Eric Trump has always been in the spotlight as the third child of Donald Trump and socialite Ivana Trump

By Andrew Hay A man was shot on Thursday in New Mexico on the site where authorities planned

Amazon tricked consumers into subscribing to its "Prime" service and intentionally complicated the cancelation process, according to a US lawsuit against...

President Joe Biden’s offer of a $700 emergency payment to households impacted by the devastating Maui wildfires has been criticised as an insult to survivors. The death toll from the US’s deadliest wildfires in more than 100 years rose to 99 on Monday, with hundreds still unaccounted for, thousands left homeless and an estimated $7bn in economic damage. Mr Biden, who has faced criticism for his handling of the disaster, announced an economic relief package on Monday that included cash payments and temporary housing assistance for survivors. “We're laser-focused on getting aid to survivors, including Critical Needs Assistance: a one-time $700 payment per household offering relief during an unimaginably difficult time. “We have staff on the ground dedicated to helping survivors navigate the registration process,” Mr Biden added. A White House statement confirmed the offer was only available to residents who were displaced from their homes and had critical needs. With 1,200 families sheltering in emergency shelters over the weekend, and 2,200 buildings destroyed, it’s not clear how many Hawaiians will be eligible. It was immediately decried as too small to have a meaningful impact by some commentators. “Make it $700 a month. Per family member in a household. For a minimum of two years,” wrote Scott Santens, the director of the ITSA Foundation which backs universal basic income, on X, formerly known as Twitter. “A one time $700 payment will definitely get their lives, houses and property back! Great job Biden,” another user wrote. Many compared the offer unfavourably to the $113bn in aid the Biden administration has sent to Ukraine since February 2022 to support the war effort, with a further $200m approved on Monday. Financial commentator Mark Wlosinski wrote on X estimated the $700 offer would amount to $1.9m, and labelled it “insulting”. “Can someone please explain how our government can send hundreds of billions to other countries, but chooses to pinch pennies when our own people are in need? An entire town on US soil has been destroyed overnight, and the best our government can do is $700?” Actor Rob Schneider, an outspoken anti-vaxxer and Trump supporter, wrote on X: “The ($115bn) US TAX PAYER DOLLARS TO UKRAINE… $1.9 million dollars to American Maui fire victims. Biden hates Americans…” Right-wing commentator Colin Rugg wrote: “Can someone please explain to me why our leaders are so reckless with money sent to Ukraine but then pinch pennies when the money is spent on Americans?” Mr Biden has faced criticism for his response to the Maui fires from his political opponents. He appeared to brush off a White House pool reporter reporter’s questions when asked for a comment on the rising death toll over the weekend. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre addressed the snub on Monday, saying that Mr Biden remained “deeply concerned” about the wildfires. The newly-indicted former President Donald Trump seized on Mr Biden's apparent no comment, claiming the Democrat “refuses to help or comment on the tragedy”. On 9 August, Mr Biden offered his “deepest condolences to the families of those who lost loved ones in the wildfires in Maui” in a statement as the first fatalities were confirmed. The next day he declared a federal disaster in the state, freeing up federal funds to provide grants for temporary housing and home repairs, and low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses. Mr Biden made brief remarks during a trip to Salt Lake City last week in his only public comments so far about the unfolding tragedy. “Anyone who's lost a loved one, whose home has been damaged or destroyed, is going to get help immediately,” he said. The White House has since touted its “whole-of-government response effort”, which included deploying 500 federal personnel and thousands of meals, beds and litters of water. The Democratic Hawaii governor Josh Green has publicly praised Mr Biden’s response to the disaster. The Independent has approached the White House for comment. Read More Maui fires live updates: Biden slammed over ‘no comment’ line as Hawaii death toll continues to climb Obama posts heartfelt video on Maui wildfires: ‘We have to step up’ Before and after satellite images show scale of ferocious Hawaii wildfires Biden slammed for offering ‘insulting’ $700 payments to Maui wildfire victims ‘I think I messed up’: Moment US representative mistakenly introduces Joe Biden Death toll from devastating Maui fire reaches 106, as county begins releasing names

