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UK police make additional arrest over migrants' deaths in Channel

LONDON (Reuters) - British police said on Thursday they had arrested an additional individual over the deaths of five migrants, including a child, who died attempting to cross the Channel from France on a small boat earlier this week. The deaths occurred when a boat carrying 112 people set out to cross one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world on Tuesday, and panic took hold among the

Ukrainians welcome delayed US aid but doubt it signals Russia’s defeat

Experts say the $61bn package will replenish military stocks but won’t help Kyiv’s forces counterattack.

What is Netzah Yehuda, the Israeli battalion facing possible US sanctions?

Washington is considering to impose sanctions on the Israeli military unit accused of rights abuse against Palestinians.

Beer festival to go ahead despite police concerns

Hartlepool Borough Council approved the festival's temporary event application.

Remains of fallen soldiers in Korean War identified

The remains of two soldiers who died at the Battle of Imjin River have been identified.

DOJ: At least 200 convictions made since OSAEC law was passed

At least 200 convictions have been made since the Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) law was passed in 2022, an official from the Department of Justice said Thursday. ''When the law was passed in 2022, almost 200 convictions were made,'' Justice Assistant Secretary Jose Dominic Clavano said at a Palace press briefing. ''So, we see a very significant jump ‘no after this law and this tool was given to the law enforcement...

Israeli security forces make arrests in West Bank overnight

IDF, Shin Bet, Border Police, and Counterterrorism Unit forces arrested eight wanted persons throughout the West Bank overnight between Wednesday and Thursday, the IDF announced. IDF and Shin Bet detained six of those arrested in the Tulkarm area. Another was arrested in Hebron by the Yehuda Division. In another operation in Nabi Saleh, IDF soldier...

Ukraine claims it hit several Russian air defense systems in recent strike

Israel intensifies strikes on Gaza's Rafah ahead of threatened invasion

By Nidal al-Mughrabi CAIRO (Reuters) - Israel stepped up airstrikes on Rafah overnight, killing at least six Palestinians, medics said on Thursday, after saying it would evacuate civilians from the Gaza border city and storm it despite allies' warnings this could cause mass casualties. In the seventh month of a devastating air and ground war against the Gaza Strip's ruling Islamist group Hamas,

Focus on China in WPS territorial dispute stumps Escudero

MANILA, Philippines — The apparent focus being given to China in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) issue does not escape Senator Francis Escudero’s eye. Escudero reminded everyone that the territorial dispute in the WPS was not exclusive to the Philippines and China. “Ang kalaban natin ika nga, o katunggali natin o kaagaw natin sa West Philippine Sea kabilang ang Malaysia, Vietnam at Taiwan at ibang bansa pa sa Southeast Asia, subalit tila medyo...

Man critical in hospital after car crashes into house

The 66-year-old was injured in the crash involving a Vauxhall Mokka in Barrhead on Wednesday.

Man died after being stabbed in the leg - inquest

Colin Richards had been waiting in a car for his friend to return, an inquest hears.

Cannabis farm worth £1m found in police raid

The cannabis plants covered four floors, Lancashire Police say.

Glasgow venue faces licence review after teen deaths

Representatives for SWG3 are expected to appear at a Glasgow Licensing Board hearing.

Pro-Palestinian protesters urge universities to divest from Israel. What does that mean?

College students calling for a cease-fire in Gaza are also urging their colleges to divest. Here's what that means.

Aboriginal spears snatched by British in 1770 returns to Australia

LONDON — Four spears taken from Australia by a British explorer more than 250 years ago will be returned by Cambridge University to descendants of the indigenous community which crafted them, in the latest high-profile repatriation of artefacts. The four spears are all that remains of the 40 or so which James Cook and his team took […]

Five sheep killed in dog attack, police say

A further 19 livestock animals were also attacked, officers add.

Woman, 84, seriously injured in car park collision

A woman is left with serious injuries after being knocked down outside a Keighley supermarket.

France's Macron blasts 'ineffective' UK Rwanda deportation law

French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday said Britain's plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda was "ineffective" and showed "cynicism", while praising the two countries' cooperation on defence. British MPs on Tuesday passed a law providing for undocumented asylum seekers to be sent to Rwanda, where their asylum claims would be processed and where they would stay if the claims succeed.

Home Secretary visits island of Lampedusa

During a visit to the Italian island of Lampedusa, Home Secretary James Cleverly reaffirmed the Government's argument for the Rwanda scheme. The Rwanda Bill is awaiting royal assent to formally become law, paving the way for deportation flights to get off the ground.

Man in his 20s dies in crash between car and van

A man in his 60s is taken to hospital with serious injuries.

