An oil refinery fire near the Texas coast was put out Tuesday and a shelter-in-place order was lifted, hours after a large explosion at the complex shot plumes of smoke into the air, officials said.

No one was injured in Monday’s explosion at the Valero refinery in Port Arthur, about 90 miles (145 kilometers) east of Houston, Mayor Charlotte M. Moses said. She had urged residents in parts of the west side of the city to stay put.

“There’s been an explosion, yes, but we’re OK; everybody’s OK,” she said. “They’re trying to put the fire out as quickly as possible.”

Residents at least several miles away said they felt their homes shake. Some schools in the area were closed Tuesday as a precaution.

The explosion comes amid a spike in gas prices driven by uncertainty over the global oil supply because of the Iran war.

The refinery has about 770 employees and can process about 435,000 barrels of oil per day, according to Valero’s website. The plant refines heavy sour crude oil into gasoline, diesel and jet fuel.

Images and video posted online show a large plume of smoke and flames billowing out from the refinery.

Valero did not respond to emails and a call from The Associated Press seeking comment. Local television stations reported a company spokesperson said everyone was accounted for.

Texas state Rep. Christian Manuel said in a post on social media that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality arrived at the refinery with air monitoring equipment and was working with local and state partners.

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The man is described as speaking with a Scottish accent and possibly from the Glasgow area.

CCTV has been released of a man with a Glaswegian accent following an alleged hate crime and a couple being threatened with a knife.

The incidents took place are alleged to have happened between 2am and 2.20am on Sunday, March 8, at St Sampson’s Square in York City Centre. A man is alleged to have made homophobic slurs towards a group of women before threatening a couple in a taxi with a knife.

North Yorkshire Police have since released an image of a man with a tribal-style tattoo on the side of his head and face. He is described as speaking with a Scottish accent and possibly from the Glasgow area.

He is white, with slicked-back hair that is shaved on the sides, goatee beard, and he was wearing a black leather jacket, white button up shirt, and dark navy jeans or black trousers.

A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Police said: “We’ve issued this CCTV image of a man we need to trace in connection with a hate and knife-threat investigation in York city centre The incidents happened on St Sampson’s Square between 2am and 2.20am on Sunday 8 March 2026.

“A man is alleged to have made homophobic slurs towards a group of women before threatening a couple in a taxi with a knife. He is described as white with tribal-style tattoo on the side of his head and face, slicked-back hair that is shaved on the sides, goatee beard, and he was wearing a black leather jacket, white button up shirt, and dark navy jeans or black trousers.

“It is believed he spoke with a Scottish accent, possibly from the Glasgow area.

“If you have information that could help us to trace this man or you witnessed the incidents, please email Benjamin.Heugh2@northyorkshire.police.uk or call 101 and ask for Benjamin Heugh.

“If you would prefer to remain anonymous, you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or make an online report. Please quote reference number 12260042032 when providing details.”

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SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A jury began deliberations Monday in a landmark trial in New Mexico where social media conglomerate Meta is accused of misleading its users about how safe its platforms are for children.

Meta’s attorneys dispute the claims and say the company provides built-in protections for teenagers and weeds out harmful content but that some potentially harmful gets past its safety nets for some users.

Jurors heard closing arguments after six weeks of testimony from scores of witnesses that included local teachers, psychiatric experts, state investigators, top Meta officials and whistleblowers who left the company.

The case in New Mexico state court is among the first to reach trial in a wave of litigation involving social media platforms and their impacts on children.

New Mexico prosecutors have accused Meta — which owns Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp — of prioritizing profits over safety in violation of state consumer protection laws. They have raised concerns about the safety of complex algorithms, and a variety of messaging features and settings.

“It’s clear that young people are spending too much time on Meta’s products, they’ve lost control,” prosecution attorney Linda Singer told the jury in closing statements. “Meta knew that and it didn’t disclose it.”

