Saturday, 31 October 2026

Manchester United have dropped to fourth-bottom of the Premier League with one win from nine games, separated from the relegation zone only by goal difference after their 2-0 defeat to Chelsea on Saturday. Manager Michael Carrick has overseen four defeats in five games and no wins in almost two months in all competitions. Their current pace would yield around 30 points if maintained across a full season, far below the 42 points with which West Ham were relegated in 2003. Paul Merson predicts they will be in the bottom three by early December. However, relegation remains unlikely for one of English football's biggest clubs, though former boss Erik ten Hag acknowledged it is 'certainly possible' if they continue their current form.

A woman in her 20s fell from a balcony at the Rosemont Hotel in Adelaide's CBD shortly after 4am on Sunday and died at the scene. The incident occurred during Halloween celebrations. Police said the circumstances are not believed to be suspicious and a report will be prepared for the state coroner. Authorities have urged the public not to share footage of the incident on social media, out of respect for the woman and her family.

Two foreign nationals died and two others were injured after a suspected electrical leak at the Conrad Bengaluru hotel swimming pool in Bengaluru, India, on Friday evening, 30 October. Police are investigating the cause. Alexander Maximilian Theiss, 57, a German Lufthansa crew member, and Juraj Horvat, 45, a Slovak IBM project manager, were identified as the victims. An American guest and a pool attendant were injured while attempting to help.

Penn State earned their first Big Ten win of the season and under head coach Matt Campbell by defeating Purdue 31-17 on Saturday. Despite some uncharacteristic special teams struggles, the Nittany Lions played a dominant game. The win suggests Penn State is now in contention for a bowl game.

The Keighley & Worth Valley Railway has launched an adults-only Scare Train Halloween experience. Tickets sold out quickly for the Saturday night journey, which features dimmed lighting, audio effects and live performers dressed as horror characters, including figures with chainsaws, clowns and others in blood-stained costumes. The event takes passengers through stations including Haworth, Oakworth and Ingrow, with performers entering the steam-hauled carriages to frighten passengers.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog is launching consultations to form a new government following Tuesday's parliamentary election. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party won the most seats with 27 of 120, while opposition candidate Gadi Eisenkot's centrist Yashar party came second with 21 seats. Neither secured the 61 seats needed for a majority. Thousands demonstrated in Tel Aviv on Saturday calling for Arab parties' participation in the government; the Joint List alliance and Raam party together won 19 seats.

Adam Brody, who plays a rabbi in Netflix series Nobody Wants This, stated in September that he believes Israel is committing genocide in Gaza and called for a free Palestine. His co-star Tovah Feldshuh, who plays his mother in the show, publicly disagreed, saying accusations of genocide against Jewish people are unfounded. Feldshuh has now clarified that there are 'profound differences of opinion' among the cast but denied that this has created tension on set.

North Dakota State bounced back with a 31-7 home victory over UTEP on Saturday at the Fargodome, improving to 7-2. The Bison trailed 7-3 early but scored 28 unanswered points to pull away decisively in the second half. Quarterback Nathan Hayes threw for 240 yards with Jackson Williams catching 111 receiving yards.

Meghan Markle reportedly wanted to go public with allegations against her father Thomas Markle Sr in 2019 after receiving a letter, but a Metropolitan Police royal protection officer allegedly advised her not to, telling her to 'leave it with us'. Meghan has said she was told of 'troubling allegations' by British police in 2018, which motivated her eight-year estrangement from her father. Thomas Markle Sr, 82, is now under investigation in the Philippines for alleged possession of child sexual abuse material; he has admitted paying for sex with adults but denies the pornography charges.

Cryptocurrency exchange Binance suffered a record $6.3 billion theft on 29 October, which the FBI has attributed to North Korean state-sponsored hackers operating as TraderTraitor. Binance suspended withdrawals immediately but resumed them in phases on Sunday, with the company covering 95 per cent of stolen assets using its own funds. Customers withdrew approximately $3.6–4.7 billion as services reopened, representing 2–3 per cent of the exchange's total assets. Binance has promised to absorb all losses, ensuring users will not bear the financial impact. The FBI said it observed the attackers converting stolen assets into Ethereum and expects further laundering through decentralised finance services.

A fire broke out at Conwy Golf Club in Conwy, north Wales, shortly before 10pm on Saturday. The blaze caused significant damage to the clubhouse roof. No one was injured. The cause remains unknown and is under investigation. The club has closed its course and facilities, and emergency services have requested that members and the public do not attend the premises until it is declared safe.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied the Trump administration helped Brazilian defeated presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro flee Brazil for the United States after losing an election runoff to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Rubio told reporters on Saturday that the administration 'did not facilitate anything', though he confirmed President Trump allowed Bolsonaro to enter the country on his existing visa. Trump separately told reporters Bolsonaro could stay in the US indefinitely.

No. 3 Georgia defeated No. 17 Florida 27-8 on Saturday, taking advantage of four Gators turnovers. Georgia linebacker Chris Cole scored on a 66-yard fumble return, his second long fumble return touchdown of the season. Florida prevented a shutout with a late fourth-quarter touchdown, extending an NCAA-record scoring streak to 481 consecutive games.

Campaigns in Nebraska are making a final push three days before Election Day on Tuesday, with volunteers knocking on doors to reach last-minute voters. Independent Senate candidate Dan Osborn is focusing on economic issues, while his opponent Pete Ricketts campaigns on agriculture and border security. Democrats Denise Powell and Lynne Walz are also conducting final get-out-the-vote efforts in Omaha.

North Korea has tested a cluster-bomb warhead intended for tactical ballistic missiles, according to state media KCNA. The Type 2 warhead can destroy a target area of 12 to 13 hectares at its highest density. North Korea plans to enable its military units to use all types of cluster-bomb warheads by the end of 2026. The test is part of a recent escalation in weapons demonstrations, including multiple missile tests and a drone exhibition.

Valentin Vacherot upset sixth-seeded American Taylor Fritz 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 to reach the Swiss Indoors final in Basel on Saturday. The Monegasque's straight-sets victory avenged a three-set loss to Fritz last year. Vacherot will face eighth-seeded Czech Jiri Lehecka in the final after Lehecka defeated Jan-Lennard Struff 3-6 7-5 6-4.

Singapore Airlines flight SQ213 abandoned its landing approach at Perth Airport on Saturday after tilting to the right in high winds, with one wing approaching the ground. The Airbus A350-900 climbed away and landed safely on its second attempt at about 12:30pm. Wind speeds at Perth Airport reached 32km/h during the incident. A go-around is a standard safety procedure.

Rachel Reeves has backed Prime Minister Andy Burnham's position on reopening debate about the UK's relationship with the European Union, saying Brexit has made Britain 'poorer, weaker and less secure'. Writing in the Sunday Times, the former chancellor said she welcomed Burnham's 'leadership' on the issue. She stressed that supporters of rejoining the EU must 'make the argument, demonstrate tangible benefits and get the next steps right'. Ahead of a UK-EU summit later this month, Reeves said the government should seek confirmation of a youth mobility scheme and progress towards entry into the Security Action for Europe defence partnership. Current Chancellor John Healey has expressed scepticism about the idea, creating divisions at cabinet level.

South Africa has become the world's top-ranked Test cricket team for the first time in 12 years, replacing Australia in the ICC rankings following a 176-run victory in Cape Town on Saturday. The Proteas, already World Test champions after beating Australia in last year's final, captain Temba Bavuma says they did not expect to reach this position so quickly. Bavuma was appointed after South Africa felt 'bullied' by Australia in 2022-23, and has since won 13 of 15 matches as captain, with series victories over India away and Australia at home.

Michigan's candidates for governor and U.S. Senate are holding final campaign events on Monday before Tuesday's midterm election. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson and Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed are scheduled to speak at an event in Detroit at 5 p.m. Monday. Republican gubernatorial candidate Rep. John James will be joined by El-Sayed's opponent, Mike Rogers, at an event in Rochester Hills at 7 p.m.

