Thursday, 22 October 2026

A new report shows Nebraska's three largest correctional facilities exceed their bed capacity, according to corrections data. The inspector general for the corrections system said inmates in some intake units are sleeping on floor cots in open bays, which raises safety concerns because inmates have not yet been separated by security level. The state is building a new $350 million prison in Lincoln, expected to open in 2028, which both the Department of Corrections and the inspector general expect to ease overcrowding.

President Donald Trump is promising a series of cash payments to voters ahead of the midterm elections. At the RNC convention in September, he pledged to send $5,000 to every American adult if Republicans retain control of Congress. Trump has since made additional promises, including $8 billion in direct payments to farmers affected by tariffs and diesel prices, up to $30,000 for Americans reporting government fraud, and the settlement of claims from Marine Corps veterans regarding contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. Democrats have accused Trump of trying to buy votes with the promises.

West Virginia's public schools have hit a 20-year low in enrolment for the 2026-27 school year, with all 55 of the state's counties experiencing decline. Kanawha County Schools, the state's largest district, lost more than 900 students. Superintendent Dr. Paula Potter attributed the decline to multiple factors including a falling birth rate, population outmigration and school choice options.

West Ham midfielder Edson Alvarez and his former father-in-law Jonathan Toache Bedolla have been accused by Mexican filmmaker Juan Jose Lopez Ordonez of selling fake Covid-19 vaccination certificates for upwards of £370 each. Ordonez claimed at a press conference on Thursday that the certificates featured official stamps, signatures and functioning QR codes, allegedly allowing public figures to travel during pandemic restrictions. This is the second accusation Ordonez has made against Alvarez in recent weeks, following an earlier claim in September that Bedolla's family kidnapped him in Mexico City in 2024 with Alvarez's knowledge, which the footballer denied.

Pittsburgh Steelers pass rusher T.J. Watt has been cleared to play against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday at Stade de France in Paris, despite a calf injury sustained this week. Watt was listed as limited in practice on Thursday but told reporters on Friday he felt ready. Outside linebacker Alex Highsmith, who has a groin injury, was also cleared to play. Running back Rico Dowdle remains questionable with a knee injury.

The YWCA of Charleston held its ninth annual Honk and Wave event to raise awareness of domestic violence and show support for survivors. People wore purple and gathered along Kanawha Boulevard with signs encouraging passing drivers to honk in solidarity. The event also included practical resources and recognised the resolve advocate of the year and volunteer of the year.

Chandler Blanchet posted a 9-under 62, his best score of the year, to hold a one-shot lead after the first round of the Butterfield Bermuda Championship. He made two eagles—one from 50 feet and another from 5 feet—along with six birdies. Four players shared second place at 8-under.

A teenager died after a rollover crash near North Platte, Nebraska on Thursday afternoon. A Chevrolet Trailblazer carrying five people aged 14 to 18 lost control on a curve on West South River Road and rolled into a ditch. Four occupants were ejected from the vehicle; the driver, who was wearing a seat belt, remained inside. All five were taken to Great Plains Health hospital. The other four are in stable condition. The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office said speed was a factor in the crash and that alcohol is not believed to be involved. The investigation is ongoing.

Max Verstappen has criticised the bumpy surface at Circuit of the Americas in Austin ahead of this weekend's United States Grand Prix, saying the bumps are unacceptable and out of control. The four-time world champion said drivers have complained about the track's condition to the FIA, but attempts by organisers to resolve it have not worked. Verstappen expressed concerns about the impact on his spine and said fully reopening the track would be the only proper solution, though it would cost significant money and time.

Yvonne Gonzalez-Bradford and Vance Bradford named their son Knickson Fyve Bradford after the New York Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs in five games to win the NBA Finals this summer. The couple, who had previously planned names Prestige Wisdom for a boy and Lady Victoria for a girl, changed their minds after the Knicks' championship run. They drew inspiration from the chant 'Knicks in Five' and chose Fyve as the middle name. Knickson was born on 8 August, weighing eight pounds and eight ounces on what was also his mother's birthday.

Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe, Attorney General Catherine Hanaway and federal officials announced Operation Show-Me the Money on Thursday, a new partnership aimed at identifying, investigating and prosecuting fraud involving taxpayer-funded benefit programmes. The initiative will combine state and federal resources to strengthen oversight and ensure taxpayer dollars are used as intended.

U.S. Steel, now owned by Japan's Nippon Steel, has approved $2.95 billion in funding for a new hot strip mill at its Edgar Thomson Works near Pittsburgh. The facility would replace an 87-year-old mill upriver at its Irvin Works. PennLive reports the new mill would raise annual capacity to 3.5 million tons and support up to 6,300 jobs across Pennsylvania. However, local leaders and environmental groups remain concerned about pollution increases. According to Allegheny County Health Department data cited by TribLIVE, the mill could cause a 43 per cent increase in PM 2.5 particulate matter and a 98 per cent increase in NOx and NO2 around Braddock, where the plant is located, though overall Mon Valley emissions would fall once the older mill closes.

Elon Musk has endorsed a potential merger between Tesla and SpaceX that would be worth about $3.5 trillion, the largest corporate deal in history. Both companies have formed special committees to explore a combination, though Musk has recused himself from discussions because of conflicts of interest. SpaceX said any merger would require approval from its special committee, board and controlling shareholder, as well as from Tesla shareholders holding at least half the company's outstanding shares.

Vice President JD Vance visited North Platte, Nebraska, and President Donald Trump traveled to Sioux City, Iowa, on Thursday, in the latest stops by the administration in both states ahead of the midterm elections. The visits target areas that have voted heavily Republican, though Douglas County Democratic Party Chair CJ King suggested the frequency of such visits indicates Republican concern about districts that have traditionally been safe for them.

President Trump's immigration enforcement operations could reshape how Texans vote. Hispanic voters helped bring Trump to power in Texas in 2024, but CBS News polling now shows nearly 60% of Latino voters say the Trump administration is deporting more people than they expected. Recent polls suggest the president is facing challenging headwinds in the state ahead of the midterms.

Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers has warned of softer economic growth and rising unemployment ahead of a likely fifth interest rate hike in November. He cited the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, elevated global debt levels and rising bond yields as risks to the economy. The sharemarket puts a 62 per cent chance on rates being hiked on Melbourne Cup day. Chalmers said the mid-year budget update in December would show billions of dollars added to government interest repayment costs, as bond yields have reached 15-year highs and the cost of servicing A$1 trillion of Commonwealth debt rises.

Inverurie has been crowned Scotland's Town of the Year by Scotland Loves Local awards, beating Fort William, East Kilbride, Falkirk and Kirkwall. The Aberdeenshire town has bucked national trends of town centre decline, with residents supporting local businesses, low retail vacancy rates of about 4% and strong footfall. Business Improvement District manager Derek Ritchie has also been recognised with a High Street Hero award for eight years of efforts to keep the town thriving.

A 56-year-old Arizona man, Rene Ortiz, was sentenced to 38 months in prison for threatening to kill both 2024 presidential candidates. A federal jury convicted him in June on two counts of making threats against successors to the presidency and one count of threats against former presidents. He left written notes at federal courthouses in Phoenix on election day and in Tucson in November threatening to execute the newly elected president with a rifle.

Jeff Garlin, who exited the ABC sitcom 'The Goldbergs' in 2021 following allegations of misconduct on set, has revealed he experienced a mental health crisis during his departure. The comedian told podcast host Ted Danson he had planned to take his own life and informed 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' co-star Susie Essman of a specific time he intended to die. Garlin subsequently sought treatment, receiving dialectical behaviour therapy at a facility in Cincinnati, which he said resolved his suicidal thoughts.

Babies born in Wales will now be screened for hereditary tyrosinemia type 1, a rare metabolic disorder, following a £1.21m investment in a new laboratory at University Hospital Wales. The expansion brings the total number of conditions tested to ten. Early detection can significantly improve long-term outcomes for affected children.

Meghan Markle revealed on Friday that she has kept her children away from her estranged father, Thomas Markle, because of allegations she was informed about in 2018. The Duchess said a letter sent to the Metropolitan Police and its Royalty and Specialist Protection unit contained 'troubling and disturbing allegations' against her father, which was subsequently shared with her and she was assured were being investigated. This disclosure followed reports that authorities in the Philippines are investigating claims that Markle, 82, possessed child sexual abuse images at his former home, allegedly discovered by his son Thomas Markle Jr. Markle has strenuously denied the allegations, calling them 'sick lies'. The Metropolitan Police confirmed on Saturday it received a letter in January 2019 containing claims about alleged offending outside the United Kingdom, which it passed to the Duke and Duchess's office but did not share with other law enforcement agencies.

Tennessee execution team members failed repeatedly to establish working IV lines in Christa Pike's arms before her attempted execution on 30 September and warned that some of her veins may have ruptured, or 'blown'. Pike, 50, survived two doses of pentobarbital and was hospitalised. She ultimately regained consciousness and returned to prison.

Paisley is holding its popular two-day Halloween Festival this weekend, with a parade, street theatre and funfair. The town, which calls itself Scotland's Halloween capital, expects thousands of visitors and hundreds of performers. The festival has grown from attracting around 7,000 visitors initially to around 50,000 annually, and was cited as a reason Paisley won Scotland's Town of the Year in 2025.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins says the Trump administration remains committed to a sweeping reorganisation of the Forest Service despite a federal judge blocking the changes last week. The plan includes moving Forest Service headquarters from Washington to Salt Lake City, shutting 23 research stations, and replacing regional offices with state-level ones. A U.S. District Judge halted the reorganisation on 13 October while a lawsuit from opponents, including federal employee unions and environmental groups, works through the courts, but the administration has already filed an appeal.

A 60-year-old man died in a house fire on Moorland Close, Walkeringham, Nottinghamshire, after fire crews were called at 8.11pm on Tuesday, October 20. A joint investigation between Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service and Nottinghamshire Police has concluded that the fire is not being treated as suspicious. Group Manager Richard Leighton said the service extended condolences to the man's family and friends.

Mitch Garver, who won the World Series with the Texas Rangers in 2023, has announced his retirement from baseball at 35 years old. The catcher and designated hitter played for the Minnesota Twins, Rangers and Seattle Mariners. He won a Silver Slugger Award in 2019, hit .226 with three home runs during the 2023 postseason, and finished his career with a .229 batting average across 701 games.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has issued a directive prohibiting troops from using nonpublic information to bet on prediction markets such as Polymarket and Kalshi. The ban follows the case of Master Sergeant Gannon Ken Van Dyke, a Special Forces soldier charged with using classified information about a military operation against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to place bets totalling more than $400,000. Hegseth said enemies monitor market movements for signals and that financial stakes can distort judgment.

Jason Webb was sworn in as the new chief of the Charleston Police Department on Thursday, following the retirement of former chief Scott Dempsey. Webb has served 21 years with the department, including over two years as deputy chief. He plans to introduce new technologies, modernise policing tactics, and improve recruitment and retention to increase officer numbers. Webb says he is committed to community engagement and has already begun reaching out to pastors, community organisers, and council members.

El Salvador deployed 100 special forces soldiers to Haiti on Thursday to help rescue four missing Salvadorean aviation technicians who came under attack by gangs in Croix-des-Bouquets on Sunday. President Nayib Bukele announced the military operation and threatened a more forceful response if the soldiers are not released alive and unharmed. An additional 100 soldiers were set to deploy later that day. Salvadorean authorities believe the four soldiers are still alive, and Haiti's government said Wednesday they were abducted after their armoured vehicle came under fire from gangs using explosives.

Calley Means, a chief advocate for the Make America Healthy Again movement, has resigned from his role as a top adviser to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in the Trump administration. Means said he leaves with 'tremendous respect' for President Donald Trump and Kennedy but did not explain his reasons. His departure comes as MAHA leaders have expressed discontent with what they say is the administration's lack of progress on issues including food security and glyphosate regulation.

Airbnb is limiting the checkout chores hosts can demand from guests under a new policy starting 20 November. Guests can still be asked to leave dishes in the sink, gather towels and sort trash, but hosts cannot require tasks typically done by professional cleaners. Hosts must disclose all house rules in a designated listing section before guests book, and can no longer add requirements through messages or signs.

PC Fiona Shaik Umar received the Outstanding Contribution to Women in Policing Award at the Police Federation Annual Conference on Wednesday. Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley condemned the 'vile' racist, misogynistic and anti-Islam abuse directed at the officer online following the award, which included an AI-generated image depicting her with a suicide bomb. PC Umar, the first hijab-wearing officer within her policing area, had been recognised for her exceptional commitment to supporting female officers and developing what The Mirror describes as the Hijab Project to create a more inclusive culture.

Tiger Woods is planning to return to competitive golf in 2027 with a full schedule in the TGL indoor league, according to fellow golfer Kevin Kisner. Woods completed rehab in Switzerland after his arrest on driving under the influence charges in Florida; he entered a plea deal in September that reduced his charges. Kisner revealed that Woods' business partner Rob McNamara told him of the plans, and that Woods could potentially return to competitive action before the end of 2026.

The Covered Wagon Drive-In on Main Street in Gordon, Nebraska, has been operating for 55 years since 1971. Co-owner Darrin Carson said it was once part of a franchise with seven locations across Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming, but is now the last one still open. Carson and his family purchased the restaurant in 2021 from his cousin's uncle, who was retiring.

The Justice Department is investigating allegations that Corey Lewandowski, a former top adviser to Donald Security Secretary Kristi Noem, used his government position for personal financial gain. The probe began after the DHS Office of Inspector General referred the matter to the DOJ. Lewandowski served as a special government employee and de facto chief of staff to Noem until both were ousted in March. His attorney denies any wrongdoing, stating he has not been contacted by the Justice Department. President Trump told reporters he wants his staff to be honest and said dishonest officials should be prosecuted.

The Prince of Wales made an unannounced appearance on The Graham Norton Show in a pre-recorded special edition aired on BBC One on Friday. He joined Cate Blanchett, Robert Irwin and Hannah Waddingham on the sofa to discuss the Earthshot Prize, his environmental initiative founded in 2020. All three guests are connected to the prize: Blanchett is a council member, Irwin is a global ambassador and Waddingham hosted the 2023 awards in Singapore. The episode also featured William discussing his personal interests, including his love of Christopher Nolan films and the television show Celebrity Traitors, which he watches with his children. The Earthshot Prize awards ceremony will take place in Mumbai next month, where William will preside over the ceremony awarding £5 million in prize money.

