U.S. passenger railroad Amtrak and Texas Central Partners said Wednesday they are seeking federal grants for proposed high-speed

After Special Counsel Jack Smith handed down yet another indictment against former President Donald Trump—this time with criminal charges over 2020 election interference—fellow 2024 presidential candidate Ron DeSantis took the opportunity to defend Mr Trump, as well as make campaign promises. The Florida Republican governor wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, moments after the indictment was handed down. He wrote, “As President, I will end the weaponization of government, replace the FBI Director, and ensure a single standard of justice for all Americans.” He admitted that he has not read the indictment, but “believe we need to enact reforms so that Americans have the right to remove cases from Washington, DC to their home districts.” Mr Trump was indicted in a US District Court in Washington, DC. Mr DeSantis continued, “Washington, DC is a ‘swamp’ and it is unfair to have to stand trial before a jury that is reflective of the swamp mentality.” He continued, “One of the reasons our country is in decline is the politicization of the rule of law. No more excuses—I will end the weaponization of the federal government.” Mr DeSantis’ post echoes claims from Mr Trump. Following the indictment announcement, the Trump campaign put out a statement, writing: “This is nothing more than the latest corrupt chapter in the continued pathetic attempt by the Biden Crime Family and their weaponized Department of Justice to interfere with the 2024 presidential election, in which Donald Trump is the undisputed frontrunner, and leading by substantial margins.” Mr Trump has consistently led Mr DeSantis in the polls, as the two men vie for the Republican nomination. It’s unclear how the latest indictment will affect the former president’s favourability. The former president was charged on four criminal counts and the indictment lists six unnamed co-conspirators on Tuesday. Read More Dismal turnout for Ron DeSantis ‘one-dollar beer’ campaign event Matt Gaetz calls DeSantis ‘thirsty’ for Kamala Harris invite It's Kamala Harris vs. Ron DeSantis in the fight over Florida's new teachings on slavery

WASHINGTON U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke on Monday with Niger's President Mohamed Bazoum, who was ousted

Sniffer dogs have been called in to help inspect French trains and the Paris metro for bedbugs after dozens of reports of infestations caused alarm in the French capital. Public transport users have taken to standing on the metro instead of sitting on the fabric seats as panic spreads over the reported infestations, while others have posted on social media about the creatures swarming over their Airbnb rentals. Transport minister Clement Beaune said there had been about 10 traveller reports about bedbugs at Paris public transport operator RATP and 37 at rail operator SNCF in recent weeks – but he denied there was an outbreak. "When there is a problem, we deal with it, we won’t deny it. There is no outbreak of bedbugs in public transport," Mr Beaune said after meeting transport and travel chiefs. French social and traditional media have reported extensively on bedbugs on trains and in cinemas, and the government has concerns about its impact on tourism and the Paris Olympics, which start in less than a year. Deputy mayor of Paris Emmanuel Gregoire called the infestation “widespread”, and Eurostar this week stepped up cleaning on its trains because of the threat. Bedbug bites leave red marks on the body that may cause itchy welts. Infestations in the home often need treating by pest controllers, and bedding has to be washed in water of 60C or more. Mr Beaune said all French public transport operators would boost health procedures in general and the fight against bedbugs in particular, notably with canine sniffer teams, which he said were the most effective means of detection. He added that every three months, data will be published about all bedbug reports and any confirmed infestations. “Total transparency will bring total confidence,” he said, adding that there was “no need for psychosis or fear”. He also plans to meet pest-control companies and to organise a conference on any problem by the end of this month. With a typical lifespan of four to six months, bedbugs can be carried in luggage and boxes, and on clothing and bedding. Experts say the UK already has bedbugs but the Paris epidemic could boost their numbers. David Cain, founder of Bed Bugs Ltd and a qualified microbiologist, said: “I have known people go on day trips to Paris, not even staying in hotels or other high-risk activities, and come back with them. Paris has been a popular link for the last six years. “Business is already booming. I started doing this in 2005, when bedbugs were rare and obscure, but [they are] not any more.” A Eurostar spokesperson told The Independent: “The textile surfaces on all of our trains are cleaned thoroughly on a regular basis, and this involves hot-water injection and extraction cleaning, which has proven highly effective in eliminating bugs.” Read More Eurostar orders deep clean to stop bedbugs from Paris crossing Channel to London Transport for London gives latest on feared bedbug invasion from Paris How to check for bedbugs in your hotel room – and what to do if you spot one Is London prepared for the bedbug invasion that has swarmed Paris?

