Spanish Police Arrest Weapons Kingpin At Family Supper
Irish crime cartel boss Liam Byrne has been seized by Spanish police while on a secret trip to see his family in Majorca.
Byrne - whose brother David was shot dead at the Regency Hotel in Dublin seven years ago - is said to be a member of the notorious Kinahan drug gang.
He was arrested by police as he sat down at a restaurant to eat with family members in the Alcudia area.
Byrne had travelled to Majorca on 26th May on a flight to Palma from Dubai where he has been in hiding from a UK arrest warrant.
Police say they were able to track him through a car they expected him to be using.
Spanish police - working with the UK's National Crime Agency - described him as a "priority fugitive".
He was reportedly one of two suspects arrested by police.
Police video footage shows one of the suspects being arrested. The suspect can be seen wearing a T-shirt, shorts and flip-flops and being led through a building in handcuffs by two Spanish officers.
It is currently unclear which of the two suspects is seen in the footage.
Spanish police said in a statement on Monday, 5th June: "The National Police detained a high-priority fugitive for the United Kingdom belonging to the Kinahan clan."
Byrne is said to have handled weapons and firearms trafficking for the ultra-violent cartel.
It continued: "He led a criminal organisation dedicated to firearms trafficking in the UK, and supplying other criminal organisations with weapons.
"Once evidence of his leadership in the organisation was obtained, following the arrest of several members and the discovery of a hideout with firearms and ammunition, he remained a fugitive in Dubai until he was located on the island of Majorca.
"On 5th June 2023, National Police officers arrested the dangerous Irish fugitive in Majorca.
"He is a member of the Kinahan clan and a high-priority target of the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA), for leading a criminal organisation involved in firearms trafficking in the UK.
"The fugitive led a weapons trafficking organisation that purchased numerous pistols and submachine guns to later sell them to other organizations.
"Many of these firearms were specifically purchased with systems that would not leave fingerprint marks, making it difficult for the police to trace them.
"The magnitude of this organisation was such that they once received an order from another organization for 14 firearms in a single batch.
"During the NCA investigation in the UK and Northern Ireland, several members of the organisation to which the arrested individual belongs were apprehended for these crimes and drug trafficking.
"A hidden stash with numerous handguns, submachine guns, and a large quantity of ammunition was discovered."
The statement also said: "He travelled to Mallorca for a family meeting."
The statement went on: "Once the NCA investigation concluded and all the necessary evidence against the fugitive was gathered, he fled to Dubai, where he continued to maintain his lavish lifestyle and operate within the organisation from a distance.
"After a lengthy investigation, the NCA discovered that the fugitive had recently travelled to Majorca to secretly meet with his family.
The British agents then contacted the Fugitive Location Section of the National Police to inquire about his whereabouts.
"Given the fugitive's criminal profile, his dangerousness, and the possibility that he could acquire firearms, an investigation was initiated.
"After several inquiries, the agents managed to locate a vehicle that the fugitive could be using.
"By focusing the search in that area, they were able to locate the fugitive and, after organising the operation, successfully apprehended him."
The UK’s National Crime Agency reportedly confirmed today that Liam Byrne was one of two suspected members of the Kinahan cartel to have been arrested in Spain.
The identity of the second suspect is not currently known.
The NCA said in a statement: "Two men wanted by the National Crime Agency on suspicion of firearms offences have been arrested in Spain.
“Liam Byrne, 42, from Dublin, who is thought to be one of the most trusted members of the Kinahan organised crime group, was arrested on Sunday evening in the Alcudia area of Mallorca while eating in a restaurant with family members.
“He had flown into Palma Airport from Dubai, UAE, on the 26 May."
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Cannon Fired Across Country To Celebrate Erdogan Victory
This footage shows how across the country representatives from the Turkish army, navy and air force were firing guns to mark the reaction of President Erdogan.
He took the oath for a new five-year term and extended his rule into a third decade on Saturday, 3rd June.
The 69-year-old was first elected prime minister in 2003 and then was elected president in 2014 and again in 2018.
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Drug Trafficker Seized In Spain After Decade Under Radar
Police in Spain have arrested the alleged leader of an international network that smuggled drugs into Europe after 10 years on the run.
The alleged trafficker, whose identity is being withheld, was tracked down to Jerez de la Frontera.
This footage shows the moment of his arrest, apparently carried out by plainclothes officers.
He had been living under the radar in different parts of Spain and Portugal for a decade using false ID.
The criminal gang he allegedly led used helicopters to smuggle hashish into Europe.
One such aircraft crashed in 2015, killing two on board. Police officers later seized 900 kilogrammes (1,984 lb) of hashish from the wreckage.
Hashish is a hallucinogenic drug preparation derived from the resin secreted by the flowering tops of cultivated female plants of the genus Cannabis.
The Spanish National Police said in a statement obtained by Newsflash on 30th May: "Agents of the National Police have arrested a fugitive in Jerez de la Frontera who was leading a criminal organisation dedicated to drug trafficking using helicopters. The fugitive had five warrants from different national courts and resided between Portugal, Cadiz, and rural areas of Huelva, using false identities and documentation. He was leading a criminal organisation based in the province of Cadiz since 2014, dedicated to the introduction of hashish into Europe through the use of aircraft.
"The investigation that led to the location of this individual began in 2021 when the agents became aware that the fugitive controlled a criminal structure operating in several countries. Due to the international dimension of the investigation, a European Arrest Warrant was requested.
"Through various checks in collaboration with Portuguese authorities from the ENFAST network, it was discovered that the fugitive changed his location between Portugal, Cadiz, and various rural areas in Huelva. Additionally, he was using multiple identities and false documentation. Through the investigative work of the agents, the fugitive's location was narrowed down to the vicinity of Jerez de la Frontera. Finally, the specific address where he seemed to be temporarily residing was identified, and an operation was set up to carry out his arrest.
