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HOLIDAYMAKERS have been issued a red weather alert on Costa Del Sol over ‘extreme’ rain over flooding fears. Thousands have been evacuated from their homes after a weather alert for the area went from yellow to red and people were warned: “There is ‘extreme risk.’” A red warning has been issuedSolarpix SolarpixThe weather alert is due to remain in place until midnight[/caption] An evacuation of 3,000 people has taken placeSolarpix Spain’s Civil Protection Agency sent a mass alert to mobile phones in Malaga province just after 10pm last night warning in Spanish and English: “Red warning activated. Extreme risk of rainfall. “Be very cautious, avoid travel.” In a move estimated to have affected more than 300,000 pupils, it was announced all schools in the province would remain shut today. A “preventative” evacuation began earlier of around 3,000 people living in approximately 1,000 homes near the Guadalhorce River, one of the worst-affected areas during torrential rainfall and storms a fortnight ago which were blamed for the death of a 71-year-old British expat. The famous Costa del Sol including the tourist resorts of Marbella and Estepona is expected to take the brunt of the extreme weather phenomenon known as a DANA. DANA was the cause of the catastrophic flash floods which killed more than 200 people in and around the east coast city of Valencia alone. It was yet to start raining at first daylight on the famous stretch of coast this morning, but things are expected to change from around 10am local time with the red weather warning due to remain in place until midnight. Regional government representative Antonio Sanz admitted last night as he announced the residential evacuations and today’s school closures: “The situation for the province of Malaga is of extreme risk. “The forecast was that we were going to be on yellow alert but weather agency Aemet has raised this to red.” Residents in specific areas near to the River Guadalhorce in inland towns like Alora, Cartama and Alhaurin de la Torre have been moved from their homes to temporary shelters including sports centres where they are unable to find alternative accommodation with friends or relatives. The British OAP who died in hospital in Malaga a fortnight ago had been rescued hours earlier from his flooded home in one of the at-risk areas with hypothermia after suffering a heart attack. Locals were pictured yesterday afternoon boarding up the doors to their homes or laying sandbags in front of them as they prepared for what was to come. Overnight in some coastal areas cars were spotted with plastic sheeting wrapped tight around them. People also started stockpiling, with reports of supermarkets in parts of Malaga being emptied of products like mineral water and meat.Castellon north of Valencia, another of the areas that was put on red alert, got an early taste of the latest extreme weather phenomenon to affect Spain. Towns like Benicarlo, which hosts a famous annual music festival, and Vinaros were among the worst places hit. Street rubbish containers ended up floating down flooded streets last night there as motorists struggled to avoid them. School closures today because of the bad weather will also affect thousands of children on the northern part of the Costa Blanca including Denia and Calpe near Benidorm. The city of Valencia and some of its suburb towns, still recovering from the horror floods late last month, also decided to suspend classes. A bone-dry summer in Spain has given way to an autumn of freak weather phenomenons. Last Friday residents in Cadaques in the northern Spanish province of Girona woke up to a scene of destruction after 32 cars were washed away by flood water. Many ended up piled on top of each other by a bridge in front of the town casino, with at least one of the smashed-up vehicles appearing to belong to foreign tourists because of the number plate that was clearly visible. Miraculously there were no reports of any human casualties in the former fishing village near to the former home of famous artist Salvador Dali. Cadaques is just over three hundred miles north of Valencia, where the vast majority of the 223 people who lost their lives in the flash floods late last month in Spain died. Spanish King Felipe VI, who was pelted with mud along with Queen Letizia and Spanish politicians including the PM Pedro Sanchez during his first visit to Valencia in the aftermath of the natural disaster, returned to the city alone yesterday. This time he visited soldiers who have been helping in rescue and clean-up work. Thousands have been evacuated from Coast del SolSolarpix

