A dinghy thought to be carrying 140 migrants was rescued in the English Channel on Sunday, sparking anti-migrant demonstrations in Portsmouth

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Riot police were deployed in Portsmouth as hundreds of demonstrators gathered in the streets to oppose the arrival of a small vessel believed to be carrying asylum seekers.

The single dinghy is understood to have been transporting 140 migrants who were rescued in the English Channel on Sunday. Those aboard the inflatable craft set off from the Normandy coast overnight before encountering difficulties in UK waters.

The French coastguard confirmed they were collected by two RNLI lifeboats after requesting assistance.

Demonstrators assembled in the coastal city attempting to prevent those on board from being taken to Kent for processing as new arrivals.

The large crowds were headed by Daniel Thomas, known as Danny Tommo.

Speaking on a livestream while standing in the water at Eastney beach, the associate of right-wing activist Tommy Robinson said: “Roads are all blocked, they are never going to be able to leave here.”

He continued: “It was only yesterday (at the protests in Dover) when we warned them that we will not accept this any more, and that this is no longer an option to tell us that the boat numbers are down.

“This isn’t about the numbers being down… this is about understanding that this has to come to an end now.”

However, despite demonstrators’ pledge to stay in position ‘all night’, police issued a Section 14 order at approximately 3am on Monday, which resulted in protestors dispersing.

Footage shared online shows riot police equipped with protective shields confronting the demonstrators. Early on Monday morning, a government spokesperson said: “We condemn the intimidating and thuggish behaviour we are seeing tonight.

“The right to peaceful protest is fundamental to our democracy, but it must never cross a line into disorder.

“We thank the emergency services who are working to safely manage this situation.”

Conservative MP for Isle of Wight East, Joe Robertson, posted: “Extremely concerning to see an illegal migrant crossing this far west.

“We don’t know if this migrant boat was headed for the Isle of Wight but I’ll be contacting the Home Office first thing. We need to know exactly what happened and if new routes are being used for mega-dinghies by people smugglers.”

A Maritime and Coastguard Agency spokesperson said: “In response to a report on September 6 of a small boat heading towards the Hampshire coast, HM Coastguard sent lifeboats, an HM Coastguard helicopter, an HM Coastguard aeroplane and HM Coastguard Rescue Teams.

“Border Force, Border Security Command, Hampshire Police and South Central Ambulance Service were also sent.”

A Home Office spokesperson said: “This Government is bearing down on dangerous small boat crossings and restoring control at our border. Joint efforts have seen over 48,000 crossing attempts prevented and 1,100 boats and engines seized since the election.

“We are making progress, with the number of small boat crossings down this year and the lowest number recorded for the month of July since 2020.

“But we must go further, which is why we have signed a payment-by-results deal with the French to put 40% more boots on the ground on French beaches.”

A win may not have been had, but it was still an emotional game that had it all

Back in 2002, Manchester was on a bit of a high. The city had just come off of hosting the celebratory Commonwealth Games, the Urbis had just opened and, quite remarkably at the time, Oasis hadn’t yet broken up.

But 24 years ago, that year did mark the disbanding of one of the city’s finest exports: Manchester Storm. For seven glorious years, the ice hockey club had played to thousands at the now AO Arena. And their split in 2002 had seemed somewhat final to most fans.

Yet there was no keeping the storm down, and the club was later revived in 2015 at Planet Ice Altrincham. Since then, they have gone from strength-to-strength and, in April, also reached the play-off finals for the first time since relocating.

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Earlier this year, it was announced that Storm would be heading back to where it all began and Sunday (September 6) marked their big homecoming return to the city in a pre-season match against Sheffield Steelers. It was a game that had it all – even if a win ultimately was not on the cards.

I remember going to see Storm play at the arena as a kid with my family. I recalled earlier this year how it was my first time seeing a match of such scope, and it had me hooked from the get-go as the fanfare took over the atmosphere. Seeing them in the arena again today instantly transformed me back to that time period – and it made me quite emotional, actually.

Bringing my nephew along for the ride for his ice hockey game, it was a special moment for us both as we relished in the pucks flying in the air, the wrestles of aggression from the players and the tension that carried over from the ice into the audience.

We were invited along to the match with Premium Tickets, which for us included The Mezz Bar Entrance and a chance to arrive early to order some food. For us, this consisted of a delicious roast topside of beef, with maple vegetables, roast potatoes and a Yorkshire pudding, followed by sticky toffee pudding. It came with the comfort of being able to roll right into our nearby seats after and also gives you the opportunity to pop into the bar again during the interval for extra drinks with minimal queues, which was certainly handy. That package starts from £47.95 each.

