Author: Darren Smith

Thailand’s Phuket tops a global list of the world’s most overcrowded holiday destinations, with a ratio of 118 visitors for every local resident, as popular spots from Venice to Rhodes grapple with the pressures of mass tourism. Phuket has been named the world’s most overcrowded tourist destination, with 118 visitors recorded for every local resident, according to research published by MoneyTransfers.com. The Thai island, known for beaches such as Kata and Karon that rank among the best in the world, welcomes almost 10 million international visitors a year, cementing its status as one of Asia’s busiest holiday hotspots. Thailand dominates…

China fired a long-range ballistic missile from a nuclear-powered submarine into the South Pacific on Monday, drawing criticism from Australia, New Zealand and Japan just hours after Beijing gave notice of the test, and on the same day Australia signed a new defence pact with Fiji. China carried out a long-range ballistic missile test in the South Pacific on Monday, launching from a nuclear-powered submarine in a move that drew swift criticism from Australia, New Zealand and Japan. State news agency Xinhua said the launch took place at 12.01pm local time, using a dummy warhead as part of what Beijing…

Sixteen passengers, including four children, were left dangling high above the Volga River after four gondolas collided mid-air when Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod–Bor cableway broke down in heavy rain and wind, in a rescue operation that took several hours to complete. Sixteen people, including four children, were rescued after four cable cars collided roughly 200ft above Russia’s Volga River when the cableway linking Nizhny Novgorod to the town of Bor unexpectedly broke down. Officials said heavy rain and strong winds battered the gondola station, forcing the system to shut down without warning and leaving two cabins stranded on the line before…

A police officer opened fire on a sudanese migrant after he attacked three people with a knife in Clermont-Ferrand on Sunday, 5 July, according to French regional outlets ICI and France 3 Régions. The attack took place in the Carmes district shortly after 2pm, when officers received multiple calls reporting a man threatening passers-by with a large knife near the junction of Boulevard Jean-Baptiste Dumas and Avenue Barbier Daubrée. A patrol located the suspect roughly an hour later, at which point he lunged at officers with the knife. One policeman fired his weapon to stop him. According to national police,…

A victim of Shabir Ahmed has been placed under police protection following his release from prison, as Sir Keir Starmer personally intervenes to explore ways of deporting the grooming gang ringleader despite a legal loophole standing in the way. A victim of the Rochdale grooming gang ringleader Shabir Ahmed has been given additional police protection following his release from prison this week, with Greater Manchester Police treating her as a “high risk victim.” Ahmed, 73, walked out of HMP Leeds on licence after serving 14 years of a 22-year sentence, prompting Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to ask Home Secretary…

Jim Penman has accused the government of profiting from franchisees through multiple taxes while offering them inadequate protection, as he pushes for sweeping reform and prepares to run for a Melbourne seat at November’s Victorian election. Jim Penman, founder of Jim’s Mowing, has accused the government of collecting substantial tax revenue from franchisees while failing to protect them when disputes with larger franchisors arise. In comments released alongside his latest campaign, Penman said governments gather multiple forms of tax from franchisees — including GST, income tax, payroll tax and capital gains tax — despite what he described as “a complete…

Defence experts warn replacement jets can’t arrive in time, with blame directed at Starmer, Treasury and MoD.The Red Arrows could face years on the ground after the current fleet retires, defence sources have warned, following delays to government plans to procure a replacement aircraft. The delay Concerns have been raised after the Government’s Defence Investment Plan, published just days ago, arrived roughly 12 months later than expected, leaving what insiders describe as an extremely tight window to secure new jets before the RAF’s ageing Hawk aircraft are retired in 2030. The Hawk’s engines are now more than 40 years old.…

PM-in-waiting fields questions on Instagram about music and snacks as Tories accuse him of avoiding press.Andy Burnham has continued to bypass traditional media scrutiny in the run-up to becoming prime minister, instead answering questions directly from the public via social media, prompting fresh criticism from the Conservatives. Personal questions on Instagram In a video posted to Instagram, Burnham responded to a mix of questions from members of the public, ranging from serious policy matters to more light-hearted personal queries about his tastes in music, food and drink. Asked to share a fondest memory, Burnham recalled invading the pitch as a…

Forecasters predict scorching temperatures next weekend as high pressure from the Azores builds over Britain.Weather maps are forecasting a fresh surge of heat across the UK, with temperatures potentially reaching 34C in parts of England as high pressure builds in from the Azores. When and where According to maps produced by WXCharts, Saturday 11 July could turn out to be the hottest day of the month so far, with the most intense heat concentrated across southern and eastern England. Temperatures in these areas could widely exceed 30C, with some locations forecast to reach as high as 34C. Areas on the…

King Charles said to be ‘very enthusiastic’ about new position as monarchy embraces on-trend content.Buckingham Palace is recruiting for a full-time videographer to help produce social media content for the royal family, in what is understood to be the first time a British monarch has hired someone specifically for the role. The job The £52,000 position, advertised on the official Palace website with applications closing on 12 July, will see the successful candidate working across a wide range of royal engagements, from major state occasions to more informal, behind-the-scenes moments. According to the advertisement, the role calls for a “social-first…