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Trump blasted for siding with ‘bloodthirsty thug’ in late-night gift to Russia
Critics across the political spectrum unloaded on President Donald Trump after he threw Russia a lifeline with a stroke of his pen.Trump signed an executive order Friday night exempting Russia from a sweeping package of penalties Congress passed last month, just two days before they were set to take effect, The New York Times reported. The law, named for the late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), targeted Russian officials, oligarchs and banks to choke off cash for Moscow's war on Ukraine.Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), who co-wrote the bill, tore into the president on X. "Donald Trump confirms again that he stands on the side of a bloodthirsty thug & the enablers of Russia's war machine & against the majority of Americans, their representatives in both houses of Congress, & our European allies," he wrote.In a statement reported by the Associated Press, Blumenthal said the waivers have "nothing to do with our national security, and everything to do with sucking up to Vladimir Putin."Jamie Metzl, a former State Department and National Security Council official, called the move "a despicable and disgraceful betrayal of the brave people of Ukraine, European allies, and American values.""As Ukrainians fight and die defending their freedom, Trump is throwing an economic lifeline to the dictator invading their country," he wrote. "Generations of American heroes who fought and sacrificed to defend freedom against tyranny are rolling in their graves," he added.Gregg Nunziata, a former Republican Senate aide, saw the order as a slap at the late senator who championed the bill. "Among other things, a final dishonor for Senator Graham," he wrote.Progressive activist Amy Siskind was more blunt. "WTF IS TRUMP DOING!" she posted.Investigative journalist Julie K. Brown, known for breaking open the Jeffrey Epstein case at the Miami Herald, offered a sarcastic take. "I guess times change and we are friends with Russia dictators now," she wrote.Others piled on. "Almost comical how in the tank he is for Putin," wrote veteran and political commentator John Jackson.Ukrainian commentator Kate Bohuslavska, who runs the popular account Kate from Kharkiv, kept it short. "Traitorous yet expected. What an embarrassment," she wrote.
Not cool: who hacked France’s supermarket fridges?
Whether it was youngsters proving their skills or state sabotage, Europe’s most hacked country was left with a mountain of waste after food began cooking in freezersShortly before midnight last Sunday, the digital thermostats controlling hundreds of supermarket cold aisles across France began to flicker and rise.In a “bizarre and unprecedented” cyber-attack, hackers had remotely overridden the temperature settings on thousands of freezers, fridges and chiller cabinets pushing them from as low as -27C (-16.6F) to well over 50C (122F). Continue reading...
Trump hands Russia a lifeline by killing Congress’ punishing war sanctions: NYT
President Donald Trump has handed Russia an economic lifeline days before a punishing crackdown on Moscow's war chest was set to begin.Trump signed an executive order Friday night exempting Russia from penalties laid out in the Graham Act, The New York Times and the Associated Press reported. The law, named for Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who died in July, was scheduled to take effect Sunday.The measure aimed to hit Russian officials, oligarchs and banks in an effort to choke off the money funding Moscow's war on Ukraine. It also handed Trump fresh tariff powers, including the ability to slap up to 100 percent levies on countries buying Russian oil and gas and up to 500 percent on Russian goods entering the U.S., per The Times."I am hereby waiving the application of such sanctions, restrictions and duties provided for in the Graham Act," Trump wrote in the order, adding that he had certified to Congress that the waiver serves "the national interests of the United States."
Child sex abuse charges against actor Timothy Busfield dismissed by judge
Prosecution did not act in fair and impartial way in grand jury proceedings, judge rules, after West Wing actor charged with groping young boy on TV setA state court judge in New Mexico has dismissed charges of child sexual abuse against West Wing actor and director Timothy Busfield, saying the prosecution did not act in a fair and impartial manner during grand jury proceedings.Judge Joseph Montano said prosecutors could pursue new charges against Busfield. Continue reading...
