A suspected drone attack by Yemen s Houthi rebels targeting a key oil facility in Abu Dhabi killed three people and sparked a separate fire at Abu Dhabi's international airport on Monday, police said. Police in the United Arab Emirates identified the dead as two Indian nationals and one Pakistani. It did not identify the wounded, who police said suffered minor to moderate injuries at an industrial area where Abu Dhabi's state-owned energy company runs a pipeline network and an oil tanker storage facility. Three transport tankers caught fire at the facility, while another fire was sparked at an extension of Abu Dhabi International Airport. Police said that while an investigation was underway, preliminary findings indicated there were small flying objects, possibly belonging to drones, that fell in the two areas and may have caused the explosion and fire. They said there was no significant damage from the incidents, without offering further details. Meanwhile, … [Read more...] about Suspected drone attack in Abu Dhabi kills 3, wounds 6
Texas synagogue terrorist was banned from a UK court after 9/11 rant
The British terrorist shot and killed after a 10-hour siege in a Texas synagogue had been banned from a British court for ranting about the 9/11 attacks . Malik Faisal Akram from Blackburn, told an usher at his local magistrates court that he wished the court official had died on one of the planes that flew into the Twin Towers. The 44-year-old was subsequently banned from the court for threatening and abusing staff. A senior court clerk later described him as a “menace”. Reports at the time in September 2001 said that Akram had caused regular trouble in the court “even when he isn’t due before the bench”. The case will raise issues about how Akram managed to fly to the US a fortnight before the attack on the synagogue. Akram, who suffered from serious mental health issues, died when the FBI stormed the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue in Coleyville on Saturday. The four hostages, including the rabbi, held by Akram were freed without coming to harm. Akram was … [Read more...] about Texas synagogue terrorist was banned from a UK court after 9/11 rant
Exclusive: Manchester United target Aston Villa midfielder John McGinn in summer transfer window
Manchester United have shortlisted the Aston Villa midfielder John McGinn as a potential signing this summer when the club hope to have deals lined up in tandem with the arrival of a new manager. United are in the process of searching for a long-term replacement for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at a time when there is uncertainty over the futures of a host of players and major surgery required to a squad that has woefully underperformed this season. Midfield is viewed as a priority area to address this summer and McGinn has emerged as one of the options under consideration. The Scotland international is admired by his compatriot Darren Fletcher, who took up the role of technical director at Old Trafford in March last year, and any deal with Villa would hinge on McGinn’s contract situation if United press ahead. McGinn, 27, will have two years to run on his contract in the summer and, while he is considered a key part of Villa’s ambitious plans, this will be the last summer the club can … [Read more...] about Exclusive: Manchester United target Aston Villa midfielder John McGinn in summer transfer window
New York mayor insists subway is safe after woman shoved onto tracks and killed at Times Square station
New York Mayor Eric Adams has insisted that the city’s subway system is safe, despite another random pushing attack which killed a “wonderful” businesswoman. Michelle Alyssa Go, a senior manager at Deloitte, was shoved onto the tracks at Times Square station on Saturday morning and struck by an oncoming train. The 40-year-old was pushed from behind and did not see her attacker, who police have named as 61-year-old homeless man Simon Martial. The horrifying attack is just the latest high-profile incident on the city’s underground network. In recent months there have been several instances of people being stabbed, assaulted or shoved onto the tracks at stations in the Bronx, Brooklyn and at Times Square. But newly-inaugurated Democrat Mayor Eric Adams insisted: “New Yorkers are safe on the subway system. I think it’s about 1.7 percent of the crimes in New York City that occur on the subway system. “Think about that for a moment,” the former NYPD transit officer said at … [Read more...] about New York mayor insists subway is safe after woman shoved onto tracks and killed at Times Square station
Belgian beer tycoons back start-up to cut the carbon cost of tech
A London investment fund backed by the billionaire Belgian aristocrats behind the AB InBev beer empire have backed a tech start-up that submerges data centres in liquid to reduce their carbon footprint. Planet First Partners has led a $34m (£25m) funding round in Submer, a Barcelona-based start-up that is seeking to cut the rapidly increasing environmental cost of high-powered computers. Data centres - the remote server farms where much of the hosting and processing of the modern internet is done - account for a growing percentage of worldwide electricity consumption, largely due to the high costs of cooling the machines. Despite efforts to make them more efficient, they are projected to account for up to 2.75pc of worldwide carbon emissions by 2025, and are growing at annual rates of up to 6pc. The cooling systems also use up large quantities of water. Submer places the server units in large tanks full of non-conductive liquid, which it says uses 50pc less energy than standard … [Read more...] about Belgian beer tycoons back start-up to cut the carbon cost of tech
