V&A storehouse lets visitors explore 5,000 years of creativity
London, June 9: The V&A East Storehouse, a new branch of London’s Victoria and Albert Museum, is redefining public access to cultural collections. Opened in East London’s Olympic Park, the 16,000-square-metre facility offers visitors the chance to explore over 250,000 objects, 350,000 books, and 1,000 archives—many of which are usually hidden in museum storage. Uniquely, the public can interact with much of the collection, and even touch items through a booking service.
Unlike traditional museums that display only a small portion of their holdings, the Storehouse embraces transparency and inclusivity. Through its “Order an Object” service, visitors can book one-on-one viewings of specific artifacts—ranging from a Vivienne Westwood mohair sweater to a 1954 Balenciaga evening gown. Most items can be handled, except those that are fragile or hazardous, like Victorian wallpaper containing arsenic. The initiative has drawn everyone from fashion students and researchers to wedding planners and casual visitors.
Designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro, the architects behind New York’s High Line, the Storehouse also features space for oversized items rarely displayed elsewhere, such as a Mughal colonnade, a Picasso-designed stage curtain, and a Frank Lloyd Wright office. The Storehouse is part of a growing cultural district developed after the 2012 Olympics and has employed dozens of local residents from surrounding underserved neighborhoods.
The museum seeks to offer an open, working environment—conversations are welcome, forklifts beep in the background, and behind-the-scenes conservation work is on display through viewing galleries and exhibits. A David Bowie Centre, housing the musician’s archive, is also set to open in September.
In response to increasing scrutiny over the colonial origins of many museum artifacts, senior curator Georgia Haseldine said the Storehouse is committed to transparency. Exhibits address the provenance of items, museum practices, and efforts to democratize access to the national collection.
Haseldine emphasized the core principle behind the project: “This whole collection belongs to all of us.” By allowing greater access and interaction, the V\&A East Storehouse challenges the traditional museum model, turning storage into an immersive cultural experience and giving the public unprecedented insight into 5,000 years of global creativity. (AP)

KHAN YOUNIS, June 9: At least six Palestinians were killed and nearly 100 injured on Monday after Israeli forces and allied local gunmen fired on a crowd heading to a food distribution center in Rafah, southern Gaza, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Witnesses said the gunmen, linked to a local militia called the Popular Forces, opened fire after the crowd threw stones. The shooters then retreated into an Israeli military zone. The Israeli military did not immediately comment, though it recently acknowledged supporting local armed groups opposed to Hamas.
The incident is the latest in a series of shootings near food distribution centers run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an Israeli- and U.S.-backed group. Since the rollout of this controversial aid system last month, at least 127 people have been killed and hundreds wounded. Israel and the U.S. say the system is designed to bypass Hamas, accused of diverting aid, but the UN and major aid groups reject it as inadequate and dangerous.
GHF denies working with the Popular Forces but warns that straying from military-designated roads to the aid centers is extremely risky. The Rafah site was closed Monday due to crowd chaos. Eyewitnesses reported masked gunmen in 4×4 vehicles firing directly into the crowd. Several victims were treated at Nasser Hospital with gunshot wounds, including some to the head and neck.
The violence underscores the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The Israeli-Egyptian blockade, imposed since Hamas seized power in 2007, tightened after the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people and led to the abduction of 251 hostages.
Israel’s military response has killed over 54,900 Palestinians, mostly women and children, displaced 90% of Gaza’s population, and devastated infrastructure, leaving the territory reliant on aid.
Israel initially sealed Gaza off completely in March but later allowed limited aid under international pressure. However, UN agencies report that restrictions and widespread looting have impeded aid delivery.
Efforts to broker a ceasefire remain deadlocked. Hamas demands a permanent ceasefire and Israeli withdrawal in exchange for releasing hostages. Israel vows to continue fighting until Hamas is defeated or disarmed.
Prime Minister Netanyahu has stated Israel intends to maintain long-term control over Gaza and encourage what he calls “voluntary emigration” of its population—a plan widely condemned as forced displacement by Palestinians and the international community. (AP)

KYIV, June 9: Russia launched 479 drones and 20 missiles at Ukraine in the largest overnight drone assault of the war, according to Ukraine’s air force.
The attack mainly targeted central and western regions.
Ukrainian air defenses claimed to have downed 277 drones and 19 missiles, with only 10 projectiles reportedly hitting their targets, injuring one person.
This aerial escalation coincides with Russia’s renewed offensive along eastern and northeastern front lines, which President Zelenskyy described as “very difficult.”
Ukraine faces manpower shortages and increasing uncertainty over Western, particularly U.S., military support.
On June 1, Ukraine launched a major drone strike on Russian air bases, prompting retaliatory Russian attacks, including one on a Ukrainian air base in Dubno.
Ukraine also claimed to have struck two Russian fighter jets in Nizhny Novgorod, though Russia denied damage. Peace talks in Istanbul yielded no breakthrough beyond prisoner exchanges and repatriation of the dead.
On Monday, Russia and Ukraine exchanged more prisoners of war in a staggered release. Many freed Ukrainian soldiers were in poor health due to lack of food and medical care.
Over 200 Ukrainian POWs have died in captivity since the war began. In Chernihiv, relatives waited anxiously to see if loved ones were among the released.
Ukraine accused Russia of withholding names of over 1,000 fallen Ukrainian soldiers, while Russia claimed Ukraine failed to collect bodies it had offered.
A body exchange is expected to begin this week, according to Ukraine’s intelligence chief.
Russia has continued to strike civilian areas using Shahed drones, contributing to over 12,000 civilian deaths, per UN data. Ukraine’s long-range drone strikes persist, with Russia claiming it shot down 49 drones and reporting two hits on a military electronics plant in Chuvashia. (AP)

