The European Union is sending two planes to help Spain tackle raging wildfires, after the country activated an EU disaster assistance mechanism for the first time. Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska told local media he had requested two water bomber aircraft from the EU to be deployed to the worst-affected areas. The help comes as a third person died due to injuries sustained battling a wildfire on Thursday morning. Spain’s state weather agency Aemet has warned that a heatwave will continue until Monday, with temperatures set to exceed 44C in some areas, raising concerns that the wildfires will spread further....
FG Imposes 7-Year-Ban On New Public Universities, Polytechnics To Boost Quality
The Federal Government has announced a seven-year moratorium on the establishment of new federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education across Nigeria. The decision was approved at Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, followed a presentation by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa. Mr. Alausa said the decision was to halt decays in Nigerian tertiary institutions. He explained that the current challenge in Nigeria’s education sector is no longer about access to federal tertiary education but about addressing the proliferation which has strained resources, leading to the deterioration of...
“I’m Being Impersonated” – Goodluck Jonathan Disowns Fake Instagram Account
Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, on Thursday revealed he is being impersonated by fraudsters. Jonathan alleged that a fraudulent Instagram handle has been impersonating him. In a statement released by his media aide, Ikechukwu Eze, Jonathan confirmed he does not own or operate any Instagram account, urging the public to disregard and avoid sharing content from the fake profile. The statement is titled ‘Beware of fake Instagram account impersonating H.E. Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’. “Our attention has been drawn to a fraudulent Instagram account operating under the handle goodluck_ebelejonathan, which is falsely impersonating former President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. “This...
Teenager Admits Assaulting Woman Before Rangers Match
A teenager has admitted robbing and assaulting a woman before a Rangers cup tie against St Johnstone. The 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, grabbed a drum from Beverley Mayer outside Hampden Park on 17 August 2024. He caused Ms Mayer, who was a fan liaison officer for St Johnstone, to fall and strike her head on the ground. The incident sparked crowd disorder before the Premier Sports Cup match, with Rangers fans’ group the Union Bears clashing with police. Rangers supporter Aaron Watt, 22, was previously banned from football matches for two years for his part in...
Man Bags 10-year Jail Term For Trying To Kill Toddler By Stepping In Front Of Train
A man who tried to murder a toddler by stepping in front of a moving train while carrying the boy on his shoulders has been jailed for 10 years. Frederick Danquah took the two-year-old to Garrowhill railway station, in the east end of Glasgow, in July 2023 after he had split from his partner. They were struck by the train and taken to hospital but the child was left with minor grazes and has since fully recovered. Danquah, 28, was convicted of attempted murder last month, after claiming he was unable to appreciate his actions due to mental illness. The...
61-Year-Old Man Jailed For Sexually Abusing Sleeping Girl For Over 20 Years
A pedophile who sexually abused a young girl in her sleep more than 20 years ago has been jailed for eight years. Ricky Morgan, of New Cheltenham Road in Kingswood, Bristol, admitted abusing the girl multiple times over several years during the early 2000s. The abuse was reported to police two decades later. The 61-year-old admitted three counts of indecent assault of a girl, and three counts of sexual assault of a girl under 13 by touching, when he appeared at Bristol Magistrates’ Court in March. During sentencing at Bristol Crown Court on Tuesday, Morgan was also given an indefinite...
Former Snooker Champion Graeme Dott To Face Child Sex Abuse Trial
Former world snooker champion Graeme Dott is to stand trial charged with child sex abuse. The 48-year-old Scot is accused of lewd and libidinous behaviour towards two children between 1993 and 2010. The allegations include claims he inappropriately touched a girl, instructed her to remove her clothes and exposed himself to her, as well as molesting a boy, making sexual remarks and watching him shower. Dott, who won the world title in 2006, has pled not guilty to the charges. Both charges state the alleged incidents occurred on “various occasions”, at addresses in the east end of Glasgow, South Lanarkshire...
Extradited Fugitive Nicholas Rossi, Claims Girlfriend ‘Raped Him’
A fugitive who had to be extradited from Scotland to stand trial for rape in the US while claiming he was the victim of mistaken identity told police his ex-girlfriend “raped him” after she reported he had raped her. Nicholas Rossi is alleged to have attacked the woman at his apartment in Orem, Utah, in September 2008 after she went to retrieve money he stole from her to buy a computer. She reported the assault to officers who later interviewed Rossi, only for him to allege she had “forcefully engaged him in sexual acts” and threatened to have him killed....
Air Canada To Begin Cancelling Flights Ahead Of Potential Strike
Canada’s largest airline will begin suspending flights on Thursday after the union representing its flight attendants issued a 72-hour strike notice. Air Canada will be gradually suspending flights over that period, the carrier said, warning that passengers without confirmed flights should not go to the airport. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants, provided a strike notice early on Wednesday after reaching an impasse in contract talks. The union said that it has bargained in good faith but Air Canada “refused to address” core issues, such as proposals on wages, and unpaid work....