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Trump Threatens EU Probe Over US Tech Company Fines

Trump

Trump Threatens EU Probe Over US Tech Company Fines

US President Donald Trump has threatened to investigate the European Union and impose new tariffs in response to fines levied against major American technology companies.

The warning comes days after the European Commission fined Google €890 million ($1 billion), saying the company had operated in a way that unfairly disadvantaged rivals to its services.
Trump Targets EU Over Penalties on US Tech Firms
In a post on Truth Social, Trump accused the EU of unfairly targeting US firms, naming Google, Apple, Meta and Amazon. He warned that Europe would face a "very big price" for its actions.
"The United States of America is not a 'PIGGYBANK' for Europe, nor will we allow it to be!" he wrote.
Trade Investigation and Tariff Threat
Trump said the penalties imposed on US companies should be "entirely reversed" and announced plans to launch a Section 301 trade investigation into the EU. He also said he was considering imposing "a substantial TARIFF" on the bloc.
Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 authorises the Office of the United States Trade Representative to investigate and respond to trade practices deemed unfair. The Trump administration has opened several such investigations since returning to office last year.
The latest threat follows Trump's announcement a day earlier of tariffs ranging from 10% to 12.5% on imports from 60 trading partners, including the EU, the UK and China.
Last month, he also warned of a 100% import tariff on any European country introducing a digital services tax targeting American technology companies, although several European nations have had such taxes in place for years.
Google Responds as Other Companies Await Comment
Google said it had worked to comply with the EU's Digital Markets Act despite concerns about recent regulatory decisions.
"We have worked hard to comply with Europe's Digital Markets Act but have expressed our concerns about the impact of recent EC decisions," Google spokesman José Castañeda told the BBC. He added that the company appreciated the engagement of the US administration.
Trump also claimed that Apple had been fined $15 billion by the EU, Meta $3 billion and Amazon $2.5 billion. However, it was unclear where those figures originated.
The European Commission, along with Apple, Meta and Amazon, has been asked to comment.
Long-Running Regulatory Disputes
Shortly before the 2024 US presidential election, Trump said Apple chief executive Tim Cook had called him to complain about penalties imposed by European regulators. The conversation followed Apple's defeat in a long-running dispute over unpaid taxes.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, has faced multiple EU penalties for breaches of privacy and competition rules. It is also under scrutiny over claims that some features of its apps are addictive. Last year, Meta accused the EU of attempting to disadvantage successful American businesses.
Amazon has also faced investigations by European regulators but has largely avoided major financial penalties. In 2022, it agreed to change some of its business practices following an investigation by the European Commission.
Separately, Luxembourg's data protection authority fined Amazon more than $800 million over alleged breaches of the General Data Protection Regulation, but that decision was overturned last year.

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25 July 2026

• USA

• 5 comments
• 540 views

webfact

July 25Jul 25

Trump Criticises Media at White House Correspondents' Dinner

USA

Trump Criticises Media at White House Correspondents' Dinner

US President Donald Trump mixed praise with sharp criticism of the media during the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) dinner, as the event returned three months after its first gathering was cut short by a shooting.

The annual dinner celebrated press freedom while honouring journalists and others affected by the attack, which forced the cancellation of the April event.
Event Returns After April Shooting
Opening the evening, outgoing WHCA President Weijia Jiang of CBS News said the association would not allow the April attack to define the event, declaring that it would return to the Washington Hilton next year.
Trump presented an award to US Secret Service officer Victor Gonzalez, who was wounded while responding to the shooting, recognising his actions during the incident.
The president also congratulated award recipients from several news organisations, including a team from the Wall Street Journal recognised for its reporting on Trump's links to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Trump Alternates Between Praise and Criticism
Before the dinner, many White House correspondents expected Trump to deliver a forceful attack on the media, given his long-running disputes with several news organisations, including The New York Times, CNN and The Wall Street Journal.
At times, Trump's remarks were light-hearted. He joked that "the second time is always better" and repeated a line from the cancelled event, saying, "The show must go on." He also said he respected "most" journalists.
However, his speech soon shifted to familiar criticism of the press. Trump accused many journalists in the room of suffering from "Trump Derangement Syndrome" and joked that the dinner represented the largest gathering of such people.
He also suggested some reporters were fortunate the earlier event had been interrupted, saying he had planned to criticise them more extensively.
The president joked that the news industry would struggle once he leaves office because there would be "nobody to report on". He later put on a "Trump 2028" hat and joked about seeking another presidential term.
Call for Free Speech
Despite his criticism of the media, Trump urged Americans to resolve disagreements peacefully and defend freedom of speech.
"We settle our differences not with bullets, but with open and vigorous debate," he said, adding that violence should never be allowed to silence public discussion.
The president appeared relaxed throughout much of the evening, joking that he sometimes believed members of the press simply did not like him. His hour-long speech also included criticism of Democratic politicians and several public figures.
Heightened Security
The dinner took place against a backdrop of continued tension between the White House and the media. Last week, Trump threatened to revoke the licences of several US television networks after they declined to broadcast his primetime speech on election security.
Attendance at the gala was significantly lower than at the original April event, with around 700 guests compared with more than 2,000 previously.
Security was substantially increased. Roads around the hotel were closed, police and National Guard personnel were deployed, and guests underwent multiple security checks before entering the venue. At one stage, attendees were directed to walk in single file past armed Secret Service officers.
The man accused of carrying out the April attack, 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, has been charged with attempting to assassinate the President of the United States. Investigators said he was tackled by agents before reaching a staircase leading to the ballroom where the dinner was beginning.
Among those attending Saturday's event were Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, FBI Director Kash Patel, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.


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25 July 2026

• 11 comments
• 523 views

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July 25Jul 25

Trump Moves to Dismantle ICC 'Brick by Brick'

Trump

Trump Moves to Dismantle ICC 'Brick by Brick'

Donald Trump’s administration has announced a campaign to dismantle the International Criminal Court “brick by brick”, stepping up pressure on the court and on countries that continue to work with it.

The US move comes amid a wider retreat from parts of the post-war international framework. The administration has pulled funding from dozens of international institutions, shut down USAID, and withdrew from the Paris climate agreement. It has also signalled it would not automatically come to the aid of allies under attack, and the article says the “Board of Peace” is intended to sideline the United Nations.
US drive against the ICC
Last week, the US State Department said it wants to break up the ICC’s authority and infrastructure. It said the approach would involve “increased scrutiny” of countries that do not reject what it called the ICC’s “false authority” while still receiving US assistance, with particular focus on states that benefit from the US “security umbrella”.
The policy is set out as official US action rather than an informal threat. The article describes it as a sustained effort backed by planning and enforcement, rather than a short-lived political message.
Sanctions aimed at judges, officials and partners
Travel restrictions and sanctions have already been imposed on judges and senior court officials, and further measures are expected.
The article says individuals targeted by sanctions can find themselves cut off from key parts of daily life and commerce. It cites examples such as personal bank accounts being closed and a range of US-based services becoming inaccessible, including ride-hailing and booking platforms. It also notes that email access can be blocked because major providers are based in the United States, and says the court may need to shift or back up evidence stored on Microsoft systems.
The campaign also includes cooperation with other countries outside the ICC, and the article says this could align the US with states such as Russia and China.
UK role and the court’s internal crisis
As one of the court’s major backers, the United Kingdom is likely to be among the countries drawn into the US scrutiny. The article says the UK contributes just over £15m a year and is the fourth largest donor after Japan, Germany and France.
The ICC’s vulnerabilities are also internal. The article reports that two women, including an ICC staff member, have accused Karim Khan, the court’s chief prosecutor, of sexual abuse. It says the ICC’s executive committee voted last month to suspend him after concluding he committed serious misconduct, though Khan denies wrongdoing. The court’s 125 member states are due to vote this Friday on whether to remove him from office.
The article also cites criticism of the ICC’s record. It says the court has struggled with major cases, including those involving Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto, accused over Kenya’s post-election violence in 2007-08. It adds that as the ICC delayed, witnesses disappeared and the cases collapsed after Kenyatta and Ruto later won elections.
The article says these weaknesses may make it harder for the court’s supporters to defend it. It argues that even so, the ICC’s existence continues to affect perceptions and decision-making by keeping arrest risks and indictments in play for senior figures, including figures such as Israel’s prime minister and Russia’s president, and it notes that Rodrigo Duterte, the former president of the Philippines, is on trial for crimes against humanity.
It also references Luis Moreno Ocampo, the ICC’s first chief prosecutor, who said the administration views the court as a barrier and fears it could become a target after leaving office.


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25 July 2026

• 81 comments
• 646 views

webfact

July 25Jul 25

Mass Evacuations as Wildfires Sweep France and Spain

Fire

Mass Evacuations as Wildfires Sweep France and Spain

Tens of thousands of people fled wildfires in south-west France on Friday, while Spain declared a national emergency as several large fires merged outside Madrid and hot, dry conditions fuelled the blazes.

