It may seem that the US and the Middle East are currently embarking on yet another forever war. But the truth is that this is just the latest instalment of an undeclared military conflict between the two nations that has been ongoing since the 1980s.
For Americans, the war began in 1979, when Iranian students seized the US embassy in Tehran and held 52 diplomats hostage for 444 days. For Iranians, it began with US support for the Shah and its subsequent backing of Iraq throughout the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war.
The conflict has claimed many civilian lives. On July 3 1988, the US warship Vincennes downed Iran Air Flight 655, a civilian flight bound for Dubai. The USS Vincennes misidentified the Airbus as a military aircraft and shot it down, killing all 290 people on board. More recently, on 28 February 2026, a US-Israeli missile hit a girls’ school in southern Iran, killing over 150 civilians, most of them children.
Iran also shot down Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 on January 8, 2020. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps mistook the civilian plane for a US military flight, and fired two surface-to-air missiles that killed all 176 passengers, mostly Iranian civilians.
Advertisement
Each side has, at different moments, made catastrophic errors under conditions of escalation. But these tragic incidents are not just history. For Iranians and Americans alike, they have deeply reinforced the popular and institutional view that peace can never really be achieved between the two nations.
The 1980s: tanker war
In 1984, Iraq initiated the “tanker war” with Iran when its air force attacked oil tankers bound for Iranian ports. The tanker war continued for years, and eventually involved the US Navy when, on May 17 1987, an Iraqi plane accidentally struck the American frigate The Stark, killing 37 crew members.
The US chose to refocus attention away from Iraq and on Iran, arguing that the Islamic Republic was responsible as it had failed to agree to negotiate an end to the war.
Advertisement
Ayatollah Khamenei was Supreme Leader of Iran from 1989 until his assassination in 2026 by US and Israeli forces (AFP/Getty)
The US then provided naval protection for Kuwaiti oil tankers moving through the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz by requiring them to hoist an American flag. But violence only escalated. Iran targeted the American-reflagged ships, and the US retaliated by striking Iranian offshore platforms and speedboats used by the Revolutionary Guards. It also sank two Iranian frigates, eliminating half of Iran’s navy.
It was amid these hostilities that Iran Air Flight 655 was shot down. How this incident occurred during the fog of war is still the subject of intense debate. For Iranians, the attack confirmed they were in a de facto war with the US, who they saw as lashing out in vicarious vengeance for the 1979 hostage crisis.
Ultimately, the downing of its airliner brought Iran to accept the ceasefire that ended the Iran-Iraq War. Iran’s conflict with Iraq ended, but its war with the US did not.
Advertisement
The 2000s: proxies and ground war
The 1980s episode of this war was fought by naval vessels in the Gulf, but the second phase was a proxy conflict fought on the ground.
After 2001, George W. Bush included the Islamic Republic in an “axis of evil”, alongside Iraq and North Korea.
Advertisement
After 2001, George W. Bush included the Islamic Republic, Iraq and North Korea in an ‘axis of evil’ (AFP/Getty)
In March 2003, after the invasion of Iraq under Bush, Iran suddenly found US troops on two borders (Iraq and Afghanistan). Tehran feared that the Bush administration would seek regime change, and that the US or Israel would bomb its nuclear facilities.
One tool at Iran’s disposal was its support of a variety of Iraqi insurgents to target American forces. One of its Iraqi proxies, Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq, formed in 2006, targeted US military vehicles with improvised explosive devices, challenging American control of the motorways.
This low-intensity conflict only wound down when American forces left Iraq in 2011.
The 2010s and 2020s: air war over Iraq
Advertisement
During the 2010s, the Obama administration entered a de facto alliance with the Islamic Republic to combat ISIS. The US provided air cover while Iran fought alongside Iraqi Shi’a militias on the ground.
In October 2017, two months before ISIS officially lost the vast majority of its territories in Iraq and Syria, Donald Trump announced the US’s withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal and re-imposed sanctions on the Islamic Republic.
