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An inquisitive Google Map user has spotted what they apparently regard as a secret military installation in the Sahara Desert, The Daily Star reports. A Google Maps link to an aerial image of the facility, which is located in Niger near the border with Libya, was shared by one Reddit user who titled the post “Secret base! (Middle of the Sahara).” According to the newspaper, however, the base is not exactly secret – it's a French military airfield known as Aerodrome Madama. It reportedly features “a 1,800m-long landing strip, a ramp and two parking areas for aircraft and helicopter pads” – in 2015, France had up to 250 soldiers operating there amid the country’s anti-insurgent Operation Barkhane. …

[Read more...] about Mystery of ‘Secret Base’ in African Desert Dispelled by Media

The Only Way Is Essex star Lauren Goodger has seen one of her Instagram posts banned after failing to say it was an advert. The post from 4 March for user @hannahd.fx, which was promoting a foreign exchange tip service, showed a screenshot of a Whatsapp conversation which contained purported trading profits and a message that said "£1,730 in the last two days". A caption under the image read: "Let me introduce you all to @hannahd.fx. She is a Forex trader who sends out trades everyday which take under 5 minutes to place. Everyone who joins her team, receives a FREE Forex beginners [sic] course worth £150, to help you learn while you earn. We've published five rulings this week, including one which banned a TV ad for life insurance for being inappropriately scheduled: https://t.co/dbGYsX8oPm pic.twitter.com/X0PXZ2smZ1 — ASA (@ASA_UK) August 4, 2021 "She has been consistently profitable and has the freedom to work anywhere in the world. If you want to start 2021 …

[Read more...] about TOWIE star Lauren Goodger has Instagram post banned over failure to mark it as a paid advert

The drummer in band The Offspring has claimed he has been dropped from its line-up for refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccine on health grounds. Pete Parada says he was following the advice of his doctor by not getting the COVID-19 vaccine, due to his personal medical history. Parada, who has been a member of The Offspring since 2007 wrote in a lengthy post on social media: "I've got some unfortunate and difficult news to share. I know many of my close friends and family would've preferred to hear this privately first - and I apologize for the public nature of my disclosure, but I don't know how to have this conversation multiple times. Get live COVID-19 news updates from the UK and around the world in the Sky News live blog I’ve got some unfortunate and difficult news to share. I know many of my close friends and family would’ve preferred to hear this privately first - and I apologize for the public nature of my disclosure, but I don’t know how to have this …

[Read more...] about The Offspring drummer Pete Parada claims he has been dropped for not getting COVID vaccinated

Rihanna has officially been declared a billionaire by Forbes magazine. The Barbadian singer and fashion designer has become the wealthiest female musician in the world and the second richest female entertainer behind Oprah Winfrey . According to Forbes , Rihanna is worth $1.7bn (£1.2bn). Subscribe to the Backstage podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker While she became famous for hits such as Umbrella, Diamonds and Rude Boy, it was the success of her Fenty Beauty business that launched her to billionaire status. Advertisement The majority of her fortune, an estimated $1.4bn (£1bn), comes from the value of the brand which she launched in 2017 and of which she owns 50%. Most of the rest of her wealth comes from her stake in her lingerie company, Savage x Fenty, which is worth an estimated $270m (£194m) and her work as a musician and actress. More on Rihanna Rihanna backlash after singer poses …

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British news organisations, including Sky News, are urging the government to give refuge to Afghans who have worked for them as concerns mount for their lives, welfare and freedom. The Taliban 's recent advances and track record of carrying out targeted killings of reporters has made the issue a priority for the news channels and newspapers Afghan journalists have worked for. In a letter to Boris Johnson, the news organisations highlight the "loyalty and commitment of the Afghan journalists, translators and support staff who have worked with us throughout this period". The letter, signed by Sky, ITN, The Guardian, The Times, The Sun and Financial Times amongst others, says: "There is an urgent need to act quickly, as the threat to their lives is already acute and worsening." It calls on the British government to create a special visa programme for Afghan staff who have worked for the British media, to allow them to leave the country and find safety in the United …

[Read more...] about Sky News among British news organisations urging government to give refuge to Afghan journalists as Taliban violence grows

