Author: niyidaram

At least 132 people have been killed and hundreds injured after a powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia, prompting authorities to declare a national disaster as rescue teams search collapsed buildings for survivors. The earthquake struck at 07:34 local time at a depth of approximately 103km, with its epicentre near San José del Palmar in Chocó province, according to Colombia’s geological authorities. More than 480 people have been reported injured, while over 1,500 homes have sustained damage. Authorities have warned that the death toll could increase as people remain trapped beneath collapsed structures. The city of Pereira, around 55km from…

A 14-year-old student killed at least five people and himself in a shooting at a school outside Bangkok on Friday after allegedly fatally shooting his grandparents at their home, Thai police said. The attack, which took place at Debsirin Nonthaburi School in Bang Kruai district on the northwestern outskirts of Bangkok, is the deadliest mass shooting in Thailand in nearly four years. Police said the victims at the school were all teachers and staff members. Twenty-three other people were injured, with Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul later confirming that nine of the wounded were in critical condition. Authorities said the teenager…

A U.S. federal appeals court has ordered the Trump administration to stop above-ground construction of its proposed $400 million White House ballroom, ruling that such a major alteration to the historic presidential residence requires congressional approval. In a 2-1 decision issued on Friday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upheld a preliminary injunction blocking construction while legal proceedings continue. The majority wrote that the White House belongs to the American people rather than any individual president. “Each President is a temporary tenant, not the owner, of the White House,” the court said, adding that a…

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has called the country’s record-breaking heatwave a national disaster and ordered authorities to strengthen emergency measures as extreme temperatures continue to grip the nation. Speaking at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Lee instructed government agencies to expand support for those affected, protect vulnerable residents, and inspect electricity infrastructure as demand for air conditioning reaches exceptionally high levels. “An even greater concern is that abnormal weather conditions make it highly likely that extreme weather will continue for a considerable period,” Lee said, adding that South Korea needs a major overhaul of its disaster response system…

A Reuters review of federal court records has found that judges have ruled against the Trump administration on First Amendment grounds in 75 out of 93 civil cases decided during President Donald Trump’s second term, marking an unusually high level of judicial scrutiny over constitutional free speech, press and religious freedom issues. According to the review, the rulings concluded that various administration actions violated protections guaranteed under the First Amendment, including freedom of speech, freedom of religion and freedom of the press. Among the cases identified were decisions finding that the administration unlawfully retaliated against individuals and organizations because of…

Acclaimed classicist Emily Wilson has delivered a sharply critical review of Sir Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster The Odyssey, despite her own translation of Homer’s epic serving as one of the director’s key inspirations. Writing in the London Review of Books, Wilson said she “would be ashamed to have written any of this script”, describing the film’s storytelling as “gimmicky” and its dialogue as deeply flawed. “The writing is abysmal,” she wrote. “None of the characters has convincing motivation for their actions or words. There are no sex scenes, and all the food looks horrible.” Wilson argued that the three-hour epic lacks…

British filmmaker Justin Hardy has died at the age of 61 after suffering a heart attack, his family has announced. In a statement, his family said Hardy died on Friday night and remembered him as “a man of family, of boundless creativity” who remained “so full of life right to the end.” Hardy was a BAFTA and Emmy Award-nominated writer and director whose career spanned documentaries, historical dramas and feature films. He was widely recognised for *Children of the Wicker Man*, a 2024 documentary he made alongside his brother, Dominic Hardy, exploring the enduring legacy of their father Robin Hardy’s…

The United States has announced that it will permanently implement its visa bond programme, allowing consular officers to require certain applicants for business and tourist visas to post bonds of up to $20,000 before their visas are issued. The new rule takes effect on August 3. The policy applies to applicants for B-1 and B-2 nonimmigrant visas from 50 designated countries, around 30 of which are in Africa. Under the programme, consular officers may require eligible applicants to provide a refundable financial bond as a condition of receiving a visa. The permanent programme follows a pilot scheme introduced in 2025,…

A former funeral director has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after admitting dozens of offences involving the mistreatment of the deceased and defrauding grieving families. Robert Bush was sentenced at Hull Crown Court after pleading guilty to 67 offences, including denying 30 people a proper burial or cremation and fraud offences linked to providing families with ashes that did not belong to their loved ones. Passing sentence, Mr Justice Hilliard described Bush’s conduct as “shocking and disgraceful”, telling the court his actions had caused “anguish and pain on a scale beyond comprehension” for victims and their families. The…

Sainsbury’s has agreed to sell retailer Argos for £120 million as the supermarket group continues to sharpen its focus on its core grocery business. The buyer, Swift Partners, is a newly formed investment vehicle that includes former Co-operative Group chief executive Richard Pennycook. Sainsbury’s said the sale will have no immediate impact on customers, employees or suppliers. Argos will continue operating from Sainsbury’s supermarkets, customers will still be able to earn and redeem Nectar points, and Habitat products will remain available through the retailer. The company also confirmed that all of Argos’s nearly 14,000 employees will transfer to Swift Partners…