"The events for which this fugitive was wanted date back to 2014 when the existence of a criminal structure based in the province of Cadiz dedicated to the introduction of hashish into Europe using helicopters was confirmed. This individual allegedly controlled the entire criminal structure and its activities, even having a helicopter that crashed in the town of Gaucin in 2015, resulting in the death of the two occupants. Following the accident, 900 kilos of hashish were seized from inside the aircraft."
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Fawn That Scored An Own Goal And Was Trapped In Net Is Freed By Cops
This is the moment police officers free a fawn of that got trapped in the net of a goal in a person's backyard.
In a statement obtained by the City of Westlake Ohio Police Department, a spokesman said: "On 5/27 we received a call from a concerned citizen who found that a baby deer was tangled up in their backyard soccer net.
"The neighbours had tried to get to the fawn, but mommy deer was too protective.
"Officers responded to handle the situation as we do many times each day and night (although most don't involve a cute spotted Bambi).
"Another good job."
At the end of the video, after being cut free, the officer's body-worn cameras show the fawn getting on its feet and rushing away to rejoin its overprotective mother.
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Colombian Navy Intercepts 13th Narco Sub This Year
The Colombian Navy has seized yet another narco sub carrying cocaine in the Pacific Ocean.
The operation brings the number of semi-submersibles seized by the Colombian authorities to 13 this year alone.
The Colombian Navy told how it seized the 17-metre- (56-foot-) long drug sub as the blue-coloured vessel, manned by three Colombians, headed towards Central America.
In an apparently suicidal bid, the men attempted to sink the sub, along with its cargo, by opening the vessel's valves after noticing the approaching Navy units.
But the sailors arrived in time and prevented the narco sub and its occupants from sinking.
They then seized 125 black packages from the vessel, which later tested positive for cocaine hydrochloride.
The authorities revealed that the seized drugs totalled 2,410 kilogrammes (380 stone) in weight, with a total value of more than USD 81 million (GBP 65 million).
The men were taken to the Primary Coast Guard Station in Tumaco District and later placed at the disposal of the Office of the Attorney General.
They face from six to 14 years in prison if convicted of "use, construction, commercialisation, possession, and transportation of semi-submersibles or submersibles".
The Colombian Navy said in a statement obtained by Newsflash on 31st May: "The Colombian Navy, as part of an operation for maritime control and comprehensive maritime security under the Joint Campaign Strategic Plan 'Ayacucho', has intercepted a 17-metre-long semi-submersible while navigating in the waters of the southern Colombian Pacific heading towards Central America.
"The blue-coloured illegal vessel, manned by three Colombian nationals, was detected by units of the Colombian Navy deployed in the Pacific Ocean, who swiftly and decisively carried out the maritime interdiction of the boat.
"Upon noticing the presence of the Colombian Marines, the individuals on board attempted to open valves and sink the semi-submersible with its cargo, but their attempts were unsuccessful as the military personnel prevented it, ensuring the safety of the three men and recovering the vessel and its cargo.
"Subsequently, during the verification of the semi-submersible, the military personnel found 125 black packages inside, which were transported aboard a Navy ship in the area.
"The individuals, the semi-submersible, and the material were taken to the pier of the Primary Coast Guard Station in the district of Tumaco, Narino, where personnel from the Technical Investigation Corps (CTI) proceeded to conduct the Homologated Preliminary Identification Test (PIPH) on the seized cargo, confirming it to be cocaine hydrochloride weighing 2,410 kilogrammes.
"The men were placed at the disposal of the Attorney General's Office, in accordance with Law 1311 of 2009, which categorises the use, construction, commercialisation, possession, and transportation of semi-submersibles or submersibles as a presumed crime with penalties ranging from six to 14 years.
"Likewise, the illegal vessel, along with the seized cargo, was handed over to the competent authorities.
"With this significant blow, the Naval Institution prevented over 81 million dollars from entering the finances of organisations involved in narco-trafficking and the distribution of over six million doses.
"The Colombian Navy will continue to carry out joint and inter-institutional operations to deploy all its logistical and operational capabilities in order to counteract the criminal activities of different narco-trafficking organisations."
From 1993 to the present, the Colombian Navy has intercepted and seized 228 illegal semi-submersible and submersible vessels loaded with drugs, according to local media.
Semi-submersible narco subs are designed to partially submerge themselves in water to avoid detection by radar and other surveillance equipment.
They are often constructed in remote areas of the Colombian jungle, and their design and construction involve a high degree of secrecy and sophistication.
They are typically used by Mexican and Colombian traffickers to transport drugs to the USA and Europe, and have largely replaced speedboats to avoid detection.
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Young Seal Almost Throttled By Plastic Returned To The Wild
This is the heart-warming moment a young seal almost throttled to death by plastic packaging is returned to the wild.
The juvenile male had been found three weeks ago with the plastic wound so tightly around its neck it had cut into his flesh.
Harrowing video footage of his stay at a clinic run by Argentina's Mundo Marino Foundation in San Clemente del Tuyu shows his skin had been rubbed raw.
But after nearly a month of intensive treatment under the care of marine vets, the seal has been released back into the wild.
Newsflash obtained footage of him - along with a new friend who had also been undergoing treatment - making a run for the ocean on 30th May from the foundation.
As workers arrive at the beach they release the cage doors and both seals emerge and can instantly sniff out the surf.
Then they run as fast as their flippers will take them towards the water and swim off together as their rescuers look on proudly.
Newsflash obtained a statement from the foundation on Wednesday, 31st May, saying: "The juvenile male seal of the South American Two-Haired species (Arctocephalus australis) returned to the sea on the morning of this Tuesday, May 30, after a rehabilitation period of almost three weeks in the rescue centre of the Mundo Marino Foundation.
"The animal had been admitted on 11th May with a deep wound on its neck from a plastic strap, commonly used for industrial packaging."
Foundation vet Bianca Mancini added: "After completing the treatment with antibiotics and anti-anemics, a second blood sample was extracted, which returned normal parameters."
She added: "Along with the fact that he showed a good attitude and maintained a good body condition, the little seal showed that he was already fit to return to the sea."
