the nurse, who was drinking at a neighboring food stall, offered to bring it to her. She had to go to the general ward, because men are not allowed in the women’s ward.
THAI TOWN OVERRUN BY WILD MONKEYS LAUNCHES CAPTURE AND RELOCATION OPERATION
![Bangkok tournament fighters](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/06/1200/675/GettyImages-2064214207-scaled.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
Muay Thai fighters warm up ahead of a Rajadamnern World Series Muay Thai tournament at Rajadamnern Muay Thai Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand on March 9, 2024. (Valeria Mongelli/Anadolu via Getty Images)
“When he arrived, he told me to scan the QR code to pay for the food,” Petcharaporn said. “I placed the phone on the desk, and that’s when he grabbed me from behind.”
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She alleged that the nurse had flirted with her during her internship, often calling her “darling” or indicating he liked her, but she had treated it as teasing. She also revealed that she feared that he would try to rape her if she didn’t fight him off.
Thailand suffers a significant sexual violence problem, with at least seven women sexually assaulted or abused per day, according to a report from the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand (NHRC).
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