In France, authorities ordered the full evacuation of the Cap Ferret peninsula, an Atlantic Coast tourist hotspot. With two major fires threatening homes and campsites, emergency services sent boats to move people to safety.
France orders full evacuation
About 110,000 people, many of them visitors, were told to leave, officials said. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said one of the fires was “convective”, meaning it could sustain itself, change direction and move mainly eastward, towards the Bordeaux metropolitan area.
A second major fire, which began near Saumos north of Cap Ferret, threatened to cut off the peninsula’s only road and was the largest blaze in France so far this season, Nunez said. France’s interior ministry said the fire had scorched more than 14,000 hectares of forest and destroyed more than 100 homes and one campsite.
Yoan Urien, who evacuated from Biscarrosse after police ordered his neighbourhood to leave late on Thursday, said he could see the fires from his home. “We could see the clouds becoming darker and darker,” he told Reuters. Marie Duelz, a Belgian tourist at Cap Ferret, said she saw a plume of ash that blocked the sun.
French President Emmanuel Macron asked for army support for firefighting, a source close to the president said. Both France and Spain, dealing with successive heatwaves and wildfires in recent years that scientists say are worsened by climate change, also sought assistance from the European Union as emergency services were stretched.
Spain declares national emergency
In Spain, more than 19,000 people were ordered to evacuate from towns in the mountains west of Madrid. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said over 2,000 personnel and 10 aircraft had been deployed in attempts to stop the fires from converging.
The national emergency was the first Spain had ever declared over a wildfire, and it allowed federal funding to be released to respond to the crisis. Madrid regional leader Isabel Díaz Ayuso said the fires had merged and called it “the worst wildfire in our region’s history”, blaming very high temperatures and winds that did not ease.
Evacuees described scenes of sudden danger. Enrique Martin, sheltering in Cebreros west of Madrid, said he had to run from his house after seeing “a ball of fire”. He added that taking only a few more minutes would have put his home at risk.
A third fire in Avila province was on the verge of joining, or may already have joined, the two major blazes near Madrid, Spain’s government representative for Castile and León, Nicanor Sen, said. Spanish police said they had arrested one person and were investigating another person suspected of starting that fire using heavy machinery in a prohibited area.
Grande-Marlaska said the government’s decision to declare an emergency was shaped by the dense population in the west of Madrid, where many residents have second homes. Díaz Ayuso said that in one development, 43 homes had been destroyed.
Regional help and worsening heat
After a short reprieve over the weekend, France’s temperatures are expected to rise sharply again next week, according to Meteo France. The high temperatures could warm rivers used to cool nuclear reactors, potentially leading to reduced power output. EDF data showed the Golfech 2 reactor in southern France has remained offline since July 7 due to heat-related restrictions.
The heat has also affected agriculture. Weeks of hot weather are taking a toll on the condition of the maize crop in France.
Across Europe, wildfires have already burned more land this year than the annual average over the past two decades, data shows, as the continent has endured three close together heatwaves. Scientists have said human-driven climate change increases the intensity of heatwaves, droughts and wildfires and can also create conditions for sudden, destructive storms.
Authorities said Greece was sending two firefighting aircraft to Spain, Croatia was providing a plane and staff to help France, and Italy was dispatching a firefighting plane to Tunisia, which is also dealing with wildfires.


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25 July 2026

• 10 comments
• 916 views

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July 24Jul 24

US Measles Cases Hit 35-Year High for Second Year

USA

US Measles Cases Hit 35-Year High for Second Year

Measles cases in the United States have reached a 35-year high for a second year in a row, according to data compiled by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). By just over halfway through 2026, the country has recorded more cases than in any year since 1991, surpassing the level reached last year.

Although the disease was declared eliminated in the US in 2000, more cases have been logged in the past 18 months than in the previous 25 years combined. Dozens of new cases are reported to the CDC each week, with several large outbreaks continuing from 2025 and others emerging in different parts of the country.
“This essentially is a public health failure, and it’s avoidable,” said Dr Andrew Racine, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Racine said most cases involve children and that nearly all of them are unvaccinated.
Record totals and linked outbreaks
Responding to measles outbreaks has become a persistent challenge for public health agencies. The CDC data show multiple outbreaks that began in 2025 continued into 2026, and new exposures have led to additional large outbreaks affecting much of the country.
South Carolina has recorded more measles cases in 2026 than any other state. In Spartanburg County, an outbreak began in October and grew to nearly 1,000 cases before ending in April, making it the largest in the US in decades.
Neely, the Rev. Scott Neely’s Unitarian Universalist Church of Spartanburg, was described as sitting in the centre of the outbreak. He said he initially felt insulated, but contact tracing later found a link: on the first Friday of 2026, the state health department reached out after a person with measles had attended the church’s annual Christmas brunch. Neely said the event potentially exposed dozens of attendees.
Tracing spread after no guest list
Neely said there was no list of who attended the potluck-style brunch, which was led by congregation volunteers and open to community members. To continue the investigation, the South Carolina Department of Public Health asked for names so staff could follow the chain of exposures and reduce further spread.
Messages were exchanged quickly among church leadership and workers. Within hours, someone shared a photo taken in the room. Neely said a team effort was then used to identify people in the image, collect contact information and pass it to the health department.
He said he did not hear further updates from the state and that transmission appeared not to extend beyond the initial exposure, which he attributed to high vaccination rates within the congregation. Neely said the experience showed how time-consuming contact tracing can be, while also reinforcing the role of vaccination.
“This story was a community trying to figure out what to do in real time,” he said, adding that cooperation and vaccinations helped.
At least 2,318 cases have been reported in 2026, with more than five months left in the year, and the total has already passed last year’s figure. Nearly 2,300 cases were reported in 2025, about 12 times the annual average since measles was declared eliminated and the worst year in more than three decades.
More than 90% of 2026 cases are linked to outbreaks and involve people who are unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown, the CDC data show. Most cases this year are connected to outbreaks that started last year, including one that began along the Utah-Arizona state line and has been continuing for more than a year. International health officials are set to assess in November whether the US can still claim measles elimination status.
Strain on investigation teams
Health officials say measles is extremely contagious and investigations are labour-intensive. Dr Farrell Tobolowsky, medical director of the San Francisco Department of Public Health’s communicable disease programme, said investigators were activated after exposures from just two cases in April and that the department would struggle to handle more than one case without additional staff, amid pressures following public health funding cuts.
Virginia has seen outbreaks concentrated around lower coverage pockets despite high overall vaccination rates. In Buckingham County, an outbreak that began after a case was detected in May has been linked to more than 150 cases, with local staff meeting residents, interviewing families and working with healthcare providers. The state also used a mobile care team for testing and support at home.
In Pennsylvania’s Lancaster County, the state health department said the outbreak has continued to grow, with more than 100 cases reported this year. A spokesperson said none had received both recommended doses of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, and added that two doses provide 97% lifetime protection.
In South Carolina, after the January scramble, Neely said the church began hosting mobile vaccination clinics as part of the response.


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25 July 2026

• Health

• 83 comments
• 729 views

webfact

July 24Jul 24

SK Chairman Ordered to Pay Ex-Wife $644M

Report

SK Chairman Ordered to Pay Ex-Wife $644M

A South Korean court has ordered SK Group chairman Chey Tae-won to pay 944bn won (£483m; $644m) to his ex-wife, Roh Soh-yeong, in a divorce case that has been closely followed in the country.

The award, which still needs to be finalised, is lower than the 1.38tn won Chey was told to pay in an earlier ruling in 2024. The court’s decision comes more than a decade after Chey and Roh’s marriage, which lasted 35 years, ended following revelations that Chey had fathered a child with another woman.
Court order and amount
Roh’s legal team had sought a division of assets after the couple’s separation, arguing that Chey benefited from support linked to her father, Roh Tae-woo, who was president of South Korea between 1988 and 1993.
Under the latest court outcome, Chey has been instructed to pay Roh 944bn won, with the figure set out as part of asset division in the divorce proceedings.
Chey’s lawyers said after the verdict that Chey is “deeply sorry” that the case has caused concern, adding that they would set out a specific response after reviewing the ruling in detail.
Earlier ruling overturned at Supreme Court
In 2024, the court had determined that Roh Tae-woo gave Chey 30bn won from a slush fund in 1991. It then ordered Chey to pay Roh 1.38tn won as part of the divorce settlement.
However, the Supreme Court overturned the 2024 verdict last year, ruling that the slush funds had been illegally obtained and therefore could not be treated as part of the couple’s assets for the purpose of dividing property during the divorce.
That Supreme Court decision narrowed what could be considered in determining the settlement, leading to the renewed order now being reported by South Korean media.
SK Group ties and recent market momentum
SK Group is one of South Korea’s major family-run conglomerates, known as chaebols, which play a dominant role in the country’s economy.
The group began as a textile business in 1953 before expanding into multiple industries and becoming the second-largest chaebol after Samsung. Its businesses are present in everyday consumer life, including SK Telecom phone services and SK-branded fuel stations.
SK Group’s global profile has risen further through SK Hynix, its semiconductor arm. SK Hynix supplies chips to Nvidia and recently marked a record-setting debut on the US stock market.
As SK Hynix’s valuation climbed amid strong demand for AI-related chips, SK Group and Chey’s prominence have increased. In May, SK Hynix surpassed $1tn on the South Korean stock market. The company also raised $26.5bn in a New York share offering described as the largest listing by a foreign firm in the US.
In the latest developments around Chey’s public standing, President Lee Jae Myung last month praised Chey during the launch of a landmark AI investment plan, alongside Samsung chairman JY Lee, describing both as “Heroes of Korean People”.

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25 July 2026

• 0 comments
• 497 views

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July 24Jul 24

Record 165 Migrants Arrive In Dover On One Boat

UK-Asylum crisis

Record 165 Migrants Arrive In Dover On One Boat

A record 165 migrants reached the UK in a single Channel crossing, the Home Office said, after the boat arrived in Dover on Thursday afternoon.

