By STEPHEN M. LEPORE, US SENIOR REPORTER

Published: 22:14 BST, 30 August 2026 | Updated: 23:59 BST, 30 August 2026

US forces made their first strikes at Iran in over a month Sunday, firing at two rocket launchers on the Strait of Hormuz, with Tehran responding by attacking American forces in Jordan. 

Forces with the Revolutionary Guard Corps were seen preparing to launch rockets with sea mines into the strait, Central Command spokesman Captain Tim Hawkins confirmed to The Daily Mail.   

‘US forces are monitoring the area closely and remain prepared to protect the free flow of commerce through this essential waterway,’ Hawkins said.    

The US military last week completed clearing sea mines from the strait´s international shipping routes, he added. Iranian news outlets reported sounds of explosions near Larak Island on the strait.

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Shortly following the report of the US strikes, Fox News reported that Iranian forces were attacking American troops stationed in Jordan.

Almost all of the incoming missiles have been intercepted and there have been no significant impacts.  

The Guard in a statement carried by Iran’s state broadcaster noted ‘the martyrdom and injury of several of our fighters and compatriots.’

The statement said the attack will ‘result in punishment of the aggressor.’

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US forces made their first strikes at Iran in over a month Sunday, firing at two rocket launches on the Strait of Hormuz as Donald Trump’s War in Iran passes the six month mark

Semiofficial news outlets in Iran reported sounds of explosions near Larak island on the strait

The fighting comes just days after the Trump administration said it would turn its focus to increasing economic pressure – rather than military action – to try to end its war with Iran. 

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The shifting strategy centers on threats to punish any country or entity that continues to conduct business with Tehran.

The turn to using sanctions as the cudgel of choice comes as the administration weighs diminished munitions stockpiles after months of war, sparking concerns that the prolonged conflict could undermine U.S. military readiness in other parts of the globe.

As the conflict grinds on, Trump´s talk of finding a quick end to the war also appears to be fading. 

He stressed last week that he´s ‘not in a hurry’ to get Iran back to the negotiating table, and he continues making the case that the Islamic Republic´s leadership is on the ropes.

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Trump has consistently emphasized that the U.S. and Israel campaign has been devastating for Iran´s navy and air force. Iranian officials have said the country has suffered $270 billion in direct and indirect damage. 

Israeli military strikes in the first weeks of the war wiped out much of the theocratic government´s leadership structure.

But Iran has found leverage through its own strikes in the critical Strait of Hormuz where relatively few vessels carrying oil and liquefied natural gas are risking passage. 

Sailors conduct night flight operations aboard USS George Washington (CVN 73) as the ship sails in regional waters supporting operations in the Middle East

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Forces with the Revolutionary Guard Corps were seen preparing to launch rockets with sea mines into the strait

Iran still has enough drones and missiles to fire at vessels transiting the vital energy waterway, through which 20 percent of the world’s oil normally flows, effectively controlling much of the traffic in the strait.

Trump has repeatedly declared that the ‘Strait of Hormuz is open,’ saying 24 vessels passed through last week. But that´s a fraction of the roughly 130 vessels that passed through the vital waterway daily before the war began.

Earlier on Sunday, a multinational coalition overseen by the U.S. Navy said commercial traffic through the strait remained at ‘reduced levels.’ 

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And a monitoring agency run by the British military said an unknown projectile struck a tanker ship on Saturday north of Khasab, Oman, in the strait.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Organization said the ship had been moving inbound and no casualties or environmental impact had been reported. 

It cited unspecified military authorities. There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

The street was once home to the popular Greek restaurant, The Gardenia

Cambridge has lots of streets and areas that are worth the visit. There is the Market Place where the historical market is held, and then there is the Backs with the beautiful King’s College chapel and River Cam.

However, there is one street that once wasn’t even a street. Rose Crescent in Cambridge used to be part of a tavern.

The street was originally the yard of the Rose Inn and was known as Waterloo Place in 1818. The pub was a favourite spot for Samuel Pepys, who was known for writing first-person accounts of the Great Fire of London, the Plague and the Second Dutch War.

The pub was also used as the headquarters for the County Club, which invited people from any walk of life to dine together.

The pub yard underwent a transformation and by 1825, it became Rose Crescent. While it may not seem obvious today that Rose Crescent was once the yard of a tavern, it’s still well-visited.

