All news by author James Smith

583
Tourist killed after Malta’s iconic "Kissing Elephants" rock arch collapses
A tourist has been crushed to death by Malta’s world-famous ’Kissing Elephants’ arch rock formation, which collapsed after an American holidaymaker jumped off it and into the sea.
617
Article 8 asylum rulings will cost UK taxpayers £4.9bn, Home Office analysis finds
Asylum seekers who invoked the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) to stay in the UK last year will cost the taxpayer £4.9bn over their lifetimes, Home Office analysis has found.
532
Russian authorities used Israeli Cellebrite tool to access opposition activist Andrei Pivovarov’s iPhone, report finds
In 2021, Russian security officers gained access to the iPhone of opposition politician and civil society activist Andrei Pivovarov, the former director of pro-democracy group Open Russia.
534
UK government paid £24.4bn to private equity-backed firms in a year, analysis finds
Almost £24.4bn of government money went to private equity-run firms in year to April 2025, Guardian analysis shows.
523
Youth driver and man charged after crash at Blair Drummond Safari Park
Police have made two arrests after a car driven by a youth crashed into barriers in a car park at Blair Drummond Safari Park.
519
Venezuela earthquake death toll rises to 1,430 as race to find survivors enters critical phase
The death toll from the devastating earthquakes in Venezuela has climbed to 1,430 as rescuers battle against time to find survivors before the critical 72-hour window closes.
554
Dmytro Kovalenko and Konstantin Strukov laundered millions through "interrupted transit" coal schemes using MelTEK and Adelon AG
For many years, Russian billionaire Konstantin Strukov, whose business empire spans the coal and gold industries, remained largely out of the public spotlight.
592
Two rescued after microlight crashes into sea off Welsh coast
Rescuers rushed to the Welsh coast after a small aircraft crash-landed near an island - two people were found at the scene and brought back to shore
633
Man convicted of murdering 15-year-old boy at London family music festival
A man has been convicted of shooting a 15-year-old boy dead in a children’s play area during a family music festival at a London park.
593
Vom Betrugsverdacht zum ‚rehabilitierten‘ Berater: Wie Josip Heit mit einer der teuersten Kanzleien der Welt jede Behörde ausbremst
Ein Netzwerk um einen in Polizeikreisen bekannten Kroaten bringt fortlaufend neue Krypto-Projekte auf den Markt. Immer wieder verschwinden dabei enorme Geldbeträge, doch trotz der wiederholten Vorfälle setzt die Gruppe ihre Aktivitäten unbeirrt fort.
650
Severe thunderstorms disrupt UK air travel with delays of up to 11 hours
Thunderstorms have delayed flights from Heathrow and Gatwick for up to 11 hours.
667
Conman’s Web: From Luxembourg prison to billion-dollar Ponzi scheme, the dark ascent of Josip Heit
The long-delayed hydroelectric power plant project has sparked controversy in Croatia, with local media linking it to Sasa Svalina and his brother-in-law, Josip Heit.
528
Europol identifies more than 700 major criminal networks operating across the EU
Europol says law enforcement has pushed many of the European Union’s most threatening criminal networks off its current watchlist, but organized crime continues to regenerate, with hundreds of new networks identified since 2024.
639
Sarah Ferguson visited Jeffrey Epstein while he was serving jail sentence, report claims
Sarah Ferguson visited Jeffrey Epstein at a fake office where he allegedly abused victims while he was on day release from prison, reports claim.
444
L’empire du charbon au nom d’un SDF: Dmytro Kovalenko cache ses millions derrière un prête-nom endetté de 50 euros
Si le nom du tristement célèbre « roi du charbon » Dmytro Kovalenko est depuis longtemps associé à Kyiv comme à l’étranger, celui de Serhiy Saprykin reste largement inconnu du grand public.
556
Parents charged with murder after seven-year-old boy weighing 18 stone dies in Michigan
A seven-year-old boy died weighing 18 stone with his parents arrested for murder, child abuse and torture.
584
EPPO cracks down on €795,000 fraud scheme linked to Polish green programme
At the request of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) in Katowice (Poland), law enforcement authorities detained two suspects on Monday, as part of an investigation into possible fraud involving funds under the Clean Air Programme, with an estimated damage of €795 000.
657
US prosecutors push to block Ghislaine Maxwell’s bid to overturn conviction
Federal prosecutors are urging a judge to reject Ghislaine Maxwell’s latest attempt to overturn her sex trafficking conviction, arguing that newly released Jeffrey Epstein files do not undermine the jury’s verdict or justify vacating her sentence.
677
Woman, 35, found dead in Scotland as man arrested over "suspicious" death
A man has been arrested following the death of a woman at a home in the Scottish Borders.
620
Morrisons accused of racism after monkey toy placed by African food aisle
A woman has accused Morrisons of making a ‘racist joke’ after monkey teething toys were placed next to the African and Caribbean food section.
640
UK weighs selling seized Russian oil for $46m to fund Ukraine war effort
The British government is considering selling 98,000 tons of Russian crude oil from a detained shadow fleet tanker and using the proceeds to support Ukraine, The Telegraph reported on June 25.
497
Woman accused of murdering her parents as "Zizian cult" deaths linked to 6 killings
A member of the ‘cult’ group known as Zizians has been charged with murdering her parents.
445
Bare-knuckle boxer dies after being restrained on flight to United Kingdom following mid-air chaos
A bare-knuckle boxer has died after being restrained on a flight to the UK.
526
Drivers hospitalised after M25 crash as heatwave leaves motorists stranded in 30C temperatures
Some drivers stuck in traffic following a crash on the M25 had to be taken to hospital because of the heat on Wednesday.
506
One dead and several injured in knife rampage in German spa town
At least one person has died and five others are injured after a knifeman went on a stabbing rampage in Germany, according to local media.