Six fire appliances attended the scene as police are treating the incident as arson with intent to endanger life

Police have issued a warning that “lives were put at risk” by an arson attack at a house in West Belfast shortly after midnight on Monday.

The fire service were called to the blaze on LaurelBank in the Poleglass area at 12.34am on April 13, with six appliances being sent to the scene, including an aerial appliance.

Firefighters managed to bring the fire under control before leaving the scene at 2.49am.

The fire is believed to have been started deliberately with the incident being handed over to the PSNI to investigate further.

A NIFRS spokesperson said: “Firefighters were called to reports of a fire at a property on Laurelbank, Poleglass, Belfast. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used 3 hose reel jets and 2 jets to extinguish the fire. Firefighters used gas monitors to confirm readings normal.

“The cause of the fire is believed to be deliberate ignition and the scene was handed over to the PSNI. Firefighters left the scene at 2.49am.”

Detective Sergeant Robson said: “We received a report at around 12.45am this morning, Monday, 13^th April of a house on fire in the Laurelbank area.“Officers attended the scene, where colleagues from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service were already present and subsequently extinguished the fire.“Thankfully, no one was in the property at the time and no injuries were reported. However, the house is located in a residential area and other people’s lives were put at risk.“We believe the fire was started deliberately and it is therefore being treated as arson with intent to endanger life. “We’re keen to speak with anyone who might have noticed anything on Sunday evening and would appeal to anyone with information, including CCTV, ring-doorbell or other footage, to contact us on 101, quoting reference number 29 of 13/04/26.“Alternatively, you can also submit a report online using the non-emergency reporting form at http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/ or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at http://crimestoppers-uk.org/.”

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell’s abrupt exit from the race for California governor left his rivals scrambling to lock down his former supporters in a crowded contest with no clear leader, injecting more turmoil into the campaign to lead the nation’s most populous state.

Swalwell’s decision to suspend his campaign Sunday followed allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman twice, including when she worked for him, that were published Friday in the San Francisco Chronicle and later by CNN. While pulling out of the race he remained defiant in a post on the social platform X, saying, “I will fight the serious, false allegations that have been made — but that’s my fight, not a campaign’s.”

For rival candidates in a wide-open race, the key issue is where Swalwell’s supporters will go. He was among the most prominent Democrats in the contest, with mail ballots scheduled to go to voters in early May in advance of the June 2 primary election.

Katie Porter, one of the leading Democrats, posted a line from a San Francisco Chronicle column on X, “Democrats can pull victory from the jaws of defeat by coalescing around Porter.” Billionaire hedge fund manager-turned-liberal activist Tom Steyer said he secured the support of Rep. Jared Huffman, a Democrat from the San Francisco Bay Area.

With seven established Democrats and two leading Republicans on a primary ballot with more than 50 candidates, the race remains fluid. While Swalwell has suspended his campaign, his name cannot be removed from the ballot.

“Nobody has really caught fire,” said Democratic consultant Andrew Acosta, who is not involved in the campaign. Swalwell’s supporters “will scatter out to other candidates.”

Many voters remain distant from governor’s race

Swalwell is perhaps best known nationally as a House manager in President Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial during his first term in early 2021. But in a media environment dominated by Trump, the race remains distant from many California voters.

After the publicity about sexual misconduct allegations, “I think there are probably more people who know who Eric Swalwell is than can articulate a Tom Steyer position paper,” Acosta added.

Swalwell was considered a leading contender along with fellow Democrats Steyer and Porter and two Republicans, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco and conservative commentator Steve Hilton.

The 48-hour period marked a rapid reversal for a candidate who appeared to be gaining momentum in the packed field to replace outgoing Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is barred by law from seeking a third term.

Though Swalwell has denied the allegations, he has appeared to reference infidelity in multiple statements.

“To my family, staff, friends, and supporters, I am deeply sorry for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past,” he wrote. That followed a video post on Friday where he apologized to his wife.

Swalwell’s exit shakes up campaign

The accusations reordered a wide-open gubernatorial race that had Democrats fretting the party’s large number of candidates could lead to them getting shut out of the general election in November. That’s because California has a top-two primary system in which two candidates advance to the general election, regardless of party.

Swalwell had become a clear target for his Democratic rivals as he began to lock up institutional support. Some had seized on rumors of sexual misconduct that circulated on social media for weeks before the Chronicle’s report.

