Briton repatriated to UK from fire-ravaged Greece says he slept on ‘office floor’ of hotel
A passenger recalled his evacuation from Rhodes after arriving back at Gatwick Airport. Up to 10,000 Britons are estimated to be on the fire-ravaged Greek island, with repatriation flights to rescue holidaymakers landing back in the UK. Dominic Doggett explained how he “stayed on the office floor” of a hotel, before driving through the night to find other accommodation. “It was a very unique situation, but luckily we had a hire car there so we were able to drive away,” he explained.
2023-07-25 15:24
Residential buildings and church damaged in Russian missile attack on Odesa
At least one person was killed and at least 18 more were injured in a Russian attack on Odesa early on Sunday 23 July, according to Ukraine officials. The missile strike damaged an administrative building and a nearby residential building, as well as the city’s Transfiguration Cathedral. Debris blocked part of a key road in the city centre, with rubble scattered around, power lines damaged, and windows blown out. In the affected residential building, some people became trapped in their apartments as a result of the damage caused by the attack. An 85-year-old woman was rescued by emergency service workers, who gave her first aid. Read More The Body in the Woods | An Independent TV Original Documentary The harrowing discovery at centre of The Independent’s new documentary
2023-07-23 19:28
Greek wildfire victim returns to find home in ruins
Greek resident Chrysoula Renieri returned to her home on Thursday 20 July to discover what damage had been done after wildfires took hold of the building. Her house was tucked in a wooded area near the resort town of Loutraki because she and her husband loved living in nature. But earlier this week, winds fuelled a major wildfire that burned more than 35 square kilometres (21.7 sq miles) of forest and scrubland, including Renieri’s home. “Everything was destroyed. We have suffered too much damage,” she said. Renieri wasn’t home at the time but her son and family had returned from a swim when the fire started a few houses away. Read More Watch: Greek police free dog from garden as wildfires rage close to Athens Moment cinema-goer attacked after ‘politely’ asking man to move from seat he bought England vs Haiti: Lionesses train ahead of World Cup match
2023-07-22 16:22
Fires rage in aftermath of Russian strike on Mykolaiv as injured woman carried away on stretcher
Several floors of a three-storey building were destroyed after Russian strikes hit the Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv overnight, officials said on 20 July. The attack caused a fire in the building that affected an area of 450 square meters and burned for several hours. In footage released by Ukraine’s emergency services, firefighters were seen battling the flames throughout the early hours of the morning and removing people from the area. In a statement released on Telegram, the region’s Governor Vitalii Kim said at least 19 people had been injured following the strikes.
2023-07-21 05:20
Berlin: Police search for lioness on loose around German capital
German authorities warned people in Berlin’s southern suburbs on Thursday 20 July to watch out for a potentially dangerous animal, suspected to be a lioness, that was on the loose. Police in Brandenburg state, which surrounds the capital, issued a warning in the early morning hours of an “escaped wild animal” and asked people in and around Kleinmachnow, Teltow and Stahnsdorf — just outside Berlin’s city limits — not to leave their houses and to bring their pets indoors. The warning was later extended to southern areas of Berlin and an alert was sent on an official warning app that the animal was suspected to be a lioness.