Kourtney, who has taken a 10-month pause from her in vitro fertilization quest, is reportedly seeking to share her experiences on her own Hulu show

The federal budget deficit is expected to balloon to about $2 trillion for fiscal year 2023, roughly double what it was in the previous fiscal year, according to a government watchdog group.

Yelena Efros has been sending letters to Russian prisons for years, as the head of a volunteer group writing regular dispatches to the country's...

Crime remains at the forefront of Ecuador's presidential election as voters choose between former lawmakers Luisa González or Daniel Noboa on Sunday.

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Sebastian Hans Eli Fors aka Forsen’s absence from streaming led to rumors of his death among fans on social media

Conditions in Greece have been compared to those in Africa as southern Europeans suffer through a heatwave forecast to only worsen in the coming days. Europe’s highest ever recorded temperature – 48.8C (119.8F) – could be breached in Sicily and Sardinia next week and Spain is expected to reach 45C, experts say. Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Poland and Croatia have all been hit, and officials in several countries have been preparing emergency measures, including mobile phone heat alerts. “It’s like being in Africa,” said 24-year-old tourist Balint Jolan, from Hungary. “It’s not that much hotter than it is currently at home, but yes, it is difficult.” Officials in Athens shut the ancient Acropolis for several hours on Friday to protect visitors as the Greek meteorological service forecast temperatures peaking at 41C in the city. Read live updates on Europe’s heatwave here Hellenic Red Cross workers handed out bottled water to tourists in long queues fanning themselves, and paramedics gave first aid to tourists fainting and suffering dehydration. The mercury on Acropolis Hill is usually even higher due to its altitude and lack of shade, but the last-minute decision left some people frustrated. “I even bought a €50 ticket to skip the line to enter and I couldn’t enter the place,” one said. Elsewhere in Athens, tourists huddled under mist machines. There and in other Greek cities, working hours were changed for the public sector and many businesses to avoid the midday heat, while air-conditioned areas were opened to the public. In the Spanish capital, Madrid, zoo animals were fed fruit ice pops, while authorities in Cyprus urged residents to avoid forest areas where wildfires could be sparked accidentally. Swathes of the Balkans also sweltered. In Croatia, the village of Grebastica near the Adriatic coast was devastated by a wildfire that destroyed cars and homes. Dozens of firefighters and three aircraft struggled to contain the blaze that spread rapidly due to strong southerly winds. The Earth steamed to its hottest June on record, smashing the previous global mark by nearly a quarter of a degree, with global oceans setting temperature records for the third month running, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration – considered the gold standard for record-keeping. Europe’s monster heatwave, called Cerberus, has already claimed at least one life as it brought temperatures surpassing 104F (40C) across the continent this week. On Tuesday, the land surface temperature in parts of Spanish region Extremadura exceeded 140F (60C). A 44-year-old man painting road markings in northern Italy collapsed and died. Many people are worried about next week, when the heat in the country is expected to intensify, and temperatures are forecast to climb to above 45C (113F) in the centre and south, under a new heatwave named Cheron. According to La Repubblica, the heat this weekend could be trumped by 12C in the following days, particularly in Tuscany and Lazio. If so, it would break Europe’s current record of 48.8 Celsius recorded in Sicily in August 2021. The impact of such extremities has been brought into focus by a new study that found up to 61,000 people died in Europe’s sweltering heat last summer. The forecast has also raised fears about the impact on crops and animals. The European Space Agency said: “Italy, Spain, France, Germany and Poland are all facing a major heatwave, with temperatures expected to climb to 48 degrees Celsius on the islands of Sicily and Sardinia – potentially the hottest temperatures ever recorded in Europe.” Emergency services in Turkey have been grappling with both fires and floods, in which three people have died. “While there are heat and fires on one side of the country, there are floods and deluges on the other,” said deputy agriculture minister Veysel Tiryaki. Cornell University climate scientist Natalie Mahowald said: “We are just getting a small taste for the types of impacts that we expect to worsen under climate change.” Climate scientist Friederike Otto of the Imperial College of London said: “Until we stop burning fossil fuels, this will only get worse. Heat records will keep getting broken, people and ecosystems are already in many cases beyond what they are able to deal with.” Additional reporting by agencies Read More Why is there no UK heatwave as Europe swelters during Cerberus? Earth sets its hottest day record for third time in a week Cities in the US are sinking due to the climate crisis

Based on the total number of reported crashes, frequency, severity, and their nature, a MAG study identified the top 10 high-risk crossroads in Phoenix