The San Francisco Chronicle spoke to a woman who alleged Swalwell sexually assaulted her in 2019, when she worked for him, and again in 2024. The woman said she did not go to police at the time of the assaults because she was afraid she would not be believed. In both cases the woman said she was too intoxicated to consent to sex. CNN reported on allegations that appeared to come from the same woman, and spoke to several other women who accused Swalwell of other sexual misconduct.

Neither outlet named the woman, and The Associated Press has not been able to independently verify her account and identity. Her lawyer declined to comment.

The alleged 2024 incident occurred in New York, and the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office said it’s investigating. That office urged anyone with knowledge to contact its special victims division.

House colleagues call for Swalwell to resign

As Swalwell’s campaign flailed over the weekend, fellow California Reps. Jared Huffman, Ro Khanna and Sam Liccardo said Swalwell should resign, as did Reps. Teresa Leger Fernández of New Mexico and Pramila Jayapal of Washington state.

“This is not a partisan issue,” Jayapal said Sunday. “This cuts across party lines. And it is depravity of the way that women have been treated.”

Some representatives said they would support the rare step of expelling him from the U.S. House should he refuse to step aside.

It all added to the mounting political pressure on Swalwell, which began with allies like Sen. Adam Schiff and Rep. Jimmy Gomez cutting their support. Gomez had helped run Swalwell’s campaign and said he was immediately ending his role.

With the House returning to session Tuesday, the question of whether to expel Swalwell could come to a head quickly. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., said Saturday that she would be filing a motion to start the process.

Expulsion votes in the House are rare and require a two-thirds majority, but there is recent precedent for taking the step. Republican George Santos of New York in 2023 became just the sixth member in House history to be ousted by colleagues for his conduct.

Huffman, Jayapal and Leger Fernández said they would vote to expel Swalwell from the House, though they said they also support expelling Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, who admitted to an affair with a former staff member who later died by suicide.

Swalwell, who is originally from Iowa, was elected in 2012 and represents a House district east of San Francisco. He launched a presidential run in April 2019 but shuttered it a few months later after failing to catch on with voters.

___

Associated Press writer Ben Finley in Washington contributed to this report.

“As performers we like to stay on top of our, physical health and mental health to give the same standard of performance anyway,” says Parker-Wallace, “But here you’ve got to to play animals on stage, you’ve got to be strong in your stature, your stance. The good thing is they’ve had 27 years of refining The Lion King, so the guys taking care of us are more than equipped. Tomorrow we have an injury prevention meeting. They’ve got an in-house physio team. They have many a PT on hand. Someone on the production had broken their ankle and within 7 weeks they were back on stage. So they will care for us while I feel like I can go home and learn my lines, get in the right headspace, try not to put my body in any jeopardizing positions, and as a company they will just usher me on my way to climbing Pride Rock…”

Now in its 11th year, the fund offers local clubs the chance to secure vital funding, including a top prize of £3,000, helping them continue to grow and thrive within their communities. Additional funding packages of £1,250 and £750 will also be distributed.

Aldi Scotland is calling on sports clubs in Lanarkshire and West Lothian to apply for its annual Sports Fund initiative, with £50,000 up for grabs nationwide.

Now in its 11th year, the fund offers local clubs the chance to secure vital funding, including a top prize of £3,000, helping them continue to grow and thrive within their communities. Additional funding packages of £1,250 and £750 will also be distributed.

Launched in 2016, Aldi Scotland’s Scottish Sport Fund has spent the past decade championing grassroots sport, supporting more than 650 clubs and distributing over £500,000 to date.

From improving facilities to providing essential kit and equipment, the fund has played a key role in widening access to sport across Scotland.

Aldi’s Scottish Sport Fund welcomes applications from all sporting organisations that meet the specified criteria. Last year’s Sports Fund saw the retailer support an array of sports clubs across the region, including Stirling County Rugby Football Club, BaillieFields Community Hub and Girlguides Airdrie.

This year, the top three shortlisted clubs in each region will be selected by an Aldi Scotland judging panel before going to a public vote on social media. The winning club will receive £3,000, with the two runners-up each awarded £1,250.

Sandy Mitchell, Regional Managing Director at Aldi Scotland, said: “Over the past decade, we have seen the real impact this funding has on clubs and communities across Scotland.

