Latest News
- Tom Barrack to step down as US Special Envoy for Syria but retain key role
- Trump issues order for CDC to align childhood vaccine guidelines with assessment
- Burst water main disrupts Elizabeth line and Heathrow services
- Taiwan opens world’s longest cable-stayed bridge designed for earthquakes
- Munich Airport closes twice in 24 hours due to suspected drone activity
- EU votes to impose higher tariffs on imported electric vehicles from China.
- US economy shows signs of recovery as unemployment rate drops significantly
- White House reports Trump in excellent health following physical assessment
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Tom Barrack to step down as US Special Envoy for Syria but retain key role
11:22 am
Get you up to speed: Rubio says Trump envoy Barrack to step down from Syria post
Tom Barrack will step down as the US Special Envoy for Syria following the expiration of his formal mandate, as announced by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He will continue to manage US policy in Syria and Iraq despite the change in title.
Tom Barrack’s formal mandate as US Special Envoy for Syria expires, but he will continue to manage US policy for both Syria and Iraq without a designated successor. During his tenure, he influenced US strategy significantly, including efforts to promote a rapprochement with the interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and easing sanctions on Damascus.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Tom Barrack will continue to manage US policy in Syria and Iraq despite stepping down from his formal role as Special Envoy for Syria. Analysts indicate that Barrack’s ongoing involvement suggests Washington’s preference for continuity in its approach to Syria, with no immediate plans for a successor.
What remains unclear — State Department officials have not announced whether a successor will be named for the Syria envoy position.
Tom Barrack to step down as US Special Envoy for Syria but retain key role
News|PoliticsRubio says Trump envoy Barrack to step down from Syria post
Trump envoy Tom Barrack to exit formal Syria post but retain key role managing US policy in Syria and Iraq.
Tom Barrack, centre, leaves Brooklyn Federal Court, Friday, November 4, 2022, in New York [Ted Shaffrey/AP]
US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack will step down from his post following the expiration of his formal mandate, but he is set to maintain a central diplomatic role managing policy for Syria and Iraq, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced.
Barrack, a billionaire real estate investor and longtime confidant of President Donald Trump, has served as the administration’s primary envoy to Syria since May 2025, while concurrently serving as the US ambassador to Turkiye.
list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3US president praises Syrian leader al-Sharaa after offensive against SDFlist 2 of 3Syria and Saudi Arabia sign multibillion-dollar investment dealslist 3 of 3Following Syria’s broken tracks from Baniyas to Aleppoend of list
“Ambassador Tom Barrack has played an invaluable role as our Special Envoy to Syria,” Rubio wrote in a statement posted on the social media platform X. “While that title is expiring, he will continue to play a leading role for the Trump Administration in Syria and Iraq, where his expertise, relationships, and understanding of the America First agenda will continue to deliver wins on behalf of our great country.”
“Barrack’s special envoy title has expired, but his role has not, and he remains Washington’s lead on Syria, Iraq, and Turkiye,” Nanar Hawach, senior Syria analyst at the think tank International Crisis Group, told WTX News.
“The expiry changes little in practice, because he was already coordinating those three files together before it lapsed. By keeping him in place without naming a successor, Washington signals it wants continuity and his existing access rather than a reset on Syria.”
During his yearlong tenure as Syria envoy, Barrack oversaw Washington’s pivot towards the post-Assad administration of interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. He heavily influenced US policy by pushing for the easing of heavy economic sanctions on Damascus and coordinating counter-Islamic State operations alongside regional allies, including Turkiye and Gulf Arab states.
The private equity mogul raised substantial capital from Emirati sovereign funds. While acquitted in 2022 of federal charges that he acted as an unregistered agent for Abu Dhabi, his connections routinely led to questions about Gulf financial influence over US policy.
Barrack’s tenure in Syria also drew significant scrutiny. His mediation of a ceasefire and integration pact between Damascus and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) drew sharp criticism from the Kurdish leadership, who accused Washington of abandoning its longtime allies to favour central state authority.
He also prompted intense backlash in Lebanon after warning journalists at a chaotic news conference to act “civilised” rather than “animalistic”.
His public assertions that “benevolent monarchy” and authoritarian governance are better suited for the Middle East than democracy caused controversy, while opposition leaders in Turkiye, where he remains ambassador, routinely criticised him for behaving like a “colonial governor”.
State Department officials have not yet announced a successor for the Syria envoy position.
Trump issues order for CDC to align childhood vaccine guidelines with assessment
11:00 am
Get you up to speed: Trump signs order directing CDC to align with assessment calling for fewer childhood vaccines
President Trump signed an executive order directing the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to align with a previous assessment from the Department of Health and Human Services regarding childhood vaccines. This order will prompt the CDC and its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices to review and potentially update the childhood and adolescent vaccine schedule based on January’s clinical data.