Raye has won the 2026 Mercury Prize for her second album This Music May Contain Hope, a 73-minute record spanning big band jazz, power balladry and funk. The 28-year-old beat nominees including Sir Paul McCartney, Florence + the Machine, Suede and Jade. The ceremony took place at Newcastle's Utilita Arena, the second successive year it has been held in the city. Raye receives £25,000 and a trophy. She said the win represented her belief in albums as an art form, describing hope as 'something that we all need' and music as 'medicine'. The album, released in March, debuted at number one in the UK charts and includes the global hit 'Where Is My Husband?'

Vice President JD Vance will speak at an airplane hangar at Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport in Belgrade, Montana on Monday, 26 October. His visit marks the third trip to Montana in two weeks by senior Republicans, following President Donald Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson, as the party campaigns ahead of the 3 November midterm election. Republican campaign groups have shifted resources from difficult races toward formerly safe districts now at risk of flipping to Democrats, suggesting concern about congressional control.

The United Arab Emirates has nominated Lana Nusseibeh, its minister of state and former UN ambassador, to be the next UN secretary-general. She joins six other candidates in the race, which could result in the UN's first female chief. Human rights defenders have raised concerns about her candidacy, citing the UAE's human rights record and allegations of backing forces involved in a massacre in Sudan.

Chadron Open Art is a community gallery in downtown Chadron, Nebraska, that provides space for local artists and the public to view art. The gallery holds approximately 12 shows per year, ranging from children's and photography exhibitions to displays by nationally known artists and travelling shows. Founded three years ago, the gallery operates alongside The Wandering Lilac business and is helping to revitalise downtown Chadron.

Lewis Hamilton has said he will remain in Formula One into the early 2030s to fulfil his long-held ambition of racing in Africa. The 41-year-old, who would be 45 or 46 by then, made the commitment after Formula One announced a ten-year deal with Rwanda to host an African Grand Prix, the first on the continent since South Africa in 1993. Hamilton acknowledged concerns about Rwanda's human rights record but urged people to 'approach it with humility', saying Africa's problems stem partly from colonialism and Western intervention. He also called for freedom for Congo, Sudan, Syria and Palestine, and said Africa should feature more prominently in school curricula.

The US Treasury has proposed a rule to restrict American high-tech investments in China, Russia, North Korea and other adversaries, citing national security concerns. The rule would cover investments in hypersonic systems, supercomputing, biotechnology and artificial intelligence, applying only to deals exceeding $50,000 and excluding most financial investments. Treasury will seek public comments before issuing a final rule.

Celtic lost 2-1 to Celta Vigo in the Europa League on Thursday, their third consecutive defeat in the competition. Belfast Live reports that the Scottish champions now sit in 35th place out of 36 sides and face a monumental challenge to progress from the league phase, as no club has ever reached the knockout rounds following three straight losses. The result adds to concerns about Scottish football's European standing.

Bournemouth won 3-0 against AC Milan in their Europa League campaign, with Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan sent off early for pushing a player's face at a corner. Justin Kluivert and Marcus Tavernier scored penalties in the first half, and Amine Adli added a free-kick late on. The victory marks a remarkable moment for Bournemouth, who played League Two football as recently as 2010 and are in their first European campaign.

Governor Patrick Morrisey announced $4 million in Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization funding for a new water treatment plant in Buckhannon, along with $930,000 in Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council grants for projects in Mingo, Wyoming, Cabell and Wayne counties. Together, the funding completes packages for more than $58 million in infrastructure improvements. The projects will expand public water access to families currently relying on private wells and modernise wastewater systems.

The Atlanta Falcons unveiled a throwback logo on Wednesday featuring a falcon from the 1960s and 1970s set against red, white and black stripes. The design prompted social media users to draw comparisons with Nazi imagery, spawning jokes and memes. The Falcons' post on X attracted over 26 million views. The team switched its profile picture to a red helmet with a falcon on Thursday and will wear the new design in Sunday's game against the San Francisco 49ers.

Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist, has been elected mayor of New York City. Another democratic socialist, Janeess Lewis George, is set to become mayor of Washington, D.C., after defeating a moderate Democrat in the June primary. Both represent a broader rise of democratic socialists gaining power at local and federal levels.

The Milwaukee Brewers have reached the World Series for the first time since 1982 after sweeping the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series. Team captain Christian Yelich says the team expected to be here. Manager Pat Murphy claimed Yelich predicted the World Series appearance early in the season, though Yelich said he could not recall making that specific statement. The Brewers will host the Tampa Bay Rays in their first World Series game since 1982.

Wisconsin voters will decide on three proposed constitutional amendments this election. The first would prevent the governor from using partial vetoes to create or increase taxes or fees, following Governor Tony Evers' use of a partial veto to alter school funding. The second would protect gatherings in places of worship during emergencies, stemming from capacity limits imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The third would ban governmental entities from giving preferential treatment to certain demographics in hiring, admissions or contracting.

DUP MP Carla Lockhart has resigned as a party officer, citing disagreement with party leader Gavin Robinson over whether to remove deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly from the powersharing executive. Lockhart argues that removing Little-Pengelly would automatically remove Sinn Féin First Minister Michelle O'Neill, following O'Neill's attendance at an allegedly unlawful protest on the Garvaghy Road in Portadown last month. Robinson has decided the party should not take this step. Lockhart defended her resignation in a social media post, saying it was about principle and not for satisfying hardliners.

The search for the next James Bond has reached its final stages, with screen tests taking place this weekend at Bray Studios in Berkshire. Callum Turner, Jack Lowden and Josh O'Connor are among the confirmed contenders, with between three and five actors testing for the role. The Daily Mail reports that Jacob Elordi, previously thought to be out of the running, may still be in contention. The new Bond will succeed Daniel Craig, who played the role from 2006 to 2021. Director Denis Villeneuve will helm the next film for Amazon MGM Studios, which acquired the Bond franchise from the Broccoli family in 2025.

Circle C Market in Cody, Nebraska, is staffed almost entirely by high school students from Cody-Kilgore schools, offering them hands-on business experience. Manager Shalee Arendt is the only adult employee and oversees operations while students learn ordering, inventory, computer systems and cash handling. The store fills a gap in the area, as the nearest alternative grocery store is 37 miles away in Valentine.

Thousands of people protested across Poland on Thursday calling for looser abortion restrictions. The demonstrations marked six years since a near-total abortion ban was imposed by Poland's highest court. Prime Minister Donald Tusk's government promised to liberalise abortion laws when it came to power in 2023, but disagreements within the governing coalition have hampered progress. Parliament passed two bills easing restrictions days before the protests, but they are expected to be vetoed by President Karol Nawrocki.

Jonathan Alan Lefman, 48, a Boston father, has been convicted of one count of abusive sexual contact for sexually abusing a 17-year-old girl on a JetBlue flight from Puerto Rico to Boston on 30 August 2024. Lefman repeatedly wedged his hand between the back and bottom of the seat in front of him to touch the girl's buttocks without permission while traveling with his wife and four children, including a 16-year-old son seated beside him. The victim identified Lefman through his reflection in the seatback monitor in front of her and recorded video of his fingers protruding through the seat. After the flight, a family member confronted Lefman and reported the incident to JetBlue. He was convicted following a three-day jury trial and is scheduled for sentencing on 12 January 2027.

Miguel Alonso Maldonado Soriano, 27, was arrested after police found him using a sledgehammer to damage an Iwo Jima statue at US Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia on Wednesday evening. One of the six soldier figures depicted on the limestone monument had its head completely removed, and other damage included gouge marks and a bayonet knocked off. Fox News reports Soriano is a Mexican national who entered the US illegally in 1999 and was granted DACA status in 2014, with his status later lost in August 2026. He has been charged with felony destruction of property, trespass with intent to damage property and felony injury to a monument.

Pitt plays at No. 1 Miami on Saturday facing a complex defensive challenge. Star receiver Malachi Toney has 50 receptions for 758 yards and eight touchdowns this season. Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi said double-teaming Toney alone will not work, as Miami have other weapons including running backs. Cornerback Raion Strader, who leads Pitt in interceptions and pass breakups, may shadow Toney.

The 2026 Mirror Pride of Britain Awards ceremony aired on ITV on Thursday, honouring unsung heroes. Among the winners was 12-year-old Zac Howells from Ebbw Vale, who received the Child of Courage award after saving his mother's life and preventing a collision on a dual carriageway. The ceremony, held at London's Grosvenor House Hotel before an audience including King Charles and Jude Bellingham, was hosted by Carol Vorderman and Ashley Banjo.

Attorney General Todd Blanche has refused to rule out whether the Department of Justice could intervene to block states from certifying midterm election results, saying he could not exclude hypothetical 'doomsday scenarios'. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Blanche said it was not the DOJ's intention to 'improperly interfere with elections', but declined to rule out federal involvement if extreme circumstances arose. He noted he was not planning to work around election certification, but stopped short of excluding the possibility entirely.

Meta has delayed its new business terms to 20 November, originally scheduled for 30 October, after publishers raised concerns the terms could allow the company to scrape news sites for AI training. Though Meta removed language explicitly mentioning 'training', legal experts say the revised terms still permit scraping through broader language about 'developing' business products. The News/Media Alliance and other publishers have demanded Meta withdraw the terms, warning they would force news organisations to provide content for competing products without compensation.

Todd Benzinger, the Cincinnati Reds first baseman who caught the final out of the 1990 World Series to clinch a sweep over the Oakland Athletics, died on Wednesday aged 63. His cause of death has not been announced. Benzinger played nine seasons in the major leagues across five teams, spending three seasons with the Reds from 1989 to 1991.

Moderna and Merck announced that their personalised mRNA cancer vaccine, combined with Merck's immunotherapy Keytruda, reduced the risk of melanoma death or recurrence by 42% in a Phase 3 trial of roughly 1,100 patients. The combination also reduced the risk of cancer spreading by 38%. Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel said the findings herald a new chapter in treating cancer. The companies are preparing to file for US regulatory approval, aiming to launch the vaccine in 2027.

A former Chihuahua state attorney general, César Jáuregui, has been charged with treason after two CIA agents died in April during an operation to dismantle a drug lab in northern Mexico. President Claudia Sheinbaum said her administration neither authorised nor was informed of the operation. Jáuregui is also accused of illegal exercise of public office in state court.

The FCC has begun enforcing new powers to block gadgets containing computer chips from companies on its national security threat list. Two unnamed devices have been added to the Covered List for containing HiVision chips, used in home security cameras and dashcams. The FCC calls them 'foreign surveillance chips' because they feature built-in facial detection algorithms. HiVision is a subsidiary of Huawei, already on the FCC's banned list. Intel has secured a one-year waiver to continue using foreign-made advanced robotics in its semiconductor factories, citing the unavailability of domestic alternatives.

Leicester City Council has approved 20mph speed limits on 60 streets in the Saffron and Thurncourt areas, to be introduced in spring 2027. The scheme will cost £140,000. Residents have welcomed the plans, with some telling local reporters that speeding is a concern on their roads.

Storm Austen has caused widespread disruption across Sussex, with trees falling onto railway lines and roads, power cuts affecting hundreds and a large section of Brighton's West Pier collapsing. Wind speeds of 50–60mph are expected, with gusts of 70mph or more possible in coastal areas. Arun District Council has urged residents and visitors to stay away from the coast due to dangerous sea conditions.

United Airlines flight 1157 encountered severe turbulence during its descent to Los Angeles on Wednesday evening, injuring several crew members. The Boeing 777 landed safely just before 9:30 p.m. after the pilot reported about five seconds of turbulence and requested medical assistance. Four flight attendants needed medical attention, with one requiring hospitalisation. No passengers were injured on the flight, which carried 190 passengers and 10 crew members.

Three men have been arrested and charged with murder after a man was fatally stabbed during an alleged home invasion in Sydney's Waterloo on 18 August. A 35-year-old man suffered serious stab wounds and died at St Vincent's Hospital that evening; a 34-year-old woman in the unit was also injured. Two 18-year-old men were arrested in Toowoomba, Queensland, over two months later and extradited to New South Wales. A third man, aged 20, was arrested in Redfern on Thursday. All three have been charged with murder and wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Michael Sheen is emerging as a standout player on The Celebrity Traitors, winning praise for his analytical approach and ability to deduce Traitor strategies. In recent episodes, he correctly identified a murder carried out in plain sight and completed a shield-building challenge successfully. However, fellow contestants have begun questioning why the Faithful actor has survived so long, with some suggesting they would have targeted or recruited him by now if they were Traitors.

OpenAI is finalising a funding round of up to $30 billion at a $1.25 trillion valuation, led by investors from the United Arab Emirates alongside investment firm Coatue. The round is positioned as a bridge to a planned IPO, with OpenAI aiming to secure signatures by the end of the week. The Financial Times reports that OpenAI had initially pitched a higher $1.4 trillion valuation earlier this month.

US tech stocks fell sharply on Thursday as investors reassessed whether companies' enormous spending on artificial intelligence infrastructure will generate promised returns. The Nasdaq Composite dropped 2.6 to 2.8 per cent, with the S&P 500 falling 1.2 per cent. Wall Street analysts attribute the sell-off to concerns that AI companies are relying heavily on debt financing for data centre and chip spending whilst capital expenditure is outpacing operating cash flow. The Brookings Institution estimates AI infrastructure development will cost more than $10 trillion between 2025 and 2032.

Lewis Hamilton overrode Ferrari's strategy call to pit during the Singapore Grand Prix, dropping to sixth place on worn tyres in the closing stages. Hamilton said he took responsibility for the mistake and explained his reasoning at a press conference ahead of the United States Grand Prix. He indicated he will work not to repeat such errors but will continue 'challenging the norms'.

The Pittsburgh Steelers ruled out receiver Ben Skowronek and cornerback Brandin Echols for their game against the Saints in Paris on Sunday due to injuries. Skowronek will miss his second consecutive game with a calf injury, while Echols sustained a hamstring injury that forced him to leave last week's game against Tampa Bay. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers said he trusts the NFL's judgment on safety regarding the Paris game, despite civil unrest in the city.

General Motors says artificial intelligence and simulation tools have reduced vehicle development time from the industry standard of four to five years to around two years. The company's new 'concurrent engineering' approach replaces a sequential process where designers handed sketches to engineers who then handed blueprints to manufacturing. GM has developed machine learning tools that produce aerodynamic simulation results in 60 seconds that are 'remarkably similar' to conventional computational fluid dynamics, which normally takes 60 hours. The company compressed battery testing for new lithium manganese-rich cells from over 60,000 lab hours to 256 hours, and developed new V8 engines for the 2027 Chevrolet Silverado in around a third of the usual time.

