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Located on the eighth and ninth floor of Pepper Street’s multi-storey car park, the impressive new 300-capacity Rooftop Social Club has undergone significant refurbishments in recent months, with finishing touches being made this week ahead of the grand opening.

Guests can expect a winter wonderland on arrival, with the venue fully decorated for the festive season, alongside and airstream trailer serving festive food and drink.

https://www.chesterstandard.co.uk/news/24715350.chester-rooftop-social-club-set-open-week/

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A year's worth of rain fell in just a few hours in Valencia, eastern Spain, causing floods in which more than 220 people died.

Rivers of mud destroyed towns and villages. People drowned in their homes and cars. The damage is estimated at £8.3bn.

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Russia threatens Europe with strikes while gnawing at Ukraine’s east

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Asia's longest motorway runs 12,000 miles through 15 countries

The longest road route in Asia is not for the faint hearted with one stretch tackling a staggering 15 countries.

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Plane passengers film Iceland volcano lava from above

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Passengers have filmed lava floes and smoke as their plane passed over a volcano on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula.

It was erupting for the seventh time in less than a year. Down below, the car park at Iceland's world-famous Blue Lagoon was engulfed in lava.

Hotel guests and nearby homes were evacuated but authorities said there was no threat to air travel in the region.

Prior to 2021 the Reykjanes Peninsula had not seen volcanic activity in 800 years.

Seismologist say a long-dormant fault line lying under the landscape has reawakened.
Video editor: Serene Khalifeh

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Plane passengers film Iceland volcano lava from above

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Down below, a car park was swallowed up by lava and buildings were evacuated, but there was said to be no threat to air travel in the region.

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Satellite imagery was used to discover a 11km track through the Nullarbor desert which previous satellite imagery have proved came from a tornado that tore through the region in 2022.

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More than 5 million children have fled their homes in Sudan, after what is becoming the world's worst humanitarian crisis. Famine is taking over the country, so much than children are running from the hunger. The UN is being blocked by Sudans' de facto leader Gen Burhan as he and his army control the checkpoints and entry points into the country.

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Emperor penguin released at sea 20 days after waddling onto Australian beach

The only emperor penguin known to have swum from Antarctica to Australia has been released at sea 20 days after he waddled ashore on a popular tourist beach

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Emperor penguin released at sea 20 days after waddling onto Australian beach

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The only emperor penguin known to have swum from Antarctica to Australia has been released at sea 20 days after he waddled ashore on a popular tourist beach

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French MPs overwhelmingly condemn EU-South America trade deal as opposition spreads across Europe

French lawmakers from across the political spectrum voted in favor of a government declaration condemning as “unacceptable” a proposed trade agreement between the European Union and the South American countries of the Mercosur bloc on Tuesday.

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French MPs overwhelmingly condemn EU-South America trade deal as opposition spreads across Europe

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Poland also expressed its disapproval of the deal on Tuesday.

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Many animals have returned to the Chernobyl exclusion zone, and some species are thriving:

Mammals: Populations of elk, deer, and wild boar have increased to levels similar to nearby reserves. The wolf population is over seven times larger than elsewhere.

Birds: Some species of birds have returned to the area.

Other animals: Eurasian lynx, brown bear, black storks, and European bison have been photographed in the area.

The removal of humans from the area has allowed wildlife to return. Some say that the effects of human habitation, such as hunting, farming, and forestry, are worse than the effects of radiation.

However, there is scientific debate about the health of the animals that live around Chernobyl. Some scientists have found that radiation has had negative effects on the health and abundance of animals.

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London and Paris want to create a "core of allies in Europe" as fears intensify that President-elect Donald Trump could withdraw military support for Ukraine.

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London and Paris want to create a "core of allies in Europe" as fears intensify that President-elect Donald Trump could withdraw military support for Ukraine.

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More than 100 metres (328ft) beneath them is a lost world of ancient forests, plants and animals. All they can see is leafy tree tops and hear is the echoes of cicadas and birds bouncing off the cliffs.

These cavities in the earth trap time, preserving unique, delicate ecosystems for centuries. Their discovery, however, has begun to draw tourists and developers, raising fears that these incredible, rare finds could be lost forever.

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China’s sinkholes: Tourist boom threatens ancient forests

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These caves were unexplored for thousands of years, protected by swirling mists and terrifying tales.

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The families fleeing Delhi to escape deadly smog.

“The alarming rate of deterioration of the quality of air in Delhi due to air pollution [is] caused by, but not limited to, traffic congestion, dust from widespread construction, industrial pollution and the seasonal use of firecrackers,” his petition said.

