Author: News Desk

Southern California wildfire forces thousands to evacuate A fast-moving wildfire in southern California has forced over 10,000 people to evacuate as it threatens thousands of homes and businesses in San Bernardino County, east of Los Angeles. The “Line Fire,” which started on Thursday, grew rapidly over the weekend, prompting Governor Gavin Newsom to declare a state of emergency. As of Sunday afternoon, the fire had spread to roughly 17,459 acres (27 square miles) and was 0% contained. It is currently the fifth-largest active wildfire in California after quadrupling in size on Saturday. Evacuation orders have been issued for Running Springs…

Mother of Georgia mass shooting suspect called school before attack The mother of the suspect in last week’s Georgia shooting warned his school of an “extreme emergency” on the day of the attack, according to US media reports. Both the suspect’s mother and grandmother contacted the school before the incident. The Washington Post obtained text messages sent by the boy’s mother, Marcee Gray, to her sister, explaining that she had asked school officials to check on her son the morning of the shooting. Colt Gray, 14, is accused of a shooting at Apalachee High School, which left four people dead…

British prisoner among five on run after escaping Portuguese jail A British prisoner is one of five inmates who escaped from a high-security prison in Portugal. The breakout happened at the Vale de Judeus prison, about 43 miles north of Lisbon, on Saturday. The prisoners, including Mark Cameron Roscaleer, escaped by climbing a wall using a ladder and reportedly had outside help. Roscaleer was serving a nine-year sentence for kidnapping and robbery. The other escapees include two Portuguese men, an Argentinian, and a Georgian, local media says. The two Portuguese escapees were serving 25-year sentences for offences including drug trafficking,…

Forty-eight killed in Nigeria fuel tanker crash At least 48 people have died in Niger, central Nigeria after a fuel tanker crashed into a lorry carrying passengers and cattle. The crash happened early Sunday morning and caused an explosion that engulfed both vehicles. The Niger State Emergency Management Agency responded swiftly to the scene, as shown in footage capturing the devastation and charred remains of the vehicles and cattle. Emergency teams are working to recover the bodies and manage the aftermath. According to state media, a mass burial is taking place for the victims. Governor Umaru Bago said he was…

Billions lost from small retailers in tax evasion, says watchdog National Audit Office says the trail of tax debts left by small UK retailers is widespread and increasing every year. The UK is missing out on billions of pounds of revenue each year from small retail businesses that exploit weaknesses in government systems to evade paying tax, the public spending watchdog has warned. The National Audit Office (NAO), which monitors tax and spending by the government, said the trail of tax debts left by small retailers was widespread and increasing every year. Continue reading… https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/sep/09/billions-lost-from-small-retailers-in-tax-evasion-says-watchdog

Fury after Southwark council tears down community art display | UK News A tiny art gallery in south London was removed by the local council after it was claimed to be a ‘hotspot for anti-social behaviour’. The community group spent a month clearing a dirty bus shelter – only for it to be ripped down by Southwark Council. The shelter in Camberwell was used by art collective Kabinett to host art performances for local residents, and was also used to donate food products to those in need, such as potatoes and onions. Kabinett said they are ‘heartbroken’ the project is…

The man who fell to Earth – podcast Twenty-three years after Mohammed Ayaz fell from a plane wheel bay as it descended to Heathrow Airport, his brother visits the car park where his body was found. Esther Addley reported that in 2001, Mohammed Ayaz climbed into the wheel bay of a British Airways Boeing 777, heading from Bahrain to London Heathrow. His body fell from the plane as it descended, and was discovered in a car park in Richmond. After the police identified him, the Guardian’s Esther Addley tracked down his family to a rural village in northern Pakistan. Mohammed’s…

Nikki Haley does not support Donald Trump’s IVF plan, ‘on standby’ to campaign Nikki Haley broke with former President Trump’s stance regarding IVF treatment, but still said she was “on standby” to campaign for the Republican nominee. Haley, who was the last Republican presidential candidate to drop from the GOP race before Trump became the nominee, said during an appearance on CBS’s “Face the Nation” on Sunday that she had spoken with Trump in June and that “he’s aware that I’m ready if he ever needs me” to campaign for him. With this election, Haley said, “there’s a lot at…

Chelsea’s co-owners are looking to buy each other out amid a rift at board level. Chairman Todd Boehly and majority owners Clearlake Capital are both prepared to take full control of the club. Boehly has gradually lost power despite being named co-controlling owner after the club’s purchase from Roman Abramovich for £2.5bn in July 2022, with Clearlake – which owns a 61.5% stake – in primary control at Stamford Bridge. Clearlake co-founder Behdad Eghbali has become the most hands-on figure within the ownership group since Boehly stepped down as interim sporting director in January 2023. Multiple figures in the senior…

Venezuela’s opposition leader leaves country for Spain The Venezuelan government has announced that opposition presidential candidate Edmundo González has left the country and is seeking asylum in Spain. González had been in hiding after the opposition challenged the results of July’s presidential election. The National Electoral Council (CNE), controlled by the government, declared Nicolás Maduro the winner.  Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez said González had sought refuge at the Spanish embassy in Caracas and requested political asylum from the Spanish government. Rodríguez added that Caracas had allowed him safe passage and he has now left the country. Spain’s Minister of Foreign Affairs,…