Author: Gulf News Week
BBCThe Islamic State group in Syria was among the recipients of fundsA WhatsApp group chat was used to send hundreds of millions of euros in cash around the world, funding organised crime and extremism with no paper trail, an investigation by European broadcasters has found.The 532-member group chat, called “Traders of Greater Europe”, was used to arrange cash transfers across borders for their clients, including to British cities such as Birmingham and London.In one case, payments from Brussels went to militants from the Islamic State group (IS) in Syria.The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) investigative journalism network, which includes the BBC,…
Watch: PM confirms PC Harper’s killers will remain in prisonPrime Minister Andy Burnham has told the BBC that PC Andrew Harper’s killers will remain behind bars as he announced changes to the early release scheme aimed at easing prison overcrowding.In an exclusive interview with BBC Breakfast, Burnham said anyone convicted of unlawful killing, including all forms of manslaughter, will be excluded from the scheme, which would have made two of the officer’s killers eligible for early release.Burnham said extra prison space would be created by deporting foreign prisoners and releasing some inmates serving indefinite sentences.It follows months of campaigning from…
ReutersIceland’s Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir votes in the referendum in ReykjavikChris GrahamIceland’s closely fought referendum on whether to resume membership talks with the European Union is going down to wire, with the result too close to call.Based on the first 153,197 votes counted of the 270,000 voters eligible, 50.1% rejected the government’s proposal, while 49.9% said yes, public broadcaster RUV said, with just 435 votes splitting them. Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir’s centre-left government promised to hold a referendum by 2027, but brought it forward because of international tensions, including US President Donald Trump’s threats against Greenland.Already part of the EU’s…
GB’s Fery beaten in his first ATP Tour finalArthur Fery misses out on his first ATP Tour title with a straight-set defeat by Ignacio Buse in the final of the Winston-Salem Open.5 hrs agoTennis
Watch: Ontario Premier Doug Ford unveils ‘Lake Ontario’ signOntario Premier Doug Ford has hit back at Donald Trump by installing a large sign on Canada’s shoreline with the message: “Lake Ontario. Now and Always.”The US president signed an executive order on Thursday seeking to change its name to Lake America and has shared a series of AI-generated videos about the lake that straddles both countries.”Long before President Trump, this lake was called Lake Ontario. Long after President Trump is gone, it will still be called Lake Ontario,” Ford said.The war of words was triggered after trade talks collapsed, with the…
South Africa hold off All Blacks fightback to level seriesWorld champions South Africa deliver a powerful first-half performance as they edge past New Zealand and level ‘Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry’ series at 1-1.6 hrs agoRugby Union
Watch: BBC’s Laura Cress on the floor at Gamescom in CologneGamescom is the largest in-person gaming event in the world, and this year it lived up to expectations with big games on show from The Witcher 3’s new expansion, to Alien: Isolation 2.Last year over 350,000 people flocked to the halls of the Koelnmesse in Cologne, Germany to get a chance to see and play the most hotly anticipated games.This year that number of attendees is expected to have been even bigger, with the likes of Xbox and Sega showcasing games to the public alongside indie studios with only one…
Man City open talks with Liverpool over GakpoThe Netherlands forward has also attracted interest from Tottenham, but sources indicate Manchester City is his preferred destination if he leaves Anfield.3 hrs agoPremier League
LIVEMayer and Cameron meet in light-middleweight unification bout, Itauma to followFollow live text coverage as Moses Itauma faces Filip Hrgovic for the vacant IBF heavyweight title, while Mikaela Mayer and Chantelle Cameron meet in a light-middleweight world title unification clash.
Every winter, a sliver of the South Australian coast hosts the world’s largest mating event for giant cuttlefish.Some years, hundreds of thousands of the unique marine species endemic to Australia gather along the Cuttlefish Coast for the annual mating season, bringing their colourful, shape-shifting figures to the shallow waters and attracting thousands of keen divers.But this year, the turnout was the lowest on record, sparking concerns of a “catastrophic decline” of the species.Official figures released this month estimate just 1,811 cuttlefish turned up to mate this year, down from 63,000 last year – a 97% drop.The low figures have also…