Relations quickly soured, as Tehran retaliated by targeting US forces in Iraq, ushering in an air war. Rockets were fired at American targets in Iraq by Kataib Hizballah, an Iran-allied militia, and the US retaliated with air strikes.
Advertisement
During the 2010s, the Obama administration entered a de facto alliance with the Islamic Republic to combat ISIS (Getty)
Violence spiralled further on December 27 2019, when the same militia attacked the al-Taji base, an Iraqi military facility housing US forces, killing an American contractor. Two days later, the US responded with an air raid on several targets related to the Iraqi militia, killing at least 25 of its members.
On December 31 2019, the US embassy in Baghdad’s Green Zone was stormed by Iraqi demonstrators affiliated with the militia.
Trump, faced with optics reminiscent of the 1979 hostage crisis, ordered a drone strike on January 3 2020 that killed General Qassem Soleimani, the commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards’ Quds Force, as well as Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, leader of the militia. Iran retaliated by launching 22 Fateh ballistic missiles at two Iraqi bases housing American forces on January 8.
Soleimani’s death was the first time the US had directly killed a senior Iranian state official. It crossed the threshold from proxy war to direct state-on-state targeting.
Advertisement
About the author
Ibrahim Al-Marashi is an Adjunct Professor, IE School of Humanities, IE University; California State University San Marcos.
In the aftermath, Iran’s military accidentally shot down Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 outside of Tehran, mistaking it for US retaliation. It was a tragic echo of the Vincennes incident.
During this period, Iran generally showed restraint in its air attacks on the US. During the 2025 12-Day Israel-Iran War, for instance, it launched a single, choreographed military strike against the al-Udeid Airbase in Qatar which was housing US forces, very similar to its carefully orchestrated 2020 missile strikes.
Advertisement
Today, that restraint is no longer in place. What we are seeing now is widespread Iranian retaliation throughout the entire region.
A long, undeclared war
For Iranians, the circumstances that led to the downing of its airliner in 1988 resonate with the present: the direct military action of June 2025, Trump ordering the assassination of Soleimani in January 2020, and economic warfare through sanctions.
The 2015 Iran deal was the first attempt to end the conflict between the two nations that began in the 1980s. The deal was Barack Obama’s major diplomatic triumph, and Trump has been fixated on undoing the policies of his predecessor.
Advertisement
However, the recent escalation between the US and Iran was also a legacy of the Biden administration, which had the chance to de-escalate the long war between Iran and the US after winning the November 2020 elections.
US deployment to the Gulf in the 1980s was disproportionate to the threat to shipping, and was seen by many as a flimsy pretext to seek out war with Iran. A similarly dubious justification – that Iran was just weeks away from a nuclear weapon – was made by Israel to justify its 12-Day War in June 2025.
As of February 2026, the US has initiated the latest round in this conflict. To date, both states managed to escalate without crossing into total war, but that equilibrium may now be breaking down.
The teenage boy and both women sustained facial injuries as a result of the attack.Anyone who was in the area at the time, who may have video footage, CCTV or other, are asked to get in contact with officers on 101 quoting reference 171 15/03/25.
A family has spoken out about how their son’s positive attitude is helping them all cope after his life-changing motorcycle accident.
Jack Watts, 19, spent five days in intensive care where he fought for his life, and underwent an eight-hour surgery where two metal plates were fitted to stabilise his back.
His Parents were told that he was paralysed from the chest down, and they faced an incredibly long road to recovery, including seven weeks at the Royal Victoria Hospital and seven weeks at Musgrave Park Hospital.
Speaking to Belfast Live, Jack’s father, Norman, explained how the tragedy unfolded.
Advertisement
He said, “Jack has autism and ADHD. On his 18th birthday, Jack wanted a motorbike, and because of his autism, he loved the bike as it allowed him to be independent. He could take himself away and meet people.