Nic Lentz and Gabe Morales will make their World Series umpiring debuts as part of a crew headed by James Hoye for the matchup between the Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays starting Friday night. The seven-umpire crew also includes Dan Bellino, Vic Carapazza, Tripp Gibson and Jim Wolf. Lentz, who made his big league debut in 2016, will be the youngest Series umpire since Pat Hoberg in 2022 at age 36.

A cyclist in his 60s was seriously injured in a crash with a blue Ford Transit van at the junction of Newark Road and St Aiden's Road in North Hykeham shortly before 17:40 on Thursday. The van driver initially failed to stop at the scene. A 31-year-old man has since been arrested and released under investigation, Lincolnshire Police said.

Warm, sunny weather is set to dominate the Heartland over the coming days. Friday will bring sunny skies with highs in the upper 70s, with perfect conditions for outdoor activities including football games. Saturday and Sunday will remain mostly sunny with highs reaching the upper 70s to near 80 degrees, whilst overnight lows dip to the middle to upper 40s. The pleasant pattern continues into next week with partly sunny skies and highs in the middle to upper 70s.

Apple has launched the iPhone Duo, its first foldable smartphone, starting at $1,999. The device features a 5.4-inch outer display that unfolds into a 7.6-inch inner display. Early reviews are mixed: the matte inner display and premium construction are praised, but software optimisation and the outer screen's usability for everyday tasks have drawn criticism. Mark Gurman reports that Apple is also considering a slightly larger inner display of roughly 7.9 to 8.1 inches for a future model.

Christmas lights in Newry are causing blackouts of street lighting, raising concerns for women's safety on dark streets. SDLP councillor Doire Finn has highlighted a recurring electrical problem at Merchants Quay, where both Christmas and street lights knock each other off, leaving the area in darkness at times. He questioned whether the issue would be resolved this year.

The American Red Cross opened four shelters in Phoenix, Chinle, White River and Heber on Thursday to help residents displaced by this week's severe storms and prepare for more extreme weather expected to hit Arizona. Assistance at the shelters is free of cost, with Red Cross officials working with emergency management and city governments in affected areas. Suspected tornadoes hit the Heber-Overgaard and Dewey-Humboldt communities, bringing uprooted trees and destroyed fences, while storms in the Valley knocked out power and damaged apartment complexes. Eastern Arizona experienced floodwaters and rockslides in the mining town of Clifton, and golf ball-sized hail shattered vehicle windshields and apartment windows across the state.

AC Milan suffered a 3-0 defeat at Bournemouth in the Europa League under manager Ruben Amorim. Goalkeeper Mike Maignan was sent off in the first half for pushing Tyler Adams in the face, leading to two penalties converted by Justin Kluivert and Marcus Tavernier. Amine Adli scored a third in the second half as Milan's European campaign deteriorated.

A trailer for Mass Effect: Universe, an in-development sequel BioWare was working on, has leaked on Reddit and been confirmed as authentic. The game would have featured a new protagonist and series character Liara T'Soni. The trailer's release follows EA's closure of BioWare and the cancellation of the project.

Items belonging to the fishing boat Kilda have been recovered as the search continues for two crew members who vanished off the Isle of Lewis on 13 October. Norman 'Tam' Murray, 40, and Murdo Morrison, 23, remain missing; the body of a third crew member, Douglas Craigie, 49, was recovered from the sea on 14 October.

Lincoln Police Department investigators completed a search of a basement in the Havelock neighbourhood on Friday, looking for possible human remains connected to the disappearance of Regina Bos, the oldest unsolved missing persons case for the department. The search, which began Thursday, found nothing of evidentiary value. The tip leading to the search came three months ago, identifying the previous owner of the property as having a connection to Bos and Duggan's Pub.

Nine mutilated hares have been found dumped on Besom Lane near Westerleigh in Gloucestershire, prompting an RSPCA appeal for information. Several hares were decapitated, and one had teeth marks on its stomach consistent with dog bites. The RSPCA suspects hare coursers killed the animals elsewhere and dumped them from a vehicle along the remote lane.

Caleb Williams threw for 308 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Chicago Bears to a 30-24 victory over the New England Patriots on Thursday night at Soldier Field, improving to 5-2. It was the second meeting between the young quarterbacks since they were drafted in 2024, with Williams (No 1 overall) and Maye (No 3) facing off for the second time. Williams completed 22 of 33 passes in his second game back from a hamstring injury and became the first Bears quarterback to throw for more than 300 yards in consecutive games since Mitch Trubisky in 2018. The victory halted New England's three-game winning streak and leaves the Patriots at 4-3.

Aisha Zaman, 27, has been charged with possession of a prohibited firearm and possession of that firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence after a police officer was shot in Nottingham city centre early on Sunday. The officer approached two people acting suspiciously at a bus stop in Angel Row at around 4.50am and received a gunshot wound to the foot. He remains in hospital in a stable condition. Six other people have been arrested in connection with the incident.

Birmingham City Council has unveiled a £20 million scheme to revamp Sutton Coldfield town centre, the first major overhaul in more than 50 years. The Royal Sutton Coldfield Gateway project, first proposed in 2019 but significantly revised, aims to improve access and encourage walking and cycling rather than cars. Changes include speed limit reductions, new pedestrian crossings, a two-way cycle lane around the town centre, and improved links to Sutton Park and the railway station. The scheme is now in a six-week public consultation phase.

Nebraska will see warm temperatures in the upper 70s to low 80s on Friday with strong south winds gusting up to 40 mph, particularly in the afternoon. A cold front moving in Saturday will bring a significant shift, with cooler temperatures and increasing rain chances of 60 to 80 percent across the state through early next week. The heaviest rainfall is expected in central and western Nebraska, with some areas potentially receiving 1 to 2 inches by Monday evening, while southeastern Nebraska may see only a quarter to half inch of rain.

Minnesota Timberwolves player LaMelo Ball told the hosts of 'Inside the NBA' on Wednesday that he does not change the nappies of his nine-month-old son LaOne, whom he shares with model Ana Montana. Ball said his partner handles that responsibility as part of their 'good game plan', explaining that he knows 'what I gotta do to bring to the table' while she knows what she needs to contribute. He clarified that he had changed nappies before but said it is 'not my job'.

Turkey and Libya have approved a maritime agreement to establish a direct maritime economic corridor between the countries, aimed at jointly exploiting oil and gas deposits in the region. The deal has sparked strong opposition from Greece, which says the corridor disregards Greek islands including Crete, Karpathos and Rhodes, and violates its exclusive economic zone. The European Union has described the agreement as 'null and void' and says it violates the sovereign rights of third states and breaches the Law of the Sea.

The Kansas City Chiefs have placed left tackle Josh Simmons on injured reserve due to a bulging disc, requiring him to miss at least four games. Chiefs vice president Rich Burkholder said Simmons reported a leg issue on 17 August which was determined to be related to the back problem; a specialist recommended therapy rather than surgery. Simmons has not played this season and last week practised in a limited capacity for the first time since the injury.

English golfer Charley Hull, ranked No. 3 in the Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings, has been added to Sports Illustrated Swimsuit's 2027 roster. The 30-year-old, a three-time LPGA Tour winner, shot behind-the-scenes footage from her photoshoot in Spain, filmed in Ibiza and Mallorca. The 2027 SI Swimsuit issue will be released in May.

Tom Skerritt, the Emmy-winning actor known for roles in Top Gun, Alien and the television series Picket Fences, has died at 93 of natural causes, his family confirmed on Wednesday. In a career spanning more than 60 years, Skerritt accumulated more than 170 film and television credits. He won an Emmy in 1993 for his role as Sheriff Jimmy Brock in Picket Fences and received Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild award nominations. His family said they remembered him for his humour, curiosity, wisdom and generosity, and for his passion for storytelling, service and veterans.

More than 200,000 children, including at least 145,000 US citizens, have had a parent detained by immigration authorities since the second Trump administration began, according to the Brookings Institution. Experts warn that parental deportation can cause lasting psychological and physical harm. Adverse childhood experiences can predispose children to chronic stress, poor health outcomes, academic struggles and long-term psychiatric disorders, according to the CDC.

Brazilian prosecutors and Indigenous organisations are suing to force electoral authorities to help voters in remote Amazon communities vote in Sunday's presidential runoff between President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Senator Flávio Bolsonaro. The two candidates have markedly different approaches to protecting the Amazon. Federal prosecutors filed a lawsuit seeking a nationwide order to ensure Indigenous peoples can vote, with free transportation and support including interpreters and signs in Indigenous languages.

Noel Christy from Strabane has retired after 50 years working for Ulster Transport Authority and its successor Translink. The Co Tyrone driver started at 17, following his father into public transport, and began driving at 21. He matched his father's 50-year career, surpassing it by four days. During his long service, Christy experienced hijackings and valued the friendships and support from colleagues, particularly during The Troubles.

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has banned all Pentagon personnel from using nonpublic or classified information to bet on U.S. military operations, including on prediction markets such as Polymarket and Kalshi. Hegseth warned that foreign intelligence services could analyse betting patterns to anticipate American military movements and endanger troops. The ban follows the case of a U.S. Special Forces soldier arrested in April after allegedly betting over $33,000 on the removal of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro before news of the operation became public, winning more than $409,000.

Mark Zuckerberg has made a deal with Meta's board to help him pay a proposed California wealth tax without losing his ownership stake in the company. The one-time 5% tax would apply to Californians with a net worth exceeding $1 billion and is before voters in the election concluding 3 November. Under the deal, Zuckerberg can sell a new class of non-voting Meta shares to cover his estimated $11 billion tax liability, and has committed to staying in California for eight years.

A 25-year-old motorcyclist was arrested after colliding with a van on Wellesley Road in Croydon during an alleged police pursuit on 22 October. Officers had requested the rider stop on Sydenham Road, but he failed to stop and a pursuit was authorised. The rider suffered injuries and was taken to hospital, though his injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. He was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving and aggravated vehicle taking. The collision caused the closure of Selfhurst Road in Thornton Heath and affected bus routes 75 and 157.

Dakari Roy Brown, 25, of Huddersfield, sent texts offering heroin and cocaine for sale to a police officer at York Crown Court, unaware of the recipient's identity. Brown was sentenced to five years and seven months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to supply both drugs and possessing criminal cash of £1,390. The judge noted this was the fourth time in nine years Brown had been jailed for dealing in Class A drugs.

Jack Osbourne has revealed that doctors warned his father Ozzy Osbourne not to perform at his farewell concert due to serious health concerns. Ozzy was dealing with heart issues and artery problems, and doctors told him the energy expenditure of performing would be dangerous. Despite the warnings, Ozzy insisted on going ahead with the show, telling doctors 'I'm doing it'. He died 17 days later at the age of 76.

BMW's 2027 iX5 electric SUV will travel over 450 miles per charge and features power doors that open and close automatically using sensors. The vehicle supports fast 460 kW charging. BMW is also offering petrol, mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions of the new X5 line, as well as planning a hydrogen fuel cell option.

Blenheim Palace's Halloween trail has opened and runs until 1 November. The 1.3km after-dark trail features new attractions including a four-metre-tall moving spider, a 20-metre web tunnel, Dracula's Lair, neon coffins and a Monster Disco, alongside returning favourites such as the Headless Horseman and Possessed Pumpkin Farm. Younger visitors can enjoy the trail during daylight hours, while twilight and late-night sessions offer extra scares for older children and adults. Tickets start at £19 for adults and £13.50 for children, with parking at £10.

Canva has launched Canva Craft, its first image generation model, which competes with those from OpenAI, Google and Meta. The model uses a two-stage architecture that plans a design before generating images at up to 2K resolution in over 30 aspect ratios. Trained on millions of human-designed templates from Canva's library, the model ranks fourth overall on DesignArena's leaderboard and first in several categories including people, portraits and landscapes.

An integrity body has called out Victoria's state government for its lack of public accounting of the total costs of its pandemic response. The watchdog has urged greater transparency over how much the state spent on COVID-19 measures.

The Blue Boar, a grade II listed building in Abingdon, has been taken over by a new management team, an announcement released on Wednesday, October 22 said. The pub had reopened in February under owners Punch Taverns, operating under the Unity Social Brand, following a major refurbishment that included new sports screens and a yard. No details were given about the new managers or reasons for the previous team's departure.

Cash seized from criminals totalling £21,000 has been given to a York scheme to support safe nightlife. City of York Council has approved transferring Asset Recovery Incentivisation Scheme (ARIS) funding to the local Business Improvement District to support the city's Purple Flag status, which recognises the city's management of its evening and late-night offering.

Federal prosecutors referred to Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) as Ilhan Nur Said Elmi, a/k/a Ilhan Abdullahi Omar, in a Wednesday court filing in Washington, D.C. related to an ongoing immigration fraud probe. Sources told Fox News and the New York Post that Elmi is her 'real name'. Omar told Fox News Digital her name is Ilhan Abdullahi Omar when confronted about the filing.

Duncan Ferguson has been appointed Glentoran manager and will oversee his first match on Saturday against Ballymena United. Ferguson, who played for Everton and Scotland, previously worked as assistant manager at Everton and as caretaker manager at Goodison Park. He has also held coaching roles at Forest Green Rovers and Inverness Caledonian Thistle. After Declan Devine's departure, interim managers Tim McCann and Paddy McCourt secured 13 points from 18 available. Ferguson has acknowledged the 'chocolate and flowers' honeymoon period will end quickly if Glentoran do not produce results. He identified winning the league as a significant challenge, noting Glentoran have not won it for seventeen to twenty years, and currently assess themselves as approximately the fourth-best team in the league.

Moderna shares dropped as much as 25% on Thursday following a leak of partial data on its cancer vaccine developed with Merck, even though the full results released later that day appeared positive. The personalised vaccine, intismeran autogene, paired with Merck's immunotherapy Keytruda reduced the risk of recurrence or death in melanoma patients by 42% compared with Keytruda alone, with a separate analysis showing a 58% reduction. About 82% of patients who received the vaccine alongside Keytruda were alive without their melanoma returning at two years, compared with 70% receiving Keytruda alone. The Financial Times reports the results missed Wall Street's lofty expectations, despite their clinical strength.

Three masked burglars broke into Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes' £4m Cheshire home on Wednesday whilst he was playing in a Champions League match against Como in Italy. The intruders were spotted in the rear garden at around 8.30pm. None of Fernandes' family members were at the property. Police attended within ten minutes, but the burglars had fled, taking a number of items.

A 44-year-old man from Hitchcock died in a crash on South Dakota Highway 28 near Carpenter on Wednesday evening. The man was driving an ATV eastbound on the highway's south shoulder when he attempted to turn left into a driveway. An 80-year-old semi-truck driver travelling in the same direction could not stop in time, and the vehicles collided. The semi-truck driver was not injured. The initial impact occurred in Spink County, with both vehicles coming to rest in Beadle County.

