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Signs of 400,000-year-old Neanderthal campfire found in UK – DW – 12/10/2025
Archaeologists wrote in the journal Nature this week that they have unearthed the oldest-known evidence of deliberate fire-making by prehistoric humans in the English county of Suffolk.
The hearth was discovered in Barnham in the UK, near a buried site that was once a pond where Neanderthals are thought to have lived roughly 415,000 years ago.
The authors wrote that the site seems to provide “unequivocal evidence of deliberate fire-making” that “has remained elusive” because of the difficulties in distinguishing between naturally occurring fires being used by prehistoric humans and controlled fires being created on demand.
Early humans are thought to have first started making opportunistic use of naturally occurring fires, for instance from lightning strikes or forest fires, as much as a million years ago.
The excavations of an ancient Neanderthal site in Suffolk suggest the inhabitants intentionally brought fire-lighting materials to the areaImage: Jordan Mansfield/Pathways to Ancient Britain Project/AP Photo/picture alliance
Heated clay, heat-shattered handaxes, and imported iron pyrite to light permanent campfire
At an old clay pit for making bricks near the village of Barnham, the researchers found a patch of heated clay, some heat-shattered handaxes and two pieces of iron pyrite.
This material creates sparks when struck against flint to ignite tinder, and is also not readily available in the vicinity, suggesting the Neanderthals brought it to the watering hole specifically for the purpose.
“We think humans brought pyrite to the site with the intention of making fire,” said archaeologist Nick Ashton, curator of Palaeolithic Collections at the British Museum in London and the leader of the research. “This has huge implications pushing back the earliest fire-making.”
Researchers first found fragments of iron pyrite, ideal for sparking fires and not naturally available in the local area around Barnham, at the site in 2017Image: Jordan Mansfield/Pathways to Ancient Britain Project/AP Photo/picture alliance
The earliest-known evidence of deliberate fire-making to date had been unearthed in northern France and dated to roughly 50,000 years ago. It was also attributed to Neanderthals.
Although human remains were not found at the site, paleoanthropologist and study co-author Chris Stringer said that pieces of human skull from a similar period, characteristic of early Neanderthals, were located in the mid-20th century less than 100 miles (160 kilometers) to the south at a town called Swanscombe and at a site in Sima de los Huesos near Burgos in Spain.
“Thus the Barnham fire-makers were very likely to have been early Neanderthals, like Swanscombe and the Sima people,” Stringer said.
Neanderthals are thought to have gone extinct roughly 39,000 years ago as homo sapiens started to settle throughout Europe. But genetic remnants of the early hominid cousins to modern humans persist in many of our genes as a result of interbreeding and assimilation.
Neanderthals and their relationship to the human species
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Fire expands and improves diet; hearth feeds community, language, storytelling
Controlled use of fire was a landmark in human evolution for multiple reasons.
Cooking enabled vastly improved diets and easier and safer digestion of meat and other ingredients, freeing up energy from digestion for use by the fast-expanding brains of early hominins.
It also provided warmth, enabling hunter-gatherers to survive and thrive in colder environments, like Britain, study co-author Rob Davis, an archaeologist at the British Museum, said.
Fires are also thought to have contributed crucially to social evolution, allowing humans to feed and gather in larger groups in comparative safety and comfort at night, socializing and perhaps engaging in the earliest forms of storytelling and language development and exchange.
“The campfire becomes a social hub,” Davis said. “We’re a species who have used fire to really shape the world around us.”
Ancient Greek myth designated fire and its theft from the gods as the key step in Prometheus’ creation of humans; not for nothing was the Greek goddess of the hearth, Hestia, also the patron of the home and of family Image: Hendrik Goltzius/Heritage Art/Heritage Images/picture alliance
Edited by Sean Sinico
WORLD NEWS
‘I can feel my baby kick when my pregnant partner’s not here thanks to a simple device’
Firsttuch’s founder Zeiynab Kane is developing a device that lets families feel a baby’s movements together in real time, offering a new kind of closeness long before birth.
Zeiynab is changing the way families can experience pregnancy
Zeiynab Kane was placed on the Future 40 list this year for founding Firsttuch, an emerging pregnancy-tech company developing the Adori monitor – a device centred on connection and how expectant parents, partners and loved ones can feel closer to a baby before they’re born.
