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US forces ready with a 'range of options' to deal with South China Sea aggression, US admiral says

US forces ready with a 'range of options' to deal with South China Sea aggression, US admiral says - A U.S. admiral says American forces are ready with a “range of options” to deal with increasing acts of aggression in the disputed South China Sea after consultations with treaty ally the Philippines

EU's top diplomat ramps up pressure on Ukraine's backers to permit strikes on targets inside Russia

EU's top diplomat ramps up pressure on Ukraine's backers to permit strikes on targets inside Russia - The European Union's top diplomat is pressing Ukraine’s international backers to lift restrictions on the use of weapons they provide so the country's armed forces can strike military targets inside Russia

Ukrainian F-16s have scored their first victory against Russia

Workers remove millions of dead fish that washed up in Greek port

Workers remove millions of dead fish that washed up in Greek holiday resort port. The fish were freshwater species that washed into the sea by flooding from Storm Daniel. They have created a silvery blanket across the port and sent tourists fleeing.

Male migrant suffered ‘life-limiting’ stroke after being held in van

Male migrant suffered ‘life-limiting’ stroke after being held in van - Six men and one woman from Vietnam were rescued from the concealed spot ‘the width of a human chest’.

Poland seeks to strip immunity from ex-PM's top aide

WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland's Prosecutor General has asked the President of the European Parliament to consent to prosecuting Michal Dworczyk, a European Union lawmaker and right-hand man of former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, for alleged obstruction of justice. Donald Tusk's pro-European coalition government, in office since December, has made a priority of holding to account those it

Death toll reaches nine in listeria outbreak linked to Boar’s Head deli meat

Death toll reaches nine in listeria outbreak linked to Boar’s Head deli meat - The problem was discovered when a Boar’s Head liverwurst sample tested positive for listeria

Millions evacuated and three dead as 157mph typhoon slams into Japan

Millions of people had to evacuate their homes as a ferocious 157mph typhoon slammed into Japan, killing at least three and triggering landslides.

The republic that changes its head of state every 6 months

San Marino is a microstate landlocked in Italy. It is considered the oldest current republic. And uniquely, every 6 months, the head of state changes and is even a duo. San Marino is anchored on Mount Titano with its medieval city from which you can observe the Baltic Sea. San Marino is also the 5th smallest country in the world landlocked between Emilia-Romagna and the Marches. It owes its origin to a Catholic mason who took refuge on Mount...

Teachers union president fires back at JD Vance’s ‘nonsensical’ comments about her

Teachers union president fires back at JD Vance’s ‘nonsensical’ comments about her - Vance accused the union president of trying to ‘brainwash and destroy the minds of children’

Son of Spanish actor jailed for life over gruesome murder on Thai party island

Son of Spanish actor jailed for life over gruesome murder on Thai party island - The case of Daniel Sancho, the son of Rodolfo Sancho and actress Silvia Bronchalo, has captivated Spain

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.

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.

Let us strike deep inside Russia where it will hurt them, Ukraine pleads with West

Let us strike deep inside Russia where it will hurt them, Ukraine pleads with West - Ukrainian officials will arrive in Washington this week to urge the US to allow Ukraine to fire Western-supplied missiles deeper into Russia

Domestic abuse charity allows ‘men who identify as women’ to apply for female-only job

Scotland’s leading domestic abuse charity has advertised for a senior “women-only” role but will allow “men who identify as women” to apply. Scottish Women’s Aid (SWA) advertised for a head of policy, and said that “applications from women only” would be accepted for the key role. But the advert then said that the definition of women included peopl...

Nine children taken to hospital after chlorine leak reported in London pool

Nine children taken to hospital after chlorine leak reported in London pool - London Ambulance crews were called to reports of a chlorine leak in the Wembley leisure centre at 1.34pm on Thursday.

Keir Starmer confirms he IS planning outdoor smoking ban

The Prime Minister told journalists in Paris he is looking at changes to smoking laws as he pointed to a 'huge burden' on the NHS .