“The bike was his lifeline; he really loved it. He used to take himself down to Newcastle where the bikers meet up and he would go there three of four times a week. We got a phone call on 6th November to say Jack had been involved in an accident.
“Even at the site of the crash he told me that he thought he was paralysed because he couldn’t feel anything, he thought his lungs had collapsed and his ribs had broken and he was right about that as well.
“He spent 8 hours in surgery, they told us straight away that evening he was paralysed, the spinal damage was that bad that nothing could be done. The surgeries really were about keeping Jack alive. It was a success, thank god.
Advertisement
“It was hard to ask the doctor or surgeon if Jack will ever walk again. They told us never say never but we know that he more than likely won’t.
“He was holding out hope that he might and I eventually had to tell him that he won’t be able to walk again. Once I told him everything felt better because I think he knew himself and it allowed him to focus on what he can do rather than what he can’t.”
Since the accident, Norman says that Jack’s positive attitude has allowed him to move forward with his life.
He said: “I think his autism has helped him deal with it. He just accepted it and deals with it and picks himself up every day. He has a girlfriend who has autism as well and they meet up or he’ll meet up with his friends to Rushmere Shopping Centre. Everyone knows him now and keeps an eye out for him and supports him.
“If you were to talk to him, you wouldn’t feel one bit sorry for him. He is only a young lad and he knows he’s in a wheelchair for the rest of his life and he just accepts it and focuses on what he will be able to do.
“He still says that it was the best few months of his life when he had the bike and if he was to do it all again he wouldn’t change it.”
Advertisement
While Jack has maintained a positive attitude, things have been hard for his family, coping with caring for Jack in a way they never imagined they would need to.
Norman said: “For us, it has been hard. To watch your child struggle to get in and out of bed, to help them get dressed, it is hard. He’s 19 and he’s in a nappy. Some people think that he’s just lost his mobility but everything has to be retrained.
“We are still in the early stages of working through it and it is hard but his positivity is what is getting us through it. Other people would struggle even to get out of bed but he perseveres and gets himself out and chats to the people in the shops. He is dealing with it as well as anyone would if not better.
Advertisement
“We are still very positive, I have been off work for four months now, I will be going back in a couple of months and my wife is going to basically become Jack’s carer.
“She is amazing and we are taking a lot of the recovery on ourselves. We are happy and we are together as a family. Jack is the same boy that he was before the accident, he just doesn’t have the same body.”
A family friend, Stephanie Devlin, set up a GoFundMe to help Norman and his family give Jack an even better quality of life.
Advertisement
Norman said, “It was amazing that the GoFundMe was set up; it was not something we would have done personally.
“We would have gotten him everything he needed eventually but it is so nice that people are donating to help us get those things quicker.
“For all the bad things going on in the world, this is such a positive thing and it just gives me such a warm feeling. It is the best thing that could have happened from it, it is unbelievable.
“The money is all going towards getting Jack his independence. We are looking for an attachment for his wheelchair and then in the future a lighter wheelchair. The standard ones are around 20 kilos, the lighter ones are 7 kilos and would be so much easier for Jack to get around in. It is all about making life easier for Jack.
Advertisement
“I find it amazing that people who don’t even know us are willing to donate to help us.
“Thank you to everybody, the kindness and generosity that people have shown us is overwhelming. It just shows you that there is still so much good in the world.”
“Aether is a play about the unknown, and has multiple narratives colliding and entangling with this ensemble of particles,” Howlett begins, talking a mile a minute because quites simply, the play, like Howlett’s conversation, covers a lot of ground. She continues, “The central story is of Sophie, this PhD student at Cambridge who’s a particle physicist, and she’s working on a dark matter experiment at CERN in Geneva [the European Organisation for Nuclear Research]. Physicists are right now this decision because this experiment’s coming to an end with the Large Hadron Collider and they’ve found the Higgs [boson, the particle that confirms the existence of the Higgs field which permeates the universe and gives mass to particles like quarks and electrons], but the next thing behind that supersymmetry of dark matter hasn’t really come forward.