The new figure surpassed the previous peak recorded in July, when 128 people travelled from France in one vessel.
Record crossing in Dover
Border Security Command released images showing officers towing a “mega dinghy” estimated at 13m (42ft) long, roughly the size of a standard bus.
In comments provided with the confirmation, a Home Office spokesperson said the arrival was a “stark reminder” that criminal gangs have “no regard” for the safety of people they claim to be helping. They added: “The reality is clear and lives are being lost in the Channel”.
Death toll and safety concerns
The University of Oxford’s Migration Observatory said 162 people died in the Channel between 2018 and 2025.
It said the wider total rises to 257 when deaths linked to migration are included, including accidents involving people trying to board lorries bound for the UK.
Care4Calais said the route was becoming more dangerous as crossings involved more people per boat. Sydney Sopher, from the refugee charity, said the UK and French governments have spent years focusing on border security and enforcement, but that this had made Channel crossings more and more dangerous.
He said the charity has called for governments to open safe routes, arguing that enforcement without such options continues to push people into unsafe attempts.
Sopher pointed to the discovery of a body on a beach in Berck days earlier and said the deaths were preventable. He added that the charity believes the tragedies could be stopped overnight by opening safe routes.
Home Office figures and France deal
The Home Office said a new deal with France, signed in April, is intended to prevent “perilous journeys” by boosting enforcement action on beaches.
It said the measure would build on more than 45,000 attempted crossings stopped since the 2024 election.
Home Office figures showed 366 people arrived in the UK on three boats on Thursday during warm, sunny weather with calm conditions at sea. Some 172 people made the journey on Wednesday, ending an 11-day hiatus linked to wind in the Channel.
Combined, the Home Office recorded 538 arrivals across Wednesday and Thursday together.
Officials recorded 13,007 arrivals so far this year. The total is 45% lower than the number logged at this point last year and down 18% compared with the same period in 2024.
Many migrants come from some of the poorest, most oppressive and most chaotic parts of the world, and they typically ask to claim asylum once they are picked up by UK authorities.


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25 July 2026

• 20 comments
• 480 views

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July 24Jul 24

Irish Police Stop Bomb Bound for Northern Ireland

Report

Irish Police Stop Bomb Bound for Northern Ireland

A car carrying an “extremely significant” explosive device was intercepted in the Republic of Ireland as it was being driven towards Northern Ireland, Irish police said.

Gardaí said the vehicle was stopped in County Monaghan on Wednesday during an operation focused on dissident republican activity. Police in Northern Ireland believe the bomb was intended for an attack on a police facility north of the border.
Northern Ireland’s main theory is that the device was being transported for use against a police station in the region. Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly confirmed on Friday that officers had found an explosive device after the car was stopped on the N2 near Carrickmacross at about 15:00.
Arrests and court appearance
A woman in her 20s has been charged and is due to appear in court in County Meath on Friday evening. A man in his 40s remains in custody, gardaí said.
Gardaí said the operation was intelligence-led and targeted individuals believed to be involved.
Police sources in Northern Ireland believe the New IRA was likely responsible for the planned attack.
“Extremely significant” device defused
Kelly said the incident was a serious concern but described it as part of an ongoing threat faced by the authorities from a small group of dissident republicans who have not accepted the Good Friday Agreement process for removing weapons and explosives.
“The bomb was not just components or pieces,” Kelly said. “This was an explosive device and it would have or could have potentially caused significant damage.”
Ireland’s Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan described the find as “very worrying”, adding that it showed there was an ongoing threat from dissident republican activity. He said gardaí had been able to apprehend a suspect and that the device had been defused.
Kelly said officers had information about those involved.
RTÉ reported that gardaí sources said the device included a power unit, a detonator and military-grade explosives.
Officials praise cross-border response
Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant thanked gardaí for their “quick, decisive action”, saying the interception of a dangerous device helped keep communities safe on both sides of the border. He said cross-border security cooperation remained vital.
Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Assistant Chief Constable Davy Beck said the seizure and arrests underlined joint commitment to addressing threats posed by violent dissident republican groups. He said the PSNI would continue to liaise closely with An Garda Síochána and offer support as required.
Political reaction
Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill said the bomb reflected a “wreckers’ agenda” and that those responsible had no support for her communities.
Democratic Unionist Party leader Gavin Robinson said the incident raised questions about how the Irish government was assessing the threat from dissident republican terrorism and whether its response matched the level of danger.
Alliance Justice Minister Naomi Long said she “unequivocally” condemned the actions, saying there could be no justification for efforts intended to endanger lives.
Ulster Unionist Party deputy leader Diana Armstrong thanked An Garda Síochána for professionalism and swift action.
Social Democratic and Labour Party MP Colum Eastwood said the incident would bring back difficult memories for many, adding that violence harms communities and tears families apart.
Fine Gael’s David Maxwell, who represents Cavan-Monaghan, thanked gardaí for stopping the device crossing the border and said the Irish Defence Forces had helped make it safe.
Dissident republicans: background
The term “dissident republicans” covers individuals and groups that do not accept the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, which ended the worst of the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
The Provisional IRA, the main armed republican organisation during the conflict, declared a ceasefire before the deal and ended its armed campaign in 2005. Dissident republican groups include breakaway factions such as the Continuity IRA and the New IRA, which are smaller than the Provisional IRA but have access to high-calibre weapons. They have used improvised explosive devices and mortars in attacks and attempted attacks.


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25 July 2026

• UK

• 3 comments
• 680 views

webfact

July 24Jul 24

US Imposes New Tariffs on 60 Trading Partners

USA

US Imposes New Tariffs on 60 Trading Partners

The United States has imposed new tariffs on 60 trading partners, extending a fresh phase of its trade dispute, which was reignited after President Donald Trump returned to office last year.

The duties, which apply to almost all US imports, will be set at 10% to 12.5% on goods from the targeted countries. The move replaces an identical tariff regime that expires on Friday, according to the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR).
New duties replace expiring levy
The latest measure covers the top 60 US trade partners and accounts for 99.4% of American imports, the USTR said.
The White House proposed the tariff range last month, citing concerns that key economic partners had not done enough to tackle forced labour.
USTR Jamieson Greer said the action would “begin to correct” both what he described as a human rights abuse and a trade practice that distorts markets, adding that it aimed to improve the welfare of workers.
In comments provided to the BBC’s Today programme, US trade expert Caroline Freund said the swap was “like for like” and that the administration was maintaining a similar framework after the previous one ended.
Court ruling in the background
The new tariffs follow an earlier decision by the US Supreme Court, which this year ruled that many of the emergency-based tariffs imposed around the world were illegally enacted.
Friends and critics have pointed to the legal context in explaining why the Trump administration has sought alternative grounds for imposing import duties. Freund said the forced-labour justification did not reflect the central purpose of the policy, adding that Trump was looking for a legal basis to introduce and retain the tariffs.
Other analysis suggested the impact on businesses and consumers could be moderated by exemptions covering some goods, said Wendy Cutler of the Asia Society Policy Institute.
Cutler said many trading partners were likely to respond by pursuing arrangements that reduce dependence on the US.
UK, China and EU among targets
The United Kingdom, China and the European Union are among those affected by the new duties.
The head of the British Chambers of Commerce, William Bain, said the UK had lost comparative advantages against the EU as a result of the tariffs. He told the BBC that the EU already has a 10% all-inclusive deal for tariffs on its goods, while the UK faces a 10% universal tariff on top of duties imposed on individual products.
David Henig, director of UK trade policy at the European Centre for International Political Economy, said the UK had “slightly moved backwards”, adding that the outcome could change quickly under Trump.
The UK government said firms would face no change to the tariff rate the UK is subject to. A government spokesperson said the UK takes forced labour seriously and is working so that businesses are not complicit in global supply chains.
It also said UK whisky would not be affected after Trump agreed to exempt the product during King Charles and Queen Camilla’s state visit to the US.
Reactions from other governments
Brazil’s government called the new 12.5% rate “unjustified”. Japan said it regretted the tariffs, while Australia’s trade minister, Don Farrell, described the levies as “completely unjustified”.
China previously opposed unilateral tariff measures and denied forced-labour allegations. A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, said there was “no so-called forced labour in China” and that such claims were used for “political manipulation”. Several international human rights groups have said forced labour exists in China, particularly among Muslim ethnic minorities in Xinjiang.
Trump has long argued that tariffs protect American workers and support US economic growth. In April 2025, he imposed tariffs of up to 50% on global trading partners in a campaign described as “Liberation Day”, but the Supreme Court later struck them down and said the president had exceeded his authority, leading to tens of billions of dollars in refunds.
The White House then pursued other approaches, including a broad 10% levy that expired on Friday, and Washington has also imposed tariffs on countries such as Brazil and Canada. The US and China remain involved in a tit-for-tat tariff dispute that is currently on hold, while the administration has used tariffs to press other countries on non-trade issues, including Mexico.
The White House may also impose further tariffs, with investigations underway into 16 countries over claims of manufacturing overcapacity, covering a large share of US imports.


