10 hours ago
Good morning. Appearing earlier nan House oversight and betterment committee, nan erstwhile lawyer wide Pam Bondi told lawmakers that Todd Blanche, nan man Donald Trump has lined up to switch her, was “in charge” of nan US Department of Justice’s arguable handling of nan Jeffrey Epstein case. She besides said she was “not definite of nan extent” that Trump knew astir nan crimes of Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell earlier they became public.
In her opening statement, Bondi defended nan justness department’s handling of nan records nether her activity and tried to region herself from nan merchandise and reappraisal of nan files, saying she did not “lead each aspect” of nan DoJ’s effort, but that it was Blanche who oversaw it. If formally nominated by Trump to beryllium lawyer wide connected a imperishable basis, Blanche would require confirmation from nan US Senate.
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Why is nan merchandise of nan files nether scrutiny? Several lawmakers arsenic good arsenic survivors of Epstein’s abuse, person criticized immoderate of nan department’s actions and raised concerns complete definite redactions and nan disclosure of delicate individual accusation successful nan files. Bondi acknowledged “there were redaction errors” successful nan release, but added: “Since time 1 of this process, this section has been committed to accountability and transparency.”
House passes measure to assistance Ukraine arsenic Zelenskyy calls for talks pinch Putin
The House passed authorities Thursday that would assistance Ukraine and enforce sanctions connected cardinal segments of nan Russian economy, overriding objections from Republican leaders who said nan measure would undermine negotiations designed to execute a comparable but stronger result.
The legislation, which was sponsored by nan Democratic typical Gregory Meeks, seeks to cement US assistance for Ukraine by providing much than $1bn successful information and reconstruction aid. It would make different $8bn disposable for Ukraine’s defense done loans.
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What are nan latest developments successful Ukraine? In his first nationalist missive to Vladimir Putin since nan 2022 invasion, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has called for face-to-face negotiations. Acknowledging shifting US priorities while Washington remained focused connected nan Iran war, nan Ukrainian president noted it would beryllium incorrect to simply hold for nan Trump management to measurement in. The connection comes arsenic Ukraine regains immoderate battlefield leverage done improved long-range onslaught capabilities, moreover arsenic Moscow intensifies its deadly aerial run crossed nan country.
Trump claims Bill Pulte will analyse ‘rigged elections’ successful impermanent intelligence role
Donald Trump has suggested his arguable state Bill Pulte will analyse “rigged elections” while serving arsenic nan country’s apical intelligence official, arsenic nan US president continues to make unfounded allegations astir voting.
Pulte, nan head of nan Federal Housing Finance Agency, is simply a staunch Trump loyalist and does not person nationalist intelligence experience. His assignment arsenic caput of nationalist intelligence followed nan exit of Tulsi Gabbard.
Trump earlier alleged without grounds that Democrats were cheating successful California’s primaries. He besides claimed nan US attorney’s agency successful Los Angeles was investigating. The US attorney’s agency said it had nary comment.
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What is happening successful California’s election? The California governor’s title remained unsettled arsenic authorities predetermination officials continued to sift done uncounted superior ballots. Polls indicated that nan British-born blimpish pundit Steve Hilton was narrowly starring nan race, followed by nan erstwhile US wellness and quality services caput Xavier Becerra. The billionaire Tom Steyer trailed down nan pair.
In different news …
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Senate Republicans connected Thursday scuttled an attempt by Democrats to extremity Trump from creating a $1.8bn money to salary his allies. Todd Blanche, nan acting US lawyer general, told lawmakers connected Tuesday that nan management would not move guardant pinch nan fund.
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The US Department of Justice’s civilian authorities section has launched investigations into 15 aesculapian schools aft allegations of imaginable title discrimination successful their admissions processes. The Trump management has accused universities of utilizing essays and different exertion materials arsenic indirect ways to facet title into admissions decisions.
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Argentina has reacted pinch fury aft the bodies of 2 murdered teenage girls were found conscionable 2 days apart. The latest killings underscore nan South American country’s femicide situation and person prompted siren complete nan determination to trim support for victims of gender-based unit nether nan far-right management of Javier Milei.
Stat of nan day: 80% of Americans had a work aliases merchandise problem successful 2025 – why are US consumers truthful angry?
US households are losing $165bn a twelvemonth connected nan “annoyance economy” aliases “what we salary successful time, fees and irritation to navigate our regular lives”, nan Groundwork Collaborative, a thinktank that focuses connected concentrations of backstage power, estimated successful February. Heather Timmons looks at why US consumers are truthful angry.
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We’d for illustration to perceive astir your frustrations pinch companies, from difficulties getting a refund to bad customer service. Get successful touch here.
Culture pick: Affection reappraisal – representation nonaccomplishment thriller that keeps you guessing
When Ellie (Jessica Rothe) wakes up successful furniture successful a location she does not recognise, adjacent to a man she does not know, she people assumes nan worst. She is moreover much disconcerted erstwhile a small woman calling her mommy appears. In Catherine Bray’s review she says nan debut characteristic head BT Meza’s creepy thriller keeps you guessing. It surely sounds a batch amended than what Benjamin Lee called “Amazon’s head-scratching $200m-budgeted misfire” attempting to resurrect nan conception of He-Man.
Don’t miss this: A assemblage professor admitted utilizing AI to constitute an sentiment piece. Here’s what it revealed astir spot successful nan technology
From nan “Well, this is awkward” files: nan Sydney Morning Herald took down a portion by Cath Ellis, a pro vice-chancellor of Western Sydney University, aft it emerged nan article, arguing against students cutting corners by utilizing AI to do assemblage work, had been produced pinch nan assistance of … you’ve guessed it, AI. Technology newsman Josh Taylor analyses nan response.
… aliases this: ‘I knew it was complete for us’: nan bands who sewage near down erstwhile punk exploded
Alexis Petridis looks back astatine what nan euphony segment successful nan UK was really for illustration 50 years agone this week, astatine nan infinitesimal nan Sex Pistols played their first Manchester gig and punk upended popular civilization for good.
Climate check: Wildfire fume has reversed US advancement toward ozone aerial quality
The wildfires that person battered nan US and nan remainder of North America successful caller years person importantly accrued emissions and been linked to tens of thousands of premature deaths, but their effect connected aerial value is greater than antecedently known, according to research.
Last Thing: Mule cervid already utilizing incomplete wildlife span successful California
A trio of mule cervid has already scuttled across a not-quite-finished $20m wildlife span complete Route 97 successful Siskiyou county, marking an early triumph for nan California section of transportation. As nan state’s first wildlife crossing complete a awesome highway, nan task promises to drastically trim animal mortality rates for migrating type and amended information for quality drivers.
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