Author: Darren Smith

An American man’s engineering ingenuity has enabled his pet parakeet to achieve what few avian creatures ever experience—a 15-minute underwater exploration of the Bahamas ocean floor inside a bespoke six-inch submarine complete with oxygen supply and safety features. Steven Lawyer’s green parrot Bebe became an internet sensation after footage emerged showing the bird contentedly bobbing alongside coral reefs and tropical fish whilst enclosed in his owner’s repurposed food container fitted with air valves connected to a paintball cylinder delivering breathable atmosphere. “He’s having the time of his life,” one viewer commented on the viral videos, with another joking: “His friends…

A Philadelphia-based DJ facing police investigation over allegedly antisemitic remarks at a Sydney art festival remains scheduled for British performances this month despite Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s decision blocking Kanye West’s UK entry over similar concerns. DJ Haram—real name Zubeyda Muzeyyen—will perform at London’s Phonox venue and May’s Supersonic Festival, sparking fury following the Wireless Festival controversy that saw the entire event cancelled after authorities revoked West’s visa for his antisemitic conduct including releasing a song titled “Heil Hitler” and wearing swastika merchandise. The contrasting treatment has prompted questions about consistency in addressing antisemitism within the entertainment industry, with Muzeyyen’s…

A 50-year-old man who pursued and sexually assaulted a teenage girl aboard a London-bound service after attempting conversation through a smartphone translation application faces sentencing next month following his conviction on multiple serious sexual offence charges. Abdulmanon Aliev will be sentenced 17 June after Inner London Crown Court jurors this week found him guilty of two assault by penetration counts, three sexual assault charges and attempted rape relating to the 16 June attack on the Southend-to-London service. The Tajikistan national initially approached his 13-year-old victim whilst seated opposite her during the journey, using a translator app attempting communication before she…

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s past accusations that Russian forces violated a similar Easter truce nearly 3,000 times last year cast doubt over Moscow’s latest ceasefire announcement as Vladimir Putin declared a 32-hour pause in hostilities coinciding with Orthodox Easter celebrations. The Kremlin statement confirmed the suspension would commence 4pm on 11 April continuing through 12 April’s conclusion, with Moscow expecting Kyiv to reciprocate the temporary cessation. “In connection with the approaching holiday of Orthodox Easter, a ceasefire is declared from 4pm on April 11 to the end of the day of April 12,” the announcement read, adding: “We proceed on…

First Lady Melania Trump has delivered an unexpected White House address demanding an immediate end to what she characterised as “false smears” linking her to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, whilst calling for Congressional hearings centred on the sex offender’s abuse survivors. “The false smears about me from mean-spirited and politically motivated individuals and entities looking to cause damage to my good name to gain financially and climb politically must stop,” Mrs Trump declared during Thursday afternoon’s surprise statement. The First Lady dismissed years of social media speculation connecting her to Epstein as “completely false,” urging audiences to “be cautious about…

Compassionate construction workers who built an insulated survival den for a freezing stray terrier along a Maryland highway ultimately saved her life, with the grateful dog now thriving in her forever home after a two-month ordeal dodging traffic and winter storms. The black-and-white terrier—subsequently named Susan Badger—owed her survival to construction crew members who discovered her shivering near their Baltimore-Washington Parkway worksite in January and immediately took action to protect her from brutal winter conditions. Workers constructed an insulated shelter using materials from the construction site, carefully lining it with blankets and bedding whilst maintaining fresh water and dog food…

Transgender darts player Noa-Lynn van Leuven has revealed she was “close to tears” after receiving notification that new Darts Regulation Authority guidelines prevent her competing in women’s events, effectively ending her professional career. The DRA policy shift—which prohibits transgender women from participating in female competitions—arrives amid broader sporting regulatory changes following International Olympic Committee decisions affecting athletes across multiple disciplines. Van Leuven expressed devastation on Instagram after learning her competitive career had been terminated through email notification rather than personal choice: “Apparently, I just got retired—not by choice, but because I am no longer allowed to compete.” The Dutch player,…

The Irish government has deployed Defence Forces to dismantle vehicle barricades obstructing fuel depots and refineries following three days of escalating protests by haulage and agricultural operators furious over soaring petroleum costs triggered by the Iran conflict. Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan confirmed military assistance has been requested to remove large vehicles blocking critical infrastructure, issuing Thursday morning ultimatums to owners warning they face potential damage during forced extraction operations. “The blocking of critical national infrastructure will not be permitted to continue,” Mr O’Callaghan stated, cautioning vehicle owners “should not complain later about any damage caused to those vehicles during removal.”…

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced plans to open direct negotiations with Lebanon focused on disarming Hezbollah, even as Tehran threatens retaliation over Tel Aviv’s continued bombardment that killed over 200 yesterday in what Iran characterises as ceasefire violations. “Israel is seeking to open direct negotiations with Lebanon as soon as possible,” Mr Netanyahu stated, explaining talks would centre on “disarming Hezbollah and establishing peaceful relations between Israel and Lebanon.” The announcement follows yesterday’s intense Israeli strikes across Beirut that prompted global backlash, with European Commission Vice President Kaja Kallas declaring it “hard to argue that such heavy-handed actions…

A Somalian asylum seeker accused of sexually assaulting an 18-year-old woman on a Bournemouth park bench has claimed his alleged victim initiated intimate contact, telling Winchester Crown Court jurors she kissed him before he reciprocated. Abdinasir Elmi, 26, testified through a Somali interpreter that the teenager “put her arm around my neck and kissed me, and I kissed her back,” adding he placed his arm “around her stomach over her clothes” before she departed to meet her boyfriend. The long-distance athlete—who trained alongside four-time British Olympic champion Sir Mo Farah and can complete 5km in under 15 minutes—denies two sexual…