-
Trump, threatened by Iran, used ruse to fly home from Turkey on jet
In today’s issue: ▪ Republicans to choose Graham replacement ▪ Trump rolls back vaccine guidance ▪ Blanche sworn in as attorney general ▪ Record heat in contiguous U.S. President Trump engaged in an elaborate ruse last month as he faced a threat against his life from Iran, leaving a summit in Turkey via military jet…
-
UK housebuilder urges Andy Burnham to slash stamp duty to boost housing market
Housebuilder Bellway has called on the Government to immediately cut stamp duty and introduce a deposit support scheme for first-time buyers, in a bid to revive the UK’s sluggish property market. The Newcastle-based firm’s appeal comes despite prime minister Andy Burnham having ruled out a major stamp duty overhaul at the Autumn Budget, and reflects…
-
Syrian court sentences Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia
A Syrian court has sentenced ousted leader Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia after convicting him of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during Syria’s civil war, marking the first formal legal judgment against him. Assad fled Damascus for Moscow in December 2024 as his family’s five-decade rule collapsed under a rapid offensive led…
-
TalkFuse morning briefing, 11 Aug 2026 10:33
The morning briefing of 11 August centred on the UK government’s effort to prevent the early release of Jessie Cole and Albert Bowers, who were convicted of the manslaughter of PC Andrew Harper. Prime Minister Andy Burnham asked Justice Secretary Alex Norris to examine further options after Downing Street had said it could not simply…
-
Inside the Senate’s chaotic all-nighter that left Trump’s SAVE America Act on the shelf
The US Senate departed for recess after an all-night session in which several major bills, including President Trump’s proposed SAVE America Act, were left unresolved. The overnight sitting was marked by intense negotiations, last-minute deals and disputes among senators, ultimately resulting in the legislation being shelved before the chamber broke for its recess period. The…
-
Britain abandoned bid to recover lost £5.5bn treasure from a Royal Navy shipwreck near Gibraltar in case it upset Spain
Britain reportedly gave up an attempt to salvage roughly £5.5 billion in gold and silver from a sunken Royal Navy warship near Gibraltar, amid concerns that recovering the treasure could damage diplomatic relations with Spain. The wreck lies in a sensitive area close to the disputed British Overseas Territory, and officials were said to be…
-
California sued over policy that could free serial killers as Laci Peterson’s friend sounds alarm
A lawsuit has been filed against California’s parole board over new guidelines that critics warn could pave the way for serial killers and mass shooters serving life without parole to be released. The challenge is being led by former Sacramento County District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert, with the family and friends of murder victim Laci…
-
The Medicare-for-all trade-offs socialists aren’t talking about, according to experts
Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed is among several socialist-aligned candidates centring their midterm campaigns on Medicare-for-all, a policy that promises universal healthcare but which experts say carries costs beyond the tax rises its advocates openly acknowledge. Fox News reports that even sympathetic proponents concede higher taxes would be needed to fund the scheme, while…
-
Ocasio-Cortez faces a crossroads in politics — and life
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) is at a career and life crossroads that many women face at the age of 36, even without the pressure of a potential White House run. The congresswoman, still less than a decade into her political career, is trying to decide what comes next. It could be a run for president,…
-
Trump keeps pressure on Pirro as Reflecting Pool cases collapse
It’s unclear whether President Trump will ultimately fire U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, a longtime ally, but his recent comments and posts about the Reflecting Pool signal he is not letting the possibility go anytime soon. Pirro’s future in the Trump administration has not yet been guaranteed roughly a week after Trump lashed out at the…