“If this story helps even one family understand what might be happening when someone suddenly becomes confused, then it is worth telling.”
A Co Down man is encouraging people to recognise the signs and symptoms of delirium
Advertisement
Rodney Moore’s father, John developed the condition following a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) that caused a sudden and alarming change in his behaviour.
Rodney, from Bangor, recalls receiving a distressed phone call from his mother, Ena, one morning when his father’s behaviour suddenly changed.
He explained: “Dad had been fairly clear the night before, but the next morning my mum phoned in a panic and said he was completely different. He was talking incoherently and seemed to have lost his frame of reference almost overnight.
Advertisement
“The last time Dad had those symptoms, it turned out to be a Urinary Tract Infection that had led to delirium. So when my mum rang, I told her to phone an ambulance and get him checked straight away.”
John was taken to the Ulster Hospital where he was assessed in the Emergency Department before being admitted. Rodney said it was distressing to see the sudden change in his father.
Rodney added: “You could see the frustration on his face. He was not able to hold a conversation and did not seem to recognise us. It was really difficult to witness.
“Although the infection was treated with antibiotics, the delirium took time to settle. For nearly three weeks he has no memory at all of what happened, not being in hospital, nothing.”
Advertisement
Rodney admitted that before this experience, he knew very little about delirium: “I had heard the word before, but did not really know what it meant. I thought the confusion was just part of the infection, but I did not realise the infection could actually cause delirium.
“That is why it is so important for people to know about it. If someone suddenly becomes very confused or starts talking nonsense, particularly an older person, it could be something like a Urinary Tract Infection causing delirium.
“If my mum rang tomorrow and said dad seemed confused again, I would have a much better idea of what might be happening. Before this, we would not have had a clue. Just having a bit of awareness means you can recognise the signs and get help quickly.”
Advertisement
Rodney also praised the care his father received in the Ulster Hospital: “The staff were incredibly busy, but they were very good with him. We developed a routine where we would visit for a while, give the staff space to do their jobs and then come back later. We knew he was in the right place getting the care he needed.”
South Eastern Trust, Consultant Psychiatrist, Dr Dearbhail Lewis, explained that delirium is a common but often misunderstood medical condition.
“Delirium is an acute change in a person’s mental state which can occur when someone becomes unwell. Any illness serious enough to require hospital treatment can potentially trigger delirium.
“People may become very confused, restless or agitated, while others may become unusually sleepy. They may struggle to make sense of their surroundings and sometimes believe things are happening that are not actually happening. Some patients may even see or hear things that are not there, which can be very frightening for them and their families.”
Advertisement
Dr Lewis said infections such as Urinary Tract Infections’ are a well-known cause of delirium, but there are many others: “Delirium can also be caused by issues such as pain, dehydration, constipation or difficulty passing urine. Identifying the cause is very important so we can treat it.
“We work to reassure patients and help them stay orientated to where they are. Treating pain, encouraging food and fluids and addressing the underlying medical cause can all help improve symptoms. In some cases, short-term medication may be used if someone is very distressed or agitated.”
While delirium can be alarming, Dr Lewis reassured families that it is usually temporary: “For most patients, delirium does resolve and they return close to their previous level of functioning, although it can take some time. For some people with existing memory problems, recovery may be slower.”
Advertisement
Rodney hopes sharing his father’s experience will help others recognise the warning signs sooner.
Rodney added, “If this story helps even one family understand what might be happening when someone suddenly becomes confused, then it is worth telling. A little bit of knowledge can make a big difference.”
Timothée Chalamet, Emma Stone, Leonardo DiCaprio, and more industry titans will also battle it out in the acting categories, while Frankenstein, Marty Supreme, Sentimental Value, Train Dreams, and Hamnet are among the big hitters hoping to reap rewards.
