World

Man jailed for £300,000 Aberdeen drugs haul

Gas engineer Adrian Greedy, 36, admitted being concerned in the supply of cannabis.

France's Macron to visit Serbia with a possible deal to sell French warplanes in a shift from Russia

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron starts a two-day state visit to Serbia on Thursday with the focus on the possible sale of 12 Rafale multi-purpose fighter jets to the country, which has maintained close ties to Russia despite its invasion of Ukraine. Macron is to meet populist President Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade on Thursday evening, when the deal reportedly worth 3 billion euros ($3.3 billion) is expected to be...

Van driver guilty of smuggling migrants on ferry

Anas Al Mustafa, of Heather Crescent, Swansea, was convicted of assisting unlawful entry to the UK.

IDF 'wipes out five terrorists including top commander'

The large-scale military campaign, launched on Tuesday night into Wednesday, is still ongoing and has seen raids across the north of the occupied Palestinian territory.

New report reveals staggering number of North Korean arms shipments to Russia

"A point of no return": the fall of Stand News, Hong Kong's once leading online media outlet

By Jessie Pang and James Pomfret HONG KONG (Reuters) - After Hong Kong police raided Stand News and arrested two editors, its staff decided that to avoid more arrests they had to shut down the online media outlet, whose hard-hitting reports of the 2019 pro-democracy protests saw its readership surge. Later that day, Dec. 29, 2021, a group of staffers gathered around a single computer to wipe

Biker, 70, in critical condition after Aberdeenshire crash

The man was airlifted to hospital after the serious crash in Aberdeenshire.

"Europe is playing with fire in Ukraine"

On Tuesday, August 6, Ukraine attacked the Russian Kursk region, seizing a large swathe of territory in the largest foreign attack on Russia since World War II. Putin warned that the response to the attack would be forceful. Putin's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned that "the West is playing with fire by allowing Ukraine to attack our country with Western missiles". He also sent a message to the United States: "A hypothetical third world war...

South Korea police say unspecified sexual crimes involving former NCT member Taeil ‘not against minor or male ’

PETALING JAYA, Aug 29 — South Korean police have revealed that unspecified allegations of sexual crime against former me...

Putin's move surprises everyone

Observers couldn't hide their astonishment. On August 20, the Russian president traveled to Chechnya for an official visit. And when he was presented with the holy book of Islam, he bowed and placed his lips on it. The scene, which took place in the White Mosque of Shali and has drawn much criticism on social media, was captured in its entirety by Chechnya’s leader (and close ally of Moscow), Ramzan Kadyrov. It shows Vladimir Putin kissing the...

UN calls for de-escalation as Israeli West Bank raids continue

Israel says it killed five militants hiding in a mosque, on the second day of a major operation.

Appeal after man with saw tried to rob children

The brother and sister were able to escape unharmed and police say they are looking for the suspect.

Car crashes into house in East Sussex

The driver and two people at the property in Eastbourne needed assistance from emergency services.

Fee-paying India ‘thief schools’ teach children how to pick pockets at wealthy weddings

Parents in poor Indian villages pay top dollar to send children to 'schools' which prepare them for a life of crime So-called fee-paying thief schools in India are training teenagers for a life of crime. The criminal education includes a range of lessons which produce "professional" gangsters on "graduation". Three villages in Madhya Pradesh, centr...

Indonesia and Australia sign defense agreement

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesia and Australia signed a defense agreement on Thursday that both sides described as a significant upgrade to their military relationship. Indonesia’s president-elect Prabowo Subianto, who also serves as defense minister, signed the Defense Cooperation Agreement with Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles at Indonesia’s National Military Academy in Magelang, Central Java province. Marles said the agreement,...

HK journalists found guilty in landmark sedition case

This is the first sedition case against journalists in Hong Kong since the territory's handover in 1997.

Boy suffers life-changing injuries in crash

Police issue an appeal for witnesses following the incident.

Chinese Embassy in Philippines protests remarks made by Japan ambassador concerning South China Sea dispute

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's embassy in the Philippines on Thursday said it had sent a diplomatic note of protest to the Japanese embassy in the Southeast Asian country concerning "irresponsible" remarks its ambassador made regarding the South China Sea's Sabina Shoal. In a statement, the Chinese embassy said the comments displayed "ignorance of the facts and contained unwarranted accusations

Philippines says US offered to escort supply ships in disputed sea

The United States has offered to escort Manila's resupply missions to outposts in the disputed South China Sea, the Philippine military chief said Thursday, following Beijing's intensifying efforts to block them. China claims most of the South China Sea despite an international ruling that its assertion has no legal basis, and defends its actions against Philippine vessels as lawful and proportional.

