Author: Darren Smith

The Premier League’s Tyne-Wear derby between Newcastle United and Sunderland was temporarily suspended during the second half after discriminatory abuse was directed at Sunderland defender Lutsharel Geertruida from the crowd at St James’ Park. Play was halted for approximately five minutes at the start of the second half after the abuse was reported, with referee Anthony Taylor summoning both captains to the dugout to speak with their respective benches before the match resumed. Sunderland midfielder Granit Xhaka had brought the incident to the referee’s attention, after which it was alleged that discriminatory language had been aimed at Geertruida. The Premier…

A joint operation involving police, trading standards officers, HMRC and the Home Office has resulted in the seizure of significant quantities of cannabis, vapes and alcohol from three convenience stores in Bristol, following concerns raised by local residents about criminal activity in the area. The day of action targeted three outlets in Fishponds simultaneously on Tuesday 17 March, with Avon and Somerset Police working alongside Bristol City Council’s Trading Standards, Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs and the Home Office. The operation examined the businesses for compliance with trading regulations, product safety standards, stock legitimacy and labour practices, as well as…

A 27-year-old Kent Police officer has died after the patrol car he was travelling in crashed while responding to an emergency call, with a second officer who was in the vehicle remaining in a critical condition in hospital. PC Bradley Corke sustained fatal injuries in the collision on Thursday evening and died the following day. Kent Police confirmed both officers had been travelling in a clearly marked emergency vehicle at the time of the crash, responding to an urgent call for assistance when the incident occurred. Corke had served with Kent Police since May 2022, working out of Tonbridge to…

The Iranian ballistic missile strike on the joint UK-US military base at Diego Garcia has sent shockwaves through Western defence circles, with experts warning the attack has exposed a dramatic and previously unknown expansion in Tehran’s long-range strike capabilities — one that places major European capitals within potential range. Two missiles were fired toward the Indian Ocean base on Friday night, in what is believed to be the first ever attack on the facility. One failed during flight, while a US warship intercepted the other. Whether that interception was fully successful has not been confirmed. The Government confirmed on Saturday…

The organisation responsible for preserving William Shakespeare’s birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon is undertaking a decolonisation project that would see the playwright no longer described as the world’s greatest writer, amid concerns that promoting his genius reinforces the ideology of white European supremacy. Shakespeare’s Birthplace Trust, which manages several historic buildings in the Warwickshire town, has announced plans to create what it describes as “a more inclusive museum experience” by moving away from Western-centric perspectives. The trust has also acknowledged that some items within its collections may contain language or depictions considered racist, sexist or homophobic, and has committed to removing offensive…

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese faced a hostile reception during a visit to one of the country’s largest mosques on Friday, being escorted out through a rear exit after being met with chants and heckling — before later telling reporters the visit had gone well. Albanese and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke attended Lakemba Mosque in Sydney, a traditional Labor Party stronghold, where a section of those present greeted the Prime Minister with chants of “genocide supporters” and calls for him to leave. Other individuals were heard directing personal abuse at him. One person was removed by mosque security before…

British families preparing for Easter getaways face fresh uncertainty after an Iranian military spokesman issued a sweeping global threat warning that tourist destinations and recreational areas “anywhere in the world” would no longer be safe — coming just days before the UK school holidays begin on 3 April. General Abolfazl Shekarchi, spokesman for Iran’s armed forces, delivered the warning on Friday, directing it at Western military personnel and officials. “From now on, based on the information we have about you, even parks, recreational areas, and tourist destinations anywhere in the world will no longer be safe for you,” he declared.…

A construction company that has since collapsed into administration has been fined £42,000 after pleading guilty to safety failings that led to the death of a 19-year-old scaffolding labourer who fell through a ventilation shaft covering on a London rooftop. Renols Lleshi, from Ilford, died in July 2023 while dismantling scaffolding on a roof garden on the 12th floor of a residential block at the Ark Soane Academy development site on Mill Hill Road. He stepped onto what appeared to be a covered ventilation shaft, but the covering — made of nothing more than plasterboard and roofing foam — gave…

Iran launched two ballistic missiles toward Diego Garcia on Friday in what US officials described as the first known attack of its kind on the joint UK-US military base in the Chagos Islands — striking just hours after Sir Keir Starmer authorised American forces to use the facility to target a fresh set of Iranian missile sites. The attack, reported by the Wall Street Journal citing US officials, represents the greatest distance from which Iran has fired on a target since the conflict began under Operation Epic Fury. Neither missile struck the base. One is reported to have malfunctioned and…

Chuck Norris, the martial artist and actor whose name became synonymous with strength and resilience across generations of fans worldwide, has died at the age of 86, his family has announced. The news was shared on social media by the Norris family, who said they were writing with “heavy hearts” following his death on Thursday morning. While they asked for the specific circumstances to be kept private, the family confirmed he was surrounded by loved ones and at peace when he passed. The announcement came just days after reports emerged that Norris had been hospitalised following a medical emergency on…