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A 19-year-old man has been sentenced to four years and eight months in prison after admitting to causing the deaths of three of his teenage friends in a horrific crash near Dumfries in March 2022. Jake Loy, who was just 17 at the time, was driving on the A711 when he lost control of his vehicle and collided with another car. The crash resulted in the deaths of his 16-year-old passengers, Finlay Johns, Ian Cannon, and Tyler Johnston, who were all from Moffat. Three men in the other vehicle were also seriously injured, along with Loy himself.

The High Court in Glasgow heard that Loy, who was driving with a provisional license, was unfamiliar with the car and had been driving aggressively. Judge Lord Drummond criticized Loy for his dangerous driving, emphasizing the prolonged nature of his reckless behavior and the severe impact on the victims’ families. The court noted the “almighty impact” of the collision, which split Loy’s Honda in two, and highlighted the significant factors of driver inexperience and excessive speed.

In court, Loy’s defense attorney presented evidence of his client’s profound survivor’s guilt and his wish to have been the one to suffer the fatal injuries instead. Despite these mitigating factors, the judge imposed a prison term and an eight-year driving ban, with Loy required to pass an extended test before being allowed to drive again.

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UK-donated Challenger 2 tanks have been confirmed as part of Ukraine’s unexpected incursion into Russian territory, a UK source has disclosed. While the UK Ministry of Defence has not specified which weapons are used by Ukraine, it reiterated that the equipment is intended for self-defense against Russian aggression. The use of these tanks in Russia represents a significant escalation in Ukraine’s military strategy, which has also seen the deployment of other Western-supplied armaments such as US Bradley and Stryker vehicles and German Marders.

The use of UK-supplied tanks in this offensive is part of a broader strategy that includes various Western weapons, though Storm Shadow missiles are excluded from targeting within Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has previously called for the removal of restrictions on long-range weapon use to strengthen Ukraine’s defense capabilities. The UK Defence Secretary has indicated ongoing discussions about these limitations, but specifics remain undisclosed.

Ukraine’s incursion has caught both Russia and its allies off guard, with Russia declaring states of emergency in affected regions and evacuating thousands of civilians. The operation appears aimed at diverting Russian forces from Ukraine’s borders. The involvement of Western weapons in the attack has intensified debates about international support and potential escalations in the conflict, as Russia accuses the West of involvement in the assault.

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Iran’s foreign ministry has strongly criticized calls from France, Germany, and Britain urging restraint in response to Israel, labeling these demands as lacking political logic and contradicting international law. The European nations issued their appeal after the killing of Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas’s political chief, in Tehran last month, an act for which Tehran and its allies, including Hamas and Hezbollah, hold Israel responsible.

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Nasser Kanaani, condemned the European stance, arguing that it ignores Israel’s alleged violations of Iranian sovereignty and territorial integrity. He asserted that Tehran remains committed to deterring Israel and urged the European nations to oppose the ongoing conflict in Gaza and Israel’s actions.

Kanaani further criticized the United Nations Security Council and Western governments, blaming their support for Israel as the primary driver behind the ongoing crisis in Gaza. He called on Paris, Berlin, and London to take a firm stand against what he described as Israel’s warmongering in the region.

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Chelsea footballer Fernandez has issued a public apology after a video surfaced featuring members of the Argentina squad singing a controversial song about France’s black players. The video, posted during celebrations of Argentina’s Copa America victory, prompted widespread condemnation for its racially offensive content. In response, FIFA has launched an investigation into the incident, with both the French Football Federation (FFF) and anti-discrimination organizations expressing outrage and calling for accountability.

In his apology, Fernandez, Chelsea’s £107m record signing, expressed regret for his involvement in the video, stating that the words used do not reflect his beliefs or character. Chelsea Football Club has initiated an internal disciplinary procedure, and anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out has emphasized the need for educational measures and accountability beyond mere apologies. The FFF has announced plans to file a complaint with FIFA against the Argentine Football Association, condemning the remarks as contrary to the values of sport and human rights.

FIFA, in response to the incident, has strongly condemned all forms of discrimination and is actively investigating the matter. The controversy underscores ongoing concerns about racism in football, prompting calls for comprehensive action to address such behavior both within clubs and at international levels.

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On March 24th, French President Emmanuel Macron’s office announced the postponement of King Charles III’s state visit to France. The decision was made due to the ongoing mass strikes and protests in the country. Macron cited “common sense and friendship” as the reason for the delay and stated that the visit would likely be rescheduled for the beginning of summer.

The planned celebrations of cross-Channel relations were at risk of disruption from the strikes and protests against pension reforms. The main concern was that protesters would use the occasion to further their cause against Macron’s plans to increase the retirement age. The visit was due to start on Sunday, and officials from both sides were closely monitoring the situation, with potential last-minute changes to the three-day program being considered.

