Vladimir Putin grants former NSA contractor Edward Snowden Russian citizenship

 

Russian President Vladimir Putin has granted former NSA contractor Edward Snowden Russian citizenship, according to an official decree published on the Russian government portal Monday.
Snowden is accused of espionage and theft of government property in the US for leaking troves of information on American intelligence and mass surveillance programs to the media.
The 39-year-old has been living in exile in Moscow after initially traveling to Hong Kong following his 2013 public disclosure of the classified information. He is facing up to 30 years in prison in the US.
In November 2020 Snowden and his wife, Lindsay Mills, applied for Russian citizenship. He had been already given permanent residency in Russia.

Cuba legalizes same-sex marriage in historic referendum

 

 Cuba has legalized same-sex marriage after Cubans voted in favor of a family code that increased protections for minorities on the island, the country’s National Electoral Council announced on Monday.
The Electoral Council said 74.1% of those eligible to vote in Sunday’s national referendum had turned out to cast their ballot.
With 94% of the votes counted as of 9am ET on Monday morning, 3,936,790 had voted in favor and 1,950,090 against – signaling an overwhelming support for the new law.
The new family code extends greater protection to women, children and the elderly, as well as allowing LGBTQ couples to marry and adopt children.

Philippines to shut 175 offshore gambling firms, deport 40,000 Chinese workers

 

 The Philippines will stop operations of 175 offshore gambling firms and deport about 40,000 Chinese workers, a justice ministry official said on Monday, part of a crackdown on the notoriously opaque online gaming industry.
The sector emerged in the Philippines in 2016 and grew exponentially, as operators capitalized on the country’s liberal gaming laws to target customers in China, where gambling is banned.
At their peak, Philippine offshore gambling operators, or POGOs, employed more than 300,000 Chinese workers, but the pandemic and higher taxes have forced many to operate elsewhere.
“The crackdown was triggered by reports of murder, kidnapping and other crimes committed by Chinese nationals against fellow Chinese nationals,” justice ministry spokesperson Jose Dominic Clavano said.
The POGOs targeted for closure had licenses that either expired or were revoked, for violations like non-payment of government fees, Clavano said, adding the deportation of the Chinese workers would start next month.

Denmark and Germany now building the world's longest immersed tunnel

 

 The world’s longest immersed tunnel is being constructed between Denmark and Germany, 40 metres beneath the Baltic Sea. It will cut down travel time between the two countries to just seven minutes by train and 10 minutes by car
It is going to be an architectural marvel. By 2029, the world’s longest immersed tunnel, which is being constructed between Denmark and Germany, 40 metres beneath the Baltic Sea, will be ready.
After planning the project for more than a decade, the construction of the Fehmarnbelt Tunnel started in 2020 and since then a temporary harbour has been completed on Denmark’s side.

Rihanna to perform at Super Bowl halftime show in Arizona

 

  Rihanna will perform at the Super Bowl halftime show in February in Glendale, Arizona, the National Football League announced on Sunday.
The Grammy-winning Barbadian singer is filling one of the most coveted slots in the U.S. music calendar, watched by millions of television viewers annually. Previous halftime performers have included Michael Jackson, Prince, Beyoncé, Missy Elliott, Lady Gaga, the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Madonna, Bruce Springsteen and the Who.
The Super Bowl, the biggest event in American football, takes place at Glendale's State Farm Stadium on Feb. 12. Rihanna's fans have waited for years for the promised follow-up to her eighth studio album "Anti" from 2016, which included the hit single "Work."

Japan holds controversial state funeral for assassinated leader Shinzo Abe

 

 Japan bids farewell to former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in an elaborate state funeral Tuesday, despite public opposition to the cost of the event as the country grapples with their late leader’s legacy.
Abe, Japan’s longest-serving prime minister, was shot dead during a campaign speech in Nara in July, stunning a nation where gun violence is extremely rare.
More than 4,300 guests are expected to attend the service at the Nippon Budokan Arena in Tokyo, including foreign dignitaries such as US Vice President Kamala Harris and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Rafael Nadal withdraws from Laver Cup after doubles with Roger Federer due to ‘personal reasons’

 

Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from the remainder of the Laver Cup due to personal reasons, after partnering with his longtime rival and friend Roger Federer in doubles to mark the end of Federer’s career.
The Laver Cup confirmed Nadal’s withdrawal on Twitter on Saturday, adding that he would be replaced by Briton Cameron Norrie. Due to injury, Federer was also unable to play in the rest of the competition and was replaced by Matteo Berrettini.
Nadal and Federer, who have won 42 grand slam titles between them, teamed up one last time on Friday to play in a doubles match for Team Europe against Americans Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe representing Team World.