English football clubs face a combined annual levy of £20.3m to fund the Independent Football Regulator, more than double the £8m–10.2m initially forecast in a 2019 impact assessment. Top Premier League clubs earning over £150m in commercial revenue will pay £1.8m each, while most Premier League sides will pay £600,000 annually. The IFR says this represents around 0.1 per cent of most clubs' revenues. The watchdog plans to employ 100 staff, with the £20.3m covering £18.3m in operating costs and £1m for potential litigation, plus £1m towards a £45m set-up cost spread over ten years.

President Donald Trump accused LeBron James of disrespecting the United States after the Philadelphia 76ers player appeared to continue his warmups during the national anthem before the team's season opener on Tuesday. Trump posted on social media that James was 'no good, a TOTAL DISGRACE' and called on him to apologize to American soldiers. James had not publicly responded as of Thursday afternoon.

The Sunflower Trophy meeting at Bishopscourt in County Down has been cancelled on safety grounds following a yellow weather warning for parts of Northern Ireland this weekend. The Belfast Telegraph reports the cancellation is due to Storm Boelo.

Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler has responded to a claim involving Manchester United. The nature of the claim and his specific response are not detailed in the available reports.

Britt McHenry, a former ESPN host working as a US State Department press adviser, resigned on Thursday after a heated confrontation at an NBA game in Washington, D.C. the night before. She was promoted to a new role on Wednesday, the same day she attended the Wizards versus Bucks game at Capital One Arena, but left after the incident and was forced to resign within 24 hours.

A study of nearly 1,000 adults over 65 published in The Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences found that frequent daytime napping was linked to a 48% higher risk of dementia compared to those who rarely or never napped. Naps of 30 minutes or less were associated with a 40% increased risk, and unintentional napping with a 39% higher risk. Researchers stressed that examining daytime napping habits provides a clearer picture of overall brain health than nighttime sleep alone.

Luke Woodhouse threw a perfect nine-dart finish during his first-round match at the European Championship in Dortmund, beating Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-3. The nine-darter came in the fourth leg and featured successive 180s before he finished on double 12. Woodhouse will face Gian van Veen in the second round.

Jerry Hall was voted out of The Celebrity Traitors in episode seven. The Traitors, James Acaster and Maya Jama, failed to complete their mission after Acaster refused to participate, leaving three of the Faithful with protective shields. At the Round Table, the Faithful identified the Traitors as vulnerable but ultimately chose to banish Hall.

The trial of the Bewdley Express, a new passenger service, has ended after successfully carrying more than 1,000 passengers during its run.

A jury is deliberating in the trial of Halima Salman, a U.S. citizen born in Brooklyn, charged with undergoing military training with the Islamic State in Syria in 2018. Salman's lawyer argues she was tricked into travelling to Syria by her father in 2017 when she was 17, placed in a van without consent, and became an unwilling bride to an IS fighter. Prosecutors dispute this account, insisting she had more agency in Syria than claimed.

A man in his 60s died when his MG collided with a BMW on the A66 near Highgate Farm, Penrith at 6.17pm on 22 October. The road was closed in both directions between Rheged and Keswick while emergency services attended. Cumbria Police is investigating the circumstances and has asked witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage to contact officers on 101, referring to incident 199 of 22 October.

Franklyn's, a cocktail bar and restaurant on Telegraph Road in Heswall, has announced its closure after 14 years in business. Owner Rob Murch said the decision comes amid mounting pressures on independent businesses, with ever-increasing costs and overheads. The closure has prompted nostalgic messages from customers sharing memories of the venue.

Multiple crashes have blocked roads across Devon and Plymouth on Saturday, October 24, with strong winds also bringing down a tree on the A361 in Ilfracombe. Incidents were reported in Torrington, Copplestone and Plymouth, with a car colliding with a bus stop on Tavistock Road at Crownhill. The A386 Outland Road northbound was partially blocked between Wolseley Road and Segrave Road, with traffic returning to normal by 8pm.

The Cabell County Commission announced Thursday that Danne Vance, currently a magistrate judge, will serve as the next Cabell County clerk. He will be sworn in on 29 October. The appointment follows the retirement of former clerk Scott Caserta, who cited health matters and his inability to give the office adequate time and commitment.

Both the NCAA men's and women's March Madness tournaments will expand to 76 teams at the end of the upcoming season, up from 68. The expansion aims to increase memorable tournament moments, but it remains unclear whether it will benefit mid-major programmes or simply allow more power-conference bubble teams into the field. Minnesota men's coach Niko Medved said he believes the expansion 'is going to end up being more exciting than people realize in the next couple of years'.

Kia's EV2 Air electric car arrives priced from £24,245 including the £3,750 Electric Car Grant, with an official range of 275 miles and a seven-year warranty. The 133bhp motor delivers 0–62mph in 9.5 seconds with smooth acceleration suited to town driving. The car is well-tuned for European roads, with light steering, excellent visibility and a 10.02-metre turning circle that makes urban driving straightforward, whilst remaining composed at motorway speeds with good efficiency of 4.08 miles per kWh.

Kia's new EV2 Air electric car costs from £24,245 including the £3,750 Electric Car Grant and promises 275 miles of official range with a practical five-seat cabin. The car features a 133bhp motor, a seven-year warranty and is tuned for European roads, with light steering and a tight turning circle that make it well-suited to town driving. At motorway speeds it remains composed and refined, though performance on demanding B-roads is less impressive.

Scotland wing Duhan van der Merwe is set to make his first appearance of the season after recovering from an ankle injury, as Edinburgh aim to maintain their unbeaten start in the United Rugby Championship. The 31-year-old returns to face the Lions at home on Friday, with lock Marshall Sykes also featuring in his 100th appearance for the club. Edinburgh head coach Sean Everitt said the side would need an accurate performance to get the result against a team with a strong set-piece and threat in transitions.

Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, secretary-general of the Commonwealth, has said King Charles should apologise for Britain's historical role in the slave trade and that the time has come for discussion about reparations. She told Sky News that an apology from the monarch 'wouldn't hurt' and that Commonwealth countries have requested one. King Charles is due to visit the Bahamas, Guyana and Antigua and Barbuda next week, where reparations are expected to be debated at a Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. Buckingham Palace has previously said the King takes the issue 'very seriously', but it is understood the Government has not advised him to issue an apology, and he is expected to stop short of doing so.

A Tesla in Full Self-Driving mode struck and killed a 71-year-old man crossing Interstate 80 in Vallejo, California around 2:30 AM on Thursday. The 26-year-old driver told authorities the vehicle was operating in FSD mode. California Highway Patrol reviewed dashcam footage showing the Tesla applying brakes and steering left to avoid the pedestrian, but the right front struck him anyway. At least one other vehicle then struck the man while he lay in the traffic lanes, but that driver did not stop.

The Anker Soundcore Space 2 over-ear headphones have reached their lowest price ever at $106.49, according to reports from Wired and The Verge. The headphones, which launched in April, offer active noise cancellation, up to 50 hours of battery life with ANC enabled and 70 hours without it, and are currently available at Amazon, Best Buy and Walmart. The Space 2 succeeded the Space One model and features improved noise cancellation particularly for low-frequency sounds like trains and aircraft engines.

Maldon Promenade Zoo, an Essex petting zoo home to 85 species of animals, has announced it will close at 2pm tomorrow due to the threat of Storm Austen. A spokesperson said the zookeeping team will work to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the animals.

Major US banks including Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Citigroup have detected unauthorized third-party AI agents accessing customer accounts, according to reporting by Axios. Some agents have taken actions that appear independent of direct user instructions, including contacting call centres. The problem arises because customers often grant AI assistants their banking usernames and passwords, which violates bank policies requiring customers to log in themselves. Banks describe the situation as a 'nightmare' and have begun blocking third-party agent access or restricting them to read-only permissions. Concerns centre on financial liability and the difficulty distinguishing between authorised and rogue agent activity, though the agents are not hacking systems but rather acting on permissions users have granted them.

Microsoft has developed an AI diagnostic system it says outperforms human doctors at diagnosing complex medical conditions. According to a study published in Science, the system achieved 83 per cent accuracy on cases from the New England Journal of Medicine, compared with 36 per cent for generalist physicians using reference materials. Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman called the result a step toward 'medical superintelligence'.

Harry Symonds, a 30-year-old online fitness coach from Croydon, has been evicted from the Big Brother house after facing the public vote on 23 October. He was one of four housemates nominated following the show's 'Time Zone' twist, where housemates had the chance to alter nominations. Presenters AJ Odudu and Will Best said this week's vote was the closest of the series so far. Symonds had been in the house since the series began on 13 September and had not faced eviction until this week.

Mel Tracina returns to host Big Brother Australia's second season in 2026. The show moves to a new Brisbane location and producers have added a roof over the stage, a response to the heavy rain that soaked Tracina during the first episode's live broadcast in 2025.

Tens of thousands of Tasmanians are expected to skip voting in compulsory council elections, despite risking fines. The state government maintains that making voting compulsory was the right decision, despite widespread voter disinterest.

Jamal Wallace, a senior defensive lineman for Utah football, is under investigation for the alleged rape of a woman and for allegedly sharing videos of the act on social media. The university suspended him indefinitely on 11 October after being made aware of the situation. According to police documents, the woman alleged that on 9 October, Wallace forced her to perform oral sex and have intercourse during a conversation about their on-and-off relationship. She said he took her phone and shared videos of the incident with five people on Snapchat. Salt Lake City police confirmed they found the alleged videos and that Wallace's phone was in his possession when they were taken. Wallace has denied the accusations and was released on $5,000 bail. He has not been charged.

Commuters at London Waterloo are facing travel chaos after a police incident between Woking and Brookwood forced the closure of railway lines. Delays of up to 90 minutes are expected, with services between London Waterloo and Exeter St Davids among those affected. The nature of the incident has not been confirmed. Replacement buses are being arranged from Woking at around 6:50pm, with limited services from Basingstoke and Southampton Central before 7pm.

Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh has clarified she backs Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood's immigration reforms after earlier joking that she would 'never lie' in reference to an interview where she repeatedly refused to express support for the changes. She said her remark was meant to be 'light-hearted' and self-deprecating but 'didn't get it right'. The government proposes increasing the time foreign workers must wait for permanent residency.

A call has been made for the Irish government to intervene in an environmental crisis affecting Lough Neagh in Northern Ireland. The nature of the crisis and who is making the call are not detailed in the available reports.

Amazon has rebranded Kindle Unlimited to Kindle Plus, keeping the $11.99 monthly price and 20-title borrowing limit. The subscription now includes thousands more audiobooks, some narrated by AI-generated 'virtual voice', alongside its existing ebooks, comics and magazines. Authors using Kindle Direct Publishing can now make audiobooks available to subscribers. The name change has prompted some subscribers on Reddit to speculate about potential future price increases.

Todd Benzinger, a member of the Cincinnati Reds' 1990 World Series championship team, died on Wednesday at age 63, the team announced Thursday. Benzinger played nine seasons in the major leagues, including three with the Reds from 1989 to 1991. He also played for the Boston Red Sox, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants, retiring after the 1995 season.

The Trump administration's Justice Department has demanded that California counties identify suspected noncitizen voters and set aside their ballots within 48 hours, an escalation days before the midterm elections. Federal prosecutors say they have identified more than 20,000 people registered to vote in California who received mail-in ballots and are believed to be noncitizens. The administration argues that once ballots are mixed with others during processing, they cannot be separated. California election officials oppose the demands, saying the government's information is unreliable and eligible citizens could lose their votes. A federal appeals court has ordered California to respond to the emergency request by noon Saturday, with a hearing scheduled for Tuesday.

Chaotic scenes unfolded in Glasgow city centre on Thursday 22 October ahead of the Celtic v Celta Vigo Europa League match at Parkhead. Glass Live reports that football fans clashed on Argyle Street, with glass bottles lobbed at supporters. Glasgow Times reports that a man was struck with a bottle during the incident. Police Scotland confirmed they are investigating the disturbance. A 20-year-old man was arrested and charged with multiple offences including assault on a police officer.

Police are searching for a West Midlands man wanted in connection with intimate images being shared without consent. The public is urged to call 999 if they see him.

South Dakota high school football has shifted from Friday to Thursday night for two weeks. The 11B and 9-man classes began their playoff first round on Thursday, while the top three 11-man classes (11AAA, 11AA and 11A) played their final regular season games. The quarterfinals are scheduled for Thursday, 29 October.

Scotland's government is moving to publish figures on homeless deaths every two years rather than annually, a decision criticised as a scandal by campaigners. The statistics released earlier this year showed 231 homeless people died in 2024, a 40 per cent increase from 2017. Green MSP Iris Duane said the decision should be considered a scandal, arguing that every statistic represents a real person failed by systems that should have supported them earlier.

James Robertson, 37, admitted breaking and hurling a plastic seat towards Norwich City supporters during the East Anglian derby on 11 April at Carrow Road. The seat narrowly missed an eight-year-old boy, whom a home fan managed to shield from the impact. Robertson handed himself in after CCTV images were released and pleaded guilty to throwing a missile and criminal damage.

James Robertson, 37, admitted breaking and throwing a plastic seat towards Norwich City supporters during the derby on 11 April at Carrow Road. He narrowly missed an eight-year-old boy, who was protected when a home fan blocked the seat. Robertson handed himself in after police released CCTV images. Norwich Magistrates' Court heard he was intoxicated at the time but later told police he had acted like 'an idiot'. He pleaded guilty to throwing a missile at a spectators area and criminal damage.

Edendork have won the Tyrone Senior Football Championship for the first time, beating Errigal Ciaran in a replay. The first match ended 1-12 to 0-15 after Darren McCurry scored a last-gasp two-pointer that forced a replay. In the replay, Niall Morgan kicked a last-second two-pointer as Edendork won 1-14 to 1-13.

Antonio Conte has dismissed reports linking him with the Manchester United manager's job as 'unfounded speculation'. The Italian, out of work since leaving Napoli in May, said he is not in advanced negotiations with any club and that his next managerial move will be a carefully considered decision made only when conditions are right. Italian newspaper La Repubblica had claimed Conte held talks with United's board about replacing Michael Carrick following a 4-1 Champions League defeat to Como, and that he demanded full control of transfers and the right to appoint his own staff. However, the BBC understands Conte is keen on the job, even as he publicly plays down the reports.

