WASHINGTON U.S. President Joe Biden will continue to hold telephone talks with congressional leaders on the nation's debt

Watch live as the International Committee of the Red Cross holds a briefing on the Ukraine dam situation and the organisation's visits to prisoners of war. The Nova Kakhova dam, which was under Russian control, was breached on the morning of 6 June, with water surging through it and causing extensive flooding in Kherson - prompting the evacuation of thousands of people. Damage to the area can be seen from space, with huge areas of land submerged in water. As of Tuesday, 13 June, the death toll from flooding in two Russian-controlled towns in southern Ukraine has risen to 17 in the wake of the dam's collapse, a Russian-installed official in Kherson said. It is not clear how the dam was breached. Ukrainian forces have accused Russia of deliberately destroying the dam; Russia says the destruction was an act of "sabotage" by Ukraine to deprive the annexed Crimean peninsula of water. Read More The Body in the Woods | An Independent TV Original Documentary The harrowing discovery at centre of The Independent’s new documentary

Former President Donald Trump has returned to campaigning in South Carolina after a weekend spent issuing threats to the press, leveling multiple accusations of treason and claiming he could design a better fighter jet than the military

It should soon become clear whether the strike by auto workers against Ford, General Motors and Stellantis is going to grow

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Ex-F1 driver Johnny Herbert believes Carlos Sainz would be a “good fit” for a seat with Audi when they enter Formula 1 in 2026. Sainz, two weeks after securing pole position at Monza, stormed to a lights-to-flag victory in Singapore on Sunday to claim his second F1 victory. The Spaniard is under contract at Ferrari until the end of the 2024 season but has been linked with a move to Audi – who will take over Sauber/Alfa Romeo in 2026 when new engine regulations come into force – as the German powerhouse targets an impressive driver pairing. And former British Grand Prix winner and Sky F1 pundit Herbert insists Sainz, much like his rally world champion father Carlos Snr., has the right mentality to succeed at a new team like Audi. “If you’re trying to bring in your brand like Audi will be, your expectations have to be really high,” Herbert said. “You are trying to get the best and also the best of the future. Carlos has proved that he has got everything but he has got to be more consistent. “Monza was a sign that if he gets it right he can do it and would be a good fit. “Like his dad, he has the right mentality. He is very strong in the head and has a very good understanding about cars and that is what Audi will need. But I also think he will want to stay at Ferrari.” Last week, Alfa Romeo confirmed that Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu will pair up for the third year running for the 2024 season. Bottas has a contract with the team until the end of 2025, while Zhou is on a shorter, year-by-year deal. Read More Ferrari finally find their chief strategist – and it’s Carlos Sainz Mercedes boss Toto Wolff to miss Japanese Grand Prix Max Verstappen makes prediction for Japan after his winning run ends

WhatsApp might be getting ads, according to its boss. The company has categorically ruled out that it would be put advertising in the inbox. But it might come elsewhere in the app, such as WhatsApp’s “Status” feature, which works like Instagram stories. WhatsApp has long resisted introducing ads to any part of its platform. That sets it apart from other Meta platforms, such as Instagram and Facebook, which heavily integrate advertising. WhatsApp has long been rumoured to be considering putting ads into its app, with rumours stretching back as long as five years ago. But it has largely resisted the temptation, in part because of worries about whether it would concern privacy-conscious users, whom WhatsApp has particularly targeted. In September, the Financial Times reported that it was looking at changing that. The company was evaluating whether it would work to show ads in the conversation list, the paper reported. Meta outright denied that it had been testing or working on that feature, or that it planned to. “We aren’t doing this,” WhatsApp head Will Cathcart said on Twitter. But in an interview with Brazilian newspaper Folha De S.Paulo, Mr Cathcart was asked whether the app would continue to be free and not show ads. And he said that some ads might come to other parts of the platform. The app will not put ads within the “messaging experience”, such as the inbox or chats themselves. Instead, it could come in other parts of the app, such as the Status feature as well as the new Channels tool that allows people to subscribe to messages from creators. The company could also introduce the option to charge people to subscribe to those channels, he said. That could also be advertised within those Channels. He did not give any firm information about when the feature would arrive, or any commitment that it would actually be introduced. Read More Political ads on Instagram and Facebook can be deepfakes, Meta says Instagram working to let people make AI ‘friends’ to talk to Big tech poses ‘existential threat’ to UK journalism, survey of editors finds

The San Francisco 49ers have quite an interesting quarterback room. All signs point to Brock Purdy being relevant when it comes to Week 1.It’s a franchise that has been to the NFC Championship Game in three of the past four years, reaching Super Bowl LIV in 2019. This past season, the San ...