AT the start of his new movie, marmalade-loving bear Paddington gets into bother reaching for an orange hanging on a tree. But the real grizzly he is based on faces far greater dangers. AlamyThe real-life Paddington Bears are in danger in Peru[/caption] StudioCanalIn Paddington in Peru sees the famous bear visit his homeland[/caption] The adored fictional character, created by late British author Michael Bond, was inspired by the spectacled bear that lives in South America. They also have different colour markings on the nose and around the eyes like Paddington, so they look like they are wearing glasses. And they share his playful, inquisitive nature — going to extraordinary lengths to grab grub or cheekily tugging on cameras monitoring them in the wild. However, spectacled bears are endangered due to multiple threats, including hunters killing them for their private parts, claws and body fat. One particular breed could even be extinct in the next three decades, experts have warned. Worryingly, there is an illegal trade in spectacled bears — also known as Andean bears — with the reclusive creatures being sold to Asia and by shamans in South America. But the biggest threats come from the man-made forest fires that have ravaged Peru this year and farmers killing the bears for eating cattle and corn. Climate change is also reducing the number of trees bearing berries and other fruits that form 90 per cent of the animals’ diet. The Spectacled Bear Conservation society is devoted to saving the endangered creatures in Peru, where Paddington is from. And as the duffle-coated kids’ favourite returned to cinemas on Friday in Paddington In Peru, starring Olivia Colman and Antonio Banderas, the non-profit body reveals one breed native to the forest in the north of the country could be extinct in the next 28 years. Huge demand for paws Alexander More, SBC’s executive director, says: “There are illegal hunters in these areas. “There are still some people that even hunt the bear because they want to use parts of the animal. “There are some illegal markets for that, Asian markets. “But the main threat is that people are killing the animals because they want to protect their lands, their crops. “The habitat has been reduced this year because of all the fires in Peru that have been started by humans.” The spectacled bear is the only surviving species of bear native to South America. According to the IUCN Red List for threatened species, they are vulnerable to extinction and there could be as few as 2,500 mature bears left in the wild. It is estimated 200 are killed by hunters every year. The World Wildlife Fund warns that the gall bladders of these “peaceful” animals can “fetch a high price on the international market” — and that there is also huge demand for bear paws. There are still some people that even hunt the bear because they want to use parts of the animal Alexander More, SBC’s executive director An investigation by National Geographic in 2019 found a woman in Chachapoyas, in the Amazon region of northern Peru, selling a drink called Seven Roots, containing scrapings from the spectacled bear’s penis bone. The disgusting-sounding brew, also containing a snake’s head, rum and tree bark, falsely claimed to help cure impotence. Other traders were selling “bear butter” and “bear rub” made from the animals’ fat, supposedly to alleviate muscle pain and other problems. However, there is no evidence that any part of the bear provides the health benefits advertised. Spectacled bears are skilled climbers that live in trees. This year, huge damage was done to their habitat by forest fires which affected most areas of Peru, killing 15 people. The worst-hit region was in the north, on the border with Ecuador. The ‘lost city’ of Machu Picchu where the bears live 8,000ft up in the mountains Prolonged dry weather, along with farmers burning vegetation to clear land for more crops, sparked many of the blazes. SBC boss Alexander, who was born in southern Peru, explains: “There are cattle ranchers everywhere. “This year, the fires were huge in our area.” The destruction of plants and trees led the bears to seek out food closer to humans, which created further problems. Alexander continues: “With more pressure on the habitat, the bears have come close to the villages. “And they have encounters with people, and they feed on cattle, because bears are carnivores. “So that creates a kind of bad relationship.” But spectacled bears do not kill humans. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, they are “the least aggressive of all bear species” towards people. Instead, these shy carnivores, weighing up to 380lbs and reaching 6ft in height, are more likely to flee us. Alexander says: “I have come in contact with these bears and they just run away.” But warning of a mother’s protective nature, he adds: “If you have an opportunity to see a female with a calf, maybe they are a bit dangerous.” The spectacled bears’ strong jaws are more likely to gnaw on trees or hard fruit than to attack. But without this food source, they will not survive. Alexander says: “The females need these fruits to get fat and to reproduce.” SBC is working in various ways to protect the bear population, including building artificial waterfalls to provide much-needed sources of hydration in the dry area, and buying up land so forests can not be cut down. In addition, they are educating locals