The American Express Times
Friday, July 24, 2026
Fire, fire everywhere: Wildfires challenge fire services globally
Western Europe and Canada are experiencing record-breaking wildfire seasons driven by extreme heatwaves and prolonged dry conditions, overwhelming firefighting resources and causing significant health and safety impacts. Experts warn that climate change is lengthening and intensifying fire seasons globally, outpacing current emergency responses and highlighting the urgent need for improved management strategies and carbon reduction…
★ Featured Stories
US ICE officers to use body cameras in vehicle stops
ICE announced a new policy requiring officers to wear body cameras during vehicle stops to increase transparency. The move comes after recent fatal shootings by…
Sketchwriter seeks cockapoo, urgently - please get in touch
Keir Starmer unexpectedly resigned as prime minister after a brief, composed speech marking his departure from office. His exit signals a shift in political leadership…
Saratoga horse racing analysis
The Saratoga Race Course hosted a full slate of competitive races on Friday, featuring notable performances from both young and experienced horses across multiple distances…
Bots Feast On Trump Posts
Financial traders have increasingly used a paid, high-speed data feed from Truth Social to gain immediate access to former President Donald Trump’s posts, enabling rapid…
★ All Stories
Tate brothers arrested in US on UK rape charges
Andrew and Tristan Tate were arrested in Miami in connection with a UK investigation into multiple alleged sexual offenses dating from 2010 to 2017. The…
Need for speed: Can Burnham move faster than Starmer did?
Keir Starmer has voiced frustration over slow government progress due to bureaucratic obstacles, while incoming prime minister Andy Burnham promises faster, bolder reforms in social…
Why Trump Casts Doubt Over the 2020 Election
Former President Donald Trump questioned the security and integrity of the 2020 election in a recent address, alleging Chinese interference and widespread voter roll issues…
Bad Bunny concert abandoned after hailstorm in Milan
Bad Bunny’s concert in Milan was abruptly canceled after a severe hailstorm and strong winds forced the event to end early and evacuate attendees for…
Floods kill at least 20 in Afghanistan’s Nuristan province
At least 20 people have died and more than 80 were injured after severe flooding devastated Nuristan province in Afghanistan, with over 100 residents, including…
Uganda calls for end to Ebola travel restrictions after last case discharged
Uganda has called on international partners to lift travel restrictions after discharging its last confirmed Ebola patient and beginning the WHO-recommended 42-day monitoring period without…
Iran claims attacks on ships amid fresh US strikes
Iran reported an attack on a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz that forced the crew to abandon ship, while Yemen’s Houthi movement announced a…
Chinese warship holds live fire drill near Okinotori amidst South China Sea tensions
A Chinese missile destroyer carried out its first live-fire exercise within Japan’s exclusive economic zone near Okinotori, accompanied by three Chinese warships and a Russian…
Thousands defy police to call on India’s education minister to resign
Thousands of students and young people defied police restrictions in Delhi to demand the resignation of India’s education minister during a large protest. The event…
More than 500 feared dead in two shipwrecks off Myanmar coast
Two boats carrying over 500 Rohingya refugees reportedly sank off Myanmar’s coast in late June, causing a massive loss of life. This tragedy highlights the…
Energy drinks to be banned from sale to under-16s in England
Starting in April 2024, England will prohibit the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to anyone under 16 across all retail and online outlets. This measure…
Philippines condemns Chinese media’s racist video portraying Filipinos as monkeys
The Philippine government condemned a China Daily video featuring AI-generated images depicting Filipinos as monkeys, calling it racist and demanding its removal. The incident escalates…
Brain implant helps paralysed man eat and move
Keith Thomas, paralyzed from the chest down after a swimming accident, regained the ability to move his limbs and feed himself thanks to an experimental…
Global perceptions shift with China’s rise
A Pew Research Center survey shows that China and Xi Jinping have gained more favorable views than the United States and its president in 30…
Essays address the legacy of Brexit, but ignore the nationalist elephant
A new anthology edited by Sir Anthony Seldon provides a comprehensive analysis of Brexit but notably downplays the role of English nationalism, a central factor…
‘Wellbeing poverty’ and unhappiness hit new highs in Australia
