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A man connected with one of Europe's most significant people smuggling rings has been arrested in Wolverhampton.In a statement, the National Crime Agency (NCA) said it took part in a major operation targeting a Syrian organised crime group connected with people smuggling across the continent. Led by German investigators, the sting is backed by the UK agency and involves police forces from Austria, the Netherlands, Poland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia.At least 20 people were arrested in a series of raids on Wednesday - including Iraqi national Hussam Al Ramli, 35, who was apprehended by NCA investigators at his home in Bilston, Wolverhampton.The NCA said in a statement: "He is alleged to have arranged for migrants to illegally cross the border from Belarus to Poland on behalf of the c...

President Putin has warned he could hit back against countries supplying weapons being used against targets in Russia.He appeared to be referring to the US and UK, who this week gave Ukraine permission to use long-range missiles over the border. The Russian president said his military would "respond resolutely in a mirror way" to an "escalation of aggressive actions".War latest: Follow live updates"We believe that we have the right to use our weapons against military facilities of the countries that allow to use their weapons against our facilities," Mr Putin said in a TV address. British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles were fired into Russia for the first time this week, just days after President Biden authorised the same policy shift. Please...

Countries have reacted furiously to a stash of draft deals published at the COP29 climate summit in Azerbaijan.With just 36 hours until the two-week negotiations are due to end, countries are still at loggerheads on key issues including money, fossil fuels and gender. The number one item on the table is a new financial target to pay for climate measures in developing countries, known as "climate finance".The draft agreement still lists widely different options for all the most controversial issues, including which countries pay in, where the money comes from, and how many billions of dollars they're aiming for.Instead of specifying a number for the target, it simply states: "At least USD [X] trillion of dollars annually". Developing countries need about $1.3trn (£1trn) a year to help them ...

A tall man emerged from an array of gym equipment, walking towards me, slightly swaying as his prosthetic leg flexed and stepped in time with his natural one.His right arm was missing, and his left was a smooth black prosthesis arm with his hands and fingers clenched in a fist. He was introduced to me as Anton. I wasn't sure how to greet him other than to say hello.He saw my hesitation, and smiling he raised his left arm to shake my hand, his fingers opening and closing around my hand as we observed a customary gesture of greeting - a handshake.His handshake was gentle and completely natural. I was simply amazed. I've never seen or experienced anything like it. "Wow, it works," I said."Yes, it does," he replied with a smirk, and then carried on walking down the corridor. This was to be...

A volcano on the Reykjanes Peninsula in Iceland has erupted for the seventh time since December, prompting evacuation orders.Orange lava gushed from a fissure almost two miles long after the eruption started with little warning just after 11pm on Wednesday. People living in about 50 houses nearby were told to leave, along with guests at the popular Blue Lagoon spa resort southwest of Reykjavik, national TV station RUV said. Image: The eruption started on the Reykjanes Peninsula. Pic: Civil Protection in Iceland/AP While the eruption does not pose a threat to air travel, the authorities warned of gas emissions across parts of the peninsula, including the nearby town of Grindavik.Repeated volcanic eruptions close to the town,...

A US federal court has issued an arrest warrant for one of India's richest men.Billionaire Gautam Adani has been charged by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) with allegedly defrauding investors and bribing officials. The 62-year-old Adani Group boss, worth $116bn (£91.77bn) faces the allegations along with his nephew Sagar Adani and six others in relation to one of the world's largest solar projects. Image: Adani Group has been accused of fraudulent practices in the past. File pic: AP/Manish Swarup An investigation conducted by the FBI claimed Mr Adani and others agreed to bribe Indian government officials to obtain lucrative solar energy supply contracts.Deputy assistant attorney general Lisa Miller said: "T...

A British tourist being treated after a suspected mass methanol poisoning in Laos has died, according to UK officials.Simone White, 28, from Orpington, Kent, fell ill after reportedly drinking "free shots" from a local bar in Vang Vieng - a resort popular with backpackers.Four people had already died following the suspected poisonings - an Australian named Bianca Jones, 19, from Melbourne, as well as two Danish women in their 20s and a 56-year-old US citizen.They are believed to have consumed drinks tainted with methanol, which is sometimes added to mixed drinks as a cheaper alternative to alcohol, but can cause severe poisoning or death."We are supporting the family of a British woman who has died in Laos, and we are in contact with the local authorities," the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth a...

An investigation is under way into the France-based defence company Thales for suspected bribery and corruption, the UK's Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has announced.A statement, released shortly after French financial markets had closed for the day, said a joint investigation involving the SFO's French counterparts PNF was under way. It did not detail any allegations beyond the suspected offences though the Reuters news agency, citing a French judicial source, said it was related to claims of bribery of a foreign public official, influence trafficking, handling stolen goods and money laundering.It concerned an arms contract awarded in Asia, the person said.Money latest: JD Sports faces wrath of shareholders Although based in Paris, the multi-national aviation and defence electronics group em...

Brazil's former president Jair Bolsonaro is among more than 30 people facing charges of allegedly attempting a coup after his electoral defeat in 2022.Federal police have delivered the results of their investigation to the country's supreme court, which must decide whether to refer them to prosecutor-general Paulo Gonet to bring formal charges. The former right-wing president has denied claims he tried to stay in office after his narrow defeat to rival, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva - the leftist politician who won with 50.9% of the vote.Mr Bolsonaro posted on X that investigators and the supreme court judge overseeing the case had been "creative" and done "everything the law does not say".The final police report completes a near two-year investigation into Mr Bolsonaro's role in a m...

Intuit CEO Sasan Goodarzi speaks at the opening night of the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles on Aug. 15, 2024.Rodin Eckenroth | Filmmagic | Getty ImagesIntuit shares fell 6% in extended trading on Thursday after the finance software maker issued a revenue forecast for the current quarter that trailed analysts' estimates due to some sales getting delayed.Here's how the company performed in comparison with LSEG consensus:Earnings per share: $2.50 adjusted vs. 2.35 expectedRevenue: $3.28 billion vs. 3.14 billionRevenue increased 10% year over year in the quarter, which ended on Oct. 31, according to a statement. Net income fell to $197 million, or 70 cents per share, from $241 million, or 85 cents per share, a year ago.While results for the fiscal first quarter topped estimates, second-quarter gui...