“Through the Scottish Sports Fund, Aldi has helped clubs invest in the equipment, resources and spaces they need to grow and succeed.

READ MORE: Specsavers’ Airdrie and Coatbridge staff reach combined 160 years of service

“In what is a monumental year for sport globally, we are proud to continue playing our part in supporting sports clubs here in Scotland and remain committed to making sport more accessible nationwide.

“The response each year is incredibly positive and we look forward to working with even more clubs in 2026. I encourage clubs in Central Scotland to apply and take advantage of this opportunity.”

Sports clubs located across Central Scotland have from Monday, April 13, until Sunday, May 10, to apply for funding.

One applicant will be selected to receive £3,000 of funding, two applicants will each receive £1,250 and one club will each receive £750.

READ MORE: Driver locked up after causing four-vehicle crash while inhaling laughing gas

Applications can be made via the application form found on https://www.aldi.co.uk/scottishsportfund.

The Aldi Scottish Sport Fund is open to any sporting organisation in Scotland that meets the application criteria.

All applications will be considered by the Aldi judging panel and entrants will be notified of the outcome of their funding application within six weeks from the region’s deadline.

*Don’t miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.

And did you know Lanarkshire Live had its own app? Download yours for free here.

READ MORE: North Lanarkshire Heritage Centre receives grant as part of science scheme

Anas Sarwar said the next five years had to be focused on “fixing the SNP’s mess” and not focusing on the constitutional debate.

Anas Sarwar has accused John Swinney of “blagging his own supporters” over claims the SNP can win a majority of MSPs at May’s election and in turn secure a second referendum on independence.

Speaking at the launch of the Scottish Labour manifesto in Edinburgh today, Sarwar made a direct pitch to Scots who previously voted Yes to ending the union in 2014.

With three weeks until polling day and the SNP on course to another five-year term, the Labour leader said: “After almost 20 years, it is time to change the government. This is the first real opportunity in a generation to do that. An opportunity we cannot afford to miss.

“And to everyone here or watching at home, my message is this – It’s not about how you voted in the past. It’s not about whether you have voted Labour before. It’s not about what side of the past arguments you were on.

“It’s about bringing our country together and making it better right now.”

Sarwar was speaking to audience of Labour activists and candidates at the University of Edinburgh where he insisted their party could still take power at Holyrood next month despite trailing the Nationalists in the polls.

He insisted fixing the country’s crumbling public services had to take priority over the SNP’s ongoing insistence that it was on the brink of ending the Union.

Swinney has argued he would have a mandate for an IndyRef2 if his party can win 65 or more MSPs in May – a position which was yesterday shot down by Wes Streeting, the UK Health Secretary.

READ MORE: Millionaire Malcolm Offord branded a ‘chancer’ as party leaders blast Reform UK chief over immigrationREAD MORE: Inflation-busting Scottish Water bills will be lowered if Labour wins power, Anas Sarwar pledges

Sarwar said: “I’m being direct and honest with people in this election campaign about what my view is – I don’t support independence, I don’t support a referendum.

“But I’m not asking anyone to change their mind on independence. What I’m saying is, this election is not about whether the SNP get a majority or not – it’s about whether the SNP stay in power.

“The next Parliament has to be about bringing our country together, to make it better right now. And if in the future, there’s a stronger Scotland, and it decides a different kind of destination, so be it. But the next five years is about fixing the SNP’s mess, and building that better future.

Sarwar added: “John Swinney knows he’s not going to win a majority. He’s blagging his own supporters. And the reason why he’s doing it, is he knows every minute he spends talking about that, is a minute he doesn’t have to talk about his record on the NHS or schools. And frankly, I think people will see right through it.”

Streeting, a senior Labour minister, yesterday ruled out an IndyRef2 even if the SNP won a majority.

“We are not going to introduce chaos into the UK by having an independence referendum, absolutely not,” he said.

Angus Robertson, SNP campaign director, said: “Today showed that Labour have a complete lack of ideas and no vision for Scotland’s future. Anas Sarwar has had five years to develop this manifesto and he has come up with nothing.

“We’ve heard it all before from Labour – but we know exactly what we get with them.

“Broken promise after broken promise – energy bills up, Grangemouth closed and the Winter Fuel Payment debacle.