Moldova has expelled 45 Russian diplomats and embassy staff members in Chisinau, citing Moscow’s "unfriendly actions" amid further deteriorating relations over the war in neighbouring Ukraine. “We agreed on the need to limit the number of accredited diplomats from Russia, so that there are fewer people trying to destabilise the Republic of Moldova,” foreign minister Nicu Popescu said at a cabinet meeting. The foreign ministry said the decision was based on "numerous unfriendly actions" towards Moldova, "which are not related to the diplomatic mandate, as well as attempts to destabilise" the country. Russia has been given the 15 August deadline to cut its embassy staff to 25 from the strength of 80 currently. “For many years we have been the object of hostile Russian actions and policies. Many of them were made through the embassy,” Mr Popescu said. Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said the move was just another step towards “bilateral relations", and said the "unjustified and unfriendly actions ... will not go unanswered". The Kremlin said Moldova’s decision is regretted while accusing its accused leadership of encouraging “Russophobia”. “Unfortunately, ChiÈ™inău is deliberately driving our relations into a very miserable state,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters. Once part of the Soviet Union, the relations between Russia and Moldova reached a new low after president Maia Sandu opposed Russia for invading Ukraine and accused Russian leadership of hatching a plan to overthrow her government. The latest move comes just days after two local media outlets published an investigative report accusing the Russian embassy in the capital of spying with their dozens of satellite dishes and antennas installed in the building. The joint investigation was published by the Russian investigative media site Insider and Moldova’s Jurnal TV channel. It said that 28 antennas installed on the roof of the embassy and an adjacent building could have been used for spying activities. Russia denied the claims as “a fantasy which has nothing to do with reality”. It prompted Moldova to summon Russia’s ambassador to the country. Moldova‘s government spokesman, Daniel Voda, said: "In circumstances where employees are not involved in promoting bilateral relations, it becomes obvious that their diplomatic and administrative-technical representation is excessive.” Moldova shares its borders with both Romania and Ukraine. It is one of the poorest European countries which has been heavily impacted by the war in Ukraine. It has accused Russia of backing separatist groups which control Transnistria, a breakaway territory in Moldova witnessing conflict since 1990s. The invasion has put a strain on its resources and services as several Ukrainian refugees arrived in the country to escape the fighting. Read More Russia-Ukraine war – live: Kyiv gains around Bakhmut as Putin’s forces fire missiles at Odesa port Paris 2024 Olympics will be bold, original and sustainable – but it might not deliver world peace North Korea’s Kim Jong-un shows Russia’s defence minister banned ballistic missiles The Body in the Woods | An Independent TV Original Documentary The harrowing discovery at centre of The Independent’s new documentary

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By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Emily Rose GAZA/JERUSALEM Israel said its forces were operating in and around Gaza's biggest

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The UK government announced an agreement between nine of Britain’s largest pension providers to boost their investment in

By Robert Harvey LONDON (Reuters) -Oil prices fell by more than $1 on Wednesday ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve's

Gary Lineker has come out swinging for Elon Musk over his management of Twitter. In an interview with the Guardian, the sports pundit said the tech mogul was bad at running the social media platform, and called him "rubbish". He said: "As for Elon Musk, I think perhaps the most interesting thing for me is that, for someone that’s spent so much money on Twitter, he is actually not very good on Twitter. He’s rubbish. I think that’s quite amusing.” Musk bought the platform last year and since doing so has been criticised for making a number of unpopular changes like making people pay for their blue ticks and renaming Twitter 'X' recently. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Elsewhere in the interview, Lineker slagged off TalkTV and GB News. “I’m obviously not a fan," he said. "And they don’t seem very good at telly. What I’m always staggered by is the incredible lack of anything that approaches any kind of quality broadcasting. I’m not just talking about it in terms of political bias, I’m talking about the quality of the television that’s rubbish.” He also said the BBC should stop trying to placate its political opponents and said bosses spend too much time worrying about the views of people “who will hate you forever”. Lineker is not one to mince his words. Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

If you like your summer reads to be like your summer movies — big, explosive and fast-paced, then look no further than T