
Five killed when two helicopters collide in Finland
"Five people died in a helicopter accident near Eura Airport on Saturday," Detective Chief Inspector Johannes Siirila said in a statement.
According to their flight plans, one was carrying two people and the other three. They had taken off from the Estonian capital Tallinn and were bound for Piikajarvi, a few kilometres from where they came down.
Media reports said those on board were businessmen.
Finnish newspaper Iltalehti quoted one witness, Antti Marjanen, who reported seeing one of the helicopters hit the other during a manoeuvre.
"One of them dropped like a stone and the other one more slowly. I didn't hear any sound," Marjanen was quoted as saying. - AFP

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The Sun
33 minutes ago
- The Sun
French researcher faces new Russia espionage charges
MOSCOW: A French researcher who is serving three years in a Russian prison is now being investigated for espionage, according to a court filing seen by AFP on Wednesday. Documents showed that Laurent Vinatier is facing a new court hearing on August 25 on espionage charges, which carry a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. Vinatier, who worked for a Swiss conflict mediation organisation, is one of a number of Westerners who have been arrested in Russia since diplomatic tensions soared over Ukraine. The French government has demanded that Moscow release him and accused Russia of taking Westerners hostage. He was found guilty in October last year of gathering information on the Russian military and of violating its 'foreign agent' law, as he did not register as one. The 'foreign agent' law has been widely used against domestic Kremlin critics. Vinatier worked as an adviser with the Geneva-based Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, and is a veteran researcher on Russia and other post-Soviet countries. He said in court that in his work he always tried to 'present Russia's interests in international relations'.


The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Indigenous tattooing tradition at risk of fading away
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New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Trump deploys three warships off Venezuela amid drug crackdown
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump is deploying three warships off the coast of Venezuela as part of efforts to curb drug trafficking, a source familiar with the move said on Wednesday. The deployment comes as the Trump administration steps up pressure on Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, last week doubling its bounty on drug charges against the leftist strongman to US$50 million. The three Aegis-class guided missile destroyers are heading to the waters off Venezuela, the US source told AFP on condition of anonymity. US media reported that Washington was also planning to send 4,000 Marines to the region. Washington, which does not recognsze Maduro's past two election victories, accuses him of leading a cocaine trafficking gang called Cartel de los Soles. The White House said on Tuesday that Trump would use "every element" to stop drug trafficking, when asked about the possibility of US boots on the ground in Venezuela. "President Trump has been very clear and consistent, he's prepared to use every element of American power to stop drugs from flooding into our country and to bring those responsible to justice," Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said. Leavitt described the Venezuelan government as a "narco-terror cartel." "And Maduro, it is the view of this administration, is not a legitimate president, he is a fugitive head of this cartel who has been indicted in the United States for trafficking drugs into this country," she added. Maduro said on Monday that he would be deploying 4.5 million militia members across Venezuela in response to US "threats." --AFP