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Politics
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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
Top Democrats set aside qualms and embrace progressive Abdul El-Sayed
Democrats ‘united by a common purpose: putting a check on Trump’, Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand say Abdul El-Sayed wins Michigan Senate primary What we learned from midterm primary elections Leading Democrats quickly papered over whatever qualms they had about progressive candidate Abdul El-Sayed after his win in the Michigan Senate primary was confirmed on Wednesday, instead welcoming the former public health official as their champion against Republican nominee Mike Rogers. The state is now key to Democrats’s hopes of retaking control of the chamber in November’s midterm elections. Winning in Michigan would put them on the path to snarling Donald Trump’s legislative agenda and blocking his judicial nominees for the final two years of his presidency, while defeat could undermine their prospects of gaining a majority in the chamber for years to come. Rogers lost a Senate race in Michigan two years ago by a slim margin to Democrat Elissa Slotkin. Continue reading...
More than 1,100 people convicted of illegal arrival in UK since 2022
Data shows victims of torture and trafficking among those prosecuted for crossing Channel by irregular means More than 1,100 people, including survivors of torture and trafficking, have been convicted of illegally arriving in the UK since 2022, according to freedom of information data. The Home Office introduced the offence of illegal arrival in 2022 in a bid to deter those planning to come to the UK by small boat or by other irregular means such as lorries. Continue reading...
Exiled PM vows to return to Bangladesh despite execution threat
Sheikh Hasina, 78, plans a December comeback two years after being ousted in a bloody uprising led by students Bangladesh’s ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina has vowed to return home by year-end, even though she faces a death sentence. “They may put me in a cell. They may kill me. Anything may happen, but still I have to go,” said the 78-year-old, speaking two years after a student-led uprising toppled her government. Continue reading...
The Leipzig drone bomb marks a dangerous escalation for Europe
Initial evidence suggests the drone, which was found near Ukrainian cargo planes at the German airport, came from Russia The armed drone found at Leipzig airport on Wednesday may not have exploded, but the fact that it got inside the perimeter, close to Ukrainian cargo planes , raises obvious concerns for the security of international aviation. Though the identity of the culprits is unknown, the initial evidence points firmly towards a Russian-orchestrated plot. It is the first time that a drone with explosives has been found in Europe far from the Ukrainian border. Continue reading...
Mexican influencer shot dead while streaming live on social media
César Gastélum was filming outside a fast-food outlet in Sinaloa state when he was killed by a motorbike driver A popular Mexican influencer has been shot dead while doing a live stream on social media outside a restaurant in Sinaloa state, where lethal cartel violence has become widespread. César Gastélum, who had nearly 600,000 followers on TikTok and was known for making comedy videos, was filming with two friends outside a fast-food restaurant in the city of Culiacán. The three were dressed in the bright orange jackets and backpacks of food delivery drivers. Continue reading...
The Guardian view on the Conservatives under Kemi Badenoch: purging moderation is not 'common sense' | Editorial
A row over a local council candidate reveals a deeper problem with the Tory leader’s diagnosis of her party’s electoral predicament Kemi Badenoch has been clear about the qualifying criteria for prospective Conservative MPs. They must be “serious people who understand common sense,” she has said . The situation in local government is different, as demonstrated by Mrs Badenoch’s ill-judged support for a former neo-Nazi, selected to stand as a councillor in Somerset next year. Joshua Bonehill-Paine has convictions for racially aggravated harassment of a Jewish Labour MP and assaulting a police officer among other offences. On Wednesday, as pressure grew on the party leader to repudiate him, he withdrew his candidacy. Continue reading...
Suspect in Washington state wildfire was questioned about blazes last year
Aaron Farinacci is accused of starting the Old Trails fire that has destroyed homes and forced thousands to flee The Washington state man accused of starting a wildfire that has destroyed homes and forced thousands to flee around Spokane was previously questioned in connection with two fire investigations last year, according to court documents. Authorities allege that Aaron Farinacci, 37, of Spokane, started Old Trails fire, one of three major wildfires burning in Spokane county in north-eastern Washington. He was arrested on Monday and booked on suspicion of first-degree arson. The Associated Press contributed reporting Continue reading...