The device allows parents and partners to feel their baby’s movements in real time, wherever they are in the world. Although the product has been developed, it’s not yet on the market, but interest is already building among expectant families who want a more inclusive pregnancy experience.
From surrogacy journeys to couples separated by work or distance, the Adori monitor allows everyone to share early movements together, heightening bonding and emotional presence long before birth.
The device was born out of Zeiynab’s griefREAD MORE: ‘I was a failed athlete – now I’m one of the most powerful women in UK media’READ MORE: ‘My daughter inspired my baby skincare brand – now it’s an international success’
Although Firsttuch is rooted in innovation, inventor and co-founder Zeiynab’s journey carries deeply personal meaning. She began developing the concept during the pandemic, and told The Mirror how the loss of her cousin unexpectedly guided her decisions. After grieving for him, she began thinking ahead – including about fears around whether she could conceive after struggling with painful periods and being on birth control for a decade.
“I started thinking, if I wasn’t fertile, how would I handle it? And then just seeing stories of people being separated because of lockdown, everything just kind of spun into one,” she said. “If I have this device, it could be a replacement, closer to the real thing, even though it’s not but I won’t exactly feel left out from that section of life and from then, it grew into where it is today.”
The Adori device is a two-part wearable item that lets parents and partners feel their baby’s movements in real time. One part is worn by the pregnant person and the other by partners or family members. Whenever the baby moves or kicks, it is instantly played on the other device and shared through an app.
“Everything in tech has evolved, but the way that we experienced pregnancy hadn’t. It’s been stagnant for the last how many years?”
The device stores the movement moments, to help families revisit it later
Combining her future fertility fears with wanting to improve the pregnancy experience for all parties, Zeiynab wanted to create something that catered to every type of family – including those using surrogacy, parents living abroad, or partners working long hours who don’t get the chance to feel the baby’s kicks.
“For example, I could be here and my surrogate could be in Mexico or Australia or America, and you can still share that moment at the same time,” she said. “If you’re working and you can’t experience it then and there, you still have the opportunity to play back later and have that little bonding session with your child.”
She’s also seen how connection plays a role in how isolating pregnancy can feel. Many pregnant women feel detached, and partners often don’t know how to cater to them, something she believes the Adori can help bridge explaining bonding earlier could even support better mental health after birth.
“It just heightens the bonding experience for the expecting parents – it’s like a bridge to connection,” she said.
The device is already providing hope for families. One woman reached out to say she believed that if she’d had the Adori device during her pregnancy, it would have reminded her of the connection she felt with her child, and that one year of her baby’s early life wouldn’t “have been wasted.”
The monitor is set to reach the market by the end fo 2026
That emotional impact is what caught the attention of her new co-founders, the award-winning production duo Dabeatfreakz, who joined the company a few months ago.
“We knew it will help so many people, we’d love to help grow this and make it into a product can change the world,” they said. “With men, we don’t really get to feel that bond until the child is here, it doesn’t feel real until their actually in front of you.
“Women can feel everything. You’re throwing up and you feel the kicks, but with us, we don’t know until it’s actually here. With a device like this, you can actually feel the connection from the start with your partner or surrogate and that’s what’s going to make it so special.”
Years after inventing the device, Zeiynab now has one child, is expecting her second and has been able to use her own device throughout her pregnancies. By next year, many more parents are expected to do the same.
Production development begins in January, and the Adori monitor is set to reach the market by the end of 2026 – bringing hope to families long before its release.
WORLD NEWS
Maria Corina Machado says her daring escape involved US help | World News
Some details have emerged about Maria Corina Machado’s daring escape from Venezuela.
She was reportedly disguised and took a wooden fishing boat overnight in choppy seas to the Caribbean island of Curacao. From there, she flew by private jet to Norway.
Ms Machado has revealed little herself, however, promising to tell the story one day but not wanting to expose the people “who risked their lives” to get her to Oslo.
One fact she did confirm, when she spoke to the media here, was help from the US in her journey.
Read more: In-hiding peace prize winner makes emotional appearance
Pic: AP
Now here in Norway, she is reunited with her family, many of whom she hasn’t seen for two years.
