An 11-year-old schoolboy who was struck and killed by a train on his walk to class may have been distracted by his new smartphone, an inquest has heard.

Jaiden Shehata had ‘probably’ been watching a video on his iPhone, which he received as a Christmas present just weeks earlier, when he was hit at the ‘high risk’ Bourneview level crossing near Kenley, south London. The collision happened shortly after 8am on January 23 last year, an investigator told the hearing.

He would normally have walked with his 18-year-old brother, Reece, but had left for school 20 minutes earlier than usual that morning.

Jaiden was on his way to Riddlesdown Collegiate in south Croydon, where he had been a pupil for six months. He used the level crossing on most school days.

That morning, however, he stepped into the path of a London-bound train, even though the driver sounded the horn while approaching the crossing.

The promising young footballer, who supported Chelsea, was not wearing headphones when he was struck.

South London Coroner’s Court in Croydon heard on Monday that Jaiden suffered an ‘unsurvivable injury’ and was probably dead by the time emergency crews arrived about 15 minutes later.

Paul Tickner, lead investigator for the Rail Accident Investigation Branch, told the inquest that the youngster was ‘probably’ distracted by his phone at the moment of impact.

‘It doesn’t mean he wasn’t aware of the risk,’ he said.

The inquest jury also heard that Network Rail took seven months to close the level crossing, which had been earmarked for safety improvements when the tragedy occurred.

Network Rail had classified it as C4, a rating described during the hearing as indicating ‘high’ risk.

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Daniel Fisk, the company’s head of level crossing and safety, nevertheless told the jury that Bourneview crossing was ‘compliant’ with Network Rail’s standards at the time of Jaiden’s death.

He said Network Rail could not legally close the crossing without permission from Croydon Council because it was a public right of way.

Mr Fisk conceded that the eventual closure was prompted more by a petition from Jaiden’s family than by ‘Network Rail’s view’.

‘The crossing was compliant with our standards. If it wasn’t, then (risk) mitigation would have been put in place,’ he said.

Mr Fisk added that the risk was ‘being managed as practicable’.

A Network Rail risk assessment conducted at the crossing in 2023 identified potential measures that could have improved safety.

Those measures included clearer signage and the installation of ‘miniature stop lights’ displaying red and green signals.

By December 2024 – a month before Jaiden’s death – designs were being drawn up for the crossing, which has been ranked the 13th most dangerous footpath on Network Rail’s Sussex route out of 111.

That work was completed earlier this year, but the crossing remains closed as Network Rail wants to complete ‘more engagement with local schools’ about rail safety before reopening it.

Mr Fisk said the lack of staff, money, and the complexity behind designing a ‘Miniature Stop Lights’ system had caused a delay in implementing new safety features at the crossing.

A report by RAIB published after Jaiden’s death highlighted how the design and construction of the Bourneview crossing contributed to the youngster’s death.

It raised concerns about the ‘old and unimposing’ fence and gate, and how the muddy and sloping path would mean people ‘would be looking downwards and watching their step, to avoid slipping or tripping, rather than looking up at the [warning] signs’.

Prince Harry is reportedly exploring the idea of making a documentary about his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, to mark the 30th anniversary of her death in 2027.

The Duke of Sussex is understood to have contacted several of Diana’s friends and family members about appearing in a possible film, including her brother, Earl Spencer.

However, no project has been formally confirmed. Harry is said to be considering several options for commemorating Diana and celebrating her legacy ahead of the anniversary in August 2027.

A source reportedly said: “The Duke has discussed a number of possible projects to mark the 30th anniversary of his mother Diana, Princess of Wales’s passing.

“Nothing has been finalised or confirmed, and he is still considering the most meaningful way to honour her legacy during this important anniversary year.”

If it goes ahead, the documentary could be produced through Harry and Meghan’s Archewell Productions. The company has a multi-year first-look deal with Netflix covering its film and television work, according to the Telegraph.

The possibility of Harry creating his own film about Diana comes as the Royal Family faces renewed attention over the late princess’s life. His uncle’s new memoir about Diana is also making headlines.

Earl Spencer’s Swan Song: Diana, My Sister is being published this week and includes deeply personal memories of his sister and her years within the Royal Family.