DHAKA, June 9: Bangladesh’s former president Abdul Hamid, who served two terms during deposed premier Sheikh Hasina’s regime, returned to the country after receiving medical treatment abroad.
His “secret departure” sparked protests in Bangladesh for being allowed to leave despite being accused in a murder case. Hamid arrived in Thailand on a Thai Airways flight and left the airport after completing required immigration formalities.
His quiet departure sparked loud protests, with leaders and activists of the student-led National Citizen Party (NCP) accusing authorities of allowing Hamid to flee despite being accused in a murder case.
Home Affairs Adviser Retd Lt Gen Jahangir Alam Chowdhury had vowed to step down if he failed to take punitive action against the officials involved, claiming he was unaware of the departure at the time.
Following the protests, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus’s interim government formed two inquiry committees, one of which comprised three advisers.
The authorities also suspended two police officers and withdrew another from his assignment in airport immigration on charges of “negligence of duty.”
During a routine visit to a police station in the capital, home adviser Chowdhury said that the question of Hamid’s arrest upon his arrival did not arise as there was no warrant against him.
An investigation into the case is underway, and Hamid would face legal actions if he were found guilty of committing any crime.
Media reports and sources close to Hamid said he was diagnosed with cancer and was getting treated in Bangkok. (PTI)

WASHINGTON, June 9: California Governor Gavin Newsom, a DeThe FBI has shifted its focus to combating violent crime, drug trafficking, and illegal immigration, aligning with President Donald Trump’s vision of a crackdown on illegal immigration, cartels, and transnational gangs.
The revised priority list on the FBI’s website places “Crush Violent Crime” at the top, bringing the bureau into alignment with the vision of his administration.
The Justice Department has disbanded an FBI-led task force on foreign influence and the bureau has moved to dissolve a key public corruption squad in its Washington field office.
Some former officials are concerned that the stepped-up focus on violent crime and immigration may deflect attention from more complex criminal and national security threats.
The FBI’s priority list also includes “Rebuild Public Trust” and “Fierce Organizational Accountability,” reflecting claims that the bureau has become politicized through its years of investigations of Trump.
The Trump administration sees the fight against transnational gangs as part of their counterterrorism mandate. (AP)

Newsom files lawsuit against Trump for guard deployment

LOS ANGELES, June 9: California Governor Gavin Newsom announced plans to sue President Donald Trump over the deployment of National Guard troops to Los Angeles without the state’s consent, calling the action illegal and a breach of state sovereignty.
Newsom condemned the federal government’s unilateral decision to send the Guard without consulting him, describing it as both unlawful and immoral.
The deployment came amid several days of protests against Trump’s immigration enforcement efforts.
The demonstrations began Friday after federal agents conducted immigration raids in Los Angeles, including the fashion district and Home Depot parking lots.
Protesters, many from immigrant communities, expressed outrage over the raids.
The protests quickly spread to nearby cities such as Paramount and Compton, which have large Latino populations.
Tensions escalated over the weekend, especially after about 300 National Guard troops were deployed to protect federal buildings, including a downtown detention center where protesters gathered.
Their presence fueled anger and fear among many residents. Protesters blocked the 101 Freeway, threw rocks, fireworks, and other objects at police, and set at least four self-driving Waymo cars on fire, producing thick smoke.
Police responded with tear gas, rubber bullets, and flash-bang grenades to disperse the crowds.
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) declared an unlawful assembly and made dozens of arrests, including individuals accused of throwing Molotov cocktails and ramming motorcycles into police lines.
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell admitted officers were overwhelmed by the scale and intensity of the protests but pushed back on claims from the Trump administration that local police failed to support federal agents.
McDonnell said his department had not been informed of the federal raids ahead of time and responded as quickly as possible once protests broke out.
Newsom, who was in Los Angeles meeting with officials, criticized Trump for escalating the situation unnecessarily.
He accused the president of instigating violence to justify a harsh crackdown and urged protesters to stay peaceful, warning that violence would only serve Trump’s political agenda.
Newsom mocked Trump for prematurely tweeting about the Guard deployment before the troops arrived and called him a “stone cold liar” for denying prior discussions about the deployment.
President Trump responded by demanding tougher law enforcement, calling for the arrest of masked protesters and saying violent individuals would not be tolerated.
He invoked a federal law allowing deployment of troops during rebellion or threats against U.S. authority.
The White House defended the Guard’s presence, saying it was necessary to restore order.
This deployment marks a rare federal intrusion into state authority, the last instance occurring in 1965 during civil rights protests.
The legal dispute highlights ongoing tensions between California and the federal government over immigration enforcement, state rights, and responses to civil unrest. (AP)