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A gas explosion triggered a major fire in the unincorporated community of Ashland near Hayward on Thursday after an underground line was damaged by a construction crew, fire officials said. At least one home was destroyed, windows were blown out and nearby houses shook.Six people were taken to hospital for treatment, Alameda County Deputy Fire Chief Ryan Nishimoto said. Three were sent immediately with serious injuries and three others had more minor injuries, AP news agency reported.Three structures on two separate lots were severely damaged, Nishimoto said. Some of the 75 firefighters on the scene were forced to back off momentarily after feeling electric shocks from fallen power lines.The video, which came from doorbell camera footage, showed a large building engulfed in flames and debris scattered across the area.“We were sitting in the house and it just … everything shook. Stuff fell off the walls and when we looked at the camera it was like you were watching a war video,” said ..

Candace Owens fires warning at Erika Kirk after new clip on Charlie Kirk conspiracy fight goes viral (Image via Getty) Candace Owens is very upset after a new clip showed Erika Kirk speaking about her in an interview with Bari Weiss of CBS News. The clip talked about the conspiracy stories that spread after Charlie Kirk was fatally shot on September 10 at an event at Utah Valley University. After his death, Candace Owens shared many theories online. She spoke about the Israeli government, TPUSA leaders, and even the US military. But she did not show any proof for these claims. Because of this, many people questioned her posts. So when Erika Kirk spoke about these ideas in her interview, Owens did not like the comments.Candace Owens later said she was “in a bad mood” after watching the clip. She added, “Bari Weiss refers to me as a liar and Erika Kirk does not rebut.” Owens felt Erika Kirk stayed quiet when Weiss talked about the conspiracy theories.What Erika Kirk and Bari Weiss said t..

AdvertisementUnited StatesWorldUnited States & CanadaDirector convicted of scamming millions from Netflix for unfinished sci-fi showCarl Erik Rinsch, best known for ‘47 Ronin’, was convicted of wire fraud, money laundering and other charges
Reading Time:2 minutesWhy you can trust SCMPAssociated PressPublished: 10:44am, 12 Dec 2025A Hollywood director was convicted on Thursday on charges that he scammed Netflix out of US$11 million for a show that never materialised, while he instead used the cash for lavish purchases that included several Rolls-Royces, a Ferrari and about US$1 million in mattresses and luxury bedding.
Carl Erik Rinsch, best known for directing the film 47 Ronin, was convicted of wire fraud, money laundering and other charges, according to court records and a spokesperson for federal prosecutors in New York.
In a statement, Rinsch’s lawyer Benjamin Zeman, said he thought the verdict was wrong and “could set a dangerous precedent for artists who become embroiled in contr..

AdvertisementUS-China relationsChinaMilitaryJapan, US defence chiefs cover radar row and other China tensions in phone callWashington and Tokyo share ‘serious concerns’ about regional security, reaffirm commitment to alliance
Reading Time:1 minuteWhy you can trust SCMP2Seong Hyeon ChoiPublished: 10:22am, 12 Dec 2025Updated: 10:24am, 12 Dec 2025US and Japanese defence chiefs spoke on the phone on Friday about the recent confrontation between Chinese and Japan Self-Defence Force fighter jets, as Tokyo said it did not seek to escalate the tensions.
During the call, Japan’s defence minister Shinjiro Koizumi and his US counterpart Pete Hegseth engaged in a “candid exchange” of views on the “rapidly deteriorating” security situation in the Indo-Pacific region, according to a Japanese defence ministry release.
“The two sides stated serious concerns about any actions that heighten tensions in the region, expressing that China’s actions do not contribute to peace and stability in the region,” t..

A parent of a Kentucky State University student was charged with murder and first-degree assault after an on-campus shooting at the school’s Frankfort campus on Tuesday that killed one student and critically injured another.Jacob Lee Bard, 48, was at the campus and fired shots at victims in Whitney M. Young Jr. Hall, police said in a statement. The shooting killed 19-year-old De’Jon Fox of Indianapolis. A second student remains in critical condition; his name was not released, CNN reported.Police said Bard is from Evansville, Indiana, which is about 150 miles west of Frankfort. He was booked into the Franklin County Jail on charges of murder and first-degree assault. Bard is represented by a public defender at the Franklin County Department of Public Advocacy, which declined to comment on the case.University police officers who were near the scene of the altercation arrested Bard immediately, investigators said. Surveillance footage and videos taken by others at the scene have been rev..

US President Donald Trump unveiled the long-awaited Gold Card visa at the White House on Wednesday, billing it as a million-dollar fast track to US citizenship and a tool for companies to retain foreign graduates. He said it was “somewhat like a green card, but with big advantages,” adding that firms could “go to any school, buy a card, and keep that person in the United States.” The White House began accepting applications from Wednesday afternoon. The card costs $1 million for individuals and $2 million for corporate sponsors.Also Read: 'Direct path to citizenship': Donald Trump launches Gold Card, cites corporate demand — what it meansWhat is the Gold Card?
The Gold Card is a new US visa pathway based on an applicant’s ability to deliver substantial benefit to the United States. It carried a $15,000 DHS processing fee and a $1 million gift after vetting. Successful applicants received lawful permanent residence under an EB-1 or EB-2 classification.What does it cost? – $15..