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25 July 2026

• 47 comments
• 908 views

webfact

July 24Jul 24

Russian Missile Strike Kills 10 at Kyiv Drone Expo

Ukraine Conflict

Russian Missile Strike Kills 10 at Kyiv Drone Expo

At least 15 people have been killed in Russian attacks across Ukraine, including 10 who died when ballistic missiles struck a drone technology exhibition near Kyiv, Ukrainian officials said.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said around 100 people were injured in the daytime attack, which targeted an event attended by leading figures from Ukraine's defence industry. He announced an investigation into the incident and said authorities were examining how the exhibition was organised and what security measures had been in place.
Missile attack hits defence technology exhibition
Ukraine's prosecutor general also said investigators were working to determine who authorised the event and whether adequate precautions had been taken.
According to Ukrainian air force spokesman Yuri Ihnat, Russia launched three ballistic missiles at the exhibition site, with Ukrainian air defences intercepting only one of them.
Russia acknowledged carrying out the strike. Its Defence Ministry said it had used high-precision long-range weapons against a venue where drones intended for attacks on civilian targets in Russia were being demonstrated. Moscow said drone manufacturers, members of Ukraine's drone forces and security personnel involved in planning strikes on Russian territory had been present.
The attack marks at least the third time since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022 that a defence technology exhibition has been targeted.
Questions over event security
The strike prompted immediate concern over the safety of Defence Ministry adviser Serhiy Beskrestnov, known as Flash, and Lyuba Shypovych, who has worked on technology projects for the Ukrainian military.
Both later confirmed on social media that they were unharmed. Beskrestnov said he had chosen not to attend because of security concerns.
The attack has also triggered widespread criticism over the decision to hold a publicly advertised defence-related event during wartime, with many questioning whether it unnecessarily exposed participants to risk.
Separately, five people were killed in the eastern city of Sloviansk after Russian glide bomb attacks.
On Friday evening, Zelensky said intelligence reports suggested Russia was preparing another large-scale missile assault that could take place later that day or within the following 48 hours.
Ukraine strikes targets inside Russia
Ukraine also carried out overnight attacks deep inside Russian territory. Officials said six people were killed and 26 wounded in strikes on the city of Kirov, more than 1,000km from the front line.
Zelensky said Ukrainian forces had hit what he described as one of Russia's key military facilities, which supplies aircraft and missile components used in attacks on Ukraine.
Ukraine also targeted warehouses belonging to Wildberries, Russia's largest online retailer, in the St Petersburg region. The attacks were the latest in a series against the company's logistics facilities over the past week.
Kyiv says it has expanded its targeting beyond oil infrastructure to logistics hubs that can be used to acquire military equipment, aiming to disrupt supplies reaching the Russian armed forces. The strikes have also affected many small and medium-sized businesses operating through the retailer.
Diplomatic moves continue
Zelensky is expected to travel to the United States next week and is scheduled to meet President Donald Trump on Tuesday, according to a White House official, as Washington attempts to restart peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.
Trump ally Laura Loomer, who interviewed Zelensky in Kyiv on Friday, quoted the Ukrainian president as saying he also intended to attend the funeral of US Senator Lindsey Graham on the same day.
Elsewhere, Romanian President Nicusor Dan said a Romanian F-16 fighter jet shot down a Russian drone that entered the country's airspace on Friday. Romanian authorities had earlier issued air raid alerts across several eastern and south-eastern regions.


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25 July 2026

• 0 comments
• 475 views

webfact

July 24Jul 24

West Bank Shooting Kills Six Amid Conflicting Accounts

Middle East

West Bank Shooting Kills Six Amid Conflicting Accounts

At least four Palestinians and two Israelis have been killed in the occupied West Bank following a deadly shooting in the village of Tal, marking the deadliest single incident in the territory in several months.

Conflicting accounts have emerged over how the violence unfolded. Palestinian residents told the BBC that local people confronted a group of Jewish settlers who were attacking homes in the village before Israeli soldiers arrived and opened fire. Israel's military, however, said Palestinians initiated the violence by attacking Israeli hikers.
Deadly Violence Erupts in Northern West Bank
According to eyewitness Ahmed Zeidan, around 30 settlers entered Tal early in the morning, prompting residents to confront them. He said hand-to-hand clashes broke out while Israeli soldiers were present. Essam Saifi, a local leader from the Palestinian Authority's ruling Fatah movement, told Reuters that settlers opened fire before Israeli forces arrived and also began shooting. Palestinian officials said several other residents were wounded.
Israeli Military Gives Different Version
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said troops were responding to reports that Israeli civilians hiking in the area had come under attack. The military said the hike had not been coordinated with security forces.
According to the IDF, a security guard from a nearby settler outpost arrived at the scene, where a Palestinian seized his weapon and fatally shot him. Soldiers then killed the alleged attacker during the ensuing exchange of fire.
The military said four members of the same Palestinian family died during the confrontation. It also confirmed that a 27-year-old Israeli soldier was killed during operations in the area, although the circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear. Two other Israelis were reported wounded.
Videos Circulate as Investigation Continues
Videos widely shared on local media, but not independently verified, appear to show confrontations involving Palestinians, Israeli soldiers and armed Israelis dressed in civilian clothing.
One clip shows a chaotic confrontation with gunfire while civilians, including children, watch nearby. Another appears to show two Palestinian men attempting to seize weapons, with one apparently succeeding before multiple shots are fired by both sides.
Israeli forces later raided a hospital in Nablus, saying they arrested two Palestinians suspected of involvement in the shooting after they sought medical treatment.
Political Tensions Escalate
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry condemned what it described as a "massacre" in Tal, accusing the Israeli government of enabling settler violence through political support and impunity.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to respond "with full force against the terrorists and those who orchestrate and sponsor them". Following an emergency security meeting, his office announced that the home of the alleged Palestinian attacker would be demolished and that efforts to legalise unauthorised settler outposts and establish new ones would be accelerated.
Israeli opposition leader Yair Golan criticised the move, saying it demonstrated "a clear intent to set the area ablaze".
Further clashes were later reported in nearby villages, where dozens of armed settlers and Palestinians reportedly confronted one another. Local medics said several Palestinians were injured, including one person shot in the head in Farata.
Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called for villages linked to the attackers to be treated in the same way as Gaza, saying the "enemy must suffer the loss of land and homes" for every Israeli killed.
Rising Violence Since Gaza War Began
Violence across the occupied West Bank has increased sharply since the Gaza war began following the Hamas-led attack on Israel on 7 October 2023.
According to the United Nations, 1,114 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank since then, most by Israeli forces, with at least 35 deaths involving settler attacks. During the same period, 41 Israelis, including civilians and security personnel, have been killed in Palestinian attacks or during Israeli military operations in the territory.
Israel has built hundreds of settlements housing around 700,000 Israelis across the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem since capturing the territories in the 1967 Middle East war. The settlements are considered illegal under international law, a position Israel disputes. Around 3.3 million Palestinians live in the same territory.

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25 July 2026

• Israel

• 8 comments
• 457 views

webfact

July 24Jul 24

Trump Derails Saudi Nuclear Deal Within 24 Hours

Trump

Trump Derails Saudi Nuclear Deal Within 24 Hours

A long-awaited civilian nuclear cooperation agreement between the United States and Saudi Arabia was thrown into uncertainty less than 24 hours after it was signed, after President Donald Trump imposed a new condition requiring Riyadh to join the Abraham Accords.

The agreement was formally signed on Wednesday at the US Department of Energy headquarters in Washington after years of negotiations. Energy Secretary Chris Wright participated in the ceremony alongside Saudi officials, with the event marking what had been presented as a significant milestone in bilateral relations.
Deal Signed After Years of Negotiations
Saudi Arabia had secured many of its key objectives in the agreement, including provisions that would eventually allow uranium enrichment on Saudi soil under specific conditions. The deal also did not require Riyadh to adopt the International Atomic Energy Agency's Additional Protocol, a more stringent inspection framework.
However, on Thursday morning Trump announced on social media that the agreement would only proceed if Saudi Arabia normalised diplomatic relations with Israel by joining the Abraham Accords. He also rejected suggestions that the deal would permit uranium enrichment.
Internal Dispute Over Rollout
According to sources familiar with the matter, Trump was already unhappy that the agreement had been unveiled without his direct involvement. The sources said the president had not been informed by Wright that the signing ceremony would take place when it did.
Confusion spread inside the administration as White House officials and the Energy Department offered differing accounts of how the announcement had been handled. Some White House officials argued they had asked the Energy Department to delay the rollout, while others maintained the agreement had not yet been finalised because required notifications to Congress had not been sent.
White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers said the administration had always viewed Saudi participation in the Abraham Accords as a requirement for the nuclear agreement.
The Energy Department rejected suggestions of poor coordination, calling reports of internal disagreement "fake news" and insisting negotiations and the announcement had been closely coordinated with both the White House and the State Department.
Questions about the deal dominated Thursday's White House press briefing, where Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described Trump as the administration's "final dealmaker" and defended the president's decision.
Criticism from Experts and Conservatives
The agreement also drew criticism from nuclear non-proliferation experts, who expressed concern over provisions allowing uranium enrichment and the absence of stronger international inspection safeguards.
Supporters argued the agreement would strengthen US influence over Saudi Arabia's civilian nuclear programme while preventing Riyadh from turning to China or Russia for nuclear cooperation.
Conservative media outlets also questioned the agreement. The Wall Street Journal's editorial board criticised the absence of any requirement for Saudi Arabia to normalise relations with Israel before receiving nuclear cooperation. Fox News hosts similarly questioned why the arrangement appeared to differ from proposals considered during Joe Biden's presidency.
Sources told CNN that this criticism influenced Trump's decision to halt the agreement in its existing form.
Regional Diplomacy Remains Central
The nuclear agreement is the latest chapter in nearly two decades of US-Saudi nuclear negotiations. A tentative understanding had been reached in late 2025, but concerns over regional tensions and possible congressional opposition delayed progress.
Following Trump's intervention, some observers speculated that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had urged the president to tie the agreement to Saudi recognition of Israel. Two Israeli sources said Netanyahu hoped such a condition would be included.
The White House said Trump had not spoken with Netanyahu before announcing the new requirement and insisted the president was simply restating a long-standing policy position.
Saudi Arabia has consistently maintained that it cannot establish diplomatic relations with Israel without a credible pathway towards Palestinian statehood, making the newly imposed condition a significant obstacle to the agreement's future.


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25 July 2026

• Report

• 34 comments
• 1,301 views

webfact

July 24Jul 24

Trump Says Iran School Strike Images May Be AI-Generated

Iranian Conflict

Trump Says Iran School Strike Images May Be AI-Generated

More than four months after a US bombing in southern Iran hit the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls’ school, killing 120 children and dozens of teachers and parents, uncertainty remains about how the attack unfolded and what evidence will be made public.