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Britain Returns 750 Priceless Looted Artefacts To Italy
Britain has returned some 750 historical artefacts worth GBP 10 million that were pillaged from excavation sites by disgraced British trafficker Robin Symes after a 20-year legal battle.
The footage shows some of the artefacts that include ancient Etruscan and Roman art, as well as pieces from the mediaeval period that were found to be in the possession of disgraced British art dealer Robin Symes, 84, who was once one of Britain's leading antiquities dealers.
The treasures, many deemed "priceless", were returned by the United Kingdom to Italy and have been shown at the Castel Sant'Angelo in Rome by the Italian authorities in the presence of the Italian Minister of Culture Gennaro Sangiuliano.
The video shows some of the hundreds of works of art and historical artefacts that the Italians say were illegally looted from Italy and they have now been sent back by Britain after an agreement was reached on 11th May.
They had been discovered in storage in two London warehouses nearly 20 years ago and were in the possession of Symes' company, Robin Symes Ltd.
The video shows shelf upon shelf of the artefacts, with a montage of still images showing the repatriation process and the cataloguing of the treasure trove.
Newsflash obtained the footage from the Italian Ministry of Culture on Wednesday, 31st May, along with a statement saying: "Today in Rome, at the National Museum of Castel Sant'Angelo, 750 archaeological finds repatriated from London on 19th May were presented following the investigations by the Carabinieri Command for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, coordinated by the Public Prosecutor's Office at the Court of Rome, aimed at counter international trafficking of cultural goods, which also resulted in an extrajudicial procedure and a civil case, conducted in close collaboration with the Ministry of Culture through the State Attorney General."
The statement continued: "The finds, coming from clandestine excavations on Italian territory, had merged into an English company in liquidation, Symes Ltd, attributable to Robin Symes, an important trafficker of cultural goods.
"The company, which had always opposed the repeated recovery attempts by the Italian Judicial Authority, subject to bankruptcy proceedings in the United Kingdom, was also sued in Italy, through the Attorney General of the State, for the return of the goods or civil compensation for damages."
The Italian authorities said that the items were returned after "complex negotiations" that were closely monitored by the Italian Ministry of Culture, which works closely with the Carabinieri dell'Arte – Italy's art police – and the Italian Embassy in London.
The statement also said: "The set of finds, which can be dated overall to between the 8th century BC and the Middle Ages, and whose value is estimated at EUR 12 million [GBP 10.3 million], offer a cross-section of the many productions of ancient Italy and the islands [...]."
The pieces that have now gone on display at the Castel Sant'Angelo include an Etruscan bronze table and Roman marble busts, as well as a number of bronzes and paintings.
The list of recovered artefacts is seemingly endless and includes clay vases, elements of clothing and jewels including gold, silver, bronze, bone and amber, along with 26 necklaces.
Britain also returned a number of weapons, tools and furnishings, horse harnesses, sarcophagi, funerary urns and ritual objects.
The Italian Minister of Culture, Gennaro Sangiuliano, is quoted as saying: "The recovery of illicitly stolen cultural heritage is one of the priorities of my programme, protecting it also means preventing our heritage from being plundered by unscrupulous traffickers.
"The joint action between the Ministry and the Carabinieri TPC is a virtuous example of institutional collaboration to be preserved and consolidated also with initiatives such as this one, in which we have worked side by side with Greece. I thank the Arma for the precious daily work carried out in every part of the world."
The statement also said: "The press conference was also attended by Lorenzo d'Ascia, Attorney General of the State and HE Eleni Sourani, Ambassador of Greece in Italy.
"On the same date, a similar agreement was signed by the Greek Ministry of Culture with Symes Ltd for the recovery of other artefacts illegally exported from Greece. A further group of fragments will be studied by Italian and Greek archaeologists to trace their provenance and then return them to their respective states.
"Another 71 finds, currently in the United States, will be recovered in the next few days by the Carabinieri Command for the Protection of Cultural Heritage."
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Teen Nearly Lost Eyesight After Birthday Cake Face Dunk
A Russian teenager was hospitalised after her pals dunked her face into her birthday cake and a skewer pierced her eye.
Footage of the moment the 17-year-old suffered the nasty injury was taken at her bash in Simferopol, Crimea, on 21st May.
The teen had apparently asked her friends to shove her face into the cake herself, not realising that the confectioner had placed sharp skewers inside it to hold it together.
Polina Morozova later wrote alongside a viral TikTok video of herself dancing with a nasty black eye: "On 21st May, it was my birthday, and they dunked me into a two-tiered cake, which, as it turned out, had skewers inside.
"I spent a week in hospital and could have completely lost my sight in one eye. Now I'm back home and dancing cautiously."
Polina was relatively lucky, as the skewer pierced her upper eyelid. Although she was diagnosed with retinal bleeding, had her macula been affected, she could have lost her vision altogether.
The teen told local media: "Everything will be fine. My vision has already been restored, I just need the haematoma on my eyelid to heal, and then I will be able to open my eye normally."
Polina told Newsflash in an interview: "There will only be a small scar on my eyelid and that's it. The doctors say I'm lucky."
On her time in hospital, she added: "My family was nearby, my parents came to the hospital every day, my friends helped my mother at home, they walked my dog, and they visited me every day with flowers.
"Everyone was very scared and incredibly worried about my condition, they did not turn away at a difficult moment for me, and they showed maximum care and love."
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Customs Find Nearly 300kg Of Cannabis On High-Flying Plane Belonging To A Church
Customs officials in Brazil have found nearly 300 kilogrammes of cannabis on a plane belonging to a church.
The drugs, seen being offloaded from the aircraft in police footage, were found on the plane in a private hangar at Belem airport in the northern Brazilian state of Para on Saturday, 27th May.
The Igreja Quadrangular (Foursquare Church), originally founded in California, confirmed to local media that it owns the aircraft.
But it also reportedly claimed that a third party accessed the plane without permission, adding that it did not know where the drugs came from.
The federal police raided the hangar and arrested one man who was seen on the tarmac and who attempted to flee federal agents.
