Cleveland Fire Brigade was called to Cornwall Street in Hartlepool at 10.42pm on Sunday, August 30.

Everyone was accounted for, and firefighters used one hose reel and two sets of breathing apparatus to put out the blaze.

The entrance was completely destroyed by fire, while the rest suffered light smoke damage affecting 10 per cent of the property.

The fire is believed to have been started deliberately and Cleveland Police are investigating.

A spokesperson for Cleveland Fire Brigade said: “Cleveland Fire Brigade were called on 30/08/2026 at 22:42 to an incident at Cornwall Street, Hartlepool.

“Three fire appliances in attendance from Hartlepool and Billingham. Property fire. All persons accounted for.

“One hose reel and two breathing apparatus were used to extinguish the fire. The property sustained 100 per cent fire damage to its entrance and 10 per cent light smoke damage to the rest of property.

“The cause is believed to be deliberate and has been left with Cleveland Police for further investigation.

“The stop call was received at 23:23.”

The Northern Echo has contacted Cleveland Police for a statement on this incident.

Cleveland recorded the highest rate of criminal damage and arson in England and Wales, at 15.0 offences per 1,000 people, in the year to March 2026.

By SABRINA PENTY, FOREIGN NEWS REPORTER

Published: 16:59 BST, 2 September 2026 | Updated: 17:01 BST, 2 September 2026

A Colombian woman who was left disfigured and in need of countless medical treatments after her husband hurled acid at her is seeking euthanasia. 

Maria Consuelo Cordoba’s plea comes nearly a decade after Pope Francis reportedly talked her out of ending her life during a visit to Colombia. 

The 58-year-old, who lives in the capital city of Bogota, became the victim of an acid attack in 2000 after an argument with her then-husband. 

She was left with life-changing injuries, and in the last 26 years, Ms Cordoba has undergone over 80 surgeries, spent long periods in hospital, and continues to receive never-ending medical treatment. 

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Now, physically and financially exhausted, Ms Cordoba says she doesn’t want to keep on living. 

In an interview with Colombian news outlet CityTV this week, Ms Cordoba appeared wearing a mask over her scarred face, with two plastic tubes poking out of her nose, which she says she needs to help her breathe. 

She only has a small hole for a mouth and struggles to eat. She says she is still waiting to have facial reconstructive surgery and is unable to work due to the severity of her condition. 

Ms Cordoba says she spends her days walking around Bogota begging for money so that she can pay for the small room she rents. 

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Maria Consuelo Cordoba (pictured) was left disfigured after her husband hurled acid at her is seeking euthanasia

Pictured: Maria Consuelo Cordoba before the attack

According to Ms Cordoba, she met Pope Francis during his visit to Colombia in 2017. 

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After telling him about her emotional and physical struggles, she says he made her promise that she would not seek euthanasia. 

‘He told me…’Colombia will help you get the surgeries you need’…but you know what? No one has helped me…I’m worse.’

Ms Cordoba, originally from the department of Choco, moved to Bogota with her ex-husband nearly three decades ago in search of work. 

She says her husband threw acid at her after she refused to return to Choco with him. 

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‘When I opened the door he threw the acid at me…I did’t know it was acid because he had it in a bottle of liquor…I just thought he was drinking…When I went out he threw that liquid in my face,’ she recalled.

‘He ran away and I felt like it was burning, so I went home to throw water on it,’ she said.  

Ms Cordoba quickly went viral after her interview with the Colombian broadcaster, with scores of viewers condemning authorities for not having done more to help her. 

Colombia’s health entity, Capital Salud, has since issued a statement saying Ms Cordoba has been approved for euthanasia, but said it would guarantee her the medical care she needs. 

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Capital Salud added that it will support whatever decision Ms Cordoba decides to make. 

‘María Consuelo will continue to be supported with respect, humanity and dignity… we will be available to attend to all her health needs,’ it said.

Ms Cordoba can’t work due to her injuries so she says she is forced to beg for money

Colombia was the first Latin American country to decriminalise euthanasia and remains one of the most progressive nations when it comes to assisted dying. 

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Ms Cordoba’s tragic ordeal comes just months after Spanish chef Ainhoa Caballero Medina requested she be euthanised after an attempted murder by her ex-boyfriend left her in chronic pain.

The 28-year-old says she has faced a relentless battle with life-changing injuries, including brain damage and the loss of her sense of taste and smell.

At the same time, she says her local council repeatedly failed her, refusing to recognise her as a victim of domestic abuse, even as her ex-partner continued to threaten her from prison, where he is under provisional detention and subject to a restraining order.

Unable to escape her physical agony and having lost all hope that the authorities would ever help her, she ultimately sought an assisted death under Spain’s euthanasia law.

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This is the shocking moment three serial fly-tippers are spotted dumping sofas, bin bags and chairs at a beauty spot before speeding away in a white van. 