EU urged to rethink ties with Israel over Gaza and to impose sanctions against some ministers

EU urged to rethink ties with Israel over Gaza and to impose sanctions against some ministers - Ireland and the European Union's top diplomat have urged the bloc to review its relations with Israel as the death toll mounts in Gaza and the West Bank

Anger after passengers lock toddler in plane’s toilet to stop her from crying

Anger after passengers lock toddler in plane’s toilet to stop her from crying - Viral video shows one of the women telling the child that she could only leave the bathroom if she stopped crying

"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...

Turkey's top diplomat attends first EU meeting in 5 years in bid to boost ties

ANKARA (Reuters) -Turkey's foreign minister hopes to make progress on improving Ankara's rocky ties with the European Union on Thursday as he attends a meeting of EU ministers in Brussels for the first time in five years, a source from his ministry said. Turkey's two-decades-old bid to join the bloc has been frozen due to EU concerns over its human rights record alongside policy disputes in the

EU's Red Sea mission says still no oil spill from tanker hit by Houthis

ATHENS (Reuters) - The EU's Red Sea naval mission Aspides said on Thursday that no oil spill has been detected on the Greek-flagged oil tanker Sounion in the Red Sea, despite 'multiple fires' which have been detected on the main deck of the vessel. The Houthis said on Wednesday that they had agreed to allow the towing of the Sounion that has been on fire since Aug. 23. The EU mission added that

PM says he wants to reduce 'burden' of smoking as leaked plan suggests outdoor ban

Sir Keir Starmer said ministers want to reduce the burden placed on taxpayers and the NHS by smoking, as leaked plans suggest the Government is considering extending the smoking ban to cover some outdoor spaces. The indoor smoking ban could be extended to cover beer gardens or outside football stadiums, according to leaked plans seen by The Sun newspaper. Other locations that could become smoke-free include small parks, outdoor restaurants and hospitals.

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

Ukraine is now using helicopter gunners to down Russian drones

Yair Lapid to reveal his version of October 7 Massacre security failure events

Yesh Atid chairman Yair Lapid will "deliver for the first time" his version of the chain of events that occurred on October 7, Lapid posted on X, formerly Twitter, on Thursday morning. Lapid stated he would reveal his story starting at 11:00 a.m. as part of the civilian probe into the October 7 Massacre. This is a developing story.

The state that won't tell voters about alleged $1B spend on migrants

Roughly 50,000 non-legal migrants have poured into this wealthy New England state under the Biden administration, stretching social services to their limits.

Putin will fight until final victory, he wants to capture the whole of Ukraine

He said it, he repeated it, and he continues to shout it. Putin wants to conquer Ukraine, according to him, it's a matter of survival for Russia. For Europe's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, "the success of the Russian Federation depends on its ability to attract the greatest possible number of people to the battlefield. And if we don't change course quickly, if we don't mobilize all our capacities, this will allow Putin to win the war in Ukraine"....

Nigeria receives 10,000 doses of mpox vaccines from US

By Camillus Eboh ABUJA (Reuters) - Nigeria has received 10,000 doses of the mpox vaccine from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the first batch of the vaccine to reach the country which has confirmed 40 cases with no fatalities so far. Muyi Aina, executive director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), called the donation a "critical step" for

Police update after American dies on replica Viking ship sailing from Faeroe Islands to Norway

Police update after American dies on replica Viking ship sailing from Faeroe Islands to Norway - The survivors managed to get into an inflatable life raft and were later airlifted to safety by helicopter

Borrell asks EU members about possible sanctions on some Israeli ministers

BRUSSELS (Reuters) -European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Thursday he has asked the bloc's members if they want to impose sanctions on some Israeli ministers for "hate messages" against Palestinians that he said broke international law. He did not name any of the Israeli ministers to whom he was referring or specify which messages he had in mind. But in recent weeks he has

CCTV uncovers alleged child abuse at NHS funded private mental health hospital in Coventry

CCTV uncovers alleged child abuse at NHS funded private mental health hospital in Coventry - Exclusive: A hospital run by of the UK’s largest mental health providers warned over CCTV footage showing alleged abuse of patients

"Millions at risk from Russian attacks"

The Ukrainian Mission to the International Atomic Energy Agency says millions of people are at risk from Russian attacks on energy infrastructure in Ukraine. "The Russian Federation continues to deliberately target Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, intending to disrupt the operation of the country’s nuclear power plants, which provide most of Ukraine’s electricity", the mission reported in a statement. "Russian attacks pose a significant risk to...