It’s often very busy on weekends as it’s home to restaurants such as Franco Manca and McDonald’s. Greek restaurant, The Gardenia used to be on this street until it shut down in 2025. There are also some famous brands along the street such as Le Creuset and Jo Malone.

One of Rose Crescent’s most popular shops that’s visited by hundreds of people is the Harry Potter experience store. Filled with fantasy-themed merchandise, this is the perfect place for any Potter fan to visit.

To visit an important part of Cambridge’s history, Rose Crescent is an interesting place to visit.

Scottie Scheffler won the Tour Championship and the FedEx Cup for the second time in three years, surpassing Tiger Woods for most PGA Tour career earnings with a total of $130m

Scottie Scheffler put any debate about the season’s standout performer to rest on Sunday, overcoming a three-shot deficit with a 4-under 66 to clinch the Tour Championship, secure a second FedEx Cup title and surpass Tiger Woods as the highest career earner in PGA Tour history.

Scheffler announced his charge with a 5-iron to within 2 inches of the cup on the 211-yard second hole. He drew level with Viktor Hovland courtesy of a 25-foot birdie on the fourth hole, moved ahead for the first time on the 13th and held firm to triumph at East Lake.

It was Scheffler’s third victory of the year – two of which came in the last three weeks during the PGA Tour’s postseason – matching Chris Gotterup, Matt Fitzpatrick and U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark for the most titles in 2026. He claimed his maiden FedEx Cup two years ago.

The Jack Nicklaus Award for PGA Tour player of the year is decided by a players’ vote. Scheffler has scooped the honour for the past four consecutive years – a fifth would see him equal Woods’ record for the most successive awards.

Topping the career earnings list was always a matter of when, not if. The $40 million purse at the Tour Championship now counts as official money, with Scheffler’s $10 million share pushing his career total to $130,390,661.

Woods, who never competed for a purse exceeding $10 million during his dominant years between 1997 and 2008, had held the career money record for nearly 26 years.

It offered a measure of redemption for Scheffler, who had previously lost in a playoff to Hovland at the Travelers Championship, one of five runner-up finishes he endured this year.

Rory McIlroy, meanwhile, couldn’t build on his brilliant 63 on Saturday and put himself out of contention with a nightmare start on Sunday which included bogeys on the first, fourth and fifth holes.

The Masters champion fought back and ended up under-par for his round with a closing birdie, to shoot a 69 and finish in a seven-way tie for fourth place, five shots behind Scheffler.

McIlroy pocketed $1,695,000 for his efforts in East Lake and will be back in action in a fortnight when he plays in the Amgem Irish Open at Doonbeg, Co Clare.

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Taking advantage of today’s bank holiday, crowds once again filled Le Mans Crescent for the third evening of the annual festival.

It was touch and go around 7pm, when the heavens opened, together with lightning and thunder.

The music on the main stage had to be shut down for a while, only to return shortly after to cheers from the crowd, many of whom were under umbrellas and ponchos.

Liberty X backstage at Bolton Food and Drink Festival 2026 (Image: Bolton News)

Ahead of their performance, Liberty X told the Bolton News that they were “very excited” about the show.

Kelli Young added: “We’re gutted we weren’t here earlier for all the food, I have to say — very envious. We’ve been given some bits and bobs to try, so that’s exciting.”

Commenting on what it means to be performing 25 years on from their Popstars breakthrough, Michelle Heaton said: “I think it’s a combination of being really flattered to have people still coming out to see us, and also feeling really old.

“When we look out at the crowd now, especially I’ve noticed the last few months when we’ve been doing gigs, is that they really are reciprocating all the song lyrics and the music and the dance routines.

“And I don’t think it’s just people our age — it’s the younger generation as well. So they’ve introduced them to our music, and that’s amazing.”

Liberty X at Bolton Food and Drink Festival 2026 (Image: Bolton News)

It was particularly special for Jessica Taylor to be performing in Bolton.

She said: “It’s amazing to be here on the 21st anniversary. We’re so chuffed.

“My mum is actually Bolton born and bred, so it’s nice for me to be here and do a show she’s come to watch. It’s lovely.

“Our message to the people of Bolton generally: thank you for your support for the last 25 years. The fact that we’re still able to come here and do shows like this is a treat.”

Liberty X hit the stage at 9.15pm, playing a selection of their biggest hits from the early 2000s – an era which seems like yesterday to some of the audience members, who were singing along word-by-word.

