‘Magical’ communities and luscious greenery: Meet the residents of the UK’s happiest towns

Mohammad Khan, 29, was sentenced to more than 15 years in prison for opening fire with a Skorpion submachine gun in Smethwick. The incident occurred following a dispute, with Khan firing in the direction of a man standing in a doorway, damaging property. No injuries were reported, and Khan was arrested and charged with possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life after being tracked down by West Midlands Police. Full Article

The Independent is seeking support to continue reporting on important issues such as reproductive rights, climate change, and Big Tech. They rely on donations to fund their investigative journalism and documentary production. A pro-Labour tax expert has called on Sir Keir Starmer to reverse the decision to charge a death tax on family farms worth over £1m, suggesting a £20m threshold instead to target rich landowners. The expert's intervention has been praised by farmers and...

Top diplomats from the United States, the Arab League, and Turkey are meeting in Jordan to discuss plans for Syria's transition from the deposed government of Bashar Assad, with 12 foreign ministers and officials from the EU and UN in attendance in Aqaba. The absence of Syrian representatives at the meeting raises concerns about the region's stability, especially with ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon. The U.S. is also pushing for a ceasefire in Gaza...

European Union Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius met with representatives of the Office of the President of Ukraine to discuss supporting air defence and collaboration with the United States, focusing on strengthening Ukraine's defence capabilities and countering Russian propaganda. Kubilius's assistance was praised for helping Ukraine in its fight for victory and towards EU membership, with a shared commitment to peace through strength and stability. The meeting also highlighted the importance of European...

In his anniversary speech, Argentina’s President Milei praised citizens for enduring short-term pain for long-term gain through aggressive fiscal measures that stabilized the economy and attracted foreign investment. His economic reforms included eliminating the fiscal deficit, clearing international debts, and streamlining the government. Milei's vision for a free-market future involves deregulation, embracing free trade, and transitioning to a monetary competition system, aiming for high growth and low inflation in 2024 despite ongoing challenges. Full Article

Serbian oil company Naftna Industrija Srbije (NIS) faces financial sanctions from the United States due to its Russian ownership, according to Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić. The U.K. and EU are likely to follow suit, potentially halting oil shipments through a pipeline from Croatia. NIS is mostly owned by Russia's Gazprom and Gazprom Neft, with the U.S. sanctions possibly taking effect by January 1. Full Article