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Anthony Albanese presented Boris Johnson with a South Sydney Rabbitohs jacket during the pair’s “breakfast meeting” held on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Spain.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese gifted his UK counterpart Boris Johnson with a jacket from his beloved South Sydney Rabbitohs as the two leaders met face-to-face for the first time since May’s Federal Election.
Mr Albanese presented Mr Johnson with the jacket as the pair held a “breakfast meeting” on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Madrid, Spain.
The Australian leader said he discussed the new trilateral defence and security pact between Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom with Mr Johnson.
“I spoke about AUKUS and our support for AUKUS, as well the Australia UK Free Trade Agreement which we hope to come into effect later this year, but also the important relations that we have between our two nations,” Mr Albanese told reporters.
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Mr Johnson had expressed his gratitude for the support Australia has given to Ukraine, which has included $285 million in military equipment and $65 million of humanitarian support.
“What a wonderful thing it is to see you here in NATO. What a progressive development for our alliance,” he said as the pair shook hands and took photos.
“Thank you particularly for the incredible strength that Australia has shown in Ukraine. You’ve really stepped up to the plate.”
The meeting with Mr Johnson was a number of discussions Mr Albanese held with world leaders while in Madrid for the summit, which he has been attending after Australia was invited as an Enhanced Opportunities Partner.
Mr Albanese has also spoken with the prime ministers of Belgium and Spain, the Secretary General of NATO, the presidents of the European Commission and European Council and had a “very constructive discussion” with French President Emmanuel Macron.
“Last night was a real opportunity for Australia to engage in a less than formal setting with a range of people from President Macron, President Biden, Olaf Scholz, a range of the leaders who were there,” he said.
“I took the opportunity to talk about Australia’s national interest, to talk about our different plans. One of the things that is clear to me is that the whole world has noticed that Australia has a different position on climate change.
“What that does is give Australia a seat at the global table of opportunity and I intend to seize that opportunity.”
While in Spain for the NATO summit, Mr Albanese lashed out at China for their failure to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“What we saw is prior to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, we saw a without limits partnership between Russia and China,” he said.
“We’ve seen a failure of China to condemn any of the Russian aggression that has occurred against Ukraine.
“China must look at what is happening and look at the resolve that is there from throughout the world and should be condemning Russia’s actions.”
Meanwhile, NATO for the first time declared China a “challenge” ahead of its expansion after formally inviting two nations to join the alliance – Sweden and Finland.
DURHAM – Duke softball head coach Marissa Young has announced the hiring of four-time national champion Sydney Romero as an assistant coach.
Romero will serve as the team’s hitting and infield coach.
“Who better to help take our program to the next level than someone who has won two national championships as a player and two more as a coach than Sydney Romero,” Young said. “She is one of the brightest young coaches that embodies our core values, is passionate about player development and brings a championship mindset as a proven winner. I know Sydney is going to have an immediate impact on our players and I am thrilled they get to learn from one of the best to play the game. We look forward to welcoming Sydney to Durham.”
Romero joins the program after serving as a graduate assistant coach at her alma mater, the University of Oklahoma, for the past two seasons, following her prolific collegiate career.
“I am really excited for this opportunity to working alongside Coach Young,” Romero said. “I am so appreciative to be a part of this prestigious university. I can’t wait to represent this program and get to work. Go Duke!”
As a graduate assistant at Oklahoma, Romero helped the program win back-to-back national titles, with the latest coming last month. Oklahoma’s staff was named the 2022 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division I National Coaching Staff of the Year, after going 59-3 overall on the season.
In addition to serving as a graduate assistant, Romero has continued to play softball professionally, competing with Athletes Unlimited since 2020. Prior to her time with AU, Romero was the third overall pick in the 2019 National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) Draft by the USSSA Pride, where she was named to the 2019 All-NPF Team.
A highly accomplished collegiate athlete, Romero made waves in her time as a Sooner, earning two first team All-America selections and winning two national championships in 2016 and 2017. Romero was named the 2019 Big 12 Player of the Year and was a top-three finalist for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award in the same season. She finished her career as the program’s all-time leader in at-bats and doubles.
