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Politics
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Labor MP Ed Husic taken to hospital with fractures and concussion after car accident
Husic to take ‘short’ period of leave after collision on Sydney motorway on Tuesday Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Labor MP Ed Husic was hospitalised this week after his car was involved in an accident with a truck travelling on Sydney’s M7 motorway. The incident happened when the Chifley MP was travelling home from his electorate office, around 6.20pm on Tuesday, according to a spokesperson. Continue reading...
Man arrested at Trump’s California golf course faces more charges
Jeanine John Taele detained for ‘suspicious’ behavior after he allegedly took photos and videos ahead of Trump visit A California man who was arrested at Donald Trump’s Los Angeles-area golf course ahead of a presidential visit is facing more charges, as authorities released more details about the investigation. Authorities say federal agents first observed 38-year-old Jeanine John Taele near the the golf grounds in Rancho Palos Verdes on 31 July, wearing an ear piece and capturing photographs and videos of security agents assessing the property. Continue reading...
Man and woman found dead in outback Queensland home after hours-long police siege
A 45-year-old man and 23-year-old woman were found dead in the Charleville home after a near eight-hour siege by police An hours-long siege has ended in tragedy after a man and woman were found dead in an outback home. Several streets in Charleville, 600km west of Toowoomba in Queensland, were thrust into lockdown after police were called to investigate reports of a serious assault at the home around 6pm on Wednesday. Continue reading...
Toronto Zoo announces birth of pygmy hippo calf, third for mother Kindia
The 20-year-old’s third calf is being monitored by officials as survival rates for the species are challenging, the zoo said The Toronto Zoo has announced the birth of a female pygmy hippo calf. Kindia, the zoo’s 20-year-old pygmy hippo, started showing signs of labor at around 8.15am last Sunday, it said. Around four hours later, the calf’s feet emerged and after 1.5 hours of active labor, Kindia successfully gave birth to the baby pygmy hippo. Continue reading...
Australia news live: NSW man charged over alleged threats of violence against female MP
Police allege man issued threats on social media to find woman and hurt her. Follow today’s news live Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast States and territories shut down hundreds of sub-standard childcare services Almost 600 childcare services were shut down in the latest quarter, a 20 fold increase on the same quarter last year, as federal, state and territory governments crack down on dodgy and underperforming providers. Enforcement action is at record highs. The percentage of services meeting the national quality and safety standards is at the highest level ever as well. We have also introduced legislation to cut funding to centres that aren’t up to scratch … This is a good sign. But there is more to do. Continue reading...
White House confirms new helipad for supersized Marine One helicopter
Changes come after report says Trump unhappy with helipad’s appearance and lawn’s slope The White House has confirmed that contractors are redoing a new helipad built on the South Lawn to accommodate a new supersized Marine One chopper recently added to the presidential transport fleet. A White House official said the changes to the circular concrete landing pad were ordered as “we continue to make improvements as part of the ongoing project to best match the needs of the White House”. Continue reading...
Trump team pushes to block court order giving BBC access to financial records
President has sued the broadcaster for $10bn, claiming a documentary on 2021 Capitol attack led to financial harm Donald Trump’s legal team is making an 11th-hour attempt to block a court order that would grant the BBC access to the president’s financial records, as part of his multibillion-dollar lawsuit against the British broadcaster. Trump claims that the BBC’s 2024 documentary on the January 6 attacks have damaged the president’s business interests. In July, a Miami-based judge ruled that the president would have to start handing over detailed financial records to the BBC by 6 August. The records would reveal details into the hundreds of businesses owned by the US president’s family trust. Continue reading...
Motion to Proceed on S.J.Res. 187: A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to “Modification to the Start of the Submission Period for Perf
Vote: Motion to Proceed Rejected 48/50 Sen. Duckworth [D-IL]: Yea Sen. Durbin [D-IL]: Yea
Judge tosses Alex Murdaugh’s $600,000 suit against former court clerk
Murdaugh, whose murder convictions were overturned due to clerk’s misconduct, will face trial again Sign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email A US federal judge has thrown out a lawsuit by Alex Murdaugh seeking $600,000 in legal fees from the former court clerk whose misconduct led to his murder convictions being overturned on appeal. Murdaugh sued Becky Hill in May, saying she violated his right to a fair trial over the deaths of his wife and son. Continue reading...
Republican who withdrew last month beats Trump-backed rival in Michigan
Thomas Smith, whose name remained on ballot, beats Republican rivals in primary contest for eighth district Thomas Smith withdrew from the Republican primary contest for Michigan’s eighth district last month. On Tuesday, he won the nomination. Unofficial results show Smith with more than 50% of the vote, according to the Associated Press, defeating the man he endorsed, anti-abortion activist Al Lemmo, and the man Donald Trump endorsed, former federal law enforcement officer Amir Hassan. Continue reading...
‘Disturbing’: TikTok faces criticism after Perez Hilton livestreams self-harm
Many online questioned how long the blogger’s broadcast remained up on the app and shared mental health resources Social media users have criticized TikTok after celebrity blogger Perez Hilton livestreamed himself self-harming on the platform, prompting many to question how long the broadcast remained live and others to share mental health resources and encourage those in need to seek help. On Tuesday night, Hilton, 48, livestreamed himself engaging in self-harm as viewers pleaded for him to stop. Shortly after, local authorities responded to his home in Miami, Florida, where he was transported to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. Continue reading...
NHS must prepare for annual summer heat pressures, says Yvette Cooper
Health secretary says global heating means UK hospitals and GPs will have to prepare for summer as well as winter peaks of demand Adapting to global heating: which UK public services are struggling in hot weather? The NHS has been warned to prepare for potential annual summer crises caused by extreme heat with the same pressures as winter, as heatwaves caused by the climate crisis become routine in the UK. The health secretary, Yvette Cooper, said NHS staff were feeling A&E pressures that would normally be expected only during flu season – and said the government would use major investment in NHS infrastructure to tackle the health service’s resilience to high summer temperatures. Continue reading...