Prosecutor says trial evidence shows Meta failed to enforce its minimum user age

Singer said testimony and evidence at trial showed Meta’s algorithms had been recommending sensational and harmful content to teenagers, while alleging that the company failed to truly enforce its minimum user age of 13.

“The safety issues that you’ve heard about in this case, weren’t mistakes. …. They were a product of a corporate philosophy that chose growth and engagement over children’s safety,” Singer said. “And young people in this state and around the country have borne the cost.”

Meta attorney Kevin Huff on Monday highlighted witness testimony about Meta’s investments in the safety on its platforms, describing automated features and roles dedicated to safety.

“Meta has built innovative, automated tools to protect people,” he said. “Meta has 40,000 people working to make its apps as safe as possible.”

But he added that Meta’s systems aren’t perfect: “No one can, with billions of pieces of content every day, even the best system, cannot catch all of it.”

He said the company’s enforcement of minimum age limits are hamstrung by U.S. government restrictions on collecting young children’s data.

Meta attorney insists the company has disclosed risks of its platforms

Huff told the jury that the company “disclosed to the world that its safeguards are not perfect, and that some bad content and bad actors get onto its service.”

“Common sense also says that parents and teens know that there is bad content on the internet, and on Facebook and Instagram specifically,” he added. But Huff noted the social media company has disclosed risks of its platforms in its user agreements, website, ads and on television.

“Wherever it could get its message out, Meta was disclosing risk to the public,” Huff said.

Singer urged jurors to impose a civil penalty that could exceed $2 billion against Meta, based on the maximum $5,000 penalty per violation on two counts of consumer protection violations, and an estimated 208,700 monthly users of Meta platforms under the age of 18 in New Mexico. The violations include “unconscionable” trade practices.

“Over the course of a decade Meta has failed over and over again to act honestly and transparently, failed to act to protect young people in this state,” Singer said. “It is up to you to finish this job.”

Huff called the state’s request for penalties “a shocking number” and said prosecutors failed to provide any examples of teenagers who chose to use Instagram because of a false understanding of its risks.

“Even though teens are aware of the risks, they continue to use Instagram because they enjoy Instagram,” Huff said.

A second phase of the trial will follow with a judge deciding whether Meta created a public nuisance and should be on the hook financially to fund programs to address alleged harms to children.

Company’s attorneys say the state has cherry-picked evidence to support its case

Attorney General Raúl Torrez filed suit in 2023, accusing Meta of creating a marketplace and “breeding ground” for predators who target children for sexual exploitation and failing to disclose what it knew about those harmful effects. State investigators created social media accounts posing as children to document online sexual solicitations and the response from Meta.

Meta attorneys accuse prosecutors of cherry-picking evidence and conducting a shoddy investigation.

Meta executives emphasized at trial that the company continuously improves safety and addresses compulsive social media use without infringing on free speech or censoring users.

But the prosecution on Monday said that public assurances about safety disclosures from Meta executives including founder Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram head Adam Mosseri often didn’t square with internal studies and communications at the company.

“It was included in Meta’s internal research — again this was research that didn’t get disclosed by Meta — one-in-three teens experienced problematic use,” Singer said. “They knew these kids were struggling with problematic use — again, addiction.”

The jury is assembled from residents of Santa Fe County, including the politically progressive state capital city.

Limits on liability for tech companies

Tech companies have been protected from liability for material posted on their social media platforms under Section 230, a 30-year-old provision of the U.S. Communications Decency Act, as well as a First Amendment shield.

Prosecutors say New Mexico is not seeking to hold Meta accountable for content on its platforms, but rather its role in pushing out that content through complex algorithms that proliferate material that can be addictive and harmful to children.

In California, a jury already is sequestered in deliberations on whether Meta and YouTube should be liable for harms caused to children using their platforms. The bellwether case could impact how thousands of similar lawsuits against social media companies are likely to play out.

