Author: Darren Smith

England and Wales’ aging canal infrastructure is receiving emergency investment to combat mounting pressures from climate change and escalating maintenance costs threatening the 2,000-mile waterway network. The Canal and River Trust will receive £6.5 million in government funding to extend the lifespan of critical assets including embankments, culverts and reservoirs across the historic system used by millions annually for recreation and access to nature. Campbell Robb, Chief Executive of the Canal & River Trust, stated that increased extreme weather events and rising maintenance costs have placed additional strain on the nation’s canal infrastructure. The funding recognises the important role canals…

A complex police investigation spanning nearly two years has resulted in a six-year prison sentence for a Nottingham man who pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a vulnerable teenager just as his trial was set to commence. Luke Marsh, 30, from Boughton, entered guilty pleas at Leeds Crown Court on 25 November 2025 after initially facing trial for offences committed between July 2021 and July 2022. He received a sentence of six years and three months on Wednesday after admitting two counts of engaging in penetrative sexual activity with the teenage girl in the Kirklees area. Specialist safeguarding detectives at Kirklees…

A five-year-old boy is now in the care of his mother following allegations his father facilitated sexual abuse by putting him in contact with adult males at drug-fuelled gatherings in northern France. Prosecutors in Lille have charged ten men aged 29 to 50 following an investigation that began on 15 February 2025, the day after a reported chemsex party in the city. The child’s parents had separated prior to the alleged abuse, with the boy now living with his mother, the prosecutor’s office confirmed on Tuesday. Authorities referred the case to an investigating judge for acts allegedly committed between November…

The former husband of First Lady Jill Biden has been arrested and charged with murdering his wife weeks after police discovered her body at their Delaware residence. William Stevenson, 77, was taken into custody on Monday facing first-degree murder charges in the death of Linda Stevenson, 64, who was found unresponsive at their Wilmington home in December. Stevenson was married to Jill Biden in 1970 whilst she was still in college. The couple separated in 1974, and Jill later married Joe Biden in 1977, who went on to become President of the United States. New Castle County Police Department responded…

An inquest into the death of a Cardiff drag performer found under cardboard boxes has heard tributes describing him as caring and central to the city’s gay community, whilst questions remain over the circumstances of his death. Darren Meah-Moore, 39, who performed as Crystal Couture and CC Quinn, was discovered partially covered by flattened cardboard boxes in a car park near Pulse nightclub in January 2023. A 50-year-old man arrested on suspicion of manslaughter was subsequently released without charge. The four-day inquest at Pontypridd heard testimony from Meah-Moore’s father and husband, also called Darren, who described him as a talented…

A schoolgirl who was sexually assaulted on her way home has lost friendships within her community after coming forward to report the attack by a pensioner who claimed he was encouraging her to cover her head. The 12-year-old victim told Reading Crown Court she felt overwhelmed and anxious following the incident in Slough, Berkshire, where Chaudhry Zaman forcibly held her hand before kissing her on the lips. In a victim personal statement, the girl described how the assault had disrupted her life and family routine. Her father now collects her from school to ensure her safety, whilst she continues to…

American and Iranian envoys are expected to meet in Istanbul on Friday for the first direct negotiations since military strikes devastated Tehran’s nuclear facilities last summer, as US warships steam towards the Gulf. Steve Witkoff, Donald Trump’s special envoy, and Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s foreign minister, will be joined by representatives from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt at the Turkish city talks, according to US administration officials cited by Axios. The discussions come as Trump has deployed what he described as a “massive armada” including the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, guided missile destroyers and dozens of…

Scottish whisky producers will gain enhanced access to China’s growing premium spirits market after the Asian nation agreed to halve import tariffs on Scotch during UK trade negotiations. The tariff reduction from 10 per cent to 5 per cent will enable Scottish distillers to compete more effectively in China, currently the 10th largest market by value for Scotch whisky. The agreement is projected to deliver £250 million in economic benefits to the UK over five years. Mark Kent, Chief Executive of the Scotch Whisky Association, described China as a priority growth market that has evolved into a knowledgeable and premium-focused…

President Trump has announced a week-long ceasefire for Ukrainian cities after securing an agreement from Vladimir Putin to suspend bombardment of urban areas. The US President revealed the arrangement during a cabinet meeting, stating he had asked the Russian leader “not to fire into Kyiv and various towns for a week, and he agreed to do that”. Trump praised Putin for making what he described as a “very nice” decision to halt the strikes. The ceasefire specifically covers attacks on Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, along with various other towns across the country. The announcement comes as millions of Ukrainians remain…

British pubs will save an average of £1,650 annually under a business rates relief package announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, as the government moves to address declining numbers across the sector. The Treasury confirmed that approximately 75% of pubs will see their business rates bills either fall or remain unchanged in the coming year. The sector as a whole is expected to pay 8% less in business rates by 2029 compared to current levels. From April, eligible pubs will receive a 15% reduction on their business rates bills, followed by a two-year freeze in real terms. The measures come as…