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Oxford trains cancelled after dead body found on tracks

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The body was found in the Swindon area on the afternoon of Sunday, April 5 having been struck by a passing train.

A Great Western Railway train from Oxford which was due to depart at 6.29pm on Easter Sunday had been cancelled.

The GWR Oxford parkway service due to depart at 6pm was also cancelled.

READ MORE: UK estate agents collapses into liquidation with viewings cancelled

Disruption lasted until the end of the day, it’s understood, while emergency services dealt with the scene.

A spokesman for the British Transport Police said: “Officers were called to the line near Swindon at 2.35pm on Sunday 5 April following reports of a casualty on the tracks.

“Paramedics also attended, however sadly a person was pronounced dead at the scene. The incident is not being treated as suspicious, and a file will be prepared for the coroner.”

Great Western Railway added: “A person has been struck by a train in the Swindon area, leading to all lines being blocked. It is necessary to bring all trains in the affected area to an immediate stop.

“If you are onboard one of the services in this incident and have been affected by this incident or know someone else who needs support, there is always someone to talk to.

“Contact a Samaritan on 116 123 for free, any time, on any phone. Help is only a phone call away.”





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Crime & Safety

UK at ‘grave risk’ as Trump turns up heat on Iran, Bicester MP warns

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The Liberal Democrat spokesman for forreign affairs has written to prime minister Sir Keir Starmer urging him to block Donald Trump from using UK air bases.

The American president, at the time of publication, has set a deadline of 8pm EST (1am BST time) for Iran to open up the Strait of Hurmuz.

If not, Mr Trump has threatened to bomb Iran “back to the Stone Age” and said the county will be “living in Hell”.

Mr Miller said in a letter signed by leader Sir Ed Davey that the USA’s threats if carried out would “be a clear breach of international law”.

Bicester and Woodstock’s new MP Calum Miller (Image: Calum Miller)

He said: “The war in the Middle East was launched by Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump on 28 February. Their actions were unilateral and illegal.

“Iran’s retaliation was swift and reckless, also illegally targeting countries that had not been party to the initial attack.”

“Liberal Democrats supported your decisions not to allow UK bases to be used by the US in the initial attacks and to limit UK involvement to that required to defend our citizens, interests and allies in the face of illegal actions against them by Iran.”

READ MORE: Wanted man found after alleged rape of 13-year-old girl

He added “A failure to instil restraint in the actions of combatants and to aver that there are enemy combatants (or civilians) who “deserve no mercy” also contravenes the First and Third Geneva Conventions.

“President Trump and Defense Secretary Hegseth stand at the pinnace of the US Chain of Command. We must take their remarks seriously.

“They have given us warning that they intend to give instructions that will breach international law.”

Mr Miller called on Sir Keir to “withdraw the access granted to US planes to use UK bases and to make a statement on how we will continue to work with our other allies” going forward.

Downing Street again said the UK’s focus was on “de-escalation” and a “negotiated settlement” for the region, but Mr Trump ratcheted up his rhetoric and the US-Israeli bombing campaign continued.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (PA) (Image: PA)

With the countdown on 24 hours, Mr Trump said on social media: “A whole civilisation will die tonight, never to be brought back again.

“I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will.”

The UK has granted permission for the US to use British military bases to carry out limited defensive operations, only targeting Iran’s missile sites and facilities being used to target shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil and gas route.





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Asda responds as fuel station shortages hit UK drivers

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Last week, shadow transport secretary Richard Holden criticised Labour’s “energy failure” amid growing fears of fuel shortages due to the Iran war.

Mr Holden said: “Labour’s energy failure is wrecking the Easter getaway before families have even packed their bags, grounding holidays and sending air fares into the skies.

“As conflict in the Middle East drives jet fuel prices higher, airlines will pass those costs straight on to British families already being hammered by Labour’s hikes to air passenger duty and airport business rates.

READ MORE: Sainsbury’s issues statement to UK drivers amid fuel shortages

“This is the direct consequence of Labour’s net zero obsession, destroying our energy security with real and tangible consequences for people up and down the country.

“Britain is left exposed, families are left paying, and Labour sit on their hands as the dream of a family holiday vanish.”

Last week, there were reports that Tesco in Banbury was out of fuel, while others have said there has been no diesel at several petrol stations in Oxfordshire.

This newspaper approached several supermarket brands to see how Oxfordshire stores’ petrol stations have been affected.

Asda was one of those contacted, but the supermarket giant refused to comment on the situation at this time.

READ MORE: Morrisons responds on fuel shortages affecting UK drivers

When approached, Morrisons informed this newspaper that MFG owns and operates all of the chain’s fuel stations.