She’s missed graduations and weddings and said she couldn’t sleep thinking of the moment she would hug her three children.
Pressed a number of times on whether she supported a possible US invasion of Venezuela to overthrow Nicolas Maduro, she wouldn’t commit outright but said that the country has already been invaded by Russia, Iran and terrorist groups like Hezbollah.
‘Venezuela has already been invaded’
Ms Machado said she needed international help to bring back democracy. She was equally but understandably vague about her next movements.
The Venezuelan opposition leader will want to spend time with her family and revealed that she hasn’t seen a doctor for a proper check-up in over a year because she has been forced to live in hiding.
Read more from Sky News:
Why did the US seize an oil tanker off Venezuela?
Disney characters coming to AI in $1bn deal
She has also had many invitations, presumably from world leaders, to visit – she might decide that it is a good opportunity to build relations and support for the day Maduro does leave.
But she said she would go back to Venezuela “when the time is right” and “whether or not Maduro is still there”.
I’ve no doubt she will, but the journey home will be every bit as dangerous as the extraordinary journey out.
WORLD NEWS
Who was Israel-backed Gaza militia leader Yasser Abu Shabab? | News
Palestinians in Gaza celebrated after Israeli-backed militia leader Yasser Abu Shabab was killed.
When Gaza militia leader Yasser Abu Shabab was killed last week, few Palestinians mourned his death. After Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza began in 2023, Abu Shabab and his Israel-backed Popular Forces group attempted to present themselves as an alternative to Hamas, but Palestinians instead viewed him as a traitor. What did his rise reveal about Israel’s strategy for Gaza?
Published On 11 Dec 2025
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Inquiry to be held into north-east England NHS trust after patient deaths | NHS
A public inquiry will be held into the failures of a north-east NHS foundation after the deaths of several patients, Wes Streeting has confirmed.
The health secretary made the announcement in Darlington, speaking to the families of patients who died while receiving treatment from hospitals run by Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS foundation trust, which is headquartered in the County Durham town.
The inquiry will look into the number of the trust’s patients who took their own lives in the past decade, which the Department of Health and Social Care called “concerning”.
Three of the people known to have died while under the trust’s care were the 17-year-olds Nadia Sharif and Christie Harnett, who killed themselves at West Lane hospital in Middlesbrough in June and August 2019 respectively, and 18-year-old Emily Moore, who died in February 2020 after a week at Lanchester Road hospital in County Durham.
Speaking in Darlington, Streeting called the deaths unacceptable and said that families’ “courageous and tireless campaigning” had been “nothing short of inspirational”.
“Everyone receiving mental healthcare should get safe, high-quality care and be treated with dignity and respect,” said the health secretary. “The care their loved ones experienced fell well short of that mark, with tragic consequences. Following several meetings with these families this year and after careful consideration, I have decided that in the circumstances a statutory inquiry is the best way to ensure they get the truth and accountability they deserve.”
The trust has been investigated in the past for its history of patient deaths, but Streeting claimed these prior investigations had not been “sufficiently comprehensive” and that not all deaths had been covered adequately.
In April 2024, the trust was fined £215,000 for offences relating to the care of two patients who died by suicide at its hospitals. The Care Quality Commission, which brought the prosecution, alleged that the trust failed to mitigate the known risks the patients were exposed to after previous self-harm incidents.
Andy McDonald, the MP for nearby Middlesbrough and Thornaby East, said the announcement of an inquiry provided “a huge sense of relief and achievement reflecting years of tireless effort” from him and the loved ones of the deceased.
“The dreadful events that claimed the lives of three young women, Christie Harnett, Nadia Sharif and Emily Moore exposed a broader cultural malaise at Tees, Esk and Wear Valley NHS trust and many more families found themselves grieving the loss of their loved ones,” McDonald said.
“We now know that there have been numerous patients and families disastrously failed and it is imperative that every family affected gets to the truth of what happened and how the system let them and their loved ones down so very badly.”
Alison Smith, chief executive of Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS foundation trust, said: “First and foremost, I extend my deepest sympathy to everyone affected by these tragic losses.
“With the public inquiry now confirmed, we will fully support the process with transparency, openness and humility. Above all, we are committed to listening, reflecting, and taking meaningful action to ensure that we continually improve as an organisation”.
