Feel good news stories

Tory MPs feel ‘very sorry’ for disgraced Chris Pincher and believe he is a ‘victim in his own way’, a colleague has said. The former deputy whip was suspended from the Conservative party last week after allegedly groping two men in a private members club. Other allegations about ‘inappropriate behaviour’ have since emerged, leading to accusations of a ‘cover up’ in No 10. Tory MP Michael Fabricant was asked about the damage the Pincher affair has had on the party, which is already facing accusations of sleaze amid a string of sexual misconduct scandals. Mr Fabricant said ‘nothing is black and white’ and that his colleague’s actions were influenced by working long hours and alcohol. He told Radio 5 Live: ‘On the one hand, of course, we’re all very sorry for people who’ve been affected by Chris’s action’s but we also quite frankly feel very sorry for Chris in many ways. ‘This is being driven most of the time, it seems by drink, and I know now that he’s actually … [Read more...] about Tory MPs ‘feel sorry for Chris Pincher and think he’s a victim in his own way’

A British man who left his partner for a Ukrainian refugee has given up work to become her full-time carer after she went partially blind. Tony Garnett said it was the ‘right thing to do’ and defended his new lover, Sofiia Karkadym, saying: ‘She’s no homewrecker.’ Tony, 29, told Metro.co.uk that his new flame had been unfairly accused of breaking up his relationship when they had fallen in love with each other. He said a ‘weight has been lifted off our shoulders’ since they moved out of the home he had shared with his previous partner, Lorna, and into a rented house in Bradford, West Yorkshire. The couple is weathering difficult financial times after she had an eye operation and the council said they need adaptations to their new accommodation before they can claim support under the Homes for Ukrainians scheme. Tony, who owns a security company, said he had given up shift work to look after Sofiia, 22, who is partially blind in her right eye, and regards himself as … [Read more...] about Dad who left partner for Ukrainian refugee is now her full-time carer weeks later

Russian forces are cutting off the supply of life-saving drugs into the already battered city of Mariupol, officials have said. Mayor Vadym Boychenko said in a Telegram post yesterday that people ‘are at risk and cannot wait for the occupiers to deliver medicines’. The Mariupol City Council said locals in the southern port city are dying from a ‘shortage of drugs for cancer patients, people with diabetes , tuberculosis and problems with the thyroid gland’. It comes after Vladimir Putin’s forces subjected the city to a brutal Medieval-style siege for two months, which saw food, water and other vital supplies cut off. Relentless bombardment of infrastructure meant civilians routinely suffered internet blackouts, making them even more isolated from the outside world. Earlier in the invasion, Russia was accused of violating ceasefire agreements allowing safe exit routes for residents by shelling so-called humanitarian corridors. Putin’s forces declared victory … [Read more...] about Cancer patients and diabetics in Mariupol ‘dying from medicine shortage’

The euro is slumping towards parity against the dollar for the first time in 20 years amid growing fears of Russia cutting gas flows to the continent. Just over a year ago, a euro bought $1.22, but it hit a low of $1.04 on Friday. Analysts expect it could be worth no more than a dollar by the end of next month given the high dependence of Germany on Russian energy. There are fears Vladimir Putin may use the planned maintenance shutdown of the vital NordStream 1 pipeline in mid-July to turn off supplies to Germany altogether. ‘If Russia cuts off gas supplies to Germany it could be the biggest economic hit in modern history outside of Covid-19 and the global financial crisis,’ said Nomura strategist Jordan Rochester. The Bundesbank reckons this would wipe up to 5%, or £175billion, off the German economy, Europe’s largest. The European Central Bank has kept interest rates below zero, making euros less attractive. Meanwhile, central banks in the UK and US hiked … [Read more...] about Euro crashes amid fears Putin could batter economy by cutting gas flow

Dramatic footage has emerged of a deadly US military accident in which a state-of-the-art hybrid aicraft crashed into the side of a warship five years ago. Three marines died and 23 narrowly escaped drowning when the MV-22 Osprey veered into the US Green Bay while trying to land on its deck off the coast of Australia in August 2017. The clip, which surfaced on Saturday, shows the aircraft hovering toward the deck before suddenly veering to one side and hitting the ship. Air traffic controllers are seen sprinting away as a spinning rotorblade careers towards them before the person fiming them ducks for cover. Officials say the collision crushed the cockpit, breaking the pilot’s hip and leg and piercing the hull, causing it to sink after it fell 30 feet into the water. Rescuers fished out most of the 26 servicemen onboard for military exercises after they escaped the sinking wreck, including the pilot. But his co-pilot, First Lieutenant Benjamin Cross, 26, and two … [Read more...] about Moment US military helicopter crashes into warship killing three marines

