Awards season reaches its grand finale tonight as the 2026 Oscars bring Hollywood’s biggest names together at the Dolby Theatre.

Conan O’Brien takes the helm for his second time hosting, with Ryan Coogler’s horror/action blockbuster Sinners leading the way with a record-breaking 16 nominations.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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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.

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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.

“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.

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:

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

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.

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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.

“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.”

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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.

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.

“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.

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.

In an appeal to nations affected by the oil price spikes on his Truth Social platform, Trump said: “Hopefully China, France, Japan, South Korea, the UK, and others, that are affected by this artificial constraint will send ships to the area so that the Hormuz Strait will no longer be a threat by a nation that has been totally decapitated.”

“Meningococcal disease can progress rapidly, so it’s essential that students and staff are alert to the signs and symptoms of meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia, which can include a fever, headache, rapid breathing, drowsiness, shivering, vomiting and cold hands and feet.