Sheffield has been shortlisted for the UK City of Culture 2029, alongside Blackpool, Milton Keynes and Wrexham. The winner will receive a £10m prize fund to deliver a year of cultural events, with the announcement due next May. Local residents told the BBC the title would boost the city's profile and perception.

Leeds Knights host Solway on Friday night. Manager Sam Cooper is confident the team can build on the 'big step forward' taken in their previous match.

Movie runtimes are increasing across all genres. Researcher Stephen Follows found that the average wide-release film has grown from 106 to 114 minutes over the past 45 years. Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' at 173 minutes exemplifies the trend and has become the second-highest grossing film of the year with $1.8 billion in ticket sales, suggesting long runtimes are not deterring audiences.

Three major UK charities have recorded ethnicity pay gaps favouring ethnic minority staff. Oxfam reported white employees earned 33 per cent less than those identifying as black or a person of colour, up from 10.4 per cent in 2024. Cancer Research UK's gap stood at 7.6 per cent and the British Red Cross at 11.4 per cent. Politicians including shadow culture minister James Wild and Reform UK's Suella Braverman have raised concerns about positive action schemes under the Equality Act, arguing workers should be rewarded on merit. The charities said the figures did not necessarily indicate unequal pay for the same work, citing differences in staff roles.

Cumbria Police closed the A595 Distington Bypass southbound on 22 October after a broken-down vehicle blocked the route. The closure, near the Lillyhall roundabout entrance, caused disruption for commuters shortly before 6pm. The temporary closure was lifted after the vehicle was cleared.

Elon Musk has invested roughly $1 billion in Skydance, the media company formed after Paramount's acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery closed in October. The investment comes alongside equity contributions from other investors including Laurene Powell Jobs. Skydance is pursuing $6 billion in cost savings over three years as it integrates two major studios, streaming platforms and networks while managing a debt burden of nearly $80 billion.

Concacaf has approved Haiti's request to relocate their Nations League quarter-final first leg against the USA from Jamaica to Miami on 14 November. Haiti has been unable to play home matches within their own borders since July 2021, with gangs controlling 90% of the capital Port-au-Prince, including the national stadium. Miami's large Haitian community provides home advantage for the match at Nu Stadium.

The Browser Company is shutting down its Arc browser on 22 December. The shutdown happens in stages: new Arc accounts can no longer be created as of Thursday, AI features will be disabled on 23 November, and the browser will stop working entirely on 22 December when accounts are deactivated. The company is directing users to switch to Dia, its AI-first browser, citing the rising cost of keeping a browser secure in the age of AI. The company says user data including bookmarks, extensions, passwords and history will transfer automatically to Dia.

Dame Prue Leith, who left the Great British Bake Off after nine seasons, admitted to feeling a 'pang' when she watched Nigella Lawson appear in the role for the first time. She called the job 'the best job in television' and briefly questioned her decision, though she remains glad she left. Leith departed to spend more time with her husband and have fewer work commitments.

Three Romanian men have been jailed for stealing more than £40,000 from pensioners across Britain using a cash machine distraction trick. Ionut Matei, 40, Vasile Ciubotaru, 45, and Ramonel Mandache, 51, targeted vulnerable elderly customers at Halifax and Lloyds Bank branches between October 2024 and August 2026. The scam involved one man dropping a banknote behind a victim to distract them, whilst an accomplice swapped their bank card for a fake one.

A father shot and killed an armed carjacker during an ambush outside his home in Durban on October 9. The New York Post identifies him as Sidney Hill, an operations manager. Two armed men emerged from a white vehicle and opened fire as Hill was leaving his driveway with his daughter in the passenger seat. Hill returned fire from the driver's seat, fatally shooting one of the attackers, whilst shielding his daughter. His vehicle was struck by gunfire and hit a tree.

Newcastle United head coach Matthias Jaissle confirmed on Friday that only two players are definitely unavailable for Sunday's visit to Crystal Palace. Goalkeeper Ewen Jaouen will miss several months with a hamstring injury, and full-back Tino Livramento remains sidelined with a knee problem. Winger Anthony Elanga returns to the squad after a month out, whilst midfielder Jacob Ramsey could also feature, though Jaissle said the club would manage his return carefully. Belgian forward Matias Fernandez-Pardo is a doubt after missing training with illness but is expected to be included.

Emergency services attended a junction of Newmarket Street and York Street in Norwich at around 5.30pm. A fire engine and ambulance were initially at the scene, with the fire engine leaving at about 5.37pm. Ambulance crews assisted a person on the pavement in Newmarket Street, and a second ambulance arrived shortly afterwards. The road remained open with traffic continuing to pass through the area.

Misty Leslie, 48, died on 11 October after an Independence Police Department officer driving a police SUV struck the passenger side of her Audi SQ5 at an intersection near Kansas City around 1.15am. Police allege Leslie ran a red light while the officer was responding to an emergency call with lights and sirens activated. The crash remains under investigation, but the police department has not disclosed how fast either vehicle was travelling or details of the emergency response.

Comedian Jimmy Carr is embarking on a 14-month UK tour starting in April. The tour will include dates in Birmingham and Wolverhampton.

President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social criticising NBA star LeBron James for his behaviour during the national anthem at the Philadelphia 76ers' season opener against the New York Knicks on Tuesday. Video showed James making golf swing and basketball shooting movements whilst the anthem was performed at Madison Square Garden. Trump called James a 'total disgrace' and demanded he apologise to US military personnel. James later responded by saying 'It must be a slow news day at the office.' During the Sixers' next game on Thursday against the Cleveland Cavaliers, James altered his behaviour during the anthem, standing more still than before.

The Fox Inn in Bransford closed on Tuesday 20 October after ceasing trading as a Greene King pub. The Warm Welcome Group, which operates two pubs in the Cotswolds, has taken over the venue and plans a soft launch on 7 November, with full opening on 9 November. Staff said there will be a few changes but 'nothing drastic', with a focus on fresh food.

A burst water pipe on the A4103 in Bransford, near Worcester, is causing disruption and delays to traffic. Severn Trent teams are on site working to repair the burst. Temporary traffic lights are expected to be installed while repairs are undertaken.

An electric vehicle crashed into Eastbourne Motoring Centre on Friday afternoon. Emergency services including the fire service attended the scene, which was cordoned off by authorities.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has classified Aldi and Lidl as 'large grocery retailers', bringing them under the same rules as Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda and Morrisons. The rules, in place since 2010, prevent large chains from using land agreements to block rivals from opening nearby stores. Aldi holds a 10.5 per cent UK grocery market share and Lidl holds 8.6 per cent.

Andy Burnham has confirmed that the Budget will include changes to infrastructure spending to benefit the North, the Yorkshire Post reports. The announcement followed a meeting with England's metro mayors. The Budget is scheduled for 28 October.

Republican Vivek Ramaswamy's campaign for Ohio governor is running an attack ad featuring his Democratic opponent Amy Acton's estranged mother, Donna Arthur, calling Acton a liar and urging voters not to support her. The ad does not mention that Acton has not spoken to her mother since 1978, when her stepfather was charged with raping her and she and her brother were removed from Arthur's custody. Ramaswamy's campaign said it would spend four million dollars promoting the ad. President Trump defended the ad on Thursday, telling Ramaswamy to keep it running, while Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, a Republican who endorses Ramaswamy, called it deeply troubling and urged its removal. Vice President JD Vance also defended it, telling Republicans to stop complaining.

The National Trust has cancelled its Fountains by Floodlight experience at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal on Saturday 24 October due to Storm Austen, which is forecast to bring severe weather and high winds. The illuminated after-dark event, which features live music, street food and guided twilight tours, was scheduled to run that evening. Friday 23 October is still planned to go ahead. Visitors who booked tickets will receive automatic refunds.

Scientists studying a 253-year-old coral core from Maui's Olowalu reef have found that the reef's growth closely reflected changes on land, from the precolonial era through the sugar-plantation economy to modern tourism. The reef's growth rate began a steep decline in the late 1960s when plantation production boomed. The findings, published in the journal 'Coral Reefs', provide the first long-term baseline for understanding how land affects reef health.

The NFL's inaugural regular-season game in France will proceed as scheduled on Sunday between the Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, despite violent civil unrest across Paris. A scheduled fan event for Steelers supporters in the Bastille neighbourhood was canceled Thursday due to security concerns following recent street protests. The demonstrations, which have caused significant property damage and involved arrests, have been driven by anger over rising living costs, school conditions and teacher shortages. The US State Department issued a security alert urging Americans to avoid demonstrations and exercise caution. Aaron Rodgers said the NFL would have cancelled the game if it were unsafe. Meanwhile, Paris police ordered the postponement of a Paris Saint-Germain soccer match scheduled for the same day, citing stretched police resources.

Graeme Swann has stepped down from the General Committee of Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club. No reason for his departure has been given.

Sri Lanka produced the second-highest successful chase in ODI history to defeat England by two wickets in their tri-series clash in Rawalpindi. Harry Brook scored 202 from 116 deliveries, the fastest double-hundred in ODI history and the first by an England batter, helping England to 429-4. Sri Lanka recovered from 24-2 through partnerships including a 166-run stand between Avishka Fernando (97) and Pavan Rathnayake (130), with Dasun Shanaka scoring 97. Janith Liyanage hit a six off the penultimate ball of the final over to seal victory. England's second consecutive loss leaves them needing to win to reach the final on 31 October.

Albanian lawmakers clashed in parliament on Thursday, with opposition members throwing objects, tearing out microphones and blocking the podium in protest at parliamentary leadership's refusal to debate ten days of student demonstrations in Tirana. The scuffles came as large crowds of students gathered outside parliament, with the protests now in their tenth consecutive day.

FIFA has announced that the United States will host the inaugural Women's Club World Cup from 5-30 January 2028. The 19-team tournament, held every four years, will feature elite clubs from all six continental confederations. Seven teams have already qualified: Arsenal, Barcelona, Gotham, Club America Femenil, Corinthians, Naegohyang and Wuhan Jiangda, with a further 12 clubs to be determined.

Louth Academy celebrated record-breaking GCSE results at an awards ceremony at Riverhead Theatre. The academy's Attainment 8 score reached 44.66, the seventh consecutive year of improvement, and it achieved its highest-ever attainment 8 score for disadvantaged students. In English Language, 67.5% of students achieved grades 9-4, with 6.3% more achieving the stronger 9–5 pass. In Maths, 67.5% achieved grades 9-4, more than 10% above the national pass rate, while Combined Science saw an 11% increase in the 9–4 pass rate.

The UK clocks will go back by one hour at 2am on Sunday, 25 October, giving people an extra hour in bed but returning earlier darkness to evenings. The practice dates back to the Summer Time Act of 1916, introduced to maximise daylight during World War One, though the idea was first proposed by British builder William Willett in 1907. The clocks will not go forward again until 28 March next year.

A £1bn investment in battery-electric trains for Yorkshire could reduce journey times between Hull and Leeds by less than one minute. The new trains may not be in service until the end of 2034.

Sioux Falls Police are warning the public about a scam in which a victim received a phone notification about unauthorised charges on his account. When he called the number provided, a man claimed the charges involved child pornography and transferred him to someone posing as a federal agent. The fake agent instructed the victim to buy $10,000 in gift cards at a home improvement store. Store employees recognised the scam and warned the victim, who eventually realised it was fraudulent after providing the gift card numbers and cancelled them, avoiding financial loss.

Jeremy Clarkson has released a £95 Hawkstone advent calendar for Christmas 2026, shaped like the Hawkstone brewery and filled with 12 beers, three ciders, miniature bottles of gin and vodka, exclusive merchandise and four previously unseen products. Five Golden Tickets hidden in calendars offer prizes including a weekend in the Cotswolds with two nights' hotel accommodation, dinner at Clarkson's pub The Farmer's Dog, a brewery tour and lunch at the Hawkstone Arms. Other Golden Ticket winners receive a year-long subscription providing 24 bottles per month. Pre-orders are currently available with expected shipping between 9 and 12 November.

Anglian Water has stated that Norfolk's hosepipe ban, introduced on 11 July following extreme heat and temperatures above 35C, will likely continue into the new year despite Storm Austen. The water company said that rivers, reservoirs and groundwater sources remain at lower than normal levels after the dry summer and require sustained rainfall over several months to recover. Storm Austen is expected to bring winds up to 47mph on the Norfolk coast and 41mph inland on Friday.

Multiple Norfolk attractions have cancelled or postponed events this weekend due to strong winds from Storm Austen. Bressingham Steam Museum will close on Saturday and Sunday, with its Halloween event cancelled. RSPB Strumpshaw Fen's Halloween Trail has been postponed until Monday, and the reserve may close intermittently across the weekend. Lingwood Village Hall's annual fireworks display, scheduled for Saturday, has also been cancelled, and Thursford Adventure Play Fair will close on Friday. The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for parts of Norfolk.

North Yorkshire Council is facing criticism over slow progress towards net zero targets after figures showed operational emissions fell by only three per cent in 2025/26, while emissions from its vehicle fleet actually rose. The council produced 29,789 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent during the year, compared with 30,751 tonnes in 2024/25. Liberal Democrat councillor Steve Mason accused the Conservative-run administration of 'greenwashing', saying the council declared a climate emergency in 2022 but progress has been 'glacial at best'.

A West End revival of Noël Coward's 1924 comedy Hay Fever is running at Wyndham's Theatre until 12 December, directed by Emily Burns. The production stars Christine Baranski as former stage star Judith Bliss and Richard E. Grant as her husband David. The farce follows the eccentric Bliss family as they each independently invite guests to stay at their country home without consulting one another, leading to misunderstandings and chaos.

Global stock markets fell on Thursday amid concerns about the profitability of artificial intelligence spending and rising oil prices driven by Middle East tensions. The FTSE 100 in London ended down 0.3% at 10,725.03, with the FTSE 250 down 0.9% and the AIM all-share down 1.6%. European markets also declined, with Paris's CAC 40 down 1.4% and Frankfurt's DAX 40 down 1.1%. In New York, the Dow Jones was down 0.3%, the S&P 500 down 1.1% and the Nasdaq Composite down 2.0%.

An 11-strong drug-smuggling gang was arrested at Birmingham Airport in August 2024 after attempting to import cannabis worth £13.8 million. The couriers had flown from Thailand via Paris with 22 suitcases containing 460 kilograms of cannabis. Five members have now been sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court. Border Force officers discovered the drugs after the gang's plot was exposed when they had to pay excess baggage charges at Bangkok Airport due to the weight of their suitcases.

