All news for 2024-12-12

750
Singer Sting condemns Russia’s aggression against Ukraine but sells his wine in Moscow
When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, devastating parts of its territory, the aggression was condemned not only by Western politicians but by many celebrities as well.
413
’Thor’ and his gang smuggled £140m of cocaine into the UK from Sierra Leone
Members of the organised crime group have been locked up for a combined total of more than 75 years
473
Tories shaken as billionaire married to Holly Valance takes major role in Reform UK
Nick Candy, who donated £270,000 to the Conservatives between 2020 and 2022, will become Nigel Farage’s party treasurer after he and wife Holly Valance attended several Reform events
416
Sean ’Diddy’ Combs faces lawsuits from three accusers in New York over rape allegations
Sean ’Diddy’ Combs is facing new allegations from three accusers in the State of New York who claim the star drugged and then raped them. The star is currently in jail awaiting trial for other charges.
468
All is fair in steel and war: Italian equipment used for military armor production continues to be supplied to Russia
Russian metallurgists, who supply their materials to manufacturers of weapons and armored vehicles, are critically dependent on foreign equipment.
359
Cabinet Office to cut 400 jobs in effort to create a ’smaller, clearer structure’
Staff told 400 civil servant roles will go in voluntary exit scheme, with Whitehall braced for further cuts
598
Tory peer faces suspension over ’Lord Poppadom’ comment
Lady Meyer found to have breached harassment rules with behaviour towards Lord Dholakia that had ‘racial element’
636
British businessman Sanjay Shah sentenced to 12 years for £996m Danish tax fraud
Shah found guilty of gross fraud and given longest sentence for financial crime in country’s history
567
Meta donates $1m to Donald Trump’s inaugural fund
Donation comes after CEO Mark Zuckerberg dined with Trump at Mar-a-Lago and appears to be an effort to improve relations
580
What Syria’s uncertain future could mean for Britain’s security
Events in Syria have moved at lightning pace over the last two weeks.
352
Body discovered in the search for former England rugby star Tom Voyce after his car was swept away in Storm Darragh
A body has been found in the search for missing England rugby star Tom Voyce.
480
Donald Trump joins the exclusive club of leaders like Hitler, Stalin, Khrushchev, and Khomeini
President-elect Donald Trump has for the second time joined an exclusive club in the company of global figures and leaders – some controversial.
467
NATO warns of the need to ’prepare for war’ and admits ’we’re not ready for what’s coming’
Britain and other members of Nato have been urged to shift to a ‘wartime mindset’ amid the ongoing threats from Russia.
397
Oligarch’s daughter buys £32.5m mansion, then sues seller over ’millions of moths’
Iya Patarkatsishvili and husband Dr Yevhen Hunyak are suing the previous owner of their luxury £32.5million London mansion after alleging he did not disclose a moth infestation
426
Rioter at asylum hotel sentenced to nine years in prison
A man who tried to set fire to a hotel housing asylum seekers has been jailed for nine years, the joint-longest prison sentence in connection with the UK’s summer of riots.
349
Shamima Begum and 65 other Britons with IS connections detained in Syria face an uncertain future
US voices concern over continuing offensive by Turkish-backed rebel groups against Kurdish groups guarding prisons and camps
528
Majority of Brexit voters ‘would accept free movement’ to access single market
Europe-wide polling finds UK and EU leaders now out of step with public opinion and pursue ‘ambitious reset’
444
The Qmall cryptocurrency exchange has been recognized as a scam: its owner, Bohdan Prylepa, who withdrew billions, has been declared wanted
According to Entrepreneur, the situation with cryptocurrency exchanges is growing increasingly concerning.
498
British tourist, 20, dies while climbing a dangerous path in Spain
A Brit, 20, has died after falling from a path in Spain while attempting a dangerous hike.
504
Baby girl fights for life after attack by ’XL Bully’ dog
A baby girl is fighting for her life in hospital after being bitten by an ‘XL Bully-type’ dog in Kent.
401
Crypto fraudster Bohdan Prylepa siphoned billions from the Coinsbit exchange and fled to Dubai
Studying the personality of Bohdan Prylepa, one involuntarily recalls the lines of one of the poets – «Oh, how many wonderful discoveries…».