No confidence vote 'a bitter blow' - garda chief
Irish police boss Drew Harris has faced internal opposition over a number of staff issues.
2023-09-13 23:56
Isolated Putin and Kim posture over ‘sacred fight’ with West as they talk arms for Moscow’s war machine
With a lingering handshake and the type of bombastic language you would expect from two men trying to ignore their isolation on the world stage, Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un have met for talks to prop up each other’s regimes. The North Korean leader was the most vociferous in his remarks, offering the Russian president his full support for Moscow’s “sacred fight” against “imperialism” – an obvious nod to the West and Mr Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. Mr Kim added that North Korea’s relations with Russia were “the first priority”. Mr Putin said in his opening remarks that he was “very glad” to see Mr Kim. Both men need each other. For Mr Putin, the aim will be a deal for weapons and munitions to feed his war machine in Ukraine. With a counteroffensive launched by Kyiv in June, Moscow will have been chewing through artillery shells, missiles and other munitions and domestic production is struggling to keep up as Western sanctions bite. When asked if he and Mr Kim would talk about weapons supplies, Mr Putin replied that the two leaders would discuss “all issues”. For Mr Kim, his nation facing its own sanctions from the UN, there will be a push for food and other aid. The location of the meeting – the Vostochny Cosmodrome in the remote Russian region of Amur – is symbolic, with Pyongyang’s leader also after Russian technology to help its satellite and nuclear programmes. Mr Kim’s country has tried – and failed – twice to launch a military spy satellite. When asked if Russia would help the North build satellites, Mr Putin said: “That’s why we came here. The leader of [North Korea] shows great interest in rocket engineering, they are also trying to develop space.” After their talks Mr Kim was due to travel to Komsomolsk-on-Amur, where he will visit factories where civilian and military equipment is manufactured, Mr Putin told reporters. The visiting North Korean leader will also travel to Vladivostok to see the capabilities of Russia’s Pacific Fleet, he said, adding that he will be received by the Far Eastern Federal University, a facility of the Academy of Sciences of Russia, whose research laboratories are engaged in marine biology. Having travelled to Russia by armoured train, Mr Kim is due to conduct his two-city trip by plane – a departure from the travel habits of his father and predecessor Kim Jong-il, who preferred long train journeys due to his fear of flying. Mr Putin said that he had an “open exchange of opinions with Kim” and there were opportunities for tactical and strategic cooperation. According to Russian state news agency Tass, when asked about longstanding sanctions against North Korea, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said: “Russia maintains its position at the UN Security Council, but this cannot and will not hinder the further development of Russian-North Korean relations.” He said the talks between the two leaders were “important and substantive” and that Russia sees opportunities to cooperate with North Korea on its space programmes, an area where the country is struggling. Mr Peskov said that Mr Putin did not raise the risk of nuclear war on the Korean peninsula. The Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, defended the idea of forging closer ties with Mr Kim in spite of UN sanctions that prohibit North Korea’s nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes. “Sanctions against North Korea were adopted in a completely different geopolitical situation when there were problems establishing dialogue (with Pyongyang), when there were quite serious debates in the Security Council,” Mr Lavrov told Russian TV reporter Pavel Zarubin. He blamed the West for breaking pledges of humanitarian support for Pyongyang. “We, the Chinese and the North Koreans were deceived,” Mr Lavrov said. Mr Kim and Mr Putin ended their face-to-face meeting after more than four hours, Russian media reported. An official lunch – comprising of duck salad, crab dumplings, fish soup, sturgeon with mushrooms, and last of all, a berry dessert – followed. During the lunch, Mr Putin raised his glass and said: “A toast to the future strengthening of cooperation and friendship between our countries... For the wellbeing and prosperity of our nations, for the health of the chairman and all of those present.” Mr Kim responded in kind saying: “I propose a toast to Mr Putin’s health.” Mr Putin also praised their countries’ longstanding partnership with a proverb. “In Korea, there is a proverb: good clothes are those that are new, but old friends are best friends. And our people say: an old friend is better than two new ones,” he told Mr Kim. “This folk wisdom is fully