The eye-opening clip was filmed on a scenic hillside popular with dog walkers on the outskirts of the quaint village of Maesycwmmer in south Wales last week. 

It shows a trio of men hopping out of an allegedly unlicensed vehicle and unloading two leather armchairs, more than one desk chair and a huge pile of litter onto the middle of a road.

Incredibly, pictures shared with the Daily Mail revealed that the men also left behind unopened letters including names and addresses.

The footage was captured by a local man in his 20s who had been enjoying a walk through the countryside when he stumbled across the incident. 

As the fly-tippers zoom away from the scene into the distance, he is heard shouting: ‘I’m calling the police and I’ve got your number plate!’ 

The trio are then said to have turned around and chased after him in a desperate bid to have the footage deleted. The brave walker, however, managed to evade the fly-tippers by dashing to a nearby farm. 

‘I had to pick the boy up basically trembling out of his socks on the floor,’ a farmer, who discovered the Good Samaritan while out on a stroll, tells the Mail.

‘He saw them dumping their rubbish from afar, ran towards them and then the guys chased him. It frightened him to death. I happened to be coming over 30 or so seconds after.

In footage posted to Facebook, the men are seen hopping out of a van before quickly unloading their rubbish

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They then drive off, leaving their waste strewn across the floor while a good Samaritan films

‘The lad was really shaken up, he’s quite a nervous boy who doesn’t like confrontation. He hadn’t experienced something like that before. For me, it happens a lot.’ 

Indeed, last year alone there is thought to have been more than 40 cases of fly-tipping at the very same spot – and the trio responsible for last week’s dumping are allegedly serial offenders. 

Only a couple of weeks ago they were spotted disposing of bin bags on the rural road during the early hours of the morning. 

The farmer, who preferred not to give his name, added: ‘Fly-tipping is a real problem around here. I’ve been trying to combat it for years but it’s probably got worse since lockdown. 

‘In the last month or so the same group of boys have come up here three times. We’ve got cameras and I spotted them literally two weeks ago. 

‘Usually we’d be able to pick the vehicle up using its registration plate, which we’ve got, but the van was off the road, not taxed and not insured. 

‘I must have about 200 crime reference numbers from Gwent Police. It’s amazing seeing what happens up here at night. Well, I say amazing, but it’s highly dangerous. 

‘It doesn’t just stop at fly-tipping. You get the boy racers up here, kids taking drugs and drinking. You wouldn’t believe what goes on in a rural environment when you can see it.’ 

The video was posted to Facebook by a local woman who frequents the hills to ride her horse. So far the clip has racked up almost 1,000 likes and close to 100,000 views. 

Hundreds of residents flocked to the spot where the fly-tipping occurred to watch the solar eclipse only a matter of weeks ago. Dogs are also regularly walked along the path, sparking fears that shards of glass left behind by fly-tippers could cause injuries. 

Fly-tipping is common in the rural area near the south Wales valleys. Only a matter of weeks ago a huge pile of rubbish was disposed of on the road

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In another case, desks, chairs and planks of wood were left behind in the countryside

The three men who were filmed fly-tipping last week were brazen enough to leave behind letters containing addresses and names

One woman, who lives just a couple of miles away, accused the men – and other culprits – of ‘ruining’ an area offering sprawling views over the Welsh valley. 

She fumed: ‘The video was just so frustrating to see. People walk their dogs around that area and it could have been glass which they’d left on the road. It’s really dangerous. 

‘For the eclipse, the amount of cars up there was amazing to see – but then somebody has got to do that. 

‘There was practically nothing there that couldn’t have gone to the tip though. They’re ruining our countryside for quite literally the sake of a few quid. It’s horrible. 

‘We’re fed up. It’s the mentality of it, you know, they’ve done it in broad daylight and expected not to be seen. They don’t care about anybody else.’

Statistics released earlier in February revealed that incidents of fly-tipping reached record levels last year. 

More than 1.26million cases were recorded by authorities between 2024 and 2025, marking a nine per cent increase on the 1.15million confirmed the year before, according to data published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

However, the number of court fines handed out for fly-tipping during the period decreased from 1,378 to 1,250. That meant that only 0.2 per cent of cases resulted in court action. 

Speaking at the time the statistics were released, John Read – the founder of charity Clean Up Britain – described the country’s fly-tipping crisis as an epidemic. 

‘The fly-tipping stats are further evidence of the national pandemic we’re facing in England, and indeed the whole of the UK,’ he said.

‘To be effective, we have to create real jeopardy and fear in the minds of fly-tippers. The cost – and risk – of ‘doing business’ has to become too exorbitant for them.’ 

The Mail approached Gwent Police for comment.  

Parents are being warned that six simple mistakes in their vehicle could see an instant fail on their MOT – here are the things people should check before dropping a car off at the garage

Parents are being reminded to do a number of simple checks before sending their car for an MOT or risk failing. With heading back to school for the first time in six weeks, parents will have even more things to juggle such as school drop-off, after school activities and endless washing.

