After a year of turmoil, the Charlotte Hornets have the opportunity to make a decisive step forward. With lucrative draft capital available to spend and young talent in place, this offseason presents a real chance to start the next phase of the rebuild. The choices made in the next few weeks will shape not only the 2025-2026 season but also the course of the team as a whole. Here is what is on the table and what the Hornets must consider as they formulate their next step. Trade and Sign-and-Trade Possibilities Hornets might be interested in speeding up the rebuilding…
Author: Oki Bin Oki
A sprawling budget bill in the US Senate could cut healthcare for nearly 12 million Americans and add nearly $3.3 trillion in new debt, according to new estimates. The assessement from the Congressional Budget Office, a non-partisan federal agency, is all but certain to complicate Republicans’ efforts to pass Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” in the coming days. It narrowly cleared a preliminary vote Saturday. Party leaders scrambled to win over lawmakers concerned about debt and the bill’s healthcare cuts, among other issues. One critic, Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina, announced Sunday that he would not seek reelection after…
On the wall of the League of Social Democrats office, the Chinese characters for freedom are spelt out with court admission slips. Members of the party take turns speaking into a microphone connected to a loudspeaker. They stand in front of a banner that reads “rather be ashes than dust”, written in Chinese. Founded close to 20 years ago, the party is known as the last protest group in Hong Kong. “The red lines are now everywhere,” Chan Po Ying, the chair of the party tells the BBC. “Our decision to disband was because we were facing a lot of…
National Super League (NSL) champions Nairobi United were crowned FKF Cup winners after a spirited 2-1 victory over Premier League giants Gor Mahia on Sunday, completing a remarkable domestic double and earning a ticket to the CAF Confederation Cup. The newly promoted Kenyan Premier League side showed their intent early in the match, breaking the deadlock in the first half. This sparked a brief protests from the Gor funs prompting police to intervene. Frank Ouya capitalized on a defensive lapse from a throw-in, latching onto a loose ball at the edge of the box to make a bicycle kick strike…
Three years since Thailand became the first country in Asia to decriminalize cannabis, the government this week imposed new rules designed to rein in the country’s “green rush.” As of Thursday, customers need a doctor’s prescription to buy cannabis — effectively restricting consumption of the plant to medical and health purposes only. Thailand’s public health minister told CNN on Wednesday he hopes to eventually recriminalize cannabis as a narcotic, in what would be a major reversal from Thailand’s liberal approach since declassification, which saw a boom of dispensaries and weed cafes opening across the country, particularly in tourist areas. “This…
Thousands of protesters have gathered in the Thai capital Bangkok, calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra after a phone call she had with the former Cambodian leader Hun Sen was leaked. In the call, which was about a recent incident on their border, she addressed Hun Sen as “uncle” and said a Thai military commander handling the dispute “just wanted to look cool and said things that are not useful”. The call has sparked public anger. Paetongtarn apologised, but defended the call as a “negotiation technique”. Before leaving to visit flood-hit northern Thailand, Paetongtarn told reporters it…
South Africa’s Democratic Alliance (DA), a member of the ruling unity government, said Saturday that it was withdrawing from a “national dialogue” grouping aimed at tackling the problems dogging the country. The announcement was a fresh blow to the government of national unity (GNU), in which the DA is the second-largest party, just days before it marks its first anniversary. President Cyril Ramaphosa, of the African National Congress (ANC), launched the “national dialogue” this month to address the country’s top issues, from high unemployment to crime. The initiative has been criticised by the DA and others, with DA leader John…
The lavish wedding party of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and TV presenter Lauren Sanchez concludes this evening in Venice with the main gala event. But as their celebrity guests step into water taxis from their luxury hotels, paparazzi poised, some Venetians are gathering to protest against the big event. Their causes are varied, from locals opposed to over-tourism in a delicate city, to activists protesting against climate change and capitalism. While they plan to march on Saturday evening, plans to launch themselves into the city’s canals with inflatable crocodiles and block the wedding guests’ passage have been dropped. Spotted heading…
Senate Republicans are racing to pass a budget bill that is pivotal to President Donald Trump’s second-term agenda ahead of a self-imposed 4 July deadline. Party leadership have been twisting arms for an initial vote on the “Big Beautiful Bill” by Saturday afternoon, following the release of its latest version – all 940 pages – shortly after midnight. Rank-and-file Republicans have been divided over how much to cut from welfare programmes in order to cover the cost of extending some $3.8tn (£2.8tn) in Trump tax breaks. The sprawling tax and spending measure narrowly passed the House of Representatives two weeks…
Police in Dagoretti South arrested one person and recovered an AK-47 rifle allegedly stolen during Wednesday’s Gen Z protests. The man arrested, who is said to be the brother of the sought-after suspect, was nabbed after officers from Kabete Police Station and DCI detectives raided a homestead in Kirigu, Mutuini, on Friday. The police say the gun, which is among the five firearms stolen from the Kingongo Police Post after it was looted and set on fire by criminals during the chaos, was found under a table. Police said the escaped suspect is believed to have vandalised a Cooperative Bank…
President William Ruto met the country’s top security chiefs and administrators and directed them to ensure the lives and property of all Kenyans are protected. He also directed the security chiefs to bring to book all those who perpetrated heinous crimes, including looting, robbery, rape and arson, during riots earlier this week and ensure they are prosecuted. Hosting regional and county security and National Government Administration bosses at State House, Nairobi, on Saturday June 28, he said the chaos cannot continue. “If those behind the riots that led to looting and destruction of people’s property are not arrested and prosecuted,…
Understanding Medicare Premiums Medicare is a crucial program for millions of Americans, providing essential healthcare coverage for individuals aged 65 and older, as well as for certain younger people with disabilities. While Medicare helps alleviate the burden of healthcare costs, it is not entirely free. Beneficiaries are required to pay premiums, deductibles, and other out-of-pocket expenses. One common question that arises during tax season is whether these Medicare premiums can be deducted on your tax return, potentially easing the financial load. Tax Deductions and Healthcare Expenses Before delving into the specifics of Medicare premiums, it’s important to understand the broader…
Warehouses are the backbone of any supply chain, serving as the hub where goods are received, stored, and dispatched. As businesses grow and product lines expand, the need for efficient warehouse management becomes critical. Optimizing warehouse space is not just about squeezing in more inventory; it’s about improving efficiency, reducing costs, and enhancing overall productivity. In this article, we will explore seven practical tips to optimize your warehouse space effectively. Analyze and Plan Your Space Before making any changes, start with a thorough analysis of your current warehouse layout. Evaluate the space utilization, the flow of goods, and the accessibility…
Key Takeaways Proactively managing business risks helps prevent costly disruptions and supports longevity. Small businesses must address both physical and digital threats, including cyberattacks, theft, and natural disasters, to ensure their security and resilience. Comprehensive strategies encompass contingency planning, employee training, and the optimal combination of risk transfer tools, including insurance. Identifying the Most Pressing Risks Small Businesses Face Small business owners must constantly juggle competing demands, from managing finances and growing their customer base to navigating an increasingly complex risk landscape. What is often overlooked, though, is the unique web of risks that every company faces based on its…
Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo signed a peace deal in Washington aimed at ending decades of devastating conflict between the two neighbours, and potentially granting the US lucrative mineral access. The deal demands the “disengagement, disarmament and conditional integration” of armed groups fighting in eastern DR Congo. Further details are scant and previous peace deals in the region have failed – yet that has not deterred the US and Congolese presidents from framing this as a generational victory. “This is a great day for Africa and… a great day for the world!,” wrote President Donald Trump on his…