A huge blaze has torn through a Caribbean island resort, ravaging more than 200 homes and businesses and forcing hundreds of residents to flee.
Dramatic video shared on social media showed rows of seaside properties engulfed in flames and collapsing on Guanaja, which lies around 44 miles (70km) off the north coast of Honduras.
Image:The huge blaze sent up billows of smoke
Image:Hundreds of residents were forced to flee
The country's air force dropped water in the effort to put out the inferno, but not before it had caused widespread devastation.
Footage taken after the fire was brought under control showed dozens of houses with no roofs and windows.
Government minister Max Gonzales said: "We can confirm that we have no human losses, but vast material losses."
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Image:The inferno left a trail of devastation in its wake
Four people were injured in the blaze, which destroyed 90 houses and damaged another 120, including some used as businesses, Mr Gonzales said.
The fire broke out before dawn and residents struggled to bring it under control, as the island does not have a fire service.
Guanaja is a picturesque island, popular among divers for its warm, crystal clear waters and large barrier reef.
More than three dozen Chinese fighter jets have flown into Taiwan airspace in the largest ever incursion by Beijing into the island nation's defence zone.
The People's Liberation Army deployed 18 J-16 fighter jets and two H-6 bombers, among the 25 planes flown to mark the founding of the People's Republic of China on Friday.
A further 13 planes were sent near Taiwanese airspace in a second manoeuvre and on Saturday another 20 aircraft were reported.
In response, Taiwan deployed air patrol forces and tracked the Chinese aircraft on its air defence systems, the self-ruled island's defence ministry said.
"China has been wantonly engaged in military aggression, damaging regional peace," Taiwan Premier Su Tseng-chang told reporters on Saturday morning.
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China has sent planes toward the island it claims is part of its territory on an almost daily basis in recent years, often in the southwestern part of its air defence zone close to the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands.
Last week, the PLA flew 24 fighter jets toward Taiwan after it announced it would apply to join a Pacific trade group that China also applied to join.
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Taiwan split from China during the 1949 civil war and Beijing has never ruled out using force to reunify with Taiwan.
China also opposed Taiwan's involvement in international organisations.
It has previously said it carries out the flights to protect China's sovereignty and to deter "collusion" between Taiwan and the US.
On Friday, the Chinese government called Tiawan foreign minister Joseph Wu a "shrilling" fly for his efforts to promote the country on the international scene.
Jorja Halliday did not have any known underlying medical conditions (Picture: PA)
A mum whose teenage daughter died from Covid on the day she was due to have her vaccine has urged children not to be ‘blasé’ about the virus.
Jorja Halliday, 15, from Portsmouth, lost her life at the Queen Alexandra Hospital on Tuesday after being tested for the virus four days earlier.
Her mother, Tracey Halliday, 40, said that The Portsmouth Academy student was a ‘loving girl’, a talented kickboxer and an aspiring musician.
She added: ‘She had lots of friends. She was very active, she liked to go out and spend time with her friends and loved spending time with her brothers and sisters.
‘Growing up she turned into a beautiful young lady, always wanting to help others, always there for everybody.
‘It’s heart-wrenching because your kids are always meant to outlive you, and that’s the one thing I can’t get over.’
Jorja’s mum, Tracey Halliday , has warned children not to be ‘blasé’ about the virus (Picture: PA)
Tracey said that Jorja first developed flu-like symptoms before she underwent the PCR test which gave a positive result, leading to her isolating at their home.
She said that Jorja was struggling to eat on Sunday but by Monday she could not eat at all due to her throat hurting.
Tracey said she contacted a doctor who prescribed antibiotics but when Jorja’s condition worsened.
She was seen by a doctor who said her heart rate was double what it should be and she was taken to hospital.
Jorja leaves behind her siblings, Daisie, Kallum, Julie and Oscar (Picture: PA)
Her mum added: ‘They realised how serious it was and I was still allowed to touch her, hold her hand, hug her and everything else.
‘They did allow me that. I’m at the point where I can’t comprehend that it’s happened.
‘I was with her the whole time. They tried to put her on a ventilator to give her body a chance to recover.
‘Her heart rate didn’t stabilise. Her heart couldn’t take the strain. They worked as well as I think they could medically but were unable to save her.
Jorja was described as a ‘loving girl’, a talented kickboxer and an aspiring musician (Picture: PA)
‘She had the best of care, I know that they did everything they could to save her.’
Tracey said that preliminary results from the hospital’s medical examiner indicated Jorja had Covid myocarditis, heart inflammation caused by the virus.
She said that Jorja did not have any known underlying medical conditions.
Tracey added: ‘She was going to have the jab on Tuesday. But because she tested positive on Saturday she was isolating. When her isolation period was over she was going to get it.