WORLD NEWS
Zelensky says US wants ‘special economic zone’ in Ukraine’s Donetsk region
Reuters
The US has proposed Ukraine withdraw from the eastern Donetsk region and create a “special economic zone” in the areas it currently controls, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said.
Zelensky said territory and control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant remained the two main unresolved issues in the peace plan proposal for Ukraine.
In a sobering briefing to reporters, Zelensky addressed the US desire for a quick end to the conflict, the complex nature of the ongoing negotiations, and his belief that Russia had no desire to stop the war.
Ukraine has sent the US an updated 20-point plan plus separate documents on security guarantees and provisions for Ukraine’s reconstruction, Zelensky said.
It follows weeks of high-level diplomatic activity which has seen several peace plans drawn up, adjusted and revised by the US, Ukraine, Russia and European leaders.
“The final mile is the hardest. Everything could fall apart for many reasons,” Zelensky said on Thursday.
Russia demands that Ukraine relinquishes control of roughly 30% of the eastern Donetsk region it still holds – something Ukraine has refused to do, both on principle and because it fears it would allow Moscow a foothold for future invasions.
According to Zelensky, the US is now envisaging a solution that would see Ukrainian forces withdraw from parts of Donetsk, and Russian forces committing to not advancing into the territory. This area would become a “special economic zone” or a “demilitarised zone”, Zelensky said.
However, he noted that it would not be fair for the Ukrainians to withdraw unilaterally, and that Russia should also pull back by the same distance.
“What will restrain [Russia] from advancing? Or from infiltrating disguised as civilians?” he asked.
Zelensky said these were “very serious concerns” and that Ukraine might not accept the proposal at all – although he opened the door to elections or a referendum to give the Ukrainian people a choice.
But he acknowledged that the fighting would continue and may yet shape the future of the negotiations: “Much depends on our military – what they can hold, where they can stop the enemy, what they can destroy. This affects the entire configuration.”
The management of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant was another highly contentious point, Zelensky said.
The power plant – Europe’s largest – sits on the front line and has been under Russian control since March 2022.
Zelensky said a possible solution would be for the Russians to withdraw and Kyiv to share control of the plant with the Americans – although he acknowledged that the details of such an arrangement were still unclear, and it is doubtful that Moscow would agree.
US President Donald Trump appears to have grown frustrated with the intricacies of the conflict, and Kyiv and its allies fear the Americans might eventually seek to impose a Russian-led solution on Ukraine.
Zelensky told reporters that although the Americans wanted a “quicker conclusion” to the war, there were no deadlines for an agreement.
Ukraine – which is targeted by widespread aerial attacks on a near-nightly basis – has been pushing for respite and would want an immediate ceasefire to be implemented ahead of a more laborious agreement being fleshed out.
But Russia stands to gain more from a ceasefire being delayed, as its troops continue to make small but incremental gains on the frontline and its attacks exhaust the Ukrainian population.
“After multiple rounds of talks with Russia” the Americans were now aligned on Moscow on this position, Zelensky said.
Kremlin officials have been more tight-lipped than their European, US and Ukrainian counterparts.
However, whenever possible, Russia has sought to cement the impression that Moscow and Washington are aligned on their hopes for the terms of a peace deal.
On Thursday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov praised Trump for trying to broker a deal and said a recent meeting between President Vladimir Putin and US envoy Steve Witkoff at the Kremlin had “eliminated” the “misunderstandings” between the two sides.
The foreign minister also batted off suggestions that Kyiv could be given security guarantees in the form of foreign troops stationed in Ukraine.
“This is yet another return to the sad logic of Zelensky’s so-called peace formula,” Lavrov said, adding that Moscow had handed the US “additional” proposals on collective security and that Russia was ready to give legal guarantees not to attack Nato or EU countries.
But neither Ukraine nor Europe will be likely to take any promise by Moscow at face value, given Russia has previously violated ceasefires and truce deals.
European and Ukrainian officials want the US to be involved in giving security guarantees so that Kyiv doesn’t become the target of renewed attacks.
Zelensky said he had received a draft proposal on American security guarantees but that the draft was a work in progress, suggesting that what has been offered by the US falls short of provisions that could assuage Kyiv’s fears.