2023-07-20 21:51
The most iconic Hermès Birkin bags inspired by Jane Birkin
Following the passing of actor and singer Jane Birkin, fans are remembering the iconic Hermès bag which drew inspiration from her need for practical style - and quickly grew to be one of the rarest and most expensive styles in the fashion world. The Hermès Birkin starts at around £8,000, but can only be purchased new by invitation from the brand personally. However, those keen to get their hands on one of these exclusive pieces can expect to pay upward of £20,000 on resale items. The Diamond Himalaya Birkin gained notoriety for being the most expensive bag ever to be sold at auction, going for $450,000 USD (£343,700) in 2022, and is crafted from Niloticus crocodile skin featuring 40 brilliant white diamonds. Birkin's passing will likely drive demand up even further for such bags. Read More Jane Birkin: Singer, actor and inspiration behind iconic Birkin bag dies aged 76 Cillian Murphy says it ‘took a toll’ playing scientist J Robert Oppenheimer Fan grabs Bryan Adams’ microphone after invading stage to sing Summer of ‘69
2023-07-17 19:58
Stunning views over Alps glacier from new cable car linking Switzerland and Italy
Breathtaking views of the Alps and the Theodul glacier can be seen onboard a new cable car passing through the border between Switzerland and Italy. The cable car can be seen moving through the beautiful Theodul glacier, offering stunning views of the surrounding mountains. Now open to the public, the Matterhorn Glacier Ride II begins at Switzerland’s Klein Matterhorn and ends at Testa Grigia in Italy. This service is the highest-altitude border crossing in the Alps, according to the operators of the car. This link uses ten cable cars that can accommodate up to 28 passengers each, with the entire journey consisting of several cable car changes. Read More Moment 12ft snake hiding in wall of family’s home pulled through plaster Tornado looms near Chicago airport during supercell storm New eruptive activity in Alaska volcano raises alert level
2023-07-14 19:16
Zelensky ‘doesn’t understand’ Ben Wallace’s complaints about Ukraine’s lack of gratitude
Volodymyr Zelensky has responded to Ben Wallace after he said Ukraine should show more “gratitude” for Western support. Speaking at the Nato summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, the Ukrainian president said that Kyiv has always been “grateful” to the United Kingdom, its prime ministers and the British public. “The people in the United Kingdom have always supported Ukraine, we are grateful for this,” Mr Zelensky said. “I don’t know how else we should be grateful... how else should I express my words of gratitude?” Mr Zelensky also said that the UK and Ukraine have “wonderful relations”. Read More The Body in the Woods | An Independent TV Original Documentary The harrowing discovery at centre of The Independent’s new documentary
2023-07-13 16:25
Greenpeace activists dump ton of algae outside French government HQ in factory farm protest
Greenpeace activists in France dumped nearly a ton of green algae outside the Finistere administrative headquarters in Quimper, Brittany on Monday, in protest over the amount of green algae off the coast caused by industrial and factory farming. Calling for an end to the construction of industrial cattle farms in the region, members of the environmental group unfurled banners reading “Green algae: asphyxiated Brittany” and “Brittany polluted: the state is guilty”. The activists released green and black smoke during the protest, and some were moved away from the algae by police as authorities moved in to clear the streets. Half of France’s over 3,000 factory farms are situated in Brittany.
2023-07-11 17:21
Scientists find €500,000-worth of ‘floating gold’ inside dead whale
Experts have discovered the cause of death for a sperm whale that washed up unexpectedly on the shores of Spain’s La Palma island - €500,000 of “floating gold”. The impressive discovery was made after experts from the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria carried out a post-mortem, with authorities initially unsure how the 15-ton, 13-metre-long whale washed up on Nogales beach last month. “When I dissected and removed the stone I turned around and everyone on the beach looked at me in surprise, but for me at that moment I understood where the origin of the infection was coming from,” Antonio Fernández Rodríguez, the head of the Institute of Animal Health and Food Security at the university, said. The stone, he explained, was a large lump of precious ambergris, a rare substance sometimes known as “floating gold”. Highly prized by perfumers, the 9.5 kg lump found in the whale can sell for up to €500,000 (£430,000). Read More More dangers ahead for La Palma after volcano eruption La Palma eruption could last months as 12-metre lava wall nears homes La Palma volcano ‘a wonderful show’ for tourists says Spanish minister
2023-07-11 14:45
Watch: F1 legend Martin Brundle’s awkward grid walk exchange with Cara Delevingne
Cara Delevingne appeared to snub Martin Brundle at the British Grand Prix on Sunday. The motorsports legend turned Sky Sports broadcaster was embarking on one of his famous grid walks at Silverstone when he bumped into the supermodel. “She doesn’t want to talk? But everybody needs to talk on the grid, that’s the deal now,” Brundle said, struggling to reach Delevingne for an interview. The 30-year-old can then be heard responding “No” as he asks for a “quick chat”. “Oh well, I’m sure it would have been extremely interesting,” Brundle says, walking away. Read More Moment Harry Styles hit in face by thrown object during Vienna show Kanye West’s school lacked windows because rapper ‘didn’t like glass’, lawsuit claims Fan throws phone at Drake during Chicago concert
2023-07-10 16:18
Biden relaxes on Delaware beach with wife Jill
Joe Biden spent some time lounging and sunbathing at Rehoboth Beach in Delaware on Saturday 8 July. He was spotted alongside his wife Jill Biden and other family members ahead of his trip to Europe. The president departed the US on Sunday and will spend time in the coming days in three nations tending to alliances that have been tested by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Mr Biden’s first stop is London, where he will meet on Monday with King Charles III for the first time since he was crowned. Next is the centrepiece of the trip, the Nato summit in Vilnius, Lithuania before a final stop in Helsinki, Finland.
2023-07-10 14:58