From YouTube to Trump: six urgent issues for BBC’s new boss, Matt Brittin pred 10 urami in 42 minutami Pressing tasks for new director general also include an expiring royal charter, and finding a new top teamMatt Brittin may have only just been announced as the new BBC director general, but his inbox is already overflowing. Here are his immediate challenges: Continue reading...(The Guardian)
US left without functioning vaccine panel as adviser says ‘drama distracts’ pred 10 urami in 44 minutami Move comes after judge voided Kennedy’s ACIP picks, leaving key flu, Covid and RSV vaccines in limboSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxAmid upheaval to the US vaccine advisory committee Robert Malone, the former co-chair and controversial figure who has opposed vaccines, says he has been pushed out and will not be involved in any future decisions. The move comes after a federal judge stayed the appointment of 13 members of the advisory committee on immunization practices (ACIP), essentially invalidating their roles on the committee and the decisions they have made.Those new advisers were all hand-picked by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr, after he fired the previous 17 members of the ACIP in June – but the judge ruled they were unqualified and not selected properly. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Israel’s death penalty bill for Palestinian prisoners moves to final vote pred 10 urami in 56 minutami Legislation initiated by far-right Otzma Yehudit party drew mounting criticism from opponents and rights groups as it moved through the KnessetMiddle East crisis – live updatesIsrael’s parliament has advanced a contentious bill to impose the death penalty on Palestinians convicted of terrorism to its final vote, after the Knesset’s national security committee approved the measure on Tuesday.The legislation, initiated by the far-right Otzma Yehudit party led by the national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, has drawn sharp criticism from opponents who warn it would mark a significant escalation in Israel’s penal policy. Members of Otzma Yehudit have worn noose-shaped pins in support of the bill. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Denmark braces for lengthy and challenging coalition talks pred 10 urami in 58 minutami Neither Mette Frederiksen’s leftwing bloc nor rightwing parties won a majority in Tuesday’s electionEurope live – latest updatesDenmark is braced for lengthy and challenging coalition talks after neither Mette Frederiksen’s leftwing bloc nor the rightwing parties managed to get a majority in Tuesday’s election.After a bruising night for her Social Democrat party, which despite remaining the biggest party in the Danish parliament had its worst general election since 1903, the prime minister went to Amalienborg palace on Wednesday morning to submit her government’s resignation to the king. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Mother was allegedly trafficked to US and illegally detained by ICE while accused abuser is free, lawyers say pred 11 urami in 18 minutami The woman was arrested at routine ICE check-in and separated from two children, aged 18 months and fourSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxA Venezuelan mother of two who was allegedly trafficked to the US has been unlawfully detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and could soon be deported, according to her lawyers.The woman has applications in process for asylum and a visa designed for victims of trafficking. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Epstein accountant and lawyer say federal agents never questioned them pred 11 urami in 22 minutami In House depositions, disgraced financier’s associates say they were not contacted after his 2008 plea dealSign up for the Breaking News US newsletter emailJeffrey Epstein’s accountant and his attorney have both said that federal government investigators never interviewed them about the late financier’s crimes and their work with him, according to deposition videos released by the House of Representatives’ oversight committee.Richard Kahn, Epstein’s accountant, and Darren Indyke, Epstein’s lawyer, said in hours of closed-door interviews with the committee that they did not witness, nor were involved in, any wrongdoing relating to Epstein, who died in 2019 after being charged with child sex trafficking. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Trump’s war in Iran exposes US’s shift from a global guardian to an arbiter of chaos pred 13 urami in 18 minutami The US is recklessly spreading economic havoc among global friends and foes while suffering little harm itselfTo shield ordinary Indians from the war in Iran, the government in Delhi redirected supplies of liquefied gas to Indian families, for which it is the main cooking fuel, limiting supplies to the plastics industry. The Nepalese government rationed gas and the Philippines trimmed the government workweek to four days. Bangladesh closed universities and rationed fuel.They have been hardest hit by Iran’s closure of the strait of Hormuz. Economies in Asia import over a third of the energy they consume, on average. Korea imports four-fifths; Japan nine-tenths; Thailand 55%. Most of this comes from the Gulf. About 80% of oil and oil products transiting through the strait in 2025 was destined for Asia, according to the International Energy Agency. But traffic through its waters has collapsed by 90%. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Bernie Sanders and AOC introduce bill to pause building of new datacenters pred 13 urami in 18 minutami Lawmakers say moratorium on construction would buy time to create strong, federal guardrails for AIAmid an unprecedented energy crisis and the rapid buildout of artificial intelligence infrastructure, progressive lawmakers have unveiled a new policy to place a moratorium on the construction of AI datacenters.The policy, announced by Bernie Sanders, an independent senator from Vermont, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a New York Democratic representative, on Wednesday morning, aims to ensure the AI boom protects the environment and communities, and benefits workers instead of harming them. A temporary ban, the lawmakers say, would give the US government time to create strong federal safeguards for AI, which is “affecting everything from our economy and wellbeing to our democracy, warfare and our kids’ education”. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Professor sues Texas university that terminated contract after Palestine talk pred 13 urami in 18 minutami Idris Robinson says Texas State violated his constitutional rights over off-campus talk seized on by pro-Israel activistsPhilosophy professor Idris Robinson has sued Texas State University officials, asserting that the school violated his constitutional rights by ending his contract after he gave a talk on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict off-campus in another state where a fight broke out, the Guardian has learned.Perhaps in part because Robinson did not introduce himself as connected to Texas State at the event, it took several pro-Israel social media accounts a year to identify him and launch a campaign to get Robinson fired, targeting the school’s leadership and accusing him of being a terrorist and inciting violence. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Denmark’s Frederiksen resigns as search for new majority begins after close elections – Europe live pred 13 urami in 20 minutami Prime minister will be expected to remain as caretaker and told supporters she was ‘ready to take on the responsibility’ of role for next four yearsSpeaking at the debate, Frederiksen confirms she has submitted her government’s resignation as it is clear the outgoing three-party government will not have enough mandates to continue.But she stresses the urgency of the task to form the new government, as “the world is not waiting for us out there and it has only become more unsettled since the election was called.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
