Interpol is no longer fit for purpose, say Rhys Davies and Ben Keith
FOR MORE than 100 years, Interpol has played a vital role in combating serious international crime, from terrorism to human trafficking. But the international police organisation, made up of 196 member countries, is now plagued by issues that undermine international co-operation among law enforcers and allow authoritarian states to weaponise its systems for their own ends. The recent appointment as secretary-general of Valdecy Urquiza, a Brazilian police commissioner, offers an opportunity for serious reform. Though his predecessor, Jürgen Stock, left Interpol in better shape than he found it, Mr Urquiza will need to go further to deal with its deep-rooted problems.
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Daily Mirror
12 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Woman chokes dog until it's left wheezing in video 'too disturbing to watch'
A woman in Ohio, US, has been arrested and charged with animal cruelty and domestic violence after a disturbing video of her allegedly attacking her boyfriend and a dog circulated on social media A woman is facing criminal charges after a disturbing video allegedly showing her choking a dog circulated on social media. The Butler County Sheriff's Office in Ohio announced that 28-year-old Katelin Conklin has been arrested and charged with animal cruelty and domestic violence. Her arrest followed an investigation triggered by the release of the video last month. According to authorities, the video shows Conklin physically assaulting her boyfriend and violently attacking a dog. The footage allegedly captures Conklin punching her boyfriend and choking the dog, which can be heard struggling to breathe. She is also seen forcefully throwing the animal to the ground. Deputies responded to a residence on Buena Avenue after receiving the video. Following conversations with both Conklin and her boyfriend, she was taken into custody. 'This type of behaviour is unacceptable,' said Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones. 'We take both domestic violence and animal cruelty very seriously and will always pursue charges when the evidence supports it.' It comes after a Brazilian beauty queen was stripped of her title and now faces jail after a video of her surfaced online allegedly attacking a cat with a firecracker. The incident is thought to have taken place around New Year in Araucaria, a city in the state of Parana, Brazil. Beauty queen Gabrielly Palacio, 19, was allegedly seen lighting a firecracker and throwing it towards a cat as she laughed with a friend. Following the video's release, Palacio was stripped of her 'Miss Araucaria 2024' title by the pageant organisers. Animal rights activists have also widely condemned the act and demanded legal action. Under Brazilian law, animal abuse is punishable by up to five years in prison. Local authorities say they are currently investigating the incident, while Palacio has not issued a public statement regarding the allegations. The clip, which the Mirror has chosen not to share, sparked outrage on social media, with several disgusted viewers slamming Palacio's actions and calling for accountability. One user wrote: "This is absolutely disgusting. She should face the full consequences of her actions." Another said: "It's sad to see someone in her position behaving like this. A crown comes with responsibility." One user argued: "I think she needs education on animal rights rather than punishment. People make mistakes." The case has renewed calls for stricter enforcement of animal protection laws in Brazil. It comes after the RSPCA claimed young people are at risk of being desensitised to animal cruelty as 'terrifyingly high' numbers are now exposed to vile images online. The charity found more than two-fifths of people aged 16 and 17 and almost a third of 18 to 24s have seen avoidable animal suffering online, compared with a fifth of all people. Reports to its emergency line about animal cruelty on social media were on course to hit a four-year high. Since the start of 2020, there have been 2,000 reports logged. he RSPCA claims there is a 'compassion gap' between generations, with those spending the most time online having the least favourable opinions about animal welfare. Chief executive Chris Sherwood said: 'There's a growing concern the proliferation of abuse content online risks normalising animal harm, pain and suffering. We're concerned by the high numbers of young people being exposed to such images.'
The Herald Scotland
14 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
‘Think big' to save the ocean, William tells world leaders
The prince, whose opening and closing remarks were in French, said those attending the forum were 'united by our deep connection to the ocean and our concern for its safety'. William, wearing a navy suit with a recycled sustainable tie from Wilmok, said the 'clock is ticking' to meet the target agreed at the UN Biodiversity Summit in 2022 aiming to protect at least 30% of the world's land and sea by 2030. World leaders were greeted by a blue carpet as they arrived at the event, with William meeting French President Emmanuel Macron, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Prince Albert II of Monaco, and Costa Rica President Rodrigo Chaves Robles. Giving a speech at the heads of state and government session on the final day of the forum, William said: 'Rising sea temperatures, plastic pollution and overfishing are putting pressure on these fragile ecosystems and on the people and communities who depend most upon them. 'What once seemed an abundant resource is diminishing before our eyes. 'We all stand to be impacted. And we are all responsible for change – both negative and positive. But there remains time to turn this tide.' From left, Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, France's President Emmanuel Macron, Prince Albert II of Monaco, Costa Rica's President Rodrigo Chaves Robles and The Prince of Wales (Manon Cruz/PA) Speaking to an auditorium of 1,800 people, the prince added: 'Watching human activity reduce beautiful sea forests to barren deserts at the base of our oceans is simply heartbreaking. 'For many, it is an urgent wake up call to just what is going on in our oceans. But it can no longer be a matter of 'out of sight, out of mind'. 'Halfway through this decisive decade, I call on all of you to think big in your actions. 'Let us act together with urgency and optimism while we still have the chance. 