“The US does not want Ukraine in Nato. They say this openly… So I do not think they have difficulties discussing Nato with the Russians,” Zelensky said.
Zelensky also said Ukraine had to be “cautious”, adding: “We do not know what other agreements the US may have with Russia. We will learn in time.”
Ukraine’s president also acknowledged that US support for Kyiv may one day end, both in terms of the flow of weapons that the US is selling through other countries and in terms of intelligence sharing.
Reflecting the fraught nature of the talks and his scepticism that Russia was negotiating in good faith, Zelensky told reporters: “No one knows what may happen the day after tomorrow… We do not know how these negotiations will end.”
WORLD NEWS
Israel unveils new Iron Beam laser system amid record breaking defense sales
Israel unleashes Iron Beam laser weapon
Fox News senior national correspondent William La Jeunesse reports on Israel’s latest innovation in weaponry that is drawing interest from countries worldwide.
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Israel isn’t the world’s most popular country, except when it comes to military hardware. A country the size of New Jersey is now the world’s 8th largest arms exporter with a record-breaking $15 billion in sales in 2024.
Behind Britain, but ahead of Turkey and South Korea in foreign arms sales, governments are flocking to Israel to buy battle-tested weapons, especially rockets from its vaunted Iron Dome missile defense system.
Europe accounts for most of the sales – Germany and Finland being the largest, but India, Thailand, and Greece are buyers as well. Even Muslim majority countries — Morocco, the UAE and Bahrain buy missiles, drones and cybersecurity systems from the Jewish state.
The record sales come as Israel unveils its latest weapon. The Iron Beam is a laser capable of knocking out incoming missiles, mortar rounds and drones up to six miles away for as little as $2 per interception. By contrast, interceptor missiles typically cost anywhere from $100,000 to $1 million apiece.
SPACE-BASED MISSILE-KILLING GOLDEN DOME TECH AIMS FOR CRUCIAL TEST BEFORE TRUMP LEAVES OFFICE: LOCKHEED MARTIN
Rafael Lite Beam, Iron Beam -M (250) and Iron Beam (450) High Energy Laser Weapon Systems (HELWS) are displayed during the Security Equipment International (DSEI) at London Excel on September 10, 2025 in London, England. (John Keeble/Getty Images)
“With the laser, the only cost is electricity,” says Yuval Steinitz, chairman of Rafael Defense Industries, manufacturer of the Iron Beam. “It is like between $1 and $2— less than the price of a hot dog in New York.”
Unlike conventional missile interceptors, fast as they are, take time. A laser travels at the speed of light.
“We have already used it against UAVs launched by Hezbollah in the north and missiles from Iran. It works,” says University of Tel Aviv professor Issac Ben-David. “The most important advantage is, once you see the target, it is intercepted at the speed of light. It takes a fraction of a second and the laser is already destroying it.”
TAKING OUT HAMAS’ MILLION-DOLLAR ‘ROOT’ TUNNEL IS GAME CHANGER, ANALYST SAYS
The Iron Beam is a laser capable of destroying incoming missiles, mortar rounds and drones up to six miles away. (Israel Ministry of Defense)
After decades of failed tests by multiple nations, Israel is the first country to successfully use the weapon in war. One of those who oversaw development was Prof. Issac Ben-David, former head of research and development at Israel’s Ministry of Defense.
Israel will deploy the first Iron Beam systems in the north, where Hezbollah rockets fired in southern Lebanon take under a minute to cross the Israeli border. Applications will expand to include ships and specific air bases.
“This is just the beginning of a new era,” says Steinitz. “In time, maybe five years, it will enable us to shoot down every hostile object in the air around Israel. It’s really a game changer.”
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Israel’s Iron Beam laser system targets and disables incoming missiles, mortar fire and drones at ranges up to six miles. (Israel Ministry of Defense)
Rafael developed the technology with U.S.-based Lockheed Martin and $1.2 billion from the Pentagon. Steinitz says the technology is already being shared with the U.S. Army’s own directed energy program.
“We cannot do without the United States,” he said. “But sometimes in a partnership, even the dwarf can contribute to the giant.”
William La Jeunesse joined FOX News Channel (FNC) in March 1998 and currently serves as a Senior National Correspondent.
