Latest news with #Covid
Spectator
44 minutes ago
- Politics
- Spectator
Steve Baker on how to organise a successful rebellion
As Labour rebels appear to have forced concessions from Keir Starmer over welfare this week, former Conservative MP Steve Baker joins James Heale to reflect on his own time as a rebel, and to provide some advice to Labour MPs. Steve, an MP for 14 years and a minister under Theresa May, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak, tells James about the different rebellions he was a part of (from Brexit to Covid), explains how to organise a successful one and reveals how he has lost close friends when he has made the decision to compromise. He also blames Labour's problems on their 'bombs not benefits' approach, explains why the current welfare rebellion demonstrates that 'the facts of life are Conservative' and argues that it has been a mistake for the Conservatives not the support Labour's original approach to reducing the winter fuel allowance. Produced by Patrick Gibbons and Megan McElroy.
Express Tribune
an hour ago
- Health
- Express Tribune
WHO says all Covid origin theories still open
All hypotheses on how the Covid-19 pandemic began remain open, the World Health Organization said Friday, following an inconclusive four-year investigation that was hamstrung by crucial information being withheld. The global catastrophe killed an estimated 20 million people, according to the WHO, while shredding economies, crippling health systems and turning people's lives upside-down. The first cases were detected in Wuhan in China in late 2019, and understanding where the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes Covid came from is key to preventing future pandemics. However, a lengthy investigation launched by the UN's health agency said that pending further data, the origin of Covid and how it first spread remains elusive. "As things stand, all hypotheses must remain on the table, including zoonotic spillover and lab leak," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a press conference, referring to the two main hypotheses as to how the pandemic began. An initial WHO-Chinese joint report in March 2021 concluded that the virus most likely jumped from bats to humans via an intermediate animal. It deemed a leak from Wuhan's virology laboratories — known for their research on coronaviruses — to be "extremely unlikely". However, that investigation faced harsh criticism for lacking transparency and access, and for not seriously evaluating the lab-leak theory. Tedros launched another investigation, setting up the Scientific Advisory Group for the Origins of Novel Pathogens (SAGO), comprising 27 international experts, in July 2021. Their 78-page report was published on Friday.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Housing market update spells more trouble
Housing market update spells more trouble originally appeared on TheStreet. Let's say it like it is The housing market of late has been far from dazzling, and everyone's feeling the pinch. 💵💰💰💵 New home buyers are hitting pause, with builders stuck with unsold inventory, as lenders continue clamping down. What looked like a robust housing market not too long ago now feels frozen. Buyers are stepping aside, builders are trying to unload homes, and no one's sure how ugly this dip might get. High mortgage rates, inflated home prices, and tariff drama have collectively led the new-home market into no-man's land. Affordability's taking a hit, and buyers continue being circumspect. Moreover, given the most recent development, things could take a while to improve. Since Covid, the U.S. housing market's been on a rollercoaster first was a massive price surge, followed by a Fed-fueled pullback and now a choppy cooldown heading into mid-2025. For perspective, home prices jumped about 43% from early 2020 to June 2022. That momentum had everything to do with rock-bottom mortgage rates, stimulus-fueled savings, and the powerful remote-work boom. However, the market started to cool fast once the Fed kicked off its aggressive rate hikes in early 2022. By mid-2023, 30-year mortgage rates surged from just under 3% in early 2021 to over 7%. Price growth hit the brakes, too. By late 2024, some cities were seeing significant year-over-year declines, and by April of this year, national gains were down to just 2.7%. Yet affordability is getting squeezed hard. Home prices continue outpacing wage growth, and with borrowing costs stuck high, a lot of current homeowners are staying put. At the same time, tariffs are messing with material costs, crippling supply. Inventory levels still feel tight as smart money dumps rental homes after nearly two years of falling rents. Looking ahead, the majority of analysts see either sluggish growth or slight