The suspect, who has not been named, was arrested on suspicion of drug trafficking.
The police said they found 290 kilogrammes (639lbs) of skunk, which is a type of concentrated cannabis, on the plane, stashed inside cardboard boxes marked as eggs.
The Foursqure Church told local media that the arrested man was an outsourced service provider who was supposed to clean the aircraft the day before the raid.
The church reportedly said in a statement that the man "looked for our pilot wanting to make a flight to take, according to him, some tractor parts to an inland city."
The church alleges that the man accessed the aircraft on Friday night, on 26th May, and "placed the cargo" inside it.
The church told local media that it did not know where the drugs came from and was only made aware of them after the police raid on the plane, which was set to fly to Petrolina.
Federal Police said in a statement obtained by Newsflash on Saturday, 27th May: "The suspect was charged with interstate drug trafficking.
"The pilot was not arrested, as his participation in the crime was not verified.
"The aircraft was seized, as well as the mobile phone of the suspect."
Paulo Bengtson, a member of the national and state board of the Foursquare Church, told local media that the plane had been used for three years to transport pastors and sick people around the state of Para.
Bengtson said: "It is the first time that something like this has happened. We await the conclusion of this investigation, and are confident that all those involved will be punished."
The investigation is ongoing.
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Pure Gold Jewish Book With Gilded Pages Seized From Artefact Smugglers
This Jewish religious book made entirely of gold including its pages has been seized from suspected artefact smugglers in Turkey.
The book was reportedly seized in Erzincan, the capital of Erzincan Province in eastern Turkey.
The footage shows the book, which can be seen featuring what appears to be Hebrew writing, an all-seeing eye, a star of David and a menorah, a Jewish candlestick used for Hanukkah, among other symbols.
Newsflash obtained a statement from the Erzincan Governorship on Thursday, 25th May, saying that the book, "containing Jewish religious motifs and Hebrew writings in the form of historical artefacts", was made out of "24-carat pure" gold.
They added that it weighed 165 grammes (5.8 oz) and was made up of 14 pages.
The Turkish authorities said that they apprehended four suspects, who have not been named, and who had been caught trying to sell the historical artefact.
They added that they had initiated unspecified legal action against them.
The statement also said that the book was seized "as a result of the intelligence work carried out by the elements of the Provincial Gendarmerie Command of our Governorship within the scope of the prevention of cultural and natural property smuggling crimes."
The artefact has since been handed over to a museum, according to local media. The age of the gold book is currently unclear.
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Adorable Snow Leopard Cubs Have Fun Playing In Grass
These heartwarming images show how two adorable snow leopard cubs explored their surroundings eight weeks after being born at a zoo in Austria.
Salzburg Zoo Hellbrunn said in a statement obtained by Newsflash: "First, they take only a cautious glance outside, but then curiosity quickly prevails, and the two little snow leopards embark on their first outing to the outdoor enclosure.
"And soon they realise: playing in the grass is really fun.
"Would you like to observe the now eight-week-old sisters during their explorations? You have a good chance of seeing them early in the morning."
The images were an instant online hit, with one social media user commenting: "So cute, we must go to Salzburg soon."
Another wrote: "Congratulations on your breeding success, and thank you for your tireless dedication to preserving the population of such wonderful animals and many others."
Local media earlier reported that the female cubs were born on the night of 2nd April to mum Malou and dad Sayan.
They are the first big cats to be born at Salzburg Zoo Hellbrunn in four years.
Sabine Grebner, the zoo's managing director, said shortly after the felines came into the world: "The cubs are developing splendidly, and Malou is an especially caring mother."
The snow leopard (Panthera uncia) inhabits the mountains of central Asia and the Indian subcontinent, ranging from an elevation of about 6,000 feet in the winter to about 18,000 feet in the summer.
The species is listed as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species.
There are now only between 2,710 and 3,386 adult snow leopards left in their natural habitat due to poaching and illegal trade.
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Moment Boy, 4, Is Dropped From Top Of US Border Wall
This is the moment a four-year-old boy is dropped from the top of a US border wall near San Diego shortly before US border agents who went to help were shot at.
The night vision-style footage appears to show the young boy being dropped over the border wall, which looks to be about 20 feet high, by an adult, according to American media.
The boy can then be seen getting up and walking away a few paces before other people drop down on the American side of the border wall with Mexico.
The images then show the group of people walking along the wall and away from the area, taking a few breaks on the way before the footage ends.
US Border Patrol agents who went to the scene to intercept the individuals in the footage were reportedly fired upon, according to American media.
It is understood that the child is now in the custody of US authorities, with Newsflash obtaining a statement from Raul Ortiz, the head of the US Border Patrol, on Monday, 22nd May, saying: "A 4-year-old was dropped from the border barrier by an unknown subject in San Diego, Monday.
"Responding Agents and EMS providing first aid to the child also reported gunshots near their position while tending to the child. Remarkably, the child is ok! Do not trust smugglers!"
American media said that the incident took place on 15th May about half a mile from the San Ysidro border crossing into San Diego in the US state of California.
The child, who was not named, was reportedly lightly injured in the fall and was seen to by first responders.
The US Customs and Border Protection reportedly said in a statement: "Agents reported hearing both the impact and ricochet of gunshots off of the secondary border barrier just north of their location."
They added: “With emergency medical services, the San Diego Fire Department, and the child still on scene, agents directed everyone in the area to cover.”
There have been no further updates on the status of the other individuals involved in the incident.
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Hungry Hippo Gets Seven-Tier Birthday Cake
This is the moment a three-year-old hippo gets to grips with a massive seven-tier cake created to mark his third birthday.
Keepers at Spain's BIOPARC Valencia zoo in southern Spain dished up birthday boy Gori a spectacular treat made of kiwi, strawberry, passion fruit and grapes, among other fruits and vegetables.
And as an appetiser, they put tasty jelly treats around the enclosure for the hippos to find.
Footage obtained from the zoo of the Friday, 19th May party shows Gori nibbling delicately at his cake.
