Author: Darren Smith

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…

A Hampshire teenager who escalated his grooming campaign against a 14-year-old girl from online contact to malicious social services calls and witness intimidation has been jailed for 28 months following guilty pleas to multiple child sex offences. Carlo Tritta’s persistent violations of court orders—including sending greeting cards containing his new phone number just three days after receiving a suspended sentence and returning to his victim’s Manchester home—demonstrated what prosecutors characterised as brazen disregard for legal restrictions designed to protect the teenager. The 19-year-old from Eastleigh initially connected with his victim through the gaming platform Roblox when he was 18, gradually…

Northern Ireland Police are conducting enquiries after video footage showing a violent confrontation between an adult man and a group of teenagers in Belfast went viral on social media, with the incident reportedly sparked by youths attacking a vehicle near Shankill Road. The force confirmed officers received multiple reports of anti-social behaviour and assaults in the area on Tuesday evening, with investigations ongoing into the mass brawl captured on camera. “Police are conducting enquiries into a number of reports of anti-social behaviour and assaults in the Shankill Road area of Belfast on Tuesday 7th April. Enquiries into the matter are…

Benjamin Netanyahu’s long-running corruption proceedings will recommence this weekend just hours after Israeli courts announced the nation’s state of emergency has been rescinded following a fragile ceasefire with Iran. The Israeli Prime Minister’s trial—which began in 2020 on bribery, fraud and breach of trust charges dating to 2019—resumes Sunday after Thursday’s court spokesperson confirmation that judicial operations would return to normal scheduling between Sundays and Wednesdays. Israel lifted its emergency declaration Wednesday evening after no incoming Iranian missiles were detected since 3am local time (midnight GMT), ending restrictions that had shuttered schools and workplaces during hostilities triggered by 28 February…

Metropolitan Police are continuing their search for a bespoke Fabergé egg and gold watch worth over £2.1 million after the convicted thief who stole them refused to disclose their whereabouts despite receiving a prison sentence. Enzo Conticello, 29, was jailed for two years and three months at Southwark Crown Court today after admitting theft and three fraud counts related to the 7 November 2024 Soho pub theft, though the valuable items remain missing. Detective Constable Arben Morina confirmed: “The defendant never explained to the police what he did with the expensive jewellery. Our investigation to find the egg and the…

A disgraced broadcaster previously imprisoned for a catalogue of child sex offenses has received a 29-week sentence after violating sex offender registration requirements by meeting with a teenager at an undisclosed location. Peter Rowell, 67, admitted two counts of breaching notification orders following an incident where he spent over 12 hours at a property with an individual under 18, whilst additionally travelling 30 miles from his Abergavenny, Monmouthshire residence without informing police of his whereabouts. The violations occurred over a decade after Rowell’s 2012 imprisonment for six years on 12 indecent assault charges involving girls under 16, alongside six counts…

A legendary wildlife cinematographer whose breathtaking footage brought audiences closer to nature’s most inaccessible wonders has died aged 74 during a climbing expedition in Nepal, with tributes praising his “pioneering” contribution to natural history filmmaking. Doug Allan’s eight Emmy Awards, five BAFTAs and five Wildscreen Panda Awards represent decades capturing intimate moments in extreme environments for landmark BBC series including Planet Earth, Frozen Planet and The Blue Planet alongside Sir David Attenborough. The Scotsman passed away early yesterday morning whilst on an expedition with a close companion, with his management company Jo Sarsby Management confirming he died “immersed in nature…

Regulatory concerns have intensified after newly-created prediction market accounts earned up to $200,000 through suspiciously well-timed wagers on an Iran ceasefire mere hours before President Donald Trump’s Tuesday announcement, with lawmakers demanding restrictions preventing government officials profiting from privileged information. Republican Congressman Blake Moore questioned the legitimacy of trades placed on Polymarket despite escalating presidential rhetoric suggesting imminent military action rather than diplomatic breakthrough. “It’s highly unlikely that these are good-faith trades; it’s much more likely that these are insiders with access to information ahead of the public,” he stated. At least 50 accounts placed substantial “Yes” bets before Mr…