Fire kills six people at Milan retirement home
An overnight fire in a retirement home in Milan killed six people and injured around 80, including three who are in a critical condition, Italian authorities said on Friday.
2023-07-07 16:18
What is a Storm Shadow cruise missile?
British defence minister Ben Wallace announced that the top-tier, air launched Storm Shadow cruise missiles lent to Ukraine were striking targets with precision as the country continued to fight off Russia’s full-scale invasion clocking nearly 500 days. “The Storm Shadow missile has had a significant impact on the battlefield,” Mr Wallace said in a statement to the House of Commons on Monday this week, marking the first public acknowledgement of the missile’s use in the continuing war. "Its accuracy and ability to deliver successfully the payload, as sent and designed by the Ukrainians, has been almost without fault,” the defence minister said. “It has had an effect on the Russian army, mainly around its logistics and command and control. That shows the importance of deep fires,” he said. Ukraine’s counter-offensive is evidently in its early stages with the country’s forces repulsing attacks using several western weapon systems to boost its defence operations to stand up against Russia. In its arsenal of striking targets alongside top-tier rocket launcher systems sent from the West, including the HIMARS, are the British Storm Shadow cruise missiles. Manufacturer MBDA has said that the missile, which is fired from an aircraft, carries a range exceeding 155 miles and is designed to evade detection despite flying low after being launched. By contrast, the US-supplied Himars missiles currently used by Ukraine only have a range of around 50 miles. The longer range means Ukrainian pilots will be able to remain further from the front lines. But is still short of the 185-mile range of the US built Army Tactical Missile System, which Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky’s staff had reportedly asked for. Powered by a turbo-jet engine, the 1,300kg Storm Shadow travels at speeds of more than 600mph, is just over five metres long and has a wingspan of three metres. After launch, the weapon, equipped with its own navigation system, descends to a low altitude to avoid detection before locking on to its target using an infra-red seeker. On final approach the missile climbs to a higher altitude to maximise the chances of hitting the target. On impact, it penetrates the target before a delayed fuse detonates the main warhead. Storm Shadow missiles have been used by British and French air forces in the Gulf, Iraq and Libya. In May this year, the UK confirmed it will supply Ukraine with the long-range Storm Shadow missiles it requested for its fight against invading Russian forces. Mr Wallace had touted that the weapons will give Ukraine the “best chance” of defending itself. Read More Ukraine has an array of new Western weapons. What advantages could they offer in a counteroffensive? Russia-Ukraine – live: Putin may take ‘formal control’ of Wagner in wake of attempted coup Tanks, missiles and keeping Russia guessing: The week Ukraine’s counteroffensive truly began What are Storm Shadow cruise missiles and what other weapons has the UK sent to Ukraine?
2023-06-30 18:22
Shropshire funding boost to house homeless refugees
Shropshire Council announces plans to buy 10 more homes for those who have fled Afghanistan.
2023-06-30 14:28
Homer Hogues, among the last surviving Tuskegee Airmen, dies 2 days after the death of his wife. He was 96
Homer Hogues, one of the last surviving Tuskegee Airmen, died this week in Dallas, just two days after the death of his wife, according to an obituary provided by his family. He was 96.
2023-06-30 13:55
Rwanda policy: Government loses legal challenge in Court of Appeal
The government suffers a setback as judges said Rwanda is not a safe third country.
2023-06-29 17:46
Biden administration announces more than $3 billion in funding to tackle homelessness with veterans focus
The Biden administration announced new actions Thursday to help prevent and reduce veteran homelessness across the country, including $3.1 billion in funding to support efforts to quickly rehouse homeless Americans.
2023-06-29 17:25
Manipur: Rahul Gandhi to tour India state rocked by ethnic unrest
Opposition Congress MP Rahul Gandhi is due to meet people displaced by Manipur violence.
2023-06-29 13:47
Unmarried mothers' repatriations: 'I should never have been in Ireland'
A woman sent from Britain to Ireland as a baby speaks about repatriations of unmarried Irish mothers.
2023-06-29 07:28
Cost to remove a migrant £63,000 more than keeping in UK
A report finds the estimated savings of removing a migrant to a "safe country" such as Rwanda are uncertain.
2023-06-27 05:48
Home Depot to pay $72.5 million to settle California wage class action
By Jonathan Stempel Home Depot has agreed to pay $72.5 million to end a long-running class-action lawsuit alleging
2023-06-23 21:47
Windrush scandal: Thousands misclassified by UK as illegal immigrants still without compensation
Windrush compensation scheme is inaccessible to thousands on 75th anniversary of when the Empire Windrush arrived in the UK.
2023-06-22 20:56
Manipur: Fears grow over Indian state on brink of civil war
Manipur faces the darkest chapter in its modern history and could be engulfed by ethnic violence.
2023-06-22 11:47