From the Senate floor the senator appealed to colleagues to put politics aside, calling on Congress to provide help to states and localities 'lurching from one disaster to the next.'

US Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino briefed the media on a deadly incident in Minneapolis, saying federal agents believed the man who was shot posed a threat during an immigration operation and was carrying a firearm along with additional ammunition. #BorderPatrol #GregBovino #ICE #Minneapolis #Minnesota #ImmigrationEnforcement #FederalAgents #PublicSafety #LawEnforcement #OperationMetroSurge #CommunityImpact #ImmigrationPolicy #GovernmentResponse #BreakingNews #CivilRights #Accountability #USPolitics #CityLeadership #NationalNews #PolicyDebate…

See also my COVID page here UK Covid-19 Inquiry | Inquests & Inquiriesand my COVID podcast review of the inquiry here.The UK Covid 19 Inquiry published its module 1 findings in July 2024About 6 months...

A former police officer and now criminology professor, Vincent Hurley, has strongly criticized the Australian government's response to domestic violence following the deaths of three women in separate incidents across New South Wales within a 10-hour period. The victims, aged 23, in their 70s, and 90, were found dead in Wagga Wagga, Bondi Beach, and Mole River. Two men have been charged in connection with the deaths, while police continue to investigate the third case. Professor Hurley, who served as a NSW police officer for 29 years, argues that the government's approach to domestic violence is fundamentally flawed, focusing on post-incident support rather than prevention. He states that while funding is directed towards women's shelters, crisis lines, and court support, there is a severe lack of investment in programs aimed at changing the behavior of perpetrators before violence occurs. Hurley highlights that men who commit domestic violence often appear in court repeatedly, yet the system fails to address their behavior or provide them with intervention services. He points out that Queensland recently cut nearly $40 million from domestic violence prevention budgets, and the federal budget has not allocated significant new funds for prevention. Hurley emphasizes that perpetrator intervention programs should not be funded at the expense of women's services but should be integrated into health, alcohol, and drug budgets where men already access services. He warns that without a structural shift towards prevention, Australia will continue to face a cycle of domestic violence tragedies. The Prime Minister declared violence against women a national crisis in April 2024, but two and a half years later, the government's actions have not matched the rhetoric, with underfunded services and a lack of focus on addressing the root causes of violence.

US Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino briefed the media on a deadly incident in Minneapolis, saying federal agents believed the man who was shot posed a threat during an immigration operation and was carrying a firearm along with additional ammunition. #BorderPatrol #GregBovino #ICE #Minneapolis #Minnesota #ImmigrationEnforcement #FederalAgents #PublicSafety #LawEnforcement #OperationMetroSurge #CommunityImpact #ImmigrationPolicy #GovernmentResponse #BreakingNews #CivilRights #Accountability #USPolitics #CityLeadership #NationalNews #PolicyDebate…

The UK Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, is facing mounting pressure over the government's handling of the migrant crisis, as protests continue to erupt across the country. Recent data shows a significant increase in small boat arrivals, with over 600 migrants reaching UK shores in a single day. The government has deployed additional resources to manage the situation, including police and border control personnel, while critics argue that the response is inadequate. Protests have been organized by various groups, with some demonstrations turning violent as tensions escalate. The situation has drawn international attention, with calls for a more coordinated approach to address the humanitarian concerns and security risks associated with the influx of migrants. Meanwhile, political leaders are under scrutiny for their policies and the impact on public order. The crisis highlights the complex challenges of balancing national security with humanitarian obligations in an increasingly polarized political climate.

Annie Jacobsen's 'Biological War: A Scenario' presents a chilling hypothetical outbreak caused by a genetically engineered pathogen leaking from a research lab. The book combines investigative journalism with speculative history, detailing how such a bioagent could spread globally through air travel, overwhelm healthcare systems, and trigger societal collapse. It traces the historical development of biological weapons since the 1925 Geneva Protocol, highlighting Cold War-era research at facilities like Siberia's Vector Institute. Jacobsen explores dual-use science risks where pandemic preparedness research could be weaponized, noting increased biosafety lab incidents. The narrative follows a plague resistant to antibiotics, causing rapid fatalities and government failures in containment. While critiquing US response shortcomings, the book also raises concerns about global oversight gaps and the need for improved biosecurity policies. Though focusing heavily on U.S. scenarios, it serves as a warning about real-world biological warfare threats.

The article discusses the escalating issue of settler violence in the West Bank, highlighting how former Israeli leaders and security officials have condemned the actions of extremist settlers. Despite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government condemning similar violence last year, it has downplayed attacks on Palestinians, including arson, property destruction, and harassment. A June letter from over 30 high-ranking former Israeli officials accused the Netanyahu administration of enabling a campaign of terror aimed at undermining Palestinian statehood. The letter warned of legal action if the government did not address the violence, which has been tolerated by the ruling party to maintain its electoral base. The piece emphasizes the moral crisis this represents for Israel and calls for accountability from leaders who claim to support Jewish sovereignty while allowing extremist activities that endanger Palestinians.

The UK government has defended its decision to send an emergency phone alert warning of wildfires across England and Wales as 'entirely appropriate'. Millions of mobile phones received a 'severe alert' notification on Friday, stating there was a 'very high risk of wildfires nationally'. The lack of advance warning for the alert sparked criticism from charities and domestic abuse survivors, who highlighted the difficulty for victims to protect secret phones used to seek support. A prime minister's spokesperson emphasized the government's duty to 'keep people safe', citing 43 fires and 11 major incidents that strained resources. The alert, which was the largest use of the emergency system yet, urged caution against disposable barbeques and naked flames. Campaigners raised concerns about potential risks to domestic abuse victims relying on hidden devices for safety. Women's Aid called for better forewarning of alerts to protect survivors. While fire chiefs praised public response, debates continued over the timing and language of the alert, with Welsh-language notifications sent first under the Welsh Language Act.