11 h. ago Trump defends Texas flood handling as disaster tests vow to shutter Fema

Since disaster that has killed at least 120 people, US president has remained quiet about promises to axe relief agencyUS politics live – latest updatesDuring a trip on Friday to look at the devastation caused by the catastrophic flooding in Texas, Donald Trump claimed that state and federal officials had done an “incredible job”, saying of the disaster that he had “never seen anything like this”.The trip comes as he has remained conspicuously quiet about his previous promises to do away with the federal agency in charge of disaster relief. Continue reading...

Events

15 h. ago Trump tours Texas flood damage as disaster tests vow to shutter Fema

Since disaster that has killed at least 120 people, Trump has remained quiet about promises to axe relief agencyUS politics live – latest updatesDonald Trump arrived in Texas on Friday for a first-hand look at the devastation caused by catastrophic flooding, a trip that comes as he has remained conspicuously quiet about his previous promises to do away with the federal agency in charge of disaster relief.The Washington Post reported on Friday that the Trump administration has backed away from plans to abolish the Federal Emergency Management Agency, but administration officials continue to dodge questions about the agency’s future and many are still calling for serious reforms, potentially sending much of its work to the states. Continue reading...

Events

19 h. ago Trump to tour Texas flood damage as scope of disaster tests vow to shutter Fema

Since the disaster that has killed at least 120 people, Trump he remained quiet about promises to do away with agency in charge of reliefUS politics live – latest updatesAs Donald Trump heads to Texas on Friday for a firsthand look at the devastation caused by catastrophic flooding, he has remained conspicuously quiet about his previous promises to do away with the federal agency in charge of disaster relief.The Washington Post reported on Friday that the Trump administration has backed away from plans to abolish the federal emergency management agency, but administration officials continue to dodge questions about the agency’s future and many are still calling for serious reforms, potentially sending much of its work to the states. Continue reading...

Events

19 h. ago Trump to tour Texas flood damage as disaster tests vow to shutter Fema

Since disaster that has killed at least 120 people, Trump has remained quiet about promises to axe relief agencyUS politics live – latest updatesAs Donald Trump heads to Texas on Friday for a firsthand look at the devastation caused by catastrophic flooding, he has remained conspicuously quiet about his previous promises to do away with the federal agency in charge of disaster relief.The Washington Post reported on Friday that the Trump administration has backed away from plans to abolish the Federal Emergency Management Agency, but administration officials continue to dodge questions about the agency’s future and many are still calling for serious reforms, potentially sending much of its work to the states. Continue reading...

Events

19 h. ago FEMA is not shutting down but ‘rebranding’ to highlight local leaders’ roles in disaster response

In January, Trump floated the idea of minimizing FEMA if not getting rid of it as a whole – a position he has softened his stance on

Politics

21 h. ago Trump to visit Texas to survey damage from deadly flooding – live updates

While the Trump administration isn’t backing away from its pledges to shutter Fema, it has lessened its focus on the topic since the July 4 disasterThe US state department is firing more than 1,300 employees in line with the Trump administration’s reorganization plan initiated earlier this year. The department is sending layoff notices to 1,107 civil servants and 246 foreign service officers with domestic assignments in the US, a senior State Department official told the Associated Press. Foreign service officers affected will be placed immediately on administrative leave for 120 days, after which they will formally lose their jobs, according to an internal notice obtained by the AP. For most affected civil servants, the separation period is 60 days, it said. “In connection with the departmental reorganization the department is streamlining domestic operations to focus on diplomatic priorities,” the notice says. “Headcount reductions have been carefully tailored to affect non-core f...

Events

29 h. ago Trump plans to tour Texas flood damage as the scope of the disaster tests his pledge to shutter FEMA

President Donald Trump is visiting Texas on Friday to assess catastrophic flooding that has killed at least 120 people

Events

5 d. ago Pope Leo extends condolences to Texas flood victims: ‘We pray for them’

US-born pontiff addresses probably the deadliest natural disaster in his home country since assuming role in MayPope Leo XIV on Sunday voiced his sympathies for the families whose lives have been upended by the flooding in Texas’s Hill Country, which left about 80 dead – many of them children – and others missing.After reciting Angelus prayers at the Vatican, the American-born pontiff remarked in English: “I would like to express sincere condolences to all the families who have lost loved ones, in particular their daughters who were in a summer camp in the disaster caused by flooding of the Guadalupe River in Texas. Continue reading...

Events

7 d. ago Trump’s Medicaid cuts are coming for rural Americans: ‘It’s going to have to hit them first’

Experts worry the tax-and-spending bill will gut healthcare and hospitals, especially in states like North CarolinaWhen Hurricane Helene drowned western North Carolina in muck and floodwater last year, it caught folks off-guard.Now, local leaders in places like Asheville expect the Republican-led reconciliation bill – called the “big, beautiful bill” by Donald Trump – to bear down on rural America. And they wonder whether people are missing the warning signs. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Stirling Council leadership survive 'no confidence' vote over finance questions

The Labour group - which currently forms the administration at Stirling Council - had faced the crunch vote brought forward by the SNP.

Politics

3 w. ago West Lothian disabled veterans facing eviction 'must be offered new homes'

Conservative group leader and ex-RAF serviceman Councillor Damian Doran-Timson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service said he understood the financial problems the charity faced but was “dismayed” at the sell-off plans, and called on it to reconsider.

Politics

3 w. ago Two of Wales' most senior councillors bite back against MSs who want to change the system

Councils are already collaborating and Senedd members with a 'cushy' job should keep out, according to local authority leaders

Politics

last month Three nights of disorder ‘not what Northern Ireland is about’ – Benn

The Secretary of State and local political leaders have urged the violence focused on Ballymena, Co Antrim, to stop.

Politics