Ukraine crisis: Pro-Russian activists clash with police in Donetsk

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Pro-Russian activists and Ukrainian riot police clashed Thursday inside the compound of the prosecutor’s office in the eastern city of Donetsk, as simmering tensions escalated into violence.

As a result of the clashes, 26 people sought medical help, four of them for gunshot wounds, the Donetsk regional administration’s health department said. Two remain hospitalized.

At least one police officer was injured in the clashes, the Ukrainian Interior Ministry said, adding that shots were fired and small grenades and stones were used in the attack.

Police fired tear gas and stun grenades in an effort to disperse the activists, who were armed with clubs, batons and shields but did not appear to be carrying firearms.

Earlier in the day, crowds marched through Donetsk, demanding greater autonomy for the restive eastern region.

 

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Croatian Police Seize Drugs in Adriatic Sea

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Police in Croatia say they have seized more than 800 kilograms (1,700 pounds) of marijuana smuggled over the Adriatic Sea from Albania in a fishing boat.

Police said Saturday that the seizure on Friday is one of the biggest ever in the country. They say the drugs’ value was estimated at some 1.3 million euros ($1.8 million).

The statement says eight Croatian and two Bosnian citizens have been detained, while the boat owner from Albania remains at large.

Police say the drugs were placed in 700 packages for distribution in Croatia and in western Europe.

The Balkan region is one of the main drug smuggling gateways to western Europe.

 

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Strewth! Police in Sydney TRIPLE on-the-spot fines for swearing to £270

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Australians are known for their use of fruity language, but those living in Sydney may wish to clean up their vocabulary after police decided to triple the on-the-spot fine for swearing.

Using a profanity in the state capital of New South Wales will now cost $500 (£270) – more than the penalty for jumping a red light or damaging a property.

The amount is far greater than in other states including Victoria ($250) and Queensland ($100).

Lawyers tried to block the hike on grounds swearing is so common in Australia that even the most profane words can be said to be part of the vernacular.
The New South Wales Police Association said fines were usually issued only for aggressive swearing in public spaces, such as schools, parks or shopping centres.

 

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Police Disperse Protesters in Egypt

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Officials in Egypt say police have fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of Islamists rallying in Cairo and other cities against an upcoming constitutional referendum.

Friday has traditionally been a day of protests for the supporters of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi since he was toppled in a July 3 popularly backed military coup. Islamist supporters of Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood organization also now call for a boycott of the Jan. 14-15 referendum.

One official says protesters in the eastern Cairo district of Nasr City hurled stones and empty bottles at security forces.

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Some of them are nice… but some of them are naughty: Thousands of people dressed as Father Christmas run amok across the world

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Police arrested three people in central London after thousands of revellers dressed as Father Christmas ran amok.

The world-wide internet flash-mob gathering SantaCon, in which strangers agree to meet dressed as Father Christmas before hitting the streets for some festive fun, has been criticised in the past for some revellers getting a little carried away and heavy drinking.

Meanwhile, some revellers in New York also got a little carried away –  with six Santas and one  elf – brawling on the streets.

In footage captured by a resident of a nearby apartment, the Santas slide across the snowy, slushy streets, throwing punches at one another.

The New York Police Department (NYPD) stationed 80 ‘helper elves’ along the course of the event.

A spokesman said there were no arrests associated with this year’s SantaCon.

Elsewhere the festive party also invaded the streets of San Francisco – where the event originally started in the early ninties.

Meanwhile, hundreds of party goers took to the street of Vancouver, Canada, on Saturday.

SantaCon was originally called Santarchy and first took place in San Francisco in 1994.

It now spans events in more than 300 cities and 44 countries worldwide.

Santas taking part are encouraged to sing, hand out presents even have strangers sit on their lap.

Meanwhile in Bridgend… Over 1,300 turn out to beat Elf record.

A new record has been set for the largest gathering of elves in Bridgend, South Wales.

They succeeded in breaking the previous record of 1,200 elves set this time last year with a total of 1,312 participants.

Bridgend took the record from New York two years ago and has remained champion ever since.

 

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Villagers in South China Turn on Police; 27 Hurt

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Villagers in southern China attacked policemen who were seeking a pair of suspects, injuring 27 officers, state media said Wednesday.

The injured officers were hospitalized in the Yunnan provincial capital of Kunming, including one in critical condition, the Xinhua News Agency said.

The violence took place after police traveled to the province’s Jincheng township on Tuesday looking for two people suspected of illegal detention and intentional injury, Xinhua said.

As the officers were leaving the area, about 200 residents blocked the highway in the village of Guangji, surrounding 11 officers and three police vehicles and preventing them from leaving.

Xinhua said the last 13 officers held were unable to leave the village until Wednesday afternoon. It said no injuries among villagers were reported and made no mention of arrests.

It wasn’t clear why the villagers were angered or what was behind the alleged crimes the two suspects were being sought for.