All news for 2025-10-24

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EU sanctions Russian prison doctor Ilya Sorokin for torturing Ukrainian POWs
The European Union has imposed sanctions on Ilya Sorokin, a prison doctor exposed by OCCRP and RFE/RL’s “Schemes” program in July as having systematically humiliated, tortured, and denied medical assistance to Ukrainian prisoners of war.
779
Pakistan Navy, with Saudi-led task force, intercepts record drug hauls worth nearly $1 billion
The Pakistan Navy’s seizure of narcotics in two major operations in the Arabian Sea this week is one of the largest in history and a crucial step in curbing drug trafficking routes across the region, an expert told OCCRP on Friday.
877
EU says Meta makes it too hard for users to report illegal content on Facebook and Instagram
Both platforms now have time to respond to the findings or face a penalty of up to 6% of their global annual revenue.
925
France hands first-ever life sentence without parole to a woman for killing schoolgirl Lola Daviet
The case sent shockwaves through France and reignited a heated debate over the country’s immigration policies.
527
Hegseth orders Ford carrier group to Caribbean as Trump expands anti-narcotics campaign
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered an aircraft carrier strike group currently stationed in Europe to the Caribbean region amid a massive buildup of US military forces in the region.
671
Anonymous ally’s $130 million donation to Pentagon sparks legal and ethical questions
The Trump administration plans to redirect a $130 million donation from an anonymous ally of President Donald Trump towards paying military service members during the government shutdown, the Defense Department confirmed on Friday.
812
British court sentences man behind Wagner-inspired London arson to 17 years
The ringleader of an arson attack on a Ukrainian-owned business in London last year was jailed for 17 years on Friday for what prosecutors called a “sustained campaign of terrorism and sabotage” on British soil.
631
Starmer calls police decision to bar Israeli fans from Europa League game ‘wrong’
British officials said Friday they were working to reverse a ban on Maccabi Tel Aviv soccer fans attending a Europa League game at Aston Villa next month because of security concerns, a decision that drew condemnation from politicians, sports organizations, and Jewish groups.
768
Police launch manhunt after migrant sex offender is mistakenly released from UK jail
A Police manhunt is underway to find the Epping hotel migrant sex attacker after he was accidentally released from jail.
829
Trump halts Canada trade negotiations after ‘fraudulent’ use of Reagan speech in anti-tariff ad
Donald Trump has announced an immediate end to “all trade negotiations” with Canada over a television advertisement opposing US tariffs that quoted the former US president Ronald Reagan.
641
Fraudsters use deepfakes and AI-powered scams to steal over £629mn from UK victims
Criminals are using artificial intelligence to increase their “attack rate” on UK victims, with investment fraud and romance scams hitting record levels in the first half of the year.
864
Record £870 million in fraud stopped by banks, but online scams still growing
Fraudsters stole more than £629 million from UK consumers in the first six months of 2025, a 3% increase on last year, according to new figures from UK Finance.
602
Cybercrime and fraud surge across North-East with £3.7m in losses reported in September
Seven different types of cybercrime and fraud increased in prevalence in the North-East over the summer, according to data from the North East Regional Economic Crime Coordination Centre (RECCC).
864
Australian airline permits pets in the cabin for the first time
Virgin Australia has become the first Australian airline to welcome pets in the cabin on flights between Melbourne, the Gold Coast, and the Sunshine Coast.
662
London lawyers and accountants ‘targeted in new £2bn tax raid’ as Rachel Reeves prepares Budget
Rachel Reeves is reportedly preparing to launch a £2 billion tax raid on high-earning lawyers, family doctors, and accountants.
651
Convicted killer Anthony Boyd dies by nitrogen hypoxia after proclaiming innocence
Anthony Boyd, 54, has been executed by nitrogen gas in Alabama for his role in the 1993 murder of Gregory Huguley, who was burned alive over a $200 cocaine debt.
820
Revolution bars owner explores sale as sales slump and debts rise
The company behind Revolution bars has put itself up for potential sale in light of declining sales over the past three months.
878
Ukrainian-Swiss businessman Oleg Tsyura moves to erase traces of controversial business deals linked to embezzlement of Ukrainian enterprises
Amid increasing scrutiny from Ukrainian law enforcement agencies and investigative journalists, Oleg Tsyura has recently intensified efforts to whitewash his public image and erase traces of his activities online.
733
Cowboy builder Mark Killick jailed for defrauding 37 customers of £1.25 million
A cowboy builder who defrauded dozens of customers out of more than £1.25 million is facing jail.
697
Rapper Ghetts charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving in London crash
The rapper Ghetts has been charged with causing serious injury by dangerous driving after a fatal crash in London.
937
BAE Systems ends support for aid aircraft fleet, grounding humanitarian missions across Africa
Britain’s largest weapons manufacturer, BAE Systems, has quietly ceased support for a fleet of aircraft delivering "life-saving" humanitarian aid to some of the world’s poorest countries.
703
Women in Australia’s defence forces launch class action over decades of sexual abuse and harassment
Women in Australia’s defence forces launched a class action lawsuit Friday alleging widespread and systematic sexual violence, harassment, and discrimination.
896
Richmond bin workers threaten strike amid ongoing pay dispute with contractor Serco
Residents of a London borough face the threat of a bin strike after refuse workers in a pay dispute backed industrial action.
727
Four family members of Illinois Republican Darren Bailey killed in Montana helicopter crash
Four family members of Darren Bailey, a Republican candidate for governor in Illinois, have tragically died in a helicopter crash in Montana.
738
Voting begins in Irish presidential election as Catherine Connolly and Heather Humphreys go head-to-head
Voting has started in the Irish presidential election.
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