Trump immigration crackdown ensnares families of US troops
An AP investigation found dozens of active-duty troops’ parents and spouses detained despite protections The Trump administration has detained dozens of parents and spouses of active-duty US troops as it rolls back immigration protections for military families in the pursuit of its mass deportation agenda. More than 50 parents and spouses of active-duty service members have been detained since Donald Trump returned to office, and at least six have been deported, an Associated Press investigation found. It is the first accounting of such detentions, which the government does not track. Continue reading...
Adapting to global heating: which UK public services are struggling in hot weather?
As NHS told to prepare for extreme weather, strain also felt in other areas including transport and farming NHS must prepare for annual summer heat pressures, says Yvette Cooper The NHS has been told it must become more resilient to increasingly frequent heatwaves supercharged by the climate crisis, as the UK government puts adaptation to extreme heat high on its agenda. But what other public services are already feeling the strain? Continue reading...
Threat of legal action if PC Andrew Harper’s killers are released early
Thames Valley chief says he may join Police Federation in court if Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers are freed from prison The chief constable of Thames Valley police has said he will consider joining legal action against the government if it fails to block the early release of two of PC Andrew Harper’s killers. The Police Federation is contemplating going to court in its attempts to keep Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers in prison. Continue reading...
Senate confirms Trump pick Erica Schwartz as new CDC director
Schwartz, president’s third pick to lead top US public health agency, confirmed in 51-44 Senate vote Dr Erica Schwartz was confirmed by the US Senate as director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a rare win for the Trump administration after a string of failed attempts to fill senior health posts. Schwartz was confirmed 51-44 by senators. She is Donald Trump’s third pick to run the CDC. Continue reading...
Cambridge professor Jason Arday resigns amid accusations of plagiarism
Sociology professor to stand down after university announces investigation into his qualifications and career • Playbooks, plagiarism and a pig’s head: new claims surrounding a star Cambridge professor Jason Arday, the Cambridge professor accused of plagiarism and embellishment, has resigned after the university announced he was to face a new investigation into his qualifications and career. Arday, who had been dogged by a growing series of questions over his academic work and credentials, issued a statement on Wednesday night, saying the “relentless accusations, speculation and public commentary have taken a profound toll on me and on those I love”. Continue reading...
US to shut five consulates as critics fear China could fill diplomatic vacuum
State department informs Congress of planned closures in Canada, Grenada, Japan, Indonesia and Cameroon The US state department is to shut five foreign consulates and missions across Asia, Africa, North America and the Caribbean, drawing criticism that it is leaving a diplomatic vacuum at risk of being filled by China. The US Congress has been served notice of the impending closures, which are being justified on cost grounds and follow a reassessment of the US’s bilateral relationships with a range of countries since Donald Trump returned to the White House in January 2025. Continue reading...
Motion to Invoke Cloture: En Bloc Nominations Provided for under the provisions of S. Res. 817: John Breslow, of Arizona, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Cyprus
Vote: Cloture Motion Agreed to 50/44 Sen. Duckworth [D-IL]: Nay Sen. Durbin [D-IL]: Nay
Iran and Oman reach understanding on coordinates of route through Hormuz, Iran ministry says
Joint statement is being finalised, but Tehran says deal alone would not guarantee waterway’s security Middle East crisis live – latest updates Iran and Oman have reached an understanding on the geographic coordinates for a shipping route through the strait of Hormuz, and a joint announcement is being finalised, provided certain third parties did not interfere, Iran ’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Wednesday. Baghaei added that any such agreement between Iran and Oman would not, by itself, guarantee security in the strategic waterway. Continue reading...
Washington Commanders to sign four-time Pro Bowl receiver Stefon Diggs
Veteran reportedly agrees to deal worth up to $12m Wideout joins Jayden Daniels and Terry McLaurin Diggs cleared by court and NFL after allegations The Washington Commanders are set to sign four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Stefon Diggs, multiple outlets reported on Wednesday. Diggs, 32, played last season with the New England Patriots and posted his seventh 1,000-yard campaign in the past eight years. Continue reading...
Judge signals Trump’s defamation lawsuit against Wall Street Journal may be dismissed again
Obama-appointed judge seemed unmoved by Trump attorneys’ arguments in case also naming Murdoch A federal judge in Florida seemed skeptical of arguments from Donald Trump ’s legal team on Wednesday over whether the court should allow a $10bn defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal to move forward. Trump sued the Journal and News Corp founder Rupert Murdoch over a July 2025 article about a “bawdy” letter reportedly from Trump that was included in a 2003 birthday book for disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein . Trump has denied authoring or signing the letter, and his attorneys have argued that the Journal published the story despite having been told it was false. Continue reading...
Cambridge announces investigation into professor accused of plagiarism
University says it has ‘new information’ about academic career of Jason Arday, the youngest black professor in its history Jason Arday, the Cambridge professor accused of plagiarism and embellishment, is to face investigation by the university after what it called “new information” regarding his qualifications and career. Cambridge initially defended Arday – the youngest black professor appointed in the university’s history, with a compelling life story of educational disadvantage – as “the victim of a vile campaign”. But as questions mounted over Arday’s own claims, the university’s leaders felt that Cambridge’s reputation was in danger. Continue reading...
On the Nomination PN932: Erica Schwartz, of Florida, to be Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Vote: Nomination Confirmed 51/44 Sen. Duckworth [D-IL]: Nay Sen. Durbin [D-IL]: Nay