However, a motoring expert has said that everyday clutter inside a family vehicle could result in an immediate MOT failure. With roughly 1 in 5 cars failing their MOT across the UK and over 5 million parents admitting to driving messy, cluttered cars, an overlooked item on the dashboard or in the backseat could turn a routine inspection into an expensive inconvenience.

DVSA guidelines allow test centres to refuse or automatically fail vehicles if simple safety, cleanliness, or access conditions aren’t met while cars are being inspected.

James Harding, an expert from Blackcircles with over 16 years of industry experience, said: “MOT failures aren’t just costly and inconvenient; they can show a car to be unsafe. You must book your car in for an MOT yearly, and ensure that your car is prepared to be tested.

“MOT test centres can legally refuse to test your car under official DVSA guidelines. If specific safety, cleanliness or administrative conditions are not met, you are at risk of being turned away or automatically failed.

“Before arriving at your MOT appointment, it is important to check that your car is clean and accessible. It is also a good idea to check lights, tyres, fluid and oil levels as well as your dashboard for any warning lights. Sorting any issues that appear ahead of an MOT appointment can help your car to pass.”

What do parents need to check before an MOT?

According to Blackcircles there are six common reasons why a family vehicle might fail its MOT.

• Teddies or toys: Leaving teddies and toys on the top of your dashboard can cause a failure if they block your view of the road. They also pose a major hazard if they interfere with the deployment of your passenger airbags.

• Child seat not secured properly: An MOT has to test the integrity of seatbelts; therefore, if the child seat is loosely fitted, this suggests the restraint system is insufficient. A loosely fitted seat can also pose a significant risk to the child and passengers in an accident; therefore, an insecure seat is a “major defect” in an MOT exam.

• Child seat obscuring seat belt: An MOT requires every seatbelt to be tested. If a seatbelt is trapped behind a permanent child car seat and cannot be inspected, the car will fail.

• Shopping bags or prams in the boot: Every door, including the boot, must open and close smoothly from both the inside and out. If overpacking the boot stops a smooth closure, the vehicle will fail. If your boot is full and the tester cannot access the spare wheel well or suspension mounts, they will fail the vehicle.

• Baby on board stickers: If the baby on board stickers are stuck to the windscreen or front side windows, this could result in a failed MOT. This is because these positions can block your view of the road. Instead, make sure this sticker is on the rear window, and ensure it’s not in the way of the wipers.

• Clutter and dirt: If your car is excessively dirty (inside or out), the tester can legally refuse to examine it. If rubbish, loose bottles or clutter is rolling around near the pedals, this is classed as a safety hazard, and a direct fail. If a number plate is so dirty it becomes unreadable to Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras, your car will automatically fail its MOT.

A Hospitality Ulster survey recently found 45% of all hospitality businesses in Northern Ireland were not sure if they would survive the next 12 months

The VAT differential across the island of Ireland is putting hospitality businesses in Northern Ireland under pressure, a Westminster committee has heard.

Businesses told the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee of shrinking margins during a probe into the taxation of the hospitality and tourism sectors in Northern Ireland.

Figures from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (Nisra) suggest that over the course of 2025 the number of jobs in the hospitality sector fell by 2,000, from around 57,000 to 55,000.

Meanwhile, a Hospitality Ulster survey recently found 45% of all hospitality businesses in Northern Ireland were not sure if they would survive the next 12 months.

Selina Horshi, managing director of the White Horse Hotel in Campsie, Co Derry, told MPs said the sector is in “survival mode”.

“The reality here is pretty stark. If there isn’t some action taken, we’re all going to be watching an industry erode,” she told MPs.

“It’s a big industry, and it’s very important to Northern Ireland. It’s the fourth biggest employer. It spreads out wealth across rural and urban areas.

“It employs a lot of women. It employs a lot of young people. You can come into it whether you’re skilled. You can upskill through it. It’s got high-paid jobs. It’s got short-term jobs. It’s so hugely important to our area, and what we’re seeing already is the decline in jobs.

“What we’re seeing already is the closure of businesses, and we just can’t keep clinging on.

“Our reserves have been eaten away by Brexit, by coronavirus by cost of living, by cost-of-doing business crisis. It has just got to an unsustainable point.”

Ms Horshi also highlighted the challenge of competing against hospitality organisations in the Republic of Ireland.

“We’re marketed alongside them, and yet a customer is looking at a price in my hotel, three and a half miles from the border, and the price in Donegal, and what they’re seeing is that the price is lower in Donegal.

“Our costs are roughly equivalent, but our VAT, for example, is significantly different. So for every £100 that I take into my business on accommodation, the equivalent hotel in the Republic taking £100 would retain £4.78 more on the VAT alone. Per room that doesn’t sound like a lot, but we are a high volume, low margin industry, and that quickly adds up to hundreds of thousands of pounds within a business each year.