Weeks after Arizona congressional candidate Bernadette Greene-Placentia reported being violently sexually assaulted near Sun City on 14 August, Maricopa County Sheriff Jerry Sheridan said investigators are still working to establish the exact location. Greene-Placentia reported being hit in the head and knocked unconscious while returning to her vehicle after fixing campaign signs, then assaulted by two men. Detectives are using cell phone and vehicle data alongside canvassed surveillance footage to narrow the search area, which spans from 99th Avenue and Bell Road northward toward Anthem.

Beau Lamarre-Condon, a former police officer, is on trial for the murder of Jesse Baird, a television presenter, and Luke Davies in Paddington, Sydney on 19 February 2024. He pleads not guilty and claims self-defence. Prosecutors allege Lamarre-Condon became obsessively jealous of Baird after they dated briefly until April 2023, stalking him, watching him through his window and breaking into his home.

Harry Kane failed to score in his first game since winning the Ballon d'Or as Bayern Munich drew 2-2 with Borussia Dortmund in the German Klassiker, leaving both teams level on points at the top of the Bundesliga. Kane hit a penalty against the crossbar and the post on another chance but did set up Bayern's second goal with a header for Dayot Upamecano, before Fabio Silva's 89th-minute goal equalised for Dortmund. Kane said afterwards: 'It's something you have to deal with when you're at the top, deal with the emotions, deal with everything that comes with it.'

Environment Minister Murry Watt has claimed that unelected figures are steering One Nation's agenda and preventing the minor party from working effectively with the Albanese government on community issues. Watt pointed specifically to James Ashby, One Nation leader Pauline Hanson's longtime associate who recently became the party's director, as an example of someone exerting significant control. Watt made the comments after discussing support for Murray-Darling Basin communities with One Nation MP David Farley, which contributed to a $50m commitment announced this week for the region.

An unarmed RAF Protector RG1 drone has been deployed operationally in the English Channel to track Russian warships, marking what the Ministry of Defence called a 'step change' in UK monitoring capabilities. The drone flew for over ten hours between late September and mid-October, working alongside Royal Navy warships and helicopters. Russian naval activity in British waters increased by 25 per cent during the first seven months of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025.

A man in his twenties was stabbed near a Tesco Extra car park in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, on Saturday afternoon and taken to hospital with potentially life-changing injuries. Three men are believed to have targeted the victim near the supermarket's car park on County Way shortly before 2pm before fleeing the scene. Police are seeking Redouane Bendhiyaf, 47, Dion Barrett, 50, and Joshua Galbraith, 35, all with links to Trowbridge. The public are advised not to approach them.

Lewis Hamilton claimed pole position for Ferrari in Mexico City qualifying, his maiden pole for the Italian team and his first in nearly 1,200 days. At 39, he became the oldest driver to achieve pole position since Mario Andretti, aged 42, in 1982. Hamilton said afterwards: 'Where there's a will there's a way' and credited his love of racing and support around him for keeping him going. George Russell finished second ahead of Charles Leclerc, whilst Kimi Antonelli, the Mercedes driver leading the championship, will start fourth.

Carson Camp threw for three touchdowns and ran for three more as Duquesne defeated New Haven 41-14 in the Northeast Conference on Saturday. Camp passed for 291 yards whilst Ryan Petras caught eight passes for 153 yards for the Dukes (4-4, 3-1). New Haven's Jake Tripptree threw for 196 yards and a touchdown for the Chargers (2-7, 1-3).

Ryan Moore won the Breeders' Cup Turf at Keeneland in Kentucky for a record sixth time on Benvenuto Cellini, timing his final push to win by three-quarters of a length. Trainer Aidan O'Brien secured a record-extending eighth victory in the race. O'Brien praised Moore's horsemanship, saying he 'did it again' and 'executed perfectly'.

San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw was fined $12,537 by the NFL for unnecessary roughness after punching Atlanta Falcons receiver Drake London in the helmet during the 49ers' loss to the Falcons. Greenlaw was attempting to punch the ball out of London's hands but missed, striking the helmet instead. London was evaluated for a concussion but cleared to return.

Alfa Romeo Australia has cut prices on its Giulia Quadrifoglio high-performance sports sedan by $7,500 to $15,000 as part of an end-of-year sales event, valid until December 31, 2026. The standard model drops from $156,990 to $149,490 before on-road costs, while the limited Super Sport and Estrema versions receive the larger $15,000 discount. The offers apply to new and demonstrator vehicles ordered and delivered by the deadline through participating dealers.

Country singer Jessie James Decker posted a video on Instagram showing her spraying a bare foot resting on her armrest during a flight, with text stating 'Someone's foot smells so bad on the plane.' Social media users largely supported her action, though some questioned whether the foot belonged to her husband, former NFL player Eric Decker, rather than a stranger.

Dungannon Swifts drew 1-1 against Linfield at Windsor Park. Dungannon assistant boss Dixie Robinson said he would have been satisfied with a draw before the match, but felt afterwards that his side could have won all three points.

Southeast Community College and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln announced On Course on Friday, a partnership guaranteeing admission to UNL for SCC associate degree graduates. The programme features over 50 guaranteed course-by-course pathways. Students earning an associate degree at SCC with a 2.0 grade point average are guaranteed admission to UNL without competitive review, covering technical, applied and academic transfer degrees.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said President Trump has agreed to grant a visa to the mother of 15-year-old Javits Frimpong, a Ghanaian immigrant shot dead in the Bronx on Thursday morning. Frimpong was shot in the abdomen on his way to school and died in hospital. No arrests have been made and the killing remains under investigation.

Cardiff produced a dominant display to beat Ospreys 26-0 in a Welsh United Rugby Championship derby at St Helen's in Swansea, with tries from Tom Bowen (two), Josh Adams and Tom Howe securing a bonus point victory. The result moved Cardiff into the top eight of the competition. Wales U20s players Steff Emanuel and Bowen were particularly influential, with Emanuel involved in all three first-half tries. Ospreys remained scoreless for the first time in over two years despite numerous attempts to breach Cardiff's defence.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the Trump administration did not facilitate Flávio Bolsonaro's departure to the United States after his election defeat to Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Bolsonaro arrived in Miami on Wednesday. Rubio said the U.S. government was not 'involved directly in any of the moves that were made', though Bolsonaro was granted a U.S. visa after his loss.

Millions of Australians with eczema face worsening symptoms as another scorching summer approaches, with heat and sweat threatening to trigger painful flare-ups. For some sufferers, the condition severely disrupts daily life, affecting sleep, work and social activities. A forecast of record-breaking temperatures linked to a 'super El Niño' has heightened concerns among those managing the condition.

Decapitated pig heads were found in Kilbroney Park in Rostrevor, County Down, on Saturday morning, alongside a sign reading 'here piggy piggy' in red spray paint. One head was impaled on a wooden stick. The Police Service of Northern Ireland is investigating, keeping an open mind as to motivation. Some locals and officials have suggested it could be a Halloween prank, though one councillor doubted children were responsible given the size of the stake. A local resident who discovered them said the display had 'crossed the line from harmless fun to something disgusting' and was 'disturbing' and 'unhygienic'. Independent councillor Mark Gibbons condemned it as 'vile, sickening and utterly disgraceful', saying Halloween was 'no excuse'. The heads have since been removed.

Australia has launched its Movember campaign with a 180-metre-wide moustache carved into an airstrip at Mt Gibbs Station in Broken Hill, New South Wales. The giant shape, dubbed the Big Red Mo, is believed to be the first moustache visible from outer space, and campaigners have urged the International Space Station to photograph it. Nathan Appo, global board director of Movember, said the moustache was created as an 'SOS for men's health', highlighting that suicide rates are twice as high in regional and remote areas.

