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H.R. 6500: Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2027
Passed Senate with Changes (back to House): Last Action: Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Yea-Nay Vote. 90 - 6. Record Vote Number: 228. Explanation: This bill has been passed in the House and the Senate, but the Senate made changes and sent it back to the House on August 8, 2026.
H.R. 6500: AGOA Extension Act
Bill Text: This bill's text for status (Aug. 8, 2026) is now available.
Remains of 56 people found decomposing at Chicago funeral home
Officials describe ‘deplorable conditions’ at home run by pair linked to crematory closed due to mishandled remains The remains of 56 people were found improperly stored and decomposing on Thursday at a Chicago funeral home run by a couple who previously operated a crematory that was similarly shut down because of mishandled remains, authorities said. Illinois state officials, meanwhile, suspended the license of one of the funeral home’s directors, alleging bodies were being kept in an unrefrigerated area in “deplorable conditions”. Continue reading...
Helicopter fighting Utah wildfire crashes with two people onboard, officials say
Rescuers not yet able to reach scene of crash near Richfield in central Utah, prompting fears for two missing people A firefighting Sikorsky S64 helicopter with two individuals onboard crashed on Friday morning in central Utah, according to federal aviation authorities. The US Forest Service initially declined to comment on the condition of the helicopter’s passengers, asking the public for “patience while we focus on response efforts” in a statement . Continue reading...
Senior managers at St Basil’s aged care, where 50 died from Covid, can’t remember it all. Grieving loved ones can’t forget
Konstantin Kontis and Vicky Kos were compelled to testify at a coronial inquest resuming on the sixth anniversary of the tragedy Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Quiet sobs could be heard in Melbourne’s coroner’s court, as several families attended to finally hear from the pair who were the most senior managers when, throughout July and August 2020, almost a quarter of the 188 residents at St Basil’s aged care home died from Covid-19 or neglect . Following multiple failed legal bids to avoid giving evidence after 50 residents died in the Victorian aged care home they managed, Konstantin Kontis and Vicky Kos were compelled to testify at a coronial inquest resuming on the sixth anniversary of the tragedy. Continue reading...
David Brat bound for Australia as diplomat confirmed as next US ambassador
Former Republican state congressman, who once argued Christianity and capitalism should merge, confirmed by US Senate to fill long-vacant role Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Former Virginia congressman David Brat has been confirmed by the US Senate to be the next US ambassador to Australia, after the role had been left vacant for 18 months. Brat’s confirmation was among more than 70 votes pushed through the Senate by Republicans on Friday, Washington time, before the summer recess. Continue reading...
Wasted medicine in England could fill 75 swimming pools a year, pharmacy group says
Industry body calls for more regular reviews of repeat prescriptions to tackle ‘growing problem’ The amount of wasted medicines thrown away in England in one year could fill 75 swimming pools, according to a pharmacy group. The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) estimated that 3,400 tonnes of partly used medicines were disposed of in England in 2024-25. Continue reading...
Counter-terrorism police investigating death of Ann Widdecombe reopen 2025 attempted burglary case
Failure to pursue line of inquiry ‘which may have been relevant’ now being investigated by police watchdog Counter-terrorism police investigating the death of Ann Widdecombe say they have re-opened an old investigation into an attempted burglary last year. The incident at an address in Greater London was reported in April 2025. Continue reading...
Spain to introduce temporary border checks on visitors from Italy
Move comes in response to Rome imposing similar measures after mass migration rush to Ceuta Spain has announced it will introduce temporary border checks on visitors from Italy in response to Rome imposing similar measures after a mass rush of people from Morocco into Ceuta. The checks, which come “amid the persistent irregular migration pressure” facing Italy, will start at midnight on Saturday and last until 7 September, Spain’s interior ministry said in a statement. Continue reading...
Idaho police release video of In-N-Out Burger mass shooting that killed three
Officials praise unarmed employee from nearby store for engaging 24-year-old gunman who later killed himself Police released video on Friday of a mass shooting that killed three people at an Idaho In-N-Out Burger restaurant last weekend, and praised an unarmed employee from a nearby store who engaged the gunman outdoors, slowing him down and possibly preventing more deaths as authorities were catching up. The video released by the police also showed at least three people confronted the gunman with their own weapons during the incident. Continue reading...