Australia census plan prompts LGTBQ boycott threat

Australia's decision not to include new questions about gender and sexual orientation in the next census prompted fierce debate Thursday, and a warning that LGBTQ citizens may boycott the count. "If this decision sticks, the government could expect LGBTQ people and our families not to participate in the next census," he warned.

Record high number of racially-motivated incidents

The figures are up the year up until June before the wave of recent attacks and disorder.

'Leave a record': the Hong Kong news editor found guilty of sedition

While on trial for sedition, Hong Kong editor Chung Pui-kuen became the defiant face of the city's media over his leadership of Stand News, a now-shuttered news outlet accused of inciting hatred against Beijing. - 'Speak up' - Announcing the launch of Stand News in 2014, Chung wrote that the outlet would stand up for values such as democracy and human rights -- hence the name.

Weirdest things dictators did you won't believe actually happened

Dictators are known for oppressing entire nations with their ruthless regimes. In this gallery you'll find some of the weirdest things these dictators did. You will seriously question where these ideas came from after looking through this gallery. Check it out.

Cyclist dies after hitting a wall in National Park

Police say members of the public attempted first aid on the man.

What police uniforms look like around the world

Most police officers around the world wear uniforms. In fact, many have more than just one type of uniform. But how do these differ from country to country? Well, there are a few things many police uniforms around the world have in common. One of them is the colors used. The vast majority stick to different shades of blue (mostly navy and light blue), or black. Another point in common is the use of high-visibility jackets. There are, however, a few exceptions to the rule, and this means the use of completely different colors and styles. And then, of course, there is the headgear, which varies depending on the country and police force in question. Curious? Click on and check out what police uniforms look like around the world.

Three more men charged after city centre unrest

The three men have been charged for their role in city centre protest which spiralled out of control.

Israeli army says it has killed 5 more West Bank militants, including a well-known local commander

JERUSALEM (AP) — The Israeli military said it has killed five more militants in a large-scale operation in the occupied West Bank early Thursday, including a well-known local commander. There was no immediate Palestinian confirmation of the death of Mohammed Jaber, known as Abu Shujaa, a commander in the Islamic Jihad militant group in the Nur Shams refugee camp on the outskirts of the city of Tulkarem. He became a hero for many Palestinians...

Israel ramps up military assault on occupied West Bank for second day

Several Palestinians have been killed and injured in raids across the territory that have drawn global condemnation.

These countries have no armed forces

In this day and age, it's hard to imagine a country without their own military. Ensuring defense is a top priority for most countries, but not all have a standing army, or indeed any type of armed forces. Some of these nations have very close relationships with other countries, while others rely of alliances and agreements to ensure they remain safe and are protected in case things go wrong. Intrigued? Click through this gallery to find out which nations don't have armed forces.

The unbelievable prison people are paying to stay in

Prison Inside Me in Hongcheon, South Korea, is a mock penitentiary center where people surrender their belongings, submit to strict rules, and stay locked in a cell—voluntarily. While you usually hear of people trying to escape from prisons, South Koreans are actually paying to go to prison for an escape. Check out this gallery to see just what's so appealing about this curious confinement.

Appeal after dog injured in XL bully 'attack'

Police say after the XL bully attacked another dog, its owners allegedly threatened the dog owner.

Ukraine is now using helicopter gunners to down Russian drones

Liberian ex-chief justice acquitted of niece's murder

Gloria Maya Musu-Scott was sentenced to life in prison in January in a case that gripped the nation.

Lion rescued from Ukraine takes first steps outside

Yuna, a lioness from Ukraine with shell shock, has ventured to the outside of her enclosure.

EU’s Borrell urges Ukraine backers to lift curbs on arms use inside Russia

Ukraine is pushing its Western allies for additional air defences and to use weapons to attack targets in Russia.

Cleaning woman (26) falls 12 metres down empty lift shaft

A tragic workplace accident took place in the Living Tomorrow tower building in Vilvoorde (Belgium) on Wednesday afternoon. A 26-year-old cleaning woman there stepped backwards with her cleaning trolley into the lift, but it was not there. As a result, the 26-year-old woman plunged as much as 12 metres down from the third floor to the basement. She sustained life-threatening injuries in the process and was put into an artificial coma. One day...