applicable to modern relations between our countries.” Before the meeting with the two leaders, both nations fired off drones and missiles. For Russia, it was part of its regular aerial assaults on Ukraine, with Kyiv’s air force saying it intercepted 32 of 44 Shahed-type drones launched over Ukraine overnight, with most aimed at the southern parts of the Odesa district. Pyongyang fired two ballistic missiles 10 minutes apart from the area of its international airport towards the country’s eastern seas, South Korea’s joint chief of staff said. Both missiles fell outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), Japan’s chief cabinet secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said. Japan’s Coast Guard said the missiles had already landed but still urged vessels to watch for falling objects. It is not known how the North Korean leader commands and controls his country’s missile and nuclear forces while abroad. However, analysts have said recent drills have revealed a system for overseeing nuclear weapons similar to those used in the United States and Russia. Mr Kim’s delegation is said to include his foreign minister, his top two military officials, and a number of people with connections to the country’s weapons industry, as well as representatives of the country’s space and technology sectors. Read More Ukraine-Russia war – live: Putin and Kim Jong-un begin weapons talks in Vladivostok North Korea’s Kim Jong-un arrives in Russia ahead of arms deal meeting with Putin Whether Russia or the Soviet Union, a timeline of Moscow’s relations with North Korea The Body in the Woods | An Independent TV Original Documentary The harrowing discovery at centre of The Independent’s new documentary
2023-09-13 23:56
Tyre Nichols: Five officers indicted on federal charges
Fiver police officers brutally beat the 29-year-old black man, who later died from his injuries.
2023-09-13 21:57
Libya floods: Why port city of Derna was so badly hit
A visual guide to why heavy rain caused such devastation and killed so many people in the city of Derna.
2023-09-13 21:16
Austrian ex-minister Karin Kneissl moves to Russia with her ponies
Karin Kneissl is known for her links to Russia, including dancing with Vladimir Putin at her wedding.
2023-09-13 20:54
Pennsylvania fugitive Danelo Cavalcante captured nearly two weeks after prison escape
A nearly two-week manhunt for a dangerous murder convict Danelo Cavalcante came to an end on Wednesday as he was captured in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania State Police are set to hold a press conference on the capture at 9.30am. For 14 days, Cavalcante managed to elude hundreds of law enforcement officers, including tactical teams in full combat gear, tracking dogs, cops on horseback and on aircraft. Pennsylvania State Police Lt Col George Bivens had credited Cavalcante’s upbringing in rural Brazil for his ability to hide in the vast wooded terrains in Chester County. The jailbreak on 31 August sparked fear among residents of the county’s suburbs, who were urged to keep their homes secure following a series of break-ins believed to be linked to Cavalcante. On 11 September, fears reached a fever pitch as Cavalcante stole a gun from a garage. Cavalcante managed to get ahold of clothing, food, and even stole a van that he used to drive more than 25 miles from his original hiding spot in Longwood Gardens. He was spotted multiple times throughout the 14-day ordeal and the sightings repeatedly forced law enforcement to expand their search perimeter and prompted three school districts and a popular botanical garden to close. Throughout his escape, Cavalcante showed up at the home of two former associates. Cavalcante escaped from Chester County Prison while awaiting a transfer to state prison. Last month, he was sentenced to life for murdering his ex-girlfriend. Chester County District Attorney Deb Ryan previously said that Cavalcante would not be returning to the county prison once he was captured. Cavalcante began his escape at around 8.50am on 31 August while other inmates in the exercise yard played basketball. He stretched his body to fit the length of a hallway and “crab-walked” onto the roof. He then climbed over razor wire and jumped from the roof. It was only nearly an hour later that correction officers realised an inmate was missing during a head count. The prison was locked at 9.50am and the 911 centre was notified of the escape 10 minutes later. Chester County Prison acting warden Howard Holland said that Cavalcante’s jailbreak was similar to another inmate’s escape back in May. During that incident, a tower officer immediately reported the situation to prison staff and the inmate was apprehended within minutes. The officer tasked with surveilling the area during Cavalcante’s escape did not report the incident. He has been placed on administrative leave and his performance is being investigated by the state attorney’s office. Cavalcante killed his ex-girlfriend Deborah Brandao in front of her children in 2021. Prosecutors say Cavalcante killed Brandao to prevent her from telling police that he was wanted in a 2017 killing back in Brazil. Authorities believe he was trying to return to Brazil after Brandao’s murder before he was captured in Virginia. Read More Danelo Cavalcante - update: Prison officer on leave after escape video released as manhunt in ninth day Pennsylvania prison officer who failed to report Danelo Cavalcante’s escape is placed on leave
