President Vladimir Putin recruited a former aide of late Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin to oversee mercenary fighter units in Ukraine. The Russian president met Andrei Troshev, who is known by his nom de guerre "Sedoi" or "grey hair", along with deputy defence minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov on Thursday night, the Kremlin said in a statement. Mr Putin reportedly said that they had spoken about how "volunteer units that can perform various combat tasks, above all, of course, in the zone of the special military operation". "You yourself have been fighting in such a unit for more than a year," the president said. "You know what it is, how it is done, you know about the issues that need to be resolved in advance so that the combat work goes in the best and most successful way." The meeting appeared to be the Kremlin's attempt to show that Mr Putin had regained control over the mercenary group since Prigozhin's death in a plane crash in August following a failed mutiny against Moscow. Prigozhin had claimed that the mutiny, which was aborted before reaching Moscow, was not aimed at toppling Mr Putin but at settling scores with defence minister Sergei Shoigu and chief of the general staff Valery Gerasimov. The president in recent months ordered the Wagner mercenaries to sign an oath of allegiance to the Russian state – a step Prigozhin had opposed. Mr Troshev “betrayed” Prigozhin's short-lived mutiny against Moscow after earning Mr Putin’s favour by transferring inside information to the Russian defence ministry, investigative outlet Gulagu.net claimed in July. It is believed that Wagner will now be overseen by Mr Troshev and M Yrevkurov, who have travelled to several countries in recent months where the mercenaries worked. Mr Troshev was born in Leningrad – the Soviet-era name for Mr Putin's home town St Petersburg – and has earlier been pictured with the president. He fought in Afghanistan during the Soviet Union's decade-long war. After the fall of the Soviet Union, he served in the North Caucasus with the Russian army and then in SOBR, a quick reaction special forces unit of the Russian interior ministry. He was a commander in the unit. For his service in Afghanistan, Mr Troshev was awarded the military decoration Order of the Red Star twice. He was awarded Russia's highest medal – Hero of Russia – in 2016 for the storming of Palmyra in Syria against Islamic State militants. Several hundred fighters of the Wagner group have returned to the battlefield in Ukraine to fight for Russia, Kyiv claimed. “We have recorded the presence of a maximum of several hundred fighters of the former Wagner PMC (private military company),” spokesperson for the eastern military command Serhiy Cherevatyi said. These Wagner fighters were scattered in different places and were not part of a single unit, and had no significant impact, he said. “They do not constitute any integral, systematic, organised force,” the spokesperson said. “As they say – game over. These are pathetic remnants, nothing good awaits them here.” Read More Ukraine war - live: Kyiv ‘strikes power substation in Russia’ as Putin meets ‘Grey Hair’ commander Ukraine says hundreds of Wagner fighters back on battlefield months after failed coup A month after Prigozhin’s suspicious death, the Kremlin is silent on his plane crash and legacy The Body in the Woods | An Independent TV Original Documentary The harrowing discovery at centre of The Independent’s new documentary

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Authorities in Maryland are hoping to speak to a group of individuals who were on the trail the same time as Rachel Morin on the night the 37-year-old was killed. The group of people who had dogs with them on the trail Saturday evening may have seen something, Harford County officials said as they urged them to come forward. Morin was last seen heading to the Ma & Pa Trail around 6pm on 5 August. Her boyfriend Richard Tobin reported her missing that night after she failed to return home. The mother-of-five’s body was found the next day, and her death is being investigated as a homicide. Detectives said they received information that between 6pm and 7.30pm, the group of potential witnesses were walking on the Ma & Pa Trail from the Rt. 24 tunnel toward the split in the trail that leads to the Williams Street trailhead. The individuals were described as either being three men, two women and two dogs or two men, three women and two dogs. It’s the most recent update in the disappearance and killing of the mother-of-five that has gripped the Bel Air community. Hundreds of tips have come in, but authorities do not yet have a “solid suspect” in the case. “We do not have a solid suspect. Not knowing whether this was a targeted event specific to Rachel, we are going to say, yes, be aware, be thinking there could be somebody out here and this is a random event,” Harford County Sheriff Jeffrey Gahler said. Mr Gahler urged the public to keep sending in tips, no matter how insignificant it may be. “Together we will solve this crime and find the heinous coward who took Rachel Morin from her family and friends,” he said in a briefing on Wednesday. Anyone who believes they may be the individuals that the detectives are looking for or if anyone has information that could be helpful, contact Sgt. Maddox at maddoxc@harfordsheriff.org. Read More Rachel Morin – update: Police seek mystery group of potential witnesses on Bel Air trail near time of killing Rachel Morin’s mother breaks silence on daughter’s killing Man who described grisly state of Rachel Morin’s body never actually saw it, sheriff says

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A gallery in the Netherlands has gone viral for the style of art is showcases, earning the nickname 'The Andrew Tate Modern'. CJS Gallery went viral after a video of the gallery was posted to Twitter/X by user @LurkerLouis with the caption 'For an art love like myself this place looks like a slice of heaven". The artwork showcased in the video include lots of painting/sculptures of gorillas, gold guns, the Ferrari logo, whisky and the Joker. As a result of the... unique choices of art found in the gallery, people couldn't help themselves but make jokes. "If men had a tjmaxx it would be full of this type stuff", wrote one user. "Is the art in the room with us", wrote another. One jokes that it was what Ken would decorate his "mojo dojo casa house" with. Whilst others said the style reminded them of Andrew Tate. CJS Gallery is situated in Zwanenburg, North Holland, and describes itself as a "Dutch modern art" gallery. Their website it reads: "Enjoy mixed media art full of details and special techniques." You can browse their catalog on the website, including pieces such as an American Express card featuring Leonardo DiCaprio, Captain Jack Sparrow and the words "Bad Ass Express". The piece is selling for almost €5,000. The most expensive piece from the gallery is titled "Giant Mickey" and is, you guessed it, a giant Mickey Mouse. The Mickey is encrusted with more than 1.2 million crystals and is selling for over a quarter million euros. So, if you feel like you're missing some outlandish art featuring a beloved cartoon character holding a cigar, or a gorilla with a gun, at least you know where to get your fix. Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings. How to join the indy100's free WhatsApp channel

A jury verdict that found power company PacifiCorp liable for devastating wildfires in Oregon in 2020 is highlighting the legal and financial risks utilities face if they fail to take proper precautions for climate change