While furry friends are welcome in our homes, the fluff and smells cats and dogs deposit aren’t. Pet hair can be fiendishly difficult to banish, so we’ve tried and tested the best vacuum cleaners designed to get rid of it. In a hotly contested market, any vacuum that sucks up hair and dirt could call itself a pet vacuum. We’ve only included vacuums with a smell-reducing filter, specialised hair-collecting attachments and decent suction power.

There are pet versions of the best cordless vacuums, upright vacuums, cylinder vacuums and even robot vacuum cleaners. Our Telegraph Recommended experts, one of whom owns two dogs and four long-haired cats, tried them all and narrowed the field down to a top 12. You can read our reviews below, followed by the answers to some frequently asked questions. If you’re in a hurry, here’s a quick look at our top five:

Which are the best vacuum cleaners for pet hair? At a glance

How to choose the best vacuum for pet hair

A good filter is key. That “pet smell” in houses comes from dander: microscopic particles of skin, saliva, sweat and other proteins, which can be as small as two microns (two thousandths of a millimetre). Dander can hang in the air for long periods of time, before settling into the fibres of carpets and upholstery.

When deciding what to buy, the acronym to look out for here is HEPA: a high-efficiency particulate absorbing filter. This is designed to trap 99.95 per cent of particles down to 0.3 microns in size, which includes pet dander as well as pollen, dust and many microorganisms, bacteria and some viruses.

“HEPA filters provide the best method of filtration,” says Katerina Petrova of the Happy House cleaning company. “You can find both bagged or bagless models, and the prices range from cheap to considerably more expensive. Good examples of this type of vacuum come from Miele, Shark and Dyson.”

How we test vacuums for pet hair

People are being warned to be vigilant about scam texts amid the meningitis outbreak, after reports of fake NHS texts – but there’s an easy way to stay safe

Fraudsters are exploiting the fear and uncertainty surrounding the meningitis outbreak to swindle Brits out of their hard-earned cash.

A meningitis outbreak erupted in Kent earlier this month, triggering a national emergency as two individuals succumbed to the infection following an outbreak linked to Canterbury’s Club Chemistry nightclub. As of 22nd March, there have been 20 confirmed cases and nine suspected instances of meningococcal disease, with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirming no new infections in the past 24 hours.

In response to the outbreak, the UKHSA, in collaboration with NHS England, orchestrated a vaccination programme against the specific strain of meningitis, known as MenB, responsible for the outbreak. The vaccine was offered to certain groups, including those who have been in close contact with the 29 confirmed or suspected cases, students at the University of Kent residing at the Canterbury campus, and anyone who was working at the Club Chemistry nightclub between 5th March and 15th March.

However, in the aftermath of the outbreak, it’s reported that scammers are attempting to capitalise on the health fears many people are experiencing, aiming to pilfer their money by masquerading as the NHS.

According to a TikTok user named Caroline, who regularly posts scam alerts and advice on her account, some individuals have reported receiving bogus text messages from people purporting to be the NHS, requesting them to schedule a MenB vaccine appointment.

These messages appear “incredibly convincing”, and with people worried about their health – particularly with the Covid-19 outbreak and lockdown still vivid in people’s memories – it’s probable that more than a few individuals will be caught out.

However, there’s one straightforward method to verify the message is legitimate. The NHS will never request payment for a vaccine, so if you receive a text or email asking you to hand over cash in return for a MenB vaccine, this is not an authentic message.

Caroline explained: “Scammers are using the recent meningitis outbreak to scam people, and it’s incredibly convincing, so you need to be on your guard. Whenever there’s a health scare in the UK, whether it be Covid, monkeypox or meningitis, scams always spike. During previous health campaigns, thousands of fake NHS messages were reported, and people lost hundreds of pounds.

“So here is what’s happening now; make sure you don’t fall for it. You might get a text message saying it’s from the NHS, saying you have been exposed to meningitis, and you need to book to get your vaccine to make sure you’re safe. Or a WhatsApp message saying meningitis is prevalent in your area and asking you to click a link. Or an email saying you’ve been exposed to it and you need to click the link to schedule an appointment.