Trump is pioneering the role of commentator-in-chief when issues grow thorny
The president is constantly assigning motives, identifying heroes and villains, and telling his audience what to think This was originally published in This Week in Trumpland. Sign up to receive it in your inbox every Wednesday From Charles Barkley to Thierry Henry to John McEnroe, the path from the arena to the commentary box is well trodden , and plenty of politicians have made the transition from elected office to the TV studio. One man, however, insists on doing both at the same time. Donald Trump is the US president, empowered to kill terrorists, grant pardons, sign and veto bills, and represent the nation on the world stage. But when issues become thorny, as they have of late, he is wont to embrace an alternative role as commentator-in-chief. Continue reading...
Trans woman wins Democratic nomination for Michigan state legislature
Joanna Whaley, ex-megachurch pastor who endured years of conversion practices, comfortably bested her opponents US politics live – latest updates A former megachurch pastor who endured 15 years of conversion practices is set to become the first transgender member of Michigan’s state legislature after winning a Democratic primary election on Tuesday. Joanna Whaley comfortably defeated Frank Liberati, a former state representative, and Gary Schlack in the primary for the second district of the Michigan statehouse, a Democratic stronghold. Continue reading...
Pakistani authorities ban international media from reporting in most of country
The rules came into effect shortly after the killing of dozens of protesters, news which was only covered by overseas news Pakistani authorities have imposed severe new restrictions on international media, including barring them from reporting in most of the country, in a move that has provoked significant backlash from journalist organisations. According to the new rules anyone, including Pakistani nationals, should seek permission to report from Pakistan except three cities – Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore. Continue reading...
New Mexico sues justice department for ‘stonewalling’ Epstein investigation
Filing by attorney general Raúl Torrez comes after DoJ appears to have ignored deadline for key Epstein ranch files New Mexico filed a lawsuit against the US Department of Justice and acting attorney general Todd Blanche on Wednesday for “stonewalling” its criminal investigation into the activities of the late financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein at a remote ranch in the state. Raúl Torrez, the New Mexico attorney general, had said he was mulling the possibility of legal action if the justice department (DoJ) did not share with him by 31 July information about the alleged historical abuse of girls and young women at Epstein’s Zorro ranch about 30 miles south of Santa Fe. Continue reading...
New York City transit auctions off last MetroCard machines: ‘wild home decor idea’
The MTA will sell its remaining machines that weigh up to 1,050lbs as it transitions to contactless fare payment system The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) of New York City has begun auctioning off its final MetroCard vending machines, offering New Yorkers the chance to own one of the transit system’s most recognizable fixtures as the agency continues its transition to Omny. The auction opened Wednesday morning and will run through 19 August, according to the MTA. The agency is offering a limited number of retired MetroCard Vending Machines (MVM) and MetroCard Express Machines (MEM), which have served subway riders for decades. Continue reading...
Israel strikes southern Lebanon killing one and injuring 11
Hits on two towns among deadliest bombings since start of June ceasefire An Israeli airstrike in south Lebanon killed one person and injured 11, the Lebanese ministry of health said, in one of Israel’s deadliest bombings since the start of the June ceasefire. Israel carried out an airstrike in the town of Tebnine, hitting a cemetery, the Lebanese health ministry said. It said the town of al-Mansouri, in south Lebanon, was also bombed, forcing families to flee. Continue reading...
Lindsay Clancy murder trial: toxicologist testifies about medications found in defendant’s blood
Variety of prescriptions were found in blood of mother accused of strangling her three kids, according to testimony Sign up for the Breaking News US newsletter email The trial of Lindsay Clancy, the Massachusetts mom accused of killing her three children in January 2023, continued on Wednesday with a forensic toxicologist testifying to the variety and concentration of medications found in the defendant’s blood. Justin Brower, a forensic toxicologist with NMS Laboratories, testified that his lab examined the levels of four psychiatric medications detected in Clancy’s blood after she allegedly strangled her kids and attempted to take her own life. Continue reading...
Abdul El-Sayed offers a template for Democrats to defeat Trumpism | Peter Beinart
The candidate has crafted a progressive nationalism and shown his party how to turn Republicans’ financial advantage against them Every now and then, a Senate race sets the direction for an entire party. In 1991, a state official named Harris Wofford – advised by a foul-mouthed Cajun named James Carville – upset his far better-known Republican opponent to win a special election in Pennsylvania. He did it by promising to expand access to healthcare – and thus created a template for Bill Clinton’s presidential campaign the following year. If Abdul El-Sayed can follow up his victory in last night’s Democratic senate primary by winning the general election in Michigan this fall, he will have created a template of his own. Despite his closer-than-expected margin of victory, his campaign offers a model for how Democrats across the country can answer the political challenge posed by Donald Trump. Continue reading...
