Top World News
London’s Burning actor John Alford, 54, dies in prison
Death comes two months after Alford was jailed for eight-and-a-half years for sexually assaulting two teenage girlsThe actor John Alford has died in prison two months after being jailed for sexually assaulting two teenage girls. Alford, 54, was jailed for eight-and-a-half years in January after he was found guilty of the assaults which occurred during a party at a friend’s home. The actor, who appeared in the drama London’s Burning and BBC show Grange Hill, died at HMP Bure, Norfolk, on Friday, the Prison Service said. Alford, who was tried under his real name, John Shannon, was convicted of four counts of sexual activity with a 14-year-old girl and charges of sexual assault and assault by penetration relating to a 15-year-old girl at a property in Hertfordshire in 2022. Jurors heard during the trial that he had sexually assaulted the girls while they were drunk after a night out at the pub. A Prison Service spokesperson said: “John Shannon died in prison on March 13 2026. “As with all deaths in custody, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will investigate.” Continue reading...
US-Israel-Iran War LIVE: Iran's Foreign Minister Says 'No Problem' With Supreme Leader Mojtaba After Injury Reports
US-Israel-Iran War News LIVE Updates: Iran's Army chief has issued a stern warning that the deaths of crew members from the IRIS Dena warship in the Indian Ocean "will not go unanswered", as reported by Al Jazeera, citing Iran's state news agency.
Iranians who backed Trump turn against him as president's wartime moves backfire
Anti-regime Iranians who initially embraced President Donald Trump's promise to "rescue" them from their oppressive government are now expressing deep disillusionment with his military campaign, according to new reporting from The Guardian.Many Iranian dissidents had harbored hope that Trump's administration would intervene militarily against the Islamic Republic. That hope transformed into despair after a fortnight of U.S. and Israeli airstrikes that have killed hundreds of civilians, destroyed critical infrastructure, and damaged irreplaceable cultural heritage sites."They are also lying! Like the regime has been lying to us," said Amir, a University of Tehran student and anti-regime protester, speaking to The Guardian. "You are all worse than each other."The turning point came when Israeli forces struck fuel depots in Tehran, coating the capital in toxic oil rain and blackening the sky. The strikes also damaged ancient landmarks including the 14th-century Golestan Palace and the 17th-century Chehel Sotoon Palace in Isfahan."I genuinely believe now they [the US and Israel] didn't have a plan," Amir told The Guardian. "If the regime is what you want to hit, where do you draw the line? What about us, the ordinary Iranians? We rely on this civil infrastructure."Many protesters now fear the conflict mirrors the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq, which promised liberation but delivered civil war. Other Iranian dissidents report viewing the bombing campaign as "carpet bombing" that has killed civilians indiscriminately."A significant portion of the people I've been speaking to, after witnessing the killing of civilians, have altered their perception of military intervention," one Tehran protester told The Guardian.Read the full report here.
'Just A Joke': Iran Envoy On Ukraine's Support To US Against Shahed Drones
Iran's envoy to Ukraine, Shahriar Amouzegar, dismissed the support Kyiv has offered to the United States and its Gulf allies, as Ukraine advertises its expertise in destroying Iranian-designed drones launched by Russia.
Two of six US service members killed in aircraft crash over Iraq identified
US Central Command says crash followed unspecified incident, and second refueling tanker landed safely in IsraelThe names of two of the six US service members who died when the military refueling aircraft they were aboard crashed over Iraq last week were made public Saturday, revealing a father who had recently been promoted and a beloved son.The Ohio air national guard said that three of the service members came from its 121st air refueling wing in Columbus, while a family from Birmingham, Alabama, confirmed that pilot Alex Klinner was killed in the crash. Continue reading...
Danish royals Frederik and Mary begin six-day Australia tour with visit to rain-soaked red centre
Royal tour includes visits to Canberra, Melbourne and Hobart and aims to deepen trade tiesFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastDanish royals Frederik and Mary have kicked off their first trip to Australia since taking the throne with a visit to the nation’s red centre.The six-day state tour, which includes visits to Canberra, Melbourne and Hobart, aims to deepen trade ties between Queen Mary’s adopted and home countries. Continue reading...
Iran threatens to escalate war after Trump says ‘many countries’ will send warships to strait of Hormuz
US president calls on China, France, Japan and the UK to send vessels after US strikes Kharg Island oil facilitiesMiddle East crisis – live updatesIran threatened on Saturday to further escalate the war raging in the Middle East by targeting any facility in the region with US ties, after Donald Trump predicted “many countries” would send warships to support a US bid to reopen by force the strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway closed to virtually all maritime traffic by Tehran since the beginning of the war.Iran has responded to the joint US-Israeli offensive, which is entering its third week, with daily attacks on oil and other infrastructure around the Gulf region, as well as against Israel. Continue reading...
Trump begs for help from other countries with Iran: 'This should be a team effort'
President Donald Trump called for international cooperation on Iran policy in a Truth Social post, arguing that securing the Strait of Hormuz should be a collective responsibility rather than falling solely on the United States.Trump claimed that, "The United States of America has beaten and completely decimated Iran, both Militarily, Economically, and in every other way," but emphasized that nations dependent on oil passing through the strategic waterway must share the burden of protecting it."The Countries of the World that receive Oil through the Hormuz Strait must take care of that passage, and we will help — A LOT!" Trump stated, adding that the U.S. would coordinate with these nations to ensure operations proceed "quickly, smoothly, and well."Trump characterized the approach as a necessary shift in strategy, declaring "This should have always been a team effort, and now it will be." He suggested the collaborative framework would "bring the World together toward Harmony, Security, and Everlasting Peace."The statement reflects Trump's broader foreign policy approach of reducing unilateral American commitments while seeking greater burden-sharing from allies and partners regarding regional security concerns. It comes after Trump declared we already "won" in Iran.Read the full post here.
Goldfish Drives Car And Sets World Record By Covering Longest Distance In Motion Experiment
Thomas explained that his daily work as a computer engineer can sometimes feel quite monotonous. This prompted him to create something that would entertain people.
Queensland arts minister ignored recommendation that new theatre be named after poet Oodgeroo Noonuccal
Exclusive: Queensland Performing Arts Centre board nominated Oodgeroo as their preferred name for the theatre in 2024, but it was not one of the four options put to public vote by the LNPFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA Queensland government minister intervened to ensure a new theatre would not be named after Aboriginal poet Oodgeroo Noonuccal, overriding the theatre’s board, according to documents obtained under right to information laws.The late artist’s name is also set to be stripped from a state electorate, in draft electoral boundaries released by the state’s redistribution commission this week. The LNP lobbied for the change. Continue reading...
Australia’s pornography age-verification: a victory for advocates or a gateway to ‘darker corners of the internet’?
As users turn to VPNs to access pornography, experts warn collection of information creates a ‘honeytrap’ for bad actorsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastWhen porn sites began blocking Australians from access, it also meant X began age-checking users before they could look at adult content on the social media site.But it asked some users to send a video selfie every time they wanted to look at a single picture or video. Continue reading...
UK faces ‘seismic moment’ as nationalists target election wins, says John Swinney
SNP leader hails prospect of success for parties in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland that want to break up unionThe UK is facing an “absolutely seismic moment”, John Swinney has said, with the prospect of the election of first ministers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in May who are all committed to the break-up of the union.Speaking at the Scottish National party’s campaign conference ahead of the Scottish parliament elections, the first minister told delegates: “For people watching around the world, there could be no clearer sign that Westminster’s time is up.” Continue reading...
