News 05/06/26

The British actor Anthony Head, best known for his iconic roles in *Buffy the Vampire Slayer* and *Ted Lasso*, has died at the age of 72.

His daughters, actresses Emily and Daisy Head, confirmed in a statement that he passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, following complications from pneumonia. Head’s career spanned decades, beginning on stage before he became a household name in the 1980s through a famous series of television coffee advertisements. He later achieved international acclaim as the librarian Rupert Giles in *Buffy the Vampire Slayer* and more recently as Rupert Mannion in *Ted Lasso*. His other notable credits included roles in *Little Britain* and the fantasy series *Merlin*.

Repair efforts aboard the International Space Station have been paused, and “safe haven procedures” for the crew have been lifted.

NASA confirmed that astronauts, who had been sheltering in their space suits, have been instructed to emerge as officials assess further measurements and data regarding the situation.

Paul Quinn has been sentenced to twenty-four years in prison for two counts of rape, a term that includes a three-year extension due to the dangerousness of the offender.

The fifty-two-year-old, a long-term sex offender, was convicted in April following a fresh trial. His case relates to a crime committed in two-thousand-and-three, for which another man, Andrew Malkinson, was previously wrongfully imprisoned for nearly two decades.

Two men have been found guilty of stabbing a television presenter in a case highlighting the use of criminal proxies by the Iranian government.

A jury convicted Romanian nationals Nandito Badea and George Stana of wounding with intent. The pair were part of a team that travelled from Romania to spend a month conducting surveillance on a house in Wimbledon.

Two teenagers have been convicted of murdering sixteen-year-old Kayden Moy on a Scottish beach.

Jay Stewart and a fifteen-year-old boy were found guilty following a trial at the High Court in Glasgow for the killing at Irvine Beach last May.

The Kremlin has confirmed that President Vladimir Putin has been briefed on a letter sent by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated the written version was handed over overnight, and it is likely Mr Putin will comment on the proposal during a plenary session at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum later today. In his letter, the Ukrainian leader proposed a face-to-face meeting with his Russian counterpart to agree on an end to the war, warning that Kyiv remains ready to fight on should negotiations fail.

A former university student has been charged with attempted murder after a staff member was shot with a crossbow.

Twenty-one-year-old Almunthir Daqamah was arrested following the attack at the University of Surrey’s accommodation on Thursday. The Saudi national has also been charged with possession of an offensive weapon, two counts of possession of a bladed article, and possession of class B drugs. Police have confirmed they do not believe the incident is terror-related and are not currently looking for any further suspects.

A drug dealer from Slough has been jailed for over eight years after police discovered cocaine, heroin, and thirteen thousand pounds in cash at his home.

Thirty-one-year-old Uhbad Rehman, of Petersfield Avenue, was sentenced at Reading Crown Court on Tuesday. Thames Valley Police executed a warrant at his address in October, where they discovered a large quantity of class A drugs hidden inside a safe.

Anthropic co-founder Jack Clark has called for the ability to slow the progression of artificial intelligence, warning the technology is nearing a point where it could soon develop without any human input.

Speaking to Newsnight, Clark stressed that while the industry currently has a gas pedal, it lacks a functional brake. He argued that society, through government policy, must maintain control over systems that are becoming increasingly powerful and impactful. Clark warned that the world needs to carefully consider these risks and develop new, robust regulations to ensure we can remain confident in these rapidly evolving systems.

Andy Burnham has stated for the first time that he would join a Labour leadership contest to oust Sir Keir Starmer.

Speaking on BBC Question Time yesterday, the Mayor of Greater Manchester said that if Wes Streeting has launched a leadership bid, he would seek to join it. Mr Burnham added that he would need to persuade members of the Parliamentary Labour Party to support him, stating he has asked his team to develop a policy.