Riot police deployed on Champs-Elysees after funeral of teenager shot by police
Riot police were deployed to the Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris on Saturday, 1 July, after a call on social media to gather there following the funeral of a teenager who was shot dead by an officer earlier this week during a traffic stop. Nahel Merzouk, 17, was laid to rest yesterday following an Islamic ceremony close to his home in the Paris suburb of Nanterre. Footage shows a heavy police presence on the popular shopping street lined with luxury fashion houses. Shop facades were boarded up to prevent potential damage and police carried out spot checks in the area.
2023-07-02 15:25
Rescuers dig through rubble after deadly strike hits Ukraine school
Rescue workers rushed to a school in Donetsk, Ukraine, to find survivors and clear debris after Russian forces hit the building on Friday (30 June) The strike hit a primary school in the village of Serhiivka, killing two people including a teacher and injuring six others, according to the Ukrainian general prosecutor's office. Around 12 people were in the educational facility when it was struck, the general prosecutor said. One person has been recovered from the rubble, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine said on Friday afternoon.
2023-07-01 18:16
Rioters attack Strasbourg Apple store over Paris police shooting
Rioters attacked an Apple store in Strasbourg, France, on Friday (June 30) after a 17-year-old of Algerian and Moroccan descent was shot by a police officer on Tuesday in the Nanterre suburb of Paris. Video from La Presse Libre shows people throwing stones and breaking into the shop. It comes as unrest has flared nationwide for four consecutive nights after the death of the teenager, who has been named as Nahel Merzouk, which was caught on video. The officer responsible - identified as Florian M., 38 - is on remand after being charged with murder.
2023-07-01 17:26
‘We haven’t heard the last of Prigozhin,’ Lord Dannatt says after Wagner chief exiled
Former chief of the UK general staff, Lord Richard Dannatt, has discussed the fate of the head of the Wagner mercenary group after events in Russia in the last 24 hours. Yevgeny Prigozhin, who ordered his troops to march on Moscow, abruptly reached a deal with the Kremlin to go into exile in Belarus and sounded the retreat on Saturday evening (24 June). However, Lord Dannatt does not believe “we’ve heard the last” of the rebellious mercenary commander. “We haven’t heard the last of Prigozhin, but we may have begun to hear about the latter days of Vladimir Putin,” He told BBC Breakfast.
2023-06-25 18:26
Putin ‘very afraid’ and ‘probably hiding’ after Wagner rebellion, Zelensky says
Volodymyr Zelensky has suggested Vladimir Putin is “very afraid” after a rebellion from Wagner Group mercenaries. Yevgeny Prigozhin’s men were barely 100 miles from Moscow when the mutiny was called off, with the leader cleared of any criminal charges and sent to Belarus hours after the Russian president had labelled the action as “treason”. “The man from the Kremlin is obviously very afraid and probably hiding somewhere, not showing himself,” Ukrainian president Zelensky said on Saturday evening (24 June). “I am sure that he is no longer in Moscow.”
2023-06-25 17:15
‘How dare they?’: Kamala Harris condemns abortion bans one year after Roe fell
US vice president Kamala Harris has condemned states that have implemented full abortion bans, one year since the US Supreme Court overturned Roe V Wade. Roe V Wade was a historic ruling for abortion rights in America, but the law was reversed in 2022, allowing individual states to write their own legislation on abortion. Harris recalled a conversation she had with her husband, prompting her to ask, ‘How dare they?’ of US states that have written full abortion bans into law.
2023-06-25 05:17
What does the right to abortion in America look like now?
In 1973, the US Supreme Court ruled that the decision to terminate a pregnancy was up to the individual, not the government. Roe V Wade became a landmark decision for abortion rights in America, enshrining a layer of legal protection for women. But in 2022, that law was reversed, allowing individual states to create their own laws in relation to abortion. One year on from the decision to overturn Roe V Wade, The Independent looks at the current abortion rights situation in the United States of America.
2023-06-25 02:49
Military vehicles on streets of Rostov-on-Don as Wagner chief claims control of HQ
Military vehicles and soldiers were seen on the streets of Rostov-on-Don on Saturday morning (24 June) as the owner of the Wagner private military contractor, who called for an armed rebellion aimed at ousting Russia’s defence minister, claimed that he and his troops had reached the city after crossing the border from Ukraine. It was not immediately verifiable who the troops were aligned with. Vladimir Putin said an “armed mutiny” by the Wagner Group mercenary force was treason and a “mortal blow” to Russia’s troops, as he responded in a speech.
2023-06-24 17:24
Ukrainian soldiers rescue Russian troops left to drown after Kakhovka dam destruction
Ukrainian special forces rescued a number of Russian soldiers from flooding after the Kakhovka dam was destroyed. Footage shows boats picking up the four men, who were trapped “up to their necks” when water inundated their trench. “The Russian soldiers were already weakened and close to death,” Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence wrote, sharing the footage on social media. Other Russians occupying the area began to shoot at the boat from nearby positions during the rescue, according to Ukraine’s MoD. The rescued soldiers were then taken back to the Ukrainian base and added to the prisoner of war “exchange fund”. Read More The Body in the Woods | An Independent TV Original Documentary The harrowing discovery at centre of The Independent’s new documentary
2023-06-19 17:52
Wrexham AFC stadium suffers ‘structural damage’ after torrential rain
Thunderstorms and heavy rain have caused flooding in Wrexham, leading to some “structural damage” to the Racecourse Ground, home of Wrexham AFC. A hospitality suite on Sunday 18 June was cleared of diners enjoying a Father’s Day meal due to the flooding. “Wrexham AFC can confirm the 1864 Suite was evacuated during the third sitting of today’s Father’s Day meals at the Racecourse Ground,” the statement read. “In the wake of the torrential rain that hit the region late this afternoon, some structural damage has resulted in a large leak inside the Macron Stand reception area.” The statement added that all diners were safely evacuated. Read More Moment Rob Burrow and his children cross finish line of Father’s Day fun run Wyndham Clark knows he made late mother ‘proud’ with US Open win Dias ‘threw up’ in Grealish’s mother’s bag during treble celebrations, Ederson says
2023-06-19 16:57
Volunteers risk lives to rescue cats and dogs from floods after Ukrainian dam destroyed
Volunteers are risking their lives to rescue cats and dogs from flooded areas in the Kherson region of Ukraine after a major dam was destroyed. Members of Animal Rescue Kharkiv have been navigating the city of Nova Kakhovka by motorboat to rescue stranded animals, many of which have been seeking sanctuary on rooftops. The volunteers have rescued more than 150 animals so far. Animal Rescue Kharkiv deployed a team of nine to the region, more than seven hours from their home city, to help where they could. The team arrived on the evening of 6 June - the same day the Kakhovka dam collapsed. Read More The Body in the Woods | An Independent TV Original Documentary The harrowing discovery at centre of The Independent’s new documentary
2023-06-15 02:17
Why was Silvio Berlusconi a controversial figure?
Silvio Berlusconi has died aged 86. The billionaire media mogul was Italy’s longest-serving premier and served three times as prime minister, despite being scarred by scandals over his sex-fueled parties and allegations of corruption. His death has divided opinion across Europe, with tributes being paid by some of his political allies and followers. From counting Russian president Vladimir Putin as a friend, to his notorious “bunga bunga” sex parties, take a look back at the life and career of modern Italy’s most polarising figure.
2023-06-12 22:20