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Ferris Wheel Fire at German Music Festival Injures About 30 People

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LEIPZIG, Germany  — A fire erupted on a Ferris wheel at the Highfield Festival near Leipzig, Germany, on Saturday evening, injuring approximately 30 people, including four police officers, according to local authorities and media reports.

The blaze started around 9 p.m. local time at the festival grounds near Stormthaler Lake. Two gondolas on the Ferris wheel caught fire, with images showing flames and smoke billowing into the air. The cause of the fire remains unknown.

Festival organizers released a statement saying, “Those affected are receiving treatment and are doing well considering the circumstances.” They added that they were in close coordination with fire brigade, police, and medical services.

A fire brigade spokesperson later confirmed that the situation was under control. The two affected gondolas were completely burned out.

German rapper Ski Aggu, who was performing when the fire broke out, addressed the incident on his Instagram account. “I am absolutely dismayed and shocked by the Ferris wheel fire during my show on the Highfield,” he said. Aggu explained that he was instructed to continue his performance to prevent mass panic, prioritizing crowd control.

“For me, the priority was that the situation did not escalate further, which fortunately also worked,” Aggu stated. He thanked the audience for remaining calm and praised the quick response of rescue workers.

Despite the incident, festival organizers announced shortly after 10 p.m. that they had closed the Ferris wheel and resumed performances on stage. They urged attendees to “continue to look after one another,” adding, “You are doing a great job. The shows are back in action.”

The Highfield Festival, an annual music event, attracts thousands of visitors to the area near Leipzig. This incident raises questions about safety measures at large-scale outdoor events and the protocols in place for emergency situations.

Local authorities are expected to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the fire and the overall safety procedures at the festival. The incident may lead to reviews of safety regulations for temporary amusement rides at similar events across Germany. As the festival continues, organizers and local officials will likely maintain heightened vigilance to ensure the safety of remaining attendees. The long-term implications of this incident for the Highfield Festival and similar

Credit: news.sky.com

Belfast Zoo Investigates Alleged Incident of Worker Locked in Lion Enclosure

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BELFAST, Northern Ireland  — The Belfast City Council has launched an investigation into an incident at Belfast Zoo where a worker was allegedly locked inside a lion enclosure, officials said Thursday.

The incident, reported to have occurred earlier this month, involved two staff members entering the lion enclosure, according to the Belfast Telegraph, which cited an unnamed source familiar with the matter. The newspaper reported that a more experienced staff member allegedly left the paddock, locking the gate and leaving a colleague inside with the lions.

In a statement to ABC News, the Belfast City Council said, “We are aware of an incident at the lion enclosure at Belfast Zoo earlier this month. We take the safety of all our staff, visitors and animals very seriously. An investigation is underway into the circumstances of this incident.”

The duration of the worker’s alleged confinement in the enclosure remains unclear.

Belfast Zoo officials declined to comment on the incident, citing the ongoing investigation.

The zoo houses a pride of Barbary lions, including one male named Qays and two females, Fidda and Theibba, according to the zoo’s website. Barbary lions, once native to North Africa, are now found only in zoos and are part of a global breeding program aimed at ensuring their survival.

This incident raises questions about safety protocols and procedures at the zoo, particularly concerning dangerous animal enclosures.

The Belfast Zoo, operated by Belfast City Council, is a popular attraction in Northern Ireland and home to over 120 species of animals.

As the investigation continues, local authorities have not released information about potential changes to zoo procedures or any disciplinary actions that might result from the incident.

Credit: abcnews.com

Chechen Leader Invites Musk to Russia After Filming Armed Cybertruck

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GROZNY, Russia  — Ramzan Kadyrov, the leader of Chechnya, a republic within the Russian Federation, invited Tesla CEO Elon Musk to Russia on Saturday after sharing a video of himself driving a Tesla Cybertruck mounted with a machine gun.

The video, posted on Kadyrov’s official Telegram channel, shows the Chechen leader behind the wheel of the stainless steel-clad vehicle, taking it for a drive before standing next to a machine gun mounted in the truck bed. The weapon was draped with belts of ammunition.

In an accompanying message, Kadyrov praised the Cybertruck, calling it “undoubtedly one of the best cars in the world,” adding, “I literally fell in love.”

Kadyrov also stated his intention to donate the vehicle to Russian forces involved in the ongoing invasion of Ukraine. “It’s not for nothing that they call this a cyberbeast,” he said. “I’m sure that this beast will bring plenty of benefits to our troops.”

The Chechen leader claimed he received the truck from Musk, though this assertion has not been independently verified. Requests for comment sent to Tesla were not immediately answered.