Newsflash also obtained a statement from BIOPARC Valencia saying: "The Valencian park houses the only underwater enclosure for hippos in Spain, which has allowed us to host a special birthday party with a spectacular seven-storey cake featuring favourite delicacies.
"All animals are important at BIOPARC and they all receive the best care to guarantee their maximum well-being. But some are especially loved."
The statement continued: "Gori, the baby hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) from BIOPARC Valencia, who is three years old today, is one of them.
"He was born during the [coronavirus] lockdowns when only the technical team went to the park daily to keep the facilities in perfect condition and meet the needs of the more than 6,000 animals of 150 different species."
The zoo added: "With all the love, the animal care staff has prepared an authentic birthday party for Gori the hippo and his family.
"The decoration with a huge, striking, original and delicious birthday cake awaited him at the exit in the area that recreates the great African wetlands.
"Each of the seven layers was made with his favourite ingredients: kiwi, strawberry, passion fruit, grape, etc. And a giant three formed with fruit and vegetables."
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Middle-Aged Vandal On GBP 300,000 Scratching Spree
A woman filmed vandalising 400 brand new cars with a boxcutter causing over GBP 300,000 in damage is being hunted by Mounties in Canada.
During a three-month spree, the woman targeted a specific car dealer in the city of Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada.
Despite being caught on camera as she slashes the cars' bodywork, the police are still baffled over her identity.
And it is unclear whether she has a grudge against the particular dealer or the Jeep, Chrysler, and Ram brands they sell.
CCTV footage released by police shows the woman wearing a hat and a facemask as she goes from vehicle to vehicle hacking at the bodywork with her razor-sharp tool.
Newsflash obtained a statement from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police dated 17th May saying: "Coquitlam RCMP is appealing for the public’s assistance in identifying the suspect of a mischief series at the Journey Chrysler Jeep Dodge and Ram dealership located at 1300 Dominion Avenue and the Journey Approved dealership located at 1881 Lougheed Highway in Port Coquitlam.
"Between January and April 2023, Police received three separate reports of mass car keying incidents at the Journey Chrysler car dealership in Port Coquitlam. Initial estimates indicate that close to 400 vehicles were damaged, including the exterior of one of the businesses resulting in over CAD 500,000 [GBP 300,00] in damage."
Police believe the suspect is a woman aged between 40 and 50, with shoulder-length blonde hair and drives a Ford Escape, according to local media.
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Hospital CT Scans Reveal Secrets Of Ancient Mummy Caskets
The secrets of how ancient Egyptian artists decorated mummy caskets have been revealed by hospital CT scans.
The two sarcophagi lids were put through the scanner to show archaeologists how the ornate caskets were created.
Experts wanted to know how ancient artists and craftsmen created the rich colours and detailed engravings on the lids.
The first sarcophagus lid is understood to date back to 950 BC, while the other is believed to date back to between the seventh and fourth centuries BC.
Video footage obtained by Newsflash shows the oldest lid being loaded into the scanner at Shaare Zedek Medical Centre in Jerusalem, Israel on Sunday, 21st May.
It is understood to have been created and decorated nearly 3,000 years ago for Jed-Mot, a ceremonial singer for Amun-Ra, the chief god of ancient Egypt.
The second casket lid belonged to an Egyptian nobleman called Petah-Hotep, according to experts.
Nir Or Lev, the curator of Egyptian Archaeology at the Israel Museum, said: "In order to understand what’s hidden under the artwork, there are two options.
"We can remove the artwork, which we don’t want to do, or we can conduct a CT scan, and through that, see what is happening underneath it."
The expert added: "We identified cavities in the wood that were filled with plaster as part of the preparation for the decoration of the coffins, as well as various parts that were cast entirely from plaster and not carved directly from the wood."
And Shlomi Hazan, the chief radiologist at Shaare Zedek, told local media: "Never in my professional life have I been able to do something like this."
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Woman Gets Dragged Along The Street By Passing Trike
This is the terrifying moment a woman gets dragged across the street when her foot gets accidentally caught in a rope tied to an electric tricycle driving past her.
The scary incident reportedly happened at the west gate section of Senhuo Impression in Shahe Road, Fuyang City, in eastern China's province of Anhui on 8th May.
The clip - shared later on Douyin, China's version of TikTok - shows a man - named Guo in local media - driving an electric tricycle and about to turn left at the intersection, while a man and a woman cross the road.
Then, a small rope tied to the back of Guo's tricycle gets tangled around the woman's legs.
She tries to free her foot by shaking off the rope but quickly ends up on the ground and dragged along for a few feet before her screaming apparently alerts him to the problem.
Meanwhile, the other pedestrian stands by in apparent confusion and is barely able to react to the frightening scene.
Then, he slowly moves towards the fallen woman to apparently aid her before the footage ends.
Police later reviewed the incident and determined the tricycle rider was entirely at fault.
The woman was reportedly injured but it is unclear what her injuries were and if she got any compensation from Guo.
Many netizens faulted the trike rider for being reckless and demanded that he be punished, while others criticised the passing-by man for his slow reaction.
Douyin user 'Sing for you' commented: "He should be severely punished!"
While 'overtake' wrote: "Why didn't the other pedestrian immediately help?"
And 'No money' asked: "Why is the other pedestrian so calm?"
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World's Oldest Zoo Celebrates More Than 1,000 European Pond Turtles Hatchlings
The oldest zoo in the world has celebrated the hatching of more than 1,000 adorable European pond turtles threatened with extinction.
Overjoyed staff at the Schoenbrunn Zoo, in the city of Vienna, Austria, honoured the moment the young turtles hatched and left their nests at the Danube-Auen National Park.
The happy announcement was made on the Endangered Species Day on Friday, 19th May, in order to emphasise the importance of protecting the country's only native turtle species.
Head of the European pond turtle protection project Maria Schindler said in a statement obtained by Newsflash: "We have been to the Danube-Auen regularly since March to check the clutches that have hatched.