The 62-year-old Earl has said he wanted to present his own version of events rather than simply participate as an interviewee in another documentary about Diana.

He has claimed that Prince Charles was furious and told him days after Diana’s death: “Rest assured, we’ll forget her soon enough.”

Buckingham Palace later issued an unusually pointed statement, saying: “While we do not comment on books as a matter of principle, His Majesty is mindful that the pain of fraternal grief can cloud reason, affect judgment and colour memory in ways others do not recognise, even many years after such a loss.”

The dispute was linked to the decision that Prince William and Prince Harry, then aged 15 and 12, would walk behind their mother’s coffin during her funeral procession—a move opposed by Diana’s brother.

Earl Spencer has said he argued with the then Prince of Wales that Diana would not have wanted her young sons subjected to such an intense public ordeal.

With the anniversary approaching, Harry’s potential documentary could place him at the heart of a fresh wave of books and films examining Diana’s life and legacy.

The Palace has been approached for comment.

Harry and his brother, Prince William, previously came together to honour their mother in the 2017 BBC documentary Diana, Our Mother: Her Life and Legacy, released to mark the 20th anniversary of her death.

A repeat of that collaboration now appears unlikely amid the brothers’ well-documented estrangement.

A source recently told the Mail: ‘William is back at the point where if you mention Prince Harry in his presence he would throw you out of the room. He’s doubling down.’ 

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Harry’s potential involvement in a new Diana documentary was reported as he made his third public appearance since returning to Britain, attending the WellChild Awards in central London on Monday evening.

The Duke was met by a barrage of questions about his family as he arrived at the Royal Lancaster Hotel but did not respond.

His appearance came just days after excerpts from Earl Spencer’s memoir began making headlines, including claims about King Charles’s reaction following Diana’s death. 

Spencer has defended his account, telling the BBC that he was ‘telling the truth’ and insisting that the words he attributes to the then Prince of Wales were exactly what he heard.

Harry’s own appearance at WellChild was focused on the children and families being honoured at the annual awards.

The Duke said there was ‘not a dry eye in the house’ at the ceremony, which celebrates children living with complex medical needs and those who care for them.

‘To all the mums and dads – most of us will never truly know the emotional ups and downs of your day,’ he added. 

‘But I sincerely hope that you take strength from nights like this. And while we may not know the detail of your day, in this room and beyond, we recognise the commitment of your care and all that comes with it.’

WellChild has been one of Harry’s longstanding charitable commitments, with the Duke remaining patron of the charity after stepping back as a working royal. 

The organisation confirmed ahead of the event that he would attend its 2026 awards in London.

The potential Diana documentary would come almost three decades after the Princess was killed in a car crash in Paris on August 31, 1997, aged 36.

Harry was just 12 years old when his mother died, while William was 15.

– Prince Harry has returned to Britain partly to ‘make his own film about his mother’, claims RICHARD KAY on latest Palace Confidential 

Andy Burnham has declared that he trusts Donald Trump as he prepares for high-stakes discussions with the US President.

The Prime Minister has previously labelled Mr Trump’s political approach “poisonous” and argued that politicians who worked with him should feel “ashamed”.

However, in a significant change of tone, Mr Burnham said he now regarded the outspoken President as a trusted ally.

Speaking to journalists during his flight to New York on Monday evening, he said the UK’s special relationship with the US was “as strong as it’s ever been”. He added: “When you come into this job, you realise how deep this relationship is.”

Asked directly whether he trusted Mr Trump, the Prime Minister replied: “Yes, of course, you know, we trust, we trust our allies. Of course, we do.”

When pressed on whether that confidence extended to Mr Trump personally, he answered simply: “Yes.”

The conciliatory message came shortly before the Prime Minister’s first in-person meeting with Mr Trump.

The two leaders are due to meet for talks on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Mr Burnham played down the pair’s previous exchanges, including Mr Trump’s description of him as “the mayor of some town”.

“Politicians say things throughout their careers, but now the important thing is to focus on the moment you are in,” he said. Recalling their first phone conversation, he added: “I did say to the President in our first phone call – I said, Mr President, Manchester isn’t ‘some town’. I said, this is Manchester. And so yes, the right thing to do is to have a laugh about it, isn’t it, and move beyond it.”

