World

Woman who stowed away on flight from New York to Paris arrested again, prosecutors say

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3 hours ago

December 18, 2024

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A woman who was arrested for stowing away on a flight from New York to Paris has been arrested again, authorities say.

Federal prosecutors said that Svetlana Dali, 57, from Russia, was detained in Buffalo, New York, on Monday.

Barbara Burns, spokesperson for the US attorney’s office for Western New York, said the woman was set to appear in federal court on Tuesday afternoon.

Further details on Dali’s arrest have not been released, but a senior official told Sky’s US partner network NBC News the woman allegedly cut off her ankle monitor while she was with her boyfriend.

The incident is said to have taken place near Philadelphia before the couple took a Greyhound bus to Buffalo. They allegedly were near the Canadian border when they were arrested.

The woman, who is a legal US resident, was first arrested after she evaded security at John F. Kennedy International Airport and flew to Paris as a stowaway on 26 November.

A Transportation Security Administration (TSA) spokesperson said at the time she managed to get aboard the plane without a ticket and had bypassed two identity checks.

French authorities met her at the gate and detained her after the Delta Airlines flight landed.

Dali was then flown back to the US, and was arraigned in federal court in Brooklyn on a charge of being a stowaway on 5 December.

US magistrate judge Joseph A. Marutollo agreed at a bail hearing the next day to release Dali with electronic monitoring.

It was also required that she live at the Philadelphia home of a man she met at church functions and submit to a curfew.

World

Looking Back at 2024: A World in Turmoil

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3 hours ago

December 18, 2024

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Looking Back at 2024: A World in Turmoil

👉Listen to The World with Richard Engel and Yalda Hakim on your podcast app👈

In this special episode, Richard and Yalda take a look back at the biggest world news stories of 2024.

From reporting on the frontlines of Ukraine and Lebanon, to witnessing the election of Trump in Washington, Richard and Yalda have criss-crossed the planet covering global events.

They take a look back at the most significant stories they have reported on, answer some listener questions and discuss what countries and conflicts they will be watching in 2025.

To get in touch or share questions for Richard and Yalda, email theworld@sky.uk.

World

Former Australia rugby boss Alan Jones denies sex charges against 10 males

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3 hours ago

December 18, 2024

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Former Australia rugby boss Alan Jones denies sex charges against 10 males

A well-known former boss of Australia’s national rugby team has denied dozens of sex charges against 10 males.

Alan Jones – who was also a radio presenter for many years – appeared in court for the first time since his arrest last month.

The 83-year-old is accused of 34 charges of aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault, sexual touching without consent and common assault.

Some of the complainants are as young as 17 and police said the alleged offences happened between 2001 and 2019.

Jones wasn’t asked to enter a plea during Wednesday’s hearing in Sydney but afterwards told media he would fight the claims at trial.

“I am certainly not guilty and I’ll be presenting my account to a jury,” Jones said.

“These allegations are all either baseless or they distort the truth. I have never indecently assaulted these people. I am emphatic that I’ll be defending every charge,” he added.

Police charged Jones with 24 offences related to eight males on 18 November, prompting two more complainants to come forward.

His lawyer, Bryan Wrench, told the judge his client welcomed a jury trial so he could clear his name.

“There have been many… untruths published by the media and the police in this matter,” Mr Wrench said.

Jones coached the Wallabies – Australia‘s rugby union side – for four years from 1984, winning 86 of his 102 matches.

He went on to host a popular morning radio show in Sydney from 2002 until 2020 and was highly influential in the media.

Jones was also known for his conservative politics and once worked as a speechwriter for Michael Fraser, who was prime minister for eight years until 1983.

He’s been free on bail since his arrest last month.

An administrative hearing in the case is now scheduled for 11 March.

World

Israel denies reports Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is heading to Cairo for Gaza ceasefire talks

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3 hours ago

December 18, 2024

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Israel denies reports Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is heading to Cairo for Gaza ceasefire talks

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has rejected Reuters reports that he is heading to Cairo for Gaza ceasefire talks.

The news agency earlier said that a deal is expected to be signed in the coming days, citing sources briefed on the meetings.

However, his spokesperson messaged journalists to say: “The prime minister is not in Cairo.”

Mr Netanyahu has today visited Mount Hermon on the Syrian side of the border.

While there, he said Israeli troops will occupy a buffer zone inside Syria for the foreseeable future – and “until another arrangement is found that will ensure Israel’s security”.

Meanwhile, Hamas said a Gaza ceasefire deal is possible but only if Israel did not set new conditions.

This comes after the number of deaths in Gaza in the Israel-Hamas war, according to Palestinian officials, passed 45,000 people this week.

Despite the denials, reports hint at deal optimism

If Benjamin Netanyahu is on his way to Egypt, or planning to go, it would be seen as a significant development in ceasefire talks.

The denials from his office, and on Egyptian state television, suggest it isn’t true, although the reports themselves, so far only from Reuters, are a sign of optimism that a deal could be nearing.

Little has leaked from recent talks, an indication no one wants to jeopardise this opportunity, but there have been reports from all involved that the two sides are getting closer to an agreement.

When this might happen is unclear. Some have suggested within days, but the White House said on Monday night that they hoped it could be finalised before the end of the month, suggesting there are still small areas of disagreement.

It’s understood that Hamas has softened on its demand that Israeli forces withdraw from Gaza before any hostages are released. That would be a major hurdle removed.

But the identity of the Palestinian prisoners to be released in exchange is still being negotiated, as is the status of the IDF in Gaza beyond the initial two to six week first phase of a ceasefire.

White House spokesperson John Kirby has said in an interview with Fox News the US believed the parties were getting closer to the long-awaited ceasefire.

He told the broadcaster: “We believe – and the Israelis have said this – that we’re getting closer, and no doubt about it, we believe that, but we also are cautious in our optimism.

“We’ve been in this position before where we weren’t able to get it over the finish line.”

Mr Kirby did not respond when asked if Mr Netanyahu was travelling to Cairo for talks.

Egyptian state-affiliated al Qahera News TV also refuted claims of Mr Netanyahu’s trip to Egypt, citing an “informed Egyptian source”.

Mr Netanyahu was supposed to originally be in court on Tuesday over his ongoing bribery and fraud trial, but on Monday he was given an exemption for proceedings citing exceptional circumstances – without any details being made public.