'For the future of our planet, for the future generations, we must listen to the words of Sir David Attenborough: 'If we save the sea, we save our world'.' William and Kate meeting Sir David Attenborough in 2021 (PA) William was recorded in conversation with Sir David at the Royal Festival Hall in May, with the veteran broadcaster saying he hopes his new film Ocean, released on Sunday, will galvanise society into action 'before we destroy this great treasure.' In their meeting, the future king chatted with his natural history hero about their shared optimism for future discoveries in the planet's seas, despite the threats they face. With a shared passion for protecting the natural world, the prince and the veteran broadcaster have supported each other in their missions to tackle some of the biggest environmental challenges the planet faces. In his Monaco speech, William said Sir David's film 'makes the most compelling argument for immediate action I have ever seen'. A Kensington Palace spokesman said: 'There should be no doubt that this speech is The Prince of Wales calling for action to save our oceans now. The world is watching. 'This is him using his platform to call for more to be done sooner rather than later.' As he arrived at the forum, a journalist shouted to the Prince asking whether he was excited to go to Brazil, to which William replied: 'Yes'. The Prince of Wales arriving at the Blue Economy and Finance Forum in Monaco (Manon Cruz/PA) William also met finalists, winners and partners of the Earthshot Prize – a global environmental award of which he is founder and president. Kensington Palace said the finalists and winners had showcased 'innovative solutions that have the potential to reverse the damage caused to the oceans and that can preserve it for future generations'. William met Sam Teicher from Coral Vita, a 2021 winner, which works to restore coral reefs by growing coral on land to replant in oceans and Jennifer Koepke from WildAid, a 2023 winner, which scales marine enforcement to end illegal fishing and strengthen ocean conservation. William also met 2022 finalist Nick Wilson, whose entry was the Great Bubble Barrier, which works to prevent plastic pollution by intercepting waste before it reaches the ocean, and 2024 finalist Nicholas Hill from Coast 4C, which connects investment in coastal agriculture with conservation through the farming of regenerative seaweed. Each year five winners are awarded the Earthshot Prize from a shortlist of 15. The BEFF is organised by the government of Monaco, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, and the Oceanographic Institute of Monaco, with support from France and Costa Rica. The forum is a UN Ocean Conference special event and aims to contribute to the implementation of sustainable development goal 14 to 'conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development'. France is hosting the UN Ocean Conference from June 9 to June 13 in nearby Nice. The King is due to host Mr Macron on a state visit by the French leader and his wife Brigitte Macron from July 8-10. The French president will stay at Windsor Castle and be hosted at a state banquet at the historic Berkshire royal residence during his stay.
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Daily Mirror
Murder suspect 'marries teen girlfriend in secret wedding' while on the run
Jonny Smyth, who is being held in a Spanish prison as a suspect in the murder of John George, married 19-year-old Madison Allen while on the run from police, his new wife claims A man accused of a brutal murder in Spain is alleged to have secretly married his teenage partner while on the run from police. Jonny Smyth, a murder suspect now being held in a Spanish prison, tied the knot with 19-year-old Madison Allen during his time on the run, Allen has claimed. Smyth is suspected of involvement in the killing of 36-year-old Belfast man John George, whose body was discovered in a remote orchard in southern Spain earlier this year. Mr George disappeared in December 2024 while visiting Spain for what was reportedly a short holiday. His body was found on January 7, dumped in an isolated orchard near the town of Rojales, close to Torrevieja on the Costa Blanca. He had been stabbed and shot multiple times, including wounds to his chest and face. Soon after Mr George's disappearance, Smyth left Spain along with Allen, a model from Newtownabbey, County Antrim. They were traced to an Airbnb in Portugal, booked under Allen's name, where Smyth had been living for about a month. He was arrested there in March 2025 under a European Arrest Warrant and subsequently extradited back to Spain. Despite being the subject of an active Interpol red notice, Smyth was somehow able to travel to Gibraltar in February with Allen, where the couple were married in a civil ceremony, she said. According to Allen, the wedding took place at The Convent, the official residence of the Governor of Gibraltar - a venue often used for high-profile ceremonies, including royal receptions. Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, Allen confirmed the marriage but defended their decision to keep it quiet. '[No-one] public needs to know anything about me, hence why it wasn't uploaded in February,' she said. 'And my partner's case or a murder has nothing to do with a marriage. "I've already done my bit in court. I was the one who suggested getting married.' Though she claims to have kept the wedding private, Allen has shared glimpses of her married life on TikTok, including photos of her wedding ring and a screenshot of a virtual prison visit with Smyth. She continues to post regularly from Spain. Allen is not a suspect in the murder investigation and is not being sought by Spanish authorities. However, the fact that the reported marriage occurred during an international manhunt has raised questions about how Smyth was able to legally marry without alerting authorities - particularly given that he was named in international arrest warrants at the time. Under Spanish law, marriage between a suspect and their partner could potentially offer legal benefits. Spousal privilege protects certain communications between married couples from being used as evidence in court. However, such privileges are limited and not absolute. Following his arrest, Smyth was returned to Spain in March and is currently being held in a remand facility in Badajoz, a city in the Extremadura region near the Portuguese border. Court proceedings remain closed to the public in accordance with Spanish judicial norms, and details of the case remain limited. A second man, Michal Maly, a Czech national, was also arrested in connection with the killing. He was taken into custody on January 10, shortly after Mr George's body was found, and remains on bail while under investigation for being an alleged accomplice. Mr George's family had reported him missing after he failed to board a scheduled flight back to Belfast on December 18, four days after he was last seen. His disappearance prompted increasing concern until the grim discovery was made weeks later. The investigation remains ongoing.