Former neo-Nazi activist withdraws as Conservative election candidate
Joshua Bonehill-Paine, who was convicted of harassing Jewish MP, says Badenoch has offered him advisory role instead • UK politics live – latest updates A former neo-Nazi activist who was convicted of harassing a Jewish MP has withdrawn as a Conservative election candidate after his selection prompted an outcry from Jewish groups and others. Joshua Bonehill-Paine said on Wednesday he had withdrawn from next year’s local elections, and that Kemi Badenoch had instead offered him a role as an advisor to her party’s culture and integration commission, specifically focusing on how young men become radicalised. Continue reading...
What we learned from Tuesday’s midterm primary elections
Elections in five states will be looked back on as a marquee moment ahead of November’s midterm elections Abdul El-Sayed wins Michigan Senate primary Tuesday’s primary elections in five states will be looked back on as a marquee moment ahead of November’s midterm elections, as voters in Michigan, Washington, Virginia, Kansas and Missouri selected candidates for races that could decide which party wins control of Congress. Here’s a rundown of what we learned from the results: Continue reading...
Motion to Invoke Cloture: Erica Schwartz to be Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Erica Schwartz, of Florida, to be Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Vote: Cloture Motion Agreed to 51/43 Sen. Duckworth [D-IL]: Nay Sen. Durbin [D-IL]: Nay
Progressive climate organizer William Lawrence wins Michigan Democratic House primary
Activist who rallied around a datacenter moratorium will face incumbent Republican Tom Barrett in November US politics live – latest updates William Lawrence, a prominent environmental organizer who foregrounded his support for a datacenter moratorium, has won the Democratic primary in Michigan’s seventh congressional district in a victory for progressives. Lawrence was a co-founder of the youth-led climate justice organization the Sunrise Movement, the group that in 2018 mainstreamed calls for a Green New Deal to battle economic injustice while rapidly phasing out planet-warming fossil fuels. The 36-year-old defeated Bridget Brink, a former US ambassador to Ukraine and Slovakia, and Matt Maasdam, a former US Navy Seal and military aide to Barack Obama. Continue reading...
Abdul El-Sayed’s win proves change is possible for Democrats. His next fight may determine their future
If the progressive wins Michigan’s general election, it could redefine the 2028 presidential contest. If he fails, the establishment will call him a cautionary tale US politics live – latest updates In the final stretch of the state’s Democratic primary for US Senate, Abdul El-Sayed challenged voters at a small event in rural Michigan to think about the message they could send the rest of the country when they cast their ballots. “Who are we? Who do we want to be?” El-Sayed said. “Do we want a state that’s defined by how much money corporations brought in to tell us what we couldn’t have? Or do we want to be a state where we demonstrate to the rest of the country what’s possible when you build a movement of, by, and for the people?” Continue reading...
Pakistan precinct suspends all 78 officers and staff over alleged rape at police station
Lahore police official says all personnel were responsible for preventing and reporting wrongdoing at station The alleged rape of a 20-year-old woman with intellectual disabilities in a police station in Lahore, Pakistan has prompted authorities to suspend all 78 police officers and staff at the precinct, in one of the country’s biggest-ever disciplinary actions against its police force. The woman alleges that an assistant sub-inspector apprehended her, took her to Ghaziabad police station, and raped her in a room on the second floor. The woman’s family said she disappeared on the street, before returning home in tears and stating that she had been sexually assaulted at the station. Continue reading...
Nearly 1,500 properties bought using Australia’s first home buyers' 5% deposit scheme converted into investments
New data shows the federal government scheme has been used by high-income borrowers, including one couple earning an annual $674,000 Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast The government’s 5% deposit scheme for first home buyers has enabled the purchase of nearly 1,500 properties that were turned into investments, new data shows. The scheme is also helping hundreds of Australians earning more than $300,000 a year, after Labor stopped excluding high-income borrowers. Continue reading...
‘Just an easy cash grab’: why Jetstar is charging customers for carry-on luggage
Add-on fees such as the new overhead locker baggage charge can make it harder to compare air fares, experts say Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Cut-price fares may now be merely a facade for seemingly endless add-on fees after Jetstar’s new carry-on luggage charge meant the airline joined a growing number monetising basic services in the sky. The new structure, announced by Qantas’s low-cost carrier on Wednesday, will mean from next year tickets will only include one “under seat bag”, such as a backpack, handbag or laptop bag. Continue reading...