Hong Kong urges parents not to delay childhood vaccinations as US limits jabs
SCMP •

Hong Kong urges parents not to delay childhood vaccinations as US limits jabs

Hong Kong authorities have defended the city’s childhood vaccination programme after the United States scaled back its immunisation recommendations, stressing that public health policies should not be “arbitrarily altered”. The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) said on Tuesday that all public health policies and medical recommendations had to be based on scientific evidence. “Vaccination schedule...

Samuel Alito gained up to $2.9m from oil and gas assets since joining supreme court, analysis shows

Samuel Alito gained up to $2.9m from oil and gas assets since joining supreme court, analysis shows

The Guardian •

Critics argue US high court justice should recuse himself from upcoming fossil fuel firms’ climate accountability caseSupreme court justice Samuel Alito gained up to $2.9m from his fossil fuel interests between 2005 and 2024, a new review of financial disclosures shows.The analysis from the non-profit advocacy group and judicial watchdog Court Accountability, shared exclusively with the Guardian, ...

Russia frees ex-US marine four years after sentence disputed by his family

Russia frees ex-US marine four years after sentence disputed by his family

The Guardian •

Robert Gilman had been deteriorating rapidly in prison and was said to be in a catatonic stateRussia has freed a former US marine who had been in jail since 2022, after Vladimir Putin granted the ailing American a pardon on humanitarian grounds.Robert Gilman, 32, an English teacher who briefly served in the US Marines, was travelling by train when he was arrested in the southern Russian city of Vo...

‘Real struggle’ to tame New Forest blaze as UK set for hottest summer on record

‘Real struggle’ to tame New Forest blaze as UK set for hottest summer on record

The Guardian •

Key tourist route closed and residents rallying round as battle against wildfire expected to go on for several daysThe battle to contain a large wildfire spreading across the New Forest will go on for several days, experts have said, as wind changes and a desiccated landscape fuel the flames.Smoke billowed above the deserted A31 road, the main tourist route into the New Forest national park where ...

Record-breaking El Capitan climber dies in Sierra Nevada fall

Record-breaking El Capitan climber dies in Sierra Nevada fall

The Guardian •

Jacob ‘Jake’ Whisenant died in Sequoia and Kings Canyon wilderness in ‘climbing-related incident’, authorities sayA 30-year-old California climber known for breaking speed records died after falling in the Sierra Nevada wilderness last week, according to authorities.Jacob “Jake” Whisenant, from Mammoth Lakes, California, died in the Sequoia and Kings Canyon wilderness on 3 August, according to the...

US state department has canceled over 175,000 visas since Trump’s return to office

US state department has canceled over 175,000 visas since Trump’s return to office

The Guardian •

Revocations targeted foreign nationals who allegedly broke terms of their visas, says Department of StateThe US Department of State has canceled more than 175,000 visas since Donald Trump returned to office, quadrupling the pace of revocations under Joe Biden’s final year in the White House, according to a new tally released by the department this week.The announcement said the revocations targete...

Baptist University reviews IT security after ransomware group claims breach

Baptist University reviews IT security after ransomware group claims breach

SCMP •

Baptist University has said it is reviewing the security of its information technology (IT) systems after a ransomware group claimed online to have illegally accessed the Hong Kong institution’s data. The allegations were made by “The Gentlemen”, an advanced cybercrime group that first appeared in the middle of last year. Cybersecurity monitoring platforms reported that about 1,900 credentials lin...

Former judge Baka elected new Hungarian president in another break from Orbán era – as it happened

Former judge Baka elected new Hungarian president in another break from Orbán era – as it happened

The Guardian •

The new president is a former judge on the European Court of Human RightsSpanish foreign minister José Manuel Albares visited Ceuta earlier today, as he insisted that Madrid had it all under control despite “the most unique and complex” border arrangements there.He said Spain was in direct dialogue with the Moroccan authorities on how to prevent another border crisis. Continue reading...

University of Cambridge whistleblower who reported alleged bullying wins employment tribunal

University of Cambridge whistleblower who reported alleged bullying wins employment tribunal

The Guardian •

Prof Wyn Evans, who raised concerns over treatment of female staff at Institute of Astronomy, was subject to ‘baseless’ investigation, judge rulesA University of Cambridge whistleblower who alleged bullying of female staff inside the university’s Institute of Astronomy has won a tribunal against his employer.Prof Wyn Evans told a tribunal hearing in June that the Institute suffered from “a bad his...