Author: Darren Smith

A £1 billion film and television studio complex in North London has been given the go-ahead by Camden Council after a knife-edge vote, despite fierce opposition from residents and councillors who condemned its environmental impact as “disastrous” and raised fears over fire safety and the safety of children near construction traffic. Camden’s Planning Committee voted 6 to 5 in favour of the Camden Film Quarter project at its first meeting since May’s local elections, in which Labour’s majority on the council was cut to 30 seats as the Greens and Liberal Democrats made significant gains. The slim margin reflected a…

Lionel Messi broke down in tears during Argentina’s 3-0 win over Algeria and admitted afterwards that his emotional moment had nothing to do with the historic night unfolding around him, revealing he had been going through “difficult, complicated days” in his personal life. Messi scored a sublime hat-trick on his 200th international appearance to move level with Miroslav Klose on 16 World Cup goals — his first treble for his country — yet it was a moment of visible distress rather than joy that defined the most talked-about image of the evening. After opening the scoring after 17 minutes with…

A Love Island superfan has been arrested in the United States after police clocked her driving at 108mph on a state highway — because she was trying to get home in time to watch the reality show. Highway patrol troopers in Arizona were left stunned when they stopped the unidentified woman on a road in Pinal County on 9 June and heard her explanation for travelling at 108mph in a 65mph zone. She told officers she was rushing home to catch the latest episode of Love Island. The arrest was included in the Arizona Department of Safety Highway Patrol’s “Speeding…

Pauline Hanson has vowed to fire two of Australia’s most senior human rights officials over what she described as the penetration of “transgender ideology” into government, naming the Sex Discrimination Commissioner and the head of the Human Rights Commission as her first targets if One Nation ever held power. The One Nation leader made the declaration in her first address to the National Press Club in Canberra on Tuesday, telling an audience that included protesters outside and a banner-wielding activist who managed to unfurl a sign behind her on stage mid-speech. Hanson specifically targeted Sex Discrimination Commissioner Dr Anna Cody,…

A body believed to be that of a 23-year-old British man who went missing while swimming off a popular Portuguese holiday resort has been recovered, local authorities have confirmed. The young man disappeared on Thursday while swimming at Peneco Beach in Albufeira, on Portugal’s southern Algarve coast, alongside a 19-year-old companion, also from the UK. According to Portugal’s National Maritime Authority, the 19-year-old managed to get out of the water by himself and went to seek help, at which point the 23-year-old disappeared. A body was recovered on Tuesday afternoon off the Albufeira coastline following an alert made at 6.37pm…

Restore Britain MP Rupert Lowe has published a 219-page independent report claiming at least 250,000 young British girls have been subjected to rape, trafficking, torture and sexual exploitation by organised grooming gangs since the 1950s, describing the scandal as “one of the most horrendous failures in the history of the country.” The Rape Gang Inquiry Report, funded by more than 20,000 public donations and compiled from survivor testimonies, whistleblowers and expert evidence, was published on Tuesday and covers coordinated networks operating in at least 149 local authority districts — nearly 40 per cent of the UK. In a video posted…

Lionel Messi marked Argentina’s World Cup title defence with a sensational hat-trick as the reigning champions crushed Algeria 3-0 in Kansas City on Tuesday night, underlining their status as overwhelming favourites to retain the trophy they won in Qatar three and a half years ago. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner opened his account after just 17 minutes, rocketing Argentina into the lead with a powerful finish following a breathtaking solo run. Messi then demonstrated his predatory instincts to double the lead on 60 minutes, reacting quickest to tap in from close range. He completed his treble on 76 minutes with…

A father who told his teenage daughter he could “do what he wanted” to her when she turned 16 has been jailed for more than 15 years after subjecting her to a campaign of sexual abuse, with his partner also imprisoned for her role in the sickening offending. Matthew Ward, 37, was sentenced to 15 years and four months at Derby Crown Court, while his accomplice Sophie Eason, 30, was jailed for two years and eight months. Both were handed indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Orders, lifetime restraining orders and placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely. His daughter Demi Howes,…

A man deliberately reversed his Land Rover at high speed into two cars and demolished a brick building at a Bradford pub before a bystander attempted to punch him as he fled the scene, CCTV footage has revealed. The incident took place at around 8.34pm on Monday at The Park Pub in Wibsey, Bradford. Footage from the car park shows the black Land Rover pulling out of its parking space and heading towards the exit, before suddenly reversing at speed into a second car that had also been making its way out. As two occupants jumped from the struck vehicle,…

Lionel Messi escaped punishment for what appeared to be a stamp on Algeria’s Aissa Mandi during Argentina’s opening World Cup match in Kansas City on Tuesday night, with fans taking to social media in fury to claim the tournament is being manipulated to protect football’s biggest stars. The incident occurred as Messi attempted a tackle on Mandi, his foot appearing to make contact with the Algerian’s calf and Achilles area from behind. Mandi went down in apparent pain, and replays suggested the Inter Miami forward was at serious risk of being dismissed. But Polish referee Szymon Marciniak took no action,…