“The margins have been so squeezed on all sides of the border and all parts of the UK by the cost of living and the cost of doing business, but that VAT differential is really putting pressure on our businesses at the moment.”

She added: “It’s not only VAT.

“In other parts of the UK, there has been rates relief for hospitality, and those haven’t been implemented in Northern Ireland. So that is also a challenge.

“But the one that is the biggest lever is quite simply the VAT differential when you’re looking at food at 9% in the Republic versus 20% in Northern Ireland, and you’re looking at accommodation at 20% in Northern Ireland versus 13% in the Republic.”

Michael Cadden, chairman of Hospitality Ulster and managing director of Lusty Beg Island Resort in Co Fermanagh, said he has been in the business for 25 years, and it has “never been more difficult”.

He gave an example of last year attending a major wedding show in Dublin, and leaving having sold just two weddings, whereas previously he would have have sold up to 25 weddings at the same event.

“The difference has become price. We’re no longer seen as a value proposition, and we’re no longer seen as a value proposition because we simply can’t afford to compete with the prices because our cost base and our tax base is so very, very different,” he told MPs.

He explained that there are multiplying pressures which are leaving it “unsustainable”.

These include a 1 or 2% additional food cost as a result of Brexit, the impact of the national insurance increase on their wage bill, and reaching a “ceiling” in terms of what they can charge for products due to the “relatively low income level in the province”.

“So we’re being squeezed from both sides, and the VAT lever we believe is the one that will relieve that across the board,” he added.

“We have reached a point where the levers that that we’re talking about, we believe it’s now time to start pulling those, or we will start to lose a significant portion of the industry.”

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

England have omitted Brydon Carse from their squad for the third and final Test against Pakistan at Edgbaston.

The Durham seamer was dropped for the second Test at Lord’s after he was briefly arrested following an incident outside a Derby nightclub on 22 August.

The 31-year-old remains under investigation by Derbyshire police, who say they are looking into allegations of assault.

Carse’s replacement, 23-year-old Sonny Baker, has retained his place in England’s 15-man party.

Surrey’s Matthew Fisher has been dropped from an otherwise unchanged England squad as they seek to complete a series clean-sweep over Pakistan.

The third Test in Birmingham starts on Wednesday, 9 September at 11:00 BST.

With six white-ball matches against Sri Lanka to follow the Test series, England may consider resting seamers Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson and Josh Tongue, all of whom feature in the limited-overs set-up.

While the trio have been named in the Test squad, they may be rotated in favour of Baker, Essex pace bowler Sam Cook and Derbyshire spinner Shoaib Bashir.

Cook, 29, played his one Test against Zimbabwe last summer while 22-year-old Bashir is yet to feature in this series, with England preferring an all-pace attack.

Baker made his only Test appearance to date in a much-changed line-up against New Zealand at The Oval in June.

Carse remains available for selection for Durham and finished with match figures of 4-95 in their win over Gloucestershire last week.

However, he has not been picked in the XI for their match against Northamptonshire, which started on Wednesday.

Pakistan made the extraordinary move of dropping seven players, calling up five uncapped players and releasing their head coach prior to the Edgbaston Test.

Sarfaraz Ahmed has replaced by Pakistan white-ball coach Mike Hesson, while Muhammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman and Khurram Shahzad, all of whom have featured in the series, are among the players dropped.

England beat Pakistan by an innings and 103 runs in the first Test at Headingley and sealed series victory with a win by 194 runs at Lord’s last week.

A newborn baby suffered 15 stab wounds before being hidden in an outhouse in Sheffield, a court has heard.  

The child, named only as Baby S, was discovered fatally injured in a house in the Wincobank area of the city at around 6am on Sunday morning.

She had allegedly been stabbed in a bathroom, wrapped in a towel and blue bag and then dumped on a washing machine in an outhouse. 

Today, her mother, Andrea Skopova, 20, appeared in court charged with her daughter’s murder at the property in Holywell Heights, Sheffield, South Yorkshire. 

Her boyfriend Peter Horvath Jnr, 19, and his parents Nina Horvathova, 37, and Peter Horvath Snr, 38, also appeared beside her in the dock wearing grey prison-issue tracksuits at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court charged with Baby S’s murder.

All four are also charged with caused or allowed the death of a child and also perverting the course of justice by cleaning a crime scene.

A 15-year-old girl, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, has also appeared charged with perverting the course of justice.

The defendants – who are all Slovakian nationals and required an interpreter – were remanded in custody after appearing today at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court.

The court heard the baby suffered 33 injuries including 15 stab wounds.

Her boyfriend, Peter Horvath Jr, has also been charged with murder. He is not believed to be the baby’s father

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A police forensics team could be seen entering the property on Monday where a newborn baby was found the day before 

It is believed the smart property in the Wincobank area of Sheffield was being rented 

Prosecutor Luke Hopkinson said the mother of Baby S is Skopova, but the father is not known.