Filipino sailors hold the line at flashpoint South China Sea reef

Sailors aboard two Philippine Coast Guard boats crashed through South China Sea waves, shadowed by Chinese vessels as they attempted to bring desperately needed supplies to colleagues holed up on a ship inside a remote ring of reefs. AFP journalists on board one of the 44-metre (144-foot) Philippine resupply boats watched as Chinese coast guard and navy ships shadowed both vessels for hours, eventually surrounding them.

Philippines eyes mid-range missiles, 40 fighter jets to modernise military

By Mikhail Flores and Karen Lema MANILA (Reuters) - The Philippines wants to upgrade its military with mid-range missiles and advanced fighter jets, two senior security officials said on Thursday, spending at least $33 billion as it modernises its defence in the face of growing regional tensions. The military wants to acquire more cutting-edge weaponry, armed forces chief Romeo Brawner told

Ukraine says it downed about 15 drones in Russian attack on Kyiv

KYIV (Reuters) - Ukrainian air defences shot down about 15 drones launched by Russia in its third attack on the Ukrainian capital in four days, Serhiy Popko, head of Kyiv's military administration, said on Thursday. Drone debris damaged the windows and doors of an apartment building and caused a fire in a non-residential building which was extinguished, Popko said in a statement after the latest

Russia launches a heavy missile and drone bombardment of Ukraine for the third time in 4 days

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia conducted a heavy aerial attack on Ukraine for the third time in four days Thursday, again launching missiles and scores of drones that mostly were intercepted, Ukraine’s air force said. Russian forces fired five missiles and 74 Shahed drones at Ukrainian targets, an air force statement said. Air defenses stopped two missiles and 60 drones, and 14 other drones presumably fell before reaching their target, it said....

Why have England and Wales nearly run out of prison spaces?

Fewer than 100 spaces remain in men’s prisons, reports say, and magistrates have been told to delay hearings.

Ukraine says it attacked oil facilities, military depot in Russia

KYIV (Reuters) - Ukraine's military said on Thursday it had attacked an artillery depot and two oil storage facilities in Russia, causing a fire on Wednesday at the Atlas oil depot in the southern Rostov region. The military said it had also attacked the Zenit oil facility in Russia's Kirov region, some 1,500 km (930 miles) northeast of the border with Ukraine. A field artillery depot in the

Police officer went abroad after calling in sick

PC Harry Elsey "let down" his colleagues at Essex Police, the force's chief constable says.

Church and Orange hall damaged in arson attacks

A man has been arrested after fires at three separate buildings in County Donegal.

Hong Kong court convicts former Stand News editors of sedition

By Jessie Pang and James Pomfret HONG KONG (Reuters) -A Hong Kong court on Thursday found two editors of the now-defunct Stand News media outlet guilty of conspiring to publish seditious articles in a case that has drawn international scrutiny amid a security crackdown in the China-ruled city. The two editors, Chung Pui-kuen and Patrick Lam, could be jailed for up to two years when they are

“Should this be allowed?” – Man frustrated by people cutting in line while waiting for bus

SINGAPORE: A man recently took to r/SingaporeRaw on Wednesday (Aug 28) to express his frustration... The post “Should this be allowed?” – Man frustrated by people cutting in line while waiting for bus appeared first on The Independent Singapore News - Latest Breaking News

Elderly couple scammed out of £350k by 'police officer'

The elderly couple were duped into buying gold thinking they were helping catch a fraudster.

Hong Kong court expected to hand down landmark sedition verdict against two journalists

By Jessie Pang and James Pomfret HONG KONG (Reuters) - A Hong Kong court on Thursday is expected to hand down verdicts against two editors of a now-defunct online media outlet for conspiring to publish seditious articles in a case that has drawn international scrutiny. This is the first sedition trial against any journalist or editor since Hong Kong's handover from Britain to China in 1997. It

Air ambulance takes off after car hits Welsh 'pedestrians and house'

Police and paramedics rushed to Beaumaris seafront on Anglesey where sadly three people were killed.

Russia's attacks on Ukraine's power sector pose risk to nuclear facilities, Kyiv says

KYIV (Reuters) - Russia's Monday drone and missile attack forced Ukraine to disconnect several nuclear power units from the grid, posing a risk to the nuclear power sector, a Ukrainian mission to the International Atomic Energy Agency said on Thursday. "The Russian Federation continues to deliberately target Ukraine's energy infrastructure, intending to disrupt the operation of the country's