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Politics
Policy, power, and the news of the day.
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Republican senator denounces Trump’s ‘crazy, stupid’ claims about MMR vaccine safety
Outgoing Louisiana senator Bill Cassidy, a medical doctor, voted to confirm anti-vaccine activist RFK Jr as health secretary before speaking out Republican senator Bill Cassidy – a medical doctor who voted to confirm anti-vaccine activist Robert F Kennedy as federal health secretary in early 2025 – on Sunday denounced Donald Trump ’s “crazy, stupid” claims about the safety of the combined MMR vaccine for undermining faith in immunization. When Trump recently ordered changes to the recommended childhood vaccination schedule, with Kennedy by his side, the president called for two shots of the combined Measles, Mumps and Rubella vaccine to be scrapped in favor of two doses of three separate vaccines, claiming that the MMR shots are “sort of like a nuclear weapon” that could be “quite lethal”. Continue reading...
At least six people dead from days of storms and record flooding in Indiana
Four-year-old boy, two men and three women among those who died since storms began on 11 August, officials say Days of storms and flooding in Indiana left at least six people dead as flood waters peaked in Indianapolis’s White River – and rains were expected to ease in the state capital region and other parts of the state on Sunday. A four-year-old boy, two men and three women were among those who had died since the storms began on 11 August, state homeland security department spokesperson Liz Woods said. Continue reading...
Brazil’s Lula launches historic fourth term bid – but son of jailed Bolsonaro stands in his way
President, 80, vows to keep far-right from power as Flávio Bolsonaro tells supporters he will ‘fight this system’ Brazil’s leftwing president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, has launched his campaign for a historic fourth term and vowed that as long as he lived he would not allow the “shameless” right to return to power. Addressing a sea of supporters in São Bernardo do Campo, the industrial city where his political career began nearly half a century ago, the 80-year-old politician reminded voters of the chaos and violence that unfolded during the 2018-2022 presidency of his far-right predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, whose son, Flávio Bolsonaro, Lula will face in October’s presidential election. Continue reading...
‘It’s been very tough’: hope of progress in gruelling battle against south Wales wildfire
Efforts of emergency services and military in Blaenavon appear to be working but there are fears for the future More than three weeks after it began burning and two days after the military deployed to the area, there is hope that the huge wildfire on the hillside above the Ebbw valley village of Blaenavon may finally be coming under control. Emergency workers and soldiers described a gruelling battle against the deep-seated peat fire that has spread over 4,000 hectares (9,800 acres), putting lives, farmland and property at risk. Continue reading...
Tommy John, pitcher whose surgery changed baseball, dies at age of 83
John was first player to undergo pioneering operation New York Yankees pay tribute to four-time All-Star Tommy John, the namesake of a ligament-replacement surgery that paved a path to recovery for injured baseball players, has died. He was 83. TMZ.com reported that the pitcher died at his home in Florida, surrounded by his family, including his wife, Cheryl. John had recently been in hospice care. Continue reading...
Democrats demand answers from Trump on USS Abraham Lincoln conditions
Senator Ruben Gallego calls carrier’s months-long deployment a ‘deep problem’ as wellbeing concerns mount Democrats on Sunday intensified their demands for answers from the Trump administration over conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln as the aircraft carrier’s nearly nine-month deployment continued fueling concern over crew morale, mental health and living conditions. Ruben Gallego, a Democratic senator from Arizona, said on Sunday that problems aboard the Lincoln had kept mounting – and he blamed the carrier’s prolonged deployment on the unresolved war that Donald Trump started in February with Iran as well as lackluster leadership in general from the Republican president’s administration. Continue reading...
Todd Blanche declines to pledge independence from White House
US attorney general says no one in his role ‘should ever’ make this vow amid concern over Trump steering DoJ US attorney general Todd Blanche on Sunday declined to assure that the federal justice department he helms would always act independently of the White House and Donald Trump . “No, I’m not going to pledge that,” he said when asked about the topic by NBC’s Meet the Press host, Kristen Welker. “And no attorney general should ever pledge that.” Continue reading...