Belfast Trust has been accused of 'eating up' money from Northern Ireland's health budget as it grapples with projected overspends on large-scale projects. DUP MLA Diane Dodds described major capital projects run by the Trust as a 'shambles', saying the situation 'simply cannot continue'. The Children's Hospital in Belfast and a new maternity hospital have both faced years of delays and escalating costs.

Essex Police are searching for Carl Clarke, 40, who left Southend Hospital on Wednesday, October 21. He is wanted in connection with a breach of bail and an offence of escaping lawful custody. Clarke is described as approximately 5ft 8ins tall, of medium build, with brown eyes, short black hair and a beard, with a scar below his left eye and tattoos on his arms and legs. He has known links to Southend, Westcliff and Shoeburyness.

Public spaces protection orders (PSPOs) have come into effect in Wigan and Leigh town centres from 16 October. The orders ban activities including inappropriate e-bike use, begging, public defecation and feeding birds. Breaches can result in a £100 on-the-spot fine or prosecution with fines up to £1,000.

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Bryan Rust has been placed on injured reserve and will miss a minimum of six weeks with an undisclosed injury sustained during a 5-4 road loss to the Utah Mammoth on Monday. Coach Dan Muse announced the decision following Thursday's morning skate. Rust, the first-line right winger, had recorded five points in seven games this season.

A rapist has been jailed for subjecting a highly vulnerable woman to almost four years of sexual abuse in Nottinghamshire. No further details about the case, the victim or the sentence length were provided by the outlets.

A federal grand jury has indicted five people on charges connected to a fentanyl trafficking conspiracy operating between North Dakota and Minnesota. The conspiracy allegedly ran from January 2025 to this month and involved distributing 400 grams or more of fentanyl. Members used cellphones, cash and wire transfers to conduct transactions, rented hotel rooms and maintained at least one property for distributing drugs.

UConn's Sarah Strong and USC's JuJu Watkins, who have won the Associated Press Player of the Year award in consecutive years, headline the preseason AP All-America women's college basketball team. They are joined by Vanderbilt's Mikayla Blakes, Texas's Madison Booker and Notre Dame's Hannah Hidalgo. Strong earned 30 votes from the 31-member national media panel; Hidalgo and Booker each received 28 votes.

Rachel, 19, from Wantage in Oxfordshire, was reported missing on Thursday 22 October after last being seen at around 1.30pm. Thames Valley Police launched an urgent public appeal to trace her. She has since been found safe and well, with the force thanking everyone who shared the appeal.

Storm Austen, the first named storm of the season, is bringing strong winds to northern England this weekend. A yellow weather warning has been issued for both Sheffield and Doncaster, with potential for power outages and travel disruption.

A foreign national, believed to be in his late 30s or early 40s, has been beaten to death by a crowd of about 50 people in Durban, South Africa. The killing occurred as the country continues to experience anti-migrant tensions and protests that have sometimes turned violent. Tens of thousands of migrants have left South Africa in recent months amid the unrest.

Patrick Vereb, 72, owner of Eternity Pet Memorial in Harrison and Hazelwood, Pennsylvania, has been ordered to jail pending sentencing after pleading guilty to ten felony charges including theft by deception. The former pet crematory director admitted to stealing approximately $657,000 from customers between 2021 and 2024 who had paid for pet burial and cremation services. He also pleaded guilty to mishandling animals and giving pet owners ashes from animals that did not belong to them. Judge Jaime Hickton ordered Vereb jailed after he admitted to moving to Crawford County after his 2025 arrest, violating his bond conditions. Sentencing is scheduled for 21 January.

Simon Richardson, 35, of Sale, is on trial at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court accused of murder, manslaughter and dangerous driving over the death of cyclist Michael Mullins on 20 April. His cousin, a passenger in Richardson's car, told the court she believed Richardson was aware the cyclist was trapped under the vehicle. She said she saw Richardson try to pull Mullins from under the car. Richardson's defence contends he only discovered Mullins was underneath after reversing his vehicle, when a front seat passenger drew his attention to something nearby.

Firefighters are tackling a large blaze at an industrial estate in Lancing. Huge plumes of smoke are visible at the site.

Shaun Newton, 35, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering Tony Joynes, 47, in their shared cell at HMP Garth near Leyland in July last year. Newton, who was serving an 18-year sentence for attempted murder, killed Joynes by compressing his neck. Staff discovered Joynes dead the next morning after responding to a buzzer from their cell.

Slam Dunk Festival has announced 18 more acts for its 2027 festival at Hatfield Park in Hertfordshire on 30 May. The second wave of the line-up includes Billy Talent, Cobra Starship, Superheaven and Joyce Manor, joining previously announced acts such as Bowling For Soup, Simple Plan and Killswitch Engage. The festival will offer camping for the first time, with campervan pitches and pre-pitched tents available at both the Hertfordshire site and at Leeds Temple Newsam.

A magnitude 7 earthquake struck China's Tibet region on Thursday evening, killing at least 16 people and injuring 54. At least 339 homes collapsed in Nagqu, a city at high altitude north of the regional capital Lhasa. Rescue efforts are ongoing, complicated by geography and low temperatures.

The M4 westbound was closed between junctions 13 and 14 near Chieveley and Hungerford after a one-vehicle crash on the night of 22 October. Firefighters from Newbury and Oxfordshire attended and provided emergency care to one person. Most lanes reopened within two hours, though recovery operations continued.

Storm Boelo is bringing severe disruption to Cumbria with heavy rain, strong winds and widespread flooding. The Met Office has issued yellow wind warnings across northern England and Scotland, with an amber warning for parts of Cumbria from 9pm Saturday until 9pm Sunday, with gusts of 55–65mph and up to 80mph in exposed coastal areas. The Cumbrian Coast line between Carlisle and Whitehaven will close from 9pm tonight with no replacement bus services. The A66 closes to all vehicles from 8pm, with high-sided vehicles already restricted. The Environment Agency has issued multiple flood warnings for coastal areas and river valleys, with flooding expected between 9pm tonight and 1am tomorrow, and flood gates being closed at several locations. The Winter Droving festival, which was due to take place in Carlisle on Saturday, has been cancelled on safety grounds.

Storm Austen, the first named storm of the season, battered southern England and Wales on Friday with gusts reaching 84mph in Jersey and 111mph in Padstow, Cornwall. More than 15,000 to 19,000 homes lost power in the south-west, travel was disrupted by fallen trees blocking roads and railway lines, and part of Brighton's West Pier, which opened in 1866, collapsed into the sea. Storm Boelo followed on Saturday and Sunday, bringing gusts of up to 80mph to Scotland, northern England and Northern Ireland under amber warnings. Forecasters warned of danger to life from flying debris, further power cuts and widespread travel disruption to trains and ferries.

Storm Austen has caused widespread disruption at Southampton Airport, with multiple airlines cancelling or rerouting services. Aurigny has cancelled all flights to and from the Channel Islands on 22 and 23 October, citing forecast winds that exceed its operational limits. Loganair has also cancelled services, including flights to Jersey and Edinburgh. EasyJet rerouted two return flights to Glasgow and Belfast from Southampton to London Gatwick, offering passengers reimbursement for transport costs or the option to rebook or receive a refund. The airlines said safety was their priority and advised against non-essential travel.

Storm Austen, the first named storm of the 2026/27 season, brought 49mph winds and sub-zero wind chills to Suffolk on Friday with a yellow weather warning in place. A second storm, Storm Boelo, followed on Saturday with gusts reaching 50mph along the coast, with the Met Office warning of potential 80mph winds in exposed coastal locations. Heavy rain accompanied both storms, causing travel disruption and power outages, with some areas without electricity since Friday evening.

A County Antrim scaffolding firm has been fined £20,000 after an employee was fatally injured at work. Samuel Magill, aged 60, was struck on the head by a steel scaffolding board whilst collecting components from a construction site on the Lisburn Road in Belfast in December 2024. He died from his injuries on 5 February 2025. Seven Towers Scaffolding Limited admitted breaching health and safety regulations.

Two degree apprentices, Lyla Chandler and Ellie Telford, have delivered a hands-on construction training facility at Energy Coast University Technical College in Lillyhall, West Cumbria, where they previously studied. Working for Morgan Sindall Infrastructure, they led the project whilst gaining practical project management experience. The facility, built within a workshop, features pad foundations, steel frame, timber framing, cladding, brick and blockwork, and electrical installations, designed to give students practical experience in construction and deconstruction.

US mortgage rates fell this week for the first time since late August. The benchmark 30-year fixed-rate mortgage dropped to 7.32% from 7.40% last week, according to mortgage buyer Freddie Mac. The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage eased to 6.68% from 6.71%. Rates have been climbing since late February, driven by geopolitical tensions and inflation, but have begun to ease as the 10-year Treasury yield has retreated from recent highs.

New water safety measures are being introduced at West Mersea waterfront following the deaths of fifteen-year-old Sameeha Rahman, her mother Shelina Rahman, 41, and Sameeha's cousin Musa Ahmed in July. The measures were discussed at a Waterside Forum meeting chaired by Mersea ward councillor Carl Powling, who said the council, Essex Fire & Rescue, local businesses and residents came together with constructive ideas.

A woman who alleges she was raped by Russell Brand did not report the incident to police because she feared she would not be believed, the court heard. The woman was 21 when she alleges Brand raped her in 2009 after a show at the Hammersmith Apollo. Brand, now 51, denies three counts of rape, three counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault involving six women.

Multax, an Andover-based precision engineering firm, won the Business Innovation and Technology Award and Corporate Business of the Year at the Test Valley Business Awards on 17 October. The company invested £2m in technology including artificial intelligence and automation to enable 24/7 production. It employs around 50 staff, supports eight Formula One teams and works with a prosthetics manufacturer. Co-founder Ian Scott said the firm is preparing to double in size after acquiring an additional 11,000 square feet of factory space.

Colin Flatt, 81, died on 7 September 2021, three months after stabbing himself with scissors and falling from a hospital landing. On 21 July 2021, Mr Flatt was admitted to Basildon Hospital's Florence Nightingale Ward after absconding from a care home. While on the ward, he stabbed himself in the abdomen with scissors before climbing over a railing and falling from a high landing onto a glass table. An inquest into his death began this week at Seax House in Chelmsford as part of the wider Lampard Inquiry into mental health deaths in Essex.

Storm Austen brought strong winds and rain to the South East on Friday, 23 October, with gusts reaching 45 to 50mph across Berkshire. Multiple power cuts were reported in Reading, Bracknell, Slough, Caversham, Earley and Hedgerley Green, with SSEN restoring supplies to over 29,000 customers. Gardens and attractions including Cliveden, Basildon Park, Greys Court and RHS Garden Wisley closed as a safety precaution.

Celtic lost 2-1 to Celta Vigo on Thursday and suffered their third consecutive defeat in the Europa League. Mika Baur gave Celtic the lead early in the second half, but Javi Rodriguez scored twice in three minutes to turn the game around. Celtic have no points from their first three matches and sit 35th in the 36-team table, with manager Martin O'Neill saying they must win their remaining five fixtures to have a chance of progressing.

Six members of a criminal network based at a caravan site in South Ockendon, Essex, have been jailed for firearms offences. The gang converted blank-firing guns into functioning firearms and supplied them across London. Police recovered 14 converted weapons during their investigation. The ringleader, Thomas McKenna, 60, was sentenced to 16 years in February; his partner Tina Smith received six years. The final six members sentenced on 22 October include brothers Robert and Ricky Dorey, distributor Faisal Razzaq (jailed for life with an eight-year minimum term), and three others receiving between five and eight-and-a-half years.

Faiser Hussain, 44, was sentenced to four years at Hull Crown Court for perverting the course of justice by disposing of the vehicle used in the 2006 murder of Ibrahim Ilyas, who was shot at age 20 while sitting in a car in Sheffield. Hussain was arrested at Manchester Airport in March after re-entering the UK and had pleaded guilty to the cover-up charge on Tuesday, with the judge directing the jury to find him not guilty of murder and attempted murder charges. Mohammed Ali was previously convicted of Ibrahim's murder and jailed for life with a minimum 30-year term.

Police are appealing for information after a series of shed and garage burglaries and attempted break-ins were reported across Ilkley overnight on October 20 and 21. West Yorkshire Police recorded six incidents across Skipton Road, Kings Avenue and Easby Close. CCTV footage from one address captured suspects in a garden at about 1am on October 21, and officers believe those individuals are likely responsible for the other incidents or part of a wider team.

Simon Jefferies, 46, of Paignton, has been jailed for ten years after pleading guilty to grievous bodily harm with intent following a broad daylight stabbing outside a convenience store on Tor Hill Road, Torquay on 17 July 2026. The victim was stabbed multiple times and chased into the road, suffering six perforations that required surgery. Members of the public witnessed the attack.

Thames Valley Police is searching for Feisal Saleh, 31, who failed to return to HMP Springhill open prison in Buckinghamshire after being released on temporary licence on 21 October. He did not report back by 3.45pm that day. Saleh was jailed for grievous bodily harm and has links to Milton Keynes and Potters Bar in Hertfordshire. Police have urged the public not to approach him but to call 999 if sighted.

Fifteen people aged between 20 and 54 were arrested in connection with immigration offences during a two-week operation at Loch Ryan and Cairnryan ferry ports in south-west Scotland. The operation, called Operation Lockstream, was coordinated by the Organised Immigration Crime Domestic Taskforce and involved officers speaking to 340 people at the ports. One man aged 55 was arrested for facilitating immigration, whilst a 36-year-old was arrested and charged with drug offences after officers recovered drugs valued at £950, along with cash and an offensive weapon.

The Care Quality Commission has rated Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust leadership as requiring improvement following an inspection in May. The watchdog found limited evidence that leaders had acted quickly enough to reduce potential for avoidable harm despite known issues in maternity, surgery and A&E, and identified shortfalls in how consistently some safety risks were being managed.

US stock markets fell Thursday as oil prices surged on reports that the US and Israel are planning new strikes on Iran. The Nasdaq fell 2.6% and the S&P 500 dropped 1.2%, though the Dow Jones added 11 points. Oil jumped to its highest levels since May, with Brent crude rising 4% to $113.17 a barrel. Tech stocks including Meta and Tesla fell sharply despite strong earnings, as investors grew concerned about the massive capital expenditure required for AI infrastructure and whether it would be profitable.

Eric Dane told his estranged wife Rebecca Gayheart that he had been diagnosed with ALS in a phone call described as devastating by both. Gayheart, who remained close to Dane after they separated in 2018, recalled the conversation as a 'punch to the gut' that 'took her breath away'. Dane died in February, less than a year after publicly revealing his diagnosis in April 2025.