about the benefits the creatures bring, for example spreading seeds, which is good for the environment, and helping to control smaller mammals, such as rats. Alexander says: “We have built some artificial waterfalls in Peru and we have seen some of the females use these waterfalls.” ‘Incredible curiosity’ To help fund work so locals have less reason to cut down bear forests for farming, SBC employs around 100 women there to hand-make products out of wool that are sold in North America. Not all Peruvians fear the bears. In fact, some indigenous people living near the Inca ruins close to Cusco treat them like gods. Alexander says: “There’s a big celebration in the Cusco area. They are revered. There is a procession into the glaciers.” Elements of this are reflected in Paddington In Peru. In the film, the bear, voiced by Ben Whishaw and named after the London train station where he was found by the Brown family, returns to his homeland. It is estimated 200 are killed by hunters every year He finds himself among the Inca ruins, where he proves to be more welcome than the humans. These ruins draw in thousands of tourists, which could be detrimental to the bears. To find out what effect they have, SBC has placed 200 cameras near the “lost city” of Machu Picchu — 8,000ft up in the mountains. The main difference between spectacled bears and Paddington is fur colour. The fictional character is reddish brown, as opposed to mainly black or dark brown. Also, the spectacled bear is not obsessed with oranges like Paddington, but does eat orange fruit sapote. Kate McIvor, communications boss at SBC, says: “There are parallels with Paddington because bears in the wild have this incredible curiosity and charismatic, playful personality. “They try to pull the camera traps off the trees, or they climb cliffs to reach snails and food resources. “They’re play-fighting and wrestling or splashing in water holes. They look like a person relaxing in a hot tub.”  For more, go to sbc-peru.org. AlamyHunters kill these bears for their private parts, claws and body fat[/caption] A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond A bear in a watering holeSBC Peru

RUSSIA has suffered its deadliest days yet with Vladimir Putin losing nearly 4,000 troops within a mere 48 hours. The new daily high of Russian soldiers killed or wounded in action hit a catastrophic 1,950 on Tuesday – marking a devastating escalation in the brutal war. GettySnipers of the 1st brigade of National Guard ‘Bureviy’ during a training in Donetsk region[/caption] APPutin suffered tremendous war losses in what’s been declared Russia’s deadliest day in the war[/caption] This figure surpasses the previous high of 1,770 that only occurred on Monday as Russian casualties reported by Kyiv continue to mount. Ukraine’s General Staff released the grim statistics, estimating Russia’s total casualties since the start of the full-scale invasion at over 710,000. These numbers include those killed, wounded, missing, and captured. Western analysts corroborate these figures, highlighting the catastrophic cost of Russia’s disastrous military campaign. October was already one of the bloodiest months for Russian forces. UK Defence Staff Chief Admiral Anthony Radakin stated that Russian casualties in October averaged 1,500 daily. Earlier in the month, UK Defense Minister John Healey reported 41,980 Russian troops were killed or injured in October alone. And in June, Putin lost more than 1,200 troops in just 24 hours after Western nations – including the US – gave Ukraine the green light to strike Russia with their weapons. The heavy toll comes as Russia pushes forward with “tactical, territorial gains” in Ukraine. Despite the staggering losses, Russian forces have managed to advance, reclaiming 1,146 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory since August, according to a Bloomberg analysis. Key areas in southern Donetsk Oblast, Toretsk, Chasiv Yar, and Kupiansk have witnessed significant Russian advances. Mad Vlad has meanwhile amassed 40,000 of his soldiers and 10,000 North Koreans as he plots to attack Kursk in just days, despite Donald Trump “telling him to back off Ukraine”. And leaked videos even show North Korean soldiers training in Russia as Putin readies the troops to claw back Kursk. The Republican strongman reportedly urged the Kremlin despot not to escalate his brutal war in Ukraine in a phone call in the days after Trump’s election win. According to The Washington Post and Reuters, which cited people familiar with the discussion, Don reportedly warned Putin of America’s substantial military presence in Europe during the Thursday chat. But Moscow on Monday denied reports of such call, and said Putin had no concrete plans yet to speak to Trump. Russia‘s major battlefield assault looms as Donald Trump‘s election win could also change the shape of peace talks. US President Joe Biden, meanwhile, could also be convinced to let Ukraine fire crucial long-range missiles into Russia as a major last act before Trump takes