Water companies in England and Wales explore ‘surge pricing’ during drought
Suppliers could factor water scarcity into charges as part of Ofwat proposal to reduce consumption Water companies could be allowed to raise bills for customers during periods of drought under proposals being considered by the sector’s regulator for England and Wales. Suppliers would be permitted to factor “water scarcity” into bills as part of efforts to reduce consumption under Ofwat’s plans, which are being likened to surge pricing – the practice where private hire firms raise taxi fares at times of higher demand. Continue reading...
Arron Banks hired private investigators to dig into Conservative party chair
Revelation comes after it was disclosed that Reform UK backer had paid for spying on prominent journalist The businessman and Reform UK backer Arron Banks commissioned a private intelligence firm to dig into the Conservative party chair, in addition to having paid for an investigation into a prominent journalist. Banks, a former Reform UK candidate and leave campaign donor, appeared to confirm on Sunday that he was behind an investigation into Kevin Hollinrake. Continue reading...
Suspect in Virginia State University shooting found hiding in dorm closet
Suspect, 19, who is not enrolled at the university arrested in connection with shooting of five people, authorities say A young man suspected in connection with the shooting of five people on Saturday on the campus of Virginia State University (VSU) hid in a dormitory closet for more than 14 hours being found and arrested, according to authorities. The suspect – identified as 19-year-old Camron Harris – was found in Seward Hall on VSU’s campus at 4pm, local police Lt James Lamb said, according to the Virginia news outlet WTVR . The shooting occurred at about 1.30am on Saturday. Continue reading...
Nicola Jennings on Andy Burnham’s disposable barbecue ban – cartoon
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Greek island wildfire kills two people as helicopters called in to tackle Belgium forest blaze
Belgium battling biggest fire in more than a century as flames near German border and 600 people told to evacuate Two people have died in fires on the Greek island of Salamis as firefighting aircraft were called on to help tame the biggest blaze in Belgium in more than a century in the latest wave of wildfires in Europe. The bodies of two people were recovered from the Peristeria beach area of Salamison Sunday after two fires broke out on the island, a fire department spokesperson told AFP. Hundreds of people have been ordered to evacuate. Continue reading...
Nazi artefacts still being sold online years after trade outlawed across Australia
One seller says second world war memorabilia containing banned Nazi symbols is legal under exemptions to the laws Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Nazi artefacts bearing prohibited symbols are being openly sold in Australia three years after the federal government made it illegal to do so, with vendors saying they are doing so for “educational” reasons. The government in 2023 outlawed the display and trade of items bearing the Nazi Hakenkreuz (swastika) and double-sig rune that was the logo of the Schutzstaffel (SS), after multiple states passed similar laws that banned the display of Nazi symbols and the performance of the Nazi salute. Continue reading...
Australian health experts fear US vaccine scepticism is catching on as ‘anything Trump says filters through’
Australia records 3% fall in one-year-olds fully immunised against hepatitis B as downward trend continues, expert says Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Australian medical experts have warned a shift in child vaccination advice in the US is not grounded in science and could undo decades of public health advances. The US president, Donald Trump, signed an unprecedented executive order calling for American children to be vaccinated against fewer diseases, suggesting a link to autism despite no evidence. The official number of recommended immunisations for children would drop to 11, compared with 18 at the end of 2024. Continue reading...
The PM called Sally McManus a giant of the Labor movement. Now she just wants to go birding
After securing wage rises for low-paid workers, weathering death threats and working with three PMs – the ACTU secretary is ready for a break Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Sally McManus started her job as the country’s most powerful trade union leader amid howls of criticism. Shouted down for suggesting union members were right to break “unjust” industrial laws in a live TV interview, McManus quickly adjusted to the high decibel work of being secretary of the Australian Council of Trade Unions. Continue reading...
Europe’s tallest Virgin Mary statue unveiled in small Polish village
Hundreds watched the 56-metre monument’s consecration, including anti-communist leader Lech Wałęsa An enormous statue of the Virgin Mary that is believed to be Europe’s tallest was inaugurated on Saturday in a small Polish village, in the presence of the anti-communist leader Lech Wałęsa. Hundreds of people took part in the consecration of the monument, which towers 55.6 metres (182ft) over Konotopie in central Poland, a village of fewer than 150 people. Continue reading...