Getting into our seats, we had a perfect view of all the action – right by the goal manned in the first period by Storm’s goalie Drew DeRidder. For the first period and even within minutes, it was absolute scenes with fights and then the first goal coming from Storm’s Anton Karlsson.

The pandemonium of people cheering was absolutely fantastic as we all chanted ‘Let’s Go Storm’ in the face of playful boos from the Steelers supporters. Goals from Tim McGauley and JD Dudek quickly followed for a very triumphant start to proceedings from Storm – riding the momentum and support of the huge crowd.

And the crowd had certainly turned up to back Storm. Before the match, it had been announced that the club were on track to record the highest attendance for a game between two Motorpoint Elite League teams in history. And with barely any spare seats in my eyesight, I’d say they more than likely achieved that.

The second period started to get a little rocky for Storm as they perhaps were riding on the coattails of that initial hype, but it managed to include a goal from Storm’s Brady Gilmour. However, Steelers were able to close the gap with a 4-3 score to Storm at the end of period two, which was cut slightly short due to issues with the ice.

Period three saw another goal for Storm from Connor Lee, as well as some penalties thrown out for boarding and fighting as things got tense on the ice. With the Steelers picking up further momentum, the end of the match went into a penalty shootout with a score of 5-5.

As the penalty shootout proved to add any further goals to proceedings, the intensity of the match carried on through into sudden death before Mitchell Balmas won it for the Steelers.

Whilst it wasn’t the homecoming result Storm fans had wanted, it was a match that truly had it all – and the team truly did throw everything at it. Their strength and determination does bode well for what’s to come and I’m very excited to see how their first season at the AO Arena pans out.

The atmosphere of the whole game was electric: the chants, the rallies, the near misses and the scores were all just infectious and it was so delightful to see Storm back where I had initially seen them and in their element again.

Of course, it’s essential to remember everything Altrincham has done for them but it feels so good to see them back in a major arena level where they can really have tens of thousands of people root behind them.

Storm are back in the city – and it feels about time.

Manchester Storm have games at the AO Arena through to March 2027, with full fixtures and ticket information available via their website. Info is also available via the AO Arena website.

Around 20% of global oil traded passed through the Strait of Hormuz before the war, which sparked after joint US-Israeli strikes were carried out on several key Iranian site in February

The new head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said an “exclusion zone” will be announced outside the Strait of Hormuz aimed at vessels it believes are attempting to transit the waterway.

Speaking to Iran’s state broadcaster on Sunday, September 6, Mohsen Rezaei’s said Tehran plans to announce an “exclusion zone” but provided few details.

Just one day earlier, the US hit three Iranian oil tankers in response to Tehran launching ballistic missiles at American warships.

Experts called the launches a dangerous escalation after Iran’s previous attacks at sea targeted commercial shipping.

The US and Iran have been at war since February 28, when joint US-Israeli strikes were carried out on several key Iranian site.

Iran retaliated by striking US allies in the Middle East and closing the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of global oil passed before the conflict.

The US in turn implemented a blockade on Iranian ports in the strait.

The new zone should be announced in the coming days and weeks.

It “will begin from the line of the US naval blockade, extend toward the Strait of Hormuz, and from this side continue into the Persian Gulf,” Rezaei said.

“Any ship that enters this area with the intention of passing through the Strait of Hormuz and is identified will be placed on our sanctions list.”

It is not clear where Iran defines the location of the US blockade.

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The American military has said over 20 warships are supporting the blockade.

As of Sunday, the blockade had redirected 92 commercial ships and disabled three.

Also on Sunday, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said that on average, nine million barrels of oil a day are getting through the strait. This should help to relieve pressure on energy prices.

Wright told CNN that with oil also flowing through pipelines in the region, “we’re probably two-thirds or more of pre-conflict flows.”

Meanwhile, Rezaei in his interview with state TV claimed that “every day we are selling one million, one and a half million (barrels), as if Iran’s oil production and trade are continuing as usual.”

By ALEX DOYLE – SENIOR SHOWBUSINESS REPORTER and DOMINIQUE HINES

Published: 20:25 BST, 6 September 2026 | Updated: 03:30 BST, 7 September 2026

It has been one of their busiest years yet, travelling across the globe promoting box office films Spider-Man: Brand New Day and The Odyssey.

So you would think newlyweds Tom Holland and Zendaya would like nothing more than to jet off on a relaxing holiday.

But Tom’s father Dominic, 59, has revealed he and Zendaya, both 30, were left so exhausted by their country hopping to promote both films that they offered their no-expense spared trip to Japan to him and his wife Nicola, for free.