price drops through the rest of 2025. J.P. Morgan expects sub-3% gains, while Redfin sees prices slipping about 1% by year-end. More on the housing market: New Home Sales Plunge, Keeping Us on the Sidelines With This Bullpen Name Billionaire Bill Ackman doubles down on major housing market bet Rising gold price has a surprising connection to house sales The real relief for buyers depends on the Fed cutting rates and boosting new-home construction to ease the supply crunch. Sales of new single-family homes nosedived again in May, dropping to a 623,000 annual pace. That's down roughly 13.7% from April and 6.3% lower compared to a year ago, highlighting significant market inventories of new homes continue piling up while revenues cool off. By the close of May, builders had just 507,000 new homes on the market, up 1.4% from April and 8.1% from last year. That's close to 10 months' worth of supply, pointing to substantial oversupply. Affordability remains the biggest roadblock The National Association of Realtors' chief economist, Lawrence Yun, says that median home prices have jumped over 50% since 2019, but wages haven't kept up. Layer that up with a 6.8% average mortgage rate and it's no surprise people are backing off Moreover, it's not homebuilders feeling the pinch. The weakened housing market has hit everyone from mortgage lenders to furniture stores. If this slump sticks around, it could prove to be a drag on consumer confidence and slow down the broader economy. Naturally, things are unlikely to get much better unless mortgage rates drop or prices take a meaningful dip. Builders might need to cut prices and throw in more incentives. It seems like high inventory and soft demand will stay for a market update spells more trouble first appeared on TheStreet on Jun 26, 2025 This story was originally reported by TheStreet on Jun 26, 2025, where it first appeared. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
American Military News
3 hours ago
- American Military News
Pic: Joe Rogan threatened, challenged by influencer
A social media influencer was arrested on Tuesday after reportedly threatening podcaster Joe Rogan and challenging him to a 'fight.' According to court documents obtained by TMZ, Brian Johnson, known as the social media influencer 'Liver King,' was arrested on Tuesday evening by law enforcement officials and charged with making a terroristic threat after appearing to threaten Rogan and challenging him to a 'fight' in multiple videos on social media. TMZ reported that Rogan told police officials that he viewed the videos as threats to his safety. In a Monday video on Instagram, Johnson said, 'Joe Rogan, I'm calling you out. My name's Liver King. Man to man, I'm picking a fight with you. I have zero training in jiu-jitsu. You're a black belt, you should dismantle me. But I'm picking a fight with you. Your rules.' According to NBC News, Johnson also challenged Rogan to a 'man to man' fight in another video, saying, 'You never come across something like this, willing to die, hoping that you'll choke me out because that's a dream come true.' TMZ reported that police records indicate that Rogan issued a statement to law enforcement officials following the public threats and challenges. Rogan reportedly told police that he had never been in contact with Johnson and did not know why he would 'be targeting him.' The outlet noted that Rogan also accused the social media influencer of being 'significantly unstable' and having 'a significant drug issue.' READ MORE: Video: Joe Rogan reveals 2 fmr. presidents called Spotify amid Covid controversy: Report According to the documents obtained by TMZ, Rogan told police officers that Johnson 'appears to be significantly unstable and seems like he needs help' after watching the videos on social media. According to TMZ, Johnson reportedly traveled from Willis, Texas, to Austin, Texas, which is where Rogan lives. The outlet noted that law enforcement officials arrested Johnson at a hotel on Tuesday night. A video shared on Instagram appears to show the social media influencer in police custody on Tuesday. According to Fox News, Johnson was released from a Texas jail after his arrest on Tuesday night. The outlet noted that the social media influencer immediately returned to publishing videos on social media on Wednesday. According to TMZ, Johnson became known as 'Liver King' after building a major social media following as a fitness influencer. Fox News reported that Johnson is known for his animalistic diet. A picture of Johnson was shared on X, formerly Twitter. They arrested Liver King over wanting to kill Joe Rogan — Kaguya's Top Gal (@hayasaka_aryan) June 25, 2025
Scottish Sun
5 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Funeral home owner who stashed 190 decomposing bodies in abandoned building and sent families fake ashes jailed
