Author: Darren Smith

A German court has sentenced an Iraqi couple to lengthy prison terms after finding they enslaved and repeatedly raped two young Yazidi girls, aged five and 12, while living under Islamic State rule in Syria and Iraq. The case is the latest in a series of German prosecutions targeting ISIS members for crimes committed against the persecuted Yazidi minority. Twana HS was sentenced to life in prison, while his wife, Asia RA, received a nine-and-a-half year sentence, following their trial before the Higher Regional Court of Munich. According to the Federal Prosecutor’s Office and the court, the pair enslaved the…

Two men have died after going into the water at Seaton Carew beach in Hartlepool in an attempt to rescue two children who had got into difficulty, Cleveland Police have confirmed. Both children have since been taken to hospital as a precaution and are safe, while officers, the RNLI, HM Coastguard and North East Ambulance Service crews all attended the scene on Sunday afternoon. Emergency services were called to Seaton Carew beach at around 3.45pm on Sunday after two children got into trouble in the sea, prompting two men to enter the water in an attempt to help them. Cleveland…

Newly obtained emergency dispatch recordings have revealed the frantic efforts made to save Senator Lindsey Graham’s life before his sudden death at 71, as tributes continue to pour in following the announcement of his passing. Emergency dispatch audio from the night Senator Lindsey Graham died has shed new light on the desperate attempts made to revive him before his unexpected death. The recording, obtained by CNN and the Wall Street Journal, shows that paramedics were called to a property south of the US capital just before 8.30pm on Saturday, responding to a report of cardiac arrest. Graham’s office confirmed in…

Detectives investigating the murder of Ann Widdecombe have arrested a second suspect as officers continue to piece together the events leading up to her death. Police believe the victim was assaulted almost a day before her body was discovered, while investigators have yet to release CCTV footage or a description of the person they believe is responsible. A 28-year-old man has been arrested in South Yorkshire on suspicion of murdering Ann Widdecombe, marking the latest development in the ongoing investigation. The arrest comes after a 26-year-old man who had previously been detained on suspicion of murder was released from police…

Developers behind the £500million replacement for the old Elephant and Castle shopping centre have revealed plans to use birds of prey to keep pigeons at bay, joining a growing list of British landmarks turning to falconry as a humane form of pest control. Birds of prey are set to be deployed to keep pigeons away from London’s newest shopping centre, according to planning documents submitted by developer Get Living. The £500million scheme, known as The Elephant, is being built on the site of the former Elephant and Castle shopping centre, which was demolished in 2021 after becoming overrun with pigeons…

Veteran broadcaster Dermot Murnaghan, whose journalism career spanned five decades across the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Sky News, has died aged 68 following an illness with prostate cancer. Dermot Murnaghan, one of Britain’s most recognisable television news presenters, has died at the age of 68. His family confirmed he passed away peacefully at his home in north London on Saturday after living with prostate cancer. Over a career lasting more than 50 years, Murnaghan became a familiar and trusted figure on British television, covering many of the nation’s defining moments while working for the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and…

A 26-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murdering former Conservative minister Ann Widdecombe as detectives continue their investigation into her death. Devon and Cornwall Police say the suspect remains in custody while specialist officers gather evidence, with investigators stressing there is currently no indication the case is linked to terrorism or political motives. Officers have also urged the public not to speculate online as enquiries continue. Assistant Chief Constable Matt Longman confirmed the arrest was made at an address in Newton Abbot on Friday afternoon. He said the suspect, described as a white British national, remains in police…

Two-time World Cup winner Carli Lloyd has stood firm on her criticism of Christian Pulisic following the USMNT’s World Cup exit, insisting she owes no apology even after it emerged the winger suffered a bone bruise and microfracture during the defeat to Belgium. Carli Lloyd has refused to walk back her criticism of Christian Pulisic following the USMNT’s exit from the World Cup, even after it was confirmed the winger was carrying a serious injury during the defeat. Pulisic turned the ball over eleven times before being substituted in the loss to Belgium in Seattle, and US Soccer later confirmed…

Adam Mejri, 46, has been jailed for 42 months after assuming the identity of a man who had left the UK for Tunisia, illegally subletting his flat near Grenfell Tower, and attempting to claim more than £160,000 in benefits and disaster compensation intended for those affected by the 2017 fire. A Tunisian man has been sentenced to 42 months in prison at Southwark Crown Court after stealing the identity of a former tenant to fraudulently claim benefits and compensation linked to the Grenfell Tower fire. Adam Mejri, 46, of Acton in west London, admitted two counts of welfare fraud and…

Devon and Cornwall Police have launched a manhunt for a man they describe as white, after detectives confirmed the death of former MP Ann Widdecombe is now being treated as murder, with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage revealed to have spoken directly with the force’s Chief Constable. Police have confirmed they are hunting for a white male suspect after the death of former Conservative minister and Reform UK spokeswoman Ann Widdecombe was formally reclassified as murder. Devon and Cornwall Police said in a statement: “We are deploying all of the necessary resources to find out exactly what has happened and…