Dominic, who is a stand-up comedian and writer, said: ‘So, you know that Tom had a few films out recently he had The Odyssey out then he had Spiderman. 

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‘And he’s been tired, he’s been working unbelievably hard.

‘He and Zendaya have done probably twice around the globe to promote these films,’ he explained. 

Tom Holland gifted a luxury holiday to his parents after the Hollywood star and his wife Zendaya were too tired following back to back film promotion for The Odyssey and Spider-Man

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‘They were tired they’d probably done maybe 20, 10-hour flights and about three days after the London premiere, he said, “dad we’ve got this holiday to Japan” and I said “that’ll be nice Tom, you’ll enjoy it.”

‘And he said, “dad it’s too far and I’m too tired. What I thought I’d do dad is that I’d send you and mum instead.”

Speaking at Queen’s Park Book Festival in London, Dominic joked that staff were left disappointed when he turned up and not the Hollywood star.

He explained: ‘See, what you don’t understand is that being Tom Holland’s dad is… well, it was lovely going to Japan. 

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‘It was first class travel, posh hotel, but the thing is, all these restaurants and hotels are expecting Tom Holland and in the strata of disappointment they are expecting Tom Holland and they get Dominic.

‘The Japanese are very polite and servile people but even they went hmmm. Typical of me – here’s the thing… I’ve written 10 books and got exactly zero with me tonight which sums up my career.’

Last month it was revealed Tom and Zendaya tied the knot again at the five-star Beaverbrook Hotel in Surrey, which reportedly cost £500,000.

The location is nestled in the Surrey Hills and close to Mr Holland’s hometown Kingston-upon-Thames.

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The top secret occasion meant guests and members of staff were banned from using their mobile phones to stop any leaks.

The sprawling 370-acre venue, near Leatherhead, was owned by the late newspaper proprietor Lord Beaverbrook, who hosted powerful figures there including Winston Churchill.

His dad joked: ‘The thing is, all these restaurants and hotels are expecting Tom Holland and in the strata of disappointment they are expecting Tom Holland and they get Dominic’ 

Join the discussion

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Should celebrities prioritize family time or fan expectations when they’re exhausted from work?

It boasts 56 rooms and suites and its on-site Japanese restaurant has hot air balloon-styled dining tables.

Tom finally ended months of speculation about the couple’s marriage, telling Esquire UK in June: ‘I found my person, I’m the happiest I’ve ever been.’

Zendaya and Tom have been romantically linked since 2016, after they first met on the set of Spider-Man: Homecoming.

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They kept their relationship extremely low-key for years, and enjoyed their first joint red carpet appearance in five years at a photocall for Spider-Man: Brand New Day in Madrid on Monday.

Tom previously told Men’s Health that he avoids walking the red carpet with his partner at premieres ‘because it’s not my moment, it’s her moment, and if we go together, it’s about us’.

He told presenter Jon Sopel: “We’re now in a country, Jon, where somebody who is – whatever she is – a far-left protester, goes into a party conference, tries to wreck the leader’s speech, and cries foul if a pensioner knocks her over the head with their Zimmer frame, I mean, come on, get a life.

Volodymyr Zelensky suggests Ukraine is preparing for another winter at war with Russia despite hosting president Donald Trump’s peace envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Kyiv yesterday.

Lauding their “very substantive” conversation, Zelensky said Ukraine was ready for trilateral talks involving Russia, the US and Ukraine.

But, he added, “if the war continues into the winter, we are counting heavily on the winter package [of support], which I discussed in detail today with Steve, Jared, and our European partners.

“We are counting on support for air defence and the energy sector, as well as substantial volumes of American LNG and the ability to use them,” Zelensky said after his meeting with the two US officials.

Trump’s son-in-law Kushner and Witkoff met with Zelensky in Kyiv on Sunday, after holding three hours of talks with Russian president Vladimir Putin on Saturday in Moscow.

Witkoff said he had “heard new ideas” in Moscow and hoped a new round of US-mediated talks between Russia and Ukraine would be announced “in short order”.

Zelensky said ending the war will ultimately come down to solving the matter of contested territory in eastern Ukraine. “The question of Donbas… I believe, is the question of this war,” he said.

Passersby spotted the victim in the sea near Buncrana and raised the alarm

An elderly man has died after he was pulled from the water in Co Donegal following a major rescue operation.

Passersby spotted the victim, who was in his 60s, in the sea at Ned’s Point near Buncrana and raised the alarm.

Members of the public helped take his body from the water at around 2:30 pm on Saturday.

Gardai, the National Ambulance Service, the fire brigade and the RNLI all responded and were present at the scene.

