News

Portugal and the U.S. fall victim to intense wildfire conditions

Published

4 years ago

July 11, 2022

William Howard

Extreme fire conditions have spread across the globe with the U.S. scorched and dozens injured in Portugal

Dozens have been injured as a wildfire tears through Portugal leaving 12 firefighters and 17 civilians in medical care.

3,000 firefighters have now been deployed to tackle the inferno as temperatures throughout the country reach 43 degrees Celsius.

The European Union has activated its air fleet assistance programme allowing member nations to share their resources.

Spain has been one of the first countries to lend a hand, mobilising two firefighting planes.

96 per cent of Portugal is considered as being in ‘extreme’ or ‘severe’ drought and the sweltering heat wave currently hanging over the nation is only expected to worsen.

The government has declared a heightened state of alert which will remain in place until at least Friday.

Wildfires throughout the U.S.

It’s been an explosive few months when it comes to wildfires in the U.S., but it’s tipped to get a whole lot worse as summer approaches.

Landscapes are being described by experts as ‘tinderboxes’ – so dry that a single spark could lead to catastrophe.

The Pacific north-west, north California, Texas, Hawaii and Alaska are all forecast to be among those hardest hit by fire conditions.

Four key factors are at play here – drought, dried fuels, windy or warm weather and ignitions.

The climate crisis is also making matters worse and leading to more intense conditions.

Over the first six months of this year alone, we’ve seen a controlled burn in New Mexico escape its containment and escalate into a wildfire in Alaska, a lightning storm led to the destruction of 2 million acres, and this is just to name a few.

When compared with the previous 10-year average, 220 per cent more land has been lost as a result of fires.

News

Epstein hearing explodes over redactions and hidden names

Lawmakers accuse AG Pam Bondi of hiding Epstein-linked names amid congressional hearing, questioning redactions related to billionaire Wexner.

Published

1 day ago

February 12, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Lawmakers accuse AG Pam Bondi of hiding Epstein-linked names amid congressional hearing, questioning redactions related to billionaire Wexner.

US lawmakers have accused Attorney General Pam Bondi of withholding key names linked to Jeffrey Epstein during a fiery congressional hearing. The confrontation centred on redactions within investigative files that critics argue should have been fully disclosed under federal law.

Representative Thomas Massie pressed the Justice Department over blacked-out sections, specifically questioning references to billionaire Leslie Wexner. Bondi maintained that Wexner’s name was released promptly once flagged, defending the department’s handling of the documents.

Frustration boiled over as lawmakers challenged the extent of the redactions, leading to an extraordinary moment in the hearing as Bondi pushed back and praised President Donald Trump while standing by the department’s review process.

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News

Angus Taylor moves to challenge Sussan Ley for party leadership

Angus Taylor resigns from Coalition frontbench to challenge Sussan Ley amid Liberal Party divisions and declining poll support.

Published

1 day ago

February 12, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Angus Taylor resigns from Coalition frontbench to challenge Sussan Ley amid Liberal Party divisions and declining poll support.

Angus Taylor has resigned from the Coalition frontbench to launch a leadership challenge against Sussan Ley, declaring he lacks confidence in her ability to rebuild support for the Liberal Party. His move sets up a high-stakes internal contest that could reshape the party’s direction.

Supporters of Mr Taylor are expected to push for a meeting by Friday to trigger a potential leadership spill, intensifying pressure on Ms Ley. Moderate MPs are calling on her to demand clear proof of numbers before any ballot takes place.

With the Liberals trailing in the polls and facing mounting questions over strategy, both camps are outlining starkly different visions for the party’s future as tensions rise in Canberra.

#AustralianPolitics #LiberalParty #AngusTaylor #SussanLey #LeadershipSpill #Canberra #AusPol #PoliticalNews

News

Iran buries nuclear site entrances amid rising tensions with the U.S.

Published

2 days ago

February 11, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Satellite images reveal that Iran has buried all three tunnel entrances at its Isfahan nuclear complex. Analysts say the move mirrors defensive preparations taken before U.S. airstrikes devastated the facility last year, with no vehicle or personnel activity visible around the entrances.

The burial appears aimed at limiting damage from potential airstrikes and complicating any ground raid targeting enriched uranium stored in the underground facility. Experts suggest equipment or materials may have been moved into the tunnels for protection, though this remains unconfirmed.

The fortification comes amid ongoing U.S.-Iran tensions. President Trump has demanded Iran curb its nuclear program, warning of military action, while Tehran insists halting uranium enrichment is unacceptable. Recent indirect talks in Oman showed little progress toward a new deal.