“US Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has revealed she has decided to freeze her eggs, and has shared her first steps in the process on social media. The 36-year-old New York Democrat posted the clips on Sunday, hours before telling ABC News’s This Week programme that she had ‘not ruled out the possibility’ of running for president. In the clips, Ocasio-Cortez shows herself taking an injection and talks through tips she has learnt, before answering questions about costs, clinical procedures, storage and how fertility care works under what she calls the US’s ‘broken’ medical system. In her later interview with ABC, she explained that she wanted to ‘normalise’ conversations about the process.” (08/10/26)
“A former lawmaker from Nonthaburi province, which is still reeling from last week’s school shooting, was arrested Monday after allegedly storming a local government office and shooting a local administrator dead, according to local reports. The alleged gunman has been identified by police as former Nonthaburi MP Chalong Riewraeng and the victim as Pol. Col. Thongchai Yenprasert, president of the Nonthaburi Provincial Administrative Organization, the Bangkok Post reported. … Police said Riewraeng called a TV anchor mid-broadcast and admitted to firing five shots at Yenprasert, the Bangkok Post reported.” (08/10/26)
“Indonesia intensified efforts Monday to combat a growing number of wildfires across the archipelago, deploying helicopters, thousands of firefighters and disaster personnel as blazes spread through a popular national park in East Java and peatlands on Sumatra and Borneo islands during an unusually dry season, officials said. Scores of firefighters, backed by 43 helicopters, have been deployed to battle wildfires that have burned more than 107,000 hectares (264,000 acres) of forests and other land across the Southeast Asian nation as of Monday, said Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Djamari Chaniago. Strengthening El Nino conditions have raised the risk of more forest and land fires during the peak dry season, he said. East Java authorities said the largest blaze is burning in Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park in East Java province, where about 743 hectares (1,836 acres) have been scorched. Authorities have closed the park to visitors until further notice.” (08/10/26)
“Greenland has issued a ‘strong warning’ after a US oil company linked to Donald Trump landed drilling equipment onto the Arctic island without permission. The Greenland government said it was aware of drilling machinery being brought onshore on the island’s eastern coast last month ‘in connection with planned oil exploration drilling’. … The equipment is for a large oil-drilling project being funded by Greenland Energy, a Texas company set up last year with ties to Mr Trump. … Days after oil-drilling equipment was seen being hauled ashore by Greenland locals last month, Mr Trump renewed his threats to claim the semi-autonomous island.” (08/09/26)
“The U.S. State Department announced on Monday that it has revoked more than 175,000 visas during President Donald Trump’s administration so far. The announcement comes less than two years since Trump started his second term. ‘Under President Trump, the United States Department of State has revoked more than 175,000 visas from foreign nationals who violated the terms of their visas, committed crimes, called for violence against U.S. citizens, defrauded Americans, abused our immigration system, or endangered national security,’ the State Department noted. ‘The majority of these visas were revoked due to law enforcement encounters for a range of criminal activity, with assault, driving under the influence, theft, and drug crimes being the leading causes. A significant share of visas were revoked for reckless driving, sexual assault, child abuse, fraud and embezzlement, and other crimes,’ according to the department.” (08/10/26)
“United States President Donald Trump has named White House Staff Secretary Will Scharf as his next White House counsel, elevating a longtime legal ally to one of the administration’s most important legal positions months before November’s midterm elections. The former Trump lawyer, who worked on the presidential immunity case and later oversaw approval of the president’s disputed White House ballroom project, will replace David Warrington on September 1, with Warrington leaving the administration for the private sector.” (08/10/26)
“Radio Caroline has been found in breach of broadcasting rules after it mistakenly announced the death of King Charles III. The station aired three pre-recorded announcements falsely stating the King had died during the Barry Marsh Show on 19 May. The messages claimed the ‘news media’ had ‘confirmed’ the death, and were followed by the national anthem and 16 minutes of silence on DAB+, while AM listeners heard back-up music. A correction and apology was broadcast 30 minutes later. The ruling by media watchdog Ofcom stated that once the staff member who accidentally played the files realised what they had done, they stopped playing them, ‘panicked and left the premises’. Ofcom said the incident breached Rule 5.1, which requires news to be reported with due accuracy, and Rule 5.2, which says significant mistakes must be corrected quickly.” (08/10/26)
“Timing is everything in comedy and, so it seems, in British politics for a perennial joke candidate who wears a garbage can on his head. Count Binface, a self-described intergalactic space warrior, has landed in the center of the U.K.’s political universe ahead of a special election Thursday that was derided as a farce long before the ballot was packed with nearly three dozen candidates — many from the silly end of the spectrum. Binface, who has run against prime ministers past and present, was the first to throw his bucket in the ring when Reform UK leader Nigel Farage abruptly quit Parliament and said he would seek reelection to clear his name over financial allegations. … when the major political parties denounced Farage’s move as a political stunt and boycotted the Clacton-on-Sea election in southeastern England, the trash-talking comedian was launched into prime position as default challenger. He has been on a nonstop media blitz since.” (08/10/26)
“Investigators on Monday released the name of the Madison police officer who shot and killed a 38-year-old [b]lack man in July — a shooting that was captured on video and sparked protests that put Wisconsin’s capital city on edge over how authorities treat people of color. Kiel Baitinger-Peterson, a white officer with nearly 11 years’ experience in law enforcement, fired the shots that killed Corey Ruiz on July 22, the Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Division of Criminal Investigation said in a statement. Baitinger-Peterson was one of four officers who surrounded Ruiz, who was on a bike, in response to calls about someone who was checking out parked cars and an alleged burglary attempt, police said. The shooting sparked days of protests and calls from the [b]lack community for Madison to address racial justice issues. Baitinger-Peterson did not reply to an email seeking comment.” (08/10/26)
“Ken Krawchuk and John Thomas, the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania’s gubernatorial ticket, have officially completed the signature petitioning process and qualified for the state’s general election ballot this November. … Though certified, the ticket’s nomination papers still remain subject to a challenge through the state’s objection period, which runs until August 10. In the event that happens, Pennsylvania courts then have until August 18 to determine their outcome. … The Libertarian ticket joins incumbent Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro and Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis, Republican nominees Stacy Garrity and Jason Richey, and Green nominees Anthony Dastra and Craig Bolton, all of whom have also qualified.” (08/09/26)