"Using the remains of the eggshell and the undeveloped eggs, we estimate how many hatchlings hatched.
"It was a great turtle season with over 1,000 hatchlings. But only a fraction of them make it to adulthood."
The small reptile species - Emys orbicularis - are listed as near threatened on IUCN's Red List of Threatened Species.
Schoenbrunn Zoo has reportedly taken part in their conservation and protection from wild predators since 2007.
Schindler said: "From May to July we observe the female turtles laying their eggs and provide each nest with a special protective grid.
"That way, wild boar or foxes can’t dig up the eggs."
This way - according to Schindler - a total of 164 turtle clutches were protected from animals of prey last year.
She explained that after they hatch, many of the juvenile turtles may choose to leave the nest burrows over the autumn period.
But Schindler added that female individuals are particularly nostalgic and usually return to their nesting areas through the years.
She said: "It's always nice to see old friends. Female #42, for example, is 60 to 80 years old and has been returning to her nesting area for over 20 years."
National Park Director Edith Klauser said: "In the past, we only saw adult terrapins, if at all. Turtles of all ages can now be observed.
"We are therefore very grateful for the great cooperation between the Danube-Auen National Park and the Schoenbrunn Zoo."
Klauser warned people staying near the national park to drive slowly and keep their distance from the petit turtles in order to avoid injuring them.
The zoo added: "Under no circumstances should turtles from the trade be released into the wild - they are genetically different from the native ones and displace them!"
They emphasised that sponsorships to save the clutches are highly valued, and reasoned it by saying: "Because every clutch counts!"
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Customs Seize 1.3 Million Amphetamine Pills Stashed In Timber Panels
This is the moment customs police discover 1.3 million amphetamine pills sealed inside a truckload of wooden panels.
The astonishing find was made by anti-smuggling officers in Saudi Arabia after intercepting a shipment of the drug at the Jeddah Islamic port.
Video footage of the search shows officers cracking open the hollowed-out panels to reveal plastic bags of the pills taped to the inside.
Then they are seen emptying bags of the pills, reportedly 1,395,930 pills in total, into a large pile.
Newsflash obtained a statement from the Saudi Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority saying on Monday, 15th May: "Foiling an attempt to smuggle more than 1.3 million Captagon pills, which were found hidden in a consignment of 'wooden planks' that came to the Kingdom through the Jeddah Islamic Port, and in coordination with the General Directorate of Narcotics Control (GDNC), the recipient of the seizures inside the Kingdom was arrested."
One Syrian national was arrested following the search, according to local media.
Captagon is a trademarked name for a synthetic amphetamine-type stimulant known as fenethylline.
It is particularly prevalent in the Middle East, where it is used in conflict zones to suppress fatigue and hunger while increasing aggression and alertness.
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Moment Boy Slips On Platform And Falls Onto Tracks While Trying To Catch Moving Train
This is the shocking moment a boy slips on a platform and falls onto the tracks while trying to catch a moving train.
The images were filmed at the Akola station in the western Indian state of Maharashtra on Tuesday, 16th May, at around 12:30pm.
The boy, who survived the incident, shows him running along with his father and trying to board the train after the pair got off to drink some water.
But the boy, named as Sharadchandra Sahu and reportedly from the city of Cuttack, in the state of Odisha, appears to slip on a puddle on the platform and can be seen tumbling out of sight under the moving train. Local media reported that they also lost their grip on the train because they had wet hands.
Railway Protection Force (RPF) officers and the boy's father, named as Saurabh Sahu, can be seen trying to help Sharadchandra, with the train eventually coming to a stop as the footage ends.
Local media reported that RPF police inspector Yunus Khan was on the scene and instructed the boy to stick close to the platform wall.
Newsflash obtained a statement from RPF India on Wednesday, 17th May, saying: "A father-son duo encountered a terrifying moment as the son slipped into the gap between the platform & train while attempting to catch a moving train at Akola station.
"Kudos to vigilant RPF officials, the boy was rescued safely."
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Expert Describes First Descent Into Otherworldly Lava Tube
This incredible footage shows volcano experts entering an otherworldly lava tube formed after the 2021 Cumbre Vieja eruption for the very first time.
The volcano's 85-day-long eruption transformed the Aridane Valley on the island of La Palma in the Canary Islands into a gigantic labyrinth of lava tubes.
Lava tubes, also known as volcanic tubes, are formed during volcanic eruptions when flowing lava develops a solid crust on its surface while the interior remains molten.
The new lava tubes on La Palma were considered impenetrable until speleologists ventured some 80 metres into one that they have dubbed the "Red Tube".
In an interview with Newsflash, Volcanic Speleology Team Coordinator Octavio Fernandez Lorenzo explained: "The distance is short, a maximum of 80 metres, and from 30 to 60 degrees Celsius.
"As cavers, we move through the cold air current at the bottom, while the area above is hot. This allows us to study the cooling inside the tubes.
"Thanks to the Venturi effect, we can be in an area close to 400 degrees and monitor that zone with a pole.
"Most small tubes are at 30 degrees, with some uncomfortable areas at 40 or 50 degrees, and a zone at 60 degrees, where we reach to install a monitor and take a sample.
"The sensation is like being inside an oven, taking out and putting in pizzas."
In thermal images obtained by Newsflash, the experts can be observed walking through "cold" areas while the ceiling above them is over 200 degrees Celsius.
Octavio, who has been working as a speleologist for 30 years, also told Newsflash about the team's research into a new chasm on the north face of the volcano.
He said: "Taking samples inside the cavities helps the microbiology team determine the presence of bacteria or fungi.
"It seems that colonisation has occurred earlier than expected. We can confirm that they are rapidly colonised by microorganisms.
"There are many unknown bacteria that have the potential to be used as antibiotics for humans."
It is believed that the deepest lava tube formed by the 2021 eruption could reach the sea, making it the longest lava tube in the Canary Islands if verified.
Octavio, 45, explained to Newsflash: "The longest volcanic tube is Cueva del Viento in Tenerife (with 18 kilometres mapped to date). We already have the potential to surpass Cueva del Viento.