There were extensive attempts to resuscitate the man, but sadly, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

His body was taken to Letterkenny University Hospital, where a post-mortem is due to be carried out.

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter .

Molly kept her unbeaten fighting record intact with an impressive victory on cousin Taylor’s undercard in Dublin, with close friend Paddy Pimblett watching on from ringside

MMA fighter Molly “Meatball” McCann has popped the question to her long-term girlfriend, Fran Parman.

The Liverpool fighter, a cousin of Katie Taylor, shared a series of gorgeous photos on Instagram showing the couple embracing, with Fran proudly displaying a stunning diamond ring on her perfectly manicured finger.

Fran went public with her relationship with Molly in 2024, posting a number of pictures from the early days of their romance, including moments of the pair dancing, enjoying meals out and spending quality time together.

Since making their relationship official, the couple have kept their followers regularly updated on their journey together, from ringside celebrations to heartfelt tributes on special dates and milestones.

This weekend, Molly kept her unbeaten fighting record intact with an impressive victory on cousin Taylor’s undercard in Dublin, with close friend Paddy Pimblett watching on from ringside. Following her win, she hinted she had “saved the best for last”.

The couple then made their way to Bray Head Cross in Wicklow, Ireland, which appears to be the spot where McCann got down on one knee, according to the Liverpool Echo, reports the Irish Mirror.

In a series of pictures shared online, including one of McCann re-enacting the proposal while kneeling, the pair were all smiles as they showed off Fran’s impressive engagement ring to mark the special occasion.

The caption read: “Saved the best till last, a weekend I knew the only way I could top it would be asking you to marry me.

“The easiest decision I’ve ever made. I promise to love you and protect you forever, here’s to the best weekend of my life. In a place I know means so much to us. Bray we love you.”

Familiar faces from right across Merseyside rushed to the comments section to offer their congratulations to the newly engaged couple. Everton FC posted: “Congratulations Molly and Fran!”.

Social media personality and presenter Still Ryan enthused: “So so so happy for you both.”

TNT Sports UFC commented: “Congratulations.”

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The faces and groups behind an explosion in far-right activity in Scotland.

Today the Record reveals the web of groups and activists who are driving an explosion in far-right activity in Scotland.

Professor Matthew Feldman, an expert of far right groups, has warned Scotland is now seeing a variety of people seeking to stir up a “race war” – with links to far-right organisations in Northern Ireland and across the globe. He said many participants don’t see themselves as “far right” despite their goals being firmly targeted at immigrants and their rhetoric often based on conspiracy theories.

Prof Feldman said: “There are a lot of divisions and subsets but a lot of what we’re seeing with far right groups boils down to race war. That is still their guiding star, even on the far right. They don’t see themselves as supporting the far right and they recoil when they are accused of being Fascists or Nazis.

“Some may talk more about natives and immigrants and some may focus on non-white people with slurs or Jewish people. But they are bonded by similar symbols, like national flags, often the monarchy and in many cases they will be drawn to the same cause.”

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Feldman, Emeritus Professor in the modern history of ideas at Teesside University, said many are seduced by the “great replacement theory” – a debunked conspiracy theory about white people being replaced by Muslim “invaders”.

And he said social media helps people from different parts of the UK find each other using more sanitised language. The result can be normalisation of far-right goals. Here are some of the groups and activists accused of driving Scotland’s far-right movement.

Unite the Clans, formerly Aberdeen Against Illegal Migration

With more than 65,000 Facebook followers and UK-wide amplification enabled by links to other groups, UTC is possibly Scotland’s most cohesive group.

It has united people for big, angry protest events in places like Glasgow and Edinburgh. Early AAIM events gave a microphone to John Carr, a member of the fascist Homeland Party, which led to the rampant spreading of the “great replacement theory”.

Core members have included Patriotic Alternative member Geoffrey Farquharson and Josh Fernie, another Homeland Party member.

The group faced heavy criticism when it launched an anti-immigration protest outside a primary school in Seaton, Aberdeen during school hours. Father and son John Hall Snr and John Hall Jnr have been integral to the group.

Alex Cairnie and the Spartan Child Protection Team

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Despite their methods being criticised, the group have been credited with bringing many vile offenders to justice and acted as a deterrent to others.

His efforts to call out housing chiefs who have housed known offenders in council schemes have struck a chord with people living in such communities. But he has courted controversy by conflating his paedophile hunting with race politics, notably when by teaming up with Craig Houston to protest about adult English lessons at a school in deprived Dalmarnock, Glasgow.