A judge will today sentence the former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd. Mr Floyd 's death in May last year sparked worldwide protests and re-energised the Black Lives Matter movement over police brutality and racial inequality. Video recorded by a bystander showed Chauvin with his knee pressed on Mr Floyd's neck as he lay handcuffed and restrained on the ground. He stayed there, his trial heard, for more than nine minutes. Watch and follow live coverage of Chauvin's sentencing on Sky News TV, the Sky News website and the app from 7.30pm. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Millions watch Chauvin being found guilty A jury convicted Chauvin of second and third degree murder and manslaughter in April in a trial that was closely watched, in Minneapolis and far beyond, as a measure of whether the justice system could offer fairness to victims from the black community. …

[Read more...] about Derek Chauvin to be sentenced for the murder of George Floyd – here’s what to expect

Turning 40 is a big occasion, so the Duchess of Sussex needed to come up with a something special to celebrate. In a video released to mark her milestone birthday, Meghan can be seen chatting through ideas with her Hollywood pal Melissa McCarthy. The pair discuss getting matching tattoos, but Meghan jokes that she already has "something really similar across my back" and it's maybe one to save for the 50th. So that's out. McCarthy then asks if the duchess is going to reunite with her castmates from legal drama Suits, the show that made her famous. She doesn't entirely dismiss it, but questions why that would be part of her birthday celebrations. Advertisement McCarthy, star of films including Bridesmaids, Spy and Can You Ever Forgive Me?, also teases the duchess by asking if she will mark the occasion with "another photo shoot under a tree where you're looking very peaceful", in reference to the picture Harry and Meghan released when they …

[Read more...] about Meghan releases 40th birthday video with Melissa McCarthy – discussing tattoos, a Suits reunion and tree photo shoots

IF YOUR home Wi-Fi speeds are slower than a geriatric tortoise, it can make watching Netflix or downloading big files a bit of a nightmare. While the blame can often be laid at the feet of your broadband provider, there are a handful of ways to supercharge a sluggish router. Read all the latest Phones & Gadgets news Keep up-to-date on Apple stories Get the latest on Facebook , WhatsApp and Instagram Moving electronics like lamps and your telly, for instance, can do a world of good, while cutting how much you use the microwave can also improve your connection. That's because they can slow down your Wi-Fi by interfering with your router's signal, according to UK watchdog Ofcom . And they're not the only things threatening to hamper your web access. Fish tanks, radiators, cordless phones and speakers can all cause internet woes if placed too close to your Wi-Fi router. Ofcom has released a list of ways to boost your Wi-Fi as part of a …

[Read more...] about Simple mistakes ruining your WiFi speed – including LAMPS and shelves

APPLE has released a security fix for a dangerous iOS, iPadOS, and macOS bug that is being actively exploited by cyber-criminals. The tech giant has labelled the flaw as a 'zero-day' vulnerability, which is a term used to describe a security issue that may have been actively exploited by cybercriminals. The issue, labelled as CVE-2021-30807, is said to affect an extension that affects how a device's memory impacts the screen display. An attacker that exploits this flaw could reportedly take full control over the device. Apple has not publicly elaborated on the bug being exploited in the wild but said it was aware it could be. Several security researchers have been publishing detailed reports about the issue online. Users of iPhones, iPads and Macs are advised to update their software immediately. You should be looking for macOS Big Sur 11.5.1, iOS 14.7.1, and iPadOS 14.7.1 when you go to update. The iOS update is only avaliable for iPhone 6s or later. This is …

[Read more...] about Dangerous new iPhone bug is getting people hacked today – fix it right now

THE UK remains a nation of ‘Super Subscribers’, with Brits spending £620 per year on subscriptions – up 12 per cent, from £552 just 12 months ago. Research of 2,000 adults found digital and ‘deliver to door’ is now such an integral part of Brits’ daily lives that eight in 10 UK households are signed up to at least one subscription service – up 16 per cent year-on-year. Read all the latest Phones & Gadgets news Keep up-to-date on Apple stories Get the latest on Facebook , WhatsApp and Instagram Entertainment platforms such as music and film streaming services remain the firm favourite (46 per cent), with food or meal boxes (16 per cent), technology (14 per cent) and beauty/grooming services (12 per cent) following in popularity. As a result, the ‘subscription economy’ is now worth an estimated £395m; an increase of 23 per cent in the last 12 months alone, according to the research from Barclaycard Payments, which processes nearly half of the …

[Read more...] about Brits spending OVER £600 a year on subscriptions as ‘Netflix effect’ grips world