The court issued guidelines to regulate the use of crackers but Delhi's air continued to deteriorate.

In November 2022, Mr Bhasin's daughter was diagnosed with asthma. Earlier this year, he and his family left for the coastal state of Goa, around 2,000km (1,242 miles) away, where they live now.

It's not a choice available to millions in Delhi, who cannot leave their livelihoods and are forced to live through the smog.

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Air pollution in Delhi: The families fleeing India’s capital to escape deadly smog

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Some people are choosing to move out of Delhi to escape the Indian capital’s poisonous air.

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Wildfires have been destroying forests and savannahs throughout South America, breaking records with the severity. Prevention measures are starting to be put in place including higher fines and landscape planning.

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Trafalgar Square's 'majestic' Christmas tree felled

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Trafalgar Square Christmas tree is felled in Norway

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A Norwegian spruce is sent from Oslo every year to thank Britain for its support during World War Two.

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War-stricken Sudan is in danger of becoming another failed state because civil society is disintegrating amid a proliferation of armed groups, the head of a leading international aid agency has told the BBC.

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Sudan in danger of becoming a failed state, Jan Egeland warns

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Sudan is disintegrating after more than 18 months of civil war, aid chief Jan Egeland warns

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After a busy week in parliament, Anthony Albanese now has all he needs to trigger an election.

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Amazon Rainforest - Codajás, State of Amazonas, Brazil

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Amazon Rainforest - Codajás, State of Amazonas, Brazil

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Amazon Rainforest - Codajás, State of Amazonas, Brazil

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Soy farming can be bad for the environment:

Deforestation

Soy farming is the second largest agricultural driver of deforestation worldwide, after beef. In tropical countries like Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay, soy production has destroyed vast areas of natural habitat and biodiversity hotspots.

Greenhouse gases

Soy production generates greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change.

Soil erosion

Converting natural vegetation or grazing lands to crops increases soil erosion.

Soil compaction

Heavy farm vehicles and machinery compact the soil, making it lower in quality and less productive.

Water quality and quantity

Soybean cultivation negatively affects water quality and quantity.

Indirect impacts

Soybean production negatively affects cultural value, social relations, and sense of security.

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NATO jets scrambled after Russian aircraft spotted over Baltic Sea and off Norway

Italy and Norway quickly mobilized jets after Russian aircraft were spotted over the Baltic Sea and along the Norwegian coast on Tuesday.

The Italian Air Force intercepted a Russian Coot-A jet over the Baltic Sea, NATO Allied Air Command said in a post on social media.

Norwegian Air Force F-35s identified multiple Russian aircraft flying in international airspace off the country's coast, NATO said.

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Donald Trump wins the US election, meaning immense changes for immigration, political relations and domestic challenges. Changes in relations with Russia, could mean devastation for Ukraine.

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Many islands are at risk of being lost to rising sea levels due to climate change, including:

The Maldives

The Maldives are the lowest lying islands on Earth, and 80% of the island nation could become uninhabitable by 2050. The coral reefs are also deteriorating, which threatens the country's economy, biodiversity, and existence.

Kiribati

The nation of Kiribati is losing land every year, and many of its islands are becoming uninhabitable. The majority of the country's population lives on just a few islands, including Tarawa, where more than half of the residents live.

Gardi Sugdub

This small island in the San Blas archipelago off Panama's northern Caribbean coast is disappearing due to sea level rise. Residents are being relocated to the mainland.

Solomon Islands

Five uninhabited islands in the Solomon Islands have already vanished beneath the waves in the past century. Several reefs have also vanished into the South Pacific.

Other islands at risk include: Tuvalu and The Marshall Islands.

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Mount Marapi eruption: Indonesia volcano spews ash 3km into sky.

The most active volcano on the western Indonesian island of Sumatra has erupted.

Sped-up footage shows Mount Marapi spewing a huge tower of ash 3km (around 10,000ft) into the air, as authorities raised the alert to the second-highest level. The volcanic ash spread widely and blanketed roads and cars.

At least 11 climbers were found dead following the eruption, a rescue official said, and a search to find 12 more missing was temporarily stopped over safety concerns.

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More than one in five Britons unaware Europe is a continent, research claims

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Millions of Britons struggle with basic geography knowledge - with more than one in five unaware Europe is a continent, a study has claimed.

Researchers found two thirds did not know the world is made up of seven land masses, with one in four wrongly believing there are only five.

Three per cent - or the equivalent of 1.5m people - even thought Great Britain was its own continent.

Another one in four did not know Antarctica was home to the South Pole.