Jon Hallford fleeced clients and splashed out Covid relief funds on luxury cars and laser treatment CORPSE HORROR Funeral home owner who stashed 190 decomposing bodies in abandoned building and sent families fake ashes jailed Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A TWISTED funeral home owner who stashed 190 decomposing bodies in a bug-infested building and handed grieving families fake ashes has been jailed for 20 years. Jon Hallford, co-owner of the Return to Nature Funeral Home in southern Colorado, was sentenced in federal court on Friday. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 7 Jon and Carie Hallford (pictured) were arrested after 190 rotting bodies were discovered at their funeral home Credit: AP 7 A hearse and debris at the rear of the Return to Nature Funeral Home in Penrose, Colorado Credit: AP 7 Some of the remains of the dozens of decomposing bodies discovered arriving via police escort in Colorado Springs in 2023 Credit: AP The 44-year-old pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud over a gruesome scheme that shocked the nation. He admitted fleecing clients and siphoning nearly $900,000 in Covid-19 relief funds meant for struggling businesses — splurging the cash on luxury shopping sprees, laser body sculpting, flashy cars and cryptocurrency. His sentence is five years more than prosecutors requested, and double what his own lawyer pushed for. 'I am so deeply sorry for my actions,' Hallford told the judge. 'I still hate myself for what I've done.' He added that he opened the funeral home hoping to 'make a positive impact in people's lives,' but admitted: 'Then everything got completely out of control, especially me.' Bodies piled up 'like lumber' Hallford and his wife, Carie Hallford, who co-owned the funeral home, ran their grisly scam between 2019 and 2023. Investigators were first alerted in October last year when neighbours in Penrose, a tiny town two hours south of Denver, complained of a foul stench. Cops who turned up made a stomach-churning discovery — at least 190 bodies stacked atop each other in various states of decay, so badly decomposed that FBI agents had to lay boards over the sludge to navigate the rooms. Some corpses had been left there for years, including the body of Colton Sperry's grandmother who died in 2019. Chilling details emerge after number of rotting bodies found at 'green' Colorado funeral home rises to 189 In court on Friday, the young boy tearfully told the judge he fell into a deep depression when he found out. He told his parents at the time: 'If I die too, I could meet my grandma in heaven and talk to her again.' His father later rushed him to hospital for a mental health check, which led to therapy and an emotional support dog. Another victim, Derrick Johnson, travelled nearly 3,000 miles to tell the court how his mother was 'thrown into a festering sea of death'. 'I lie awake wondering: was she naked? Was she stacked on top of others like lumber?' he said. 'While the bodies rotted in secret, [the Hallfords] lived, they laughed and they dined. 'My mom's cremation money likely helped pay for a cocktail, a day at the spa, a first-class flight.' Two families even buried the wrong bodies after being sent urns of worthless dust — devastating relatives who said it destroyed their ability to properly grieve. 7 Authorities walk outside a closed funeral home where 190 bodies have been stored Credit: AP 7 Crews wade through the horror in Penrose, about two hours south on Denver Credit: AP Lavish spending spree Federal prosecutors revealed the Hallfords drained the pandemic aid and clients' money to bankroll a lavish lifestyle. They splashed out on a GMC Yukon and an Infiniti worth over $120,000 combined, snapped up Gucci and Tiffany jewellery, spent $31,000 on cryptocurrency, and paid for laser body sculpting treatments. The sentencing also included an order for Jon Hallford to pay more than $1 million in restitution — with $193,000 to be divided among the victims' families and the rest to the Small Business Administration. Hallford will serve his 20-year term concurrently with a state sentence expected in August, after he pleaded guilty to 191 counts of corpse abuse and hundreds of other state charges including forgery and money laundering. Meanwhile, his wife Carie withdrew her guilty plea in the federal case earlier this year and will now go to trial in September. She also faces 191 counts of corpse abuse in the state case. The pair were arrested in Oklahoma last November after going on the run. By then, the decaying funeral home had already been torn down. 7 Privacy fences are set up on the perimeter of the Return to Nature Funeral Home on October 9, 2023 Credit: AP