Mexican judge sentences three men to 158 years in prison for murders of Australian and US surfers
Australian brothers Jake and Callum Robinson, and their American friend Carter Rhoad, were killed while on a surf trip in Baja California in 2024Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA Mexican judge has sentenced three men to 158 years and nine months in prison each for the murder of two Australian brothers and their American friend during a 2024 surf trip to the state of Baja California.The defendants were declared guilty a week ago of homicide, aggravated robbery, robbery with violence and vehicle theft with violence, crimes committed against Australian brothers Jake and Callum Robinson, and their American friend Carter Rhoad. Continue reading...
Houthi strikes on Saudi Arabia show the Yemeni rebels' growing strength
Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels have showcased their growing military capabilities, repeatedly striking the airport in Saudi Arabia's capital and seizing territory near a key shipping chokepoint
Brush fires set homes ablaze in southern California as it braces for more hot weather
Hot, windy weather stokes fires in southern California with mandatory evacuation orders in place for manyA fast-moving fire spread into neighborhoods in southern California on Friday as the region braces for more hot, windy weather that will amplify fire dangers through Saturday.Several structures could be seen ablaze in video footage captured by local news helicopters as firefighters worked to wrangle the more than 465 acre Norte fire, which erupted in Orange county on Friday. Continue reading...
Shooter in fatal Bend, Oregon, school shooting was former student there
One teacher and three children killed after Griffin J John II, 16, barged into elementary school and began shootingOregon elementary school shooting: what we know so farThe 16-year-old who barged into an elementary school in Bend, Oregon, and unleashed a barrage of gunfire that killed a teacher and three children was a former student at Silver Rail elementary, officials confirmed in a Friday press conference.The heavily armed shooter, identified as Griffin J John II, climbed over a fence and onto the school’s property before shooting through a set of locked doors to enter the building. Continue reading...
Mortgage repayments are now cheaper than rent in some Australian suburbs. Is yours among them?
As house prices plateau, the gap between the cost of buying and renting is narrowing in dozens of suburbsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastHigh rents and falling property prices have opened a rare window for Australian tenants to become homeowners, with mortgage repayments cheaper than rent in dozens of suburbs. Guardian Australia’s analysis of Cotality data shows that median rents in inner-city Melbourne, suburban Canberra and Darwin are now nearly matching weekly home loan repayments.In one in 10 suburbs and towns across the country, repayments are less than $200 a week higher than rent, for the typical property. In some suburbs, they are actually cheaper. Continue reading...
Gone to the dogs: racing fans mourn closure of ‘Wenty’, Sydney’s historic greyhound track
Thousands pack Wentworth Park for the final time before the stadium is demolished and returned to parklandGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe end of an era has fallen upon an Australian sporting landmark as the greyhound races at an inner-city track kicked off for the very last time.Thousands packed into Wentworth Park in central Sydney on Friday night, where greyhound races have been held since 1932, for the last race meeting before the track’s planned demolition. Continue reading...
Trump in Georgia falsely claims election of Jon Ossoff was illegitimate
President appears at rally for struggling Mike Collins, dismisses critics and touts ‘most successful’ two-year runAt a rally in north Georgia, Donald Trump again claimed that the 2020 election in Georgia was fraudulent, alleging that the election of US senator Jon Ossoff was illegitimate.Ossoff, who faces US congressman Mike Collins in November, does not represent Georgia’s values, Trump said. Continue reading...
Reform councillor resigns after being filmed making racist remarks
Alan Feeney, who sat on Solihull and Birmingham councils, said there was ‘no excuse’ for his comments Alan Feeney has resigned as a Reform councillor for Solihull and Birmingham after backlash over racist comments that were captured in an undercover investigation.In a Facebook post on Friday, Feeney wrote: “There is no excuse for my comments. With responsibility comes accountability, and it is for that reason that I have resigned every post I hold on both Solihull borough council and Birmingham city council.” Continue reading...