The results of the poll, commissioned by British Airways Holidays, have been released as A-level and GCSE students receive their results.

Despite 63 per cent of adults describing themselves as "well-travelled", visiting an average of nine countries each, just one third beleived they would pass GCSE geography if they were to take the exam now.

Fifty-four per cent of respondents admitted their knowledge of world locations, capital cities or landmarks was "ok" or "poor".

Almost one quarter thought the most commonly spoken language in Brazil was Spanish, rather than the correct answer of Portuguese.

One in four were unable to name the Sahara Desert as the largest hot desert in the world.

Sixty-three per cent had no idea there were 50 stars on the US flag and more than one in 10 struggled to name India as the home of the Taj Mahal.

One-tenth also thought the Canadian city of Toronto was a US state and the same number pinpointed Athens as the home of the famous Colosseum instead of Rome.

But when it came to capital cities, Britons did a little better with 78 per cent able to identify Copenhagen as the capital of Denmark and 85 per cent correctly naming Washington DC as the US capital.

The research polled 9,000 adults from 13 countries, including the US, France, Germany, Russia, Brazil and Australia.

One in four Australians struggled to name the Colosseum's home as Rome, while almost one in five French respondents and one in 10 Italians were not aware their home countries contained part of the Alps.

Only 54 per cent of Australians correctly said Budapest was the capital of Hungary, whereas UK-based respondents fared better with 66 per cent selecting the correct answer.

Six in 10 Germans could name India as the home of the Taj Mahal and a third of Russians did not know Brazil's language is Portuguese.

Claire Bentley, managing director of British Airways Holidays, said: "We all know most love to travel and our holidays are often one of the highlights of the year.

"But it's unsurprising that Brits scored highly when asked to pick out capital cities.

"New destinations are opening up all the time [and] the web has made the world more accessible."

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More than one in five Britons unaware Europe is a continent, research claims

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Millions of Britons struggle with basic geography knowledge - with more than one in five unaware Europe is a continent, a study has claimed. Researchers found two thirds did not know the world is made up of seven land masses, with one in four wrongly believing there are only five.

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Super typhoon Man-Yi makes landfall on Philippines main island.

A super typhoon has made second landfall on the Philippines' main island of Luzon, with forecasters warning of "life-threatening storm surge", heavy rains and severe winds.

Man-Yi, known locally as Pepito, first touched down on the country’s eastern Cantanduanes island at 21:40 local time (13:40 GMT) on Saturday, with maximum sustained wind speeds of 195 km/h (121mph), the state forecaster said.

More than a million people have been ordered to evacuate since warnings were first issued.

Man-Yi is the sixth typhoon to hit the Philippines in a month, with at least 160 people known to have died in the five previous storms.

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Since summer 2021, thousands of people have travelled to Belarus with the aim of crossing into Latvia, Lithuania or Poland in search of peace and safety in the European Union (EU). The Belarusian government is alleged to have orchestrated the sharp increase in people attempting to cross into Europe in retaliation for EU sanctions. But whatever its origins, it is a fact that with few safe routes to Europe, and amid spiralling conflicts, escalating crises and deepening global inequality, Belarus has become a major transit country for people on the move.

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Māori Party MP Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke rose to her feet inside the New Zealand parliamentary chamber, began to perform a haka and ripped up the piece of legislation that is currently dividing the nation. Protest are starting to pop up all over Australia against the abolishment of The Treaty of Waitangi.

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War in Gaza creates political tension amongst many countries including the US, Israel and many other UN countries. The active war has destroyed the landscape

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South-East Asia has a crucial role in the world’s energy future

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Following two decades of remarkable growth, the countries of Asean are collectively poised to become the world’s fourth-largest economy by 2030. Given this trajectory, South-East Asia will cement its position as an energy heavyweight.

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Missing hiker found alive after 50 days in northern B.C. wilderness

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A missing hiker who spent 50 days alone in the frozen wilderness of northern British Columbia has been found alive.

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More than 10 people have been killed and many others are feared dead after heavy rains caused landslides in eastern Uganda.

The Uganda Red Cross Society said on Thursday at least 13 bodies had been recovered after landslides “completely buried” 40 homes in six villages of the mountainous district of Bulambuli the previous night.

Images on local media showed huge swaths of fallen earth covering the land in the village of Masugu, about a five-hour drive from the capital, Kampala. Videos and photographs shared on social media purported to show people digging for survivors in the village of Kimono.

The Uganda Red Cross Society said the rescue effort was continuing but the death toll was likely to rise.

“We lost about 30 people,” district commissioner Faheera Mpalanyi told the AFP news agency, adding that six bodies, including that of a baby, had been recovered so far.