A trophy hunter who killed elephants and lions has been murdered in South Africa. Riaan Naude, 55, owner of Pro Hunt Africa, was found dead next to his truck in Marken Road, Limpopo. Two hunting rifles were among items found in his car in an area which includes part of the Kruger National Park wildlife reserve, local outlet Maroela Media reported. Naude, from Phalaborwa, Limpopo, had previously uploaded pictures of himself posing next to dead animals, including lions, elephants and giraffes. Police spokesperson Lt.col. Mamphaswa Seabi said officers found his body after being called to the scene. He said: ‘The man was lying with his face up and there was blood on his head and face.’ Non-profit crime-fighting organisation the Heritage Protection Group (HPG) claimed Naude was shot dead by a man who pulled up alongside him when he stopped his car near Mokopane after it overheated. It claimed two men had stepped out of a white Nissan pickup truck, with one shooting … [Read more...] about Lion killing trophy hunter gunned down in ‘execution-style’ murder

The heartbroken dad of murdered Logan Mwangi wants to change the law so that estranged parents are told if social services become involved with their biological children. Benjamin Mwangi did not know his five-year-old boy had been placed on the child protection register in the months before he was killed by his mum, stepdad and stepbrother. Mr Mwangi says Logan’s mum Angharad Williamson had stopped him from having contact with his child when she started dating new partner John Cole. He had not seen Logan for around three years when he was found dead in the River Ogmore in Pandy Park, Bridgend, on the morning of July 31 2021. Logan was dumped ‘like fly-tip rubbish’ by John Cole, 40 and his ‘pure evil’ teenage stepson Craig Mulligan. A harrowing trial revealed the little boy suffered more than 50 external cuts and bruises and ‘catastrophic’ internal injuries, which were likened to high-speed road accidents. A child practice review – an investigation into the … [Read more...] about Dad of murdered five-year-old fighting for ‘Logan’s Law’ to protect children

A foster mother who killed a baby she was hoping to adopt has been jailed for 18 years. Laura Castle, 38, was found guilty of murdering 13-month-old Leiland-James Corkill after a court heard she battered the child to death. The toddler had been placed in the care of Castle and her husband, Scott, 35, in August 2020. But five months later, on January 6, 2021, paramedics found Leiland-James unresponsive and floppy at the couple’s home in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria. He died the following day after doctors found his heart wasn’t beating and he had a head injury, which Castle claimed was from him falling off a sofa. However, it emerged the foster mum had searched online for what might cause a bleed on the brain while he lay in hospital. Her story began to unravel when a post-mortem confirmed the toddler had suffered a traumatic head injury, which wasn’t an accident. During her trial, Castle pleaded guilty to manslaughter, claiming she shook him to stop him crying. … [Read more...] about Foster mum who murdered baby boy she wanted to adopt jailed for 18 years

A baby boy has died after plunging from a window on the seventh floor of a block of flats. He fell to his death in Leeds, West Yorkshire, shortly after 1pm on Saturday, police have confirmed. The boy was rushed to hospital but was pronounced dead shortly afterwards as medics were unable to save him. Investigators are now trying to find out exactly what happened in the events leading to the child’s death. West Yorkshire Police said officers were called to the scene at Saville Green at around 1.25pm. In a statement, the force said the incident is being treated as a ‘sudden unexpected death in childhood’. It added: ‘We ask that people consider the family and respect their privacy at what is clearly a very difficult time for them.’ Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected] . For more stories like this, check our news page . Sign Up for News Updates Get your need-to-know latest news, feel-good stories, … [Read more...] about Baby boy, 1, dies after falling from seventh floor of tower block

The British teenager arrested on suspicion of making a false bomb threat on a packed easyJet plane has been banned from leaving Spain following his first court appearance. The 18-year-old was hauled before a judge in the Menorcan capital Mahon by two armed police officers on Tuesday morning so he could be handed over to a judge for questioning. A woman identified as his mum waited at the entrance to greet him after reportedly flying out to the sunshine island following his arrest on Sunday. The unnamed teen is thought to have been wearing the same blue shorts and green T-shirt he was arrested in when flight EZY8303 landed in Menorca after being given a Spanish military jet escort. He was released on €10,000 (£8,600) bail – but ordered to stay in Spain and report to court every fortnight as part of the conditions attached. A judicial source said: ‘The investigating judge in charge of Mahon Court of Instruction number two has released on €10,000 bail the young man … [Read more...] about Brit teen ‘behind bomb hoax on easyJet flight’ banned from leaving Spain