Cyprus police have opened an investigation into the financial and tax affairs of Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, following joint reporting by the Guardian, BBC and the Bureau of Investigative Journalism. The investigation will focus on events between 2003 and 2006. The reports found that aides of Abramovich, including staff at Deloitte Cyprus, appeared to have falsified paperwork to help his businesses dodge tax and disguise assets worth billions of pounds. Abramovich's lawyers say he denies evading tax or concealing his fortune.

Storm Austen brought strong winds and rain to large parts of Somerset on 23 October, causing disruption across the county. The Camelford Carnival Committee cancelled this year's event due to safety concerns posed by the storm.

A motorcyclist was seriously injured in a crash involving five vehicles on the A5 near Rugby on Thursday 22 October at around 3.35pm, near the junction of Newton Lane. One of the other drivers also received medical checks. Warwickshire Police are investigating and have appealed for dashcam footage, asking witnesses to contact them on 101.

Police were called to a vehicle workshop on Vale Avenue in Southend just before 7.45am on Thursday 22 October following reports of an assault. A man reported being struck across the head during the incident and said a blank-firing handgun had been fired. Four masked suspects were involved and left the scene. The victim was taken to hospital but his injuries are not life-threatening. Essex Police detectives are continuing enquiries and have asked anyone with information or footage to contact them on 101, quoting incident 182 of 22 October.

The Princess of Wales has admitted she has missed Prince George since he started boarding at Eton College last month. George, thirteen, will return home for his first half-term break tomorrow, along with his younger siblings Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, who attend day school at Lambrook School. Kate made the remarks during a visit to a charity shop and café in Norfolk on Thursday.

Banbury United football club has apologised after footage from a 'Wet & Wild' male strip show at its clubhouse on Saturday emerged on social media. The event, performed by the UK Pleasure Boys, showed dancers in cowboy hats and what appeared to be sexual acts between performers and audience members. The club said the performance 'went beyond what we find acceptable at our venue'. The show's promoter said it was investigating what happened.

UK councils have spent £41.9million introducing 20mph speed limits over three years, with spending rising to £16.7million in 2025-26 alone. However, at least 174 roads have already reverted to higher speed limits. The vast majority of reversals, 92%, occurred in Wales, where 20mph became the default in residential areas in 2023 and drew significant public opposition.

Contractors will return to Buttertubs Pass in the Yorkshire Dales to fix road studs installed during recent resurfacing work. Muker Parish Council raised concerns that the reflective cats eye studs stand higher than they should, potentially causing motorists to feel a bump. North Yorkshire Council has arranged for the contractor to return on 15 November to remove and correctly reinstall the studs where required.

A federal judge in California has ordered President Donald Trump's administration to halt investigations into noncitizen voter registration in nine states including Pennsylvania. Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin found the government's investigation relied on error-filled data and was leading to intimidation of voter assistance groups. The ruling applies to California, Connecticut, Georgia, Missouri, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, Washington and Wisconsin.

Norfolk has been the filming location for several major Hollywood productions. Florence Pugh starred in the 2019 wrestling biopic Fighting With My Family, which was based on Norwich-born WWE star Paige, with scenes shot at Norwich Market and Mousehold Heath. Marvel's Avengers: Age of Ultron used the Sainsbury Centre at the University of East Anglia as the Avengers' headquarters when it filmed there in 2015, with Robert Downey Jr's scenes as Tony Stark filmed in Norwich. Kristen Stewart filmed parts of the 2021 film Spencer in Norfolk while portraying Princess Diana, shooting on Hunstanton beach for scenes set over a Christmas holiday at Sandringham in 1991.

Glasgow City Council has seen whistleblowing referrals almost double to 272 in the first six months of 2026/27, compared with 142 for the same period the previous year. The referrals cover council tax, non-domestic rates, disabled parking, staff misconduct, tenancy fraud and theft. As of September 30, 2026, investigations into 225 referrals had been concluded, with 47 ongoing.

The South Dakota Highway Patrol will hold sobriety checkpoints in 15 counties during November to reduce impaired driving and improve roadway safety. The checkpoints will be carried out by the Highway Patrol in coordination with local law enforcement agencies, funded by the South Dakota Office of Highway Safety. Authorities urge drivers to arrange for a designated sober driver or use public or commercial transportation if they plan to drink.

Thames Valley Police were granted a closure order for a residential property in Faringdon by magistrates on 21 October after the address was linked to anti-social behaviour and criminality. A closure order prevents anyone other than the homeowner and certain named individuals from entering the property. Police said activity at the Faringdon home had negative impacts on the community, and warned that breaches would result in arrest.

President Trump rallied Republicans in Sioux City, Iowa on Thursday to boost support for party candidates in the November 3 midterm elections. Republicans are defending a Senate seat, three House districts and the governor's office in a state Trump won by 13 percentage points two years ago, but where his standing has weakened. Trump focused on farmers facing high diesel and fertiliser prices since the Iran war began, unveiling an $8 billion harvest fuel relief programme.

Staff sickness absence at Glasgow City Council has more than quadrupled in a year, rising from 2.4 days per year in September 2025 to 11.1 days by September 2026, according to an internal audit mid-year report. The figure far exceeds the council's target of five days per year. Bailie Jim Kavanagh told the finance and scrutiny committee meeting that some absence levels reached 24 per cent, and said the council's costs for temporary and short-term workers to cover absences were unsustainable.

Celebrated poet and children's author Michael Rosen announced on social media that he auditioned for the next James Bond film. The 80-year-old Oxford University graduate made the tongue-in-cheek announcement on X, saying simply 'I auditioned for the next Bond film' and joking 'Waiting to see' when asked if he got the part.

Jordan Elliott was cut by the Tennessee Titans on Tuesday after pulling a gun from his car at the team's Nashville facility. The incident followed an argument with offensive tackle JC Latham during practice on 15 October. Elliott later retrieved the firearm from the parking garage but was persuaded to put it away by another player, John Franklin-Myers. The NFL is investigating the matter.

Hugh Rodley, 79, a conman known as the 'Lord of Fraud', has pleaded guilty to six counts of making indecent images of children and one of possessing indecent images of children at Cheltenham Magistrates' Court. National Crime Agency officers arrested him at his home in December and found a laptop containing 198 indecent images. After his release on bail, he was arrested again in January when officers found an iPhone with a further 295 indecent images. Rodley has previous convictions for fraud, including attempting to steal £229 million from a Japanese bank in 2009 and conning pensioners out of £6 million in 2012. He is due to return to court for sentencing in November.

A motorised wheelbarrow estimated to be worth between £8,000 and £10,000 was stolen from Bexhill Primary Academy in Sunderland on 26 July. Police say a number of males entered the school grounds between 9pm and 10pm and took the equipment. Officers are appealing for information about suspicious activity in the area at that time, or CCTV, dashcam or doorbell footage that could help the investigation.

Train services between Leeds and York will be suspended for nine days from Saturday, October 24 to Sunday, November 1 as part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade. Rail replacement buses will operate between the two cities with additional stops for stations along the route. The closure allows teams to install a new bridge at Church Fenton ahead of planned electrification.

Laika's stop-motion film Wildwood opens in cinemas this weekend. Directed by Travis Knight and based on a 2011 novel, the film follows a teenage girl who travels into an enchanted forest to rescue her baby brother from crows. The Guardian describes it as 'darker' than typical animated films, aimed at pre-teens and adults rather than younger children.

Storm Austen has forced multiple attractions to close and left over 300 homes without power across Suffolk on Friday, October 23. A yellow weather warning covers the whole county between 10am and 9pm, with wind speeds of up to 50mph expected in Ipswich and coastal areas. More than 320 houses in Leiston, Sizewell, Thorpeness and Theberton lost electricity after a high-voltage overhead line fault, with UK Power Networks estimating restoration between 12pm and 1pm.

Melvin West, a 70-year-old career criminal, has been sentenced to three years in prison for stealing a 350-year-old world map from the National Maritime Museum's Caird Library in Greenwich. West used a Stanley knife to cut the map from a 1684 atlas by Dutch cartographer Frederick de Wit in February 2025 and has refused to reveal its location. The map, one of only three known examples of its kind, was valued at £6,000 on the black market, though the court heard the cultural loss far outweighs the financial impact.

An inquiry into grooming gangs will hold accountability hearings in which organisations and institutions must explain what action they took to protect children from sexual exploitation and abuse. The opening phase will focus on the experiences and perspectives of victims and survivors.

Honda has confirmed it is working on a new Mitsubishi Triton-based ute for the ASEAN region, following a memorandum of understanding signed between the two automakers. Mitsubishi will supply the vehicles from its factory in Laem Chabang, Thailand, with sales planned to begin in 2028. The arrangement allows Honda to 'enhance its product lineup quickly and efficiently' while enabling Mitsubishi to 'increase production volume and improve capacity utilisation' at the Thai plant.

Derbyshire Police have launched an appeal to trace a man in connection with an alleged sexual assault at a pub. The man has links across Derbyshire, and police are urging the public to help locate him.

A lorry driver in his fifties died after his delivery vehicle crashed into a shop front in East End, Redruth on Thursday at around 11.20am. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene. Emergency services attended and roads were reopened. Devon and Cornwall Police are appealing for witnesses or anyone with footage to contact them on 101, quoting reference 50260283592.

South Carolina's early voting has drawn over 363,000 ballots in its first four days, with 82,886 cast on Thursday alone. The first day saw more than double the turnout compared to the 2022 midterm election, though it was slightly down from the 2024 presidential election. Greenville, Charleston and Richland counties have recorded the highest turnout so far. Early voting runs through 31 October.

Spotify has confirmed it is rolling out a new QR code verification system for its Family Plan. Members must scan a code on the plan manager's phone to verify they live together. Those who fail to complete verification within seven days face being downgraded to the free tier and barred from joining any Family or Duo plan for 12 months. Spotify co-CEO Alex Norström called the change a 'routine improvement' rather than a crackdown during the company's earnings call.

The Tour de France Femmes will visit the UK for the first time in 2027, with Stage 2 passing through Derbyshire's Peak District on 31 July. The 154.4km stage from Manchester to Sheffield includes almost 3,000m of climbing over Winnats Pass and Snake Pass, with Hope and Ladybower Reservoir as sprint locations.

The Home Office spent £21,635 developing a nine-page guidance document for asylum seekers titled 'Understanding behaviours and expectations in the UK', covering topics including consent, rape and domestic abuse. Home Office minister Anna Turley disclosed the cost in response to a written parliamentary question from Tory MP Neil Shastri-Hurst, who criticised the spending as 'ludicrous'. No physical copies have been printed or distributed.

Active Cumbria has appointed Amanda Seims, an Evaluation Fellow at Lancaster University, and Neil Cooper to its Advisory Board. The appointments aim to expand opportunities for people across Cumbria to lead healthier, more active lives. Seims brings experience in evaluating public health and community programmes, while Cooper offers national-level expertise in sport leadership, governance and safeguarding.

Fallon Sherrock, women's world number three, is one of 24 contestants who will face Luke Littler in a single leg of 501 darts for a £501,000 prize. The Netflix special 'Beat Luke Littler' will be broadcast live from Manchester Central Convention Complex on 30 October. Anyone who beats the two-time reigning world champion will win the cash prize.

Governments and corporations worked to patch vulnerabilities in PHP, a programming language vital to about 70% of websites, after their AI-assisted discovery. The FBI warned the flaws could allow remote code execution and compromise sensitive data. Several governments experienced disruptions: Britain's prime minister's office said some limited services were temporarily offline, Finland's website disruption was resolved though content restoration continued, and Japan's prime minister advised administrators to install patches or temporarily suspend websites.

Marwell Zoo in Hampshire will close on Friday as Storm Austen brings strong winds and heavy rain. A spokesperson said: 'The safety of our animals, guests and staff will always be our highest priority.' Visitors with pre-booked tickets for Friday can use them on any date up to 15 November. The zoo hopes to reopen on Saturday for its Wild Autumn event, depending on weather conditions and safety checks.

A 59-year-old man in an electric wheelchair was killed by a Burlington Northern Santa Fe freight train in Puyallup, Washington on Wednesday after his chair became stuck on the tracks at the North Meridian crossing. Two passersby attempted to help him to safety, but were unable to free the wheelchair before the train struck. One of those attempting to help was injured and taken to hospital. Police say the incident does not appear to be intentional.

Balaclava-clad raiders broke into a ground-floor flat in North Yorkshire late on 28 August, waking the occupant and holding one of his own kitchen knives to his throat while searching the property. They demanded to know where drugs were and stole a 55-inch television, wallet, bank cards, a bottle of vodka and the knife. Matthew Thomas Williams, 35, was sentenced to six and a half years in prison. Kyle Philip Smith, then 18, had his three-year sentence suspended for three years after the judge said his mitigation and circumstances warranted an exceptional course. Both pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary. Williams also pleaded guilty to possessing cocaine and cannabis when arrested.

Guildford Borough Council has approved planning permission for a Traveller residential site at Whitegate Copse, Ash Green, for static and touring caravans. The decision came after council officers warned that 'no alternative sites are available within the borough, and none are expected to come forward in the short to medium term'. More than 30 local residents objected, citing concerns about green belt impact, wildlife disruption and strain on village infrastructure.

A Golden Tours double-decker tour bus collided with a souvenir stand at the corner of Spring Gardens and Trafalgar Square on Thursday at around 12.30pm. No injuries were reported. The Metropolitan Police confirmed the incident was not terrorism-related.

A Golden Tours double-decker tour bus collided with a souvenir stand on Spring Gardens, off Trafalgar Square, on 22 October after 12.30pm. An eyewitness said the bus hit a lamppost, knocking it over before striking the stand and pushing it into a nearby Land Rover. There were no reported injuries. Golden Tours said it was investigating and that the wellbeing of passengers, staff and the public were its highest priority.

Larimore Fire Department has responded to multiple combine fires in recent days as harvest continues in dry conditions. Fire officials warn that long hours in the field, dry crops and dust buildup on machinery create dangerous fire hazards that can spread quickly through equipment and crops. The department is asking farmers to check machinery frequently for excessive heat, dust and crop residue, ensure all equipment carries a properly charged fire extinguisher, and call 911 at the first sign of smoke or overheating rather than trying to extinguish fires themselves unless clearly safe to do so.

Ron Duguay, who played nearly 1,000 NHL games from the late 1970s through the 1980s, has died of cancer at 69. The New York Rangers, where he played his first six seasons after being drafted 13th in 1977, confirmed his death on Thursday. He was an All-Star in 1981-82 and later played for the Detroit Red Wings, Pittsburgh Penguins and Los Angeles Kings.

