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當 Charles 與 Camilla 受到 three-line whip 約束時，國會議員們目睹了公務員們那種令人如坐針氈的尷尬。我們並不常看見高級公務員在公開場合現身。他們被隔絕在公眾視線之外，坐在辦公桌後試圖說服他們的部長不要對其政府部門做出過於災難性的決策。至於為什麼他們僅僅因為盡本職工作就能獲封騎士或女爵勳位，則是人生的未解之謎之一。我們其餘的人則只能應付老闆偶爾發來的電子郵件。但在過去的一週裡，兩位頂級公務員不得不心不甘情不願地在 foreign affairs select committee 面前，就 Keir Starmer 任命 Peter Mandelson 為 US ambassador 的決定作證，而這過程也確實非常具有啟發性。尤其是能看到他們是多麼厭惡來自公眾的任何額外關注。他們在接受問責時表現出的明顯不適，簡直令人不忍直視。繼續閱讀...

• CDC data indicates 71 per 100,000 emergency room visits for tick bites in the most recent week, highest in Northeast followed by Midwest, Southeast, West, and South Central. • Rising tick activity signals increased Lyme disease and other vector-borne risks as warmer weather extends season. • Public health experts warn of prevention needs amid Northeast ER surge.

PM Sanae Takaichi says about 80m barrels of stockpiled oil to be provided to refiners – equivalent to 45 days of domestic demand • Middle East crisis – live updatesJapan will begin the biggest-ever release of oil from its strategic reserves this week, the prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, has said, as the country braces for possible shortages caused by the US-Israel war on Iran.The government last week approved the release of 15 days’ worth of private-sector reserves, amid concern that the conflict in the Middle East will continue to hinder the flow of tanker traffic along the strait of Hormuz. Continue reading...