An apology from the prime minister: ‘I really should have partied harder’
There’s been an awful lot of leaking about “Partygate”, and I now have my very own exclusive. A copy of the text of the prime minister ’s next public apology to parliament* has reached me, and it is only right that I now publish it, and damn the Official Secrets Act. For a change, he’s going to tell us the truth. I hope you’ll agree it’s dynamite. *** “Mr Speaker, I would like to make an apology. It has come to my attention that there may have been a handful of days – I cannot yet be more specific – during the lockdowns of 2020 and 2021 when social gatherings and boozy parties were organised in Downing Street, without my being there, or knowing about them. “I wish to acknowledge at the outset, Mr Speaker, that many people feel angry to see me, a man they trusted always to do the wrong thing, lapsing in this way. People expect me to be dishonest and lack integrity, and be a massive hypocrite, and I recognise they may be disappointed. “Mr Speaker, Fear Of Missing … [Read more...] about An apology from the prime minister: ‘I really should have partied harder’
Government faces ‘burning deadline’ to keep household energy bills down
The Government has a “burning deadline” in the next three weeks to decide how to offset a massive rise in household energy bills, the boss of an energy company has said. Bills could go up by more than 50% for millions of customers, a rise that could cost average households around £700 per year. “To some extent their burning deadline is the day that the new level of the price cap gets announced … because that’s when you would think that it becomes obvious they are going up,” said Good Energy boss Nigel Pocklington Estimates range but some believe the price cap could be raised to around £2,000 for the average household, from £1,277 today. “You absolutely need to be concerned for vulnerable households and homes and families that will be put into fuel poverty,” Mr Pocklington told the PA news agency. Recommended Cutting self-isolation period will not fix country’s sick pay problem – TUC Recruitment in financial services hits pre-pandemic … [Read more...] about Government faces ‘burning deadline’ to keep household energy bills down
Number of families spending 10% of budgets on energy bills ‘set to triple’
The number of families spending at least 10% of their budgets on energy bills is set to triple after the new energy price cap comes into effect in April, a think tank predicts. The Resolution Foundation said the proportion of households in England in “fuel stress” – a general indicator of finding energy bills unaffordable – is currently 9%. It expects that proportion to leap to 27% amid predictions that the energy price cap could rise by more than 50% this April to around £2,000 per year. Ofgem will announce the new price cap level in February. The figure could equate to 6.3 million households suffering fuel stress. Levels of fuel stress are set to be highest in the North East and the West Midlands as well as among pensioner households, those in local authority housing and among those in poorly-insulated homes, according to the foundation, which is focused on improving living standards for those on low-to-middle incomes. Recommended Nearly a … [Read more...] about Number of families spending 10% of budgets on energy bills ‘set to triple’
Soaring house prices offset rising costs for Taylor Wimpey
One of the UK’s biggest housebuilders has said a spike in the price of its homes has fully made up for the soaring costs of staff and building materials, and supply chain shortages. Taylor Wimpey’s boss said the firm delivered an “excellent performance” last year, and that demand remains strong for the company’s newly-built homes, which became £12,000 more expensive. It completed more than 14,000 last year, up by nearly half from the year before. In 2020 construction sites were forced to close down for several months of the year, so the number of completed homes was considerably lower than previously. Recommended Most professional workers unhappy with their pay, study suggests Government faces ‘burning deadline’ to keep household energy bills down Cutting self-isolation period will not fix country’s sick pay problem – TUC However, Taylor Wimpey still built around 2,000 fewer homes in 2021 than it had in 2019, it … [Read more...] about Soaring house prices offset rising costs for Taylor Wimpey
Wakefield boss Michael Carter says French vaccination stance could cause issues
Wakefield chief executive Michael Carter admits his club could be badly hit by the new Covid regulations introduced by the French Government which he believes could call into the question the integrity of the Super League competition. The French parliament has given the go-ahead for its health pass to be converted into a vaccine pass, which means that anyone wishing to enter the country’s leisure, cultural and sports venues will have to be vaccinated against Covid-19. The government has indicated that exemptions will not be made for athletes who are based outside France so it could have an impact on rugby union’s Six Nations tournament in addition to Super League. Huddersfield are due to visit newly-promoted Toulouse on the opening weekend on February 12 while Wakefield will be the first visitors to Catalans a week later. Recommended Novak Djokovic could face another grand slam issue due to new French regulations Limited spectators … [Read more...] about Wakefield boss Michael Carter says French vaccination stance could cause issues