“The scary thing is, these messages can look identical to what the NHS would send. But some important things to note are that the NHS will never ask you to click a link and pay to get a vaccine. Or to share personal details or bank information via a link.”

Whilst the NHS may request you to click links to schedule appointments, they will never ask for money or personal details beyond your date of birth. To be on the safe side, you can directly visit the NHS website or use the NHS app, where any legitimate requests for you to make a booking should be visible.

Who is currently eligible for the MenB vaccine?

The UKHSA, NHS England, and the UK government are jointly running a targeted vaccination programme against MenB. The programme might be extended as the UKHSA continues to evaluate the ongoing risk of the outbreak, but it is currently only available to certain groups of people, including:

• Close contacts of those who are confirmed or suspected to have meningococcal disease.
• Students at the University of Kent who normally reside on the Canterbury Campus. This includes those who have travelled home, and also some staff living or working in these halls of residence.
• Students who attend other universities in Canterbury, living in halls of residence or off-campus locations, where there have been cases.
• Sixth form students (Year 12 and 13) attending secondary school or sixth form college in Kent where there has been a confirmed or probable case of meningococcal disease.
• Anyone who visited or was working at Club Chemistry in Canterbury between 5 March and 15 March.
• Year 11s in schools where the vaccination offer has already been made.

The UKHSA asserts that the risk of infection to the wider public remains low. Transmission of MenB requires close and prolonged contact to spread, such as residing in the same household, intimate contact, or sharing drinks or vapes. The bacteria are not as contagious as other infections such as measles or Covid-19.

For more information on the vaccine, visit the UKHSA website.

“Yes, Mike Dryden is back in Line of Duty, which is incredibly exciting,” he told The Standard. “I can’t say too much obviously about storylines, but the scripts that Jed [Mercurio] has written are just fantastic. I was absolutely thrilled to be asked to go back. It’s one of the biggest shows in the country and it’s a real honour to work on that show. It’s very special indeed. So yeah, I’m thrilled to be back in the fold at AC-12.”

President Donald Trump has cast another mail ballot in Florida as he continues to publicly bash the voting method as a source of fraud and push Congress to curtail the practice.

Palm Beach County voter records show the president voted by mail in a Tuesday special election for state legislative seats and that his ballot has been counted. Early in-person voting in the contest ran through Sunday, when Trump was still at his south Florida estate.

The White House did not immediately return an Associated Press request for comment. Aides have said Trump’s ire is directed at states using universal mail-in voting, not individual voters who may not be able to get to a polling place.

Nonetheless, Trump has in the last week called mail-in voting “cheating” and “corrupt as hell.” He is urging Congress to pass the SAVE Act, a sweeping bill that would bar universal mail ballots and limit the options to a select few voters — such as those with disabilities, military commitments or who are traveling on Election Day. The measure faces steep odds in the closely divided Senate even with the president’s pressure.

Trump has fixated on mail ballots since he began falsely claiming that his 2020 presidential election loss to Democrat Joe Biden was the result of fraud. Multiple U.S. courts and Trump’s own attorney general have found no evidence of fraud that affected the outcome, despite the COVID-19 pandemic increasing the share of the electorate that cast mail ballots that year.

“We’re the only country in the world that does it that way. Corrupt as hell,” Trump said last week at the White House when hosting Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin.

Dozens of countries, including European democracies that are traditional U.S. allies, use some form of mail-in voting.

Trump said last week that the SAVE Act was the “biggest thing” pending in Washington, even as Congress and administration grapple with the Iran war and a partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security.

Last August, Trump used a White House meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to blast mail voting.

“We’re going to start with an executive order that’s being written right now by the best lawyers in the country to end mail-in ballots because they’re corrupt,” Trump said. “And it’s time that the Republicans get tough and stop it because the Democrats want it. It’s the only way they can get elected.”

