In move that could generate millions, Exeter academics to deliver MA at National Defense University in RiyadhThe University of Exeter has approved plans for a “formal partnership” with Saudi Arabia to train senior military officers and government officials, despite long-held concerns about the Saudi government’s human rights record, the Guardian has learned.In a deal that could generate millions of pounds for the Russell Group university, Exeter academics will deliver an MA in applied security and strategy (also known as an MStrat) to a cohort at the National Defense University (NDU) in Riyadh. Continue reading...
Helipad relocation led in part to incident where Marine One, carrying the president, had close call with passenger jetSafety officials say the relocation of a helipad amid Donald Trump’s multi-project White House reconstruction led in part to an incident earlier this month in which a military helicopter carrying the president came too close to a passenger jet.A preliminary report published Thursday by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) blamed “communication issues” for the failure of the crew of Marine One, the presidential helicopter, to give the required three minutes’ notice to air traffic controllers that they were about to take off from the White House. Continue reading...
• A survey conducted by Catawba College and YouGov reveals that North Carolinians across the political spectrum broadly support nonpartisan election officials who prioritize public interest over party affiliation.
• Despite this shared expectation, the data indicates that significant partisan trust gaps persist regarding the current administration of elections.
• The findings highlight a critical tension in North Carolina's political climate, where there is a desire for neutrality amidst deep ideological divisions.
Mosquito traps are set up at Germany’s biggest airport, with doctors told to watch for symptoms of deadly diseaseGerman health officials are seeking to reassure the public after two workers at the country’s biggest airport died of malaria.Mosquito traps have been set up at Frankfurt airport and a mosquito monitoring process is under way. A detailed investigation is being conducted to clarify how the workers contracted the disease. Continue reading...
At least 160 people have died, while officials believe 340 foreign nationals from India, the US, UK, Australia, Malaysia and Ukraine among those missing. Follow the latest newsFlash floods on Nepal-Tibet border leave scores dead and hundreds missingTell us: have you been affected by the flash floods?Authorities in Nepal and Tibet have said they fear the death toll from catastrophic flooding could be much higher than 160 people already killed, as search and rescue efforts to locate the hundreds missing continue.A huge wall of mud and rock collapsed into a river on the Himalayan border of Nepal and Tibet on Wednesday, triggering the flash flood which washed away houses, roads and border crossings.Rescue teams are rushing on Thursday to find hundreds of people missing after the flood and landslides killed at least 160 people. Many of the missing were foreign tourists, officials said.Nepali police said they had recovered 157 bodies after “devastating floods”, with officers working to move families in flood-risk areas to safety. Chinese state media reported “major casualties” from a mudslide at a Tibet border hub, reporting three dead and another 265 missing. The overall death toll appears likely to rise.Tibet government officials mobilised nearly 800 emergency workers and 150 vehicles as well as sniffer dogs and speed boats to help the rescue efforts, China’s official Xinhua news agency said.At least 403 tourists – 341 of them foreigners – were unaccounted for several hours after the disaster struck on Wednesday morning, according to Nepal’s tourism ministry. The missing foreigners included 142 Indians, 33 from the UK, 47 from the US, 34 from Australia and 24 from Canada as well as others from South Korea, the Netherlands, Malaysia, Portugal and South Africa, the tourism board said. Nine South Koreans were missing, the country’s foreign ministry said.At least 28 Nepal police officials were missing, a police spokesperson said.Entire villages and markets were “wiped out”, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said. It was dispatching emergency supplies including blankets, first aid kits, stretchers and body bags.United Nations chief António Guterres said UN teams and partners were mobilising supplies and personnel in Nepal to support affected communities.Surveillance video from the Chinese side of the border showed a raging wall of mud and debris crashing over a building several storeys high, engulfing it as dozens of people flee for their lives below. The surge sweeps away buses and cars.Experts warned that a lingering blockage upstream on the Nepal-China border river could produce a second flood.The cause of the flooding was not immediately clear. Nepalese foreign minister Shishir Khanal said an earthquake likely triggered a landslide, which in turn blocked a river, sending water gushing downstream. Nepal’s disaster authority said satellite data indicated a “snow-rock landslide” on the Nepal-China border may have caused the flood. Scientists say climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events in the region.Chinese leader Xi Jinping said “the most urgent task is doing everything possible to search for and rescue the missing people”, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.The US Geological Survey first reported a magnitude-4.4 earthquake early on Wednesday, about 66km (41 miles) north of Kathmandu, near the border. It later updated to call the shaking a 5.2-magnitude landslide. Continue reading...
• The Supreme Court issued a ruling on Monday regarding a voting order initiated by Donald Trump, though the court refrained from declaring the order lawful.
• Election officials have expressed significant concern that the ruling's lack of clarity could lead to widespread chaos during upcoming voting processes.
• The decision is critical as it leaves the legal status of the voting order in limbo, potentially impacting election administration and voter access.