A federal judge on Sunday dismissed a Justice Department lawsuit filed at President Trump's direction seeking to block certification of Alaska's Senate race if Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan loses to Democrat Mary Peltola. The lawsuit, filed less than two weeks before the election, called for an investigation into whether votes for retired teacher Daniel J. Sullivan were intended for the senator. Judge Sharon Gleason ruled the requested remedies were 'infeasible' and said there was no workable plan to segregate ballots while preserving voter secrecy. Alaska state officials, Peltola's campaign, and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee argued the lawsuit lacked legal standing. The Justice Department said it would appeal the ruling. The New York Times reported that operatives connected to Peltola's campaign helped recruit Daniel J. Sullivan to run, though Peltola and Sullivan have denied coordination.

A federal judge has rejected xAI's attempt to dismiss an NAACP lawsuit accusing the AI company of violating the Clean Air Act by operating unpermitted gas turbines at its Colossus data centre near Memphis, Tennessee. Judge Debra M. Brown ruled that the plaintiffs have legal standing to sue and that the turbines are not exempt from permitting requirements because they are not 'mobile sources'. The judge also rejected xAI's constitutional challenge to citizen lawsuits under the Clean Air Act.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said Saturday that President Trump has agreed to grant a visa to the mother of Javits Frimpong, a 15-year-old immigrant from Ghana who was shot in the abdomen on Thursday morning while heading to school in the Bronx. Frimpong died in hospital later that day. No arrests have been made and police are investigating. Mamdani said on X that the boy's mother 'deserves to say goodbye to her son in person'. Frimpong had arrived in the US a year ago to be with his father. Ghana's Foreign Minister Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa said Ghanaian officials are assisting the mother with her visa application. The White House has not confirmed the agreement.

Five boys aged 16 and 17 were stabbed at a supervised Halloween party at a property on Park Road in Chandler's Ford, Eastleigh, Hampshire, shortly after 10.30pm on Saturday. An uninvited group of males gained entry through a garden fence and attacked the victims. Two of the five remain in hospital with serious injuries, including one 17-year-old in a life-threatening condition; the other three have been discharged. A 17-year-old and 16-year-old, both from Southampton, have been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and remain in police custody. The Daily Mail reports that around 70 uninvited revellers arrived after party details were shared on social media.

Maserati will mark a century in 2026 since the Trident emblem first appeared on a racing car. The Italian manufacturer was founded in Bologna in 1914 by Alfieri Maserati and his brothers, with the company establishing its racing legend in 1926 when the Tipo 26 made its competition debut at the Targa Florio in Sicily, driven by Alfieri Maserati himself. The Trident emblem was inspired by Neptune's statue in Bologna's Piazza Maggiore.

South Africa won the Test series decider at Cape Town, with Simon Harmer taking 6-16 on day five as Australia were all out for 111. Nathan Lyon had taken 2-101 from 44 overs in the previous innings. Captain Pat Cummins defended Lyon's figures, saying the conditions on day five provided more help to the spinners and that Lyon had controlled the game well, restricting South Africa to 2.5 runs an over for much of the match. Cummins also noted it was not only Lyon who struggled; he himself took just six wickets at 54.66 across the tour, due to less lively pitches in the final two Tests.

New Zealand's Labour party, if elected on 7 November, would question the country's alignment with the US and potentially slow defence collaboration with Australia, according to would-be foreign minister Vanushi Walters. She said New Zealand must 'restore our independent foreign policy', criticising the current coalition government for treating US and China relationships as unbalanced. However, Walters has met Australian foreign minister Penny Wong to show Labour's commitment to the Australian alliance.

Syracuse upset No. 19 SMU 30-27 on Saturday with quarterback Steve Angeli throwing a 2-yard touchdown pass to tight end Noah Meyers with 17 seconds left. The victory seriously damaged SMU's chances of reaching an ACC Championship Game and College Football Playoff appearance. Angeli completed 21 of 34 passes for 200 yards and also rushed for a 26-yard touchdown.

David Healy, Linfield manager, criticised referee Evan Boyce's decision to show Ethan McGee a second yellow card during Linfield's 1-1 draw with Dungannon Swifts. Healy described the incident, which occurred near the halfway line in the 77th minute, as a 'horrendous call', arguing that some referees would not have even awarded a free kick. He warned that the Irish Premiership is in 'serious, serious trouble' if such dismissals become commonplace.

A six-acre horse paddock at Gawthrops Meadow on Kettering's outskirts is being transformed into a community woodland. More than 3,100 native trees will be planted by volunteers over two years, funded by the Forestry Commission and coordinated by the local council. The project aims to improve biodiversity, expand habitats and enhance green space for residents.

Australia promised a national poet laureate when launching its cultural policy in early 2023, but nearly four years later no one has been appointed to the $80,000-a-year post. An expected November announcement was delayed. Creative Australia says it is working towards announcing the laureate in early 2027.

Musician Kid Rock recounted on HBO's 'Real Time with Bill Maher' how President Trump handed him a phone during a golf outing while speaking with French President Emmanuel Macron. Kid Rock said Trump introduced him to Macron, then left him on the call. Kid Rock joked that he told Macron he was from 'the Paris of the Midwest: Detroit'.

Police have cordoned off Castle Meadow in Norwich city centre following reports of a stabbing around 6.20pm on Saturday evening. Onlookers reported seeing a person covered in blood and shouting that someone had been stabbed. Emergency services attended the incident.

Dr Marta Shahbazi, 41, a group leader at Cambridge's MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, was confirmed dead after a high-speed train collision near Urda in Toledo province on Wednesday that killed at least 69 people. The Renfe AVE train collided with an Iryo service around 9am. Dr Shahbazi was travelling to south-west Spain to receive an award from the Spanish Society for Developmental Biology for her work on stem cells and early human development. She leaves a husband, Mirco Petruzzelli, and two children aged three and seven. The MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology said her death was 'a profound shock and a huge loss', while colleagues described her as an inspiring scientist and role model for balancing family and career.

Combe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park near Ilfracombe faces potential closure after four decades of operation due to severe financial pressures. The 40-year-old family-run attraction, which houses wolves, sea lions, Amur leopards and other wildlife alongside animatronic dinosaurs, said it may not be able to continue beyond this season without new investment or a change of ownership. The owners have launched a GoFundMe appeal and are exploring options including discussions with potential buyers, investors and other zoos for animal relocation.

Bo Bice, who finished runner-up to Carrie Underwood on American Idol in 2005, has revealed a dramatic transformation on Instagram after a two-year music hiatus. The former rocker traded his long hair for a shorter hairstyle, sunglasses, layered necklaces and an open patterned shirt. Fans responded with mixed reactions, with some criticising the new look whilst others praised it.

A fire damaged the Senatobia Police Department building in Mississippi on Saturday morning. The cause is unclear and it is unknown whether it was intentionally set. The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and local agencies are investigating. The department has faced community outrage after an officer shot and killed one-year-old Kohen Wiley in June.

Alaska's Republican-run state government has urged a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit filed at President Donald Trump's direction to stop the certification of a possible Democratic win in the state's U.S. Senate race. The state's attorney general's office called the lawsuit 'meritless' and said there was 'no reason' for the court to entertain it further. The complaint, filed by the U.S. Department of Justice, demands that certification be halted pending investigation into whether voters were confused by two candidates named Dan Sullivan on the ballot.

Australia suffered a 2-1 Test series defeat in South Africa, with the Proteas knocking them off the number one Test ranking. Head coach Andrew McDonald said of Marnus Labuschagne that 'he hasn't taken his opportunity on this tour', suggesting the batsman faces the axe from the Test team. Labuschagne has not scored a Test century in 49 innings, averaging 21.83 in the South Africa series with scores of 0 and 4 in the series-deciding Test in Cape Town. Former opener David Warner branded Australia's final-day collapse, when they were 60-7 by lunch, 'disgraceful' and 'un-Australian'.