Buckingham Palace issues photo of Queen Elizabeth's final resting place

 

  Buckingham Palace published a photograph on Saturday from Queen Elizabeth's final resting place at the royal chapel in Windsor, featuring a ledger stone bearing her name and those of her parents, and husband Prince Philip.
The stone, made of black Belgian marble, sits in the King George VI Memorial Chapel which Queen Elizabeth commissioned in 1962 as a burial place for George VI, her father. The queen was interred there on Monday after a state funeral in Westminister Abbey.

Japan to reopen to mass tourism in October

 

  Japan, one of the world's last major holdouts during the pandemic, is dissolving its Covid-19 restrictions and opening the door back up to mass tourism.
Beloved for its unique mix of vibrant urban culture and natural beauty, the country is lifting its tight regulations on foreign tourists, according to a tweet Thursday from Taro Kono, Japan's minister of digital affairs.
"Finally, Japan will reopen the border," the tweet said. "Visa waiver is back, no daily limit and free individual visits."
The new policies start on October 11.

China considers easing entry rules for some foreign tourists

 

 The Chinese government on Monday, September 19, issued draft regulations that aim to bolster tourism along its border and make it easier for some foreigners to enter China.
According to a draft policy document released by China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism on Monday, tour groups organized by travel agencies in China's border areas will be able to choose their port of entry and exit "flexibly" -- however, further details on locations and dates weren't provided.
China has shut its borders to foreign tourists since the Covid-19 pandemic began in 2020, only allowing certain groups of foreign nationals to enter the country, such as those holding valid visas.

Women burn headscarves as anti-hijab protests escalate after a woman was killed for wearing inappropriate hijab in Iran

 

 Women in Iran have set fire to their headscarves as protests erupted across Iran in response to a woman dying in the custody of the country’s "morality police".
 On September 13, 2022, 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, originally from the city of Saqqez in Kurdistan Province, in western Iran, was in Tehran, having travelled there to visit family.
 She was at the entry of Haqqani Highway with her brother Kiaresh Amini when she was arrested by the regime’s so-called "Guidance Patrol" and transferred to the "Moral Security" agency, allegedly for wearing an inappropriate hijab.

Arsenal-Tottenham derby smashes WSL attendance record

 

 The north London derby between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur has smashed the Women's Super League (WSL) attendance record at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
A record crowd of 47,367 turned out to watch Arsenal thrash Spurs 4-0 thanks to a Vivianne Miedema brace and goals from Beth Mead and Rafaelle.
The previous record was 38,262 which was set at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the 2019 north London derby. Ticket sales for Saturday's match had already surpassed that figure on Sept. 1, Arsenal announced.
Arsenal also confirmed that 53,757 tickets were sold for Saturday's derby.

Boeing agrees to pay $200 million for misleading the public about the 737 Max

 

 
Boeing and its former CEO Dennis Muilenburg agreed to pay hefty fines to settle charges from the Securities and Exchange Commission that they misled the public about the safety of the 737 Max following two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019.
The SEC alleges that, following an October 2018 crash of a Lion Air 737 Max jet that killed 189 people, Boeing and Muilenburg knew that part of the plane’s flight control system posed an ongoing safety concern yet told the public that the 737 Max was safe to fly. After a March 10, 2019 fatal 737 Max crash, the SEC alleges that Boeing and Muilenburg knowingly misled the public about “slips” and “gaps” in the certification process of that flight control system.

TikTok to require verification of political accounts and ban political fundraising

 

 TikTok has begun to require “mandatory verification” for political accounts based in the United States and will be prohibiting all political fundraising on its short-video platform, the company said Wednesday.
The changes could affect the way many of the company’s millions of US users engage with political content ahead of the 2022 midterm elections.
The push to verify political accounts began Wednesday on a trial basis and applies to governments, politicians and political parties on the platform, the company said in a blog post.

Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, and wife Priscilla, expecting their third child

 

 Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, and his wife, Priscilla, are expecting their third child.
 Mark shared the good news on his Instagram page this afternoon, September 21.
 ''Lots of love. Happy to share that Max and August are getting a new baby sister next year!''

Man sets himself on fire outside Japanese PM's office in protest over state funeral for assassinated Shinzo Abe

 

 An elderly man set himself on fire in Tokyo early on Wednesday after expressing opposition to a state funeral for assassinated former prime minister, Shinzo Abe.
 The government said an individual with burns had been found near the Japanese prime minister's office.
'We are aware that a man with burns was found by a police officer at 7am (2200 GMT) this morning at an intersection below the cabinet office,' top government spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno said. A Tokyo Fire Department official confirmed a man set himself afire on the street in Tokyo's Kasumigaseki government district and that he was alive when he was taken to a hospital by ambulance, but declined to give further details, including the man's identity, motive or condition, citing the sensitivity of what was a police matter.

Celtics coach Ime Udoka's "likely" facing season-long suspension for his role in a consensual relationship with a female staff member

 

 The suspension looming over Boston Celtics head coach Ime Udoka could be for the duration of the upcoming season, according to a new report from ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
Wojnarowski said Thursday morning that Udoka is "likely" facing a full-season suspension for his "consensual relationship with a female staff member," and that a formal announcement could come on Thursday.

Hackers hit Nigerian bank, steal over N523m from customer's account

 

 
Suspected internet fraudsters hacked into the server of an old generation bank and stole a whopping sum of N523,337,100,00 from a customer's account.
 The Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) Ikoyi, Lagos, SP Eyitayo Johnson, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, September 21, 2022.
The PPRO said the hackers stole the huge sum using 18 different customers accounts and dissipated same via Unified Payments Interface (UPI), Cash, ATM/POS,Withdrawals and e-transfers.

Robert Sarver to sell Phoenix Suns and Mercury after N-word scandal

 

 Robert Sarver will be selling both the Phoenix Suns and the Phoenix Mercury after an NBA investigation revealed that he used the n-word multiple times during his tenure as an owner in the leagues.
 The NBA investigation also revealed that Sarver made inappropriate comments toward women, and didn't treat his employees fairly or equally.
Commissioner Adam Silver who fined him $10 million and suspended him one year over the offence, had insisted the punishment was strong enough.

8 suspects go on trial over 2016 Bastille Day massacre in France which killed 86 people

Eight terror suspects have gone on trial in Paris, France for links to a deadly lorry attack in the southern French city of Nice in 2016 which killed 86 people.
The suspects - who face between five years and life imprisonment - are accused of helping the attacker get weapons, and of logistical support.
The court proceedings which started Monday, September 5 will be broadcast live to many of those affected by the attac, according to the French government.

Man, 90, spared jail after repeatedly stabbing his frail wife because he could not cope with the pressure of caring for her

 

 A 90-year-old man who repeatedly stabbed his blind and frail wife while she slept because he could not cope with caring for her has been spared jail.
 Retired butcher Edward Turpin used a carving knife to attack Joan Turpin, 90, in bed at their home in Orpington, Kent, on September 22, 2021.
She suffered several wounds, with one of the blows causing her lung to collapse.
 The Old Bailey heard it was "a matter of luck" she was not killed.
In a video interview recorded while she was in hospital, Mrs Turpin said: "He woke me up with the knife in my chest telling me he couldn’t take any more."

New York named the richest city on the planet with 59 billionaires and a staggering 345,600 millionaires

 

 New York City has the highest number of rich people in the world, according to a new report by investment migration consultancy firm, Henley & Partners.
Around 345,600 millionaires reside in the city, alongside 15,470 multi-millionaires who have assets worth over $10 million, 737 centi-millionaires (wealth of $100 million or more) and 59 billionaires, the report said, making the financial center of the U.S.  the wealthiest city in the world by a large gap. The report finds that around 4% of New York’s 8.38 million citizens own investable assets – property, cash or stocks – worth over $1 million. The number drops significantly to 15,470 when assessing those who have more than $10 million in assets. The total private wealth held by New York residents was found to exceed $3 trillion. Remarkably, that’s more than the total private wealth held in most major G-20 countries.

