| | | | | | | There's horrible news from South Africa today, where more than 70 people have been killed in a building fire. We have further revelations concerning influencer Andrew Tate and his "war room", and our correspondents assess the damage wrought by Storm Idalia. Plus, did you see the blue supermoon last night? Scroll down for the best pictures. |
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| | | | Top of the agenda | | More than 70 dead in 'hijacked building' | | | | Johannesburg's Emergency Services spokesman said he had "never seen anything like this in my 22 years or service in this city". Credit: Reuters |
| | It was known as a "hijacked building" - an abandoned apartment block taken over by squatters. Today, emergency workers are searching through its burned out shell, having already pulled out more than 70 bodies from the five-story building, in central Johannesburg. At least 50 more people were hurt, some having leapt from windows. The area is home to many African migrants to South Africa, the BBC’s Nomsa Maseko says. It's unclear what caused the blaze, at about 01:30 local time, but one firefighter said many of the victims may have been trapped in combustible shack-like structures inside. Officials say the building was owned by the city but blamed criminal "cartels" who "prey on poor and vulnerable people" by taking over buildings and then dangerously overfilling them. | | • | Watch: Emergency services at the scene of the Johannesburg devastation. | | • | 'Hard fight for survival': Dark, empty spaces with with no electricity, running water or toilets. Shiraaz Mohamed's powerful photographs capture life in hijacked buildings. | | • | Get the latest: Our live page will keep you up to speed, including updates from Samantha Granville and Pumza Fihlani, in Johannesburg. |
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| | | | | | World headlines | | • | US hurricane: Hundreds of thousands of people across Florida and Georgia spent the night without power, after Storm Idalia brought destruction and flooding - see the pictures. Here's how it unfolded, in 80 seconds, while Mike Wendling and John Sudworth describe the aftermath in Hudson, Florida. | | • | Lunar spectacle: Did you see the blue supermoon? It won't be seen again until 2037 - our awe-inspiring photo gallery explains why. And if you missed it, watch it rise around the world in our short video. | | • | Tate investigation: Dozens of women were groomed into online sex work by members of influencer Andrew Tate's "War Room" group, according to evidence uncovered by the BBC. The investigation also identifies the self-proclaimed "wizard", who's the group's intellectual driving force. Mr Tate denies any wrongdoing. | | • | Dancing Queen: Abba's Agnetha Fältskog has revealed her first new music in 10 years. In a rare interview, she tells music correspondent Mark Savage about her nerves ahead of recording Where Do We Go From Here? | | • | Slavery wrangle: A British former MP has asked to be removed from a Cambridge academic's research, presented in a TEDx Talk, that connects her to a slave-owning ancestor. Antoinette Sandbach argues there is no public interest in identifying her. |
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| | | | | | Nerves and patriotism in Russia | | While drone attacks have become a near-daily occurence, most Russians don't seem to worry about these events individually. However, many admit to being fearful about the future. | | | | The scene in Gorky Park - Moscow's version of London's Hyde Park - is idyllic, with families strolling on the embankment and rollerblading. Just opposite, though, is the imposing grey edifice of the Russian Defence Ministry, on top of which is an anti-aircraft system. It's a striking contrast: a surface-to-air missile system next to the picture-perfect park. "The air-defence system doesn't bother me," says Svyatoslav. "Let them put a nuclear missile there if they'll feel better about it. I approve of what is happening, we need to annex [all of Ukraine]." |
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| | Beyond the headlines | | Is Hollywood self-destructing? | | | | A bar on actors promoting work contributed to the delay of this autumn's biggest blockbuster, Dune: Part Two. Credit: Alamy |
| | The red carpet has been rolled out at the Venice Film Festival but fewer stars are treading it, with Hollywood strikes barring actors from premieres. And with the release of Dune: Part Two delayed, and production stalled on Spider-Verse and Mission: Impossible films, a stark 2024 could lie ahead, writes critic Leila Latif. | | | | |
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| | | | Something different | | Are we alone? | | Academics and investigators comb through evidence supporting UFOs - or otherwise. | | |
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| | | | And finally... | | Wherever the G20 summit of world leaders is held, host nations spend millions on tight security to keep terror groups and protesters at bay. But India, which hosts next month's gathering, has the additional dilemma of how to keep Delhi's huge monkey population from disrupting events. Check out its imaginative - if low-tech - solution. |
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