A native of San Diego, Calif., Romero recently finished her master’s degree in adult and higher education with an emphasis in intercollegiate athletics administration, from Oklahoma. Romero also earned her undergraduate degree from Oklahoma, majoring in criminology. Romero comes from an athletic family, as her sister Sierra was a three-time softball All-American at Michigan, and her brother Michael is set to begin his collegiate baseball career at LSU in the fall.
To stay up to date with Blue Devils softball, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching “https://goduke.com/news/2022/7/1/DukeSOFTBALL”.
#GoDuke
Saint Paul police said late Saturday night that officers were involved with the shooting and that the suspect was dead.
Dispatch audio recordings show that police were called to investigate a report about a man with a machete in an apartment building on the first floor.
The police arrived quickly and surrounded the building.
Paramedics and additional squads were called to the scene.
SPPD reports that the man threatened a group of people in the apartment building with a knife.
SPPD reports that officers found the man in the first floor hallway and discovered the knife still in his hands. Officers tried to get the man to drop his knife but he “advanced toward” them.
According to the department, one officer used a taser on the man and another officer fired shots at him. The man was struck several times according to EMS radio dispatches. Audio revealed that officers started CPR and were able move the knife away from him. The man was declared dead by paramedics.
The officers were wearing body cameras that had been activated at the moment. The release of these recordings is not yet known. No officers were hurt.
Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension confirmed that agents responded to the “use of force incident” and are now investigating the shooting as standard procedure.
According to the Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office, Yia Xiong (65), was killed and taken into custody. According to the Minnesota BCA, he died from multiple gunshot wounds.
SPPD officer Abdirahman Dahir has been identified as the officer that fired his department rifle. He has one year of experience in law enforcement. According to the BCA, Officer Noushue Cha used his Taser during this incident. He has one year of law enforcement expertise.
MINNEAPOLIS — Winter is returning to Minnesota after a warm February. According to the National Weather Service, more than 12 inches of snow are possible in the Twin Cities metro area by Wednesday.
A winter storm watch was issued for the following Minnesota and Wisconsin counties:
Douglas, Todd, Morrison, Mille Lacs, Kanabec, Stearns, Benton, Sherburne, Isanti, Chisago, Wright, Hennepin, Anoka, Ramsey, Washington, Carver, Scott, Dakota, Le Sueur, Rice, Goodhue, Waseca, Steele, Freeborn, Polk, Barron, Rusk, St. Croix, Pierce, Dunn, Pepin, Chippewa, and Eau Claire.
The storm will arrive in two rounds. Tuesday night is the first.
On Thursday, temperatures will fall below zero.
Travel could prove difficult or impossible. Visibility could be significantly reduced in areas where there is blowing snow. The NWS warns that hazardous conditions could affect morning and evening commutes.
“Frostbite could be caused by cold winds as low as 20 below zero in 30 minutes on exposed skin.”
Here’s the exact NWS forecast for the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport.
Monday: There is a chance for snow to fall before 2pm. Then, there will be rain and snow between 2pm-4pm. After 4pm, there will be a slight chance for snow. Cloudy with a high of 36. It is breezy with a south breeze 5-10 mph, shifting to west 15-20 mph in afternoon. Winds could gust up to 35 mph. The chance of precipitation is half. A new accumulation of snow less than half an inch is possible.
Monday Night: Partly cloudy with a low of 12. Breezy with a west wind between 20 and 25 mph. This will decrease to 10 to 15mph after midnight. Winds can gust up to 40 mph.
Tuesday: There is a 40% chance of snow falling after noon. High near 23 degrees. There are increasing clouds. West-northwest wind 5-10 mph becoming east by the afternoon.
Tuesday Night: Snow. Lows around 18. Winds will be northeast at 10 to 20 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. 90% chance of precipitation New snow accumulations of 3-7 inches are possible.
Wednesday: Snow mostly after noon It is possible to see patches of blowing snow. Highs near 25. Windy with a northeasterly wind 20-30 mph and gusts up to 45 mph. There is a 80% chance of precipitation. Possible new snow accumulations of 2 to 4 inches
Wednesday Night: Snow. Sometimes the snow could be very heavy. There will be a lot of snow blowing, especially after 5am. Lows around 14. Windy with a northeasterly wind between 20 and 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph. There is a 100% chance of precipitation.