‘It’s heart-wrenching because your kids are always meant to outlive you, and that’s the one thing I can’t get over’ (Picture: PA)
Jorja’s martial arts teacher, Badr Bahaj, described her a ‘role model’ to fellow students at the AG Martial Arts centre in Portsmouth.
He said: ‘All the kids knew her and loved her and she was a role model to so many. It’s a shame and absolutely gutting.
‘Jorja was one of the children that really did develop and thrive in our club.
‘She wanted to teach it when she was older. She also had a passion for learning and martial arts was no exception. It’s devastating, it’s going to break so many hearts.
‘She’s someone we’ll never forget. She’s one of the star students.’
Jorja’s martial arts teacher said she was one of his school’s ‘star student’s (Picture: PA)
Her school’s principal, Rachel Grey, said: ‘We are desperately sad about the tragic death of one of our much-loved students. At this incredibly sad time, our hearts go out to her family, whom Jorja loved dearly.
‘Jorja was a kind-hearted, principled and passionate young person who was enormously popular among her peers in Year 11 and across the whole school.
‘She was, indeed, a friend to us all. She stood up for community values and was an excellent student, especially talented in art. Our school community is united in our grief and in deep shock.
‘We are pulling together during this very difficult time, including providing our students with all the support they need, including through our specialist pastoral teams.’
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has announced he is planning to retire from politics and will not be running for vice president in next year's elections when his term ends next year.
He said his decision had been prompted by many Filipinos who opposed his vice-presidential bid in surveys and public forums.
It means he will avoid a legal battle with opponents who questioned the move ahead of the 9 May elections.
Mr Duterte said: "The overwhelming sentiment of the Filipino is that I'm not qualified, and it would be a violation of the constitution.
"In obedience to the will of the people... I will follow what you wish and today I announce my retirement from politics."
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The 76-year-old, known for his hardline anti-drugs crackdown, brash rhetoric and unorthodox political style, had earlier accepted the ruling party's nomination as a candidate for the vice presidency.
The decision led to outrage from his opponents, who have attacked his record on human rights in the country that is known as one of the most democratic in Asia.
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Mr Duterte made the surprise announcement as he at a commission on elections centre with his former aide, senator Bong Go, as he registered his own bid to run for vice president.
Under the constitution, Philippine presidents are limited to one six-year term and opponents said they would take it to the supreme court if Mr Duterte pursued his bid.
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Moment main Philippines TV network forced off air
Two recent presidents have run for elected positions after their terms ended, but Mr Duterte was the first to express his intent to run for vice president.
If he had been successful and the elected leader died or was incapacitated for any reason, he would have been propelled back into the role of head of state.
Mr Duterte's withdrawal could, however, open the way for his daughter to run for president.
Sara Duterte, who replaced her father as mayor of Davao city, has topped independent public opinion surveys on who should lead the country next.
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122 smuggled vehicles crushed in the Philippines
She said she would not run for president while her father was keen to seek the vice presidency. Ms Duterte, who is on a week's medical leave, is yet to comment publicly.
So far, more than 6,000 mostly petty suspects have died since Mr Duterte launched a crackdown on illegal drugs after he took office in 2016.
It has prompted the International Criminal Court to launch an investigation into the killings but Mr Duterte has vowed not to co-operate.
Human Rights Watch says Mr Duterte will do everything in his power to support a successor who will thwart efforts to make him account for any of his alleged crimes.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte says he is retiring from politics and will not stand in elections next year.
The 76-year-old leader said last month that he would run for the vice-presidency in 2022. The country's constitution only permits presidents to serve a single six-year term.
But he now says he will withdraw, as "the overwhelming sentiment of the Filipinos is that I am not qualified".
The move comes amid speculation that his daughter could run for president.
Mr Duterte, a controversial "strongman" figure, came to power in 2016 promising to reduce crime and fix the country's drug crisis.
But critics say that during his five years in power, Mr Duterte has encouraged police to carry out thousands of extrajudicial killings of suspects in what he has called his "war on drugs".
Mr Duterte's daughter Sara Duterte-Carpio, who is currently mayor of the southern city of Davao, has given mixed messages about running for high office.
Last month Ms Duterte-Carpio said that she would not join the race because she and her father had agreed that only one of them would stand in the election next May.
However, she has led every opinion poll conducted this year.
Mr Duterte announced his surprise retirement at the venue in Manila where he was expected to register his candidacy.
He said that standing for the vice-presidency "would be a violation of the constitution to circumvent the law, the spirit of the constitution".
His spokesman Harry Roque, however, did not entirely rule out a political role for Mr Duterte in the future.
Mr Roque told the BBC that the announcement "means that he is not interested in the vice-presidency anymore - as to whether or not he will completely retire from politics, I would have to clarify this point with him".
President Duterte's announcement should be taken with a pinch of salt.
He has form in saying similar things, only to make U-turns weeks later. In September 2015, in the build-up to the presidential elections, the then-mayor of Davao said he planned to "retire from public life for good".
