Politics

Published: 26 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Minnesota Medicaid funds have been temporarily halted by the Trump administration in a move that has sent shockwaves through American healthcare policy. The announcement was made by US vice-president JD Vance during a press conference in Washington on Wednesday. He described the decision as part of President Donald Trump’s newly declared “war on fraud”. The move targets more...

Published: 26 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. The State of the Union address, delivered by Donald Trump on Tuesday evening, was remarkable more for its length than for its substance. Lasting an unprecedented 107 minutes, the speech was expected to outline a strong legislative agenda, yet it repeatedly veered into grandiose self-praise and partisan attacks. From the moment Trump entered the House chamber, he assumed...

Published: 26 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. The head of Britain’s largest trade union has issued a stark warning to Rachel Reeves, demanding decisive action on a multibillion-pound defence investment plan. Sharon Graham, general secretary of Unite, stressed that tens of thousands of jobs could be jeopardised by political hesitation, urging ministers to fully commit to future defence contracts that support British industry. Graham argued...

Published: 26 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Scotland’s climate strategy is facing fresh criticism for relying heavily on unproven technologies and uncertain projections. The UK Climate Change Committee (CCC) has expressed concern about the feasibility of the Scottish government’s long-term emissions targets, despite acknowledging that its recent short-term plans are more realistic. Nigel Topping, chair of the CCC, highlighted that Scotland’s new approach to carbon...

Published: 26 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Germany has faced widespread criticism after its government announced the scrapping of a key renewable heating mandate. The coalition agreement to remove the previous law’s renewable requirements signals a dramatic policy shift. The original legislation, passed in 2023 under the centre-left government led by Olaf Scholz, mandated that most newly installed heating systems use at least 65% renewable...

Published: 26 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Australian politics was thrust into another heated moment this week after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described Grace Tame as “difficult” during a rapid‑fire word association question at a conference in Melbourne, sparking backlash from activists, politicians and commentators alike. Grace Tame, the 2021 Australian of the Year and a prominent advocate for survivors of sexual assault, publicly challenged...

Published: 26 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Hong Kong’s judiciary delivered a surprising legal outcome Thursday when an appellate court overturned fraud convictions against Jimmy Lai, the veteran pro-democracy activist and media figure. Lai, 78, has long been a symbol of resistance against Beijing’s influence in Hong Kong and the founder of the now-shuttered Apple Daily, a publication renowned for its outspoken political reporting. The...

Published: 26 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Two influential Brazilian politician brothers have been convicted in a landmark trial for ordering the murder of Marielle Franco, the Rio de Janeiro city councillor, nearly eight years ago. The supreme court’s decision has drawn international attention, reflecting on both the persistence of political corruption and the ongoing struggle for justice in Brazil. João Francisco Inácio Brazão, a...

Published: 26 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. Donald Trump’s nominee for US surgeon general, Casey Means, faced intense scrutiny during a Senate health committee hearing, avoiding clear answers on vaccines while defending her medical experience. The focus on vaccine guidance has raised concern among Democrats and public-health experts, who warn that misinformation could endanger Americans’ health at a critical time. Means, 38, emphasised that chronic...

Published: 26 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online. The far-right activist Tommy Robinson has recently been welcomed for a meeting at Washington's State Department. Robinson, 43, whose birth name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, met with Joe Rittenhouse, a senior adviser at the department. Rittenhouse publicly praised Robinson on X, calling him a “free speech warrior” and highlighting his role in defending speech rights. The meeting has drawn...