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Ousted vaccine panel members say rigorous science is being abandoned
NEW YORK (AP) — The 17 experts who were ousted from a government vaccine committee last month say they have little faith in what the panel has become, and have outlined possible alternative ways to make US vaccine policy. US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. abruptly fired the entire Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, accusing them of being too closely aligned with manufacturers and of rubber-stamping vaccines. He handpicked replacements that include several vaccine skeptics. In
July 31, 2025 -
Canada intends to recognize Palestinian state in September
Canada intends to recognize a Palestinian state at a meeting of the UN in September, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on Wednesday, adding more pressure on the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens. The announcement came after France said last week it would recognize a Palestinian state, and a day after Britain said it would recognize the state at the UN if the fighting in Gaza, part of the Palestinian territories occupied by Israe
July 31, 2025 -
Trump hits Brazil with 50% tariffs, excludes key sectors
SAO PAULO/BRASILIA (Reuters) -- US President Donald Trump on Wednesday slapped a 50 percent tariff on most Brazilian goods to fight what he has called a "witch hunt" against former President Jair Bolsonaro, but softened the blow by excluding sectors such as aircraft, energy and orange juice from heavier levies. Trump announced the tariffs, some of the steepest levied on any economy in the US trade war, as his administration also unveiled sanctions on the Brazilian supreme court justice who has b
July 31, 2025 -
US Fed leaves rates unchanged despite Trump pressure
WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell gave little indication Wednesday of bowing anytime soon to President Donald Trump’s frequent demands that he cut interest rates, even as signs of dissent emerged on the Fed’s governing board. The Fed left its key short-term interest rate unchanged for the fifth time this year, at about 4.3 percent, as was expected. But Powell also signaled that it could take months for the Fed to determine whether Trump’s sweeping tariffs will push up inflati
July 31, 2025 -
Massive sea turtle returns to the ocean off Florida after treatment for a boat strike
By CODY JACKSON JUNO BEACH, Florida (AP) — A massive sea turtle that was found injured along the Florida coast in May following a boat strike was returned to the ocean on Wednesday. The adult female, named Pennywise and weighing 137 kilograms, was deemed healthy and strong enough to return to the wild after being treated by the Loggerhead Marinelife Center’s veterinary team in Palm Beach County, Florida, for the past few months. After a short ride from the center, six volunteers hauled the turtl
July 31, 2025 -
US Fed keeps key interest rate steady despite Trump's continued pressure
The US Federal Reserve held its benchmark interest rate steady for the fifth consecutive time on Wednesday, despite President Donald Trump's repeated calls for the central bank to lower the rate. The Fed announced its decision to keep the rate at the 4.25-4.50 percent range after the two-day Federal Open Market Committee meeting where two members of its Board of Governors voted against the decision, preferring to lower the rate by a quarter percentage point -- the first dissent by two governors
July 31, 2025 -
Trump says he'll meet S. Korean trade delegation with 'offer to buy down' tariffs
US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he will meet a South Korean trade delegation in the afternoon to listen to their "offer to buy down" the proposed 25 percent "reciprocal" tariffs. Trump made the remarks in a social media post as South Korean negotiators are striving to reach a trade deal with his administration before Friday, when the steep reciprocal tariffs are set to take effect unless an agreement is reached. "I will be meeting with the South Korean Trade Delegation this afterno
July 31, 2025 -
Pacific tsunami risk eases after magnitude-8.8 quake hits off Russia
A massive earthquake off Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula triggered tsunami warnings for millions of people across the Pacific. From Japan, China and the Philippines to Hawaii, the US West Coast and Latin American countries like Mexico and Ecuador, warnings were issued to residents to brace for potentially life-threatening, meter-high waves. But hours after the quake rocked Russia's Far East, there were no reports of major damage on Wednesday. In many regions, tsunami warnings were lifted or downgra
July 30, 2025 -
8.8-magnitude quake causes tsunami in Russia, Japan, sets off warnings for Alaska, Hawaii
TOKYO (AP) — One of the world's strongest earthquakes struck Russia's Far East early Wednesday, an 8.8-magnitude temblor that caused a tsunami in the northern Pacific region and prompted warnings for Alaska, Hawaii and other coasts south toward New Zealand. Several locations advised evacuations, but no major injuries have been reported. Cars jammed streets and highways in Honolulu as the tsunami alerts coincided with the Tuesday afternoon rush-hour. Warning sirens blared as people moved to highe
July 30, 2025 -
Trump says tariff talks won't be finished tomorrow
WASHINGTON -- US President Donald Trump said Tuesday tariff negotiations will not be finished the following day, as he responded to a question about ongoing trade talks with South Korea. Trump made the remarks during a press availability after returning from Scotland, as South Korean negotiators are striving to reach a trade deal with his administration before Friday, when his "reciprocal" tariffs, including 25 percent duties on Korea, are set to take effect unless a deal is reached. "(Negotiati
July 30, 2025 -
UK warns it could recognize Palestine
Britain said on Tuesday it would recognise a Palestinian state unless Israel takes steps to relieve suffering in Gaza, where starvation is spreading, and reaches a ceasefire in the nearly two-year war with Hamas. The warning came after a hunger monitor said a worst-case scenario of famine is unfolding and immediate action is needed to avoid widespread death. Palestinian authorities said more than 60,000 Palestinians were now confirmed killed by Israel's air and ground assault on the Gaza Strip.
July 30, 2025 -
UN holds emergency talks over summit cost
BRUSSELS (Reuters) -- The UN's climate bureau held an urgent meeting on Tuesday over concerns that sky-high accommodation prices for this year's COP30 climate summit in Brazil could price poorer countries out of the negotiations, according to diplomats and a document seen by Reuters. Brazil is preparing to host this year's UN climate summit in November in the rainforest city of Belem, where nearly every government in the world will gather to negotiate their joint efforts to curb climate change.
July 30, 2025 -
Taiwan's President Lai postpones Americas visit after typhoon
Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te will delay an expected trip to remaining allies in the Americas that would have taken place next month, embassy officials told Reuters on Tuesday, due to damages from a typhoon and as the island faces more torrential rains. Lai was expected to travel to the Americas next month, as his government seeks to shore up support in a region where many countries have cut diplomatic ties in favor of relations with China, which claims Taiwan as its territory. However, embass
July 30, 2025 -
Trump says Epstein 'stole' young women from Mar-a-Lago
WASHINGTON (AP) — US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Jeffrey Epstein “stole” young women who worked for the spa at Mar-a-Lago, the latest evolution in his description of how their highly scrutinized relationship ended years ago. One of the women, he acknowledged, was Virginia Giuffre, who was among Epstein’s most well-known sex trafficking accusers. Trump's comments expanded on remarks he had made a day earlier, when he said he had banned Epstein from his private club in Florida two dec
July 30, 2025 -
Record-breaking heat wave scorches Southeast US
Residents in the Southeast US are no strangers to heat in the summertime. But this week's sweltering hot weather set at least one record and has forecasters urging residents to limit time outside on Tuesday if possible — and stay hydrated. The all-time high temperature at Tampa International Airport was broken on Sunday when the thermometer 37.8 degrees Celsius. The previous record had been 37.2 C in June 2020. The National Weather Service said Tuesday the prolonged heat is expected to peak in t
July 30, 2025