MFG then refused to comment at this time when subsequently contacted.

Sainsbury’s issued a comment, which referred to the stores across the UK as a whole, informing drivers that sites would be resupplied if shortages occurred.

A spokesperson for Sainsbury’s said: “For background, we are actively monitoring stock levels in all locations and continuing to resupply sites where needed.

Tesco has also been approached for comment, but has yet to respond.





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Fire Stick users issued warning after Amazon blocks free app

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Downloader is an app that helps users download files onto devices, including Fire TV, Google TV, and Android phones and tablets.

The popular free app, which was created by Elias Saba (AFTVnews), has been downloaded more than 658,000 times on the Amazon Appstore.

It has even been described as “one of the most popular and long-standing apps on the Amazon Appstore” by the tech experts at Cordbusters .

Amazon removes Downloader from Appstore

Despite its popularity, Amazon removed the Downloader app from its Appstore late last month.

However, the move was only temporary, with the popular app reinstated just days later.

The app’s creator, Elias Saba, via her site AFTVnews , said: “The app was temporarily suspended a couple of days ago for violating Amazon’s policy that doesn’t allow third party browsers.

“Evidently, Amazon is fine with apps that have a built-in browser, but they just cannot declare themselves as browsers to the operating system.”

A new v2.0.2 update of Downloader, which is “identical to the previous suspended version”, is now available to download, with Saba having made a “tiny change” to solve the previous issue, which saw it removed from the Amazon Appstore.

Saba added: “If you sideloaded Downloader from another source while it was unavailable, I strongly recommend you uninstall it and install the version from the Amazon Appstore, because the sideloaded version will never receive updates.”

Fire TV Stick users issued new scam warning

It appears scammers have taken advantage of the temporary removal of Downloader, creating fake versions of the popular app.

One app named ‘Downloader for Fire, Browser…’ tricks users into paying US$6.99 (around £5.29) per week, according to Saba.

The Downloader creator warned users to “NOT install the app” and instead “help get it removed” by reporting it as a scam to Amazon.



Thousands warned about use of ‘dodgy’ Fire Sticks as enforcement intensifies

Meanwhile, the ongoing crackdown on the use of ‘dodgy’ Fire Sticks in the UK continues to intensify.

Illegal TV Fire Sticks and/or ‘dodgy boxes’ are streaming devices that have third-party software installed in them, allowing users to watch premium content from providers such as TNT Sport, Sky, Disney+ and Netflix for free.

The use of these devices is a “serious crime”, and police forces across the UK and Ireland, as well as organisations including Crimestoppers and the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT), have been attempting to stamp them out.

People who access illegal TV streaming services are potentially liable to prosecution for criminal offences, including under Section 11 of the Fraud Act 2006.



FACT is continually intensifying enforcement targeting users of illegal streaming devices/services.

Thousands of individuals across the UK were contacted recently and warned to stop using illegal IPTV services immediately or risk criminal prosecution.

This action followed joint investigations with police that uncovered details of customers who had purchased access to so-called “loaded” Fire Sticks, Android, or Kodi devices.

While FACT’s latest campaign to disrupt illegal streaming networks and protect consumers from the risks associated with illicit online content targeted eight areas across the UK :

  • London
  • South West
  • North West
  • North East
  • Scotland
  • Wales
  • Yorkshire and Humber
  • West Midlands

The likes of Sky and Amazon are also working on ways to prevent the use of ‘dodgy’ Fire TV Sticks in the UK.

The dangers of using illegal streaming devices

“Illegal streaming services are increasingly operated by sophisticated criminal networks, often involved in other types of crime,” BeSteamWise explained.

People who access illegal TV streaming services are potentially liable to prosecution for criminal offences. (Image: Getty Images)

Meaning those who use illegal streaming devices run the risk of “letting criminals in”, resulting in:

  • Viruses and malware
  • ID theft, scams, and fraud
  • Inappropriate content

Around 39% of illegal streamers in the UK have suffered financial losses due to cybercrime linked to piracy, according to BeStreamWise.

The average amount stolen through illegal streaming is £1,680, while one in ten have lost more than £5,000.


RECOMMENDED READING:


What is the penalty if caught with a ‘dodgy’ Fire TV Stick?

Not only can the use of illegal streaming devices leave users open to ID theft, fraud, and viruses, but it can also result in fines and jail time.

Those caught using or selling a ‘dodgy’ fire stick/box and streaming premium content without paying are in breach of Section 11 of the Fraud Act 2006.

It says a person will be in breach if they obtain services “without any payment having been made for or in respect of them or without payment having been made in full”.

A person found guilty of this kind of offence could be fined or face a jail sentence of up to five years.





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