Thursday: Snow, mostly before noon. Sometimes, the snow could be very heavy. Broadly blowing snow, especially before 11 am. Near 18. Highs near 18. The chance of precipitation is 100%
Thursday Night: Partly cloudy with a low of -6 Northwest wind 5-15 mph
Friday: Partly sunny with a high of 15. West wind 5-10 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
Friday Night: There is a 20% chance of snow. Cloudy with a low of 10. Southerly wind 10 mph.
Saturday: Sunny with a high of 29. The afternoon will see a southwest wind of 10 mph, then a westerly shift to the south.
Saturday Night: Partly cloudy with a low of 13. West wind 10-15 mph
Sunday: Sunny with a high of 28. West wind 10-15 mph
Witnesses told WCCO earlier this week that the victim of Saturday’s shooting lunged at officers and children with a machete with a sixteen-inch blade. It took place in an apartment complex on the West 7th Street area of St. Paul.
Axel Henry, St. Paul Chief Police Officer said that any loss of life was tragic. We know that there are no words to ease their pain. But we hope these videos will help them to begin to understand the situation.
It happened while a children’s party was taking place in the lobby. The man was a resident of the building. Yia Xiong was his name.
Melvin Carter, the Mayor of St. Paul, stated earlier this week that he would release the body-worn cameras from officers who shot and killed a man on Saturday night.
Mark Ross, president of the Police Union, says that officers were heroic.
Ross stated, “This was a perfectly justified shooting and our officers faced serious danger to protect themselves and other.”
The investigation has been taken over by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
On Wednesday, the BCA identified the two officers involved as Abdirahman Dahir who fired his rifle and Noushue Cha who used his taser.
Nelsie Yang, a St. Paul councilmember, joined other Hmong members outside the St. Paul Police Department on Friday afternoon. She asks if there was enough done to de-escalate this situation.
Yang said, “He was already inside that enclosed room.” Yang said that officers could have allowed for a little more time between the two, perhaps even 15 minutes.
Yang also asked if there had been a break in communication.
Yang asked Yang if there were any language barriers and if so, was there an officer who could close the gap.
Chief Henry of the Police says that the officers followed protocol. However, it is too early to draw any conclusions.
Police said Wednesday that a 30-year-old woman died in a car accident Monday in St. Paul because she was riding in a stolen vehicle.
Regions Hospital is treating the driver of the vehicle for injuries sustained in the collision at Cretin Avenue/Mississippi River Boulevard. According to Sgt. Mike Ernster, a spokesperson for the police.
Ernster stated that officers suspect impaired drug use in the crash. Randi Lee Stone, a Minneapolis resident, was killed at the scene.
On February 8, 2008, the vehicle Chase was driving and Stone was in it was taken from St. Paul.
Ernster stated that the driver of the other vehicle involved in the collision was uninjured. The collision occurred Monday around 4 p.m.
After a celebration of life, a local chef was shot to death.
Larry Jiles Jr., aged 34, has been cooking in the Twin Cities for more than a decade. Chef Hot Hands was his gourmet take-out restaurant, and it was also his nickname
Jiles was one of five people shot Saturday around 5:15 p.m. Police say there was an altercation in Frogtown Square’s parking lot, which is home to businesses and apartments at Dale Street and University Avenue.
Police said that many people attended the celebration of life held in the community room. After which, there was an altercation, and shots were fired. As of Monday morning, no one was in custody.
Chanel Jiles, his sister, posted the following on GoFundMe: Jiles was “murdered in a senselessly brutal act of gun violence.” He will be brought to justice. We are grateful for all your calls and messages. We are sure Larry loved many people, and he loved us back.”
Jiles was born in St. Paul, and raised in Hugo. According to Jiles’ business website, his “first experience with food was cooking in the kitchen together with his father Chef Jive (and they really enjoyed the creative process) of cooking.” His restaurant was located in Centerville, Anoka County.