‘A female baby known as S was born in the early hours of Sunday 30 August at an address in Holywell Heights,’ Mr Hopkinson said. 

He said that Skopova gave birth to the baby at 37 weeks and shortly afterwards presented at hospital.

Hospital staff were ‘confident’ the baby was not in the womb but Skopova would not explain where the baby was, the court heard. 

He added: ‘It was apparent that she had recently given birth.’

It was said Skopova would not explain where the baby was.  

Medical staff alerted the police at shortly after 5am.

Police attended her home address and could not find the child so later checked the address in Holywell Heights.

Mr Hopkinson said: ‘Peter Hovarth Junior is Andrea’s current boyfriend, but he is not the father.

‘When attending, police located a baby wrapped in towelling and in a blue bag on top of a washing machine in an outhouse. The baby was deceased.

Slovakian national Peter Horvath has been charged with murder, causing or allowing the death of a child and also perverting the course of justice 

‘The baby has catastrophically been injured by a knife.

‘She has 33 wounds from 15 separate stabbings. 

‘A doctor confirmed she would have been alive when the attack took place.’

It is alleged that Horvathova and the 15-year-old girl cleaned up blood in the bathroom.

An eight-year-old child was also in the house at the time.

Mr Hopkinson said the defendants have not been clear in police interviews and have ‘contradicted one another’.

District Judge Tim Spruce remanded all five defendants into custody to appear before Sheffield Crown Court tomorrow.  

Two women, aged 26 and 37, who were arrested on suspicion of murder remain on bail.

Detective Chief Inspector Tom Woodward, of South Yorkshire Police, said: ‘I would like to thank our communities, who I know will have been deeply impacted by this traumatic incident, for supporting us as we work through this intricate investigation.’

Arsenal did not pursue a deadline-day deal for Malick Fofana after Mikel Arteta raised concerns about the Lyon winger, according to reports.

The Belgium international emerged as a target late in the window as Arsenal considered strengthening their forward line following a number of high-profile snubs.

Deals for Morgan Rogers and Vinicius Junior failed to materialise, with Christos Tzolis the only arrival to replace Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli.

The Gunners had been holding out hope of a late deal for Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez, but the Argentine indicated he wasn’t keen on a Premier League return.

However, Arsenal almost sprang into action on deadline day after they were offered the chance to sign Fofana as Lyon looked to raise funds after missing out on the Champions League.

The 21-year-old has previously attracted interest from Liverpool and Chelsea, and was available for around £30million, a similar fee to that which Arsenal paid to bring Tzolis to the Emirates earlier in the summer.

However, The Athletic reports that Arsenal were only willing to pursue a loan deal to avoid the possibility of breaching UEFA’s spending limits.

It is also said that Arteta spoke with Fofana, but held concerns about the winger’s ability to adapt to the physical demands of the Premier League.

Despite Arsenal’s decision, Fofana did ultimately end up in the English top-flight after a remarkable transfer tussle between Sunderland and Crystal Palace.

The Black Cats struck a deal first for the winger before Palace looked to hijack the transfer after agreeing a similar deal with Lyon.

Ultimately, Sunderland rescued their deal by offering more commission to the Belgian’s agents, with a five-year deal agreed for the pacey winger.

‘Malick has all the attributes to thrive in the Premier League,’ Sunderland’s Director of Football Florent Ghisolfi said.
 
‘He is a player with huge potential and Sunderland AFC will provide him with the right environment to continue to develop and prosper.
 
‘He operates off the left and will complement the versatility of the other wide men we have at the club, who can play across both flanks.
 
‘We are delighted to welcome Malick to the Club and look forward to supporting him as he takes the next steps in his career.’

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Freely available satellite radar imaging is being used for the first time to help track colonies of endangered emperor penguins in Antarctica throughout the winter months.

Typically satellite images need sunlight to be useful, and Antarctica is dark in the winter. This has meant that colonies have been hidden at a critical time in the emperor penguin breeding cycle, when eggs are laid, chicks hatch and adults take part in those iconic huddles.

Almost 70 colonies of emperor penguins, many of which have never been visited by humans, occupy the sea ice that is fastened to the coastline surrounding Antarctica.

Now using synthetic aperture radar (SAR), an instrument operating on satellites that sends microwave pulses down to Earth, and measures how those pulses return, our research team has been able to track what the penguins do during these months.

Unlike other forms of satellite imagery, SAR is not reliant on sunlight, or affected by cloud, and therefore provides radar imagery of Antarctica through the dark polar winter.

SAR’s signal is sensitive to the properties of what it interacts with, and has been used for years in the poles to research things like the properties of sea ice and melt on glaciers.

When looking at SAR images from the free European Space Agency satellite, Sentinel-1, showing the location of an emperor penguin colony during winter, my team started to notice a bright white splodge of pixels moving around against a backdrop of dark, smooth sea ice.