Before the ceremony kicks off, though, the evening’s first competition actually unfolds long before the envelopes are opened.
Advertisement
The red carpet is where stars make their earliest statement, and for many, it’s a chance to claim a victory in style even if the night’s trophies go elsewhere.
Early arrivals this year included a daring display from best actress contender Renate Reinsve, as the Norwegian starlet went bold with a super high leg split. In contrast, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You lead Rose Byrne wore a strapless black number pooling at her feet and adorned with floral embroidery.
Hamnet actress Jessie Buckley opted for a colour-clashing moment (Picture: Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
Sentimental Value star Renate Reinsve flashed her legs in a daring red number (Picture: John Shearer/WireImage)
If I Had Legs I’d Kick You lead Rose Byrne looked stunning in a floral black gown (Picture: Reuters)
Wunmi Mosaku dazzled in an emerald sequin dress, cradling her baby bump (Picture: Reuters)
Raye, aka the artist everyone is championing to sing the next James Bond soundtrack, also spread some love by flashing a hand heart to complement her red satin gown, while Robert Downey Jr. and his producer wife, Susan, put on a lovey-dovey display.
Soon enough, the main characters of the evening stepped out, with Hamnet lead Jessie Buckley, who plays Agnes, William Shakespeare’s wife, turning heads in a vibrant Chanel look.
The Irish movie star, also known for roles in Wicked Little Letters and I’m Thinking of Ending Things, beamed in her colour-clashing ensemble, a flowing pink skirt on her bottom half and a red top, which she teamed with matching lipstick.
Advertisement
Demi Moore went for scales and feathers in one of the most outlandish looks of the night (Picture: Reuters)
Raye, aka the girl everyone is championing to sing the next Bond theme, spread some love as she arrived on the carpet (Picture: Reuters)
Robert Downey Jr. and his producer wife, Susan, were all lovey-dovey (Picture: Reuters)
Internet star and Oscars red carpet reporter Amelia Dimoldenberg wowed in a strapless dress with a statement necklace (Picture: David Fisher/Shutterstock)
Other dazzling arrivals came from Sinners star and supporting actress nominee Wunmi Mosaku in emerald sequins as she proudly cradled her baby bump. The Deadpool & Wolverine actress is expecting her second child with Tash Moseley.
Demi Moore got the green memo, too, seemingly channelling both reptile and peacock chic in half scales, half feathers with one of the most outlandish outfit choices of the night.
Her shimmering attire was designed by Gucci and had a dramatic train and neckline.
Weapons star Amy Madigan couldn’t look cooler (Picture: Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images)
Emma Stone was a vision in silver (Picture: Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock)
Elle Fanning looked angelic in her Oscars outfit (Picture: Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)
Zoe Saldaña caught eyes with a huge necklace, paired with a lacy, lingerie-inspired look (Picture: Reuters)
On the more demure side, Elle Fanning served ballerina elegance in a corset scattered with blossom embellishments, while Zoe Saldaña wore a black, lacy, lingerie-inspired dress.
We also had Bugonia’s Stone in sparkling silver, while Weapons villain Amy Madigan defied traditional red carpet glamour with her own quirkiness, her blazer made up of feathers and paired with tinted shades for a super cool edge.
For our leading men, Chalamet was flying solo on the carpet, forgoing the chance to pose alongside girlfriend Kylie Jenner in her risqué red look.
Advertisement
Timothée Chalamet defied the classic black tux tradition in all-white (Picture: David Fisher/Shutterstock)
Kylie Jenner debuted her look on Instagram, choosing not to walk the red carpet with her leading man (Picture: Instagram)
Leonardo DiCaprio seldom strays from tradition on red carpets (Picture: David Fisher/Shutterstock)
Jacob Elordi looked super suave and worlds away from The Creature (Picture: Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
After a week of controversy for dissing opera and ballet, with many working in the arts believing the backlash has scuppered his best actor chances, he pivoted away from the classic black tux, wearing all white.