"In La Palma, before this volcano, we had catalogued more than 200 volcanic tubes, none of which exceeded 1.5 kilometres.
"In this new volcano, we have seen that many volcanic tubes have formed. Each of these has a minimum length of three to four kilometres from end to end."
He added: "We have only entered a maximum of 80 metres into one tube. It will take years of exploration because the tubes cool down slowly.
"We were surprised that we were able to enter a part of it. There is potential for a very large tube. During this exploration, things may happen as the cave cools down.
"We could map five kilometres of the cave and then find a section where we cannot proceed, but there may be another cave in another area that has a connection.
"In spelunking, it is possible to find connections over time."
Octavio, who is from La Palma himself, hopes the tubes will be accessible to tourists in the future.
He told Newsflash: "I hope there will be significant tourism, but we need to be careful. It will take a long time, and always in a respectful manner. The entrance, however, would have an owner."
When asked whether the volcano on the Cumbre Vieja ridge could erupt again, he replied: "It's possible that it could be 10 or 20 years before another eruption.
"We would see it coming, but we wouldn't know where it would emerge, since it's challenging to predict. However, we can say that there are currently no signs of activity."
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Three Children And Baby Found Alive In Jungle More Than Two Weeks After Plane Crash
Four missing children have been found alive after a plane crash in the Colombian jungle more than two weeks ago.
The Cessna 206 light aircraft operated by Avianline Charters went missing as it flew from Araracuara to San Jose del Guaviare on 1st May.
The Colombian Civil Aviation Authority (Aerocivil) said in a statement: "After more than 370 hours of continuous search work, the Cessna 206 aircraft with registration HK 2803, which had been reported missing on 1st May, was found yesterday, Monday."
The bodies of the pilot and two passengers were found close to the wreckage on 16th May, Aerocivil revealed.
The victims were identified as Herman Mendoza Hernandez, co-pilot and indigenous leader; Magdalena Mucutuy Valencia, the children's mother; and the pilot, Hernando Murcia Morales.
However, four passengers - three children and a baby - remained unaccounted for, so the search continued.
There was cause for celebration when Colombian President Gustavo Petro tweeted on 17th May: "After arduous search efforts by our Military Forces, we have found the four children who had gone missing due to the air crash in Guaviare alive. A joy for the country."
Local media identified the survivors as Lesly Jacobombaire Mucutuy, 13; Soleiny Jacobombaire Mucutuy, nine; Tien Noriel Ronoque Mucutuy, four; and 11 month-old Cristin Neriman Ranoque Mucutuy.
According to the initial report received by President Petro, the four were "in good health".
Fatima, the children's grandmother, told local media: "We don't know much, they tell us that the children were found by a peasant and a fellow countryman."
Although she lost her daughter Magdalena in the plane crash, she hopes that her grandchildren will return home.
She said: "As their family, I want them to come here."
The survivors were due to arrive in the town of Cachiporro at 5pm on 17th May.
Before finding the aircraft, rescue teams had found a baby bottle and a recently-bitten fruit miles away.
And after finding the aircraft, other signs that the young passengers might still be alive had appeared nearby.
Colonel Juan Jose Lopez, Director of Air Navigation at Aerocivil, said at the time: "We assume that the children who were inside the aircraft are alive. We have found some traces in a different position and distance from where the aircraft was left.
"We have also found a possible place where the children could have taken shelter, and we continue the search."
And Aerocivil said: "The special forces commandos found an open bag, cosmetics, footwear, and items that would provide clues and hopes to continue the search."
The search, which included military personnel and several sniffer dogs, had been hampered by bad weather.
President Petro had previously tweeted: "The search for the missing children in the plane crash in the Apaporis River must continue by air and land."
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Chicken Playing Chicken With Underground Brings Metro System Grinding To A Halt
These images show how the underground in Mexico City was brought to a grinding halt after a chicken ventured onto the tracks.
The footage shows rescue workers chasing the chicken along the tracks and attempting to catch it, with three men seen trying to throw their jackets over it although it initially evades capture.
After making its way across the tracks to get to the other side, the bird is finally caught in front of incredulous commuters as the footage ends.
Newsflash obtained a statement and images from the Mexico City Metro Authority confirming on Monday, 15th May: "The Metro reports that transportation personnel from the organisation coordinated a power cut to rescue a chicken, which was located in the area of the tracks of the Centro Medico station, Line 9.
"The incident occurred around 5:15 p.m. yesterday.
"Immediately, Civil Protection personnel from the agency descended to the tracks to rescue the bird.
"After the chicken was rescued, the movement of the trains resumed immediately."
Mexican media said that netizens were amused by the footage after it was shared online, with many saying that the chicken had attempted to "sabotage" the public transport network.
And one user reportedly said: "Damn destabilising chicken. Surely it belongs to the opposition!"
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Police Seize Three Tonnes Of Cocaine Hidden In Banana Crates
A three-tonne haul of cocaine worth USD 700 million has been seized by police after it was found stashed inside a shipment of bananas.
Italian trafficking police discovered the 2,734 kilogrammes (6,027 lbs) shipment of pure cocaine as it arrived at Port of Gioia Tauro, Calabria, in a container ship.
Video footage of the search shows drug sniffer dogs locating the drug hidden inside cases of bananas from a ship that had arrived from Ecuador.
The ship, say police, had been due to take the load onwards to the Black Sea port of Batumi in Georgia, and to then end up in Armenia.
Police from Italy's specialist trafficking and financial crime police - Guardia di Finanza - seized the haul and confiscated it for destruction.
They said in a statement obtained by Newsflash on 16th May: "Because of the large quantities, more than 30 officers of the Guardia di Finanza had to be used to transport the drugs to their place of destruction."
In addition, police said they also had earlier discovered a further 600 kilogrammes (1,320 lbs) of cocaine in fruit containers from Ecuador.
These were reportedly being shipped through Gioia Tauro, and were destined for other parts of Italy, Croatia, Greece and Georgia.
