内容摘要：Tragedy struck in November 2001 when an explosion killed three steelworkers and severely injured 12 others.

Tragedy struck in November 2001 when an explosion killed three steelworkers and severely injured 12 others.

In some parts of the second city, residents said bins had not been collected since mid-February.Abu Shah, a shop owner in Ward End, described the situation as "terrible".

"People are leaving their bins anywhere and everywhere," he said."Rats are slowly getting into them and opening them up. You can see nappies coming out the bags."It's just going to get worse and worse. Someone needs to do something about it and come to an agreement."

Teddy Smith, who has lived in Digbeth for 15 years, said it was "horrific"."There's already a rat infestation around here now. They are coming out to lunch every day," he said.

"[The rubbish] is alive at night, completely alive. If it is left like this... I don't know what the future holds. It's going to get even worse."

Pest control specialists have seen a spike in calls since the one-day walkouts started.His latest comments reflect an American president who is wielding total authority over his party and the full power of government to turn a transactional "America First" foreign policy view into reality.

Trump's latest broadside against Zelensky came after the Ukrainian leader publicly rejected an American bid to gain access to – and profits from - Ukrainian minerals."That's not a serious conversation," Zelensky said. "I can't sell our state."

The US president seems serious, however, about reducing American military commitments to Europe and pivoting resources instead toward containing China.And before his decisive election win in November, he frequently criticised the scale of US military aid being sent to Ukraine, describing Zelensky as "the greatest salesman of all time".