Victoria's net debt has ballooned from about $22 billion to $165 billion under a 12-year Labor government, with forecasts suggesting it will nudge $200 billion by the turn of the decade. Interest repayments will cost 23 cents per dollar raised by state taxes. Premier Ben Carroll, who took office in July, has compared the situation to Sir Henry Bolte's spending legacy, arguing Victoria is entering a growth phase. Pollster Tony Barry says voters are increasingly linking debt to services like healthcare, road maintenance and elective surgery.

Bangor secured a 1-0 away victory against Ballymena United in an Irish League match. Long-serving striker Ben Arthurs scored as Bangor climbed from the bottom of the table. Manager Lee Feeney praised his defence's performance and warned his players to embrace the present after the significant win.

Fifteen emerging leaders aged 30 to 45 from the food and farming sector have been selected for the Oxford Farming Conference's Inspire Programme. The scheme offers first-time attendance at the Oxford Farming Conference, leadership development and networking opportunities. The 2027 cohort includes a seventh-generation livestock farmer from County Down, a pig vet originally from Brazil, and professionals in agricultural consultancy, technology and industry representation.

Newcastle United are concerned about an ankle injury to forward William Osula, who was substituted at half-time during Thursday's match against Everton after being challenged by James Tarkowski. The 23-year-old has suffered a frustrating run of injuries this season, having already missed time with an ankle problem earlier in the campaign. Alan Shearer says Osula is the player Newcastle must rely on for goals and hopes he will be fit to face Everton on Monday night.

The Golden State Valkyries won the WNBA championship on Saturday night, defeating the Atlanta Dream 68-63 in Game 7 at Chase Center in San Francisco. It was the first Game 7 in WNBA Finals history. Gabby Williams scored 30 points, 28 of them in the second half, earning her Finals MVP. The Valkyries became the fastest expansion team in major North American professional sports history to win a championship, doing so 534 days after their first game. The Dream remain winless in four Finals appearances.

Taylor Wimpey Southern Counties is running a community chest competition in Didcot, inviting residents to nominate a deserving group, organisation or individual for £1,000 in funding. The prize money could be used for new equipment, fundraising challenges or essential costs. Nominations must be submitted by Monday, November 23.

Volunteers in South Oxford are creating a Poppy Trail through November to remember 42 local men who died in the Second World War. The trail features posters outside the former homes of those who died, with information about their lives and service. According to volunteer Molly Wilson, the men are commemorated on war memorials in local churches.

An art and photography exhibition is marking the 80-year friendship between Oxford and its Dutch twin city of Leiden. The exhibition, named Verweven (Interwoven in English), runs from 4 to 14 November at the Kendrew Barn Gallery at St John's College and features work by 14 artists from Oxford and two from Leiden. It will also display photographs documenting the cities' twinning since 1946.

New EU customs charges could wipe out Christmas profits for Oxfordshire online retailers, according to accountancy firm Azets. A flat €3 customs charge applies to goods valued at €150 or less imported into the EU, with an additional €2 handling fee per parcel from November 2026. Azets warns the changes could turn low-value sales into loss-making transactions and lead to refused deliveries during the peak trading season.

Persimmon Homes Wessex has donated £1,000 to Be Free Young Carers, a charity based in Harwell near Didcot that supports young carers aged eight to 17 across Oxfordshire. The donation was made through Persimmon's Community Champions scheme, which distributes £700,000 annually to good causes across Britain.

A federal judge in Miami on Saturday dismissed Donald Trump's $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal with prejudice, meaning he cannot refile it. The suit challenged the newspaper's 2024 story reporting on a sexually suggestive letter allegedly written by Trump to Jeffrey Epstein as part of a birthday book in 2003. Judge Darrin Gayles found Trump failed to prove 'actual malice', the legal standard required for public figures to win defamation cases. The judge said Trump was 'grasping at straws' trying to manufacture flaws in the newspaper's investigation. Trump's legal team said the president plans to appeal the decision.

Jack Jones, a 23-year-old from Burnley, was pronounced dead at the scene after his grey Skoda Octavia crashed into a dry stone wall on Crown Point Road on Tuesday, October 13 at around 7pm. His family paid tribute to him, describing him as a 'loving, kind and fabulously funny man' who will be missed by his brothers Alfie and Freddie and girlfriend Kayla. Lancashire Police are investigating the crash and appealing for witnesses who may have seen the Skoda Octavia parked on the Crown Point car park near the Singing Ringing Tree between 6.30pm and 7.05pm.

Celtic suffered defeat to Falkirk on Sunday, their sixth loss in ten games. The result has prompted debate among fans and pundits about manager Martin O'Neill's future, though midfielder Colby Donovan insisted the squad remain united behind him. O'Neill had previously led Celtic to a double last season after taking charge during a difficult period.

A double-decker bus collided with a building in New Mills, Derbyshire, at about 5.20pm on Saturday near the junction of Union Road and Market Street, injuring several people. Police, fire and ambulance crews attended the scene. The injuries were not thought to be life-threatening, and those injured were treated by paramedics at the scene. Three roads were closed following the incident due to concerns over a potential gas leak, but these reopened by Sunday after gas company Cadent isolated the damaged pipe and the building was declared safe by a structural engineer.

England scrum-half Alex Mitchell has been ruled out of Sunday's Nations Championship match against Australia after sustaining a hamstring injury in Northampton's 28-14 Premiership win over Gloucester on Saturday. It is Mitchell's fourth hamstring injury this year. Fellow scrum-half Archie McParland is also sidelined with a calf injury picked up in England training. Head coach Steve Borthwick has called up Bath's Ben Spencer and Bristol's Harry Randall to the squad, with Leicester's Jack van Poortvliet expected to start at number nine. Fly-half Fin Smith, also of Northampton, remains a doubt with a calf injury.

Freddie James, the head coach at Carter High School in Dallas from 1982 to 1995, has died at 89. His 1988 team is regarded as one of the greatest in Texas high school history, though it was later stripped of its title due to ineligible players. James compiled a 139-27-5 record and helped eight players reach the NFL.

Jeanie Buss, the Los Angeles Lakers' governor, has accused her five siblings of conducting a 'cloak and dagger' campaign and asked a California judge to block their sale of the family's 17.8-percent stake in the NBA team. The sale would end her role as governor, which requires at least 15-percent ownership. A court hearing is scheduled for December 8.

Poundland, a 600-store discount chain, faces collapse after its US owner Gordon Brothers rejected a takeover bid and filed notice of intention to appoint administrators. The move puts 12,000 jobs at risk across the UK and Ireland. Poundland founder Steve Smith, who no longer owns the company, has warned the collapse could trigger up to 30,000 job losses when suppliers and wider retail effects are considered, calling it a 'multi-billion-pound problem for the government'.

South Dakota State's No. 5 Jackrabbits defeated the No. 6 University of South Dakota Coyotes in a rivalry matchup at Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings on Halloween. SDSU dominated early, with James Basinger scoring first, followed by receiving touchdowns from Jack Smith and Brayden Delahoyde. The Jackrabbits built a 28-0 lead by the fourth quarter. USD struggled offensively throughout, managing only two first downs in the first half.

Ballon d'Or winner Harry Kane missed a penalty and hit the post for Bayern Munich, but Fabio Silva's 89th-minute goal earned Borussia Dortmund a 2-2 draw in Der Klassiker. Konrad Laimer had given Bayern the lead, Serhou Guirassy equalised, then Dayot Upamecano restored Bayern's advantage before Silva's late strike left both teams level on 18 points at the top of the Bundesliga.

Norwich Theatre Royal cancelled the evening performance of Sylvia on Saturday, 31 October, less than an hour before it was due to start at 7.30pm, citing cast illness. The theatre's box office team will contact customers this week about refunds. The production has proved popular enough that the theatre added a matinee performance to the schedule.

No. 5 Notre Dame defeated Navy 35-13 on Saturday in Foxborough, Massachusetts, securing its ninth consecutive victory over the Midshipmen. Quarterback CJ Carr passed for 210 yards and two touchdowns, while running back Nolan James Jr. scored twice on the ground with 52 and 23-yard rushing touchdowns. The Fighting Irish bounced back after a loss at BYU two weeks prior.