Extending an invitation to Musk, Kadyrov said, “I don’t think the Russian Foreign Ministry would mind such a trip.” He added, “And, of course, we’re waiting for your new developments that will help us finish our special military operation (in Ukraine).”

Kadyrov, who has been sanctioned by the United States government due to alleged human rights violations, has been a vocal supporter of Russia’s actions in Ukraine, often referring to the invasion as a “special military operation,” echoing official Kremlin terminology.

The video and invitation come amid ongoing international tensions surrounding Russia’s military actions in Ukraine and raise questions about the potential use of civilian vehicles in conflict zones.

Musk, known for his controversial statements and actions on social media, has not publicly responded to Kadyrov’s invitation as of this report.

The incident highlights the complex intersections of technology, politics, and international relations, as well as the role of social media in modern diplomacy and conflict narratives.

Source: apnews.com

Fire Breaks Out at London’s Somerset House, Major Art Collections Unharmed

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LONDON — A fire broke out in the roof of London’s Somerset House on Saturday, prompting a massive response from the London Fire Brigade (LFB) but leaving the building’s major art collections unscathed.

The LFB deployed 25 fire engines and approximately 125 firefighters to combat the blaze after the alarm was raised just before midday. Police reported no injuries.

Keeley Foster, the LFB’s assistant commissioner, told reporters, “Crews are now working to extinguish the final pockets of fire. The fire was located in part of the building’s roof space. The age and design of the building proved a challenge for crews as they initially responded.”

Foster added that firefighters would remain on site overnight and that the cause of the fire was under investigation.

The fire affected Somerset House’s west wing, which houses offices rather than artworks. The Courtauld Gallery, home to masterpieces from the Middle Ages to the 20th century including works by Manet, van Gogh, and Cezanne, is located in the north wing and was not impacted.

Jonathan Reekie, director of Somerset House Trust, said, “It’s too early to comment on the building’s condition. I’m confident that the damage is to one small part of the building.” He announced that while the main Somerset House building would remain closed to the public until further notice, the Courtauld Gallery would reopen on Sunday.

Somerset House, overlooking the River Thames, has a rich history dating back to 1547. Originally a royal palace and stately home, it now serves as an arts, cultural, and entertainment center. The current structure was rebuilt after the original building was demolished in 1775.

The site has played significant roles in British history. It was the residence of Princess Elizabeth before she became Queen Elizabeth I in 1558. During the English Civil War, it served as headquarters for the Parliamentary Army from 1642. It has been home to both the Admiralty and the Inland Revenue. The Great Fire of London in 1666 stopped just short of the Somerset House site.

The incident highlights the challenges of protecting historic buildings and valuable art collections in modern London. It also demonstrates the swift response capabilities of London’s emergency services in safeguarding the city’s cultural heritage.

As investigations into the cause of the fire continue, questions may arise about fire safety measures in historic buildings housing important cultural artifacts.

Lewandowski’s Double Leads Barcelona to 2-1 Victory Over Valencia in La Liga Opener

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VALENCIA, Spain  — Robert Lewandowski scored twice to lead Barcelona to a 2-1 comeback victory over Valencia in their La Liga season opener on Saturday, marking a successful debut for new coach Hansi Flick.

Valencia took the lead in the 43rd minute when Hugo Duro headed home. The goal was initially flagged offside but was allowed to stand after a VAR review confirmed Duro had timed his run perfectly.

Lewandowski equalized for Barcelona with the final kick of the first half. Alejandro Balde’s cross was redirected across goal by Lamine Yamal, allowing Lewandowski to tap into an empty net.

The Polish striker sealed the win for Barcelona in the 47th minute, converting a penalty after Raphinha was fouled in the box. Lewandowski’s spot-kick found the top corner, putting Barcelona ahead for the first time in the match.

Barcelona’s victory came despite an injury scare for left-back Alejandro Balde, who limped off during the game. The extent of his injury was not immediately clear.

The match saw Barcelona adopt a higher-tempo style under Flick compared to former coach Xavi’s approach. Lamine Yamal posed a consistent threat on the wing, while Raphinha tested Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili with a long-range effort in the first half.

Valencia had several chances to extend their lead before Barcelona’s comeback. Duro narrowly missed with a volley from six yards out, though he was spared embarrassment by an offside flag. Marc-Andre ter Stegen’s error nearly gifted Valencia a second goal, but Pau Cubarsi made a crucial goal-line clearance.

In the second half, Barcelona dominated possession and created several opportunities to extend their lead. Ferran Torres saw an effort saved just before the hour mark, while Lewandowski narrowly missed completing his hat-trick when a deflected shot went wide with 20 minutes remaining.