While food and drink is the main focus of the annual four-day festival, the event also offers a cracking line-up of entertainment, with live music across two stages and other activities throughout the weekend.

The previous night’s headliners, 70s soul icons The Real Thing, went down a storm, with people dancing in every corner of Le Mans Crescent.

Other highlights from the weekend have included the impressive line-up of top chefs, including James Martin and Marco Pierre White.

Elsewhere, the festival featured hundreds of independent food and drink traders, selling everything from pasties to paella.

Liberty X formed in 2001, after losing out to Hearsay members on the reality TV singing contest Popstars.

Throughout the early 2000s, the band had a number of hit singles, including ‘Just A Little’, which reached the top of the UK charts in 2002 and won the BRIT Award for Best British Single.

Liberty X transported crowds back to the noughties with their set (Image: Bolton News)

Having first started out as a five-piece band, Liberty X now consists of three original members Michelle Heaton, Jessica Taylor and Kelli Young.

The trio reformed Liberty X in 2017 and have been playing events and festivals all over the country ever since.

The final day of Bolton Food and Drink Festival is Monday, August 31.

Rio Ferdinand has encouraged Manchester United to find an ‘understudy’ rather than a replacement for Luke Shaw before the summer transfer deadline.

Shaw and the rest of Michael Carrick’s squad came in for heavy criticism after falling to a 2-0 defeat to newly promoted Hull City in their Premier League opener last weekend.

The 31-year-old left-back also endured a difficult start against Ipswich as he was beaten all ends up by Abdul Fatawu on the wing for Leif Davis’ strike in the 29th minute on Sunday afternoon.

However, Bruno Fernandes inspired a spirited fightback with a stunning hat-trick to ensure the Red Devils came away from Old Trafford with a 5-2 victory – the club’s first win of the campaign.

Carrick decided to take Shaw off for Noussair Mazraoui with 17 minutes remaining of normal time, one of five changes made by the United head coach in a breathless second half at the Theatre of Dreams.

After the game, Rio Ferdinand launched an impassioned defence of Shaw on his Rio Ferdinand Presents YouTube channel, claiming the England full-back had been one of United’s most ‘consistent’ performances over the last 12 months.

According to Ferdinand, United should be looking for left-back to ‘bed in over time’ rather than someone to force Shaw – the club’s longest serving player – from the side.

The legendary ex-United and England defender said: ‘In a couple of my WhatsApp chats, some United fans were saying, “Luke Shaw, get rid!”… Luke Shaw, over the last year, has been one of our most consistent performers and you’re sitting there saying, “He should be there”, or, “He should be somewhere else”… no!

‘Go and get a left-back that we want to actually bed in over time to be a replacement for someone like Luke Shaw.

‘You think you’re going to go in the market and find someone? It’s like £60m we’d have to pay. We ain’t got that!

‘We haven’t got the budget after paying the amount of money that we have to reinforce the midfield.’

Ferdinand argued that one ‘below-par’ game was not enough for fans to start calling for Shaw’s head.

He added: Listen, Luke Shaw has had better games, yes, but is he one where we’re looking to improve that area immediately? No, no. We need back-up in that area now with the thought of long-term.

‘Let’s not get carried away. There’s too many people getting carried away and have personal vendettas against people to try and make people think he’s not good enough.

‘Just look at the last year’s performance. He was one of our top four or five performing players consistency-wise, 100 per cent. One below-par game today doesn’t change things for me.

‘The only thing I would say is in the left-back area, yes, we haven’t got that understudy there where you’re thinking that’s a ready-made replacement looking to come in. We haven’t got that guy right now.’

United have been linked with a host of left-backs across the summer, including Newcastle and England star Lewis Hall.

However, Newcastle have reportedly ruled out a move for Hall and the Red Devils are fast running out of time to strengthen the position.

‘The club don’t think Harry Amass is that guy it seems because he doesn’t seem to be close to it at the moment,’ Ferdinand went on.

‘That’s the way it is, whether we believe Harry Amass is good enough or not.

‘It seems the club doesn’t feel like that so I don’t look it at like: replace Luke Shaw. I look at it like: let’s find someone who could be a replacement in time, over time, because I still think he [Shaw] is good enough to play.

‘It’s just the volume of games we’re going to have this season, he isn’t going to be able to play all of those games.’