The president, who changed his official personal residence and voter registration from New York to Florida during his first term, does not have a standing vote-by-mail request for all elections, according to the county records. That means he has to request a mail ballot for any individual election.

The ballot today includes Florida state House District 87 and Senate District 14.

Trump offered an endorsement late Monday in the House contest via his Truth Social platform.

“There is a very important Special Election tomorrow, Tuesday, March 24th, for Florida State House District 87 in beautiful Palm Beach County. … TO ALL GREAT PATRIOTS IN FLORIDA STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 87: GET OUT AND VOTE FOR JON MAPLES! Polls are open from 7:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M.” Trump wrote, without mentioning that he had voted by mail or at all.

The Florida election comes one day after the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a Mississippi case questioning whether states can count mail-in ballots that are postmarked by Election Day but not received until later. Trump has criticized those allowances in 14 states and the District of Columbia.

Neco Williams is in awe of what came before him. The names of Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey and Craig Bellamy revered as everlasting icons of Welsh football.

But is walking in their footsteps a gift or a curse? Living up to the soaring standards set by the aforementioned trio is an expectation Williams and his Wales colleagues have no option but to cope with.

Of course, Williams is working alongside one of his heroes in Bellamy, who is currently Wales head coach.

The pair face a big week. Wales face Bosnia and Herzegovina in the World Cup play-off semi-final on Thursday before a potential final against Italy or Northern Ireland next week for a place in this summer’s tournament.

The shadows of Bale and Ramsey et al continue to loom large – but are they an inspiration or a burden?

“A bit of both,” Williams told BBC Sport.

“As kids, you watched the likes of Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey, Craig Bellamy. You grew up idolising them. You wanted to be like them.

“And now that they’ve retired, it’s the new generation to come in. We’re not a massive country and we don’t have loads and loads of players.

“But the way we are as a team and the togetherness, I think that’s what drives us and gets us through.

“Where I used to see myself as a youngster, now I’m not that youngster any more. I’m more the senior player and I need to mentor these young lads coming through. We’re a family.”

Speaking to Williams, you quickly grasp the level of admiration he holds for Bellamy, who has entrusted the Nottingham Forest full-back to be a key part of the team he hopes qualifies for a second successive World Cup.

Bellamy’s rambunctious and infectious approach to his playing career made him one of the Premier League’s most effective forwards.

Williams says his approach to management is just as enthralling.

“How good he was as a player, he’s the exact same as a manager. He’s obsessed with football,” said Williams.

“He’s just constantly talking about football. He’s obsessed with Wales and you want a manager like that.”

Having qualified for World Cup 2022 through play-off wins over Austria and Ukraine, Williams knows all about what lies ahead over the next seven days.

Nerves, tension and stress – but Williams insists it will all be worth it if they reach the finals in June.

“It would mean everything,” he said.

“I’ve been blessed enough to get to one and to get to another would be an incredible achievement.

“The World Cup in Qatar – our play-offs were staggered because we played Austria the first game and then because of what was happening in Ukraine, that got pushed on to the summer.

“So it felt like everything about that tournament was a little bit rushed. We were the last team to qualify. We had the last pick with basically everything – the hotels, the travel, the hotels for our family.

“And when we were there, it was all was our first World Cup, so we didn’t really know what to expect.

“I think we’d do better if we get to this World Cup.”

The men, aged 30 and 34, were arrested by Humberside Police on suspicion of the theft of a motor vehicle at 1.10pm on Monday (March 23).

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The pair remain in custody, police said, and are assisting with ongoing enquiries.

It came after police were called to an address in Watts Road in Beverley yesterday afternoon following a suspected theft of the vehicle from outside the home.

A white Transit van was then seen heading south on the Humber Bridge towards Scunthorpe, carrying the stolen Range Rover on a trailer.

A police spokesperson said: “A short pursuit ensued, and the vehicle was stopped in the Lincolnshire area, with the driver and passenger both being detained.”