But in a last-minute move in November that year, Mr Duterte was chosen as the PDP-Laban party's candidate. He went on to win the presidency in May 2016.
Commentators say Saturday's announcement is in keeping with the "2015 playbook", with some speculating Mr Duterte could be a "super sub" for his ally Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, who has filed his candidacy for vice-president.
The drama plays well with voters, many of whom spend evenings glued to their TVs watching the twists and turns of the saga.
Mr Duterte is a shrewd operator who will know the announcement will place his family's name at the heart of his country's "tsismis", the Filipino word for gossip.
When Mr Duterte first announced his intention to run, there was widespread speculation that he would seek a politically weak running mate in order to rule from the number-two role.
He had also publicly mused that, as vice-president, he would be immune from prosecution by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for presiding over the brutal "war on drugs" that has killed thousands in the country.
However, it was unclear whether he would have retained legal immunity.
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According to the human-rights organisation Amnesty International, more than 7,000 people were killed by police or unknown armed attackers in the first six months of Mr Duterte's presidency.
In June, the ICC prosecutor applied to open a full investigation into drug war killings in the Philippines, saying crimes against humanity could have been committed.
If Ms Duterte-Carpio were to be elected president, correspondents say she would be likely to protect her father from criminal charges in the Philippines and from ICC prosecutors.
Worldwide deaths related to Covid-19 surpassed 5 million on Friday, with unvaccinated people particularly exposed to the virulent Delta strain.
The variant has exposed the wide disparities in vaccination rates between rich and poor nations, and the upshot of vaccine hesitancy in some western nations.
More than half of all global deaths reported on a seven-day average were in the US, Russia, Brazil, Mexico and India.
While it took just over a year for the death toll to hit 2.5 million, the next 2.5 million deaths were recorded in just under eight months, according to a Reuters analysis.
Worldwide deaths related to Covid-19 surpassed 5 million on Friday, with unvaccinated people particularly exposed to the virulent Delta strain
The variant has exposed the wide disparities in vaccination rates between rich and poor nations, and the upshot of vaccine hesitancy in some western nations. Pictured: A hospital in Gaza
People visit Suzanne Brennan Firstenberg's 'In America: Remember,' a memorial for Americans who died due to the coronavirus disease yesterday
An average of 8,000 deaths were reported daily across the world over the last week, or around five deaths every minute. But the rate has been slowing in recent weeks.
There has been increasing focus in recent days on getting vaccines to poorer nations, where many people are yet to receive a first dose, even as their richer counterparts have begun giving booster shots.
More than half of the world has yet to receive at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, according to Our World in Data.
The World Health Organization this week said its COVAX distribution programme would, for the first time, distribute shots only to countries with the lowest levels of coverage.
Co-led by the WHO, COVAX has since January largely allocated doses proportionally among its 140-plus beneficiary states according to population size.
An average of 8,000 deaths were reported daily across the world over the last week, or around five deaths every minute. But the rate has been slowing in recent weeks. Pictured: Mourners recite a prayer near the corpse of a Syrian who died of coronavirus during a funeral in the village of Barisha in the Idlib province this week
Emergency personnel remove a victim on a stretcher after a fire in the Covid-19 ICU section of the Hospital for Infectious Diseases in the Black Sea port of Constanta, Romania yesterday
'For the October supply we designed a different methodology, only covering participants with low sources of supply,' Mariangela Simao, WHO Assistant Director General for Access to Vaccines, said in a recording of a conference presentation last week posted on the WHO's website.
The US, which has been battling vaccine misinformation that has caused about one-third of the population to avoid inoculations, surpassed 700,000 deaths on Friday, the highest toll of any country.
US cases and hospitalizations have been trending lower, but health officials are bracing for a possible resurgence as cooler weather forces more activities indoors.
Russia reported 887 coronavirus-related deaths on Friday, the largest single-day death toll it has recorded since the pandemic began and the fourth day in a row it has set that record.
Russia (pictured, Moscow yesterday) reported 887 coronavirus-related deaths on Friday, the largest single-day death toll it has recorded since the pandemic began and the fourth day in a row it has set that record
Only 33 per cent of Russia's eligible population has received a first vaccine dose.
As a region, South America has the highest death toll in the world accounting for 21 per cent of all reported deaths, followed by North America and Eastern Europe contributing more than 14 per cent of all fatalities each, according to Reuters analysis.
However, India, one of the first countries ravaged by the Delta variant, has gone from an average of 4,000 deaths a day to less than 300 as its vaccination campaign is rolled out.
About 47 per cent of India's eligible population has received a first shot, with officials administering around 7,896,950 doses per day over the past week, a Reuters analysis of Our World in Data showed.
The Delta variant is now the dominant strain around the globe and has been reported in 187 out of 194 World Health Organization member countries.