Falkirk defeated Celtic 2-0 at home, their first win over the champions since 2007. Ethan Ross scored in the third minute after a Cameron Carter-Vickers error, and Scott Tanser added a second in the 38th minute. The result extends Falkirk's winning run to four consecutive matches and moves them up to fourth in the Premiership, whilst Celtic remain four points clear at the top but have now played a game more than second-placed Rangers.

Steve Smith was unable to overcome a neck injury to play in Australia's third Test against South Africa in Cape Town. Captain Pat Cummins said Smith had indicated confidence he would play before scans revealed joint damage four days before the match. A pain-killing injection on the morning of day one left Smith with shooting pain, and he failed to pass his fitness test. Australia lost the match by 176 runs, collapsing to 111 all out on the final day.

Australia lost a Test series 2-1 to South Africa after collapsing to 8-62 chasing in the final innings at Cape Town. Coach Andrew McDonald said the batting is in a better position despite the loss, highlighting performances from Matt Renshaw, Josh Inglis and Cameron Green, all of whom scored centuries. McDonald said selectors face decisions about the team's age profile, with younger players like Cooper Connolly and Sam Konstas in contention.

The Block's 2026 season concluded with an unexpected success: all five luxury homes in Melbourne's Mount Eliza sold at auction, defying a difficult property market. Queensland best friends Courtney and Sev won the season with $1.87 million, including prize money. The 100 per cent clearance rate was remarkable given that earlier in the season, reserve prices of $3.45 million had been publicly revealed under new Victorian laws, and house prices had recorded their steepest quarterly decline on record.

Portland Public Schools is reviewing its classroom pet policy after a teacher at Ocean Avenue Elementary School requested permission to foster puppies in her classroom. Dr. Abdullahi Ahmed, the district's assistant superintendent, raised concerns during an October 14 policy committee meeting, citing Islamic religious beliefs about dogs. Ahmed said he had consulted local Muslim religious leaders who opposed keeping dogs as classroom pets, explaining that some Islamic traditions consider dog saliva impure. He suggested accommodations could include keeping dogs in a separate room to respect students and families with religious objections.

Internal polling conducted by the Greens between 14 and 26 October shows the party's primary vote above One Nation's in Victoria, suggesting the surge in support for Hanson's party may be losing momentum. The Greens' poll put One Nation at 14 per cent of the primary vote, compared to 20 per cent in Newspoll published on Monday. Opposition leader Jess Wilson has made her first public criticism of One Nation this week.

Cardiff City's injury problems have deepened following a 3-0 defeat at Wolves on Saturday. Manager Brian Barry-Murphy has revealed fresh fitness fears over defenders Will Fish and Perry Ng, and midfielder Alex Robertson, adding to an already lengthy absentee list that includes centre backs Dylan Lawlor, Callum Chambers and Krystian Bielik, plus suspended Gabriel Osho. The club face West Ham on Wednesday.

Thames Water discharged untreated sewage at several sites across Swindon and Wiltshire following Storm Austen and Storm Boelo. The releases included seven days of sewage into a tributary of the River Thames near Cricklade, eleven days into Latchford Brook near Thame, nearly forty hours near Weston-on-the-Green, four days into Bloxham Brook, and over sixty hours into the River Envelode at Moreton-In-Marsh. Water companies are permitted to discharge diluted wastewater from storm overflows during heavy rainfall when the sewer network risks becoming overwhelmed.

The M5 northbound has been closed following a crash near Tiverton. The closure affects traffic between junction 27 for the A361 at Tiverton and junction 26 for the A38 at Wellington, impacting motorists travelling from Devon towards Somerset. The incident occurred at around 6pm.

An analysis by data scientists at the University of California, Los Angeles has found that more than 40% of the 20,930 names flagged by the Trump administration as possible noncitizen voters in California cannot be found on the state's voter rolls. The analysis, filed by the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, also found that thousands of US citizens appear to have been incorrectly identified as ineligible to vote on the government's list. Multiple judges have previously rejected the government's demand that California election officials sequester ballots for these voters, calling it unconstitutional.

Swansea City bounced back from a heavy 5-0 defeat at Queens Park Rangers by thrashing Blackburn Rovers 4-0 at the Swansea.com Stadium. Goals from Stephen Eustaquio, Joseph Opoku, Filip Lissah and Ross Stewart secured the win, Swansea's biggest of the season. Manager Vitor Matos deliberately left his players to celebrate alone with the fans, saying he wanted them to take the credit after last week's poor performance.

Iranian negotiators met with Qatari mediators in Doha on Saturday to discuss paths out of the conflict in the Gulf, following more than 12 hours of discussions in Tehran on Friday. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said President Donald Trump has not decided whether to launch new strikes against Iran but would prefer diplomatic resolution. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei ordered the armed forces to prepare to respond to any attacks, stating that 'any level or type of threat must be met with an immediate, impactful, and geographically unrestricted response'.

Australian news outlets report that voters are tiring of populist 'tantrum politics' and suggest that populist politicians may be losing their appeal. Both the Newcastle Herald and Illawarra Mercury present the same analysis, questioning whether populist figures are 'running out of puff'.

Young men in Britain are now 26 times more likely to live with their mother than a wife by age 25, according to new research by the Centre for Social Justice think tank. The analysis finds that the number of married people under 30 has crashed from 4.5 million in 1976 to around 790,000 today, despite population growth. Men in their early twenties are 97 per cent less likely to be married compared to 50 years ago, with marriage rates for under-30s down 90 per cent overall. The CSJ attributes the shift to high housing costs and difficulties in meeting people and forming relationships.

Bristol City defeated Bolton Wanderers 3-2 at the Toughsheet Community Stadium on Saturday to break a four-match winless run. Dom Ballard, Sam Bell and Scott Twine scored for City, who came from behind after trailing with ten minutes remaining. Manager Michael Skubala described it as 'a nice birthday present' on his 44th birthday, praising his players' character after his substitutions changed the game.

South Carolina saw record-breaking turnout during its early voting period in the 2026 general election, with 1,043,810 ballots cast from 19–31 October. This is more than double the number from the 2022 midterm election, though below the 2024 presidential election. It is the highest early turnout for a gubernatorial election since South Carolina began offering early voting in 2022.

Former undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk is planning to return to cruiserweight and face undefeated David Benavidez in what would be his final fights, according to his adviser. The 39-year-old Ukrainian vacated his heavyweight titles after beating Rico Verhoeven in May and said his next bout would be his last, but now plans to move back down a division. Usyk told The Ring on Saturday that he has 'cleaned out the heavyweight division' and currently weighs 96–97kg, having already started cutting weight.

Virginia and Washington DC are suing in federal court to halt President Trump's proposed memorial arch project, which would stand 250 feet tall near Arlington National Cemetery. The administration says construction could begin as early as next week. This adds to existing legal challenges, with a federal judge already considering whether to issue an order halting the project pending resolution of an earlier lawsuit by three Vietnam War veterans and an architectural historian.

Victorian Labor has doubled its pledge of free dental clinics from 10 to 20, with the expanded commitment costing taxpayers $230 million. The clinics will be free to all when they open from July 2027 and are expected to treat an estimated 200,000 Victorians annually. The announcement comes as polling shows the coalition leading with 29.5 per cent of the primary vote, ahead of Labor at 22.5 per cent.

The second season of The Assassin, streaming on Stan, features Keeley Hawes as Julie, a retired contract killer navigating fresh crises. The season follows on from the first, in which Julie's life became complicated after she discovered that a target she had been forced to kill had close connections to her son's fiancée. In this season, Julie returns to managing multiple urgent problems.

