Author: Darren Smith

Police in Texas are searching for a 24-year-old man wanted in connection with the deaths of his pregnant girlfriend and their unborn son, after the woman’s body was discovered in a Houston park more than a week after she was reported missing. Ashanti Allen, 23, who was eight months pregnant with a boy she had named Jaxon, was last seen at her Houston home on 8 April. Her disappearance only came to light two days later, when family members grew concerned after losing contact with her. Her mother, Trisa Gaines, who lives in the same apartment complex, received a message…

A South African safari guide who once told friends he would sooner be killed by an elephant than take a shot at one has died exactly that way, after refusing to fire his revolver during a charge at the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve. Gary Freeman, 65, was leading four tourists on a guided walk along the banks of the Klaserie River on 9 April when an elephant emerged and charged the group. Despite being armed with a revolver, Mr Freeman brandished the weapon in an attempt to deter the animal but did not discharge it. He was fatally injured in…

A former borough councillor and parliamentary aide who collected more than 500 indecent images of children has escaped an immediate custodial sentence after a judge handed him a suspended term at St Albans Crown Court. Conor McGrath, 29, who served as a councillor in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, between 2023 and 2025 and worked as an aide to Labour MP Kevin Bonavia, was sentenced on Friday to eight months in prison, suspended for two years. He had previously pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children. The images, downloaded between June 2024 and March 2025, included 77 classified at…

Extreme inflation and wage stagnation under President Javier Milei’s economic reforms have driven Argentine shoppers to embrace a protein source traditionally reserved for working animals, with donkey meat selling out in “record time” during initial commercial trials. The pilot programme launched in Chubut province’s Punta Tombo area represents a stark departure for a nation synonymous with beef consumption, where cultural attachment to cattle has historically defined national identity and dietary habits. Price differentials have proved decisive in overcoming initial resistance, with donkey meat retailing at approximately 7,500 Argentine pesos per kilogram compared to low-end beef cuts commanding 17,500 pesos and…

Special forces fatally shot a gunman who had taken hostages inside a Kyiv supermarket on Friday, ending a siege that claimed six lives including a woman who died from her injuries hours after tactical units breached the premises. The suspect was killed by police during an armed intervention at the shopping mall facility in the Holosiivskyi district after crisis negotiators failed to establish dialogue with the individual, who had been firing at officers whilst holding multiple people captive inside the store. Interior ministry head Ihor Klymenko confirmed that tactical teams stormed the building following unsuccessful attempts to make contact, with…

Anger reverberated around St James’ Park on Saturday as Newcastle supporters made their displeasure unmistakable, jeering their team from the pitch following a deflating 2-1 home defeat to Bournemouth that saw the visitors snatch victory in the closing stages. Adrien Truffert’s late strike sparked wild celebrations amongst the travelling Cherries contingent whilst simultaneously igniting frustration amongst the home faithful, who watched their side surrender what had appeared a recoverable position after William Osula’s second-half equaliser. The audible discontent from the stands underscored mounting pressure on Newcastle’s campaign, with supporters demonstrating their exasperation at witnessing another match slip away just when…

The contrast between Thomas Frank’s warm reception at his former club and Tottenham’s desperate fight for Premier League survival could scarcely have been starker as the sacked manager emerged from weeks of seclusion to watch Brentford host Fulham on Saturday. TNT Sports cameras captured the 52-year-old Dane exchanging pleasantries with supporters from a VIP box alongside Brentford sporting director Phil Giles at the Gtech Community Stadium—his first public appearance since Tottenham dismissed him in February amidst the north London club’s alarming descent towards relegation. The timing proved particularly pointed given Spurs face a must-win evening fixture against Brighton, sitting precariously…

Gunfire from Iranian forces struck at least two merchant ships attempting passage through the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday as Tehran’s new Supreme Leader issued stark warnings about inflicting “new bitter defeats” on adversaries, prompting a convoy to scatter and retreat. Mojtaba Khamenei’s bellicose message via Telegram declared Iran’s navy prepared to deliver fresh humiliation to enemies, hours after Donald Trump warned he may have to “start dropping bombs again” if fragile ceasefire negotiations collapse. Shipping and security sources confirmed to Reuters that multiple vessels reported being hit by gunfire whilst attempting transit through the narrow waterway, though damage assessments…

A Scottish cyber criminal linked to devastating supermarket attacks that left British shelves empty for weeks is facing more than two decades imprisonment after admitting his role in a sophisticated international fraud operation targeting major corporations. Tyler Buchanan, 24, from Dundee, entered guilty pleas to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft following his extradition to face American prosecutors, with sentencing scheduled for 21 August at a US federal court. The hacker has been held in American custody since April 2025 after his arrest in Spain whilst travelling to Italy, with authorities uncovering evidence at his Scottish residence…

An Iran-backed extremist organisation has asserted responsibility for its sixth attack since early April after counter-terrorism officers launched an investigation into an attempted firebombing of a Jewish-owned commercial property in northwest London. Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia circulated footage via Telegram purporting to show an individual igniting bottles within a plastic bag inside the Hendon premises before filming the burning building whilst fleeing—the latest in an escalating campaign that included yesterday’s alleged drone operation targeting the Israeli embassy with materials the group characterised as radioactive. The Friday night assault saw a suspect approach a row of shops at 10.31pm carrying a…