News 12/03/26

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has said the US Navy will be escorting oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, said on Thursday he plans to use the effective closure of the strategic waterway, which handles 20% of the world’s oil, as leverage against the US and Israel. Bessent added that tankers are already moving through, including Iranian and some Chinese-flagged vessels, and confirmed the straits have not been mined.

A US military aircraft has crashed in western Iraq, the American military has confirmed.

A KC-135 refuelling plane went down following an “incident” involving two aircraft. US Central Command said there was no hostile or friendly fire involved, and rescue efforts are ongoing. The second aircraft involved landed safely. The military described the crash as occurring in “friendly airspace.”

A 15-year-old boy has been charged with attempted murder after a teenage girl was stabbed at Thorpe St Andrew School, near Norwich.

The victim suffered minor injuries and was taken to hospital. Pupils were instructed to switch off their phones and hide under desks during a lockdown at around 10:25am on Wednesday. Norfolk Police said the boy will appear at Norwich Youth Court on Friday morning.

The Princess of Wales displayed her barista skills during a visit to London Borough Market, although her husband did not appear impressed.

Crowds gathered on Thursday as the couple served customers. Kate made a coffee for Prince William, who rejected it when he realised it was not decaf. She also told a brewer she must avoid alcohol due to her cancer diagnosis.

Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said a suspect drove a vehicle into a synagogue, injuring and knocking unconscious one security guard.

The suspect then drove through doors and down a hallway before the vehicle caught fire. Another guard fired at the suspect. No other victims were reported, and the shooter is dead. The sheriff did not confirm the cause of death.

Police in Michigan are responding to an active shooting at Temple Israel synagogue in West Bloomfield.

NBC News reports smoke rising from the roof of the building, with pictures shared on social media showing the scene. Authorities say the situation is ongoing as emergency services remain at the location.

The UK is exploring options to protect shipping in the Strait of Hormuz from Iranian attacks, Defence Secretary John Healey has said.

He also highlighted the need for British forces to be ready to evacuate UK nationals from the Middle East if the US and Israeli conflict with Iran intensifies. Healey spoke with counterparts in the E5 group of European powers, including Germany, France, Italy and Poland, to discuss the evolving crisis.

Police are investigating after reports of two males fighting with weapons in Station Road in Langley.

Officers were called at around three fifty on Wednesday afternoon. When police arrived the offenders had left the scene. A seventeen year old boy was arrested on suspicion of affray and possession of an offensive weapon and remains in custody while enquiries continue. Police say they are not aware of any injuries. Detective Superintendent Holly Stockwell said the incident would cause concern in the community.

A British man has been charged under cyber crime laws in Dubai after allegedly filming Iranian missiles over the city.

The tourist was detained under legislation which bans publishing material that could affect public security. The organisation Detained in Dubai says the man from London was charged along with twenty others after police found video of an Iranian missile strike on his phone. Foreign Office officials are supporting the family.

A detective has said she was left traumatised after Police Scotland shared the contents of her phone with a colleague she accused of rape.

Detective Constable Lianne Gilbert made domestic abuse and serious sexual assault allegations in twenty twenty. During a misconduct inquiry two years later, data taken from her phone, including intimate images and medical records, was given to the accused officer and his representatives. Police Scotland has been fined sixty six thousand pounds by the data watchdog.

Sir Keir Starmer has admitted he made a mistake in appointing Lord Mandelson as the UK ambassador to the United States.

Speaking to journalists in Northern Ireland, the prime minister said it was his decision and he accepted responsibility. He also apologised to the victims of Jeffrey Epstein, saying the apology came from him personally. It follows the release of government files about the appointment. Sir Keir has previously described the decision as a mistake and apologised to victims.

Iran’s ruling authorities have broadcast a statement on state television said to be from Mojtaba Khamenei, described as the country’s new supreme leader.

The message repeats claims that Iran is only targeting American bases in nearby countries and says those bases must be closed. However, the statement also warns that attacks on Iran’s neighbours in the Gulf will continue, while saying Iran still wants good relations with countries in the region.

A mother who kept a woman captive as a slave inside her home for twenty five years has been jailed for thirteen years.

Amanda Wixon, aged fifty six, forced the victim to shave her hair, beat her if jobs were not completed, and made her live on scraps of food. The woman, now in her forties, was also exploited for benefits, with more than one hundred thousand pounds taken. Wixon will serve two thirds of the sentence.

A seventeen year old girl has been shot in the legs in what police believe was a targeted attack in Liverpool.

The shooting happened just before one o’clock on Thursday morning at an address in Lime Grove in Toxteth. Officers say the attack was carried out by someone known to the victim. The teenager has been taken to hospital for assessment and officers say enquiries are continuing.

A former MI5 contractor is accused of flying to Riga to pass secrets to a foreign state.

Juan Joseph, aged forty three, is on trial at the Old Bailey charged under the Official Secrets Act. Much of the case is being heard behind closed doors on national security grounds. The court has been told the public cannot hear details about the countries involved or the information said to have damaged UK interests.

At least one crew member has been killed after two foreign oil tankers carrying Iraqi fuel were hit by explosive laden Iranian boats, according to Iraqi port security officials.

More than twenty crew members were evacuated from the vessels, which both caught fire and were still burning. The attacks pushed oil prices above one hundred dollars a barrel again as the Middle East war continues to affect global supplies, despite the International Energy Agency proposing the largest release of strategic oil reserves in its history.

Sir Keir Starmer is expected to face fresh questions today about his decision to appoint Lord Mandelson as ambassador to the United States.

Documents released by the government show the prime minister was warned the former minister had a close relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and that there was a general reputational risk. Sir Keir is due to speak to the media during a visit to Belfast, his first appearance since the papers were published.

Technology companies have been told to strengthen protections for young people online after MPs rejected a ban on social media for under sixteens.

The Information Commissioner’s Office and Ofcom have written to several platforms demanding stronger safeguards. Facebook, Instagram, Roblox, Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube have until the end of April to explain how they check ages, prevent grooming and deal with harmful algorithms, with regulators calling for an end to product testing on children.

A man has been convicted of dangerous driving after his own dashcam showed he fell asleep for twenty minutes on the M4 in Berkshire.

Maldini Fernandes was travelling at up to one hundred miles an hour before the car stopped between junction nine for Maidenhead and junction eleven for Reading, remaining in a live lane. The thirty one year old admitted the offence at Slough Magistrates’ Court and received a suspended prison term and a three year driving ban.