Also sporting a moustache and an unruly hairstyle, he completed his trendy vibe with boots and a collection of silver rings.
Someone who seldom strays from tradition, however, is DiCaprio, who rocked up in the black suit and bowtie he’s so famous for.
Stellan Skarsgård proudly posed with his wife, Megan Everett (Picture: Shutterstock)
Award presenter Pedro Pascal wore a white shirt with a twist (Picture: Julian Hamilton/Getty Images)
Ethan Hawke and wife Ryan looked every inch the Hollywood ‘IT’ couple (Picture: Matei Horvath/FilmMagic)
Sinners lead Michael B. Jordan could be the man of the night (Picture: AFP via Getty Images)
Paul Mescal and Gracie Abrams packed on the PDA at another awards show (Picture: John Angelillo/UPI/Shutterstock)
Mirroring his suaveness, Jacob Elordi was worlds away from The Creature, donning a suit with oversized lapels and a matching waistcoat.
And in one of the sweetest moments of tonight’s carpet, Swedish actor and Sentimental Value’s Stellan Skarsgård placed an arm around his wife, Megan Everett, whom he wed in 2009.
Closing out the film A-listers, award presenter Pedro Pascal put a stylish spin on a plain white shirt thanks to a floral accessory, while Ethan Hawke and his wife, Ryan, were the ultimate Hollywood ‘IT’ couple, she in a deep red gown and he in designer shades.
Advertisement
Later arrivals were Michael B. Jordan, hotly tipped to win big for Sinners and expected to be the main man of the night, while Paul Mescal and girlfriend Gracie Abrams continued their red carpet PDA parade in some affectionate posing.
Polish-American costume designer Malgosia Turzanska, nominated for Hamnet, made a political statement (Picture: Reuters)
Glennon Doyle also held a purse with a political message on amid outrage over ICE killings (Picture: Reuters)
Sara Bareilles wore an ‘ICE OUT’ badge, and her guest showed support for Palestine with a watermelon (Picture: Reuters)
As has become expected at major events in recent years, tonight also saw several attendees grasp the opportunity to make a political statement.
Polish-American costume designer Malgosia Turzanska, nominated for Hamnet, had an ‘ICE OUT’ pin on her dress, as did songstress Sara Bareilles, while Glennon Doyle took a more explicit approach, unashamedly carrying a ‘F**K ICE’ purse.
Their accessories made their red carpet debut amid continued outrage towards the US government’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) and its aggressive tactics, including lethal force.
The 54-year-old had asked his sister to place the bet for him, according to friend
A friend of John Alford said the Scots-born actor had placed a winning bet on a race at Cheltenham before he was found dead in his prison cell.
Advertisement
The former Grange Hill and London’s Burning star died just weeks after he was sentenced to eight and a half years in prison.
The 54-year-old was found guilty on four counts of sexual activity with a child, alongside two further counts of sexual assault and assault by penetration involving a second young victim.
The Mirror reports his close friend, Justin Smith, posted on Facebook: “John liked a bet, he phoned his sister to put a bet on for him.”
The horse, with odds of 20/1, won the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle on Friday but John had already been found unresponsive.
Advertisement
Alford once had a promising career stretching through the 1980s and 1990s. However his fame faded, and in January he was jailed for eight and a half years following his conviction for child sex offences.
His death is now being investigated and a post-mortem is due to take place with further toxicology tests.
A Prison Service spokesman said: “John Shannon died in prison on 13 March 2026. As with all deaths in custody, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will investigate.”
John attended Anna Scher’s stage school from age 11 before securing a part in ITV sitcom Not and Then. His breakthrough came when he joined the cast of Grange Hill, taking on the character of Robbie Wright when he was 13.
