Top World News
For Nigel Farage, success brings new pressures and a showdown with Count Binface
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is running in a special election where his main opponent is a man dressed like a dustbin
Scores dead in Colombia after powerful earthquake strikes west of country
Quake of 7.4 magnitude collapses and severely damages buildings in several major cities, including Cali and PereiraMore than 100 people died after a powerful earthquake struck western Colombia, collapsing and severely damaging scores of buildings in major cities including Cali and Pereira.The US and Colombian geological surveys reported that a 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck at 7.34am local time on Monday, with its epicentre in the western department of Chocó. It was felt in neighbouring Venezuela, still reeling from a deadly double earthquake on 24 June. Continue reading...
Republicans name candidate to replace Chuck Edwards after sexual harassment investigation
Jennifer Balkcom to face Democrat Jamie Ager in race to represent North Carolina’s 11th congressional districtNorth Carolina Republicans on Monday chose state lawmaker Jennifer Balkcom to replace Chuck Edwards, the incumbent congressman who earlier this month dropped his re-election bid after a US House investigation determined his conduct towards to young female staffers likely amounted to sexual harassment.Balkcom will face off against the Democratic nominee, Jamie Ager, in the November midterm elections to represent the 11th congressional district in western North Carolina. Though Donald Trump won the district by 10 percentage points two years ago, Democrats believe Ager may have a shot at winning amid the president’s low approval ratings and frustration over the pace of recovery from Hurricane Helene, which devastated the region in 2024. Continue reading...
Doctors and lawmakers condemn Trump order calling for sweeping changes to childhood vaccines – as it happened
This live blog is now closed.Sign up for the Breaking News US emailWisconsin is not the only state with high stakes primary races on 11 August.We’ll also be bringing you the latest on a number of pivotal contests. In Minnesota, the closely watched and crowded Democratic primary for US Senate seems to be a competition between lieutenant governor Peggy Flanagan and congresswoman Angie Craig. Continue reading...
Rachel Maddow flabbergasted as company tries to enlist her in Greenland oil scheme
President Donald Trump's obsession with Greenland has inspired a new harebrained business venture, Rachel Maddow told her viewers on MS NOW Monday night — and it already appears to be falling apart.But before that, she said with some bemusement, the venture actually tried to get her to promote it.Several weeks ago, she said, her office got "a totally unsolicited, totally over-the-top PR pitch offering me an embargoed, confidential sneak peek at a new project from Dr. Phil," announcing he was going to Greenland to do a TV show and asking if she'd be interested in covering it.The "footage" they offered Maddow continued, "turned out to be footage in Greenland of an American guy talking about his plans to drill for oil in Greenland, which he apparently believed he had a right to do." She put the video on."That's why we're here, to reposition the road-building equipment," said a man in the clip, adding that "for a fact" they have all the authorizations to move forward with the work."The guy they're explaining this to appears to say, 'This is unlawful,'" Maddow noted. "It's kind of hard to hear, but it sounds like that's what he says." Nonetheless, "some PR firm, in its infinite wisdom, believed that I would find it an exciting opportunity to help promote a new Dr. Phil TV show about how exciting it would be to drill for oil in Greenland."Since that PR pitch, she said, things haven't gone so well for this enterprise."First of all, you should know that in 2021, Greenland passed a national moratorium, a national ban on all future oil exploration," said Maddow. Despite this, once Trump resumed his public obsession with annexing Greenland, "for some reason, a new company formed in Texas called Greenland Energy," who "said they were going to drill for oil in Greenland." Then, in June, they visited a remote part of Eastern Greenland with no roads, and "announced to the villagers there that this company, this Texas company, had permission ... to start bringing their equipment, their oil drilling equipment to this untouched Arctic area of Greenland."Sadly for them, said Maddow, "the company later apologized and said, actually, they didn't have permits to do that. They put out a statement sort of correcting the record, saying, quote, our enthusiasm for the project led us to communicate in a way that created confusion." - YouTube youtu.be
Vietnam’s VinSpace signs deal with SpaceX to launch its first satellites in 2027
The Vietnamese aerospace company VinSpace has signed a contract with SpaceX to launch its first satellites in 2027, marking a big step in Vietnam’s efforts to develop its space industry
Drought Grips Almost Three-Quarters of England And More Heat Is Coming
The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) said most of England is experiencing a "flash drought", which develops quickly and is the result of very low rainfall and high temperatures.
111 Killed After 7.4 Magnitude Earthquake Jolts Colombia, Situation "Critical"
According to the US Geological Survey, the earthquake struck at a depth of 107 kilometres. The earthquake was also felt in neighbouring Ecuador.
"Torn Apart": China's Crackdown Leaves AI Boyfriends Mourned Like Real Ones
AI companions in China range from romantic partners to virtual recreations of dead loved ones.
Jackie, a beloved bald eagle and livestream star, dies of mysterious illness
Thousands mourn the death of the eagle at California’s Big Bear Lake, whose life was closely followed via livestreamJackie – the beloved bald eagle at California’s Big Bear Lake whose livestream was followed by millions of viewers as she birthed and raised chicks – died on Monday due to a mysterious illness. She was 14.Jackie had been receiving treatment at the Ojai Raptor Center since mid-July when she was found weak and unable to fly after a scuffle with two younger eagles. Experts at the center had discovered that she was suffering from severe anemia, and suspected she had been sick for weeks before the fight grounded her. Continue reading...
Australia adds optional gender identity and sexual orientation questions to census
Australians can for the first time reveal their sexual orientation and whether they identify as a gender that is not the one recorded at birth in the country's census on Tuesday
Pentagon official asks Asian allies to invest more in defense to deter aggression
A Pentagon official has urged Asian allies to invest more in their defense to deter regional aggression
