Ecuador's National Electoral Council announced on Tuesday that early presidential elections would be held on Aug. 20 after President Guillermo Lasso dissolved the National Assembly by decree last week and brought forward the vote scheduled for 2025. Lasso's decision to dissolve the opposition-led legislature came as lawmakers tried to impeach him for not stopping a deal between the state-owned oil transport company and a private tanker company, accusations he denies. In disbanding the assembly, the president made first use of an option available to him under the constitution in conflicts with the legislative branch. Elections had to be called within three months, for both the assembly and presidency, and the winners will serve out what would otherwise have been the remainder of the terms of those elected officials. If there is no outright winner a runoff vote will be held in October. Lasso can choose to run in the presidential election. In the meantime, he can rule by decree for up to six months. Ecuador’s Constitutional Court on Thursday rejected multiple challenges that sought to invalidate Lasso’s decree dissolving the National Assembly. Lasso, a 67-year-old former right-wing banker, took power in May 2021 for a four-year term after winning the general election. Read More Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide

Lance Reddick was part of the 2023 remake of the 1992 classic 'White Man Can't Jump'

Al Roker made his son Nick a cheese omelet, serving it with bacon and a croissant for breakfast after his morning run

An American man has opened up about the online trolling he has faced after people claimed his wife was too “hot” for him. Scott and Divine met in 2017 on Facebook after Divine, who is from the Philippines, messaged Scott, from Houston, Texas, thinking he was somebody else. A long-distance relationship blossomed and the pair have now gotten married and live together in the US. In 2021, the pair started a joint TikTok account but have since been on the receiving end of some nasty comments. Some people have suggested that Divine only married Scott to get a visa to live in America or because he must be “rich”. In a YouTube video made by Truly, the couple opened up about some of the hurtful comments they’ve faced including ones such as, “she’s just here for her green card”. Sign up to our new free Indy100 weekly newsletter She’s Not With Me “For A Green Card” | LOVE DON'T JUDGE www.youtube.com Scott has a chronic autoimmune disease called Scleroderma which “morphed” his appearance and many have had their uninformed say on whether the pair suit one another. He told Truly: “Because you keep seeing the same thing over and over again. There's just no effect anymore.” In some clips on their TikTok, the pair have responded to some nasty comments in the best way by educating, having fun and showing people that their relationship is real. @smithxscotty14 Reply to @luhver14 Responding to someone who commented “ur lucky u even pulled her”, the couple did a TikTok dance while text overlaying the clip read: “We are actually both lucky that we found each other.” 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.

At least 21 people were killed and 12 others injured when a passenger bus fell from a bridge in Mestre, Italy, near Venice, CNN's affiliate SkyTG24 reported citing local authorities.

On Thursday evening, Arsenal were still hoping that Bukayo Saka would feature on Sunday, but Mikel Arteta has had to start drawing up alternative plans. And that could serve his side well in a pivotal clash with the potential to define the title race. It is no bad thing to have Pep Guardiola second-guessing you, and the Manchester City manager can take that to third-, fourth- or even beyond fifth-guessing. The Catalan will be rolling everything around in his mind, having pored over recent footage. Most of the footage of recent Arsenal-City games, mind, has been all too clear. They’ve all gone one way, to an almost farcical degree. City have beaten Arsenal for 12 successive Premier League games. That run would be bad enough if it was over a bottom-half side, but it is virtually unprecedented among financial heavyweights or the old “big six”. Arsenal have admittedly had many iterations throughout what was a transformative and often difficult period in their history, but you have to go back to a Shkodran Mustafi header in April 2017 for the last time they even claimed a point off City. And you have to go back to December 2015, and goals from Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud, for Arsenal’s last victory in the fixture. That is what Arteta is trying to overcome, as he makes constant appeals to only consider the present and the future. It is not just about revenge for last season, a quick recovery after a shock defeat to RC Lens or even reasserting Arsenal’s title credentials after a rare City defeat. It will be about overcoming the knowledge that the champions almost always beat them. That can be a huge psychological factor for a team, creating a fatalism, even subconsciously. Arteta can at least point to one big victory in the FA Cup as well as this summer’s shoot-out win in the Community Shield, but the fact that the Premier League represents their great ambition means there’s a different feel to it. It’s something they need to address, especially if they are to actually beat City in the league. It is one of those psychological hurdles that needs to be overcome, just as City faced with Manchester United after the Abu Dhabi takeover. The Community Shield may still influence this, mind, because of how Guardiola did something so different in that game. He decided to properly bait the press, in the same way that Roberto De Zerbi has made this his great innovation. Arsenal didn’t bite, and came through the game, but it has almost set a kind of tactical arms race in motion; where last season’s top two keep trading significant moves that could affect the course of this year. Arsenal beat City to Declan Rice, City attempted to undercut Arsenal’s entire approach by baiting the press. Arsenal didn’t respond but are trying to add more tactical variety to last season, meaning they didn’t start the campaign as well as the champions. City then lost Rodri to a red card and unexpectedly lost a game, allowing Arsenal back in. That could now be offset with the absence of Saka, as both managers attempt to figure out what happens next. Perhaps Arsenal are “due”, but that could have been said years ago. Will Guardiola attempt to bait Arsenal again? Does Arteta prepare for that, or something different altogether? Both of these managers could send each other down all manner of avenues with second guesses. And how it all ends may depend on just who starts. Read More Bukayo Saka ‘in contention’ for Arsenal vs Man City as Gareth Southgate reveals plan Gareth Southgate gives Bukayo Saka injury update ahead of Arsenal vs Man City Manchester City can put a stamp on the season with Arsenal win – Rico Lewis Bukayo Saka ‘in contention’ for Arsenal vs Man City as Gareth Southgate reveals plan Gareth Southgate gives Bukayo Saka injury update ahead of Arsenal vs Man City Ollie Watkins and Jarrod Bowen make England return but Raheem Sterling left out

Texas Rangers star Adolis Garcia has been at the center of controversy since ALCS Game 5, and he made sure to admire his long single to start Game 7.

Deadly wildfires erupted on Greece’s mainland, killing two as it scorched the land and left a path of destruction in its wake. The coastal area of Magnesia and city of Volos were gripped by engulfing flames on Wednesday evening, forcing the evacuation of several local communities fleeing to safety. It comes as the Greek fire brigade warned the risk of fire remained “extreme” for several areas of the country on Thursday, with climate crisis minister, Vassilis Kikilias, echoing: “Nothing is over, the battle will continue throughout the summer.” High temperatures and winds have created a “perfect storm” to allow the fires to spread this week in Europe and north Africa including Greece, Portugal, Turkey, Italy, France, Croatia, Spain, Algeria and Tunisia. As the threat lingers in Rhodes, TUI has said customers booked “on a package holiday to a hotel in the south of the island” have the option to “rebook or amend their holiday, or cancel with a full refund” upto and including 11 August. Read More Where are the wildfires? The nine affected countries mapped More than 40 people killed as wildfires rage in nine Mediterranean countries in record heatwave UK’s 40C summer of 2022 ‘will seem cool’ as extreme weather events become frequent, Met Office warns When will heatwave in Europe end? New forecast shows relief in sight

Selena Gomez and Francia Raisa's friendship was rumored to be over in 2022 but it looks like the singer has made amends

If Quordle is a little too challenging today, you've come to the right place for

Duke Dennis recently criticized fans' involvement in the dissemination of IShowSpeed's accidental flash incident

Billionaire Elon Musk is set to meet French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Friday for the second time in just over a month, as France aims to curry favour...