2023-09-13 20:53
One student killed and another arrested after shooting at Louisiana high school
A student has been killed and another taken into custody after a shooting at a high school in Louisiana. The shooting happened at about 3pm local time on Tuesday at the St Helena College and Career Academy in Greensburg. Sheriff Nat Williams said the person arrested was a juvenile and a student at the school. The suspect is 14, school officials told WAFB-TV. The victim was identified by a relative at the scene as 16-year-old football player Vernon Gordon Jr., according to NBC’s Baton Rouge affiliate. No motive for the shooting has been given, while two other people were taken to hospital but the nature of their injuries and their condition were not immediately known. “This is being investigated by state police and the Sheriff’s Office,” said St Helena Parish Sheriff Nat Williams. The St Helena Parish School District stated that school will be cancelled until Friday, as well as the football game. “A tragic incident occurred on the campus of St Helena College and Career Academy,” the school district stated in a social media post. “The scene is still active and we are working closely with authorities at this time. An official statement from the school district is forthcoming regarding details that can be shared with the community. “School is canceled until Friday as well as the football game and School Board meeting. Grief counselors will be available for all learners upon their return this Friday.” With reporting from the Associated Press Read More Judge orders Louisiana to remove incarcerated youths from the state's maximum-security adult prison Louisiana grand jury charges 91-year-old disgraced priest with sexual assault of teenage boy in 1975 Mother accused of throwing her children off a bridge into lake will represent herself at murder trial
2023-09-13 19:48
El Chapo's wife is set to be released from a US prison today
Emma Coronel Aispuro, the wife of Mexican drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, is set to be released from a US prison on Wednesday, officials said.
2023-09-13 19:25
Ramaswamy looks to distinguish himself from Trump with conservative policy address
Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy is focused on a new objective weeks after his standout debate performance, when he just wanted to get his name out. Now he's looking to differentiate himself from former President Donald Trump, display his policy chops and establish himself as an authentic MAGA-aligned Republican candidate.
2023-09-13 19:20
Ukraine says it hit Russian naval targets in attack on Crimea
By Tom Balmforth KYIV (Reuters) -Ukraine said it struck Russian naval targets and port infrastructure early on Wednesday in the
2023-09-13 18:56
Bryan Kohberger – live: Idaho murders victims’ families react ahead of court hearing about cameras at trial
Idaho murders suspect Bryan Kohberger is back in court on Wednesday where a judge will hear arguments on banning cameras from the courtroom in the high-profile trial. Attorneys for both the defence and the prosecution have asked to restrict cameras as the case of the brutal slayings of four University of Idaho students continues to attract national attention. The former criminology PhD student was indicted earlier this year in the November 2022 killings of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin, at their off-campus house in Moscow. In August, Mr Kohberger’s defence team asked Latah County District Judge John Judge to bar cameras from the courtroom, claiming that the media coverage violated his constitutional rights. Last week, Latah County Prosecuting Attorney Bill Thompson responded to the motion with his own concerns and requested the judge remove cameras “at a minimum” during the “sensitive testimony of a number of young and vulnerable witnesses.” Meanwhile, the families of Goncalves and Kernodle released a statement saying that they want to keep cameras in the courtroom as they want the “veil of secrecy” to be lifted from the case. Read More Prosecutors join Bryan Kohberger’s effort to block cameras from Idaho murders trial Bryan Kohberger claims media are ‘focusing on his crotch’ as he demands court camera ban
2023-09-13 18:51
Vladimir Putin signals help for Kim Jong Un but quiet on weapons
Russia says it is helping North Korea develop satellites, but the US says it is buying weapons.
2023-09-13 18:50