
More than 70 firefighters tackle blaze at London block of flats
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Independent
21 minutes ago
- The Independent
Texas Republicans propose new US House map with more winnable GOP seats
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it. Your support makes all the difference.


Glasgow Times
21 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
Trump criticised ‘terrible first minister' Sturgeon on flight back to US
He made the comments on Air Force One as he travelled back to Washington following his five-day visit to Scotland. During his stay, he had a two-hour dinner on Monday with current First Minister John Swinney, alongside Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. Mr Swinney, who also met Mr Trump on Tuesday morning, said he had used the talks to push the president to exempt Scotch from US tariffs. Speaking to reporters on his flight home, the president was asked if he offered to drop the levy on Scotland's national drink. He replied: 'No. We really didn't discuss it much. But I have a lot of respect for him [Mr Swinney].' Journalists began asking questions again before Mr Trump interjected: 'I didn't have a lot of respect for the woman that preceded him – I thought she was terrible as a first minister of Scotland. 'But I think John is doing a very good job of first minister.' A source close to Ms Sturgeon responded: 'Trump's lack of respect for women is hardly news. 'That said, the feeling was entirely mutual.' US President Donald Trump made the comments after a five-day visit to Scotland (Chris Furlong/PA) Ms Sturgeon added on her Instagram account: 'Feeling was mutual, Donnie. 'Forever proud to represent all the things that offend your view of the world.' Mr Trump criticised Ms Sturgeon, who became first minister in 2014, during her resignation in 2023. He described her as a 'failed woke extremist' and a 'crazed leftist' who 'symbolises everything wrong with identity politics'. When he was first elected as president in 2016, Ms Sturgeon described Mr Trump's behaviour and rhetoric as 'abhorrent'. Mr Trump left Scotland on Tuesday after visiting his golf courses in Turnberry, South Ayrshire, and Menie in Aberdeenshire. During his stay he struck a trade agreement, described by him as 'the biggest in history', with the EU, and held a meeting with Sir Keir to improve the UK-US trade deal. As he opened his new golf course in Aberdeenshire, Donald Trump asked John Swinney to stand so he could thank him (Jane Barlow/PA) Mr Swinney said following his talks with the US leader that Mr Trump had shown a 'willingness' to move on Scotch tariffs, which currently sit at 10%. During Mr Trump's speech to open a new golf course at Menie on Tuesday morning, he asked the First Minister to stand to thank him. He said: 'John Swinney is a terrific guy – and loves golf and loves the people of this country, and we really appreciate it. 'You're really a very special guy. Thank-you very much for everything, John.'


BreakingNews.ie
22 minutes ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Epstein and Maxwell grand juries ‘did not hear directly from victims'
The federal grand juries that indicted Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell on sex-trafficking charges did not hear directly from any of the alleged victims in the case, Justice Department officials have said. The claim came in support of the Justice Department's request to unseal transcripts of the usually secret proceedings. Just two witnesses gave evidence to the panel and both were law enforcement officials, the officials said. Advertisement In a court filing late on Tuesday, the officials again urged the court to release the records, citing huge public interest, and sought to assure judges that making them public would not harm victims of the couple's crimes. While the memo did not detail what was in the grand jury evidence, it dampened expectations that the transcripts would contain new revelations, saying that 'certain aspects and subject matters' contained in them became public during Maxwell's trial in 2021 and that other details have been made public through many years of civil lawsuits filed by victims. Ghislaine Maxwell with Jeffrey Epstein (US Department of Justice/PA) The Justice Department described the grand jury witnesses in response to questions from two judges who would have to approve the release of the transcripts. Grand jury transcripts are rarely released by courts unless they need to be disclosed in connection with a judicial proceeding. The papers filed on Tuesday cite a 1997 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that said judges have wide discretion and public interest alone can justify releasing grand jury information. Advertisement The Epstein grand jury heard from just one witness, an FBI agent, when it met in June and July 2019, the government disclosed. The Maxwell grand jury heard from the same FBI agent and a New York Police Department detective when it met in June and July 2020 and March 2021, according to the submission. It is not unusual for law enforcement officials to be the only witnesses before grand juries, which have a limited role and do not need to decide whether a person is guilty of a crime. The memorandum was signed by Jay Clayton, the interim US attorney for the Southern District of New York, and included the names of attorney general Pam Bondi and deputy attorney general Todd Blanche. The request to unseal the transcripts came after the Justice Department enraged parts of President Donald Trump's base of supporters when it announced in early July that it would not be making public any more investigative files related to Epstein, who was accused of paying under-age girls for sexual acts. Advertisement The decision not to make additional materials public shocked some Trump supporters because members of his administration had hyped the expected release and stoked conspiracies around the well-connected financier. Epstein killed himself in a federal jail in August 2019, weeks after his arrest on sex-trafficking charges, but his case has generated attention and conspiracy theories because of his and Maxwell's links to famous people, such as royals, presidents and billionaires, including Mr Trump. Maxwell is serving a 20-year prison sentence after her December 2021 conviction for luring teenage girls to be sexually abused by Epstein. Last week, she sat for interviews with Justice Department officials in Florida, answering questions 'about 100 different people', her lawyer said. Maxwell was being interviewed because of Mr Trump's directive to gather and release any credible evidence about others who may have committed crimes, the deputy attorney general said. Advertisement Donald Trump (Christopher Furlong/AP) Mr Trump has denied prior knowledge of Epstein's crimes and claimed he had cut off their relationship long ago, but he faces ongoing questions about the case. When reporters last week pressed the Republican president about possibly pardoning Maxwell, he deflected, emphasising his administration's successes. After the request to unseal grand jury records, two former prosecutors in Manhattan told the Associated Press the transcripts would be relatively short and contain only the evidence of law enforcement witnesses talking about evidence that tracks information in the indictments. The court memorandum filed on Tuesday said many of the victims whose accounts of being exploited by Epstein and Maxwell were discussed before the grand jury by the FBI agent and the NYPD detective later gave evidence at Maxwell's public trial. The government said no Epstein or Maxwell family members have come forward to express an interest in the request to unseal the grand jury transcripts, although Maxwell has indicated she will file a position with the court. Advertisement The memorandum says the request to unseal the transcripts is 'consistent with increasing calls for additional disclosures in this matter'. 'There is undoubtedly a clearly expressed interest from the public in Jeffrey Epstein's and Ghislaine Maxwell's crimes,' it says. 'Beyond that, there is abundant public interest in the investigative work conducted by the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation into those crimes.' Under a 2008 non-prosecution agreement, Epstein pleaded guilty in Florida to state charges of soliciting and procuring a minor for prostitution. That allowed him to avoid a possible life sentence, instead serving 13 months in a work release programme. He was required to make payments to victims and register as a sex offender. He was later charged by federal prosecutors in Manhattan for nearly identical allegations in 2019.