The Department of Health and Human Services released an assessment in January stating that the U.S. recommends more childhood vaccines than any peer nation. A judge ruled in March that Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s appointment of the new CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices violated federal law, which has raised questions regarding the legitimacy of the updated vaccine recommendations.
President Trump’s executive order mandates the CDC and its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices to review January’s scientific assessment and update the childhood vaccine schedule accordingly. In response to the controversy surrounding recent guidelines, the American Academy of Pediatrics reiterated its stance, emphasising that differences in vaccination practices are linked to country-specific health considerations rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
What remains unclear — It is uncertain how the recent changes to the childhood vaccine schedule will impact vaccine coverage rates among U.S. children.
Trump issues order for CDC to align childhood vaccine guidelines with assessment
President Trump signed an executive order Friday that directs the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to align with a scientific assessment released earlier this year by the Department of Health and Human Services that calls for fewer childhood vaccines.
The move comes after Mr. Trump in December issued a memo directing HHS to align U.S. childhood vaccine recommendations with “best practices from peer, developed countries.”
In early January, HHS released an assessment that determined the U.S. “recommends more childhood vaccines than any peer nation, and more than twice as many vaccine doses as some European nations.”
Following that assessment, the CDC, which is part of HHS, announced updated recommendations in January that would reduce the number of recommended immunizations for children from 17 to 11.
The move prompted heavy criticism from medical experts and health organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, which subsequently chose to release its own childhood vaccine recommendations, breaking significantly with the CDC guidance.
Friday’s executive order directs the CDC and the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or ACIP, to review HHS’ January “scientific assessment and the latest clinical data” and “take any appropriate steps to update the United States childhood and adolescent vaccine schedule.”
In the CDC’s January recommendations, it found that only children in high-risk categories should receive immunizations for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), hepatitis A, hepatitis B, dengue, meningococcal ACWY and meningococcal B.
The CDC kept recommendations in place for 11 childhood diseases: measles, mumps, rubella, pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus, diphtheria, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), pneumonia, polio, human papillomavirus, or HPV, and varicella, or chickenpox. (Some vaccines, such as the MMR shot for measles, mumps and rubella, protect against multiple diseases.)
In December, the CDC’s ACIP panel also issued a controversial recommendation on when children should get their first dose of the hepatitis B vaccine. For decades, it has been recommended that children receive the first dose within 24 hours of birth, but the panel voted to recommend that the first dose be delayed until a child is 2 months old if the mother tested negative for the virus.
The current ACIP panel was chosen by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vaccine skeptic, after he ousted all 17 members of the previous panel. Several of the newest members have questioned established medical research on vaccines.
In March, a judge ruled against the new HHS childhood vaccine schedule recommendations in a lawsuit brought by the American Academy of Pediatrics and others, finding that Kennedy’s moves to appoint the new ACIP panel violated federal law. The judge also wrote that the government “disregarded” its traditional, scientifically grounded process for vaccine recommendations.
The Trump administration has argued that American children tend to be recommended for more vaccines than children in some other developed countries, particularly in Europe.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has argued that most developed countries have broadly similar practices, and any differences are due to country-specific factors.
“We don’t follow Denmark’s vaccine recommendations because we don’t live in Denmark,” Dr. Jose Romero, a member of the group’s committee on infectious diseases, said in a statement last year. “Children in the United States are at risk of different diseases than children in other countries. We also have a completely different health system.”
Burst water main disrupts Elizabeth line and Heathrow services
10:13 am
Get you up to speed: Burst pipe closes Elizabeth line between London and Heathrow Airport | News UK
A burst water main flooded the signalling system, disrupting travel to Heathrow Airport, which is currently without any rail or Tube services. Passengers must rely on bus transport as major delays are expected until at least 11am.
Major disruption is expected until at least 11am due to the signalling system failure caused by the burst water main. Passengers are currently advised to use bus services as the only available public transport option to Heathrow Airport.
Heathrow Airport has announced that “there are currently no rail services operating to and from Heathrow” due to flooding caused by a burst water main, urging passengers to consider bus or coach options. The disruption is expected to persist until at least 11am, as authorities continue to work on restoring services.
What remains unclear — It is unknown how long the disruption to services will last beyond the expected resolution time of 11am.
Burst water main disrupts Elizabeth line and Heathrow services
Passengers face major travel disruption between central London and Heathrow Airport after a burst water main flooded the signalling system.
The UK’s busiest airport is currently without any rail or Tube service after the burst pipe incident and planned engineering works.
There are no Elizabeth line or Heathrow Express services running between Paddington and Heathrow terminals after flooding led to a signalling meltdown.