WORLD NEWS
White House caught flat-footed when asked how billionaire Trump can tell average Americans to limit kids’ Christmas gifts
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With an estimated net worth of between five and seven billion dollars and a penchant for coating every surface in the White House with what he claims to be 18-karat gold leaf paint, President Donald Trump isn’t exactly an expert on cost-cutting.
But after the uber-wealthy ex-real estate developer claimed that record-high toy prices caused by his tariffs are just fine because young girls “don’t need 37 dolls” and can make do with “two or three” instead, his top spokesperson was left scrambling when asked to defend the eyebrow-raising remarks.
Asked to defend Trump’s claim that Americans can “give up certain products” and limit toy purchases because tariffs have caused prices to go upon the 80 percent of toys on the U.S. market that are imported from China, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt first told reporters at a Friday press briefing that the president’s comments were meant as an exhortation to buy more expensive American-made ones instead.
Leavitt first claimed Trump’s intent when commenting on how many dolls a hypothetical young girl needs was to encourage parents to buy American-made dolls.
“Maybe you’ll pay $1 or two more, but you will get better quality, and you’ll be supporting your fellow Americans by buying American and that’s what the President was saying,” she said.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks during a press briefing at the White House, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, in Washington (AP)
But when The Independent pressed her on whether it is appropriate for one of the wealthiest men in the country to be lecturing cash-strapped parents of young girls on how many dolls their daughters need to own, Leavitt irately pivoted to recasting Trump’s wealth as a positive while declining to address the substance of the question.
“Do you think the people in that room in Pennsylvania who the President was speaking to don’t know the President’s a billionaire? I think that’s a very well established fact,” she said.
Leavitt continued her monologue by claiming that Trump’s status as a billionaire was part and parcel of why voters chose to return him to the White House in last year’s election over then-vice president Kamala Harris.
“Actually, I think it’s one of the many reasons they reelected him back to this office, because he’s a businessman who understands the economy and knows how to fix it, and he’s doing it right now, just like he did in his first term,” she said.
Despite Trump’s claims to have lowered costs of living for Americans since returning to the White House in January, voters are not happy with his performance on affordability issues thus far.
According to a recent Gallup poll, only 36 percent of voters approve of his performance as president, giving him the lowest rating of his second term. A Politico poll released this week showed 46 percent of respondents saying the cost of living in America is worse than they can remember at any point, including 37 percent of voters who pulled levers for Trump last year.
Nearly half of respondents also said they blame Trump — not Biden or Harris — for the economy’s current condition.
But at the same time, Trump continues to tout his own record, such as it is.
In an interview with Politico this week, he told correspondent Dasha Burns that he gives himself an “A-plus-plus-plus-plus” when she asked him to grade his own record on the economy thus far.
And at the same time, Trump has dismissed Democrats’ focus on “affordability” heading into next year’s midterms as a “hoax” while claiming that “prices are way down” and accusing Democrats of having “caused” the high prices that persist nearly a year into his second term in office.
WORLD NEWS
Maryland Family’s Christmas Lights Deemed Community “Nuissance.” HOA Charging Them $50 a Day for Display
NEED TO KNOW
- A Maryland family is facing $650 worth of HOA fees for the “annoyance and nuisance” allegedly caused by their holiday light display
- A letter delivered to Pahan Salgado and his family on Monday explains they’re getting charged $50 per day from Nov. 26 to Dec. 8
- “We’re not being a nuisance. Some lights on the bushes and a manger scene does not cause a nuisance to the whole community,” Salgado tells local outlet WJLA
A Germantown, Md., family gets in the holiday spirit every year by creating a larger-than-life display in their front yard.
“It’s just a wonderful time of year for everyone,” Pahan Salgado tells local outlet WJLA. “It’s reflecting back on our faith and our values — our Christian values, we believe in Christ. That’s why we decorate our house and do our lights.”
The display features hundreds of lights, festive wreaths, a nativity scene, large nutcrackers and even a nod to their late family members.
“With our grandma, after she passed away, we placed two angels in front of our house,” Salgado tells the outlet.
He says it’s an annual source of holiday cheer, claiming, “The joy it brings to so many people is beyond words.”