Children were among victims of Sunday shooting in Billings in case police have characterized as a family disturbanceMultiple people – including children – were killed on Sunday evening in a shooting at a home in Billings, Montana, that was also set on fire, according to authorities and local media reports.Police have characterized the case as a family disturbance, according to Montana news outlet KULR. Continue reading...
• German politician Friedrich Merz vowed that those responsible for hybrid attacks against Germany "will pay" following the discovery of a third drone at Leipzig/Halle airport.
• The airport is a critical logistics hub used by the German military and NATO allies for transporting military goods, and it serves as a base for Ukraine's Antonov Airlines.
• These incidents highlight an escalation in hybrid warfare targeting strategic infrastructure, raising security concerns for NATO operations and Ukrainian support.
Everything Sprouts recalls products after CDC says agency is aware of dozens of food-poisoning cases nationallyUS healthcare officials recently said a food-poisoning outbreak tied to alfalfa sprouts and involving multiple germs had sickened people in at least 15 states.Officials announced the outbreak after documenting more than three dozen cases in Minnesota and Wisconsin. On Friday, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said the agency was aware of at least 55 cases nationally, including four people who had been hospitalized. Continue reading...
Authorities suspect Benjamin Charles Parker, 36, died by suicide after he was found in vehicle in Washington stateA man suspected of killing five people in rural Oregon was found dead in a suspected suicide, local law enforcement officials said on Sunday.The five homicide victims were found on Saturday at a home in a rural community near Forest Grove, Oregon, about 30 miles (48km) outside Portland, when authorities responded to a report of a vehicle fire. Continue reading...
Civil service scheme announced after PM convened local leaders to ‘situation room’ meeting from No 10 NorthUK politics live – latest updatesAndy Burnham is to send more than 100 Whitehall officials to bolster the teams of regional mayors, after convening leaders from across England from his base at No 10 North to discuss how to spread growth.The government described the meeting as a “situation room” to bring local and regional leaders into national decision-making. Continue reading...
• The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) released the minutes from its July meeting on Wednesday, revealing that officials believe inflation remains elevated.
• The meeting involved twelve Fed officials, including the seven Board of Governors members and five regional Reserve Bank presidents, who assess economic conditions to set monetary policy.
• This acknowledgment is critical as it signals the Federal Reserve's ongoing struggle to bring inflation down to its target levels, influencing future interest rate decisions.
• Pakistani authorities have petitioned the Supreme Court to review or withdraw a mandate requiring imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan to undergo a medical examination at a private hospital.
• Information Minister Attaullah Tarar stated that while the government does not object to Khan receiving medical care, it challenges the specific requirement to use a private facility over prison-regulated treatment.
• The government argues that health issues should remain separate from political disputes and maintains that Khan will continue to be treated according to established prison rules.
• Sheikh Sultan Bin Khalifa Bin Sultan Bin Shakhbout Al Nahyan, President of the Asian Chess Federation, has concluded a diplomatic tour of East Asia, visiting China and Hong Kong.
• The visit focused on meeting with sports officials and chess federations to strengthen institutional relations and expand cooperation across the continent.
• These efforts aim to enhance the development of the game of chess, improve existing programs, and elevate the quality of Asian championships.
• The U.S. Justice Department has deployed approximately 20 staff members from the Civil Rights Division and Minnesota’s US attorney’s office to monitor polling sites in Hennepin and Ramsey counties for the 2026 midterms.
• County officials have refused federal staff entry, forcing monitors to remain at least 100 feet outside polling locations.
• This move occurs amid heightened tensions, as the Trump administration has previously targeted Minnesota with a deadly immigration crackdown and the pausing of over $500 million in Medicaid payments.
Rescuers not yet able to reach scene of crash near Richfield in central Utah, prompting fears for two missing peopleA firefighting Sikorsky S64 helicopter with two individuals onboard crashed on Friday morning in central Utah, according to federal aviation authorities.The US Forest Service initially declined to comment on the condition of the helicopter’s passengers, asking the public for “patience while we focus on response efforts” in a statement. Continue reading...
Disclosure comes after Conservative and Reform claims that French police refusing to intervene in crossingsThe French authorities have halted small boats at sea in the Channel on 10 occasions since the spring, officials said on Friday.Despite claims from the Conservatives and Reform that the French were refusing to intervene in small boat crossings, Maritime Prefect officers were using “intervention tactics” to board or control vessels at sea and take asylum seekers back to France. Continue reading...
• The International Association for Tibetan Studies seminar, scheduled for August 23-26 in Nepal, has been canceled following a request from government officials.
• Hosted by the Himalaya Centre for Asian Studies at Kathmandu University, the event was intended to bring together delegates from numerous countries.
• While Prof. Sagar Raj Sharma confirmed the cancellation, the government provided no specific reason for the decision, though Nepal typically restricts pro-Tibetan activities to maintain relations with China.
Cases have passed 4,000 and health watchdog plans to go door to door to find patients in major response escalationThe virus causing a massive outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo could be mutating, health officials fear, as confirmed cases pass 4,000.Africa’s public health watchdog said the time for incremental action was over, as they announced plans to scale up every aspect of the response and go “door to door” looking for patients. Continue reading...