Nearly 2.2 million Australians aged 15 and over are living below the wellbeing poverty line, with about 9.7 percent of the population reporting very low…
Supplements could help bees cope with climate crisis
Researchers at the University of Zabol tested the effects of probiotics and inulin supplements on honeybee survival under temperature stress and found improved cold tolerance…
Battling climate change benefits our mental health
Imperial College London data estimate that heatwaves across the northern hemisphere in May and June caused about 440 excess deaths daily at their peak. The…
A standout portrait of marriage and the struggle for freedom
Avni Doshi’s second novel, *The First House*, follows an unnamed woman grappling with abandonment after her husband suddenly leaves, forcing her to redefine her identity…
Bear raids couple’s home in Japan amid series of break-ins
Officials in Shizukuishi, Japan, are searching for an Asiatic black bear suspected of breaking into at least 14 homes, including a recent incident where an…
Global heating supercharged floods on west Africa coasts
Researchers found that climate change significantly intensified last month’s heavy rainfall and flooding along the coasts of Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, and Nigeria. This increased…
Steps to commemorate the death of Robin Hood’s Major oak
The death of the centuries-old Major Oak in Sherwood Forest has sparked renewed calls for stronger legal protections for ancient and veteran trees across the…
Cracking compendium that burrows deep into the wonderfully weird world of parasites
Craig Venter’s analysis of global seawater samples revealed that a teaspoon of seawater contains about 50 million viruses, predominantly harmless bacteriophages. This finding underscores the…
Five arrested in raids on Hong Kong bookshops amid crackdown
Hong Kong police arrested five people during raids on two independent bookstores in Mong Kok for allegedly selling materials considered seditious under the 2024 national…
Concerns over growing car sizes and fuel consumption
Passenger vehicles in Europe and Canada have grown larger and more fuel-intensive since 2000, raising environmental concerns and hindering the adoption of cleaner alternatives like…
After my social media ban, I’m fully present for my children
Psychotherapist Anna Mathur reduced her social media use by installing an app to block distractions during family time and shifting work tasks to her laptop,…
Church of England votes against rewilding 30% of its land
The Church of England has decided not to set a target to restore 30% of its land for environmental conservation during its recent national assembly…
Brittany Howard Reflects on Band’s Journey and New Album
Alabama Shakes’ lead singer Brittany Howard announced their new album, *I Must Be Dreaming*, set for release on August 28, featuring a shift from retro…
Nigel Farage admits fraudster Cottrell paid for election filming
Nigel Farage admitted that George Cottrell, a convicted fraudster, provided undeclared financial and logistical support for his recent election campaign, alongside a £5 million donation…
Sam Neill: A Versatile Career Remembered
Sam Neill, the versatile actor known for roles in *Jurassic Park* and *Peaky Blinders*, passed away last week at age 78, leaving behind three posthumous…
Earth-like exoplanet found to have an atmosphere
Scientists have confirmed that an Earth-sized exoplanet located 49 light years away has an atmosphere, with the planet residing in its star’s habitable zone. This…
Why free speech debates make us so angry
Anthropologist Matei Candea argues that debates around free speech are fundamentally disputes over moral character and values, illustrated by contrasting reactions to the 2015 Charlie…
Wildfires Rage Across UK, Europe and Australia Amid Climate Crisis
Wildfires have erupted across multiple continents, including the UK, Europe, North America, and Australia, causing evacuations, fatalities, and widespread destruction amid extreme heat and drought…
Alabama Shakes return with powerful new album
Alabama Shakes reunited after a seven-year break with a surprise 2024 concert and have since gained renewed attention with their 2026 single "American Dream," which…
Trump Resumes War with Iran, Jeopardizing US Midterm Elections
Former President Donald Trump has ordered a new wave of strikes against Iran, effectively ending a ceasefire agreement made less than a month ago. This…
New Satire Reimagines Timmy’s Whale Tale as Passion Play
A theatrical production in Hamburg titled *Timmy: Hope Dies Last* explores the public's intense reaction to the 2024 rescue attempt of a stranded humpback whale…
National Allegiance and Identity in the Modern World Cup
The 2022 World Cup final demonstrated that fans increasingly adopt temporary and flexible national identities rather than fixed allegiances during international sports events. This shift…