Features like icebergs or rough sea ice can look bright in SAR imagery, but it didn’t make sense for those to be moving around at that time of year, when the sea ice was fixed and stable. Could it be the emperor penguin colony?

We soon found the same thing at the locations of other colonies – clusters of bright moving pixels on stable ice. We were then able to obtain optical images from September when the sunlight first starts returning, and compare them with the SAR, and confirmed it was indeed the colonies we were observing.

Tracking through the whole year

This finding opened up an exciting opportunity to track colonies throughout the whole breeding cycle, by combining SAR images in winter with optical images in spring/summer, and all using freely available data that has been routinely collected for years.

We went back through eight years, from 2017 to 2024, and followed three of the largest colonies year-round. We were able to follow their movement, sometimes even daily from early in the winter until chicks grow their first feathers in December and January.

We observed that colonies were typically less mobile in the winter, before spreading out and moving greater distances in the spring and summer. Interestingly, we found that the Atka Bay colony moved up from the sea ice onto the glacier ice that flows from the continent in seven of the eight years in the early spring. The colony did this despite the sea ice – the typically preferred habitat for the species – being stable. We need more research to understand why this is.

Satellite remote sensing has been a crucial tool for observing the emperor penguins in the summer months since 2009. It was discovered then that colonies could be found in satellite images because of the dark guano stains they leave on the snow and ice. Overall, these observations have revolutionised our understanding of the species and have led to the discovery of many more colonies.

After a period of stability, Antarctic sea ice has declined markedly since 2016 and likely entered a new state, characterised by lower extent and increased instability. Earlier this year, emperor penguins were added to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s red list and classified as endangered, predominantly due to projected declines in sea ice.

This makes better understanding and monitoring of emperor penguins more important than ever. The ability to observe colonies throughout the breeding cycle using freely available, routinely collected satellite data creates opportunities to better understand their response to changing environmental conditions.

George Clooney is the latest star to defend Mark Ruffalo after Paramount had accused the star of antisemitism.

The 65-year-old A-lister stood up for free speech and the embattled 58-year-old Avengers star, who was also recently defended by 170 Jewish entertainment figures in an open letter.

Ruffalo, 58, was accused of ‘antisemitic tropes’ by Paramount Skydance after opposing the company’s merger with Warner Bros Discovery. He has insisted that his issue has to do with military contracts and executive actions, not Jewish people. He had previously described Israel’s military actions as ‘genocide.’

Paramount CEO David Ellison is the son of billionaire technology mogul Larry Ellison, co-founder and executive chairman of major software company Oracle, which has provided technological assistance to Israel amid its strikes on Gaza.

Now, Clooney has defended Ruffalo during a press conference at the Venice Film Festival ahead of receiving the fest’s highest honor, a Golden Lion for lifetime achievement.

The ER star was asked to respond to Paramount’s criticism of Ruffalo as he replied: ‘I support Mark Ruffalo’s ability to speak freely. I think that that’s ridiculous. We’re not going to ban speech.

Ruffalo, 58, was accused of ‘antisemitic tropes’ by Paramount Skydance after opposing the company’s merger with Warner Bros Discovery. He has insisted that his issue has to do with military contracts and executive actions, not Jewish people

‘I believe in free speech even when I completely disagree with it. That’s important, right? In fact, it’s part of how a democracy works. There are going to be people tonight in the room that are going to disagree with most everything I say or stand for. Fair enough. That’s how it’s supposed to be. We’re supposed to argue these things out and come to a conclusion based on the information that we take in.’

Clooney then went on to speak about Ruffalo personally.

He said: ‘I will always support Mark Ruffalo’s ability to speak freely. I like him. He’s a good man.’

The global ambassador for Nespresso then touched on how he felt about the merger itself, which he called a ‘complicated thing,’ and said that he predicts it doesn’t go through and feels like it won’t actually benefit the people behind it like the aforementioned Ellison.

Clooney said: ‘I don’t know how this goes through. There are so many issues involved.

‘It doesn’t matter how much money you have; it’s going to be very tricky to do. So, my opinion on the merger is: I always worry whenever big companies are consolidating because it usually means a lot of people lose their jobs. That’s the truth.’

This comes after Ruffalo was defended by nearly 200 Jewish figures in entertainment.

Actress Hannah Einbinder, who previously defended the actor, led the signatures of Jewish entertainment industry members in an open letter of support for the Marvel actor.

The ER star was asked to respond to Paramount’s criticism of Ruffalo as he replied: ‘I support Mark Ruffalo’s ability to speak freely. I think that that’s ridiculous. We’re not going to ban speech’

Clooney hopping on a water taxi at the Venice Film Festival ahead of him receiving the fest’s highest honor, a Golden Lion for lifetime achievement

Other notable names included: Joel Coen, Todd Haynes, Ilana Glazer, James Schamus, Emma Seligman, Tony Kushner, Jane Schoenbrun and Wallace Shawn. 

The new letter, published on Tuesday, defended Ruffalo as it argued against what it said were ‘false and dangerous weaponization of charges of antisemitism.’

