Demonstrators and civil rights groups in Senegal are accusing the country's security forces of working with armed civilians who shot and killed several people who participated in recent anti-government protests

Lionel Messi is expected to make his MLS debut for Inter Miami CF this Friday. Some tickets for the game are going for nearly $100,000. So to say the soccer world is at a fever pitch would be an understatement.But not only were fans waiting to see Messi... they were waiting to get his official M...

Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie became the latest Republican to enter the 2024 presidential campaign, adding an

Robin Gosens has scored twice after his first ever Bundesliga start in 10-man Union Berlin’s 4-1 win at Darmstadt

With the tragedy and horror wreaked in Morocco last week, it's unsurprising that people’s focus hasn’t been on the skies. And yet, Friday’s devastating earthquake, has also sparked renewed interest in a mysterious aerial phenomenon. Footage shared to social media just moments before the 6.8-magnitude tremor struck the High Atlas mountains appears to show blinding lights flashing across the sky. Experts have suggested that the jaw-dropping sight is evidence of an enigmatic natural occurrence called “earthquake lights”. Reports of these bright flashes go back centuries. And yet, very little is known about them, to the point that scientists aren’t even sure they’re real. Indeed, some experts have concluded that there isn’t sufficient proof to support their existence, the United States Geological Survey notes. Nevertheless, “people have wondered about them forever," Karen Daniels, a physicist at North Carolina State University, told the New York Times. "It's one of those persistent mysteries that hang around and never quite get nailed." The issue with studying earthquake lights is that since earthquakes are impossible to predict, so are any preceding celestial pyrotechnics. Not knowing when or where they will occur means researchers can’t preemptively install the necessary equipment needed to detect them. Essentially, the only evidence we have comes from eyewitness accounts and, more recently, video recordings. And there is an abundance of the former, with a 2014 study noting that aerial luminous phenomena were reported in relation to 65 earthquakes which occurred in Europe and America over a period of 200 years. These descriptions of earthquake lights vary in their details, with some recalling on-and-of lightning-style flashes, and others minutes-long glows of different colours. “All of these have been reported by observers,” John Ebel, a seismologist at Boston Collegel told the NYT. “Which ones are actually true, and which ones are products of their imagination, we can’t really say.” One theory behind the formation of earthquake lights is that they are the result of friction between tectonic plates generating electricity. However, most experts are unconvinced by this hypothesis, including Dr Daniels. She told the NYT: “Rock on rock is not a situation where people have been able to generate large charge separation. And so it just doesn’t seem like a very good explanation for what people see.” Other scientists have suggested electrical arcing from power lines shaken by earthquakes could be responsible for the sky flares. But Dr Daniels acknowledged it’s still possible that there’s no link at all between the lights and tectonic events. “We’re comforted by things that we can understand, and we’re scared by things we don’t,” she pointed out. “I think that’s part of the reason we’re so fascinated by this phenomenon.” Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

By Dan Williams JERUSALEM Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was undergoing medical checks in an Israeli hospital on Saturday

'Morning Joe' host Mika Brzezinski paid a tribute to her late mom who suffered from a serious illness

Officials have tripled the number of resources Monday in the search for the 2-year-old girl and her 9-month-old brother, who were swept away after a ferocious storm pummeled southeast Pennsylvania.

Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson hailed Joachim Andersen’s “colossus” performance after the Dane’s late equaliser secured a 1-1 draw against Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium. Kevin Schade’s stunning opener was cancelled out by Andersen in the 76th minute as both Brentford and Palace shared the spoils for a fifth consecutive time in the Premier League. Hodgson lauded the centre-back’s overall performance which nullified the threat of Brentford duo Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo, who both fired blanks for the first time this season. “I thought Joachim Andersen was the outstanding player today in our team and maybe the outstanding player on the field,” Hodgson said. “I thought he was a colossus today, he won every header in both ends of the field and I thought he won every challenge he went into, he was a leader figure and he drove the team forward. “He wasn’t afraid to come more than midway into the opponent’s half as we saw and he was playing balls and spraying it around from about 25 yards from goal and that was a great responsibility that he took there. “I think it was very fitting that he got the goal even though it wasn’t a classic.” For the first time this season Brentford appeared lost without focal point Ivan Toney, who is suspended, as they struggled to look threatening in the final third. Frank highlighted his frustration at his side’s attacking performance and credited Hodgson’s Palace for their defensive efforts. “No ( I wasn’t happy with the amount of Brentford chances) but I am not surprised,” Frank added. “For whatever reason and I can’t figure it out, the two teams (Brentford and Palace) cancel each other out more or less in these games. “In five games we’ve played them the amount of chances the two sides have created are very limited and I would have loved to have taken more. “I think in the half opening transitions we lacked the final pass action to create more and we should’ve won 1-0 which is so frustrating.” Schade’s 18th-minute goal was his first for Brentford since his switch in January and Frank talked up the winger’s qualities. “I am so pleased for him, it’s so important for the confidence and what a goal it was,” Frank said. “I loved his initiative to run at the opponent where he got all the way into the box and was composed before a fantastic finish so hopefully he can do more of those nice goals.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live How England’s players rated during Twickenham defeat to Fiji Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou toasts as early birthday present Liverpool lucky with availability of centre-backs this season – Jurgen Klopp

By David Milliken LONDON British retail sales rose more than expected in June, boosted by unusually hot weather

By Jason Lange and Richard Cowan WASHINGTON The two declared candidates for speaker of the U.S. House of

The Week 1 result that seems really meaningful but turns out not to be is a time-honored tradition in college football