Meanwhile, the Piccadilly line is suspended between Heathrow and Acton Town for planned works taking place this weekend.
Passengers face arduous journeys to the airport because the only public transport option available at the moment is the bus.
One person said on X: ‘Got through Heathrow quickly, great straight onto the Elizabeth line…. Nope, line is flooded. It’s two buses and a train instead.’
The flooding happened between Paddington and Heathrow after a burst water main, blocking all lines and submerging the signalling system, National Rail said.
Major disruption is expected at least until 11am.
Another frustrated traveller said: ‘No Piccadilly line to terminal 5. No Elizabeth line to terminal 5 due to flooding??? Waiting for a bus that doesn’t seem to arrive. People will miss their flights! Sort this out!’
Heathrow Airport said: ‘There are currently no rail services operating to and from Heathrow. The Elizabeth line and Heathrow Express are currently suspended, and the Piccadilly line is closed between Heathrow and Acton Town as part of planned works.
‘If you are travelling to the airport, please allow extra time and consider bus or coach options. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.’
Latest London news
To get the latest news from the capital, visit WTX’s London news hub.
Elizabeth line and Heathrow Express status
TfL’s latest Elizabeth line status shows that the route is part suspended between Heathrow Terminal T5 and Terminal T4 and Hayes & Harlington.
The stretch between Hayes & Harlington and Paddington has minor delays.
Heathrow Express status says it has no service in either direction due to a fault with the signalling system.
What other Heathrow travel options are available?
The main affordable option to reach the airport is buses, while taxis and private hires are also available as normal, but will cost more.
People with Heathrow Express tickets can use them on Great Western Railway (GWR) services on any reasonable route.
The nearest railway stations to Heathrow with GWR services are Hayes & Harlington, West Drayton and Southall stations.
How to travel to and from Heathrow Airport by bus
From London Paddington to Heathrow
- 27 bus to Hammersmith Broadway (stop F)
- 702 bus to High Street Langley (from SC)
- 703 bus to Heathrow Terminal 5
From Ealing
- SL8 bus to The Greenway (stop K)
- 724 to Heathrow Airport
From Hayes & Harlington
- 278/SL9 from station approach (stop E)
Travelling from Heathrow to central London
The following buses from all Heathrow Terminals:
- 285 → Feltham / Heathrow area
- 423 → local routes
- X26 → Croydon (via Kingston)
Taiwan opens world’s longest cable-stayed bridge designed for earthquakes
10:00 am
Get you up to speed: Taiwan’s record-breaking 3,000ft long bridge can withstand earthquakes | News Tech
Taiwan has opened the Danjiang Bridge, the world’s longest single-mast cable-stayed bridge, spanning 920 metres across the Tamsui River near Taipei. The bridge, engineered to withstand earthquakes of magnitude seven and above, is expected to alleviate traffic congestion by linking major highways in the region.
The Danjiang Bridge features real-time monitoring systems that alert authorities if structural limits are exceeded, ensuring safety for users. Although construction began in 2019, previous delays stemmed from environmental reviews and redesigns that lasted nearly 30 years before the structure’s completion in October last year.
Taiwan’s Highway Bureau announced the official opening of the Danjiang Bridge, stating it is designed to alleviate chronic traffic congestion in the region by connecting key highways. Real-time monitoring systems have been implemented to ensure safety, with alerts in place to impose traffic restrictions if structural limits are exceeded.
What remains unclear — It is not specified when the full integration of the Danhai light rail network across the river will be completed.
Taiwan opens world’s longest cable-stayed bridge designed for earthquakes
The spectacular Danjiang Bridge in Taiwan, which is now open to the public (Picture: Highway Bureau, MOTC/Cover Media)
Taiwan has opened the world’s longest single-mast cable-stayed bridge – a 920-metre structure engineered to withstand earthquakes of magnitude seven and above.
The Danjiang Bridge spans the mouth of the Tamsui River near Taipei and connects Bali District with New Taipei City.
Designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, the bridge’s main span measures 450 metres, around 30 metres longer than Russia’s Yugra Bridge which had held the world record since 2000.
Officials say the new crossing will ease chronic traffic congestion by linking major highways and expressways on both sides of the river.
The Cloud Gate Dance Theatre perform on the bridge during the opening ceremony (Picture: Liu Chen-Hsiang/Cover Media)
Taiwan’s Highway Bureau confirmed the bridge was specially engineered for the island’s seismic conditions because of its location on the boundary of active tectonic plates.
State-of-the-art sensors have been installed throughout the structure to monitor wind forces, cable stress and the bridge’s overall structural integrity in real time.
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If readings exceed safe limits, the system automatically alerts the bridge control centre so traffic restrictions can be introduced to reduce pressure on the crossing.
Designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, the Danjiang Bridge features a 200-metre concrete mast and a 450-metre central span (Picture: Highway Bureau, MOTC/Cover Media)
The bridge’s striking single-mast design was developed to maximise structural performance while preserving views of the sunset over the Tamsui estuary.
Its sculptural concrete mast rises 200 metres into the air and was intentionally designed to remain as slender as possible while supporting the huge central span during extreme weather and seismic events.
Dedicated pedestrian walkways and cycle lanes have also been included, along with provisions for a future extension of the Danhai light rail network across the river.
The 920-metre-long Danjiang Bridge spans the mouth of the Tamsui River near Taipei (Picture: Highway Bureau, MOTC/Cover Media)
Although the bridge’s main structure was completed in October last year, crews have spent recent months laying asphalt and installing lighting, sound barriers and additional road facilities ahead of its public opening.
Plans for the Danjiang Bridge were first put forward almost 30 years ago but were repeatedly delayed by environmental reviews, redesigns and failed bidding processes before construction finally began in 2019.
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Munich Airport closes twice in 24 hours due to suspected drone activity
9:00 am
Munich Airport closes twice in 24 hours due to suspected drone activity
Airport Closure
Munich Airport was closed twice within 24 hours in October due to suspected drone sightings.
Munich Airport was closed twice within 24 hours in October due to suspected drone sightings.
Operational disruptions
Authorities’ response to suspected drone sightings at Munich Airport highlights vulnerabilities in air travel security and the potential for significant operational interruptions.
Authorities’ response to suspected drone sightings at Munich Airport highlights vulnerabilities in air travel security and the potential for significant operational interruptions.
Security Response
“We are taking these incidents very seriously and are implementing additional security measures to ensure the safety of all passengers and staff.”
“We are taking these incidents very seriously and are implementing additional security measures to ensure the safety of all passengers and staff.”
Flights suspended at Munich Airport after reported drone sighting
Munich Airport closed twice within 24 hours in October following suspected drone sightings.
EU votes to impose higher tariffs on imported electric vehicles from China.
8:01 am
EU votes to impose higher tariffs on imported electric vehicles from China.
The European Commission has approved a €16.4 billion funding package for Hungary, designed to support the newly elected Prime Minister Viktor Magyar’s reform programme. This decision marks a significant diplomatic breakthrough, signalling improved relations between Hungary and the European Union after months of tensions surrounding rule-of-law concerns. The agreement was reached during a meeting of the European Council, reflecting a willingness for collaborative governance despite previous disputes.
In economic news, European markets reacted positively to the Commission’s announcement, with indices showing gains driven by optimism surrounding economic reforms. This package is expected to bolster Hungary’s efforts to enhance investment and economic growth, critical in the face of ongoing challenges from global inflation. Investors should keep an eye on upcoming discussions at the next European Council summit, which may further define the trajectory of EU-Hungary relations and fiscal policies.
Key developments across Europe
EU hails Hungary’s ‘wind of change’ and unlocks €16.4bn for new PM Magyar
EU POLITICS — The EU has approved a significant financial package for Hungary’s new government.
This decision marks a shift in EU-Hungary relations following a change in leadership, signalling optimism about potential reforms. The support aims to bolster economic stability and promote governance aligned with EU standards.
Temu Hit With Fine in E.U. Over Sales of Unsafe Goods
EU BUSINESS — The EU has imposed fines on Temu for failing to ensure product safety compliance.
This enforcement action highlights increasing scrutiny on online marketplaces regarding consumer safety. The fines may prompt Temu to enhance its compliance measures and supply chain transparency.
Is Europe finally waking up to China?
EU FOREIGN POLICY — The EU is reassessing its approach towards China in light of geopolitical tensions.
This shift comes as Europe grapples with challenges related to trade imbalances and human rights concerns. There is a growing call for a unified strategy to address these issues, balancing economic interests with ethical considerations.
EU tax proposals could yield up to €11bn per year, Commission says
EU ECONOMY — The EU Commission’s tax plans could significantly boost annual revenue.
This initiative aims to address budgetary disparities while promoting fiscal responsibility among member states. The proposals reflect a strategic shift towards sustainable funding mechanisms in the wake of ongoing financial challenges.
What to watch — Upcoming decisions from the EU concerning sanctions against Russia are expected to be pivotal in shaping regional stability.
Further reading from across European news sources
Politico Europe
4 ways Europe wants to wean off US tech
Euronews
EU tax proposals could yield up to €11bn per year, Commission says
Financial Times
Germany plans economic stimulus amid slowing growth
Der Spiegel
Germany’s Migrant Challenges: Government Plans for Increased Immigration
The Guardian
NATO and EU ramp up security at borders amid Ukraine conflict
Local insights
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