Author: Andrew Rogers

Thousands of federal workers remain in limbo as the US government shutdown continues, with an estimated 750,000 employees furloughed and hundreds of thousands more working without pay. Union leaders say workers are being “held hostage by a political dispute” as lawmakers remain deadlocked over funding. President Donald Trump suggested on Tuesday that furloughed employees might not automatically receive back pay, despite legal guarantees. He said, “There are some people that don’t deserve to be taken care of, and we’ll take care of them in a different way,” fueling unease across federal offices. The administration has also warned of mass firings…

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has publicly confirmed she faces a complaint at the International Criminal Court (ICC), accusing her of “complicity in genocide” due to Italy’s weapons support to Israel amid the war on Gaza. The complaint also names Defence Minister Guido Crosetto, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, and Leonardo CEO Roberto Cingolani. The October 1 filing, signed by about 50 law experts and public figures, argues that Italy’s supply of lethal arms makes the government complicit in alleged war crimes and genocide against Palestinians. This comes after a UN Independent Inquiry declared Israel’s Gaza campaign a genocide, echoing assessments…

Facing rejection is never easy, especially when it happens repeatedly. For Bob Brody, a writer with five decades of experience, it has been a constant companion. Over his career, Brody has had novels, nonfiction proposals, essays, and article pitches turned down thousands of times. At times, he received multiple rejections in a single week. Yet, he has learned to accept rejection and use it as a tool for growth. Early in his career, each “no” stung personally. Brody describes navigating what he calls the “seven stages of rejection”: shock, denial, dismissal, anger, bargaining, depression, and, finally, acceptance. In his 20s,…

The White House’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has said federal workers furloughed during the ongoing government shutdown are not automatically entitled to back pay. In a draft memo obtained by Axios, OMB’s general counsel, Mark Paoletta, wrote to White House budget director Russell Vought that an amendment to the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act (GEFTA) of 2019 does not guarantee payments. He added that back pay requires explicit appropriations from Congress. “The legislation that ends the current lapse in appropriations must include express language appropriating funds for back pay for furloughed employees, or such payments cannot be made,”…

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem visited the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Portland, Oregon, on Tuesday, accompanied by several conservative social media influencers. The visit sparked controversy after state officials accused ICE officers of provoking protesters and using excessive force. Noem arrived in Portland with conservative influencers Benny Johnson, Nick Sortor, and David Media, who joined her motorcade from the airport. The trio filmed and shared the visit online, posting clips of Noem praying with officers and giving a pep talk inside the facility. Outside, Portland police blocked nearby streets before the secretary’s arrival, keeping a small group…

New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani attended a peace vigil on Tuesday evening organized by Israelis for Peace, a group calling for an end to Israel’s occupation and violence. The event, held in Union Square, marked the two-year anniversary of the 7 October Hamas attacks on Israel. Mamdani sat alongside New York City comptroller Brad Lander, his former rival for the Democratic nomination and now one of his strongest supporters. Together, they listened as speakers called for justice, peace, and equal rights for both Israelis and Palestinians. The vigil came hours after Mamdani’s public statement on the anniversary drew…

Texas National Guard troops have arrived in Chicago, marking a new stage in Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. The deployment follows weeks of rising tension, protests, and legal battles between the White House and Illinois state officials. Federal immigration enforcement has intensified in recent weeks, especially in the Chicago suburb of Broadview, where clashes between police and protesters turned violent. Videos show tear gas and pepper spray used against crowds demanding an end to Trump’s immigration raids. The deployment began shortly after a U.S. district judge, April Perry, declined to stop the troops from entering the city. The state of Illinois…

The first day of resumed indirect talks between Israel and Hamas in Egypt ended on a positive note, offering a glimmer of hope in efforts to ease the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Negotiators from both sides met in the Red Sea resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday, where they discussed potential steps to implement parts of a proposed 20-point plan by former U.S. President Donald Trump to bring an end to hostilities. Multiple sources reported that the meeting concluded with a roadmap for continuing discussions. The talks mark the first significant indirect negotiations since violence escalated in Gaza earlier…

Visiting Odense, on the Danish island of Fyn, feels like stepping into one of Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tales. From golden pantaloons in mirrors to talking peas and towering stacks of mattresses, the city’s HC Andersens Hus museum immerses visitors in the whimsical world of the 19th-century author. The redesigned museum, opened in 2021 by Japanese architects Kengo Kuma and Associates, presents Andersen’s life and stories with humour, irony, and perspective, offering playful spaces for both children and adults. Even the gardens make visitors feel small with clever plantings, winding paths, and imaginative features. The museum explores Andersen’s life through…

UK tax authorities are reviewing the finances of George Cottrell, a close ally of Reform UK leader Nigel Farage. The scoping exercise by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is focusing on his tax residency, income, and business activities. Farage has described Cottrell, 31, as “like a son to me,” and he has emerged as a key figure in the party’s leadership and fundraising network. Cottrell, known as “Posh George,” leads a high-profile lifestyle, frequently travelling and using a £4 million property in west London. While he does not hold an official role in Reform UK, party insiders describe him as…