Eskimo Joe and Coterie will headline the free WA Day Festival at Burswood Park on 21 and 22 November 2026. The two-day event will feature Western Australian musicians including folk singer Clare Perrott, indie-pop triplets Birdland, rock band The Southern River Band, pop princess Samantha Jade with OrchXtra, and Australian Idol star Gisella Colletti performing with the Joondalup Symphony Orchestra.

Chef Victoria Minell has created a high-protein version of traditional Nepalese momos. Chicken-filled dumplings are served over a creamy spiced tomato and cottage cheese sauce, with each serving containing less than 400 calories. The dish combines ginger, garlic and garam masala with steamed gow gee wrappers.

AFL Tasmania has rejected plans to revive a Greater Northern league, according to head of the state body Damian Gill. The organisation continues to support maintaining three strong regions instead.

Adrian Barich has admitted to dropping his fitness routine in recent months, shelving gym sessions and turning down a marathon offer from friends. As another birthday approaches, the sports figure is reflecting on life lessons and recommitting to Clint Eastwood's philosophy of 'don't let the old man in'. He says busy periods, including football finals and involvement with Telethon, led him to make excuses, though he continues walking his dog daily.

Tottenham defeated 10-man Crystal Palace 2-0 to record their third consecutive Premier League victory for the first time since February 2025, moving into the top half of the table. Jean-Philippe Mateta was sent off after just 13 minutes for a studs-up tackle on Micky van de Ven. Archie Gray headed in from a corner after 25 minutes, and Jan Paul van Hecke added a second in the second half. The defeat leaves Palace third-bottom in the relegation zone and intensifies pressure on manager Pierre Sage, who vowed to 'never give up' despite the club's poor run. Mateta will miss Palace's next three matches, including upcoming games against Liverpool and Coventry.

Dame Judi Dench, aged 91, expressed optimism about theatre's future at the launch of a new outdoor installation marking the 50th anniversary of the National Theatre building. The actress, alongside Lesley Manville and London Mayor Sadiq Khan, unveiled Stories Start Here: 50 Stories for 50 Years, a wooden installation featuring personal stories celebrating the building and its people. Dench said she has 'great hope' when speaking to young people about theatre, emphasising that as long as audiences attend shows and productions promote conversation, the future remains 'exciting and wonderful'.

Israeli strikes on Gaza City and Khan Younis killed at least eight Palestinians on Sunday, including a four-year-old boy and five police officers. The attacks occurred despite a US-brokered ceasefire that took effect in October. The Israeli military said it targeted military operatives but provided no further details. Hamas condemned the strikes as war crimes and accused Israel of undermining the peace deal.

Harry Kane paraded the Ballon d'Or before Bayern Munich's Bundesliga match against Borussia Dortmund on Saturday. Kane was applauded onto the pitch by both teams at the Allianz Arena, with 'Land of Hope and Glory' played to fans, and spoke to the crowd about his pride in joining Bayern. The match ended in a draw, with Dortmund equalising in the 89th minute through Fábio Silva.

Multiple incidents across south-east England motorways are causing disruption. Two crashes near Chertsey on the M25 clockwise have closed one lane with congestion back to Leatherhead, while a separate crash on the M25 anticlockwise near Brentwood is also causing delays. A two-vehicle crash on the M23 northbound between Gatwick Airport and the M25 has closed two lanes. A multi-vehicle collision on the M11 southbound between Stansted Airport and Harlow caused delays exceeding an hour. An earlier police incident closed the Dartford Crossing but has since reopened; an accident on the M2 near Sittingbourne has also cleared.

Jose Mourinho has backed Kylian Mbappe following angry reaction to comments the Real Madrid forward made about China's late leader Mao Zedong. Mourinho said Mbappe acted "very responsibly" and showed "true class" by quickly apologising. The Portuguese manager said such incidents represent "dangers of today's world" but that Real Madrid considers the matter closed.

Fakhar Zaman overcame a bruised knee and poor form to score 127 and guide Pakistan to a three-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the ODI tri-series final on Saturday. Zaman's century, combined with Arafat Minhas's 61 off 31 balls, saw Pakistan chase down Sri Lanka's 325 with a total of 331. Kamindu Mendis had scored 131 for Sri Lanka in their innings, but wet conditions caused by dew hampered their bowlers during Pakistan's chase.

A taxi driver in Stockton lost his private hire licence after Stockton Council's licensing committee ruled against him following an incident earlier this year. The driver filmed police as they arrested a woman involved in an alleged knifepoint robbery in Hardwick. A police officer objected to the filming, saying the woman was highly intoxicated and that he tried to position himself between her and the driver to protect her dignity. The committee found the driver had 'involved himself' inappropriately in the police incident.

Ian Conlan, who served as Mayor of Malton for three years, has defected from the Green Party to the Liberal Democrats and will stand as a candidate in May 2027 local elections. The Lib Dems, currently the largest opposition group on North Yorkshire Council, are aiming to take control of the Conservative-led authority. Conlan said he believed the Lib Dems offered the best opportunity to deliver change, citing school transport, active travel policies and community planning influence. He criticised the direction of the Green Party, saying it was 'simply not the caring party I joined in 2015'.

Jo Palmer faces mounting pressure over pitchgate and school reforms. Both The Advocate and The Examiner suggest the situation reflects poorly on the minister.

Israel's Arab parties, which won a record 19 seats in recent elections, are backing opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot's bloc in coalition negotiations, potentially preventing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from forming the next government. Netanyahu's conservative and far-right coalition holds 53 of 120 Knesset seats, whilst Eisenkot's opposition bloc has 48 seats. Arab support could allow Eisenkot to reach the 61 seats needed for a majority, though this poses challenges from the right as Israeli leaders have deployed anti-Arab messaging during the campaign.

Trent Alexander-Arnold is struggling to establish himself at Real Madrid after joining from Liverpool last summer. The 28-year-old is now third-choice right-back following the signings of Denzel Dumfries and Jose Mourinho's deployment of midfielder Federico Valverde in the position. Mourinho said Alexander-Arnold's lack of playing time makes him 'sad', but insisted his team selections prioritise the club's interests.

Nebraska will face Washington in a night game on Halloween wearing blackout uniforms at Memorial Stadium, the first such Halloween game there since 1998. Both teams are coming off bye weeks and recent close losses. Nebraska lost to Oregon and Indiana in consecutive weeks but led in the fourth quarter of both games. Washington has suffered close losses to Minnesota and USC before being beaten soundly by Iowa. Quarterback Anthony Colandrea has confirmed he will return to Nebraska for his final year of eligibility.

Ulster go into the Autumn international break without a win in the United Rugby Championship following three defeats and two draws from their first five fixtures. Manager Richie Murphy has admitted the team needs to reset after their South Africa setbacks, with the club facing issues including giving up soft scores and poor defensive performances.

Chancellor John Healey has suggested that younger workers may not receive the same minimum wage as older workers before the next election, potentially breaking Labour's 2024 manifesto pledge to end 'discriminatory age bands'. In the recent Budget, both groups received a 3.9 per cent increase, but at different rates: 18 to 20-year-olds will earn £11.27 per hour in 2026, while over-20s will earn £13.21. Healey told the BBC he wanted to 'take it one step at a time', saying the decision was 'a question of when' and 'how fast', not whether to equalise pay. He cited concerns about trade-offs between jobs and wages, saying he wanted to avoid exacerbating youth unemployment.

Julio Enciso rescued Ipswich a point with a moment of brilliance in a 2-2 draw at Hull. Ipswich dominated the first half and took the lead through Florentino Luis in the 22nd minute, but Hull fought back after the interval with Tim Iroegbunam and Oli McBurnie goals. Enciso's spectacular left-footed strike from outside the area in the 74th minute levelled the score. Hull maintained their unbeaten home record but extended their winless run to seven or eight games.

Maya Jama was eliminated from the Celebrity Traitors final on Friday night after fellow traitor King Kenny voted against her at the roundtable. Rather than accept defeat, the 32-year-old Love Island presenter donated what she would have won to Action for Children, a UK charity supporting vulnerable children and families. The charity's director of fundraising said it was 'absolutely thrilled' to receive the donation.