Police explained: "The concealment methods are often different and always evolving, which means investigators have to adapt."
A total of 37 tonnes (81,571 lbs) of cocaine have been seized at the Port of Gioia Tauro since January 2021.
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Archaeologists Discover Stone Receipt Dating Back 2,000 Years In Jerusalem
Archaeologists have discovered a stone receipt engraved with names and numbers dating back 2,000 years in what was a bustling market area of Jerusalem.
The stone tablet bears the name 'Shimon', which the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) said was a popular name in the period, followed by the Hebrew letter mem, which means ‘money’, as well as symbols representing numbers.
They said that they believe the stone, which can be seen in the footage being restored by an expert, was most likely a receipt issued in exchange for payment.
Newsflash obtained a statement from the IAA saying that the "financial record from 2,000 years ago was uncovered on the Pilgrimage Road in the City of David–Jerusalem's main thoroughfare during the Second Temple period."
The experts added that the stone tablet was "probably a receipt or a payment instruction recorded by a person engaged in commercial activity".
The statement said: "The seven partially preserved lines of the inscription include fragmentary Hebrew names with letters and numbers written beside them. For example, one line includes the end of the name 'Shimon' followed by the Hebrew letter mem, and in the other lines are symbols representing numbers.
"Some of the numbers are preceded by their economic value, marked with the Hebrew letter mem, an abbreviation of ma'ot (Hebrew for 'money'), or with the letter resh, an abbreviation of reva'im (Hebrew for 'quarters')."
The experts said that it is not the first time that inscriptions like this dating back to the early Roman period have been found in the area, but it is the first inscription "to be revealed to date within the boundaries of the city of Jerusalem at that time."
According to the researchers, the writing was carved onto a chalkstone slab with a sharp tool.
The statement also said: "Apparently, the stone slab was originally used as an ossuary (burial chest), commonly used in Jerusalem and Judea during the Early Roman period (37 BCE to 70 CE).
"Ossuaries are generally found in graves outside the city, but their presence has also been documented inside the city, perhaps as a commodity sold in a local artisan's workshop or store.
"The intriguing find was discovered in the lower city square, located along the Pilgrimage Road. This Road, extending some 600 metres, connected the city gate and the area of the Siloam Pool in the south of the City of David to the gates of the Temple Mount and the Second Temple, and essentially served as the main thoroughfare of Jerusalem at the time.
"This unique discovery joins similar findings uncovered in the area, attesting to the commercial nature of the area."
The experts said that the stone tablet was "retrieved from a tunnel of a previous excavation at the site, dug at the end of the 19th century by British archaeologists, Bliss and Dickie, who excavated tunnels and pits along the Stepped Street."
The researchers said that "the everyday life of the inhabitants of Jerusalem who resided here 2,000 years ago is expressed in this simple object."
The research, conducted by Nahshon Szanton, an IAA Excavation Director, and an epigraphist, Professor Esther Eshel of Bar Ilan University, has been published in the academic journal Atiqot.
Szanton and Eshel said: "The combination of the architectural and tangible space of the huge paved stones of the square that were preserved at the site, and the discovery of small finds in this area, such as the measuring table and the new inscription, allow us to reconstruct parts of the incredibly unique archaeological puzzle in one of the vibrant centres that existed in ancient Jerusalem.
"Each piece of information, and certainly an ancient inscription, adds a new and fascinating dimension to the history of the city".
The Israeli Minister of Heritage, Rabbi Amichai Eliyahu, said: "The remarkable discovery on the Pilgrimage Road in Jerusalem uncovers another aspect of Jewish life in the city from 2,000 years ago.
"The unique excavations of the Israel Antiquities Authority in the area position the City of David as a pivotal centre in the Jewish people's global historical narrative.
"The Ministry of Heritage will continue to work to strengthen and promote national heritage in all areas."
And Eli Escusido, Director of the IAA, said that "the Pilgrimage Road, which is continually being uncovered in the City of David National Park in Jerusalem, is a flagship project of the Israel Antiquities Authority.
"It is not a coincidence that the many discoveries which are being revealed in the excavation shed light on the centrality of this road even during the Second Temple period.
"With every discovery, our understanding of the area deepens, revealing this street's pivotal role in the daily lives of Jerusalem's inhabitants 2,000 years ago".
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Road Crossing Turtle Causes Truck Pile Up
This is the moment a trucker ploughs through a line of cars on a busy highway when a driver stopped to let a turtle cross the road.
Kind-hearted motorists had pulled up to avoid hitting the reptile as it slowly inched across the motorway in Walton County, Florida, on 16th May.
But a trucker did not see the queue until it was too late and powered into two of the vehicles sending them flying.
The trucker's dashcam footage - released by police - shows a black pickup truck in the left lane with its hazard lights on trying to warn other drivers.
But one car pulls out into a right hand lane into the path of the trucker who then hits its rear end sending it crashing into the black pickup.
As debris and wreckage flies into the air, the trucker then clips the front of the pickup before stopping on the wrong side of the road.
Astonishingly, the turtle survived the pile up without a scratch.
Police later said: "The turtle survived and is now living happily ever after in a pond where he will (hopefully) spend the rest of his days avoiding pavement of any kind.
"Thankfully, there were no serious injuries."
Walton County Sheriff's Office said in a statement obtained by Newsflash: "We all can do better to protect the wildlife and natural inhabitants of our great state.
"Residents and visitors alike should marvel at the many species that call Florida home.
"Just preferably not in the middle of the road.
"Walton County Sheriff’s Office and Florida Highway Patrol would like to take this time to educate and protect those behind the wheel.
"We don’t advise causing a road obstruction because of a reptilian obstruction.
"While no ill intentions were meant, trying to avoid or assist an animal who has made its way onto a busy road can cause you or other drivers life-threatening injuries.
"So, when you come across this predicament in the future and find yourself asking, 'to swerve or not to swerve' or 'to stop and protect' we hope the answer will now be an obvious one.
"Be safe out there. We're here if you need us."
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