Latest News
- Zelenskyy demands Belarus remove Russian drone relays by next week
- Family of four killed in Israeli strikes on residential area in Gaza
- Illegal campfire suspected as cause of Kalamoir Park wildfire; park remains closed
- Kennedy Center considers options for potential partial closure amid renovation plans
- British woman seeks return of 40-year-old Care Bear stolen on Spanish beach
- Jordan Bardella meets Polish leaders to strengthen European ties
- USA beats Australia to advance to World Cup knockout stages in Seattle
- Brazil — Today’s 20th June fixtures
Hunt for Tube hero who gave blind man his shoes after he lost one through the gap The hunt is on find an ‘absolute hero’
Zelenskyy demands Belarus remove Russian drone relays by next week
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has demanded that Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko remove Russian drone relay stations from Belarusian territory within one week, or face military action from Ukraine. This ultimatum underscores escalating tensions between Ukraine and Russia, as Kyiv continues to fortify its defences against ongoing aggression. Zelenskyy’s call for action comes amid intensified scrutiny of Belarus’s involvement in the conflict, particularly regarding its support for Russia’s military operations, as detailed in recent global political tensions.
The geopolitical strife has significant repercussions for international markets, with fears that potential military escalation could disrupt energy supplies in the region. Consequently, traders are closely monitoring oil and gas pricing ahead of the upcoming emergency meetings among EU energy ministers. Markets will be particularly attentive to discussions on sanctions and energy security strategies as they unfold in the coming days.
Key developments across the world
Zelenskyy gives Belarus a week to remove Russian drone relays: Otherwise we will do it ourselves
GLOBAL SECURITY — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned Belarus to remove Russian drone relay stations within a week. Failure to do so will result in Ukraine taking action against the installations itself.
This warning highlights the escalating tension in Eastern Europe and Ukraine’s proactive stance against perceived threats from Russia. Zelenskyy’s ultimatum reflects the ongoing conflict and Ukraine’s determination to safeguard its sovereignty.
Several reported killed in Israeli strikes on Lebanon despite ceasefire
GLOBAL SECURITY — Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon have resulted in numerous casualties, despite a renewed ceasefire agreement. Reports indicate significant suffering from civilian losses amidst ongoing retaliatory actions.
This escalation undermines regional stability and raises concerns over the durability of the ceasefire, following heightened tensions between Israel and Hezbollah. The incident may provoke further military responses and complicate diplomatic efforts in the region.
‘Destruction is the goal’: Israel steers between the US, Iran, and Lebanon
GLOBAL SECURITY — Israel’s recent military strategy reflects a balance between US support and the threats posed by Iran and Lebanese factions. Officials suggest that military action may be aimed at preventing Iranian influence in the region.
This approach is indicative of the complex geopolitical landscape Israel navigates, as it considers both US alliances and regional adversarial dynamics. The situation remains precarious, with ongoing military operations likely to draw international concern and response.
Trump accepts Qatar jet as new Air Force One despite ethics concerns
GLOBAL BUSINESS — Former US President Donald Trump has accepted a modified Qatari jet as the new Air Force One, amid rising ethical concerns. This decision suggests the intertwining of international relations and personal interests in political leadership.
The acceptance of the aircraft may have consequences for how future administrations approach gifts from foreign states, potentially reshaping the ethical landscape in US politics. Critics argue this blurs the lines between state and private interactions, raising accountability issues for current and future leaders.
Italy PM Meloni ‘stunned’ by Trump’s claims she begged him for a photo
DIPLOMACY — Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has publicly refuted claims made by Donald Trump that she pleaded for a photo with him. This disagreement illustrates the tense interpersonal dynamics within international diplomacy.
What to watch — Continued Israeli military actions and their impact on regional stability in the Middle East.
Further reading from global news sources
The Guardian
Italy PM Meloni ‘stunned’ by Trump’s claims she begged him for a photo
BBC News
Italy’s Meloni says Trump ‘made up’ story that she ‘begged’ him for photo at G7
Financial Times
Trump accepts Qatar jet as new Air Force One despite ethics concerns
Al Jazeera
‘Destruction is the goal’: Israel steers between the US, Iran, and Lebanon
Politico
Zelenskyy gives Belarus a week to remove relay stations helping Russia
October 12, 2024
6:18 am
‘Cheer up, you caught the bad guy,’ says killer Virginia McCullough as she is arrested for murdering her parents
A woman who murdered her parents “in cold blood” before hiding them in makeshift tombs for four years told officers to “cheer up, you caught the bad guy” as she was arrested in her home.
Virginia McCullough, 36, poisoned her father John McCullough, 70, with prescription medication and fatally stabbed her mother Lois McCullough, 71, shortly afterwards in 2019.
She ran up large debts on credit cards in her parents’ names and after their deaths, she continued to spend their pensions until she was finally caught in 2023.