In his previous statement, Ruffalo had highlighted the links between the Ellison family and Israel, which the open letter reiterated.

It read: ‘Pointing out the crucial connections between what is happening in Gaza and what is happening in Hollywood is the exact opposite of antisemitism. It is, for us, the very essence of Jewish ethical duty.’

Broad City actress Glazer also released a statement along with her signature that read: ‘Calling Mark Ruffalo antisemitic because he is questioning a massive corporate merger is not only absurd— it’s a dangerous way to shut down legitimate criticism.

‘Mark has consistently spoken out against antisemitism while also standing up for Palestinian rights and dignity for all people. It’s an American’s right to debate media consolidation and the dangers of monopolized corporate power without weaponizing antisemitism to bully people into silence.’

Last week, Einbinder took to social media to defend Ruffalo after Paramount called his merger attack ‘antisemitic.’

The Hacks star made her thoughts clear on Instagram Stories last Monday following Ruffalo’s criticism of Paramount’s jabs at him as ‘appalling and fundamentally dishonest.’ 

Ruffalo has also been defended by nearly 200 Jewish figures in entertainment 

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Actress Hannah Einbinder, who previously defended the actor, led the signatures of Jewish entertainment industry members in an open letter of support for the Marvel star

Ruffalo said on Saturday: ‘The accusation that I am antisemitic is appalling and fundamentally dishonest’

Other notable names included: Joel Coen (above), Todd Haynes, Ilana Glazer, James Schamus, Emma Seligman, Tony Kushner, Jane Schoenbrun and Wallace Shawn

Broad City actress Glazer also released a statement along with her signature that read: ‘Calling Mark Ruffalo antisemitic because he is questioning a massive corporate merger is not only absurd – it’s a dangerous way to shut down legitimate criticism’

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In her statement, Einbinder, who is Jewish, said she was ‘so grateful that Mark Ruffalo drew a connection between the Ellisons providing military technology to Israel during a genocide and their unprecedented media takeover.’

She said Ruffalo correctly ‘pointed out that this is a dangerous consolidation of power that could ultimately be used against us.’

The Daily Mail reached out to representatives for Einbinder, Ruffalo and Paramount at the time for further comment. 

In her statement, Einbinder said that ‘the idea that [Ruffalo] only said these things because the Ellisons are Jewish is LUDICROUS,’ asking, ‘Is it also antisemitic to point out that Safra Catz, the Oracle executive vice chair who boasted about the “profoundly scary technology” provided to the IDF, also sits on Paramount’s board?

‘Or that Larry Ellison has been buying favor with Trump by donating tens of millions to his political efforts for years? Or that he once offered Netanyahu a lucrative Oracle post?’

The Los Angeles-born actress said that Ruffalo’s words marked ‘criticism of RIGHT WING technofeudalist oligarchs who are in the process of carrying out the largest media acquisition in history,’ adding that ‘people are not too stupid to see these obvious connections.’

Einbinder added: ‘If you want to make it about the Ellisons being Jewish, then you are the one being antisemitic.’

She said that ‘every time Zionists equate criticism of Israel, its genocide, or anyone who supports it to antisemitism, they rob the word of all of its meaning.

‘For those of us who ACTUALLY care about Jewish safety, we want that word to mean something so that when Jews are actually in danger it’s taken seriously.’

Einbinder, who is Jewish, previously said she was ‘so grateful that Mark Ruffalo drew a connection between the Ellisons providing military technology to Israel during a genocide and their unprecedented media takeover’

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Ruffalo has been a loud opponent of the proposed merger between Paramount and Warner Bros Discovery, and his criticism has sparked a public feud with Paramount – whose CEO is David Ellison

Einbinder also said she supports Ruffalo’s comments that the merger had major implications for the entertainment industry as a whole.

‘Opposing this merger is also about fighting for the working class of Hollywood: the crews and other workers that we artists claim to care so much about, who could lose thousands of jobs if it goes through,’ Einbinder said.

She said that Ruffalo was an inspiration for artists in his willingness ‘to speak out for oppressed people everywhere, even when powerful people try to bully us into silence.

Einbinder wrapped up by saying: ‘Visibility is a responsibility. Those of us with a platform need to use our voices before speaking out is outlawed altogether.’

In an extended social media post Saturday, Ruffalo called the company’s remarks ‘appalling and fundamentally dishonest,’ stating that his fault-finding had to do with military contracts and executive actions, not Jewish people.

Ruffalo has been a loud opponent of the proposed merger between Paramount and Warner Bros Discovery, and his criticism has sparked a public feud with Paramount.

The actor, who wore an ‘ICE Out’ pin at the 2026 Golden Globes in January, used the terms ‘genocide’ and ‘apartheid’ in a previous social media letter criticizing the funding behind the $111 billion business transaction.