Investigators and commentators have pointed to material suggesting the Pentagon’s role in the strike. They cite reports that US Tomahawk missile fragments were found at the site, along with leaked commentary from military analysts and operational profiles of US forces reportedly involved in the region.
Sky News and Forensic Architecture review school history
The debate has been sharpened by a new analysis by Sky News and the research group Forensic Architecture, which reconstructed the school using a three-dimensional model.
The study concluded that the location had been used as a school for years prior to the attack, contradicting an argument advanced elsewhere that older intelligence was a key factor behind the strike.
Supporters of that position say the reconstruction reduces the likelihood that the target was misidentified based on outdated information. Opponents of the US assessment argue that the analysis strengthens calls for further transparency.
Trump tells Fox he may consult generals
US President Donald Trump, however, said he was not satisfied with the explanation and raised the possibility that the imagery at the centre of the controversy could be manipulated.
Speaking to Fox News anchor Trey Yingst, Trump did not say whether the results of the US investigation would be released. He said he still needed to “speak to the generals”.
Trump also suggested that a definitive account of what happened may be impossible, adding that there were images from the site that showed fragments appearing to be from US Tomahawk missiles. When asked whether the incident could have been caused by old intelligence or a mistake during a busy period of fighting, Trump agreed that such scenarios were possible.
He then said it was also possible that the images could be “AI generated”, while arguing that he did not believe there could be a conclusive report.
Amnesty calls for transparency, truth and reparations
Human rights groups have urged the US government to provide clearer information to families of the victims.
In a statement, Amnesty International national director of government relations and advocacy Amanda Klasing said the public and victims’ families must receive transparency and accountability, and that families were owed truth, justice and reparations.
Klasing said Trump had made contradictory statements and that the Pentagon had refused to provide information to Congress. She also criticised responses from lawmakers and the public, saying they were growing frustrated with the “rote” position adopted by Secretary Hegseth and others that the incident was still under investigation.
Amnesty’s statement asserted that the US military was responsible for killing more than 150 people in an attack using precision-guided Tomahawk missiles against a school filled with children.
While the competing accounts continue to evolve, the new reconstruction and Trump’s comments have added fresh pressure on the US to clarify what evidence led to the strike and what conclusions investigators have reached.


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24 July 2026

• 32 comments
• 869 views

webfact

July 23Jul 23

US Justice Department to Drop Subpoenas Against NYT Staff

USA

US Justice Department to Drop Subpoenas Against NYT Staff

The Justice Department said on Thursday it would withdraw subpoenas issued to several New York Times reporters over their coverage of security concerns tied to a newly gifted Air Force One aircraft from Qatar.

The decision was announced during a hearing in a Manhattan federal court, where Judge Arun Subramanian was considering a motion by the newspaper to quash the subpoenas. Sean Buckley, chief counsel to U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton, told the court that the government was prepared to withdraw the requests at that stage.
“The government is prepared to unilaterally withdraw the subpoenas at this time,” Buckley said during the hearing in U.S. District Court, according to the New York Times.
Subpoenas for Grand Jury Testimony
Four Times journalists — Julian E. Barnes, Eric Lipton, Tyler Pager and Eric Schmitt — were served with subpoenas on 10 July. The notices sought to compel their testimony before a federal grand jury.
According to the newspaper, the Department of Justice also sought phone and text message records from the reporters, and in some cases records linked to members of their families.
Court Dispute Over Press Freedom
The case arose as the Trump administration sought to identify confidential government sources who had spoken to reporters about the security features of the donated aircraft, a step critics said could deter press reporting and suppress unfavourable coverage.
In a court filing, lawyers for the Times argued the subpoenas were aimed at harassment and intimidation. They said the subpoenas were issued in what they described as a bad faith effort to retaliate against members of the press for reporting on matters the President found embarrassing.
The Times, through its motion to quash, sought to stop the subpoenas being enforced.
First Amendment Arguments and Prosecutors’ Response
At the hearing, Buckley said in an earlier letter to the judge that the First Amendment does not prevent journalists from being compelled to appear before a grand jury to answer questions, including questions about their knowledge of alleged criminal conduct, even where the questions could relate to the identities of sources.
Prosecutors from the Southern District of New York had previously asked Subramanian to pause enforcement of the subpoenas for two weeks while they pursued additional investigative steps.
The Times had also argued that the subpoenas were not issued following the required legal procedures and internal Justice Department regulations. Prosecutors disputed that, calling the claims inaccurate.
Buckley wrote that, without disclosing classified or other sensitive information, the reporters’ arguments were incorrect in asserting, for instance, that the investigation lacked a proper basis and that no investigative steps had been taken before the subpoenas were issued. He said prosecutors considered “among other things, the underlying national security equities at stake”.
Reporting on Air Force One Security
The Times reported earlier in July that President Trump had used the older Air Force One when leaving the NATO summit in Turkey due to a security precaution linked to the war with Iran.
In later reporting, the journalists said the new aircraft lacked “defensive countermeasures” found on older models, including advanced anti-missile capabilities. The newspaper said it relied on information from multiple officials who had been briefed on retrofitting.
In a prior statement to The Hill, the Justice Department said the reporters were not its targets, referring instead to people who were leaking classified information. A spokesperson said the administration would continue to investigate those who leak classified material affecting national security.


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24 July 2026

• 1 comment
• 559 views

webfact

July 23Jul 23

Oil Prices Surge Past $100 Mark for First Time Since May

Iranian Conflict

Oil Prices Surge Past $100 Mark for First Time Since May

Brent crude, the global benchmark for oil prices, rose to $100 a barrel for the first time since May on Thursday, as renewed Middle East conflict raised concerns about energy supplies.

The move came after several days of increases, with the latest gains driven by an escalation in military activity involving the United States and Iran and fresh disruptions to shipping routes in the region.
Oil jumps after attacks in the Red Sea
Brent climbed more than 6% on Thursday, extending a run of higher prices. The latest escalation followed reports that the US had stepped up military strikes against Iran.
Oil prices also spiked after Houthi militia in Yemen attacked oil tankers in the Red Sea. The incidents threaten a key export route that Saudi Arabia has used to divert shipments and bypass the Strait of Hormuz.
Ceasefire falters and gas prices rise
Oil prices had been trending lower following a temporary ceasefire between the US and Iran. Prices fell back to levels last seen before the US and Israel began military action against Iran on 28 February.
That truce has not held. This week, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the people in charge in Iran were “not ready to make a deal”.
Gas prices have meanwhile continued to rise. The UK gas benchmark is currently around 150p per therm, up from about 98p at the end of June, extending a steady move higher over the past month.
Inflation risks and implications for interest rates
With energy costs rising, analysts warned the renewed conflict could put pressure on inflation in the UK and the US, feeding through into consumer prices.
Higher oil prices typically lift the cost of petrol and diesel. That can also affect the prices of other goods, as businesses may pass on increased transport and energy costs, including for items such as food.
Inflation has already eased in both countries. In the UK, it fell to 2.6% in the year to June, helped by slowing diesel and petrol prices. In the US, inflation was 3.5%.
However, questions remain about whether that slowdown will last. New figures released on Thursday showed UK petrol prices have risen by 5p a litre since the beginning of July, reaching almost £1.56. Diesel prices are at £1.72 a litre on average, according to the RAC.
In the US, average gasoline prices have also moved back above $4 a gallon, rising from $3.92 a month earlier, according to AAA.
Jonathan Raymond, an investment manager at Quilter Cheviot, said more expensive fuel and energy can “ripple through the wider economy”, increasing costs for businesses and feeding into prices for food and other goods. He added that this could add to pressure on central banks in their efforts to reduce inflation, potentially affecting decisions on whether rates are kept higher for longer.
Bank of England and Federal Reserve in focus
The Bank of England has held interest rates at 3.75% in its last four meetings. Paul Dales, chief UK economist at Capital Economics, said the bank would “almost certainly” hold rates again, but added that analysts still expect cuts next year if energy prices ease.
In the US, Kevin Warsh, the newly appointed chair of the Federal Reserve, told Congress last week that the central bank had “no tolerance to persistently elevated inflation”. President Donald Trump has pushed for borrowing costs to fall, having urged Warsh’s predecessor, Jerome Powell, to cut rates.
At Warsh’s first meeting last month, the Fed held US rates between 3.5% and 3.75%. Warsh also told Congress that the bank was committed to “restoring price stability” in the wake of the Middle East conflict affecting prices.


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24 July 2026

• 13 comments
• 538 views

webfact

July 23Jul 23

UK PM Burnham Halts Early Prison Release Plan

UK-Politics

UK PM Burnham Halts Early Prison Release Plan

Andy Burnham has announced a pause to a scheme that would have allowed thousands of prisoners in England and Wales to be released earlier than planned, with eligibility depending on the type of sentence and how much of it had been served.

The decision follows criticism from survivors and victims’ families, including the widow of Thames Valley Police officer Andrew Harper, who was killed in 2019. Lissie Harper said the prospect of the men who killed her husband being freed early was “deplorable”, as the plan faced renewed scrutiny ahead of its planned implementation.
Pause agreed after victim backlash
Under the Sentencing Act, due to take effect in September, some offenders would have been moved out of custody at earlier points to help ease pressure on prisons. Justice Secretary Alex Norris said the pause was intended to “give victims and survivors certainty” and ensure the government “got the implementation of this policy right”.
Norris said a review would also examine what information had been provided to victims and survivors as part of the early release process. Burnham earlier said no prisoners would be released “under this policy” until an urgent review was completed and measures were taken to “minimise risk to the public”, adding that changes would be made where needed.
The BBC understands the scheme would have resulted in around 700 prisoners being released early in September.
Norris said the government had heard concerns from victims and survivors and from people across the country about implementation of parts of the Sentencing Act. He said one element needing to be handled properly was the information given to victims before release decisions were made.
He refused to say why concerns had not been raised when the Sentencing Act was introduced but said Burnham was “quite right” to review the policy.
How early release would have worked
The scheme was designed to apply in stages from September and would have shifted release dates for prisoners serving fixed terms. Offenders due to be released after 50% of a standard fixed sentence would have been eligible after serving 33%, with the remainder served in the community under monitoring. If an offender offended again, they could be returned to prison. For those serving fixed sentences for serious sexual and violent offences, the planned change would have moved release from 66% of the sentence to 50%.
The most serious categories, including life prisoners and those subject to extended monitoring, would not have been included.