Quad Area Chamber Of Commerce, which represents businesses in White Bear Lake Circle Pines Circle Pines Centerville, Lexington, Lino Lakes and Lexington, expressed their sorrow at Jiles’ death, calling it “another loss to senseless gun violence.”
The chamber posted on Facebook that Jiles “brought energy, heart and delicious food to this community,”
The identity of the man who was killed in the shooting has not been revealed. A man who was shot in the incident was still in critical condition. A woman was stable and another woman was receiving treatment for non-life-threatening injuries.
Brandis Junton wells confessed to investigators that he had “just beat him up to the draw” after fatally shooting his neighbor.
Wells made the same claim Tuesday, when he was given the opportunity to speak at Jarrell Ray Kirk’s sentencing in St. Paul’s Frogtown for his 2021 murder.
Wells stated that “This wasn’t a typical crime,” Ramsey County District Judge Thomas Gilligan Jr. said. “I don’t want to make it seem like I’m the victim. But if I hadn’t done what I did I wouldn’t be here.”
Gilligan refused Wells’ request for a lower durational departure from state sentencing guidelines. Instead, the 35-year old was sentenced to slightly more than 11 year imprisonment on a second-degree murder conviction without intent.
Gilligan claimed evidence that Wells provoked Kirk, 31, before they had a fistfight. According to Brooke Borkenhagen, Wells’ attorney, Gilligan said that there was no evidence Kirk was the aggressor.
In December’s plea agreement, Wells was allowed to have a second-degree murder charge dropped and his attorney be eligible for a shorter sentence.
Wells, who was not convicted of any felony, was sentenced to between 128 and 150 month in prison. His attorney argued for 90 month, while Isaiah Ellison, the prosecutor, argued 135 months or just over 11 year.
Kirk and Wells lived in the same duplex at 500 Block of Blair Avenue. Officers arrived at the scene to find Kirk shot on the sidewalk after multiple 911 calls regarding a shooting.
Kirk’s father informed officers that the shooter was in the duplex.
Kirk was declared dead at Regions Hospital. An autopsy revealed that he died of a single gunshot injury to his upper left arm, which then entered his torso.
Police said that the scene was chaotic with many people present. The following scenario was uncovered by investigators that led to the shooting.
Kirk lived upstairs with his father, brothers, and girlfriend. Kirk was in conflict with Wells after his ex-girlfriend left him following a long relationship. According to the charges, multiple witnesses claimed that Kirk’s ex-girlfriend had antagonized him and incited conflict between them.
Kirk and his ex-girlfriend got into an argument the night before the shooting.
Wells stated that he didn’t like Kirk’s loud music and went downstairs to cut the power to Kirk’s bedroom. Kirk was able to take his firearm downstairs because he was allowed to carry it.
Kirk and Wells started to fight, and Kirk was punched by Wells and other young men downstairs, according to the charges.
Kirk’s father claimed that he heard gunshots, and ran downstairs to check on him. According to the charges, he told police that he witnessed Wells telling Kirk to shoot him. Wells fled out the back door and ran back into the duplex.
Wells was on the loose for five days before surrendering to police.
According to charges, Wells stated that he didn’t intend to kill the dude and that he thought he would live.
Judge Gilligan stated Tuesday that Wells had “precipitated the face-to-face fighting” by cutting off power to Kirk’s unit. Gilligan pointed out that Wells claimed to police that he and a girlfriend planned to flee to avoid trouble. Gilligan stated that Wells did instead do something that caused Mr. Kirk to get armed.
‘Shining light’
Kirk was a member of International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Local 13. His older brother John Kirk stated that he had just passed the journeyman Class B exam. Ellison read his victim impact statement.
Kirk stated, “He was the hardest working of all of us.”
Molly Diers, president IATSE Local 13 said Jarrell Kirk was “a joy to work with” as well as “up and coming within our union.”
“We all expected he would have an extended career,” Diers said, describing him as a “shining star”.
Ruth Yarbrough, Ruth’s grandmother, also made an impact statement. She said that her heart was full of love and honor for her grandson.
“He is my grandson forever and that will never go away from me.” Yarbrough stated, “And I pray for You,” directing her comments to Wells.