Advertisement
During his tenure as Robbie, he participated in the show’s anti-drug campaign single, Just Say No. Alford’s acting career continued into adulthood when he landed the part of Billy Ray in London’s Burning, a role he held for five years. His final screen appearance came in 2017 as a prison guard in The Hatton Garden Job.
In September, he was convicted of sexually assaulting two girls, aged 14 and 15. Prosecuting barrister Julie Whitby told the court both victims were intoxicated when the assaults occurred. All offences took place at the residence of a third girl whose father was acquainted with Alford.
A third-party report was lodged with the police by the mother of the 15-year-old girl on 11 April 2022, as previously informed to the jury. The actor was arrested the next day after both girls were interviewed.
In his statement to the police, Alford claimed that one of the girls “kept on trying to kiss me” and had told him she was 17. He insisted: “At no point did I touch her in any sexual way whatsoever.”
Both victims submitted impact statements which were presented by a judge during the court proceedings before sentencing.
Get more Daily Record exclusives by signing up for free to Google’s preferred sources. Click HERE.
Trafford council is looking to step up enforcement action in the area to improve safety and ease congestion. Its focus is on yellow box junction offences at six key sites, including around the borough’s largest shopping centre.
These sites have been chosen following a ‘compliance’ check, with a council spokeswoman telling the Local Democracy Reporting Service the authority had carried out seven days of site surveys at ‘known locations of non-compliance’. The results of these, alongside stakeholder feedback, were used to determine which junctions should be considered for enforcement measures.
The spokeswoman added: “Drivers must not enter a box junction unless the exit or lane is clear. The higher the number of contraventions, the more likely traffic queues will grow, and signal cycles become less effective. The impacts can spread more widely, around the junction, impacting all road users, including the emergency services.
Advertisement
“Trafford, like other councils, has limited resources available (such as cameras and processing capacity) and contravention counts are ranked to make sure that any interventions are put in place where they are most needed. We know that enforcement has improved compliance significantly, where we currently have cameras.”
Drivers must not enter a yellow box junction unless the lane or exit ahead is completely clear and they can pass through without stopping. The crackdown would see new fixed cameras operating 24/7 basis, and anyone flouting the rules would face a fine. A full list of the proposed locations for additional enforcement can be found below.
Currently, there are just two such cameras in Trafford – at the White City Circle roundabout and at Junction 7 of the M60. A third, mobile camera also covers ‘trouble spots’, Trafford council said.
The authority is now seeking public opinions on its plans to widen enforcement measures in Trafford. A consultation on the scheme will run until Tuesday, April 21.
Advertisement
Money raised through fines are kept by the council, and will be spent on recouping enforcement costs, or on public transport provision, highway projects or local environmental improvements.
Stephen Adshead, Trafford Council’s executive member for highways, environmental and traded services, said: “We want to use this enforcement action to deter rule breaking and improve safety and traffic flow for all road users. Before we finalise the plans we want to gather as many views as possible.
“We are keen to hear from people who have alternative ideas or suggestions on how to reduce congestion and improve road safety on Trafford’s network.”
Locations being considered for enforcement cameras are:
Advertisement
B5214 Trafford Boulevard / Redclyffe Circle / M60 Manchester Outer Ring Road off slip road
Redclyffe Circle/M60 Manchester Outer Ring Road off slip road / B5214 Barton Road
B95214 Trafford Boulevard / car park access
Trafford Way / Bridgewater Circle / B5214 Trafford Boulevard
Advertisement
Bridgewater Circle / Unnamed Road / B5214 Trafford Boulevard
White City Circle – Trafford Rd (A5603) intersection toward Chester Road.
Nearly 4,000 police officers have been injured in the line of duty in the past five years, with almost half sustaining an injury as a result of an assault.
New figures released to Belfast Live by the PSNI under a Freedom of Information request shows the number of injured at work years between January 1 2021 and Dec 31 2025.
The number of PSNI officers who were injured in the line of duty in the last five years stands at 3,778 with 2,039 sustaining injuries as the result of an assault.