Source: BBC

Norris said Burnham was pausing the policy to ensure implementation is correct, rather than abandoning the act entirely. He said he hoped to provide victims with “certainty as soon as we can”.
Victims’ Commissioner Claire Waxman welcomed the pause, calling the original version of the early release plan “the wrong course of action”. She said many victims had already been told offenders who harmed them could be released early, leaving them with “renewed fear and uncertainty”, and argued victims should have safety and confidence prioritised.
Reactions and timetable
The pause comes after letters were sent to victims in recent weeks warning them the early release scheme was due to begin in September. Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Conservative Party, said she welcomed the pause but called for killers and rapists to be “permanently” exempt from any future version, describing the policy as “dangerous” in a post on X.
Jade Belgrove, a survivor of sexual assault campaigning against the scheme, said receiving a letter informing her attacker might be released early was “horrific” and described relief at the pause.
Steve Gillan, general secretary of prison officers’ union POA, said he understood concerns about “operational stability” but said the government was correct to pause early releases to ensure “adequate public protection” and to put victims first.
Prison officers also reacted, with one telling the BBC that prisons were “super overcrowded” and warning that if releases do not proceed in September, capacity could become critical by November. Another said the pause showed the government was “putting public safety first”.
In 2024, the Labour government announced separate and temporary emergency measures to release some prisoners early to ease overcrowding.


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24 July 2026

• 18 comments
• 657 views

webfact

July 23Jul 23

Pauline Hanson Criticised Over Domestic Violence Remarks

Australia

Pauline Hanson Criticised Over Domestic Violence Remarks

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has come under renewed criticism after comments from a podcast recorded in November 2025 resurfaced, in which she described paid family and domestic violence leave as "ridiculous" and suggested police were being diverted from dealing with "real crime."
Unearthed Podcast Sparks Fresh Backlash
The remarks, made during an appearance on the Broken Fathers podcast and first reported by Nine newspapers, re-emerged after Hanson defended earlier comments describing domestic violence as a "two-way street."
The senator has rejected criticism, accusing the media and the Labor government of misrepresenting her views.
Criticism of Family Violence Policies
Speaking on the podcast, which focuses on fathers' experiences in family law disputes, Hanson criticised Australia's family violence framework and argued that changes to family law had increasingly favoured women.
She said the system had become "broken" because it was "suppressing the males all the time" and claimed reforms had been driven by "woke" politicians and women's advocacy groups.
"I do think it is broken because we've got too many woke people in parliament now, and it's pushing women's rights," Hanson said.
"But with ... women's rights, you've got to have women's responsibilities."
Hanson also criticised the introduction of 10 days of paid family and domestic violence leave, calling the entitlement "ridiculous" and describing it as a "holiday."
The leave entitlement was introduced during the Albanese government's first term. Since 2024, victim-survivors leaving violent relationships have also been eligible to receive up to A$5,000 in tailored financial assistance.
Police and Family Violence Claims
During the 70-minute interview, Hanson argued that domestic violence cases were consuming most police resources, claiming officers were spending about 75% of their time responding to such incidents.
She said this was preventing police from tackling what she described as "real crime" and argued the current approach should be scaled back.
Hanson also said police had become frustrated with the reporting requirements associated with domestic violence cases.
Union Response
The Australian Council of Trade Unions condemned Hanson's comments, particularly her characterisation of paid domestic violence leave.
ACTU president Michele O'Neil described the remarks as "shockingly out of touch" and called them "reckless and dangerous."
O'Neil said paid family and domestic violence leave was introduced after unions campaigned on behalf of victim-survivors who said they needed time to leave abusive relationships without sacrificing their income.
She rejected Hanson's description of the leave as a holiday, saying those accessing it faced difficult and often dangerous circumstances while seeking safety.


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24 July 2026

• 17 comments
• 470 views

webfact

July 23Jul 23

US House Votes to Curb Trump's Iran War Powers

Trump

US House Votes to Curb Trump's Iran War Powers

The US House of Representatives has approved a resolution seeking to halt President Donald Trump's military action against Iran unless Congress authorizes it, marking the latest congressional rebuke of the administration's handling of the conflict.

The measure passed by 214 votes to 208, with four Republicans joining Democrats in support. Republican Representatives Thomas Massie, Brian Fitzpatrick, Tom Barrett and Warren Davidson crossed party lines to back the resolution, which was introduced by Democratic Representative Pramila Jayapal.
Although the vote represents a significant political setback for the White House, the resolution would not legally force the administration to end military operations. As a concurrent resolution, it is not sent to the president for approval or veto and does not carry the force of law.
Senate Rejects Similar Measure
Later on Thursday, the Senate voted on a separate effort to limit Trump's war powers in Iran, but the proposal failed by 47 votes to 49.
Republican Senator Susan Collins joined Democrats in supporting the measure, while Democratic Senator John Fetterman voted with Republicans to reject it.
The votes came after fighting resumed following the collapse of a recent ceasefire and the breakdown of a memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran.
Growing Republican Unease
The House vote marked the second time lawmakers have attempted to limit Trump's authority to continue military action against Iran, but it was the first since diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran collapsed.
Democrats have repeatedly forced votes in both chambers to restrict the president's war powers. While those efforts have largely failed, they have attracted increasing Republican backing, reflecting growing unease within the party over the prolonged conflict.
The debate has intensified following the return to the United States on Wednesday of the flag-draped bodies of four American service members killed during the war.
Some Democrats argue that congressional war powers resolutions remain legally binding despite questions over their enforceability, noting that courts have not definitively ruled on the issue.
Democrats Highlight Political Message
House Democrats said the repeated votes also reflect public opposition to another prolonged US military conflict as the midterm elections approach.
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said many Americans were tired of the United States entering wars without sufficient justification and spending vast sums on overseas conflicts.
She said passing the resolution before lawmakers left for the August recess sent a message opposing the war, warning that it had harmed the global economy while diverting attention from the concerns of working-class Americans.
Jayapal said she believed some Republicans who did not participate in the vote wanted to avoid explaining to constituents why they opposed ending what she described as an illegal war.
Trump has previously criticised Republicans who backed earlier efforts to curb his war powers, calling them "losers" in posts on Truth Social and telling party members in private meetings that their actions had made his job more difficult.
In June, during the ceasefire, the Senate approved a resolution aimed at removing US military forces from Iran. However, lawmakers reversed course a day later after failing to advance a similar war powers measure.


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24 July 2026

• USA

• 11 comments
• 733 views

webfact

July 23Jul 23

Trump Says Decision on Major Iran Attack Is Near

Iranian Conflict

Trump Says Decision on Major Iran Attack Is Near

US President Donald Trump said he is close to deciding whether to launch what he described as a “massive attack” against Iran, signalling the possibility of a military operation larger than previous strikes during the months-long conflict with Tehran.

Speaking to Axios on Thursday, Trump said he was considering a significant escalation.
He acknowledged such action would have consequences but said no final decision had been made. Trump also claimed Israel would join any operation quickly if requested, though he added that the United States did not need additional support.
Oil prices climb as tensions deepen
Trump's remarks came as Brent crude oil rose above $100 a barrel for the first time in the latest phase of the conflict, amid growing concerns that further disruption to Middle East shipping could push prices even higher.
The comments followed threats by Trump of "major military punishment" against Iran and Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi movement after the Houthis attacked two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea.
The Houthis said they struck the tankers Encelia and Layla, causing fires aboard both vessels. No casualties were reported. The attack marked the group's first reported strike on a vessel since announcing a blockade of Saudi-linked shipping.
The Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, is one of the world's most important maritime routes. Around 12% of global trade and roughly a quarter of the world's container traffic passes through the waterway on routes connecting Europe and Asia via the Suez Canal.
Ships have begun avoiding the strait after the Houthis declared a blockade of Saudi ports, including Yanbu, which Saudi Arabia has used to export oil to Asia as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has been severely disrupted.
Maritime intelligence firm Lloyd's List Intelligence warned the attacks threaten Saudi oil exports from Yanbu and further undermine an alternative shipping route already under pressure because of disruptions in the Gulf.
International concern grows
UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned the Security Council that the Middle East was approaching a dangerous turning point.
"The situation is getting out of control," Guterres said, adding that the region was being pulled into an expanding cycle of confrontation in which each escalation fuelled another.
Several countries also took precautionary measures. The UK temporarily withdrew diplomatic staff from Iran, Germany announced it would pull two naval vessels from the Red Sea, and the US State Department warned Americans in the region that flight cancellations were possible. Israeli authorities also opened bomb shelters in several cities.
Reports of Iranian support for Houthis
Reuters, citing four sources including two Iranian officials, reported that Iran sent Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps personnel and military equipment, including drone components, to Yemen on 13 July. The report said the deployment coincided with Tehran's calls for the Houthis to blockade the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
Trump warned on social media that any further Houthi attacks would result in Iran being held responsible, describing the group as an Iranian proxy and threatening major military retaliation against both Iran and the Houthis.
Saudi nuclear deal linked to Israel
Separately, Trump said a proposed US agreement to help Saudi Arabia develop a civilian nuclear programme would depend on Riyadh normalising relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords.
Saudi Arabia has long maintained that recognition of Israel depends on meaningful progress toward Palestinian statehood. It later emerged that the new condition had not been discussed with Saudi officials.
Trump has also intensified his rhetoric toward Iran in recent days, suggesting the US could strike an underground nuclear-related facility that Israel claims houses uranium enrichment centrifuges.
Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Iran was seeking a deal but warned it would face severe consequences if its actions continued. At the same time, Trump's handling of the conflict faces increasing political pressure at home, with opinion polls showing declining support and the US House of Representatives narrowly approving a resolution calling for an end to US military action in Iran.