Logies 2026: Sam Pang wins gold and Sam Neill wins posthumous best actor at Australia’s TV awards
Neill won for his performance in legal thriller The Twelve: Cape Rock Killer, at a ceremony dominated by wins for the ABC Logies 2026 ceremony: the best moments and red carpet looks – in pictures Sam Neill has won a posthumous best actor award at Australia’s biggest television awards, the Logies, with comedian Sam Pang taking home the night’s top honour, the Gold Logie award for most popular personality. Neill, who died in July , won his posthumous Logie for best lead actor in a drama, for his performance in legal thriller The Twelve: Cape Rock Killer. His close friend, the actor Heather Mitchell, accepted the award on his behalf. Continue reading...
‘Awed by nature’: fans mourn California’s beloved Jackie the bald eagle, whose legacy soars on
Famous raptor helped livestream viewers in difficult moments, and inspired a conservation project at her lake home The bald eagle Jackie made her home on the shore of southern California’s Big Bear Lake for most of her 14 years. But her death earlier this week drew international attention. The Los Angeles Times described her as “arguably the world’s most famous bald eagle”. For years, millions of people tuned into a live stream of Jackie’s nest, watching her rear her eaglets, work out life with her mate, Shadow, and, perhaps most memorably, incubate her eggs while almost completely buried in snow. Continue reading...
‘Absolutely manic’: hot weather puts unprecedented pressure on Greater Manchester police
Force has seen busiest month in its history, with heatwaves putting added strain on criminal justice system On England’s hottest day of the year so far, Ashton-under-Lyne in Greater Manchester was thronging with pedestrians, many clutching ice-creams or cold drinks as they passed through the town centre. Officers from Greater Manchester police were also out in force, some in plainclothes, some stationed by a facial-recognition van, apprehending wanted suspects and stopping persons of interest. In total, officers made 54 arrests across the borough of Tameside as part of Operation Avro, GMP’s blitz on local crime which runs in a different district each month. Continue reading...
Interest rate dilemma for central banks as inflation rises but growth slows
The Federal Reserve, the ECB and the Bank of England appear unclear on how to tackle inflation amid the Iran war New UK cost of living crisis looms as rising energy bills lift inflation Inflation rates have been falling across the industrialised world, but fears that the Middle East war will raise oil prices means central banks are sitting on their hands when they should be raising interest rates to subdue inflationary pressures. The US Federal Reserve, the Bank of England and the European Central Bank are still smarting from the criticism of their inaction in 2022 when inflation soared above 10% in the UK and eurozone, and over 9% in the US. Continue reading...
‘She is a hero’: 13-year-old survivor of Michigan shooting spree called police
Girl who was shot four times in shooting spree that left six dead, including gunman, called 911 to say she had been shot A 13-year-old girl in Michigan survived being shot four times in a shooting spree that left six people dead – including the suspected attacker – and called emergency help herself shortly before investigators identified the gunman, according to a state police official and her family. Those actions made the teen a “hero”, said a relative of hers as well as two of the dead victims. The Associated Press contributed Continue reading...
Cambridge University defends its mental health support for Jason Arday
University says it continued to provide support after resignation of academic, who was found dead this week The University of Cambridge has defended its mental health support for the academic Jason Arday. The university said it had continued to provide Arday with extensive mental health support and security measures, including installing panic alarms and screening racist emails and post, after he resigned from his post as professor of sociology of education earlier this month. Continue reading...
Hurricane Lala skirts Hawaii’s Big Island as heavy wind and rain lash region
One person died in a car accident, governor says, while rainfall could produce flooding and mudslides Hurricane Lala skirted Hawaii ’s Big Island on Saturday without making landfall and was expected to gradually weaken after lashing the region with strong winds and drenching rain that flooded roads and turned rivers into raging torrents. Hawaii governor Josh Green said at least one person died in a car accident in the South Point area of the Big Island. About 60,000 households were temporarily left without power while 19 roofs were lost and 190 flights were postponed. Continue reading...
Murder inquiry opens after death of man bitten by dog in West Yorkshire
Detectives say 55-year-old man arrested and appeal for anyone who witnessed altercation in Wakefield Police in West Yorkshire have launched a murder investigation into the death of a man after being bitten by a dog. Officers were dispatched to Wakefield just after 1.30pm on Saturday, after receiving reports that an altercation that had taken place a short time earlier on an old trainline footpath. Continue reading...