Prosecutor fired over blogposts critical of Trump sues US justice department
Will Rosenzweig’s defunct blog was publicized online by conservative pundit who tagged senior DoJ officials A federal prosecutor fired last year over critical comments he had written as a private citizen about Donald Trump sued the justice department on Friday, saying his termination violated his first amendment rights. Will Rosenzweig was two weeks away from trying a multimillion-dollar Medicare fraud case when a blog he had written years earlier covering a broad range of topics was publicized online by a conservative political commentator who also included a screenshot of Rosenzweig’s LinkedIn account and tagged senior justice department officials for their awareness. Continue reading...
US police officer accused of killing three people in Mexico arrested at border
Chad Eberle of Texas charged over deadly shooting in Saltillo that officials say stemmed from custody dispute A Texas police officer has been arrested in Mexico after authorities there accused him of killing three people and critically injuring the mother of his child in what investigators say stemmed from a dispute over the custody of the minor. The Coahuila attorney general’s office said 35-year-old Chad Eberle was arrested on Wednesday at the border on a warrant accusing him of femicide and qualified homicide, according to La Razon de Mexico, a newspaper based in Mexico City. Under Mexican law, femicide refers to the intentional killing of a woman or girl because of her gender. Continue reading...
At least one person dead in California wildfire allegedly sparked by chainsaw
Police arrested Herbert Wayne Smith, 65, in connection with the Gann fire, which has burned more than 15 sq miles in Calaveras county At least one person has died in a wildfire burning in the foothills of California’s Sierra Nevada mountain range that officials believed was sparked by a man using a chainsaw. Police arrested Herbert Wayne Smith, 65, in connection with the Gann fire, which has destroyed seven buildings, scorched more than 15 sq miles in Calaveras county and killed a well-known dog breeder in the town of Angels Camp. Continue reading...
Thetford residents remain on edge after days of ‘mob rule’ over asylum plans
People voice frustration with officials’ failure to engage with community over placement of asylum seekers in area A smashed window pane and some broken eggshells on a footpath were some of the tell-tale signs of events that took place this week on a residential street at the edge of Thetford. On Friday afternoon it was not hard to find local people with a sense of foreboding after the latest disorder in the Norfolk market town which has seen crowds attempt to break into properties believed to be housing asylum seekers. Continue reading...
Trump renews bid to fire Fed governor Lisa Cook despite supreme court ruling
White House continues to target Cook despite decision from justices that upheld Federal Reserve’s independence Donald Trump is attempting once again to oust US Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook over allegations of mortgage fraud, despite a recent US supreme court decision that upheld the central bank’s independence. Cook reportedly received a letter from the White House this week that provided notice, in accordance to the supreme court’s June ruling, that Trump is “considering removing” her from her Fed position over the same claims of mortgage fraud that he levied against her last summer. Continue reading...
California woman who admitted to stabbing wife had also killed husband
Yolanda Olejniczak Marodi, who served a decade for killing her husband, pleaded guilty to murder of Rebecca Marodi, a fire captain who fought the Eaton blaze A California woman this week admitted to killing her wife, a decorated fire captain who fought the deadly 2025 Los Angeles wildfires , by stabbing her – the same fate she previously delivered to her husband and had served a decade in prison for. Yolanda Olejniczak Marodi, 54, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to second-degree murder after killing her wife, Rebecca “Becky” Marodi, 49, a California fire captain, at their home in February 2025, just a month after Becky, as she was known, battled the Eaton blaze that killed 19. Continue reading...
Judge approves Trump effort to end South Sudan TPS protections
Decision follows supreme court ruling that allowed US government to strip protections for Haitians and Syrians Temporary protected status (TPS) for hundreds of South Sudanese nationals in the United States is set to end after a federal judge ruled that the Trump administration can move forward with stripping their protections. On Friday, US district judge Patti Saris of the district of Massachusetts rejected an attempt by immigrant rights organizations including the New York-based African Communities Together to keep TPS for South Sudanese nationals living in the US. Continue reading...
Motion to Invoke Cloture: Collins Amdt. No. 6732 to H.R. 6500
Vote: Cloture Motion Agreed to 91/6 Sen. Duckworth [D-IL]: Yea Sen. Durbin [D-IL]: Yea
Millions in England face longer waits for mental health care as NHS providers plan cuts
Exclusive: Seven in 10 survey respondents expect services to be reduced or shut, while more than half anticipate job losses Millions of adults and children in England face being forced to wait longer for mental health care, with more than two-thirds of NHS providers planning to cut services and half expected to axe jobs, the Guardian can reveal. With mental health services already under extraordinary pressure amid soaring demand for support, experts warned the proposed cuts – drawn up by trusts to plug holes in their finances – would also have “significant” consequences for the wider NHS, the economy and public services. Continue reading...