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24 July 2026

• USA

• 18 comments
• 790 views

webfact

July 23Jul 23

Israeli Security Min Joins Mass Visit to al-Aqsa Compound

Israel

Israeli Security Min Joins Mass Visit to al-Aqsa Compound

Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir joined thousands of Jewish visitors at Jerusalem's most sensitive holy site on Thursday, in a visit that drew strong condemnation from Palestinian officials, Jordan and Israeli peace activists.

Escorted by armed police, Ben-Gvir and other visitors entered the compound, where many prayed, waved Israeli flags and sang the national anthem. The site is known to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif and to Jews as the Temple Mount.
Status Quo Under Pressure
Under a long-standing arrangement governing the site, non-Muslim visitors are permitted to enter but are not allowed to pray there. Critics say Ben-Gvir has steadily weakened those restrictions through repeated visits and changes to regulations for Jewish visitors, including allowing them to bring prayer books and other religious materials onto the compound.
In January, Ben-Gvir also secured the appointment of a close ideological ally to lead the Jerusalem police, a move seen by critics as making further policy changes easier.
Posting on social media after Thursday's visit, Ben-Gvir said there had been "enormous progress" and that Jewish worshippers at the site "feel like the owners." He has previously called for an Israeli flag to be flown at the compound and for a synagogue to be built there.
Regional Condemnation
The Palestinian Ministry of Religious Endowments and Affairs accused the Israeli government of pursuing policies that risk inflaming religious tensions across the region.
"The provocative practices... seek to ignite a religious war throughout the entire region," the ministry said.
Israeli lawmaker Amit Halevi, from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party, also joined visitors who raised Israeli flags and sang the national anthem, according to Haaretz, citing activists campaigning for expanded Jewish worship rights at the site.
Israeli peace group Peace Now described the prayers near al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock as a "dangerous provocation" that violated the long-standing status quo governing the compound.
Jordan's foreign ministry also condemned the visit, calling on the international community to pressure Israel to halt what it described as continuing violations against Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.
According to the Islamic Waqf Department, which administers the compound, 3,228 Israelis entered the site during the morning, with thousands more expected later in the day.
Historical Sensitivity
Thursday's visit coincided with Tisha B'Av, the Jewish day of mourning marking the destruction of the First and Second Temples, both traditionally associated with the site.
The compound has long been a flashpoint in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Ariel Sharon's visit there in 2000 helped trigger the second Palestinian intifada, while Hamas named its October 2023 attack on Israel "Al-Aqsa Flood," saying it was carried out in response to alleged Israeli violations at the site.
Earlier this year, Netanyahu publicly supported Jewish prayer at the compound, saying changes promoted by Ben-Gvir had been coordinated with his office, while maintaining that Israel had not breached the status quo agreement.
Overnight, thousands of people marched through parts of Jerusalem's Old City near the compound. According to Haaretz, some participants attacked Palestinians and vandalised a Muslim cemetery near Lions' Gate. Police said they arrested 16 Jewish suspects in connection with the violence.


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24 July 2026

• 0 comments
• 447 views

webfact

July 23Jul 23

Houthi Red Sea Attacks Deepen Middle East Tensions

Middle East

Houthi Red Sea Attacks Deepen Middle East Tensions

Yemen's Houthi movement has claimed responsibility for attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, raising concerns about a further escalation of tensions across the Middle East and the potential for wider economic disruption.
Shipping Threats Add to Regional Instability
The group says it has targeted vessels near the Bab El Mandeb Strait, a strategic waterway linking the Red Sea with the Indian Ocean. The attacks have reportedly forced ships to alter their routes, threatening one of the world's busiest maritime trade corridors between Europe and Asia.
The developments come as US air strikes on Iranian military targets continue and shortly after Washington announced a civil nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia, adding to concerns about the region's long-term stability.
Shipping Routes Face New Pressure
The Houthis said they struck two Saudi vessels and warned other ships to avoid Saudi ports, claiming that around 10 vessels had turned back in response. If sustained, the disruption could place additional pressure on global trade already affected by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
The Strait of Hormuz remains a key route for exports of oil, gas and fertiliser. Saudi Arabia has partly reduced the impact on its oil exports by using its East-West Pipeline, which transports crude across the kingdom to the Red Sea port of Yanbu. From there, tankers normally travel south through the Bab El Mandeb Strait to reach Asian markets.
The latest Houthi threats now place that alternative export route at risk, potentially adding further strain to global supply chains and increasing transport costs.
Houthis Remain a Difficult Military Challenge
US President Donald Trump has pledged to defeat the Houthis, but the group has previously demonstrated its ability to withstand sustained military campaigns.
Originating in northern Yemen, the Iran-backed movement seized the capital, Sanaa, in 2014 before expanding its control over much of the country's populated areas, including the port of Hodeidah.
Saudi Arabia launched a military intervention in 2015 in support of Yemen's internationally recognised government, expecting its air campaign to force the Houthis into negotiations. Instead, the conflict continued for years, leaving the group firmly established despite extensive bombardment and heavy civilian casualties.
Between 2023 and 2025, the Houthis repeatedly attacked shipping they said was linked to Israel in support of Palestinians in Gaza. They also fired missiles at US and British naval vessels involved in protecting commercial shipping.
Yemen's mountainous Red Sea coastline provides numerous locations where weapons can be concealed before being used in attacks, making it difficult to eliminate the group's military capabilities.
Regional and Economic Concerns Grow
While Iraq and Syria have become comparatively more stable after years of conflict, analysts are increasingly focused on rising tensions in the Gulf and Arabian Peninsula.
US air strikes have continued against Iranian military positions for nearly two weeks, while Iran has responded with attacks targeting neighbouring countries that host US military bases, including Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan.
The longer shipping remains disrupted through the Strait of Hormuz, the greater the pressure on global energy supplies and international trade. Any prolonged disruption at the Bab El Mandeb Strait would add another major obstacle to maritime commerce.
The recently announced US-Saudi civil nuclear agreement has also prompted debate about regional security. Although there is no indication Saudi Arabia intends to pursue nuclear weapons, some analysts have expressed concern that expanded civilian nuclear programmes could encourage greater nuclear development elsewhere in the region, including in Turkey and Egypt.
The Middle East has experienced repeated periods of conflict in recent decades, but the combination of ongoing US-Iran hostilities, renewed Houthi attacks on shipping and broader regional security concerns has increased fears that instability could persist unless a broader diplomatic settlement is reached.


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24 July 2026

• 10 comments
• 615 views

webfact

July 23Jul 23

Trump Ties Saudi Nuclear Deal to Israel Recognition

Report

Trump Ties Saudi Nuclear Deal to Israel Recognition

The United States will only move forward with a civil nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia if the kingdom formally recognises Israel by joining the Abraham Accords, President Donald Trump has said.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the proposed agreement, which he stressed would involve no uranium enrichment and be limited to civilian purposes, remained conditional on Saudi Arabia establishing diplomatic ties with Israel.
It remains unclear whether the condition is included in the text of the agreement, which has not yet been released, or whether Saudi Arabia has formally accepted it. Riyadh has not publicly responded to Trump's comments.
White House Reaffirms Position
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump has repeatedly made the condition clear during discussions with Saudi leaders.
“He has said if they don't join the Abraham Accords, the deal is off,” she said, adding that discussions with Saudi officials would continue.
The comments followed criticism from nuclear experts and some lawmakers, who warned the agreement could increase long-term nuclear proliferation risks in an already volatile Middle East. Although members of both major US political parties have voiced concerns, opponents are not expected to have enough votes in Congress to block the deal.
According to the US Department of Energy, the package includes a peaceful nuclear cooperation agreement and a bilateral safeguards agreement intended to support civilian nuclear development while strengthening non-proliferation measures.
The department said the agreements establish the legal framework for a long-term partnership and will be submitted to Congress for review.
International Oversight and Regional Reaction
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said it was aware of plans for a bilateral civil nuclear cooperation agreement and expected to receive a request to implement verification measures.
The agency said it looked forward to working with both Washington and Riyadh to ensure those safeguards were carried out.
During Trump's first term, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain signed the Abraham Accords, normalising relations with Israel. Sudan, Morocco and Kazakhstan later joined the agreements.
Saudi Arabia has consistently maintained that it will not recognise Israel without the establishment of a Palestinian state. The White House has nevertheless said the nuclear agreement depends on Riyadh joining the accords.
Israel welcomed Trump's statement. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office described potential Saudi participation in the Abraham Accords as “an historic leap forward for peace in the Middle East,” although it did not refer directly to the nuclear agreement.
Israeli Economy Minister Nir Barkat previously said Israel could accept Saudi Arabia developing nuclear power for peaceful purposes. However, former Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman warned that civilian nuclear programmes can eventually become military ones.
Enrichment Concerns
The agreement has drawn additional scrutiny after earlier media reports suggested Saudi Arabia might eventually be allowed to enrich uranium, a process that can produce fuel for nuclear power plants but also material suitable for nuclear weapons. Trump's latest remarks appeared to rule out that possibility.
Rosemary Kelanic, director of the Middle East programme at the US-based Defense Priorities think tank, said allowing Saudi Arabia to enrich uranium would represent a significant departure from previous US policy.
She said the United States had never before assisted another country in developing domestic uranium enrichment capabilities because such technology increases the risk of future nuclear weapons development.
The issue comes amid ongoing tensions over Iran's nuclear programme. While Tehran continues to deny seeking nuclear weapons, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said in 2018 that although the kingdom was not pursuing a nuclear bomb, it would seek one if Iran successfully developed nuclear weapons.