“We already have one disastrous Labour government and we don’t need another one. The SNP is the only party with a positive vision for Scotland and a serious plan for government.”

To sign up to the Daily Record Politics newsletter, click here

Darren hasn’t been seen since Saturday, April 12

Essex Police have released an appeal searching for a man who is currently missing from Colchester. Darren Gillanders, 53, was reported missing shortly after 11.40pm on Sunday, April 12.

He hasn’t been seen since the day before (Saturday, April 11). Darren is described as being 5’10, medium build and bald.

He was last seen wearing a blue North Face tracksuit, white Reebok Classics, a black ‘man bag’, and black glasses. Police believe he may have been in or around Ipswich in Suffolk and the Cambridge and Newmarket areas of Cambridgeshire.

You should call 999 quoting incident 1238 of 12 April if you have seen him, are with him, or have any information about where he might.

To get more news and top stories delivered directly to your phone, join our new WhatsApp community. Click this link to receive your daily dose of CambridgeshireLive content.

To get more news and top stories delivered directly to your phone, join our new WhatsApp community. Click this link to receive your daily dose of CambridgeshireLive content.

The convoy of some of the most expensive cars on the planet had travelled from Bolton to The Grand Venue in Blackburn for a wedding reception on Sunday.

Around 800 guests attended the ‘Walima’ event at the venue.

The fleet of cars were parked up on Garden Street before the big entrance which is normally a loud but glamourous affair. Passers-by stopped to take pictures of the rare vehicles which are worth hundreds of thousands of pounds.

The convoy then made its way along the busy Bank Top and Whalley Banks bringing traffic to a standstill.

The couple who were travelling in the lead car a black Ferrari had been married in Birmingham the day before and a second reception is normally hosted by the groom’s side.

The groom, Kadva was hoisted on the shoulders of his friends as the excited group stopped to take pictures and film videos of the supercars.

One wedding party member said: “It has been a great day and everyone is having fun.

“The cars are certainly turning heads as we made out made from Bolton. We have about 20 cars in total.”

Hiring expensive cars are a common theme for some weddings with people going out of their way do organise something special for the big day.

In 2023, Ecuador struck an unusual deal. Instead of simply paying back its debts, it refinanced part of them on better terms and promised to spend the savings protecting the Galápagos Islands.

This type of transaction, known as a debt-for-nature swap, is often described as a “win-win”: lower debt costs for governments, and long-term funding for some of the world’s most fragile ecosystems.

Debt-for-nature swap transactions offer a range of benefits. Countries facing heavy debt burdens can reduce their liabilities, while bondholders are able to offload risky assets. At the same time, the financial saving is redirected into environmental projects, supporting vulnerable ecosystems.

These deals have been around since the late 1980s. Early swaps were typically small and led by environmental charities, which bought distressed debt cheaply and converted it into local funding for conservation. Through the late 1980s and early ’90s, there was a wave of enthusiasm for such deals, particularly in Latin America and Africa.

À lire aussi :
Your essential guide to climate finance

That enthusiasm faded in the 2000s, as large-scale debt relief programmes reduced both the availability of distressed debt and the need for swaps. But in recent years, interest has returned. With banks now involved, today’s swaps can be far larger and more complex. Ecuador’s 2023 deal involved US$1.6 billion (£1.2 billion) of debt.

Since 1989, 169 debt-for-nature swap deals have been agreed, involving US$8 billion of debt being converted to fund environmental initiatives. But despite their appeal, they have not been universally popular.

Why Asia lags behind

Africa and Latin America have dominated these deals. By contrast, Asia has lagged behind, comprising just 13% of total global swaps. That’s surprising at first glance. Asia has an abundance of viable environmental projects, from vast biodiverse tropical forests in Malaysia to the carbon-storing mangroves of Indonesia and the threatened coral reefs in the Maldives.

So why have Asian economies not embraced debt-for-nature swaps?

During the peak of these swaps, many Asian economies had relatively little debt held in international markets, leaving less available to restructure. Borrowing was also comparatively cheap, reducing the incentive to pursue swaps.

Without a large amount of distressed, tradable debt, the financial mechanics that made swaps attractive and logistically viable in other regions were largely absent in Asia.

There were also political and institutional factors. Debt-for-nature swaps often involve foreign charities, foreign governments or international investors that influence how environmental funds are used within the country in question. In parts of Asia, concerns about sovereignty and external interference have made governments more cautious about such arrangements.