Anti-racism groups accused the pair of “spreading misinformation”. Last September Cairnie praised Tommy Robinson, calling him “a British Patriot and a man that loves his country”. Cairnie has vocally supported influencer Andrew Tate, even after he was charged with multiple rapes.

Craig Houston

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Houston makes a living by peddling stories on YouTube that blame immigration for Scotland’s woes.

He has travelled from town to town, armed with a selfie stick and a drone, to catalogue many conspiracy theories about immigration, “two-tier policing” and alleged “white racism”.

He has repeatedly referred to street armies potentially “rising” due to anti-immigration anger. In his videos, including those shot from the heart of volatile far right demos, Houston puzzles over the scenes witnessed and generally puts the blame on immigration.

It was Houston who filmed a series of eerie black and white videos that featured grown men in black clothing laying wreaths at locations that included the Scottish Parliament and the Daily Record’s office in Glasgow. Houston is best friends with Sandy Chugg, a notorious Rangers casual who has been jailed several times for football related violence.

His activities caught the interest of anti-terror cops – who seized his phone and computer at Edinburgh airport on his return from a recent holiday.

Patriotic Alternative

The political group took a strong grip in Scotland, largely through efforts of Scottish organiser Kenny Smith.

They became regulars at protests in Erskine at a hotel used for asylum seekers. A split within PA led to the formation of the Homeland Party, run by Smith.

The main public face of PA is now Richard McFarlane, who travels Scotland with a stuffed toy he calls Scooby Doo. McFarlane is regarded as a serious threat to communities due to his willingness to fabricate signs and banners depicting divisive messages like “Stop the Invasion”.

The organisation was founded by Mark Collett, a former publicity director for the British National Party.

Voices for Falkirk/Freedom Patriots

Falkirk became a major focal point due to The Cladhan Hotel being used for refugees.

A brutal sex attack by a hotel resident enraged the local community and the campaign led to the cessation of the use the hotel for immigration cases.

Reform councillor Claire Mackie-Brown and Julie Reilly a key figure in Voices For Falkirk, have stood alongside men in masks and members of the ultra right Homeland Party and Patriotic Alternative.

Mark Sinclair (Freedom Dad)

The former UVF bank robber has travelled around Northern Ireland and England to seek out examples of immigration causing local division. His Freedom Dad YouTube channel– emblazoned with a Northern Irish and a Scottish flag – explicitly seeks to connect Scotland and Ulster’s antiimmigration communities.

He was part of a travelling band of Loyalists who took part on the July25 demo at Glasgow Green that saw running battles and 15 arrests. Sinclair has offered a platform to a wide array of far-right icons, including BNP leader Nick Griffin and his ex-deputy Jim Dowson, a regular guest.

Griffin has told Sinclair that Northern Ireland is ripe for a citizen army to rise, due to the lessons learned by the Loyalist community during the Troubles. He tells Sinclair that Orange Order marches have provided evidence that an army of fighting men could be called on if the time comes.

Sinclair has toured towns and cities with close pal Glen Kane – a sectarian killer who was jailed for a mob attack. He has also been photographed on many occasions with Neil Pinkerton, an “urban hunter” who has rejoiced in his dogs killing foxes. Pinkerton was the leader of a Belfast street patrol that has been accused of persecuting immigrants.

Jim Dowson, far-right activist and frontman of Knights Templar International

The veteran far-right activist has raised a huge sum of cash over many years by peddling tat including white robes, swords and far-right books for his organisation – which has nothing to do with the historic Christian crusaders.

Dowson calls his KTI group – of men in little more than fancy dress – a “fighting order”. He admitted his visit to Glasgow on July 25was his first in 20 years. He used the occasion to reveal his true motivation, shooting videos that played to a US audience, telling them how Glasgow was “teeming with Africans”.

Dowson shamelessly got out his virtual begging bowl, asking US donors to aid the people in the Scottish “projects”. It is unclear how US dollars donated to Dowson would help anyone in Scotland.

On the visit, Dowson reverted to his familiar play of handing out military style gear to vigilante groups, including the Scots Active group, who accepted stab vests and bodycams to deal with threats that might emerge as they patrol Glasgow’s streets.

Scots Active

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Along with the North to South group, they have trawled the streets looking for women to “save” from immigrants.

Despite filming everything for Tik Tok, the videos contain more evidence of black people being harassed than anyone being saved from violence.

Scots Active leader Darren Docherty claims to be anti-racist. But a Record investigation revealed him to be a moderator of a sinister WhatsApp group under the banner ‘Get These C****Out!’. They clashed with cops, targeted ethnic minorities, and made Nazi salutes at a Glasgow demo on June 13.

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