'I haven't seen any player stronger than me yet': Footballer Zlatan Ibrahimovic insists he is not ready to retire from football at the age of 40

 

 Zlatan Ibrahimovic has inisted that he's not ready to retire from professional football at the age of 40.
 The Swedish striker turns 41 next month and had promised to bring the curtain down on his 23-year professional career after undergoing knee surgery in May.  But Ibrahimovic promised to keep playing' after signing a one-year extension with Milan in July.
Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Swede said: 'I will be back soon. I'm not going to retire, I'm coming back and I won't give up.'

Floyd Mayweather 'set to take on British-Nigerian YouTube star Deji in a Dubai exhibition fight'

 

 Undefeated American boxer, Floyd Mayweather will face Deji in Dubai as he looks to continue his world tour of exhibition fights.
 The former five-division world champion will face the British YouTube star in what will reportedly be a Global Titans fight series event in Dubai, featuring several four to six-round bouts with no scoring or judges.
 his retirement, Mayweather has taken fights against American social media star Logan Paul and Japanese kick-boxer Tenshin Nasukawa, having ended his career with a win over notorious UFC icon Conor McGregor.
 Mayweather retired from professional boxing with a 50-0 unbeaten record.
Deji, whose real name is Oladeji Olatunji started his boxing career with defeats in his first three fights before a statement win over Yousef 'Fousey' Erakat in August.

Update: Mathias Pogba 'taken into police custody with three others' over alleged extortion attempt made against his brother Paul Pogba

 

 Mathias Pogba, the brother of footballer Paul Pogba, has been detained and questioned by police after the Juventus midfielder said he was the target of extortion attempts and threats.
 Mathias presented himself in the 'early afternoon to investigators and was placed in police custody', a source close to the investigation told DailyMail on Wednesday, September 14.
The formal probe follows preliminary investigations and will look into allegations of blackmail by an armed gang, kidnapping, and membership in a criminal conspiracy.
 Three other people are also in custody, the source said. Temporary detention in France usually ends after 24 hours.

R. Kelly found guilty on six counts of child pornography

 

 R. Kelly has been found guilty of sex crimes, including producing child sexual abuse imagery and coercing minors into sex acts.
 On Wednesday, September 14, the 12-person jury in the trial convicted Mr. Kelly of six out of the 13 charges brought against him.
He was found guilty of coercing three minors into criminal sexual activity and producing three child sexual abuse videos, all of which prosecutors said involved the same 14-year-old girl.

Tennis legend, Margaret Court takes a swipe at Serena Williams as she retires just one grand slam title short of the Australian's world record

 

 Tennis legend, Margaret Court has broken her silence over the 'GOAT' debate with the recently-retired Serena Williams, claiming the US star has 'never admired her.'
The 80-year-old, who holds the record for most Grand Slam titles, is considered to be the greatest female player of all time (GOAT) after winning 24 slams and a total of 192 titles in an illustrious career.
Williams retired just one slam short of Court's record, but claimed in the lead-up to the US Open that she'd 'already broken the record', citing the fact that 13 of Court's wins came in the amateur era.
 One of Williams' claims for why she should be considered the greatest is that some of Court's Slams were won before the 'Open era', where professionals and amateurs mixed.

“I wish Your Majesty success, robust health"- Putin becomes first head of state to congratulate King Charles III after his official coronation

 

 Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday, became the first head of state to congratulate King Charles III after he was officially coronated as monarch of the United Kingdom.
Charles III was formally proclaimed Britain’s new king by the Accession Council on Saturday, September 10, in a history-laden ceremony following the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II.
Putin offered his “sincerest congratulations” after the pomp-filled ceremony in London. “Please receive my sincerest congratulations on your accession to the throne,” Putin said in a telegram addressed to the new king, the Kremlin said.

BT Sport forced to apologise after showing Celtic fans' 'F*** the crown' banner

 

 BT Sport has been forced to apologise after showing an offensive banner which was unfurled by Celtic fans during their Champions League clash with Shakhtar Donetsk.
 The broadcaster accidentally zoomed in on anti-monarchy flag among the Celtic supporters, which said 'FUCK THE CROWN.' BT Sport commentator, Rob MacLean, duly offered an apology "to anyone offended."
The game which held Poland due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, finished 1-1. While there was no minute's silence before the match, both sides did wear black armbands as a mark of respect. The broadcaster apologised as viewers quickly picked up on the gaff, six days on from the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, who died at Balmoral aged 96 last Thursday.

