Author: Darren Smith

Colombian cyclist Einer Rubio was forced out of the Tour de France after crashing into the back of a UAE Team Emirates car during the climb to Alpe d’Huez, requiring around 20 stitches to his face after the vehicle braked suddenly to avoid a fallen spectator. Tour de France rider Einer Rubio suffered a bloody crash during Stage 19, requiring around 20 stitches after colliding with the back of a UAE Team Emirates support car on the climb to Alpe d’Huez. Team Movistar confirmed the 28-year-old Colombian struck the rear of the vehicle after it braked suddenly, with the impact…

A coalition of environmental scientists, backed by Earthjustice, is petitioning the FCC for a full environmental review of proposed orbital data centres from companies including Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin, warning the projects could cause lasting damage to the planet’s atmosphere and night sky. Scientists have warned that plans to build data centres in space could prove “catastrophic” for the planet, as some of the world’s wealthiest entrepreneurs push forward with proposals to move computing infrastructure into orbit. Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin are among the companies exploring the idea, arguing that space-based data…

Brian Doerksen, the Christian musician best known for co-writing the worship anthem Come, Now Is the Time to Worship, has died aged 60, just days after his family revealed he had been diagnosed with stage four cancer. Brian Doerksen, the Christian musician behind the widely sung worship song Come, Now Is the Time to Worship, has died at the age of 60. His family announced this week that he died on Tuesday, only four days after they had gone public with news of his stage four cancer diagnosis. In a statement posted to Facebook, they said he died in his…

A Greek-operated Patriot air defence system stationed in Saudi Arabia has intercepted ballistic missiles and a drone launched by Yemen’s Houthi movement toward oil facilities near Yanbu on the country’s Red Sea coast. A Greek-operated Patriot missile battery deployed in Saudi Arabia has intercepted two ballistic missiles and at least one drone fired by Yemen’s Houthi movement, with the targets reportedly aimed at oil facilities, including refinery infrastructure, near the Red Sea port city of Yanbu. The interception was carried out as part of Saudi Arabia’s wider integrated air defence network, rather than representing a new Greek military deployment. Greece…

Isobella Perrie Sullivan, a 25-year-old trainee barrister allegedly stopped while driving a sophisticated device toward the Northern Ireland border, has been granted bail after her solicitor told a court she previously spent time in Syria before turning away from political activism to focus on her legal studies. A trainee barrister allegedly caught transporting a car bomb toward Northern Ireland in a suspected New IRA operation had previously spent time in Syria, her lawyer has told a court. Isobella Perrie Sullivan, 25, was arrested on Wednesday after Irish police described making an “extremely significant seizure” of an explosive device. Gardaí said…

American Airlines passenger Justin Escalona says he was woken mid-flight by a woman who allegedly tried to take his first-class seat because her own would not recline, in a confrontation captured on video that has since gone viral online. A woman has been accused of waking a fellow first-class passenger and attempting to take his seat after hers wouldn’t recline properly. Justin Escalona, 27, was asleep ahead of a 6am American Airlines flight from New York to Los Angeles on Monday when he was disturbed by the unnamed passenger. He said he initially assumed she wanted a better view for…

Spanish health authorities have declared red alerts in the popular tourist destinations of Fuengirola and Mijas after mosquitoes carrying West Nile virus were detected, as the number of confirmed human cases in the region rises to five this season. A number of people in Spain have fallen ill with West Nile virus, prompting health authorities to place two seaside destinations popular with British holidaymakers, Fuengirola and Mijas, on red alert after infected mosquitoes were discovered in the area. Officials have stepped up checks on insects, animals and humans, launched community awareness campaigns and issued public warnings. The move follows confirmation…

Barack Obama offered Caitlin Clark words of encouragement during a surprise visit to the WNBA All-Star practice at his Presidential Center in Chicago, telling the Indiana Fever star not to let the ongoing controversy surrounding her career “get her down.” Barack Obama had a message of support for Caitlin Clark on Friday, telling the WNBA star not to let the “nonsense” surrounding her career weigh her down, during a surprise appearance ahead of the league’s All-Star game in Chicago. The former president made the visit to the newly opened Obama Presidential Center, where the WNBA held its All-Star practice, marking…

A 22-year-old man has died and four others were hospitalised following a stabbing in Clapham this morning, with six men now arrested on suspicion of murder as detectives work to establish what happened. Six men have been arrested on suspicion of murder after a 22-year-old man was stabbed to death in Clapham, south London, this morning. Police were called at 4.37am to reports that a man had suffered a stab wound; he later died as a result of his injuries. Four other men were also taken to hospital with stab wounds, though their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening…

From a French mayor forced into police protection to a Belgian port overrun by cartel corruption and a record-breaking cocaine submarine seized off Portugal, Europe is grappling with an escalating wave of organised crime violence as drug gangs tighten their grip across the continent. Drug cartels are increasingly terrorising communities across Europe, threatening public officials, infiltrating major ports and fuelling levels of violence rarely seen on the continent before. In France, the mayor of Alès was placed under police protection this week after intelligence suggested an imminent attack by the country’s dominant drug gang. In Belgium, legally grown Canadian cannabis…