office, according to UK Government insiders. TelegramLeaked footage shows the North Koreans training in Russia[/caption] TelegramIn one clip the soldiers appear to be practising speaking Russian[/caption] According to The Telegraph, there are hopes in London that Biden will finally give Kyiv the clearance it has sought for months in an attempt to secure his foreign policy legacy. Putin’s Kursk push Experts suggest the mounting casualties may have driven Russia to seek reinforcements, including troops from North Korea. the deployment underscores the Kremlin’s determination to sustain its offensive, even as the cost in manpower and resources grows. Admiral Radakin described Russia’s strategy as “sacrificing high numbers of troops for tiny increments of land,” a sentiment echoed by Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, who called Russia’s current offensive “one of the most powerful” since the start of the invasion. Kremlin despot Putin has amassed 40,000 of his soldiers and 10,000 North Koreans as he plots to attack Kursk in just days, a report claims. The 72-year-old tyrant is set to try and claw back the area of Russia which Ukraine seized back in August. Putin could begin the combined assault with Kim Jong-un‘s troops sent to fight in just days, Ukrainian officials told the New York Times. US and Ukrainian officials say 10,000 of the 50,000 massed troops are North Koreans. Those soldiers are said to be wearing Russian uniforms and have been equipped by Moscow, but will fight in their own units. Putin’s army has also been training the North Koreans in infantry tactics, artillery fire, and trench clearing. Ukraine has built defences in the part of Kursk it occupies and could be able to hold on, officials say. But Russia has been stockpiling missiles at airfields for shelling and sending massive rocket attacks against the entrenched Ukrainians, Pravda Ukraine reports. Head of the Center for Countering Disinformation of the National Defense and Security Council of Ukraine, Andriy Kovalenko, said on Telegram:  “As I said, the Russians are ready for massive attacks. “There are enough missiles, they are accumulated at strategic aviation airfields and continue to accumulate. The aviation is also ready.” Kovalenko said that the Russians also use simulated launch procedures to keep their aircraft ready for combat. “And the enemy uses it for psychological pressure,” he said. Eight Russian Tu-95MS strategic bombers took off early on Monday and launched cruise missiles, according to the Ukrainian Air Force. But the missile launches were most likely merely practice runs. AFPA destroyed Russian tank outside Ukrainian-controlled Russian town of Sudzha, Kursk[/caption] APRussian soldiers patrol a village in the Russian – Ukrainian border area of Kursk[/caption]

THIS is the unbelievable moment a Ukrainian dam is blown up and floods frontline villages while Putin’s troops advance in the region. Dramatic footage shows the dam catastrophically explode in the Donetsk region by what’s believed to be Russian shelling. East2WestThe moment Kurakhiv dam in war-torn Donetsk region is blown up[/caption] East2WestBoth Ukrainian and Russian armies have blamed each other for the explosion[/caption] East2WestThe aftermath of the dam explosion[/caption] The dam initially looks calm, with no movement around nor anything flying through the air. But soon footage shows a massive flash of blinding red light before plumes of black smoke erupt from the site in the explosion. Debris from the dam are captured flying everywhere as while smoke continues to cover the land and water around. It is unclear in the footage where the explosion would have come from. But one theory claims the Kurakhiv dam got detonated by explosives laid at the site, with Putin’s Russia blaming Ukraine. Another version is that it was Russian shelling that caused the catastrophic scenes. The explosion appeared to create two channels to release water downstream – flooding villages in areas still controlled by Ukraine but where Russia continues to press. Water has since been released but there are so far no reports of a critical situation – despite there being a 4ft rise in river levels. The Russians have previously tried and failed to destroy the dam with aerial bombing “for three months” Roman Padun, the Ukrainian head of the Kurakhiv city military administration, said. He stressed: “We know that waters are flowing through the villages near the dam. “We cannot confirm the nature of the damage or its severity. “Due to ongoing shelling, we cannot inspect the dam.” The dam is on the Volchi River, which is a left-side tributary of the Samara River. Russia has a track record of devastatingly blowing up dams. Despite denials on in June last year, the Kakhovka dam was mined and detonated – the fifth largest in Ukraine and caused major flooding. An overwhelming 33 people died during the explosion , with 28 injured. Almost 160 people went missing with the location of 64 of them established. Kremlin propagandist Sergei Markov accused the Ukrainians of an “environmental crime“. The Putin puppet said: “It is clearly visible that this is not shelling but rather an explosion. “There, two canals are clearly made by special means of an explosion. “This clearly shows that the Armed Forces of Ukraine did the blowing up of the dam and the flooding of the villages on Zelensky’s orders.” East2WestAn orange explosion was seen at the site[/caption] East2WestPlumes of grey smoke are captured filling the sky[/caption]