After the club’s nightmare start at Hull, Ferdinand was pleased to see Fernandes and Co turn it around with an ‘entertaining’ display against another of the Premier League’s new boys.

‘It was nice to watch after an uncomfortable first half,’ the six-time Premier League winner said of United’s showing against Ipswich.

‘We’d given up too many chances, they should have probably gone in ahead at half-time.

‘I will say the first half was nervy but this game is about entertainment and you’ve got to embrace that.

‘We’re nit-picking, we’re overcritical. Sometimes it’s about entertainment. Do you want to pay for your ticket to sit and watch the game live or on your sofa and be entertained?

‘Manchester United today have entertained us so you know what? I’m satisfied after the first half.’

United will look to pick up where they left off when they return to action away to David Moyes’ Everton in a week’s time.

Sunday’s result saw the Red Devils finish the weekend in tenth place in the Premier League table.

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A MAN from West Yorkshire last seen in the Ryedale area of North Yorkshire has gone missing, prompting an urgent appeal from police.

The man has recently been staying in Scrayingham, a village a few miles north-east of Stamford Bridge and was last seen in Welham Road, Norton at 8.25am on Friday, August 28.

North Yorkshire Police describe him as white, around 6 feet tall, of medium build, with green eyes, short light brown hair, and a well-kept short beard.

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He was last seen wearing a black hoodie, grey trousers, black shoes, and carrying a black backpack.

A police spokesperson said: “Any immediate sightings of the man should be reported by dialling 999 so we can quickly ensure he is safe.”

Other information can be reported by calling 101 and quoting reference number 12260168826.

Former Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim is keen to be reunited with Leny Yoro at his new club AC Milan, according to reports in Italy.

Yoro has struggled to live up to expectations since joining United from Lille in a £52million deal as a teenager two years ago.

In that time, the 20-year-old defender has made 67 appearances in all competitions for the Red Devils, chipping in with one goal and three assists.

A serious ankle injury badly hampered Yoro’s progress in his debut season at Old Trafford and the Frenchman has been in and out of United’s starting XI ever since.

Yoro was an unused substitute in United’s shock 2-0 defeat to newly promoted Hull City last weekend and he started on the bench again versus Ipswich – before coming on for Diogo Dalot at right-back in the 73rd minute.

Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez appear to have nailed down their places as United’s first-choice centre-back partnership in Michael Carrick’s favoured 4-2-3-1 formation, raising questions over Yoro’s future at the Theatre of Dreams.

According to Italian publication Tuttosport, AC Milan are monitoring the situation and could make a surprise move before the summer transfer window slams shut on Tuesday.

Milan have turned their attentions to strengthening their defence after wrapping up an agreement with Nottingham Forest for England Under-21 attacker Omari Hutchinson.

The Rossoneri have also captured Goncalo Ramos, Mario Gila, Sankhoun Diawara and Diego Moreira in a €150million (£128m) spending spree this summer.

It’s claimed Amorim sat down in a hotel to discuss transfer targets with with Milan directors Hendrik Almstadt and Bobby Gardiner for nearly five hours on Saturday, where he was assured that further signings were being explored.

The Serie A giants remain in the hunt for an attacking midfielder, a central defender and a left-back, and the report claims super-agent Jorge Mendes could ‘play a role’ in any negotiations.

Barcelona’s Alejandro Balde has been identified as a target at full-back, while United centre-half Yoro is mentioned as another player ‘in the mix’ and attracting strong interest.

Signed when Erik ten Haag was at the helm at Old Trafford, Yoro still has three years remaining on his current contract in the north west.

Yoro has given no indication of wanting to depart United and it would likely require an astronomical fee to convince the Red Devils to part with the young centre-back before the transfer deadline.

Before the season got underway, Yoro spoke of his excitement about playing in the Champions League and testing himself against the finest attacking players in Europe.

‘All the players in the world want to play in this competition,’ he told the club’s official website.

‘I did the Conference League, Europa League, and now I’m going to play in the Champions League. So yeah, I think the step is very good.

‘It’s a competition with the best players in the world.

‘You play different types of strikers, different types of opponents, and it’s never easy. So you have to be ready, and yeah, I can’t wait to play against these types of players.’

He added: ‘The other lads have spoken about when you train with the Champions League ball and hear the music of the Champions League, it’s just a different atmosphere from the league,” Yoro said.

‘We play against different clubs from all over the world, so [they have spoken to me] about the atmosphere and the magic of this competition.

