20250904-news-a02briefs

Florida plans to be first state to remove child vaccine mandates

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Florida plans to become the first state to eliminate vaccine mandates that have been a cornerstone of public health policy for decades in keeping schoolchildren and citizens safe from infectious diseases. State Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo describes current vaccine requirements as an immoral intrusion on rights. He argues that parents should make health decisions for their children. Vaccines have been proven over decades of use to be safe and the most effective way to stop the spread of communicable diseases, especially among schoolchildren.

Epstein survivors ask Congress to act, push for disclosure builds

WASHINGTON — Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse have gathered on Capitol Hill to demand the release of the sex trafficking investigation into the late financier. On Wednesday, they pushed back against President Donald Trump’s dismissal of the issue as a “hoax.” During a news conference, the women shared their experiences and called for transparency and accountability. Lawmakers are divided on how to proceed, with some Republicans supporting a bill to force the Department of Justice to release records. The Republican-controlled House Oversight Committee has released some documents. Survivors see this as a crucial moment for justice and accountability.

Streetcar in Lisbon derails and crashes, killing 15 people

LISBON, Portugal — Portuguese emergency services say an electric streetcar that is one of Lisbon’s big tourist attractions has derailed, killing 15 people and injuring 18 others. The National Institute for Medical Emergencies said in a statement that five of the injured are in serious condition, and a child is among the injured. It said an unknown number of the injured are foreigners. Authorities called it an accident, the worst in the city’s recent history. The yellow-and-white streetcar, which goes up and down a steep downtown hill in tandem with one going the opposite way, was lying on its side on the narrow road that it travels along.

Judge reverses Trump’s cuts of billions of dollars to Harvard

BOSTON — A federal judge in Boston has ordered the reversal of over $2.6 billion in federal funding cuts to Harvard University. The ruling, issued Wednesday, marks a significant victory for Harvard in its legal battle with the Trump administration. Judge Allison Burroughs found the cuts were illegal retaliation for Harvard’s refusal to comply with White House demands on governance and policies. The administration had linked the funding freezes to antisemitism issues on campus, but the judge called this a smokescreen. The White House said the administration would appeal the decision.

Trump: Strike on Venezuelan gang will cause cartels to rethink

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is justifying the lethal military strike that his administration said was carried out a day earlier against a Venezuelan gang as a necessary effort by the United States to send an unmistakable message to Latin American cartels. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that such operations “will happen again.” Rubio in a news conference as he visited Mexico City on Wednesday added that previous U.S. interdiction efforts in Latin America have not worked. He said, “What will stop them is when you blow them up, when you get rid of them.”

Rubio: US, Mexico will make security collaboration stronger

MEXICO CITY — Mexico and the United States have agreed to continue collaborating on cross-border security issues like fighting the trafficking of drugs, guns and fuel. This announcement came during U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit Wednesday. Both countries emphasized that the cooperation would respect each other’s sovereignty. Initially, a broad security agreement was expected, but it evolved into a reaffirmation of ongoing collaboration. A new “high-level implementation group” will oversee these efforts. The focus remains on stopping fentanyl and other drugs from entering the U.S. and controlling migration.