Latest news with #crisis
CNA
10 minutes ago
- General
- CNA
Palestinians in Gaza risk their lives to retrieve airdropped aid from the sea
Scores of Palestinians risked their lives by rowing, running and swimming out to sea on Monday (Jul 29) after airdropped aid had landed in the water. The airdrops come as part of measures introduced by Israel to increase the flow of aid into the Gaza strip, as the state faces mounting international pressure to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in the war-torn region.
South China Morning Post
6 hours ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Ex-US vice-president Harris rules out run for California governor
Former US vice-president Kamala Harris ruled out running for governor of California on Wednesday, in a statement that offered little explanation for her decision but warned that the nation was in 'a moment of crisis'. The Democrat – defeated last year by Donald Trump in a tumultuous presidential election – had been considering a run for the governorship of her home state in 2026, with Democratic incumbent Gavin Newsom stepping down. She had set an end-of-summer deadline for announcing her plans after leaving Washington in January. 'I love this state, its people and its promise. It is my home. But after deep reflection, I've decided that I will not run for governor in this election,' Harris said in a statement. Harris, 60, would have been the favourite had she thrown her hat in the ring – she was the state's top choice, according to polling earlier in July from the University of California, Irvine – yet she offered no explanation for her decision. Her retreat from the gubernatorial contest means she could, in theory, decide to try again for the White House in 2028.
Sky News
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Sky News
Epping leaders request meeting with home secretary over asylum hotel
Protests at a hotel in Essex housing asylum seekers "is a crisis that risks boiling over", the local MP has said as pressure builds on the home secretary to close it down. Neil Hudson, the Conservative MP for Epping Forest, has signed a letter along with other local politicians urging Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to make The Bell Hotel a priority for urgent decommissioning. Mr Hudson told Sky News that protests at the site have led to "deeply troubling and unsettling" scenes, with people coming from outside the area "not to support the real concerns of our local community, but to disrupt and cause violence". He said: "This is a crisis that risks boiling over, and for the safety of our community, the government must get a grip on this situation now, and they must listen and act quickly to close the hotel." The letter to the home secretary, which requests an urgent meeting, was also signed by neighbouring Conservative MP Alex Burghart, Epping Forest District Council leader Christopher Whitbread, leader of Essex County Council Kevin Bentley, and Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex Roger Hirst. It also expresses concerns about the use of the Phoenix Hotel in North Weald, in Mr Burghart's Brentwood and Ongar constituency, to house asylum seekers, which has been subject to alleged arson attacks. The letter said the sites are "proving to be entirely unsuitable" and "placing an unsustainable strain on police resources". They added that this is "creating significant community tension, and leading to public disorder that is unacceptable to our residents and deeply concerning for the safety of all involved". Multiple demonstrations have been held outside The Bell since 13 July after an asylum seeker was charged with allegedly attempting to kiss a 14-year-old girl. Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, who was charged with sexual assault, denies the allegations. He is due to stand trial in August. Since the disorder broke out, Essex Police said 14 people have been charged in connection with the protests and there have been 23 arrests, while eight officers have been injured. One of the injured officers required hospitalisation "after being struck in the face with a bottle", the letter from the authorities said. It said that "large-scale protests and counter-protests" have attracted more than 2,000 people on some days and deploying police to the demonstrations is "putting our ability to maintain public safety at risk". "We support the Home Office's wider objective of reducing reliance on hotels and are keen to work with you. However, we urge you to accelerate this process and make The Bell Hotel in Epping a priority for urgent closure," the letter added. 11:48 Chancellor Rachel Reeves said last month that the government would close all asylum seeker hotels by the end of this parliament but with record numbers still crossing the Channel, it is not clear how this will be achieved or where those awaiting a decision will go. As Sky's home editor Jason Farrell reports, tensions have also flared in Altrincham near Manchester, where a hotel has been repurposed to house asylum seekers. Last week, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds told Sky News he "gets the public's frustration" over asylum hotels. The government has since announced that asylum seekers will face homelessness if they refuse to move out of hotels, as part of their plans to reduce their use. However, it is not clear if they have immediate plans to shut down The Bell. Last week, after Epping council voted to urge the government to shut the hotel, a spokesperson said: "We'll continue to work closely with local police and community partners, in Epping and across the country, as we fix this broken system."
The Guardian
11 hours ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Morecambe cease all football operations as owner urged to complete sale
Morecambe's prospective buyers have implored the owner of the crisis-hit club to sell up and announced that all first-team football operations have stopped there. Morecambe were suspended from the National League on Monday after a deadline passed for Jason Whittingham of Bond Group Investments to outline how the club would meet its financial obligations for the 2025-26 season. Whittingham had claimed in a statement released the previous day to be working 'with the consortium led by Jonny Cato' on a deal to acquire the majority shareholding in Morecambe. He also claimed Bond Group had been unable to contact Panjab Warriors, the London-based investment company who received clearance from the EFL to purchase Morecambe in June. Panjab Warriors have since declared they are willing to proceed with a takeover with immediate effect. But in a further demonstration of the mounting crisis at Morecambe, who were relegated from the Football League after 18 years last season, it was revealed on Wednesday that all first-team operations have come to a halt. A joint statement issued by Panjab Warriors, the Shrimps Trust, minority shareholders and the Morecambe and Lunesdale MP, Lizzi Collinge, said: 'As each day passes, the debts of the club are mounting, with wages now outstanding at over £316,000, and further significant debts that need to be paid to ensure survival of the club, which Panjab Warriors have already committed to pay within hours of completion with Bond Group. 'In further developments today, the first team have had to stop all football operations as the required insurance which was in place has now lapsed as payment has not been made. As a result of this escalating situation, more first-team players have left the club with further players set to leave by the end of this week.' The statement added: 'We implore Bond Group to complete the sale of the club immediately so that this anguish can be ended and the club can look to a brighter future under Panjab Warriors.'
Arab News
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Trump envoy Witkoff heading to Israel for Gaza talks, Axios reports
WASHINGTON: US envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to travel to Israel on Wednesday for talks on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, Axios reported, citing two US officials.