CHINA has unveiled in its chilling new J-35 fighter jet which has an uncanny similarity to the American F-35. Claims have even been made the fifth generation fighter was built from designs for the American craft which were stolen by Xi Jinping’s agents. GettyAmerica’s F-35 fighter is one of the most advanced jets in the world[/caption] Chinese Ministry Of National DefenseChina’s J-35A has been unveiled at an airshow[/caption] The supersonic jets are both designed for stealthiness and manoeuvrability, and with an advanced detection ability – but the Chinese craft is years after the American. Its development comes as the People’s Liberation Army challenges the US military for supremacy over flashpoints like the Taiwan Strait or the South China Sea. The new J-35A has now been seen for the first time at an air show in the southern city of Zhuhai. The jet can be seen quickly flying through the air vertically and upside down, a clip in Chinese media shows. But China’s latest craft – built by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation – has a striking resemblance to America’s supersonic stealth fighter the F-35. The design of the craft looks similar, including its air inlets, canopy, and its official designation. Experts believe that the inside of the high-tech jet could be where the main areas of design theft have occurred. The J-35A is the land-based variant of the fighter that has longer range, with the Chinese Navy also having a version for its carriers. The plane has been in development for over a decade and will also likely be exported to the countries allies like Pakistan. Chinese officials told state television: “For the first time, new equipment such as the medium-weight, stealth multi-role fighter J-35A, the HQ-19 surface-to-air missile and a new type of reconnaissance and strike unmanned aerial vehicle will be on display.” There are some differences between the craft, with the Chinese jet able to fly faster and reach Mach 2.0, while the American can only reach Mach 1.6. The Chinese fighter has two jets, to the American’s one, and it is not able to do a short take-off or land vertically, according to The Warzone. Lockheed Martin, who makes the F-35, describes their plane as the “most advanced fighter jet in the world”. They write: “The F-35 strengthens national security, enhances global partnerships and powers economic growth. Chinese Ministry Of National DefenseThe J-35 has a similar radar-defying air intake to the F-35[/caption] “It is the most lethal, survivable and connected fighter aircraft in the world, giving pilots an advantage against any adversary and enabling them to execute their mission and come home safe.” Both aircraft are able to carry a wide variety of offensive weapons including air-to-air missiles and precision guided bombs. The F-35 is able to carry slightly more munitions than its Chinese counterpart giving the Pentagon more flexibility in its war planning. The Chinese have stolen data from the Americans a number of times through the life of the F-35’s. Documents released by Edward Snowden revealed that Chinese spies had hacked America’s $2trillion F-35 programme back in 2007. In 2016, a Chinese national named Su Bin pleaded guilty to charges the US Department of Justice labelled a “years-long conspiracy” over terabytes of stolen military data. Bin stole top secret designs for America’s stealth fighters, the F-22 and F-35 in concert with high-ranking Chinese officials. Su was an aviation businessman and accessed the data through a Boeing computer in Orange County, California. The DoJ say that over time Su built relationships with Lockheed Martin’s contractors and over a period of years was able to get access to the highly prized details. The 'lost' F-35 Last year, the US military ‘lost’ an F-35 jet after its pilot was forced to eject and the plane flew on. Despite crashing onto the continental US, the Marines weren’t able to find the wreckage for days after the jet flew on in a “zombie” state. The plane and pilot belonged to the Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 based in Beaufort, not far from South Carolina’s Atlantic coast. Local congresswoman, Nancy Mace, argued on X/Twitter on Monday: “How in the hell do you lose an F-35? “How is there not a tracking device and we’re asking the public to what, find a jet and turn it in?” The debris field was found days later and just 80 miles from the £64million aircraft’s base in Charleston – finally ending the mystery that surrounded its disappearance. GettyThe F-35 fighter only has a single jet[/caption]