A Paramount spokesman swiftly condemned Ruffalo’s rhetoric as invoking antisemitic tropes, further stating that applying words like ‘genocide’ and ‘apartheid’ to a corporate business deal was a ‘bridge too far,’ according to CNN’s Brian Stelter.

In an extended social media post, Ruffalo called the company’s remarks ‘appalling and fundamentally dishonest’

On Saturday, Ruffalo slammed that statement, writing: ‘The accusation that I am antisemitic is appalling and fundamentally dishonest. 

‘Criticizing the actions of the Israeli prime minister, a military technology contract, or the executives who supply it is not the same as criticizing Jewish people.

‘This critical and necessary dialogue is then dishonestly framed as being anti-Israel. To be clear, my views come from my own political convictions and should never be interpreted as hostility toward Jewish people, for whom I have deep love and respect.

‘Everything I know about acting, activism, and humanism has been profoundly shaped by the Jewish friends, colleagues, and loved ones who have been integral and family throughout every point of my life,’ Ruffalo added.

On Friday, the Dark Waters star blasted Paramount in a post on Instagram Stories, in which he accused billionaires Ellison, 43, and his father Larry, 82, of ‘powering some of the most destructive and inhuman forces in the world.’

Ruffalo shared a years-old video of Israeli-American business executive Safra Catz, the former Oracle CEO who is now its executive vice chair of the board of directors.

‘This is the company that Larry Ellison is using to fund his son David’s Warner Bros acquisition,’ Ruffalo wrote to his 20.5 million followers.

In Saturday’s lengthy follow-up, Ruffalo railed: ‘This merger has real consequences for real people, and for the entire country.

The actor used the terms ‘genocide’ and ‘apartheid’ in a previous social media letter criticizing the funding behind Paramount’s proposed $111 billion business merger. Above, Ruffalo attends a political event in New York City in 2025

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Ellison’s company said that it was ‘a moment to lower the temperature, not raise it,’ as it dressed down Ruffalo’s remarks

‘Scrutinizing the Ellisons, including Oracle’s business built on data, surveillance technology and government contracts, and the serious threat to editorial freedom and the loss of a livelihood for thousands of families, is fair and necessary.

‘The $111 billion deal would hand one family control over CNN, HBO and Warner Bros., backed in part by foreign money whose influence on editorial decisions has never been fully explained to the public.

‘Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have called for serious national security review, and regulators still haven’t given the public a real answer. Until they do, the merger shouldn’t move forward. Now is the time to dive boldly into all these issues, not step back or concede,’ he concluded.

In his previous post, Ruffalo also called Larry Ellison a ‘classic oligarch’ who would own most of what he disparagingly coined ‘Para Bros.’

‘They are crushing workers and consolidating the wealth of the world for their own power and concentrated dominance,’ Ruffalo wrote.

Ruffalo noted that 12 Attorneys General were suing to stop the Paramount-Warner Bros merger.

‘It will be catastrophic for our film industry,’ Ruffalo wrote. ‘Merger [sic] like this are almost always bad for workers, consumers, and the industry they tend to dominate.’

The effort to stop the merger is being led by California, whose film industry has struggled in recent times.

Paramount’s merger with Warner Bros could cost Los Angeles County approximately 4,500 film and television jobs, according to a report published by LA County on Tuesday.

The video of Catz speaking that Ruffalo shared was from the Israeli-American Council National Summit in 2024, per The Hollywood Reporter.

The Paramount chairman and CEO is the son of billionaire technology mogul Larry Ellison, who is a cofounder and executive chairman of the major software company Oracle

‘Criticizing the actions of the Israeli prime minister, a military technology contract, or the executives who supply it is not the same as criticizing Jewish people,’ Ruffalo said in his Saturday rebuttal

Ruffalo wrote in his Instagram story: ‘Look how she revels in what we now have come to see as a genocide, which was built on an apartheid system of oppression powered by Oracle.’

In the clip, Catz talked about advancing ‘the agenda for the Israeli military’ and mentioned ‘really profoundly scary technology at Oracle.’

‘We wanted to make sure that it was available for the effort,’ she said, referring to the aftermath of the October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas on Israel.

Paramount’s spokesman turned the argument on Ruffalo: ‘This doesn’t deserve a response in kind – and to be clear, we don’t tolerate prejudice of any kind, against anyone.’

The media conglomerate emphasized that it was ‘a moment to lower the temperature, not raise it,’ insisting that it would ‘rather build than further engage in such rhetoric.’

Paramount said that Ruffalo’s remarks ‘simply expose the true motivation of some who have advocated opposition to this transaction,’ referring to its proposed $111 billion merger with Warner Bros.

The company said it was committed ‘to every story, every storyteller, and no blacklists, no exceptions, for anyone.’

‘We understand people feel strongly about this merger and are hopeful and expect that it will be judged based on the legal merits, not underlying bias,’ Paramount continued.

Paramount’s statement finished by asking for ‘less rhetoric, more understanding.’