During the meeting, the Prime Minister will urge Mr Trump to remain committed to Britain and Europe as the world faces what he described as “dark clouds of global instability”.

He is expected to call on the US President to stand alongside Nato in response to increasing Russian provocation.

Mr Burnham will also press him to recognise the risks posed by artificial intelligence, just days after Mr Trump dismissed the issue as a “hoax”.

He is also scheduled to meet European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as part of efforts to revive Labour’s troubled reset with the European Union.

Several contentious issues are expected to feature in the discussions, including Mr Trump’s opposition to Labour’s plan to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius and his recent lack of clarity over US backing for British sovereignty of the Falkland Islands.

Mr Burnham said he would seek to convince Mr Trump to reconsider his public opposition to the controversial Chagos Islands agreement.

He said he had reassured his Mauritian counterpart during a phone call that Britain remained “determined to secure the long term operation of the base, which is crucial to our security and that of our allies”.

“The assurance I gave was I will work towards a resolution,” he said. “At the moment we don’t have that, but I gave an assurance that I would commit to working towards one.”

The PM’s official spokesman said he would use the trip to forge links with world leaders ‘to brighten a darkening global picture’.

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The PM will warn Mr Trump that safety concerns about AI cannot be ignored in the rush to harness huge potential benefits.

He is expected to ask Mr Trump to ensure that US-based tech firms submit their latest AI models for testing by the UK’s AI safety Institute.

And he will urge Mr Trump to co-operate with other world leaders in ensuring that AI does not become a threat to humanity.

Speaking ahead of his visit to the US, he said international cooperation was needed to make sure ‘rapidly changing technology is harnessed for good to make our countries safer and stronger’.

Mr Burnham is due to be accompanied by his wife Marie-France van Heel on his visit to New York.

He is due to hold face-to-face talks with President Trump at the UN before delivering a speech focused on the challenges and opportunities posed by AI in the evening.

The PM will also lobby President Trump to step up support for Ukraine at a time when Nato is braced for fresh provocations from Vladimir Putin.

He will also raise the continuing fallout from the war in the Middle East, which is pushing up energy prices across the world.

But sources said he plans to use the gathering of world leaders in New York to focus on encouraging cooperation on AI.

‘We are at our strongest when we work with our partners to tackle the most complex shared challenges we face, driven by our values,’ he said.

‘When the global financial crisis hit, the UK brought together the world’s leading economies. As we confront the opportunities and challenges posed by artificial intelligence, we will show that same leadership, ensuring rapidly changing technology is harnessed for good to make our countries safer and stronger.’

Senior figures in the tech industry have issued a series of alarming warnings in recent weeks. The head of alignment at Anthropic said there was a 10 per cent chance that AI could ‘kill all humans’ within the next decade, leading the firm’s boss Dario Amodei to call for an agreement to slow the pace of technology.

President Trump dismissed warnings about the threat to life from AI as a ‘hoax’ designed to dent the lead of US firms in the race to produce super intelligence.

The PM said the warnings had ‘made me pause’.

He said he believed AI could be a ‘force for good’ but said the risks had to be guarded against.

He added: ‘I note the president has I think said himself we need to be careful as well as look at the benefits, but be careful. And we’ve got to find that point of balance here, not all of a sudden turn against and become… a doom-monger about AI. I think you have to be clear-eyed about the huge benefits it can bring as well as recognising where we do need to be careful.’

Officials believe the White House is also concerned about potential harms caused by the technology. At the weekend, Mr Trump announced the creation of a new ‘AI Force’ which would monitor the technology for ‘bad’ outcomes, which he said could be done ‘very easily’.

Britain and the US will today unveil a new ‘AI and Autonomy partnership’ aimed at using AI to help detect and counter potential threats to critical national infrastructure. The Ministry of Defence and the Pentagon will team up to accelerate the delivery of joint capabilities that ‘enhance deterrence and both countries’ technological edge’.

Buying a first home should be a milestone worth celebrating. But for one 24-year-old, the excitement was quickly dampened by a friend’s sarcastic reaction.