Backlash after Hawke’s Bay Regional Council posts photos of gang members celebrating Māori wards vote

Local Government Minister Simeon Brown said gang patches are banned in public buildings.

Rich plot exodus from Britain to escape Labour's wealth tax raids

It comes following Keir Starmer's speech this week in which he painted a woeful picture of the state of the country's economy, as he braced the UK for a difficult Autumn budget.

Countries with the largest reported LGBTQ+ populations

In every corner of the globe (though not everywhere on Earth), vibrant LGBTQ+ communities are thriving, reshaping cultures and challenging norms. While the fight for equality takes on different forms in various regions, some countries stand out not just for their progress in LGBTQ+ rights, but for the sheer size of their queer populations. Indeed, the reported numbers of LGBTQ+ individuals around the world has grown over the years as more and more people open up about who they are. Click through this gallery to discover the countries where the rainbow shines brightest, and where the voices of the LGBTQ+ community resonate the loudest.

France's Macron visits Serbia to boost EU ties, discuss Rafale deal

By Aleksandar Vasovic BELGRADE (Reuters) - France's President Emmanuel Macron travels to Belgrade on Thursday to bolster ties with Serbia and bring it closer to the West, as the Balkan country juggles its European Union membership bid and close ties with Russia and China. During his two-day visit, Macron and his counterpart, Serbia's populist Aleksandar Vucic, plan to discuss issues including

Israeli military kills Islamic Jihad commander in mosque shootout as West Bank raids continue

Israeli military kills Islamic Jihad commander in mosque shootout as West Bank raids continue - Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad confirms the death of commander Mohammed Jabber

Suicide rates in England and Wales reach highest level since 1999

Ministers have been urged to treat suicide as a public health crisis after the rate at which people killed themselves in England and Wales reached the highest level in more than two decades. The official figures, described by the suicide prevention charity Samaritans as “worse than expected”, showed 6,069 suicides were registered in the two nations in 2023, up from 5,642 in 2022 and the highest rate since 1999. Three-quarters of the deaths were...

Canadian serial killer Jeremy Skibicki handed four life sentences

Canadian serial killer Jeremy Skibicki handed four life sentences - Canadian court sentences him for racially motivated murders of four Indigenous women

An ex-detective is accused of killing and staging the death of a woman he abused — years after it was ruled a suicide

An ex-detective is accused of killing and staging the death of a woman he abused — years after it was ruled a suicide - Former Officer Matthew Farwell “staged” the murder scene to look like 23-year-old Sandra Birchmore had killed herself, according to a bombshell indictment unsealed Wednesday.

California parents terrified after migrants try to board school bus

The migrants attempted to board buses along two school routes twice this week, per the Jamul-Dulzura Union School District in San Diego County.

Tories tussle over merchandise and ideology as six rivals fight over party leadership

Starmer defends plans to tighten laws around smoking ban

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer defends controversial plans to tighten laws around smoking ban.

Madeline Soto’s cause of death revealed after mom’s boyfriend charged with murder after years of alleged abuse

Madeline Soto’s cause of death revealed after mom’s boyfriend charged with murder after years of alleged abuse - Stephan Sterns, who was dating the 13-year-old’s mother at the time of her death, has been charged with her murder

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.

EU states working on fresh proposal for youth mobility scheme with UK

EU member states are working on a fresh proposal for a youth mobility scheme with the UK after an earlier paper by the European Commission was rejected out of hand by Labour in April, it has emerged. EU sources say the 27 countries hope to come up with viable negotiating points for Brussels in coming weeks to feed into the expected negotiations on a reset of EU-UK relations being sought by the British prime minister, Keir Starmer. It is thought...

Why an embarrassed Putin is struggling to stop Ukraine’s incursion in the Kursk region

Why an embarrassed Putin is struggling to stop Ukraine’s incursion in the Kursk region - Putin wants to downplay the move

The United States is building a new type of military unit and is taking pointers from Ukraine

Hong Kong journalists convicted of sedition for first time since British handover to China in 1997

Hong Kong journalists convicted of sedition for first time since British handover to China in 1997 - ’I believe that these stories and ideas can stimulate and inspire people’s thinking, reflect the times, and shape history’