Harry Lock was ordered to pay a Worcester bar doorman £4,000 in compensation after glassing him outside a bar on 25 February 2022. The 23-year-old delivered 'a number of short blows' to the door staff member with a glass bottle, leaving him with facial scarring. At Worcester Crown Court on 27 October, Lock received a suspended sentence after the judge noted he had 'changed his ways' and led a law-abiding life since. He also pleaded guilty to wounding without intent and being concerned in the supply of class B drugs.

John Byrne, 73, of Malvern, received a 22-month prison sentence suspended for two years at Worcester Crown Court after pleading guilty to making and distributing indecent images of children and discussing child sexual abuse online. He was found to have possessed 234 category A images, 110 category B images and 390 category C images of children between November 2025 and January 2026, sharing four of the category C photographs in November. Byrne was also handed a 10-year sexual harm prevention order and ordered to register with police for a decade.

Coventry climbed out of the Premier League relegation zone with a 3-1 victory over bottom-placed Sunderland. Tatsuhiro Sakamoto scored his first Premier League goal after 17 minutes, with Taiwo Awoniyi doubling the lead before half-time and Jack Rudoni sealing victory early in the second half. Enzo Le Fée reduced the deficit from a penalty in the 67th minute, but Sunderland finished with ten men after Omar Alderete received a second yellow card in stoppage time. The win came after Coventry's disappointing 1-0 home defeat to Fulham, and leaves Manchester United just one point outside the relegation zone.

Senegal officially opened the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar on Saturday, marking the first Olympic sporting event ever held on the African continent. Nearly 2,700 athletes aged 14 to 17 from over 200 countries are competing across three Senegalese cities in 25 sports. An opening ceremony attended by 30,000 people featured hundreds of drummers and dancers celebrating Senegalese and African culture, with the Games' motto 'Africa welcomes, Dakar celebrates'.

West Ham suffered a 3-1 home defeat to West Brom on Saturday, leaving the promotion favourites in eighth place, six points behind leaders Middlesbrough. The loss came after back-to-back home defeats in which the Hammers have conceded six goals. Fans expressed their frustration with manager Nuno Espírito Santo as the match ended. West Ham's promotion bid has been undermined by defensive problems and missed penalties against Charlton and QPR, and they are now winless in their last four home matches.

Carlos Alcaraz won the Vienna Open for the first time, defeating Alex de Minaur 6-1 6-4 in the final. Alcaraz, seeded second, completed a perfect record at ATP 500 events in 2026, extending his winning streak at that level to 26 matches. De Minaur had reached the final by defeating world No 1-elect Alexander Zverev 6-4 1-6 7-6 (7-4) in the semi-final, claiming one of the biggest wins of his career. Alcaraz said de Minaur's style was difficult to face and that he had to maintain focus and aggression throughout the match. The victory was Alcaraz's seventh against de Minaur, maintaining his perfect head-to-head record.

Sunderland's board has backed manager Regis Le Bris to turn the club's fortunes around, despite a terrible start to the Premier League season. Le Bris believes greater consistency from his players is essential, telling the club's website that individual errors and inconsistency are 'unacceptable'. Captain Granit Xhaka acknowledged the team's failings after their 3-1 defeat to Coventry City at the weekend, saying players must take accountability for repeated mistakes.

Forty-eight people were arrested at a protest outside the US Embassy in London on Saturday in support of Palestine Action, a group the UK government banned as a terrorist organisation last year. More than 100 protesters attended, holding signs reading 'I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action'. No arrests were made at a related vigil outside the US Consulate in Edinburgh, though Police Scotland said it was reviewing evidence of people displaying support for the proscribed group. The protests preceded a Supreme Court appeal on 4 November against Palestine Action's terror designation.

Torquay United won 3-0 at Walton and Hersham on Saturday, easing pressure on manager Jimmy Ball after a poor run. Matt Jay opened the scoring with a lobbed goal in the first half, with Cody Cooke and Jacob Beaumont-Clark adding two more in the second half. It was only the Gulls' second win in six National League South matches.

Crawley Town secured a 1-0 victory against Oldham Athletic at Boundary Park, with Danilo Orsi scoring the only goal. The win was Crawley's second of the season and first in 11 Sky Bet League Two games. Oldham's afternoon was marred by two red cards reducing them to nine men before half-time, with their assistant manager also sent to the stands.

David Burne, 39, of Barnet, has been charged with burglary following a break-in at Tesco Express in Watling Street, Radlett on 7 October, when approximately £1,000 worth of cigarettes were stolen. He pleaded not guilty at Willesden Magistrates' Court on 16 October but indicated a guilty plea to breaching a criminal behaviour order. He has been recalled to prison. Burne is also charged with theft from a separate shop in Barnet. He is next due at Hendon Magistrates' Court on 2 November.

Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport has topped J.D. Power's ranking of North America's largest airports for the third year running, outpacing major coastal hubs serving New York and Los Angeles. The airport scored 684 on J.D. Power's 1,000-point scale. Tampa International led large airports with 715 points, and Charleston International topped medium airports with 712.

The District of Columbia and Virginia have sued in federal court to halt President Donald Trump's proposed memorial arch, which would rise 250 feet near the Potomac River bridge connecting the capital to Arlington National Cemetery. This is the third lawsuit against the project; a federal judge is already considering whether to halt work while an earlier case brought by Vietnam War veterans and an architectural historian proceeds. The administration says construction could begin as early as next week.

More than 350 young people took part in team-building adventures in Sherwood Forest as part of the Shadow challenge. The event brought together hundreds of youngsters for activities in the forest.

Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei warned the United States and Israel on Saturday against fresh military strikes as tensions rise over potential renewed fighting in the Middle East. US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have recently threatened military action against Iran. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Trump had not yet decided whether to proceed with further strikes.

French protesters marched nationwide on Halloween for the third week, driven by anger over living costs, high fuel prices, inflation and President Emmanuel Macron's government. The demonstrations largely remained peaceful, though police fired tear gas in Lyon and Toulouse, and tensions emerged at the end of the march in Marseille. The protests united students, trade unions and Yellow Vest activists.

Emily McGonagle, a 42-year-old from Colchester, left her job as a lawyer in London to become a professional voice actor. She made the change in 2019 with no acting experience, motivated by motherhood and a desire for flexibility. Since then she has provided voice work for Google, a Game of Thrones video game and the Netflix children's series Spike, which launched earlier this month.

Engineering works will close all rail lines between Oxford and Didcot Parkway from late Saturday 31 October into Sunday 1 November, affecting several Great Western Railway services. Late-night trains will be replaced by buses, with several services either terminating early or starting from different stations. National Rail and GWR are urging passengers to allow extra time and check travel information before travelling.

Cann Hall in Clacton, a Grade II* listed Tudor property dating to around 1510, has gone on the market with a guide price of £800,000 to £850,000. Originally built for St Osyth Priory, the house has historical connections to Thomas Cromwell, Princess Mary and Lord Darcy. Tree ring analysis has reportedly dated some of its timbers to as early as 1301.

A journalist undertook a solo tour of Chislehurst Caves, the network of man-made tunnels beneath Chislehurst that stretch for more than 22 miles and reach depths of up to 30 metres. The caves are known for their ghost tales and spirit sightings, with visitors reporting strange noises and a feeling of being followed. The journalist, initially sceptical about paranormal claims, was guided through the passages by tour guide Peter House, using gas lamps to navigate the tunnels.

Exeter City lost 2-1 at Salford City in League Two. Sonny Cox put Exeter ahead in the first half, but Luke Garbutt equalised midway through the second half. Former Exeter defender Will Aimson won the game with a long-range strike in the final minutes. Exeter manager Matt Taylor praised his side's performance despite the defeat, saying it took a 'wonderstrike' to beat them.