Six men face drugs and modern slavery charges

Police have charged six men from Rochdale in connection with a child exploitation investigation.

Asylum 'limbo' numbers could top 100k, warns charity

It could cost £6bn to house 115k people denied access to the asylum system, a refugee rights group says.

100 civilian fishing boats to join Scarborough Shoal convoy

MANILA, Philippines — A total of 100 civilian fishing boats will join the Scarborough Shoal convoy on May 15, culminating in the installation of assertive buoys amid mounting tensions in the West Philippine Sea. The Atin Ito coalition said two mother boats will lead this civilian mission, which is also aiming to bring essential supplies for the fishermen there. “The primary objectives of the mission are to conduct a ‘peace and solidarity...

Palestinian authorities seek probe into mass graves at Gaza hospitals

A Palestinian civil defense team on Thursday called on the United Nations to investigate what it said were war crimes at a Gaza hospital, saying nearly 400 bodies were recovered from mass graves after Israeli soldiers departed the complex. "There are cases of field execution of some patients while undergoing surgeries and wearing surgical gowns at ...

African migrant disaster survivor haunted by weeks lost at sea

By Ngouda Dione and Zohra Bensemra FASS BOYE, Senegal (Reuters) - Adrift on the Atlantic Ocean, the migrants from West Africa resorted to drinking seawater to quench their unbearable thirst. Then they started dying one by one. Disposing of the bodies became a daily trial for those still alive on the brightly painted wooden fishing boat. "I thought I would be next, that one morning, I too would

Duterte attacks vs Marcos: Fearless or reckless?

A foreigner who reads our country’s raging political news for the first time would think that Rodrigo Duterte remains the reigning ruler of the Republic of the Philippines, and not Ferdinand Marcos Jr. This impression would stem from how audacious Duterte criticizes President Marcos, and how brazenly scathing the language of criticism he dishes out against the latter. As early as November 2021, as incumbent president, Duterte unmistakably...

Marcos names Hans Cacdac as DMW chief

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has appointed Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac to head the department. To recall, Marcos has designated Cacdac as the officer-in-charge of the DMW after the passing of former secretary Susan “Toots” Ople in August last year. Before his ad interim appointment in the Cabinet, Cacdac served as Undersecretary of the DMW; Executive Director V of the Overseas Workers Welfare...

Ukraine is putting pressure on fighting-age men outside the country as it tries to replenish forces

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine worked Thursday to get much-needed new supplies of weapons and ammunition from a huge U.S. aid package to its eastern front line, where Russia was pressing forward with its efforts to take ground from outnumbered and outgunned troops. Ukraine is also seeking to reverse the drain of potential soldiers from the country, announcing that men of conscription age will no longer be able to renew their passports from outside...

PNP denies engaging in EJKs, dismisses Amnesty Int'l, US gov't reports

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday dismissed reports that extrajudicial killings (EJKs) are still prevailing in the country under the Marcos administration. At a press conference, PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo also denied allegations that the PNP has been engaging in EJKs. “The PNP and other law enforcement agencies for that matter does not engage in EJKs,” Fajardo said. “Kung titignan po natin yung legal meaning po...

SNP sparks chaos in Scotland by killing off coalition with Greens

The First Minister is facing a confidence vote in his leadership after he moved to end the Bute House Agreement amid a row with the junior party over environmental and trans policies.

DOJ: Gov’t officials who work with ICC may face punishment

MANILA, Philippines — Government officials who work with the International Criminal Court (ICC) could be punished under the law, said Department of Justice (DOJ) spokesperson Asec. Mico Clavano on Thursday. According to former Senator Antonio Trillanes III, the ICC has already spoken to 50 former and present Philippine National Police officers regarding their involvement in former President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs. READ: Trillanes: ICC...

Kenya on alert as flood death toll reaches 13

The death toll from flash floods in Kenya's capital Nairobi has risen to 13 after the discovery Thursday of three more bodies, police said. "We recovered three more bodies today and the search is going on because we have people who were reported missing," local police commander Fred Abuga said.

Malaysia ex-PM Mahathir facing anti-graft probe in a case involving his sons

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad is among individuals being investigated in connection with a graft probe involving his sons, the head of Malaysia's Anti-Corruption Commission said on Thursday. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in January served Mahathir's businessmen sons, Mirzan and Mokhzani, with notices to declare their wealth, as part of

Indonesia's Prabowo closes in on parliamentary majority after rival party pledges support

JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesian president elect Prabowo Subianto received a boost on Thursday after a prominent political party that backed another candidate pledged its support for his administration, moving him a step closer to securing a majority in the new parliament. NasDem, which won 10% of the vote in February's legislative election, was ready to pledge its "full support" for the next

Man charged over 'slash' attack in city

A man was taken to hospital after being attacked in Sneinton on Tuesday evening.