Some of the neighbors agree. Hinda Al-Awar who lives across the street told the outlet the “decorations are beautiful.”
“I enjoy it,” she says. “When my kids come up, they love it.”
However, the homeowners association (HOA) has taken an issue with the display. On Dec. 8, lawyers representing the Middlebrook Manor South Homeowners Association sent a letter to the family letting them know they owe $650 due to the “annoyance and nuisance” they’ve caused.
“You were repeatedly informed that your decorative lawn ornaments and decorative light installations were in violation of the association’s governing documents and were an annoyance and nuisance to the neighborhood and other residents,” the letter says.
As a result, the family is being fined $25 per day per violation for 13 days between Nov. 26 and Dec. 8.
“We’re not attracting anybody. Nobody is coming into the neighborhood disrupting. We’re not being a nuisance. Some lights on the bushes and a manger scene does not cause a nuisance to the whole community,” Salgado says. “We’re not waking anybody up. We’re not disturbing anybody. The lights are strictly within our boundaries of our land. It’s not going outside. It’s not touching anybody’s yard.”
He claims the family is being singled out as other homes in the community have their own light displays.
“Other houses have decorated their homes for Christmas. Even down there, there’s a house that has a manger scene and some lights outside. Our front neighbors have a house outside, but it’s just us getting harassed.”
Neighbor Al-Awar, who has her own display across the street, agrees that it seems unfair.
“I don’t understand why the HOA keeps bothering them,” she says. “It brings us joy. I don’t know what it is. Why are they targeting these wonderful people?”
On Monday, a WJLA reporter knocked on the doors of listed board members hoping for a response. Within minutes, they received a message from the board’s attorney saying they do not comment on individual violations and asked the outlet not to reach out directly to board members.
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PEOPLE has also reached out to the attorney, but did not immediately receive a response.
“This is our core values and our religion. We don’t want to step back from what we believe in,” Salgado says. “The joy it brings so many people is beyond what words can describe.”
WORLD NEWS
Lorry full of ‘migrants’ sparks huge delays on motorway – as police detain 14 people found in back of HGV
A truckload of ‘migrants’ sparked a huge pile-up on the motorway – as police detained 14 people found in the back of an HGV.
Two lanes were forced to close on the M40 Northbound in Oxfordshire this morning amid reports of passengers crammed into a lorry.
Motorists were stunned as they could be heard counting the number of migrants being led from the vehicle.
Footage of the spectacle shows a number of flashing police cars line the road as they attend to a cluster of people on the hard shoulder.
Onlookers watch on as more and more migrants gradually emerge from the lorry.
One says: ‘Six… seven … oh my god, there’s a lot.’
Other images show a group of hooded men sat together with their arms crossed, dressed in dark clothing.
Another passerby shouts ‘holy moly!’ as he films the line-up of migrants while passing by.
Thames Valley Police confirmed 13 people were found in the back of the HGV
Footage of the spectacle shows a number of flashing police cars line the road as they attend to a cluster of people on the hard shoulder
Earlier in the day National Highways warned motorists of building queues and advised allowing extra time for journeys. A pile-up on the stretch of motorway is pictured
Lanes were shut between Junction 9 at Bicester and Junction 10 at Baynards Green.
Thames Valley Police confirmed 13 people were found in the back of the HGV and detained while the driver was also arrested on suspicion of immigration offences.
The forced said they are working with the Home Office amid an ongoing investigation.
Earlier in the day National Highways warned motorists of building queues and advised allowing extra time for journeys.
A police spokesman said: ‘We received a report today (11/12) at 9.53am of a number of people in the back of a lorry travelling on the M40 between junctions 9 and 10.
‘The vehicle was stopped, and 13 people were detained. The driver was arrested on suspicion of immigration offences.
‘The investigation is ongoing, and we are working with closely with our partners in the Home Office.’
This is a breaking news story. More to come
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Lorry full of ‘migrants’ sparks huge delays on motorway – as police detain 14 people found in back of HGV
WORLD NEWS
BREAKING: Shoplifter gets 'wig ban' and barred from every Tesco and Sainsbury's after crime spree
Rachael Cole, 44, has been banned from ‘wearing a wig or hair piece, or any face covering that conceals her appearance when entering a shop’
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