"I was campaigning for them yet one of them bit me" Vegan goes straight to McDonald's to eat meat after dog attack left him 'betrayed by animal kingdom'

 

 A vegan influencer says he turned his back on his non-meat eating lifestyle after a dog attacked him.
 Mariano de la Canal became angered by animals following the dog attack so he went straight to McDonald's to have a meat meal.
 He told Argentine media that he instantly gave up being a vegan after the dog bite left him "feeling betrayed by the animal kingdom".
 A short while after the attack the influencer, who has more than 455,000 followers on Instagram, says he found himself in the burger joint "automatically" and ordering from the menu.

Trevor Sinclair taken off air by talkSPORT after his tweet about the Queen

 

 TalkSPORT has announced Trevor Sinclair has been taken off air while it investigates his controversial tweet about the Queen following her death.
 Trevor had tweeted following the Queen's death: "Racism was outlawed in England in the 60's & it's been allowed to thrive so why should black and brown mourn!!"
His tweet led to backlash and he was taken off air by talkSPORT.

Mason Greenwood remains suspended by Man United despite being named on list of U21 players as police probe rape and assault allegations

 

 
Manchester United has insisted that Mason Greenwood remains suspended despite being included in an official squad for the 2022-23 season.
 The 20-year-old has not been named in the 25-man squad but is on a list of U21 players who are eligible to play for the first team in the Premier League this season.
Greenwood is facing allegations that he raped, sexually assaulted, and threatened to kill an 18-year-old student.

Ukraine President Zelensky involved in car accident Pictures)

 

Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky has been involved in a car accident, his spokesman has revealed.
A passenger car collided with the presidential vehicle and his escort in the capital Kyiv, Spokesman Sergii Nykyforov said in a short statement.
The driver of the car that collided with the motorcade was treated at the scene and driven away in an ambulance and the accident is being investigated by law enforcement officers. The accident comes after President Zelensky, 44, visited the recaptured city of Izyum, a key logistics hub in north-eastern Ukraine, on Wednesday September 14.

Pound falls to lowest level against dollar since 1985

 

 The Pound sterling has plummeted to its lowest level against the US dollar since 1985.
 On Wednesday afternoon, September 7, the Pound fell by 0.64% to $1.145, a decline not seen in 37 years.
According to the Bank of England, a weaker outlook for the UK economy as well as a stronger dollar were putting pressure on sterling. Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey also warned that little could be done to stop the UK falling into a recession this year as the war in Ukraine continued and energy prices keep soaring.
The Bank says it forecasts the economy to shrink in the last three months of 2022 and keep shrinking until the end of 2023.

King Charles III proclaimed new sovereign following death of Queen Elizabeth II (photos)

 

 King Charles III has been formally proclaimed new sovereign following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
 During the ceremony at St James's Palace in London this morning, he made a personal declaration on the death of his beloved mother Queen Elizabeth II and vowed to uphold 'constitutional government and to seek the peace, harmony and prosperity of the peoples of these islands, and of the Commonwealth realms and territories throughout the world.'
Charles automatically became Sovereign on the death of his mother aged 96 at Balmoral Castle on Thursday afternoon, but the Accession Council,  an ancient body of advisers that dates back as far as the time of the Norman Conquest, formally announced his role as Head of State today.

Sultan of Brunei becomes world's longest-serving living monarch following Queen’s death

 

The Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah has become the world's longest-serving living monarch following the passing of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II.
 Bolkiah, who took the throne in 1967, has reigned for 54 years and 339 days (as of Friday) - more than four years longer than Margrethe II of Denmark, now the second-longest reigning monarch.
Before her death, Her Majesty who came to the throne aged just 25 in 1952 in the aftermath of World War II, was far and away the longest serving monarch in the world, marking the 70th anniversary of her coronation earlier this year.