More than 2,000 sustained injuries including bites, fractures, bruises, headaches, cuts and abrasions.
PFNI Chair Liam Kelly told Belfast Live he is appalled by the high number of officers who are assaulted.
He said: “Every year there are additionally a higher number of attacks that thankfully did not result in any physical injuries being reported. The price officers pay for doing their job and safeguarding this entire community is far too high. They are often singled out for brutal, unprovoked and unwarranted attack by thugs.
Advertisement
“Our award-winning ‘Let Them Protect’ campaign in June last year highlighted the extent to which officers are targeted. We said then that nine of our men and women are assaulted every day.
“Thankfully, in the last year that daily total has reduced to around seven a-day. It’s a slight improvement but there’s still a long way to go before we effectively tackle and reverse this worrying trend.”
Mr Kelly added: “These figures remain intolerable and unacceptable. We know there are new sentencing guidelines on the way and it’s imperative they are sufficiently robustly applied by the courts to effectively punish offenders and deter would-be attackers.
“What these figures show is the clear need for a zero-tolerance, no-nonsense approach by the courts and the Department of Justice. We have to call ‘time’ on assaults on officers and we look to our courts and legislators to have our backs.”
Advertisement
Want to see more of the stories you love from Belfast Live? Making us your preferred source on Googlemeans you’ll get more of our exclusives, top stories and must-read content straight away. To add Belfast Live as a preferred source, simply click here.
Comparisons to Wunderhorse abound in early coverage of the band, with singer Finn Keogh’s heartfelt delivery and the raw, grunge-flecked sound of many of their songs making the comparison almost inevitable. There are worse acts to be lumped in with than a breakout star who easily sold out Alexandra Palace on his last UK tour, but to cast Keo as just a copycat band is unfair in the extreme. Sure, the angsty snarl of ‘Thorn’ leans that way, but ‘Best I Can Do’. aired for the first time at their Electric Ballroom show, is inimitably their own and points to a band who are more than comfortable in their own lane.
The DWP has confirmed most legacy benefit claimants have now moved to Universal Credit, with migration notices continuing to be sent to remaining claimants ahead of March 2026 deadline
The DWP has issued an update regarding a significant benefits change concerning Universal Credit. The department has been dispatching letters to specific claimants about the matter.
Advertisement
Millions of individuals receiving older benefits being phased out in favour of Universal Credit have been progressively transferred to the new system. The process of transitioning people from these former payments, referred to as ‘legacy benefits’, has been taking place in phases over several years.
The vast majority of recipients have now switched to Universal Credit. The DWP had previously confirmed that certain benefits would cease at the end of March 2026 as part of the initiative, reports the Mirror.
Recipients of these six legacy benefits have been transferred as part of the migration programme:
Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Income Support
Housing Benefit
Child Tax Credit
Working Tax Credit
The DWP was approached for an update on the initiative and who remains to be moved to Universal Credit.
A DWP spokesperson stated: “The department has been migrating people from legacy benefits to Universal Credit since 2022 and most have now moved. Help is at hand for those making the move to Universal Credit, including our dedicated helpline, guidance on gov.uk, and the Citizens Advice’s free and independent Help to Claim service.
Advertisement
“All legacy benefit claimants who have received a migration notice continue to receive their legacy benefit up until the point they move over to Universal Credit, or the deadline passes.”
These migration notices are correspondence sent out inviting recipients to apply for Universal Credit. You typically need to submit your application for the new benefit within three months, enabling you to begin receiving payments through the scheme.
Once the deadline passes, your payments through your existing benefit will cease.
The DWP provides an ‘enhanced support journey’ to assist more vulnerable claimants on Employment and Support Allowance, and on Income Support, with the transition. This can include telephone calls and even a home visit to help you complete your application and transfer across.
Advertisement
The department has also pledged that if you transfer over and your circumstances remain unchanged, your benefit entitlement will remain the same when you are on Universal Credit.