But today, that picture is changing. Across Asia, debt levels have risen sharply, particularly after the COVID pandemic. At the same time, more governments are borrowing through international bond markets, meaning a larger share of their debt is now held by private investors – and can, in principle, be bought back or restructured.

Potential candidates include Indonesia, Laos, Mongolia and the Maldives, where growing debt pressures combined with significant environmental assets provide the core ingredients required to justify effective swaps.

A tool gaining traction

Despite the resurgence in interest in debt-for-nature swaps, even the largest deals often only address a small share of total debt.

The latest structures can be complex and costly to arrange. There are also concerns about both national sovereignty and impinging on the rights of local communities, whose lives are often most affected by the transaction.

By trying to explicitly link debt relief to environmental outcomes, well-designed swaps can create dedicated, long-term funding streams for conservation. This can help protect ecosystems that support livelihoods, store carbon and buffer communities against climate-related consequences such as storms and rising sea levels.

As climate change accelerates and debt burdens rise, countries – including across Asia – are being squeezed between repaying creditors and protecting their future. Debt-for-nature swaps won’t solve either problem alone, but they can offer one of the few ways to tackle both issues at once.

None of which should obscure the fact that London is, by some distance, the best model the rest of England has. Greater London’s 26,668 public charge points – nearly a third of all the chargers in the country, serving just 11 per cent of its EV drivers – sit at a density of almost 17 per sq km. The average London driver is 126 metres from a public charger. In Newcastle, that distance is 336 metres. In Birmingham, 241. In Sheffield, 288. These are not trivial differences. They are the physical expression of a two-tier country, and they explain why range anxiety persists as a barrier to EV adoption outside the capital.

Eleven dedicated team members have marked hugely impressive milestones.

Eleven dedicated team members from Specsavers’ Airdrie and Coatbridge stores have reached hugely impressive long-service milestones.

Leading the celebrations is optical assistant June Boyle, who is marking an incredible 30 years with the opticians business.

Optical assistants Janene Bell and Debbie Kelly are celebrating 23 and 15 years of service respectively, while Morgan Grieve and Claire Brannen have both reached their 10-year milestones.

Across the wider team, assistant manager Susanne Fearon is celebrating 16 years of service, and retail supervisor Jennifer McLaughlan is marking 15 years.

Within the lab technician team, Connor Grieve and John McKelvie are marking 15 and 10 years in their roles, while Phil McVey is celebrating six years.

Cleaner Carol O’Byrne, who works across both stores, is also celebrating 10 years of dedicated service, helping to ensure a welcoming and professional environment for customers and colleagues alike.

READ MORE: Man rushed to hospital with ‘serious injuries’ after single-vehicle crash in Coatbridge

Together, the 11 colleagues represent exactly 160 years of combined service across the Airdrie and Coatbridge stores, playing vital roles from clinical support and laboratory services to retail assistance and maintaining a welcoming environment for customers.

Ewan Grieve, retail director of Specsavers Airdrie and Coatbridge, said: “I’m incredibly proud to celebrate these significant milestones with our team.

“Hitting a variety of 10, 15 and 30-year milestones is a remarkable achievement – and a testament to the dedication, professionalism and passion each of these colleagues bring to their roles.

‘Between the team, they have supported thousands of customers and helped shape the warm, community-focused environments we’re so proud of in Airdrie and Coatbridge.

READ MORE: Singer-songwriter James Grant returning to Airdrie Town Hall

“We’re here to support our customers through the generations, and having such experienced, long-standing team members means families know they can trust us with their eye care year after year.

‘Their loyalty and commitment are at the heart of our continued success, and we’re grateful for the difference they make every single day.’

The stores continue to invest in their teams and services, ensuring customers in Airdrie and Coatbridge receive the highest standard of eye care and customer service.

To book an appointment, or speak to a member of the team at Specsavers Airdrie or Specsavers Coatbridge, visit the websites https://www.specsavers.co.uk/stores/airdrie or https://www.specsavers.co.uk/stores/coatbridge

READ MORE: People invited to take part in The Big Lunch weekend, packed with food, friendship, fun and community action

*Don’t miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.

And did you know Lanarkshire Live had its own app? Download yours for free here.