The decision to postpone the visit was made with the agreement of both the French and British governments, after Macron asked the British government to postpone the visit. The visit will be rearranged as soon as possible, and Buckingham Palace confirmed that the King and Queen Consort Camilla are looking forward to the opportunity to visit France when new dates can be found. The striking trade unionists threatened to withhold red carpets for the visit, but the body responsible insisted they would still be rolled out as planned

Accidents News Trending

A boat carrying African migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea to Italy sank off the coast of Sfax, Tunisia, resulting in the deaths of at least five people, with another 28 missing. The Tunisian Forum for Social and Economic Rights reported the incident, and the Tunisian authorities were not immediately available for comment. The southern city of Sfax has become a major point of departure for migrants seeking a better life in Europe, fleeing poverty and conflict in Africa and the Middle East.

This incident coincides with a significant increase in the number of boats departing from the Tunisian coast towards Italy, as well as Tunisian authorities’ campaign to arrest undocumented sub-Saharan African immigrants. Unofficial United Nations data revealed that 12,000 people who reached Italy this year set sail from Tunisia, compared to only 1,300 in the same period of 2022. Prior to this, Libya served as the main launchpad for migrants from the region.

In conclusion, the sinking of the boat carrying African migrants off the coast of Tunisia highlights the risks that desperate people are willing to take in pursuit of a better life. The increase in boats departing from Tunisia, combined with the crackdown on undocumented immigrants, underscores the urgent need for a comprehensive and compassionate response to the ongoing migration crisis.

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Russian assaults on Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, have been met with fierce resistance, with the Ukrainian military claiming to have repulsed several attacks. In a Facebook post early 26th February, the military stated that an army unit was able to repel Russian forces near its base on a major city street.

President Zelensky had previously warned that Russia would attempt to “storm” Kyiv. The city government confirmed that there was fighting on the streets and urged residents to remain at home. According to Interfax-Ukraine, the government issued a statement urging people to stay in shelters and away from windows if they were at home. However, Oleksiy Danilov, Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council, told Ukrainian news site Lb.ua that the army was “in control” of the situation.

Late last night, the sound of artillery fire could be heard in the distance, indicating that Russian forces were attempting to weaken the city’s defences. However, the attack on Kyiv, which President Zelensky predicted last night, does not appear to have occurred. As the sun rises this morning, the city appears mostly silent, with few sounds to indicate the fierce battles that have been going on in more than one direction.

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Ukraine has accused Russia of obstructing its access to the sea, as Russia prepares for naval exercises next week amid rising regional tensions. According to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, Russian forces have completely blocked the Sea of Azov and have cut off almost all access to the Black Sea.

Despite amassing more than 100,000 troops at the border, Russia has repeatedly denied any intention of invading Ukraine. However, it has only recently begun massive military drills with neighbouring Belarus. Belarus is a close Russian ally with a long border with Ukraine. The drills, which are believed to be Russia’s largest deployment to Belarus since the Cold War, were dubbed a “violent gesture” by France. Ukraine claims they are the result of “psychological pressure.”

The US urged Americans in Ukraine to leave immediately due to “increased threats of Russian military action” on 10th February. Meanwhile, amid the tensions, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson declared that Europe was facing its worst security crisis in decades.

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Kamila Valieva, a teen Russian figure skater, failed a drugs test in December, according to the International Testing Agency (ITA). The 15-year-old assisted the Russian Olympic Committee in winning team figure skating gold on Monday, but the medals were not awarded due to a “legal issue.”

The Russian Anti-Doping Agency (Rusada) lifted her suspension, allowing her to compete in the Olympics in Beijing. According to the ITA, Valieva, the first female skater to land a quadruple jump in competition, had a sample taken on Christmas Day at the Russian Figure Skating Championships in St Petersburg. It was sent to a laboratory accredited by the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) in Stockholm, Sweden.

The result was only announced on February 8, the day after she won team gold but before the medal ceremony. Valieva tested positive for trimetazidine, which is used to prevent angina attacks but is prohibited by Wada because it is classified as a cardiac metabolic modulator and has been shown to improve physical efficiency.

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Accidents News

Three people, including Italian champion speed boat racer Fabio Buzzi have died after a power boat crashed near the Italian city of Venice.

The boat had crashed near the rocks of the Punta Sabbioni, off Venice. Italian emergency services said the bodies were recovered from the submerged cabin of the boat.

The boat, which was trying to break the offshore speed record from Monte Carlo hit an artificial reef.

Fabio Buzzi (76), an Italian businessman and power boat world champion, who was leading the team, was on an attempt to set a new record.

Dutch mechanic whose name is still not known, and Luca Nicolini from Italy were the other two, who got killed in the accident, says the president of the Italian Offshore and Endurance Committee, Giampaolo Montavoci.

Reports said that the other member in their team, Italian Mario Invernizzi, survived with injuries.

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