"Stop promoting homosexuality by focusing excessively on homosexuals" - Arab states demand Netflix remove contents that violate 'Islamic values' after new children movie showed two teenage girls kiss each other

 

 
Gulf Arab states led by Saudi Arabia have demanded that Netflix remove all contents deemed to violate "Islamic and societal values and principles" after the streaming giant released a new animation movie showing teenage girls kiss each other.
 In a statement released Wednesday, September 7, the Saudi and Gulf Co-operation Council media watchdogs warned that recent material by Netflix including that made for children, contravened regulations.
The move comes after Saudi state TV showed blurred clips from animated show Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous, in which two teenage girls confess they love each other and kiss.

Kenya Supreme Court upholds William Ruto's presidential victory

 

 
Kenya's Supreme Court on Monday September 5, unanimously upheld William Ruto's presidential win, in a scathing judgement while also blasting opposition leader Raila Odinga's accusations of electoral cheating.
Kenya, East Africa's most wealthy and influential nation had been on tension since the August 9 elections, which pitted Ruto against Odinga.
Ruto had won the election but Odinga alleged that widespread cheating occured, an accusation which has led to some electoral violence among both sets of supporters.

Tribute to Queen Elizabeth quickly taken down after UFC fans give loud boos when her picture was put on the main screen (video)

 

 A big-screen tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II in Las Vegas was met by a loud chorus of boos from fans in attendance at UFC 279 on Sunday morning, September 11
 The United Kingdom, and much of the world, has been in mourning following the death of the monarch on Thursday September 9, but there was little love shown to her in Vegas where the sight of her face immediately sparked angry boos and laughter from people listening to the jeers.
Ahead of the main card of UFC 279, a picture of the Queen was put up on the main screen inside the arena, with her date of birth and death below, while an announcer read her name out to the crowd in attendance. It was met by loud boos, though, before being quickly taken down

Chelsea legend Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink ‘resigns' as Burton manager’

 

 Chelsea legend Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has reportedly resigned as Burton Albion's manager.
The former striker took over at the Pirelli Stadium for his second stint as manager in January 2021, guiding them to safety that season and then to 16th in 2021-22.
But the former QPR and Northampton boss has endured a nightmare start to the new campaign with just one point from Burton's seven games.
They lost 2-1 away at Oxford on Saturday, taking their tally to a whopping 20 goals conceded already.
Burton also lost in the first round of the Carabao Cup to Rochdale but did get their only win of the campaign in a 4-2 victory over Leicester's Under-21s in the EFL Trophy.

19-year-old Carlos Alcaraz wins US Open men’s singles title, and becomes No. 1 in the world

 

 
Carlos Alcaraz has won the Grand Slam title at the US Open to become the youngest man to be ranked world No 1.
 The Spanish teenager defeated his opponent Casper Ruud  6-4 2-6 7-6 (7-1) 6-3 on Sunday night, September 11 at Arthur Ashe Stadium to claim his first Grand Slam title and top the  ATP Ranking.
"This is something I dreamed of since I was a young kid. To be number one in the world, to be the champion of a Grand Slam," said Alcaraz. "All the hard work I did with my team, my family. I'm just 19 years old so a lot of the decisions are with my team, my parents. It's something that is very special for me."

More than a dozen people declared missing after following a woman into the Andes Mountains when she told them she received a revelation from the Virgin Mary

 

 Up to 20 people, including five children, have been declared missing in Venezuela after going on a spiritual retreat with a woman who told them she received a revelation from the Virgin Mary that the world was about to end.
 Rosa García, 57, is said to have initially persuaded as many as 40 people in the Táchira town of La Grita to join on her trip to Juan Pablo Peñaloza National Park on August 22, according to La Nacion newspaper.
García allegedly told the group that they would be having a spiritual encounter with God or the Virgin Mary at an unknown area in the park that is located along the border of the western states of Táchira and Mérida. They were expected to return on Thursday, September 1, and were reported missing later that day after they failed to show up at their homes.

Apple reveals iPhone 14 Pro and Watch Ultra

 

 Apple has unveiled the iPhone 14, with emergency satellite connectivity and car crash detection technology, at a launch event in the US.
The company revealed four versions of the new handset at its Cupertino headquarters, with an audience attending in person for the first time since the pandemic.
It also showed off a new extreme sports wearable - the Watch Ultra.
The event focused on next generation iPhone, Watch and AirPod products.
Apple CEO Tim Cook was on stage at the Steve Jobs theatre inside the tech giant's California campus - but the presentation itself was entirely pre-recorded.