The first-time buyer had just made an offer on a spacious 1,400-square-foot apartment and excitedly shared the news with a close friend by text.

“Guess who just put an offer down on a condo?” he wrote. Her reply was blunt: “Your parents?”

He explained that the unit he had mentioned several months earlier had come back onto the market.

“Apparently, the previous sale fell through and the owner needs to sell quickly, so they lowered the asking price,” he said. “With the money I’ve saved, plus the inheritance I received after my granddad passed away two years ago, I’m hoping I get the place.”

Rather than congratulate him, his friend launched into a lengthy warning, accusing him of making a “reckless decision.”

“I just feel spending all that to live in a cubicle is an extremely poor choice,” she wrote.

“I know you said you don’t think you’ll find anyone soon and that you don’t need much space because all you do is game. But as you get older, I feel you will 100 percent regret not having your own space to do things, host people, have a yard and enjoy the outdoors.”

Her criticism continued.

“I just don’t see it as owning when you have such a small space, a whole bunch of neighbours and building management to deal with. It just seems like a poor choice.”

She encouraged him to wait, save more money and eventually buy a house instead.

“You could have your own space for your car, a yard, and the fact that you’re likely to find someone and have a family means you’ll have room to grow,” she said.

The friend then sent him a “list of things to consider,” including annual maintenance fees, the approvals required for renovations, limited privacy and potentially slower market growth if he decided to sell the apartment later.

“Yearly maintenance fees are low in the first year so people will be dumb enough to purchase, and those fees go up 20 to 50 percent after the second year,” she claimed. She also argued that he would not have “full property ownership” by living in an apartment.

“Your life and your choices, but I feel you are jumping the gun and making a reckless decision,” she concluded.

Taken aback, the man replied: “That’s fair, and I appreciate you looking out for me, but I’m so excited. This is all I’ve wanted for a long time.”

He added: “If I meet someone and we want to start a family or move in together, we’ll get a different place. We can cross that bridge when the time comes.”

His unenthusiastic friend sent a snarky reply: ‘Well best of luck then lol. 

‘I can’t wait for the “you were right”.’

He ended the conversation with: ‘Thanks! Good thing I don’t have a lot to move.’

Sharing their text exchange, the man said they used to be ‘close’ but he noticed his friend getting ‘progressively distant and meaner over the past four months. 

‘When I shared the news, I was expecting at least a “congratulations” and this is what I got,’ he said. 

‘I thought it was time… I decided to cut off a friend.’

The young man said he was looking forward to buying his first home as he’d been living with his parents in a tiny bedroom. 

‘This is going to be a huge upgrade for me,’ he said. 

‘The place I put an offer on is 1,400-square-foot and is nearly the same size as the house I’m currently in – let alone the fact that I live with my parents and my only personal space is a small bedroom.’

He added: ‘She knows I’ve been saving up for a place for a long time and she knew how much it meant to me yet still said what she did.’

What baffled him the most was that his friend was renting with her boyfriend.  

His post was met with more than 4,200 comments, with many suggesting the friend may be ‘jealous’ about his purchase.

‘That’s a whole lot of wrong words to say, “Congratulations I’m happy for you”. What a bad friend,’ one said. 

‘I’d block and never look back. This response is so sh**. I can’t believe there are people so miserable out there,’ another shared.

‘That is not your friend. That is a person actively hoping you fail and have things go terribly for you so they can have a nice “I told you so”,’ one suggested. 

‘When she said, “Your parents?” I read that as a clear indicator that she was hugely jealous. She cannot bear the thought that he got his s*** together sufficiently to make this big move,’ another added.

Meanwhile, others shared how their lives changed after purchasing an apartment.

‘I bought a tiny condo in my city. I was still able to host parties and friends, it was a studio style setup. Then I met my now-husband, who owned his own house and yard, and moved in with him. The condo is now an investment for me. You live your life on your own timeline, not worrying about if or when you meet someone,’ one said.

‘I had my condo for 30 years. It’s perfect for a first time home owner. Guess what I regret doing? Selling my beautiful condo a few years ago and buying my too large home with all of the things your friend says you needed,’ another revealed.