“Given the devastation and the size of the area affected and from what the affected families are telling us, several people are missing and probably buried in the debris,” she said.

The heavy rains in recent days caused flooding in the northwest after a tributary of the Nile River burst its banks, prompting the prime minister’s office to issue a disaster alert on Wednesday, saying that main roads across the country had been cut off.

Emergency teams were sent to rescue stranded motorists.

A road connecting the country with South Sudan was impassable late on Wednesday, with emergency boat crews deployed near the town of Pakwach.

“Unfortunately, one of the boats capsized, resulting in the death of one engineer,” Uganda’s defence forces said on X.

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EL ALTO, Bolivia (AP) — Fuel is rapidly becoming one of Bolivia’s scarcest commodities.

Long lines of vehicles snake for several kilometers outside gas stations all over Bolivia, once South America’s second-largest producer of natural gas. Some of the queues don’t budge for days.

While frustration builds, drivers like Victor García now eat, sleep and socialize around their stationary trucks, waiting to buy just a few gallons of diesel — unless the station runs dry.

“We don’t know what’s going to happen, but we’re going to be worse off,” said García, 66, who inched closer to the pump Tuesday as the hours ticked by in El Alto, a bare-bones sprawl beside Bolivia’s capital in the Andean altiplano.

Bolivia’s monthslong fuel crunch comes as the nation’s foreign currency reserves plummet, leaving Bolivians unable to find U.S. dollars at banks and exchange houses. Imported goods that were once commonplace have become scarce.

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‘Everything is expensive!’ Bolivia faces a shocking economic collapse

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Across what was once South America’s second-largest producer of natural gas, everyone is searching for fuel.

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Avalanche!!

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‘Widespread dangerous avalanche conditions’: Upcoming storm expected to increase avy danger across Colorado

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Teams with the Colorado Avalanche Information Center have been assessing snowpack around the state ahead of this week’s snowstorm.

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Asia’s chronic air pollution has chronic health costs

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Japanese company Uniqlo says they aren’t using Xinjiang cotton for their products. It becomes too political if they disclose what materials are being used. But this is all done in order to continue to compete with other big brand names on the rise like Shein.

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In 2022, tough US regulations on the import of goods from Xinjiang came into effect.

Many global brands removed products using Xinjiang cotton from their shelves, which led to fierce backlash in China. Brands such as H&M, Nike, Burberry, Esprit and Adidas were boycotted.

Sweden's H&M saw its clothing pulled from major e-commerce stores in China.

At the time, Mr Yanai - who is Japan's richest man - refused to confirm or deny whether Xinjiang cotton was used in Uniqlo clothing, saying he wanted "to be neutral between the US and China".

His decision not to take a side helped Uniqlo to remain popular in China's huge retail market.

But speaking to the BBC in Tokyo about the firm's measures to be more transparent about where the materials in its clothes come from and how they are made, he said: "We're not using [cotton from Xinjiang]."

"By mentioning which cotton we're using..." he continued, before pausing and ending his answer with "Actually, it gets too political if I say anymore so let's stop here".

Isaac Stone Fish, the chief executive and founder of Strategy Risks, a business intelligence firm with a China focus highlights the pressures on firms from both China and the US.

"Not a single large company can remain politically neutral anymore," he says.

"Both Beijing and Washington want companies to choose sides, and Tokyo will continue to lean closer to the United States in this matter."

Even though Uniqlo has been expanding aggressively in Europe and the US, in Mr Yanai's own words, "we are not a known brand globally" and Asia is still its biggest market.

The company has more stores in China than in its home country Japan, and Mr Yanai says he does not plan to change that strategy despite challenges in the world's second biggest economy.

"There are 1.4 billion people in China and we only have 900 to 1,000 stores," he says. "I think we can increase that to 3,000."

Meanwhile, China is Uniqlo's single biggest manufacturing hub. The company also makes clothes in countries including Vietnam, Bangladesh, Indonesia and India.

In 2009, when 80% of its products were made in China, Mr Yanai told the BBC that China was getting too expensive and the firm was shifting production away "to lower-wage Cambodia to keep prices low".

He now says it was challenging to repeat China's success as the world's factory in other countries as transferring years of experience proved difficult.

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Uniqlo does not use Xinjiang cotton, boss says

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It is the first time the CEO of the chain's owner, Fast Retailing, has directly addressed the issue.

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Satellites find 4 new penguin colonies from their poo

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Satellites find 4 new penguin colonies from their poo

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Scientists foun 57million yo penguin fossils, 3 times the size of any extant penguin