In body-worn video footage released by police, a handcuffed – and eerily calm – McCullough told officers: “I did know that this would kind of come eventually.
“It’s proper that I serve my punishment.”
She said she had slipped something into her father’s drink then put his body under a bed on the ground floor, and put her mother’s body in an upstairs wardrobe.
McCullough, having been arrested on suspicion of double murder, told an officer: “Cheer up, at least you’ve caught the bad guy.”
She added: “I know I don’t seem 100% evil.”
At the police station, she told officers where a kitchen knife was, which she described as a “murder weapon”, and a hammer which she said “will still have blood on it”.
McCullough, of Pump Hill, Chelmsford, Essex, was sentenced to life imprisonment on Friday with a minimum term of 36 years at Chelmsford Crown Court, after she admitted to their murders between 17 and 20 June 2019 at an earlier hearing at the same court.
Chelmsford Crown Court heard how she hid their bodies in makeshift tombs at the family home in Great Baddow in Essex, then told persistent lies to cover her tracks.
The court heard she cancelled family arrangements and frequently told doctors and relatives her parents were unwell, on holiday or away on lengthy trips.
But concerns over Mr and Mrs McCullough’s welfare were raised in September 2023 by a GP at their registered practice, and Essex County Council’s safeguarding team referred these to police.
The GP had not seen the couple for some time and said Mr McCullough had failed to collect medication and attend scheduled appointments. It was found McCullough had frequently cancelled appointments, using a range of excuses to explain her father’s absence.
Police said a missing persons investigation was initially launched and McCullough lied to officers, claiming her parents were travelling and would be returning in October.
It became a murder investigation, and when officers forced entry to the house in Pump Hill on September 15 2023, McCullough confessed that her parents’ bodies were in the house and that she had killed them.
Nicola Rice, a specialist prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “McCullough callously and viciously killed both of her parents before concealing their bodies in makeshift tombs within their home address.
“She spent the next four years manipulating and lying to family members, medical staff, financial institutions, and the police, spending her parents’ money and accruing large debts in their name.”
She added: “This was a truly disturbing case, which has left behind it a trail of devastation, and I can only hope that the sentence passed today will help those who loved and cared for Lois and John begin to heal.”
To downplay the genocide, the israelis claim there’s only 20,000 people left in north Gaza, says
@MahaGaza
: the real number exceeds 400,000
Man of the right wing Nigel Farage taking more second jobs and freebie helicopter rides
Gosh he’ll soon be a true blue Tory at this rate
Or far far worse
The cost-of-living crisis is far from over, yet the government’s 50% increase to the bus fare cap is a political choice, adding hundreds to annual costs.
To address hardship & the climate crisis, the government must keep the £2 cap & make public transport accessible for all.
G20 waters down support for Ukraine amid pressure for peace talks
The Tech Titan Who Led His Company From a 68-Square-Foot Jail Cell
November 23, 2024
8:25 am
Defense alliance NATO chief Mark Rutte has met US President-elect Donald Trump to discuss global security issues, according to a NATO spokesperson.
The meeting took place in Palm Beach, Florida.
During his first term as US president, 2017-2020, Trump pushed for European NATO countries to spend more on defense and described the alliance’s cost-sharing as unfair to the US.
Rutte took over as NATO chief from Norwegian Jens Stoltenberg in November.
Before taking office in January, Trump has nominated Pete Hegseth for the post of defense secretary, which has raised eyebrows among many allies.
Hegseth, 44, has served as an infantry captain in Iraq and Afghanistan, but has no senior military or government officer experience.
November 23, 2024
8:25 am
November 23, 2024
8:17 am
Multiple missiles were fired in an airstrike towards a densely populated part of Lebanon’s capital early on Saturday.
The huge airstrike targeted Beirut’s Basta neighbourhood, and no prior warnings were given by the Israeli military. The largely residential area was struck last month.
At least one violent explosion was heard across the city, Reuters witnesses said, and plumes of smoke could be seen. Scenes of massive destruction at the site were shared online, including a massive crater in the ground.
“Beirut, the capital, woke up to a horrific massacre, as the Israeli enemy’s air force completely destroyed an eight-story residential building with five missiles on Al-Mamoun Street in Basta,” the state-run National News Agency reported.
The health ministry put the initial death toll at four, with 23 wounded. The number is expected to climb in the coming hours as search and rescue efforts continue.
It came after a long day of Israeli airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs, which have been non-stop since last week.
The cross-border fighting between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group escalated into a full-blown war in mid-September.
Israel has bombed southern Lebanon, Beirut’s southern suburbs and the eastern Beqaa region, and has sent ground troops across the border. Hezbollah has continued to fire rockets deeper into Israel.
What to Watch
Amazon prime - TV & Netflix
We give you the best picks to binge on this week.
What to Watch
Love Sports
Get your pizza ordered with the latest Live Sports schedule.
- Good News
Add A Comment
© 2026 WTX News.