The victory gives Barcelona a positive start to their La Liga campaign as they aim to defend their title from last season. For Valencia, the defeat highlights the challenges they face under new management this season.

Barcelona’s next fixture is at home against Real Sociedad, while Valencia will travel to face Osasuna in their second match of the La Liga season.

Russia Launches Criminal Investigation of Italian Journalists for Alleged Illegal Border Crossing

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MOSCOW — Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) opened a criminal investigation Saturday into two Italian journalists who reported on Ukraine’s military offensive in the Kursk region, accusing them of illegally crossing the Russian border.

The journalists, Simone Traini and Stefania Battistini, work for RAI, Italy’s public broadcaster. Their report, which aired Wednesday, showed them driving into the Kursk region accompanied by Ukrainian military forces.

According to the Russian state news agency RIA, the FSB stated it had “launched a case against foreign journalists Simone Traini and Stefania Battistini, who illegally crossed the State Border of the Russian Federation.”

The security service alleged that the journalists “carried out video shooting in the territory of the settlement of Sudzha,” a town approximately 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the Ukraine-Russia border. Ukrainian forces claim to control this area as part of their cross-border ground assault that began on August 6.

The RAI report featured footage of the journalists traveling in an armored vehicle past Russian road signs before arriving in Sudzha, where they interviewed local residents.

In response to the broadcast, Russia summoned Italy’s ambassador to Moscow, Cecilia Piccioni, on Friday to lodge a formal protest. During the meeting, Piccioni explained that RAI and its editorial teams “plan their activities in a totally free and independent way,” according to an Italian foreign ministry spokesman who spoke to AFP.

The criminal probe marks an escalation in tensions between Russia and foreign media covering the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. It also highlights the complex situation in border regions where control is disputed between Russian and Ukrainian forces.

Ukraine’s offensive in the Kursk region represents a significant development in the conflict, with Ukrainian forces pushing beyond their borders into Russian territory.

The case against the Italian journalists raises questions about press freedom and the challenges faced by international media reporting on the conflict. It also underscores the potential legal risks for journalists operating in contested areas along the Russia-Ukraine border.

As of Saturday, neither RAI nor the journalists had publicly commented on the criminal investigation. The Italian government has not announced any official response to the Russian probe beyond the ambassador’s explanation of RAI’s editorial independence.

The situation continues to develop, with potential implications for diplomatic relations between Russia and Italy, as well as for international media coverage of the ongoing conflict in the region.

Morata, Okafor Help AC Milan Salvage 2-2 Draw with Torino in Serie A Opener

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MILAN, Italy  — AC Milan staged a dramatic late comeback to draw 2-2 with Torino in their Serie A season opener at San Siro on Saturday, scoring twice in the final six minutes of regulation and stoppage time.

The match marked Paulo Fonseca’s competitive debut as Milan’s head coach. Fonseca opted to rest Theo Hernandez, starting Alexis Saelemaekers as a makeshift left-back against Torino’s 3-5-2 formation.

Torino took the lead in the 30th minute through an unusual play. Raoul Bellanova’s header from a Duvan Zapata cross looped onto the inside of the far post, bounced on the line, and was accidentally dragged over by Milan defender Malick Thiaw in his attempted clearance. The goal was confirmed by VAR after goal-line technology did not activate.

Milan had early chances, with Thiaw’s header cleared off the line by Adam Masina and Rafael Leao turning the rebound over in the sixth minute.

Torino doubled their lead in the 68th minute. Valentin Lazaro combined with Ivan Ilic down the left before crossing for Duvan Zapata, who headed home from six yards.

Milan’s comeback began in the 89th minute when Alvaro Morata, a second-half substitute, redirected Tijjani Reijnders’ shot past Torino goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic.

The equalizer came deep into stoppage time. Yunus Musah crossed from the right for fellow substitute Noah Okafor to volley in from 10 yards, securing a point for the hosts.

Earlier, Milan thought they had earned a penalty when Morata went down in the box, but the referee reversed his decision after a VAR review showed Saul Coco had won the ball cleanly.

The match saw several missed opportunities for both sides. Leao was denied one-on-one by Milinkovic-Savic in the first half, while Christian Pulisic failed to capitalize on a poor back-pass early in the second half.

Torino could have extended their lead when Yann Karamoh over-hit a pass for an unmarked Che Adams on a counterattack.

The result leaves both teams with a point from their opening fixture of the Serie A season. Milan will look to build on their late resurgence, while Torino will rue their inability to hold onto a two-goal lead.

Milan’s next match is away to Bologna, while Torino will host Genoa in their next Serie A fixture.