By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A U.S. Senate panel on Wednesday approved rail safety legislation that tightens rules on trains

Summer brings days out, holidays and festivals, but for those with lung conditions it can also be a risky time of year. High pollen levels, pollution, heat, and even smoke from things like BBQs can be dangerous, so it’s important to know what precautions those who are vulnerable need to take, say Asthma + Lung UK. “We all look forward to summer and all the fun it brings with it, but people with asthma and other lung conditions must be careful to keep themselves safe too,” says Erika Radford, head of health advice at the charity. “Things like hot weather, dust in the atmosphere, or higher levels of pollen can make it harder for those with lung illnesses to breathe. Strong emotions, stress and even laughing a lot are also known asthma triggers, so we want people to be armed with the knowledge they need to protect themselves while enjoying themselves in the sun.” Here are the summertime triggers to look out for and how people with lung conditions can protect themselves. 1. Hot weather “Hot weather can be problematic for people with asthma or other lung conditions, because warmer air can cause the airways to narrow, leading to coughing and shortness of breath,” says Radford. “Strong sunshine also causes the level of ozone and other air pollutants in the atmosphere to rise, which can trigger symptoms.” She advises using your preventer inhaler regularly as prescribed and carrying your reliever inhaler everywhere. “Staying out of the heat and in shaded areas as much as possible and cooling down with a handheld fan can help relieve breathlessness. Keep hydrated with regular cold drinks and take a cool shower if you become too hot.” Also, make sure you keep inhalers in a cool place out of direct sunlight, so they continue to work well, and in a cool bag when you’re out and about. “Don’t add any ice to the bag though, as your inhaler needs to be kept dry,” she says. 2. Pollen Pollen levels tend to be highest between May and September. “Pollen is a trigger for almost half of people living with asthma and a quarter of people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD),” Radford says. Again, minimise the impact of pollen with your inhalers. “Taking antihistamines or using a steroid nasal spray to reduce their allergic reaction to pollen is also really important,” she adds, “As it’s this allergic reaction that can cause your airways to narrow and fill with mucus, potentially setting off an asthma attack.” 3. Aerosols “Sweating more in the heat means you may want to carry things like deodorant or hairspray with you while commuting to work. But some of these sprays contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which can cause irritation to the lungs and may increase the risk of experiencing symptoms or having an asthma attack,” Radford suggests. “If you live with a lung condition, your airways are more likely to be irritated, so try to use allergy friendly and chemical-free products, which have lower levels of VOCs and are usually fragrance-free, on your travels.” You may also benefit from using solid products, like roll-on deodorant. Unlike sprays, these won’t get into the air for you to breathe in. 4. Dust Dusty holiday homes, camping equipment or sun loungers that have been kept in storage can contain dust mites, which many people with lung conditions like asthma are allergic to. This allergic reaction can cause your airways to inflame and produce more mucus, Radford says. If you’re getting dusty items out of storage, vacuum them or wipe them down with a damp cloth before use, ideally outdoors – or get someone else to do this for you. If you use airtight plastic bags or boxes when you pack the items away again, they are likely to get less dusty through the year when not in use. Make sure you carry antihistamine medicine in case your dust allergy is triggered. 5. Smoke There are likely to be people puffing away on cigarettes or vapes outdoors when the weather is nice, and it’s wise to stay away from them if you have a lung condition. “Smoking and breathing in secondhand smoke can not only make existing symptoms such as breathlessness worse and trigger asthma attacks, it can also cause many lung conditions, including COPD, obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), and lung cancer,” says Radford. “Smoke from BBQs or grills can also trigger asthma so if you are hosting a gathering, try and get someone else to cook and stand well away from the area.” 6. Mould Hot, damp environments like the inside of a tent can be breeding grounds for mould spores, which can grow in damp places in just 24 hours, says Radford. “If you are allergic to mould, this can cause symptoms like coughing, wheezing or sneezing. In those with asthma, it could trigger asthma symptoms. Exposure to mould can also cause an allergy or hypersensitivity to it, or a fungal infection within the lungs.” So if you are going camping this summer and do notice mould or a damp and musty smell in your tent or on sleeping bags, make sure it’s removed and they’re fully dried and aired afterwards. For more information on how to stay safe with a lung condition visit asthmaandlung.org.uk or call the Asthma + Lung UK helpline on: 0300 222 5800. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Imposter syndrome – what is it and why does Kim Kardashian have it? 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Sergio Ramos has returned to boyhood club Sevilla after signing a one-year deal with the Andalusian club. The 37-year-old former Spain and Real Madrid captain, a free agent after leaving Paris St Germain in June, has returned to Sevilla 18 years after leaving to join Real Madrid. Sevilla announced on their official website that Ramos had passed a medical on Monday morning before signing a 12-month contract. LaLiga club Sevilla said: “Sevilla FC have reached an agreement for the signing of Sergio Ramos. “The academy graduate is returning to the club 18 years after he signed for Real Madrid in 2005, aged 19.” Ramos progressed through Sevilla’s academy, making his first-team debut as an 18-year-old, and went on to make 49 appearances in all competitions before joining Real Madrid in 2005 for £23million. He scored 101 goals in 671 appearances in total for Madrid during a trophy-laden 16 years, which included five LaLiga titles and four Champions League wins, before joining PSG on a two-year deal in 2021. Ramos, who won two Ligue 1 titles with PSG, made a record 180 appearances for Spain, scoring 23 goals, and won both the World Cup, in 2010, and the European Championship, twice, in 2008 and 2012. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

Yankees fans were ready to send play-by-play man John Flaherty packing after he called a game-tying home run a pop up and jinxed the Rockies walk off.The curse of the commentator is very real. Just ask the Yankees and play-by-play man John Flaherty, who had fans in New York cursing his name on s...