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New slide at popular playground suddenly shut down following an incident just days after it was given a politician’s thumbs-up
A newly installed slide at a popular playground has been closed following an incident, coming just days after a politician had publicly praised the attraction. Details of what caused the closure are not confirmed in the available report, but the timing—so soon after the slide received official endorsement—has drawn attention and raised questions about the…
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Trump nemesis Jack Smith accused of lying to Congress in criminal referral to the Justice Department
Republican Congressman Jim Jordan, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, has submitted a criminal referral to the Justice Department accusing former special counsel Jack Smith of lying to Congress. Smith, who previously led the federal prosecution of Donald Trump over his conduct following the 2020 presidential election, is alleged to have made false statements while…
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Former rough sleepers on PM’s ‘ambitious’ plan
Former rough sleepers in Yorkshire have given a cautious welcome to Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s pledge to end homelessness across the country, made as his first commitment after taking office on Monday. The government has promised an extra £340m for the policy, which will fund 1,200 homes and “intensive support” for at least 3,000 people…
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Besieged by lobbyists, will UK ministers protect our ecosystems? No, they’ll chicken out | George Monbiot
George Monbiot argues that successive UK environment secretaries have prioritised industrial poultry lobbyists over environmental protection, with rivers suffering as a result. He singles out outgoing secretary Emma Reynolds, who used her final weeks in post to push for weaker planning rules that would make it easier to build more large-scale chicken factories, despite the…
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Nicaragua’s parliament plans to eliminate elections to codify President Ortega’s declaration
Nicaragua's congress moves to abolish elections after President Daniel Ortega declared no more elections, drawing condemnation from the international community.
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Secret Service agent for JD Vance SIDELINED over accusations of leaking info about second family’s travels
JD Vance’s Secret Service detail has had one of its agents sidelined amid allegations he leaked details about the movements of the vice president’s family to unauthorised parties. The move raises fresh questions about security protocols surrounding senior US officials, coming at a time of heightened concern over threats against the administration’s leadership and their…
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Andy Burnham could easily ignore the UK’s falling aid commitment. He would be wise not to | Halima Begum
A leaked-timing controversy surrounds a UK government report locking in cuts to Britain’s foreign aid budget through 2029, published in the final hours of Keir Starmer’s premiership as Andy Burnham prepares to take over as prime minister. Columnist Halima Begum argues the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s annual report was deliberately released with minimal scrutiny…
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Labor premier breaks ranks to slam Albanese government’s tax policy
A Labor premier has publicly broken with the Australian federal government led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, criticising its tax policy on cigarettes and tobacco. Such a public split within the same party is notable because state and federal Labor leaders typically present a united front, and open criticism suggests unease within the party about…
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Former CIA Director James Woolsey dies
Former CIA director R. James Woolsey Jr has died aged 84. His death marks the passing of a prominent national-security figure who led the agency through a difficult post-Cold War transition, amid budget pressure and scrutiny after the Aldrich Ames espionage case. Woolsey died at his Washington home after a stroke, according to his wife,…
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Cash boost for thousands of Australians: Anthony Albanese to expand $338 weekly payments to more students
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is set to expand eligibility for the government’s $338-a-week Commonwealth Prac Payment, extending the financial support to thousands more university students undertaking mandatory placements. The scheme was introduced to ease the financial strain on students who must complete unpaid work placements as part of their courses, often forcing them to…