France stopped 10 small boats crossing Channel since spring, officials say
Disclosure comes after Conservative and Reform claims that French police refusing to intervene in crossings The French authorities have halted small boats at sea in the Channel on 10 occasions since the spring, officials said on Friday. Despite claims from the Conservatives and Reform that the French were refusing to intervene in small boat crossings, Maritime Prefect officers were using “intervention tactics” to board or control vessels at sea and take asylum seekers back to France. Continue reading...
US Senate passes Russia sanctions bill championed by Lindsey Graham
Late senator spent final days of his life working to advance bill that will now head to the House after 86-11 Senate vote By a large, bipartisan margin, the US Senate on Friday approved a bill intended to punish Russia and countries that buy its petroleum exports over the invasion of Ukraine, capping a legislative push that was spurred by the death of its champion, the Republican senator Lindsey Graham. The measure, renamed the Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning Russia Act in honor of the late senator’s work on the issue, was approved by an 86-11 vote. Continue reading...
Fenech was ‘preparing champagne’ to celebrate Caruana Galizia murder, court hears
A taxi driver says he acted as middleman between the Maltese businessman and three men already convicted of carrying out the €150,000 contract killing The businessman accused of paying for hitmen to murder journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia was impatient for the killing to take place, and once texted from his boat to say he was “preparing champagne” to celebrate, a jury in Malta has heard. Yorgen Fenech , the 44-year-old heir to a property empire that includes several Hilton hotels, is on trial in Malta for complicity in the murder of Caruana Galizia. She died in a car bombing in October 2017 after publishing a series of revelations about senior politicians that were so damaging they triggered a snap general election. Continue reading...
On the Nomination PN961-1 and PN937-5 and PN901-1 and PN730-38 and PN962-3 and PN931-6 and PN1022-25 and PN806-5 and PN1022-10 and PN1012 and PN931-5 and PN931-4 and PN937-2 and PN1022-22 and PN962-1 and PN961-4 and PN901-3 and PN806-7 and PN730-23 and PN1022-7 and PN1022-6 and PN961-3 and PN937-9 and PN937-8 and PN937-7 and PN1022-34 and PN1022-31 and PN1022-15 and PN1022-9 and PN1022-8 and PN1022-3 and PN961-9 and PN931-2 and PN1093-2 and PN1093-1 and PN1011 and PN961-2 and PN930-8 and PN930-6 and PN930-5 and PN930-1 and PN901-12 and PN901-2 and PN850 and PN787-2 and PN730-18 and PN730-2 and PN933 and PN852-3 and PN806-2 and PN961-7 and PN901-7 and PN901-6 and PN792 and PN786-10 and PN931-3 and PN730-59 and PN786-5 and PN937-1 and PN901-11 and PN859-5 and PN730-36 and PN901-5 and PN859-2 and PN859-1 and PN901-10 and PN852-11 and PN852-9 and PN859-6 and PN852-6 and PN852-5 and PN852-2 and PN806-9 and PN730-11: John Breslow, of Arizona, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Cyprus
Vote: Nomination Confirmed 51/47 Sen. Duckworth [D-IL]: Nay Sen. Durbin [D-IL]: Nay
A ‘Keminaissance’ for the Tories is wishful thinking – Badenoch’s Reform-lite summer will only end one way | Jonathan Freedland
Hiring a convicted antisemite as an adviser; rabble rousing at a time of violent unrest. She is still in a race to the bottom and making too many mistakes The Keminaissance will be delayed. For nearly a year, Conservative optimists and a clutch of supportive pundits have been forecasting an upturn in the fortunes of Kemi Badenoch, confident that her party will emerge from the crater it fell into in 2024, overtake Reform UK to become once again the main party of the right and, who knows, maybe, with a following wind, even push Labour aside and return to government. Every sign of strength from the Tory leader – a robust conference speech here, a viral clip on social media there – has been hailed as evidence of the coming Keminaissance. On the evidence of the past week or so, we will have to wait a little longer. It’s quite true that Badenoch’s personal ratings are better than those of her party. True, too, that she ended a long losing streak when the Tories won a Westminster seat at the Aberdeen South byelection in June. But there is a more recent election result that should temper the boosters’ enthusiasm, along with a series of decisions that confirm that, when it comes to both strategy and judgment, Badenoch is badly lacking. Jonathan Freedland is a Guardian columnist Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here . Continue reading...