Spanish prosecutor seeks dismissal of case against PM Sanchez's wife

MADRID (Reuters) - Madrid's prosecuting authority on Thursday sought the dismissal of a case against Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's wife. A judge in Madrid on Wednesday agreed to look into a private complaint laid by an anti-corruption activist against Begona Gomez over alleged influence peddling and business corruption. (Reporting by Emma Pinedo, writing by Aislinn Laing)

‘Deepfake’: PCO disowns clip of Marcos ‘attack order’ vs China

MANILA, Philippines — Amid simmering tensions in the West Philippine Sea, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) called for heightened vigilance against online content designed to sow confusion or mislead the public about the issue. On Wednesday, the PCO dismissed as a “deepfake” a video recording of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. supposedly ordering an attack on China, whose aggressive actions against Filipino vessels in the West...

Kremlin says U.S. long-range missiles sent to Ukraine will not change war's outcome

MOSCOW (Reuters) - The Kremlin said on Thursday that deliveries of U.S. long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) to Ukraine would not change the outcome of the war but would create more problems for Ukraine itself. The United States in recent weeks secretly shipped long-range missiles to Ukraine, which has so far used them twice, a U.S. official said on Wednesday. The missiles were used

Yemen’s Houthis launch attacks on US, Israeli vessels as warships defend

New attack comes two weeks after Iran-aligned group said it targeted three vessels and a US warship.

Wrongfully convicted mother was ‘collateral damage’

Nicole Jacobs says her mother’s vulnerability was “exploited” because she was a young mum.

Portugal's democracy turns 50: Thousands commemorate Carnation Revolution

By Sergio Goncalves and Miguel Pereira LISBON (Reuters) -Thousands celebrated the 50th anniversary on Thursday of Portugal's "Carnation Revolution" that toppled the longest fascist dictatorship in Europe and ushered in democracy, though support for the far right has revived in recent years. Antonio Oliveira Salazar ruled Portugal from 1932 to 1968, but the arch-conservative, authoritarian regime

Murder arrest after alleged assault

A 40-year-old died in hospital on Thursday after suffering serious injuries, police said.

Police arrest 93 protesters on California campus

LA police arrest dozens as they clear a pro-Palestinian protest encampment at a college in LA.

Turkish rail officials jailed for more than 108 years for crash that left 25 dead

ISTANBUL (AP) — A court in Turkey sentenced nine rail officials to more than 108 years' imprisonment over a crash six years ago that killed 25 people, local media reported on Thursday. A passenger train operated by Turkish State Railways derailed in July 2018 as it passed through Corlu district some 110 kilometers (68 miles) west of Istanbul. The train was traveling from Unlukopru, near the Greek border, to Istanbul’s Halkali station, Turkey’s...

Marcos extends term of gov’t workers under contracts of service, job orders

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. extended the engagement of contractual employees in government under the contract of service (COS) and job order (JO). According to the Palace on Thursday, the decision came after the President held a sectoral meeting with the Department of Budget and Management, Department of Interior and Local Government, Civil Service Commission and Commission on Audit last Wednesday. READ: Marcos OKs up to...

Russia accuses U.S. of pressuring Turkish Airlines to deny Russians flights to Mexico

By Gleb Stolyarov and Lucy Papachristou (Reuters) - Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov has accused the United States of exerting pressure on Turkey's national airline to bar Russian citizens from flights bound to Mexico. His comments came after Moscow's embassy in Ankara this week complained that some Russian airline passengers were being indiscriminately denied boarding while

More than eight in ten asylum seekers in Ireland 'cross in from NI'

More than eight in ten asylum seekers in the Republic of Ireland have crossed into the country from Northern Ireland, the Republic's justice minister Helen McEntee (pictured) has claimed.

In east Ukraine, exhausted troops eagerly await new US weapons

Exhausted Ukrainian soldiers near the front line were eagerly awaiting the arrival of desperately needed US weapons Thursday, with some bitter at how much the long wait has cost them. Oleksiy said that his unit had enough Ukrainian ammunition but hoped for "armoured vehicles, artillery and long-range shells."

PNP: Cops who talked to ICC on Duterte case may face sanctions

The cops who communicated with the International Criminal Court (ICC) about the crime against humanity case against ex-President Rodrigo Duterte may face sanctions, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Thursday. “Obviously, kung ikaw ay isang active personnel at you are performing any activities that is contrary to what is being stated officially ng PNP, posible na may kaharapin pong sanction ang sinumang pulis na hindi po susunod sa...