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24 July 2026

• USA

• 51 comments
• 443 views

webfact

July 23Jul 23

Trump Administration Weighs Military Options in Mali

Report

Trump Administration Weighs Military Options in Mali

The Trump administration is considering possible military action in Mali aimed at an al-Qaeda-affiliated militant group known as Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), according to current and former U.S. officials familiar with internal deliberations.

Officials said there is no final decision, but that approval would make Mali the eighth country where President Donald Trump has ordered strikes since the start of his second term. Trump initially said the chapter of his presidency would focus on ending global conflicts and shifting U.S. resources towards Americans.
Dispute inside senior U.S. ranks
The officials said there is disagreement among senior figures over whether to proceed with attacks. Sebastian Gorka, a senior counterterrorism director on the National Security Council, was identified as a prominent advocate of using force.
Some officials who discussed the planning process did so on condition of anonymity. Mali’s government, the Pentagon and the White House did not provide direct confirmation of whether the president would authorise strikes.
When asked about the prospect of action, an administration official said the United States was urging governments in North and West Africa to buy American equipment and services to support their counter-terror efforts. The official also described terrorism in the Sahel, the semi-arid region south of the Sahara, as a “multinational problem”.
The administration urged regional partners and NATO allies to back the Alliance of Sahel States in operations against JNIM and ISIS affiliates. The alliance comprises Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger—countries where military leaders have seized power in coups in recent years, reduced ties with the West and turned to Russia for security assistance.
The official did not place blame on those governments for the escalation, but on Russia, saying Moscow had proved to be an ineffective security partner for Mali.
Militants’ grip and recent attacks
JNIM has built a stronghold in Mali and has increasingly carried out attacks across coastal West African states, officials said. The group is described as the best-armed militant organisation in the region.
Militants mounted a fuel blockade last year that disrupted much of Mali. This spring, they carried out co-ordinated attacks that included fighters moving through the streets of Bamako, seizing a strategic northern city from Mali’s forces and Russian-linked fighters, and killing Mali’s defence minister in a suicide attack.
A rival Islamic State affiliate in the Sahel, known as IS Sahel, has also strengthened positions near Mali’s border with Niger. Last year its militants kidnapped American missionary Kevin Rideout, who is believed to be held in Mali.
Russia-linked security forces and U.S. risk calculations
Mali’s junta has relied on Russian mercenaries, first via the Wagner Group and later through Africa Corps, which is more closely tied to Russia’s defence ministry. Human rights groups and previous reporting have accused Russian-linked forces of serious abuses.
U.S. officials said any direct American involvement could raise the risk of clashes with Russian forces operating in the region. They also said it could require deconfliction mechanisms between Washington and Moscow similar to those used in Syria during its civil war.
Last year, as part of a renewed U.S. focus on Mali, the United States increased intelligence sharing with Mali’s government, officials said. They said the intelligence was used in strikes carried out by Mali’s military, after the Biden administration had largely avoided co-operation because of Mali’s refusal to set a timeline for a return to democratic elections and its reliance on Russian security support.
However, officials said the level of cooperation remains limited compared with other U.S. partnerships in the region, including the U.S.-Nigeria security relationship. They said it also included U.S. airstrikes and a ground operation that killed a senior ISIS figure in Africa.
When the U.S. State Department was asked whether Secretary of State Marco Rubio supports military action in Mali, it did not answer directly. It said the administration “unequivocally condemns” terrorist activity in Mali and is monitoring threats to the United States.
Analysts cited by the officials said military strikes carry wider political risks. They pointed to past French and Russian efforts against insurgents that did not halt the spread of armed groups, and argued that additional U.S. strikes could affect the balance between JNIM and IS Sahel. One expert also warned that helping Mali’s forces kill JNIM leadership could provoke new threats against Americans or push the group closer to al-Qaeda’s core.

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23 July 2026

• 54 comments
• 538 views

webfact

July 22Jul 22

Former Biden Aide Doubts Harris's 2028 White House Bid

USA

Former Biden Aide Doubts Harris's 2028 White House Bid

Former Biden administration aide Michael LaRosa said he does not believe former Vice President Kamala Harris is well positioned to win the White House in 2028 if she decides to seek the Democratic presidential nomination.

Speaking on Fox News's America Reports on Tuesday, LaRosa, who previously served as press secretary to former first lady Jill Biden, argued that Harris would struggle to persuade voters to give her another opportunity after two unsuccessful presidential campaigns.
His comments came in response to a New York Magazine article that described Harris as the leading contender for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028.
Questions Over Harris's Prospects
Democratic strategist Minyon Moore told the magazine that Harris has been listening closely to voters and seeking to understand the issues affecting them.
"She's been listening to the American people and really trying to figure out what's impacting them and how she can be of service to them," Moore said.
LaRosa rejected that assessment, saying Harris's extensive political experience means she should already be taking a more decisive leadership role rather than positioning herself as a listener.
He argued that voters are looking for a fresh candidate and criticised Harris's political style, describing her as overly cautious and reluctant to take risks.
"She follows. She doesn't take risks. She calculates. She doesn't answer questions, she equivocates," LaRosa said, adding that he did not believe voters would "give Kamala Harris a third at-bat."
Alternative Democratic Candidates
Asked which Democrats he would prefer to see as the party's nominee, LaRosa named several prominent figures he believes have the qualities needed to serve as president.
"I want somebody who can run the country. I want somebody who is competent," he said, citing Rahm Emanuel, California Governor Gavin Newsom and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg among his preferred choices.
Newsom has not announced whether he will enter the 2028 race. Earlier this year, he told CBS News's Face the Nation that any decision would be made in consultation with his family.
LaRosa, now a communications strategist, said his support was not limited to those three figures but reiterated that he wants the Democratic Party to nominate a candidate who leads rather than follows political trends.
Harris's office did not immediately respond to a request from The Hill seeking comment on LaRosa's remarks.

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23 July 2026

• 5 comments
• 391 views

webfact

July 22Jul 22

Pan Am Wreck Found 74 Years After Fatal Atlantic Crash

Report

Pan Am Wreck Found 74 Years After Fatal Atlantic Crash

The wreckage of a Pan American Airways aircraft that crashed into the Atlantic Ocean 74 years ago has been discovered off the coast of Puerto Rico, bringing closure to a decades-long search and highlighting a tragedy that reshaped commercial aviation safety.
Discovery Ends Decades-Long Search
The Clipper Endeavor was located about 2,000ft (610m) below the surface using an autonomous sonar-equipped drone. The aircraft crashed on 11 April 1952 after suffering multiple engine failures shortly after take-off.
Although everyone initially survived the emergency water landing, many passengers were unable to find life vests and life rafts as the aircraft quickly sank. Of the 69 people on board, including 64 passengers and five crew members, only 17 ultimately survived.
Crash Changed Airline Safety
The disaster prompted major changes to airline safety procedures. It became a driving force behind mandatory pre-flight safety briefings and improved flotation equipment on commercial aircraft.
Aviation safety expert John Cox told the Associated Press that the confusion following the crash became a catalyst for regulations requiring airlines to explain emergency procedures and the use of life-saving equipment before every flight.
Today, cabin crew routinely demonstrate emergency exits, the location of life vests and how they should be used before take-off.
Expedition Unknown host Josh Gates said modern air travel is safer because of the lessons learned from the Clipper Endeavor disaster, describing its legacy as lasting nearly three-quarters of a century.
Search Guided by Historic Records
The search was led by the Air/Sea Heritage Foundation in partnership with Discovery Channel's Expedition Unknown and several other organisations.
The breakthrough came after researchers uncovered records from a public hearing in Puerto Rico, including a map drawn by US Air Force pilots who witnessed the crash. Combined with historical weather data and official accident reports, the information narrowed the search area to a 10-square-nautical-mile section of the Atlantic seabed.


Picture courtesy of Air/Sea Heritage Foundation and Deep Sea Vision

An earlier search in 2024 was abandoned because of poor weather, but expedition leader Russ Matthews said the team was determined to return before the 75th anniversary of the accident.
The autonomous drone detected the wreckage on its first pass through the search area on 2 June. The aircraft was found in two sections.
A follow-up photographic survey confirmed the identity of the wreckage, with images showing both the Pan Am logo and the Clipper Endeavor name still visible on the fuselage.
Matthews said the team was both excited by the discovery and mindful of the lives lost. He added that he first became interested in the crash in 2019 after reading about a luggage tag from the flight that had washed ashore in Florida, and was surprised that such a significant event had largely faded from public memory.
Legacy Beyond the Discovery
Gates, who was aboard the expedition vessel when the wreckage appeared on monitors, described witnessing the discovery as a remarkable experience.
Researchers say the successful search could also provide encouragement for efforts to locate other aircraft lost at sea, including Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, which disappeared 12 years ago with 269 people on board and has yet to be found despite extensive searches of the Indian Ocean.
The discovery of the Clipper Endeavor will be featured in a special episode of Expedition Unknown later this autumn.


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23 July 2026

• Aviation

• 0 comments
• 418 views

webfact

July 22Jul 22