Letter says lifting of sanctions sent ‘clear message’ settlers can use deadly force in West Bank without consequencesSenior Democrats have accused Donald Trump’s administration of giving a green light to violent Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, warning that its policies created “a climate of impunity and unbridled violence” that endangers both Palestinians and US citizens.In a letter seen by the Guardian, a group of 19 Democratic senators and representatives call for the restoration of sanctions against extremist settlers and demand independent US investigations into the deaths of nine US citizens killed in the West Bank since 2022. Continue reading...
• U.S. government information security official Duffy warned at a Las Vegas cybersecurity conference that nationwide computer systems must urgently bolster defenses against AI-driven threats.
• Officials expressed concern that rapid breakthroughs in AI, such as Anthropic PBC's Mythos model, could be weaponized by hackers to launch devastating attacks on critical infrastructure.
• The warning emphasizes that the U.S. cannot afford to develop policy reactively after a major incident, as AI capabilities may leave no time for recovery.
• President Trump has labeled Iran "unbelievably duplicitous," warning that current opportunities represent a "last chance" for Tehran to reach a deal and avoid further escalation.
• Despite these remarks, U.S. officials informed CBS News that no new formal negotiations with Iran are currently planned.
• Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zeidi is reportedly attempting to mediate between the two nations, carrying messages from the U.S. to Tehran following a White House visit.
Threats come as questions surround death of Mississippi teenager, who was found dead after boat trip with friendsSeveral people with no apparent connection to the Nolan Wells case have been criminally charged with making threats amid questions surrounding the Mississippi teenager’s death in July.The death of the 18-year-old Mississippi college freshman has drawn widespread attention since he was found dead following a boat trip to Horn Island, several miles off the Mississippi Gulf coast, with a group of friends. Continue reading...
US sees first fatalities due to intestinal illness, though both had significant underlying health conditionsTwo people have died from cyclosporiasis in Michigan, the state’s health department said on Monday, marking the first fatalities in the largest US outbreak of the intestinal illness.Both individuals had significant underlying health conditions that may have been affected by cyclosporiasis and dehydration, according to medical records. Continue reading...
Authorities in Delaware tackle cluster with vaccination and contract tracing – but field has been weakened by cutsMeasles outbreaks are igniting throughout the United States as the nation passes the highest case count in 30 years – putting greater pressure on state and local health departments and highlighting the importance of early identification and quick action.The US has officially surpassed last year’s tally of measles cases, reaching 2,371 confirmed infections by the end of July. Those numbers have been driven by clusters in Arizona, South Carolina, and Utah – but in times of high transmission, outbreaks elsewhere become more likely. And with decreasing vaccination rates across the country, these sparks are falling on increasingly dry timber. Continue reading...
• Two Federal Reserve officials dissented against the decision to hold interest rates steady, arguing that a rate hike was necessary to combat elevated inflation.
• The internal conflict over monetary policy intensified during Kevin Warsh’s second meeting as chairman of the Federal Reserve.
• These dissenting officials believe that higher rates would have placed the central bank in a stronger position to stabilize prices and manage economic volatility.
• President Donald Trump has signaled that the U.S. will continue bombing operations in Iran, with officials indicating fresh strikes could occur as early as this weekend.
• The decision comes despite increasing domestic pressure within the United States to wind down the ongoing conflict.
• Separately, Trump announced a new agreement on Thursday aimed at disarming Hamas in Gaza, sparking intense political reactions in Israel ahead of October elections.
Pilot of stealth fighter jet, who has not been identified, was treated for non-life threatening injuries sustained in crashAn F-35B fighter jet crashed near a US Marine Corps base in San Diego on Friday morning, sparking a small fire that first responders doused.The pilot, who has not been publicly identified, sustained non-life-threatening injuries, according to a statement from the Marine Corps Miramar air base. Officials say the pilot is in stable condition and received treatment at a local medical facility. Continue reading...
Body of William Standish discovered in Teton mountains as investigators say fatal fall likely cause of deathA 28-year-old Australian hiker who lost contact with his family while hiking the Continental Divide Trail between Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks in Wyoming has been found dead, according to authorities.The man, identified as William Standish, was discovered by rescuers on Wednesday morning in the Wigwams, a series of rocky peaks on the west slope of the Teton mountain range, the Teton county coroner said. Investigators say it was likely he suffered a fatal fall. Continue reading...
Ex-officials ask FCC to reject petitions to deny renewal of broadcast licenses for eight stations owned by ABCA group of prominent former Federal Communications Commission (FCC) officials, including key staffers and commissioners appointed by both Democratic and Republican presidents, issued a filing Tuesday that warns the agency is trying to send a “chilling message” to broadcasters after it received petitions to deny ABC license renewals for eight of its local television stations.The network’s licenses are up for early renewal after an extremely unusual order from the Brendan Carr-led FCC in late April, following criticism of ABC by Donald Trump and Melania Trump. Continue reading...
