News blog

A large section of a glacier in the Swiss Alps has broken off, resulting in a torrent of ice, mud, and rock that has submerged the majority of a village evacuated earlier this month as a security precaution. A massive glacier collapsed down a Swiss mountainside on Wednesday, burying the Alpine village of Blatten, which officials had evacuated earlier this month as a safety measure. Regional police said a 64-year-old man was reported missing, and search and rescue operations involving a drone with thermal camera were under way. “What I can tell you at the moment is that about 90% of the village is covered or destroyed, so it's a major catastrophe that has happened here in Blatten," said Stephane Ganzer, the head of security in the southern Valais region. Footage shared on social media and Swiss television showed the mudslide near Blatten, located in the southern Lötschental valley, where residences and structures were partially submerged under a large mass of sludge. The region...

  Synopsis A heat warning was issued in Alberta as temperatures soar above 29°C, posing health risks, especially for vulnerable populations. Environment Canada advises precautions like staying hydrated and avoiding outdoor activities during peak heat. Northern Alberta faces additional challenges with wildfires and evacuation orders, exacerbating the heat's impact. A severe thunderstorm watch was also issued for central Alberta. A scorching heat wave has triggered Environment Canada to issue heat warnings for most parts of Alberta, including Edmonton, Calgary, Claresholm, High Level, Grande Prairie, Red Deer, and Lloydminster. Daytime highs are expected to reach or exceed 29°C, with nighttime temperatures staying above 14°C. The extreme heat began on Wednesday, May 28, and is expected to continue into Thursday, May 29. Environment Canada warns that the high temperatures could lead to heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Vulnerable groups include young chil...

  Writer-director Paul Haggis interweaves several connected stories about race, class, family and gender in Los Angeles in the aftermath of 9/11. Characters include a district attorney (Brendan Fraser) and his casually prejudiced wife (Sandra Bullock), dating police detectives Graham (Don Cheadle) and Ria (Jennifer Esposito), a victimized Middle Eastern store owner and a wealthy African-American couple (Terrence Dashon Howard, Thandie Newton) humiliated by a racist traffic cop (Matt Dillon). Crash , American dramatic  film , released in 2004, that was written and directed by  Paul Haggis  and that won the  Academy Award  for  best picture  in what was widely thought to be an upset over critical and popular favourite  Brokeback Mountain . Set in  Los Angeles ,  Crash  is a series of  confrontations  and collisions between a broad  cross section  of people who harbour race-based misconceptions about one anothe...

Couple was found guilty in 2022 of conspiring to defraud community banks out of more than $30m and tax evasion. The White House said on Tuesday that   Donald Trump   plans to pardon reality TV stars Julie and Todd Chrisley, the couple famous for Chrisley Knows Best, which followed their tightly knit family and extravagant lifestyle. A jury in 2022 found them guilty of conspiring to defraud community banks out of more than $30m in fraudulent loans. The Chrisleys were also found guilty of tax evasion. In a social media post on Tuesday, the White House said the US president called the Chrisley family and said “he will be granting full pardons”, adding: “Trump Knows Best!” The Chrisleys were found guilty of tax evasion by hiding their earnings while showcasing an extravagant lifestyle that prosecutors said included luxury cars, designer clothes, real estate and travel. Prosecutors said Todd Chrisley filed for bankruptcy, walking away from more than $20m in unpaid loans. Julie Chri...