Man who 'shot four dead' while livestreaming on Facebook is arrested after killing spree

 

 A 19-year-old man went on a killing spree and he live-streamed them on Facebook Live.
 Police in the US issued an urgent warning to the public to avoid an "armed and dangerous" gunman overnight before officers arrested the suspect, named as Ezekiel Kelly, who is reported to have carried out multiple shootings on Wednesday night, September 7, in Memphis, Tennessee.
Warnings from police to people in the area simply read: "If you do not need to be out, please stay home!

Queen Elizabeth II (1926 – 2022)

 

 
Queen Elizabeth II, the UK's longest-serving monarch, has died at Balmoral aged 96, after reigning for 70 years. She died peacefully on Thursday afternoon at her Scottish estate, where she had spent much of the summer.
The Queen came to the throne in 1952 and witnessed enormous social change.
Her son King Charles III said the death of his beloved mother was a "moment of great sadness" for him and his family and that her loss would be "deeply felt" around the world.
He said: "We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished sovereign and a much-loved mother.
"I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world."

Russia blames sanctions for gas pipeline shutdown

 

 Russia has warned that it will not resume gas supplies along a key pipeline to Europe until sanctions are lifted. Moscow has blamed Western countries for its decision not to reopen the Nord Stream 1 pipeline after it was shut for three days for maintenance.
When asked if supplies would resume pumping if sanctions were eased, a Kremlin spokesman said: "Definitely".
Gas prices soared on Monday due to mounting concerns over energy supplies.
The Dutch month-ahead wholesale gas price, a benchmark for Europe, was up as much as 30% in early trading on Monday. Prices in the UK rose as much as 35% before winding back to £4.50 per therm.
Wholesale prices have been very volatile in recent weeks. They fell sharply last week when Germany announced that its gas storage facilities were filling up faster than expected.

China quake: Deadly tremor rocks Sichuan city in lockdown

 

 
At least 65 people have been killed after a 6.6 magnitude earthquake hit southwestern China, state media said. The quake struck at 13:00 local time (05:00 GMT) on Monday in Sichuan province at a depth of 10km (6 miles). The impact severed telecommunications lines and triggered mountain landslides that caused "serious damage", local media reports say.
Some 21 million people in Sichuan's capital Chengdu were last week ordered to stay at home because of Covid rules.
The epicentre of the quake was at Luding, a town in a remote mountain region located about 226km southwest of Chengdu, according to the China Earthquake Networks Centre.

Chelsea sack Thomas Tuchel with Brighton manager Graham Potter given permission to speak with club

 

Thomas Tuchel was sacked after Chelsea's 1-0 defeat to Dinamo Zagreb on Tuesday; Brighton boss Graham Potter will meet Chelsea owner Todd Boehly for talks; Chelsea are prepared to pay the release clause in Potter's contract

One dead, nine missing after plane crash in Washington state

 

 One person has died and 9 people are missing, including a child, after a floatplane crashed in Puget Sound in Washington state, the U.S. Coast Guard said.
 The agency said in a press release the plane was flying from Friday Harbor, a popular tourist destination in the San Juan Islands, to Renton, a southern suburb of Seattle, on Sunday afternoon, September 4.
The Coast Guard said it received a report of the crash around 3:11 pm (2211 GMT) and dispatched helicopters and boats to scour the area. Local search and rescue officials were also on the scene.

Chelsea defender, Reece James signs new deal worth £250,000-a-week, becomes highest-paid defender in the club's history

 

 Reece James has signed a bumper new Chelsea deal worth at least £ 250,000 per week.
 The agreement for the 22-year-old is a six-year deal and will make James the highest-paid defender in Chelsea's history.
James said: 'I am over the moon with my new contract and I'm thankful for the fans, the new ownership and everyone involved in the club. I cannot wait to see what the future holds, and I am sure we will have the chance of winning many trophies.
 'I grew up supporting this club and I've been here since I was a six-year-old. I put pen to paper on a new deal because this is the club I want to be at. I'd like to say a special thanks to the fans, I am here to stay and we have a bright future ahead of us.'