Brighton Hammers Everton 3-0 in Premier League Season Opener

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Brighton & Hove Albion started their Premier League campaign with a convincing 3-0 win over Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday.

The victory marked Brighton’s fourth consecutive opening day win, a first in the club’s history. It also gave new manager Fabian Hurzeler a successful Premier League debut.

Kaoru Mitoma opened the scoring for Brighton in the 26th minute, tapping in a cross from debutant Yankuba Minteh.

Everton thought they had taken an early lead through Jack Harrison, but the goal was disallowed for offside. The home team was later awarded a penalty after the break, but the decision was overturned upon video review.

Danny Welbeck doubled Brighton’s lead in the second half, capitalizing on a misplaced pass by Idrissa Gueye. The goal marked Welbeck’s 15th consecutive Premier League season with a score.

Everton’s troubles worsened when Ashley Young received a red card for pulling back Mitoma as the last defender.

Simon Adingra sealed the win for Brighton in the 87th minute, cutting inside and slotting the ball into the bottom corner.

The match saw several near misses, including a long-range effort from Brighton’s Joao Pedro that hit the woodwork in the first half.

This victory represents Brighton’s first Premier League away win since February. For Everton and manager Sean Dyche, it marks a disappointing start to the new season.

Kaoru Mitoma was named Man of the Match for his performance.

Arsenal Secures 2-0 Victory Over Wolves in Premier League Opener

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Arsenal's Martin Odegaard, second left, scores their side's first goal of the game during the English Premier League soccer match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Arsenal, at Molineux, Wolverhampton, England, Saturday Nov. 12, 2022. (Nigel French/PA via AP)

LONDON  — Arsenal kicked off their Premier League season with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka scored for the Gunners, who dominated possession and created numerous chances throughout the match.

Arsenal took the lead in the 25th minute when Havertz headed in a cross from Saka. The German international, a summer signing from Chelsea, connected with Saka’s precise delivery to beat Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa.

Wolves nearly equalized ten minutes before halftime. Jorgen Strand Larsen’s powerful header seemed destined for the net, but Arsenal’s new goalkeeper David Raya made a crucial save to maintain the lead.

Arsenal controlled the first half, holding 64% possession and taking ten shots to Wolves’ three.

The visitors showed improved energy after the break, putting pressure on Arsenal’s defense. Rayan Ait-Nouri’s long-range effort narrowly missed Raya’s post, prompting Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta to make a defensive substitution. Jurrien Timber replaced Oleksandr Zinchenko with 20 minutes remaining.

Saka sealed the victory for Arsenal in the latter stages of the match, cutting inside and firing a powerful shot past Sa. The exact time of the goal was not specified in the initial report.

Arsenal had several other opportunities throughout the game. Ben White saw a long-range effort deflected early on, while Thomas Partey struck wide of the post in the second half.

Havertz missed a chance to double his tally shortly after halftime, slicing a shot wide when well-positioned.

Arsenal’s new signing Declan Rice left the field in the final five minutes with an apparent injury. However, he took a seat on the bench immediately, suggesting the substitution may have been precautionary.

The win marks a strong start to Arsenal’s campaign as they look to build on last season’s second-place finish.

Wolves, under new management, showed resilience in defense but struggled to create consistent scoring opportunities. Riccardo Calafiori, a new signing for Wolves, was an unused substitute.

Amnesty: Over 1,000 Protesters Detained in Nigeria After Anti-Government Demonstrations

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ABUJA, Nigeria  — More than 1,000 protesters are in custody across Nigeria following recent demonstrations against hunger and bad governance, Amnesty International said Friday.

The protests, held between August 1 and 10, turned violent in some areas, with reports of looting and vandalism in several states.

Amnesty International criticized the Nigerian government’s response, stating, “The Nigerian authorities are escalating crackdown on peaceful protesters against hunger and corruption.”

The human rights organization reported that 441 people were arraigned in Kano on Friday, describing it as “an unfair trial based on trumped up charges.” Amnesty called for “an immediate and unconditional release of all those arrested for exercising their right to peaceful assembly.”

On Monday, the Kano State Police Command reported the arrest of 873 suspects for various criminal offenses. In Borno, 97 individuals were arrested in connection with violent protests.

Nigeria’s Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, announced on August 6 that police had arrested some of the “real sponsors” of rioters. These individuals allegedly hoisted foreign flags and called for a change of government in states including Kano, Kaduna, and Zamfara.

Amnesty International emphasized that the Nigerian government has an obligation to uphold the right to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

The mass arrests follow demonstrations that began as peaceful protests against economic hardship and alleged government corruption but escalated into violence in some areas.

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