Tensions over Epstein files hamper Republican plan to vote on cuts bill pred 20 urami in 33 minutami House Republicans face Friday deadline to pass rescissions package that would cut aid and public broadcasting fundsTensions over the release of documents related to disgrace financier Jeffrey Epstein have complicated House Republicans’ plans to hold a vote Thursday on legislation demanded by Donald Trump to slash government spending.The House of Representatives faces a Friday deadline to pass the rescissions package demanded by Trump and approved by the Senate in the wee hours of Thursday morning, otherwise the administration will be obligated to spend about $8bn meant for foreign assistance programs, and $1.1bn budgeted for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which funds NPR and PBS. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Far-right supporters attack police after protest against Essex hotel for asylum seekers pred 21 urami in 14 minutami Riot police deployed to anti-immigration flashpoint in Epping as far right seeks to exploit local tensionsFar-right supporters have attacked police as violence erupted following a protest outside a hotel housing asylum seekers in Essex.Hundreds of people had earlier staged a fresh demonstration outside the hotel in Epping that has become a flashpoint of anti-immigration protest, days after two security guards were seriously assaulted during a previous gathering. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Hopes of averting doctors’ strike after ‘constructive’ meeting with Streeting pred 21 urami in 52 minutami Talks focused on resident doctors’ working lives as health secretary refused to reopen negotiations on payHopes are rising that next week’s strike by resident doctors in England will be called off after their leaders had a “constructive” meeting with the health secretary and agreed to hold further talks.The co-chairs of the British Medical Association’s resident doctors committee met Wes Streeting for 90 minutes – longer than the hour they had planned – in Westminster on Thursday afternoon. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Massive Attack announce alliance of musicians speaking out over Gaza pred 22 urami in 49 minutami Brian Eno, Fontaines DC and Kneecap say group will support those subject to ‘aggressive, vexatious campaigns’ by pro-Israel advocatesMassive Attack, Brian Eno, Fontaines DC and Kneecap have announced the formation of a syndicate for artists speaking out about Israel’s military assault on Gaza who they say have been subjected to “aggressive, vexatious campaigns” by pro-Israel advocates.Posting on Instagram, the musicians said their aim is to protect other artists, particularly those at earlier stages of their careers from being “threatened into silence or career cancellation” by organisations such as UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI). Continue reading...(The Guardian)
DeSantis under fire for using disaster funds to build migrant detention jail pred 22 urami in 51 minutami Analysis of $20m spent on ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ shows some contracts went to governor’s donors or alliesOfficials in Florida diverted crucial disaster preparedness and response resources to support the hasty construction of the so-called Alligator Alcatraz migrant detention jail by the Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, a newly published report has claimed.Some of the $20m in contracts analyzed by Talking Points Memo (TPM) before they inexplicably disappeared from the Florida department of financial services website went to donors or political allies of DeSantis, the report said. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
White House seeks inspection of Fed building as Trump piles pressure on Powell pred 22 urami in 52 minutami US president has suggested the central bank mismanaged funds for renovations at the Federal Reserve headquartersThe White House is pushing for an inspection of the US Federal Reserve headquarters in Washington after Donald Trump suggested the central bank had mismanaged funds for building renovations.The scrutiny comes as Trump has unsuccessfully tried to pressure Fed chair Jerome Powell to quit and demanded he and other officials lower interest rates. Powell has said that lowering rates prematurely could lead to higher inflation, and that Trump’s tariffs have exacerbated prices. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
OpenAI launches personal assistant capable of controlling files and web browsers pred 22 urami in 56 minutami AI agent can find restaurant reservations and go shopping for users, but OpenAI acknowledges there are ‘more risks’Users of ChatGPT will be able to ask an AI agent to find restaurant reservations, go shopping for them and even draw up lists of candidates for job vacancies, as the chatbot gains the powers of a personal assistant from Thursday.ChatGPT agent, launched by Open AI everywhere apart from the EU, not only “thinks” but also acts, the US company said. The agent combines the powers of AI research tools with the ability to take control of web browsers, computer files and software such as spreadsheets and slide decks. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Patients in England’s most deprived areas wait longer for NHS treatment, data reveals pred 23 urami in 22 minutami Those from Asian or British Asian backgrounds are more likely to be waiting longer than 18 weeksPatients from the most deprived areas of England face longer waits for NHS treatment and make up a higher proportion of those waiting for care, according to figures.Data released by NHS England on Thursday provides a breakdown of the health service’s waiting lists by ethnicity and deprivation levels for the first time. It shows that people in the most deprived areas of England and people from ethnic minority backgrounds make up a disproportionate and growing proportion of those waiting for NHS treatment. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Coach carrying schoolchildren on trip involved in serious crash in Somerset pred 23 urami in 25 minutami People taken to hospital after collision on A396, police say, and firefighters had to free some passengers A coach carrying scores of schoolchildren returning from a day trip has been involved in a serious crash on a country road in Somerset.Dozens of emergency crews responded after the incident on Thursday afternoon and firefighters had to free some of the passengers. Some casualties were taken to hospital. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Shooting of bear that swam to tiny Canadian island frustrates First Nations pred 23 urami in 40 minutami Indigenous groups had offered to rehome grizzly nicknamed Tex who was killed without authorizationThe journey of Tex, a young grizzly bear that gripped public attention in Canada after swimming to a tiny populated island, came to a violent end this week after he was shot and killed without authorization, despite plans by Indigenous groups to relocate him.The four-year-old bear’s landfall on 25 May on Texada Island, a tiny island off the west coast, set off a controversy between differing interpretations of how to treat wild predators. Its shooting on Tuesday has advocates calling for the British Columbia government to act faster when it comes to working with First Nations on environmental stewardship. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