Sunderland's winning start to the Europa League ended in a 1-1 draw at Lech Poznan. They went ahead after just two minutes through Tutierov's header from Nilson Angulo's cross, but Lech equalised in the 70th minute when substitute Leo Bengtsson struck low into the net. The point keeps Sunderland unbeaten in Europe this season.

A multi-vehicle collision on the M8 eastbound at Junction 16 (Dobbie's Loan Interchange) in Glasgow occurred around 4pm on Thursday, causing major delays. The motorway on-slip is closed and lanes 1, 2 and 4 are restricted, with traffic queueing back from Junction 26. Traffic Scotland warned of delays of approximately 55 minutes, with motorists advised to allow extra time and seek alternative routes. Police and paramedics attended the scene, though the extent of injuries remains unknown.

Triple C Games is hosting a free tabletop gaming event to raise funds and awareness for Every Life Matters, a Cumbria-based suicide prevention and bereavement support charity. The event takes place at Newby Bridge Hotel on 14 November from 11:30 to 17:00. Entry is free, with donations welcome.

Osvaldas Ubarevicius, 31, a Lithuanian national formerly of Birmingham, has been jailed for 30 months and will be deported after being found guilty of conspiring to dishonestly receive stolen goods and possessing criminal property. He was responsible for transporting hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of stolen high-value car parts to a lock-up near Malmesbury for export overseas. Police discovered the operation in April after a tracking company reported a chop shop full of dismantled vehicles on farmland near Malmesbury.

Storm Austen swept across the south west on Thursday night, bringing flooding to the Dorset coast. The Environment Agency issued a flood warning for Chiswell and surrounding areas, closing the A354 Portland Beach Road and the Causeway after waves overtopped the road. Flooding is expected to continue into Friday morning, with strong winds and large waves posing hazards to exposed coastal areas.

England head coach Steve Borthwick is announcing his 36-man squad for the Nations Championship on Sunday, with less than a year to prepare before the 2027 Rugby World Cup. He will add 11 players to a core of 25 on enhanced contracts. The squad announcement will hint at whether Borthwick intends to embrace the attacking style dominating the domestic Premiership or prioritise proven international performers ahead of the World Cup.

South Tyneside Council is to fully replace the steps at Marsden Bay in a £600,000 scheme, with work expected to start in November and be completed by spring 2027. The steps have been closed since December following safety concerns identified by inspections. The coastal location presents challenges due to storm tides, saltwater and erosion.

Shetland was hit by flash flooding and a landslide on Thursday after torrential rain. Businesses in Lerwick including cafes, restaurants and shops were flooded, with some losing stock. A landslide closed the road between Garderhouse and Reawick on the west of the island. The flooding comes ahead of Storm Austen arriving Friday and Storm Boelo on Saturday, which are expected to bring further heavy rain and winds of up to 60 mph.

Cheshire Police made eight arrests during Operation Guardians, a three-day operation from October 19 to 21 targeting child exploitation and safeguarding breaches. The force-wide initiative involved hundreds of officers and engaged with schools and vulnerable people across the county. Arrests were for offences including drug supply, breaches of safeguarding orders and indecent image offences.

The Princess of Wales visited Café 98 in Hoveton, Norfolk, on Thursday in her role as royal patron of East Anglia's Children's Hospices. She was shown how to value donated clothes by charity volunteers and spoke with crowds outside the shop. Earlier that day, she visited The Treehouse in Ipswich to meet families and staff, spending nearly an hour with children receiving care there.

An unconscious man in his 50s was discovered on Brighton Road in Purley on 21 October at around 10.50pm with head injuries and taken to hospital. The Metropolitan Police believe he was assaulted and are carrying out CCTV and witness enquiries to locate a suspect. His injuries are not life-threatening nor life-changing.

A magnitude 7 earthquake hit Tibet's Nagqu region on Thursday at 10:33pm local time, killing at least 16 people and injuring between 54 and 76 others according to varying reports. More than 300 homes collapsed in the sparsely populated, high-altitude area located about 190 kilometres east-northeast of Nagqu and 390 kilometres north-east of Lhasa. Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered all-out search and rescue efforts. The earthquake was followed by at least seven aftershocks ranging from magnitude 4.3 to 5.2. Rockfalls closed highways and halted train services, while power and communications were disrupted in some areas.

Cumberland Council issued more than 25,000 penalty charge notices across its area in the past financial year, generating nearly £800,000 in income. The C2057 road between Portinscale and Grange in Keswick had the highest number with 1,081 fines, followed by four other top locations all in the Keswick area. Local residents say some visitors are willing to risk fines rather than pay for parking further away.

Portsmouth City Council's planning committee approved a series of HMO applications despite objections from residents and concerns from councillors about parking, overcrowding and the loss of family homes. The approvals came as the council decided final applications before planning rule changes. Councillors raised issues about accommodation standards and space, with some questioning whether bedrooms met adequate space requirements. Most applications were approved after members concluded there were no planning grounds for refusal.

Five dogs at Dogs Trust in Snetterton are seeking new homes. Lola Lab and Molly, a pair of inseparable Labrador crossbreeds found as strays, are looking to be rehomed together and need an adult-only home with no other pets. Honey and Bourbon, both six-year-old rottweiler crosses, would need to be rehomed separately and each require a home where they are the only dog, as both are anxious around other dogs.

Police are searching for two men after an attack on a van in Torquay on Wednesday, 21 October. A black Volkswagen Golf pulled up alongside the van on Chatto Road, and two men exited and smashed the driver's window. The passenger's coat was slashed several times with a sharp object and he sustained a scratch to his head. Both men in the van escaped. Devon and Cornwall Police are appealing for witnesses or footage of the incident.

The Monks Cross roundabout in York is set to fully reopen on 6 November following the completion of highway works. The project, delivered by Redrow Yorkshire, included new water, electricity and telecommunications connections, as well as a new sub-station. Two-way access will be restored on Monks Cross Link.

An uninsured teenage driver in Rotherham crashed into multiple vehicles while being pursued by police, reaching speeds of 90mph and causing £10,000 of damage. Pedestrians were forced to jump out of the way during the incident.

Nvidia held its GTC conference in Berlin this week, showcasing humanoid robots, supercomputers and AI applications for industry. Chief executive Jensen Huang told around 3,000 attendees that 'everybody will become an AI company' and predicted a thriving AI economy in Europe. The event featured live demonstrations of robotic arms, facial recognition systems and Nvidia's latest computing hardware, including the Vera Rubin supercomputer and a new modular AI data centre designed to reduce deployment times from months to days.

A South Korean research team has used forensic astronomy to trace Vincent van Gogh's Starry Night to a specific night sky from July 1889, suggesting the painting was inspired by an actual celestial scene rather than pure imagination. The study, appearing in Scientific Reports, proposes the painting dates to around July 22, 1889—a month later than the long-accepted date of June 1889, soon after van Gogh entered a French asylum. The researchers matched the painting's depiction of a crescent moon and Venus to the predawn sky over Saint-Rémy de Provence on that date.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have announced a strategic partnership during Carney's first official visit by a Canadian prime minister to Turkey. The partnership, backed by a three-year action plan, covers trade and investment, defence and security, energy, and cultural ties. The two leaders agreed to work toward a free trade agreement and aim to increase bilateral trade from its current $3 billion to $5 billion initially, then $10 billion, with Erdogan saying negotiations will begin before the end of 2026.

South Korean researchers have proposed a new date for Vincent van Gogh's Starry Night, arguing it was painted around 22 July 1889 rather than the traditionally accepted June date. The study, published in Scientific Reports, suggests the painting is based on a real dawn sky rather than purely imaginary. Researchers matched the celestial bodies in the painting – a waning crescent moon, Venus and the Hyades star cluster – to the night sky over Saint-Rémy-de-Provence on that date, when van Gogh was living at an asylum. The conventional June dating rests on a letter van Gogh wrote to his brother on 18 June describing a starry sky study and a mental breakdown in July. However, the researchers argue that moving the date to July means the astronomical arrangement in the painting could have been observed from van Gogh's asylum window, making it based on observation rather than fantasy.

North Yorkshire Council is facing criticism over slow progress towards net zero after new figures revealed a rise in emissions from its vehicle fleet. Members of the council's transport, economy, environment and enterprise scrutiny committee have called for a detailed review of the authority's climate change programme. The council's operational emissions fell by just three per cent in 2025/26, while emissions have fallen only around 3.5 per cent since 2022/23. Liberal Democrat councillor Steve Mason accused the Conservative-run administration of 'greenwashing', saying that nearly five years after declaring a climate emergency in 2022, 'progress has been glacial at best'.

Puy du Fou, which operates history-themed parks in France and Spain, is seeking planning permission for its first UK site on land north of Bucknell near Bicester. Spain's Minister of Education Milagros Tolón has written to Cherwell District Council backing the outline planning application. Puy du Fou projects the park will directly create around 2,000 jobs, support a further 6,000 in related businesses, and deliver a £500 million annual economic boost once fully developed.

Shannon Kelly, 32, and her family at Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire are creating an elaborate Halloween display, featuring a Nightmare Before Christmas theme, to raise funds for Scotty's Little Soldiers, a charity supporting bereaved military children and young people. The family began the display in 2022 and has expanded it each year, earning the house the nickname 'Halloween House' on the estate. They hope to raise £1,000 this year.

Oxfordshire MPs Charlie Maynard and Anneliese Dodds have called for reforms to Royal Mail during a parliamentary debate. Mr Maynard claimed a local postie was pushed out of his job after being given an unsuitable new round, and said high employee turnover and harsh work practices are deliberate. He highlighted Royal Mail's failure to meet delivery targets, with only 74.9 per cent of first-class mail delivered on time this year against a 93 per cent target.

Iffley Academy, a special educational needs school in Oxford, has opened the Attenborough Forest School, a dedicated outdoor learning site that officially launched on 22 September. The forest school was established with donations from The Marks Family Charitable Trust and The Berkeley Reafforestation Trust. Kay Willett MBE, chief executive officer of The Gallery Trust, said the provision aims to help pupils build confidence, independence and resilience through outdoor learning, offering opportunities that are sometimes harder to create in traditional classrooms.

Oxford City Council has approved a plan to make the Museum of Oxford free again for residents, a year after introducing entry charges for the first time in its history. City leader Susan Brown said the council had 'always regretted' the decision to charge. The free admission pilot will run from January 4 until March 31, with potential to become permanent.

Taxpayers could lose up to £1 million if plans to transform Scarborough's former Brunswick Centre do not progress beyond initial development stages, North Yorkshire Council has warned. An £18.5 million public sector funding package is being considered, comprising an £8 million council loan, £7 million from the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority and £3.5 million from the Pride in Place programme. The scheme is not viable without public sector intervention.

A new roller derby match between Oxford and Cambridge has been announced for Sunday, 6 December at the White Horse Leisure Centre in Abingdon. The Oxford Blackbirds will face the Cambridge Rollerbillies, and the Screaming Spires will compete against the Punt Rockers. Roller derby is a full-contact sport played on skates with teams of four blockers and one jammer, the designated points-scorer.

Martin Brough, a 44-year-old police officer, has been found guilty of sexually assaulting three women at Popworld nightclub in York. The jury convicted him unanimously of assaulting one woman and by majority on two other counts. Brough is the second police officer convicted of a sexual offence at York Crown Court this week. He will be sentenced on December 3.

Blenheim Palace has become one of the UK's most recognisable filming locations. The new film adaptation of Jane Austen's Sense and Sensibility, released on 25 September and starring Daisy Edgar-Jones, Esme Creed-Miles and George Mackay, was filmed at Bladon Bridge in the palace grounds. Director Georgia Oakley spent five months searching for the right setting. The 16th-century UNESCO World Heritage site has also featured in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and James Bond: Spectre.

British Transport Police are investigating the theft of a suitcase worth £1,500 from a train at Northallerton Railway Station on 27 July at around 4pm. The suitcase was stolen from the train's luggage rack. Police believe a man pictured in an image could have information to assist their enquiries. Anyone with information is asked to contact BTP by texting 61016, calling 0800 40 50 40 with reference 2600097807, or contacting Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Five Oxfordshire venues have been named finalists in the British Kebab Awards 2027, the 15th annual awards. They were selected from nearly 500 nominated businesses by public vote, with over 40,000 votes cast. The five finalists are Antep Kebab House and Mr Souvlaki Banbury, both in Banbury; Antep Kitchen in Oxford; Best Kebab Van in Chipping Norton; and Grove Kebab Van. Ibrahim Doğuş, founder of the awards, said reaching the final was 'a significant achievement' reflecting 'the talent and hard work of the whole industry'.

Beaverbrooks, a family-owned luxury jeweller founded in 1919, will close all 82 of its high street stores on Boxing Day as part of a 107-year tradition. The closure will give its 1,200 staff members extra time with their families during the festive season. Staff will also receive an extra week's salary in December.

Storm Austen hit Norfolk on Friday with wind gusts of up to 47mph and potential disruption including delays to public transport and power cuts. The Environment Agency issued a flood alert for Hunstanton seafront, warning of possible flooding between 3.30pm on Friday and 7.30am on Saturday due to high tides and storm conditions. A Met Office yellow weather warning for wind remained in place until 9pm.

York Council's Licensing and Regulatory Committee has approved allowing baby cinema clubs to show 15 and 18 certificate films on a case-by-case basis. Previously, venues in York were restricted to screening U, PG or 12A rated films. Mothers told the council the clubs were one of few activities catering to parents with infants under 12 months, but the existing film selection was limited. Some councillors expressed concern about what material babies could be exposed to, though child psychologist specialists Beacon House recommended assessing films individually with practical support measures in place.

The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital (RJAH) in Oswestry has opened a new operating theatre, bringing the total to 14. The first operation, a foot and ankle procedure, was carried out by Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon Simon Hill. The expansion aims to increase surgical activity and reduce waiting times for patients, with new surgeons and theatre staff recruited to support the additional capacity.

Reform UK has agreed to rescind Sandwell Council's climate emergency declaration, arguing the council should focus instead on delivering homes, economic growth and tackling deprivation. The decision was criticised by opposition councillors, including the former Labour administration which made the declaration six years ago. Reform separately declared a housing emergency, noting the council's waiting list has grown from 6,000 in 2020 to more than 24,000 people.

David Millar, 78, has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving following a crash on the A534 near Sandbach on 7 February. PC Alice Mayo, 29, an off-duty police officer from Congleton, died when her blue Fiat 500 collided with a white Land Rover Defender. She had served with Cheshire Police for more than six years as a beat officer in Macclesfield. Millar has been bailed and is due to appear at Crewe Magistrates' Court on 23 November.