‘Most of them have played in this competition, and everyone says it’s just magic to play.’

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ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — The Trump administration plans to impose sanctions on another bank this week in an effort to clamp down on Iran transactions, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Sunday.

Bessent spoke with The Associated Press ahead of Group of 20 meetings in Asheville, North Carolina, where he will meet individually with his counterparts from the world’s major and developing economies to encourage participation in the economic isolation of Iran.

“This is going to be financial violence if we have to,” Bessent said in the interview. “We are showing people that we know who you are, you know who you are, and this has got to stop.”

Bessent had recently announced a new campaign to push countries that still do business with the already heavily sanctioned Islamic Republic to sever their financial ties or face retaliation from the United States.

Treasury’s first official action in this campaign was a proposed rulemaking on Friday, which would, if finalized, sever the Emirati branches of Banque Misr, Egypt’s second-largest bank, from access to the U.S. financial system.

In stopping short of imposing sanctions on the Egyptian bank, the Republican administration appeared to be signaling its reluctance to penalize major trading partners that do business with Iran, including China and India, whose officials Bessent will have meetings with this week.

Bessent told the AP he would speak to his Chinese counterparts at the G-20 meeting and “all options are on the table” in terms of sanctioning Beijing for its continued purchases. But he downplayed this reluctance in the interview, calling it “a completely false narrative that the media picked up on” and insisting that China and the U.S. agree on the need to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.

During their announcement of what they called a “landmark partnership”, Chelsea explained: “The partnership comes at a pivotal moment for the world. Stablecoins are moving from early adoption toward the mainstream, creating an unprecedented opportunity to make money as open, accessible, and useful as the internet itself.

PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, of Cleveland Police, were killed in a crash on the A66 in South Bank, Teesside, in the early hours of Saturday morning

The two lads of a police officer tragically killed in the A66 collision led out Manchester United as mascots on Sunday. PC Matthew Blades, 37, and PC Tom Clough, 38, from Cleveland Police, perished when a Volkswagen Passat smashed into the marked police armed response vehicle they were in.

The Passat was fleeing from officers and travelling the wrong way on the A66 in South Bank when the collision occurred at 3.39am on Saturday, August 22. The five occupants of the Passat were also declared dead at the scene.

They were Cole Worthy, 17, Theo Rae, 17, Makai Saddington, 18, and 23 year olds Michael Robert Cahill and Jacob Matusiak. Cleveland Police confirmed its officers have been probing alleged organised crime and 24 individuals have been arrested.

Manchester United included a tribute to PC Matthew Blades in their matchday programme prior to their Premier League fixture against Ipswich Town on Sunday. They portrayed him as a proud Red, a dedicated family man and a police officer who committed his life to serving others.

His wife Sarah and their two boys were invited to Old Trafford for the match. The youngsters led the squad onto the pitch as mascots, walking alongside captain Bruno Fernandes and goalkeeper Senne Lammens, reports Teesside Live.

A photograph of PC Blades with his two lads at Old Trafford appeared in the programme. There was also a tribute from an unnamed close friend and colleague which stated: “For Matthew, United was a lifelong love, a passion he shared with his family.

“Since Matt’s tragic death there has been an extraordinary outpouring of grief and support. That love has been seen in countless tributes and acts of kindness. Today, we remember a fellow Red. A husband. A father. A son. A brother. A friend. A police officer. A man who gave his life in the service of others. Forever our superhero.”

On Saturday, Middlesbrough honoured the two officers at the Riverside Stadium, where Boro fans applauded PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough ahead of the 12.30pm home fixture against West Bromwich Albion.

Players from both sides lined up to clap as images of the fallen officers were displayed on the stadium screen. Supporters from both clubs were seen on their feet, applauding in a powerful display of solidarity over their heartbreaking deaths.

At Hartlepool United’s match against Eastleigh FC on Friday, two police helmets were placed on the pitch to honour each officer, as a two-minute silence was observed. It also came to light on Friday that King Charles had personally written to the officers’ families, acknowledging that they had made the ‘ultimate sacrifice’.

A fundraiser established in memory of the two officers is fast approaching £1.2 million, with a remarkable 42,000 people having contributed to the appeal, which stood at £1,168,000 at the time of publication.

The GoFundMe page was set up by the Cleveland Police Federation, with the proceeds to be divided between the families of both officers. To view the fundraising page click here.

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