The number of breast removal operations on the NHS for people assigned female at birth who identify as male rose 52 per cent from 734 in 2022-2023 to 1,115 in 2024-2025, costing an estimated £6.5 million. Each operation costs around £5,800. An NHS spokesman said the broader increase reflects a global trend in more people coming forward for gender dysphoria care.

A vehicle caught fire on the M6 southbound between junctions 6 and 5 near Birmingham at around 3.35pm on Saturday, causing the motorway to close. A large amount of diesel spread across the carriageway and there was damage to the road surface. Delays reached 60 minutes between Spaghetti Junction and Castle Bromwich. The motorway had fully reopened by 6:40pm as traffic officers implemented traffic management and contractors worked to treat the spillage and recover the vehicle.

Tyler Ulrich, a 21-year-old sophomore defensive back at Southern Nazarene University, died of a traumatic brain injury and subdural hematoma following a helmet-to-helmet collision on 10 October. He was hospitalised after the hit during a Division II game against Ouachita Baptist and died five days later. The coroner's report, obtained by ESPN, revealed the specific cause of death; the university had initially described it only as a traumatic injury. Head coach Dustin Hada called Ulrich 'an outstanding football player' and 'a tremendous man of faith'. He is the second college football player to die after an on-field incident this season.

A house party shooting in central Phoenix left a man critically injured early Saturday morning. Gunfire erupted around 3:30 a.m. near 15th Avenue and Fillmore Street. Police found people scattering from the party and discovered bullet strikes at a nearby home. Multiple people were detained at the scene, and the injured man arrived at hospital with a life-threatening gunshot wound.

Police shut down a Halloween house party in Whittle-le-Woods, near Chorley, Lancashire, on Friday night, dispersing around 150 people including children. Many attendees were reported to be under the influence of alcohol. The Daily Mail reports that the party, initially planned for around 30 guests at a company director's £800,000 home, was gatecrashed by over 200 youths after the location spread on social media, with reports of drug use, fireworks and loud music. The host told the Daily Mail it was a relief when police arrived. Three gatecrashers were arrested and another was hospitalised.

Three separate incidents in Omaha early Saturday sent multiple people to hospital. A cutting at 12th and Capitol Avenue just after 1:30 a.m. left a 21-year-old man with a non-life threatening injury; 20-year-old Freddy Ortiz-Reyes was arrested and charged with second-degree assault and use of a weapon to commit a felony. A shooting in the Old Market at 11th and Howard around the same time hospitalised a 24-year-old man; 29-year-old Daniel Arriaga was arrested and charged with second-degree assault, use of a weapon to commit a felony, and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. A three-car crash at South 30th Street and St. Mary's Avenue sent one person to hospital with serious injuries.

The Red and Black Bloc, Western Sydney Wanderers' active supporter group, staged a silent protest during Saturday's match against Macarthur after NSW Police directed them to surrender drums, megaphones and banners two hours before kick-off. Coaches Sasa Ognenovski and Ufuk Talay both backed the protest, arguing that heavy-handed policing risks discouraging fans from attending matches. The RBB displayed banners reading 'Stand Up For Fans. Not Police Demands' and have previously boycotted matches over banning orders issued to supporters.

An 18-year-old man was stabbed in Rochester Way, Eltham on Saturday at around 2.15pm during the theft of his e-bike. The victim was taken to hospital by air ambulance, where his condition was assessed as non-life-threatening. Police have made no arrests and are appealing for witnesses to help identify the suspect.

Ciaron Maher will set a new Melbourne Cup record with seven runners in Australia's greatest race at Flemington on Tuesday, surpassing Robert Hickmott's previous mark of six runners from 2013. The favourite is Point Of Law, with Shockletz, Juja Jibo and Middle Earth among other leading contenders. Maher says the record achievement has taken a decade to build and represents the culmination of years of work.

The Bridge Inn, a bar in Leeds' LGBTQ+ quarter, has applied to extend its Thursday to Saturday closing times by two hours to 4am. West Yorkshire Police and Leeds City Council have objected, citing the bar's location within a cumulative impact area designated as experiencing elevated levels of alcohol-related anti-social behaviour. Neighbouring hotels have also opposed the application, with Hotel Indigo reporting disruption from loud music after midnight affecting guests. The bar's management says it has measures in place to prevent nuisance, including CCTV and safe patron dispersal procedures.

A man in his 20s suffered serious leg injuries in a hit-and-run on Main Road in Great Leighs at around 2.45pm on 20 October. A white van collided with him and left the scene carrying two men. Essex Police described the driver as white, aged 30 to 40, of large build with short greying hair wearing a navy tracksuit, and the passenger as white, in his 20s, of slim build with long dark curly hair. Police are appealing for witnesses, CCTV and dashcam footage.

Brad Keselowski has been granted permission to pursue other NASCAR racing opportunities for the 2027 season and will sell his 20% equity stake in Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing. He announced his departure from the Cup Series team he joined as driver and part-owner five years ago a month ago, but had been restricted from exploring other rides until now. Keselowski said he is 'ready to be elite for the next opportunity, whether driver, owner or manager' and confirmed he has received multiple outreaches from other teams.

A woman in her 50s was hit by a grey Ford C-Max on Main Road, Harwich, at around 7.40am on September 21 and suffered a leg injury. She was taken to hospital. The driver stopped at the scene and no arrests have been made. Essex Police are appealing for witnesses and dashcam footage.

The government has ordered a rapid best value assessment of Ashfield District Council after concerns about its leadership and governance, following the September conviction of former council leader Jason Zadrozny for fraud and tax evasion. Local government minister Jim McMahon confirmed the review in a letter to Labour MP Michelle Welsh, who represents Sherwood Forest. Senior government officials have also been asked to seek an urgent meeting with the council's chief executive.

Critics argue John Healey's first budget failed to tackle Britain's housing crisis despite devoting considerable attention to the issue. The measures announced amounted to very little, according to analysis, with no substantial reforms to stop treating property as a store of wealth. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch claims the budget has left a £49bn black hole in public finances.

A five-bedroom house in the sought-after village of Cleadon is being marketed for sale. The property is described as stunning and features a commissioned stained glass window.

Demonstrators held a vigil outside the US consulate in Edinburgh on Saturday, 31 October in support of proscribed group Palestine Action. Supporting the group is an offence under the Terrorism Act after it was designated a terror group in June 2025. A similar demonstration took place at the US embassy in London. Palestine Action's designation is being challenged at the Supreme Court on 4 November.

John Ruskin's 1884 lecture The Storm-Cloud of the Nineteenth Century, an early warning about industrial smoke changing the sky, was restaged at the Oxford Museum of Natural History on 24 October as part of the IF Oxford science and ideas Festival. The 75-minute performance, titled Storm-Cloud: Observations of the Sky, was performed by Dr Tom Payne from Sheffield Hallam University and combined Ruskin's words with projected images and a weather soundscape. The event took place in the building Ruskin helped establish.

Sports clubs in Chipping Norton are calling for a new community sports hub to be included in West Oxfordshire's emerging Local Plan to support the town's future growth. The clubs say upgraded facilities are needed to match new housing developments with community infrastructure and prevent further loss of teams due to inadequate provision.

Specsavers in Abingdon, located in the Abbey Shopping Centre, has invested more than £40,000 in new technology to treat dry eye syndrome. The store now offers Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Treatment and Low-Level Light Therapy (LLLT), making it one of the few UK Specsavers with these services. Atul Vagdama, ophthalmic director, said the clinically proven therapies help improve tear quality, reduce inflammation and restore comfort, with procedures lasting ten to twenty minutes.

A one-bedroom flat in a Grade II listed former workhouse in central Thame is for sale for £350,000. The leasehold property has been reduced in price and is offered with no upward chain. It was converted in 2007 and upgraded in 2022.

A rare collection of the first four editions of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit has been listed for nearly £800,000 on eBay. Specialist rare book dealer Festival Art and Books is selling the set, which comprises printings from 1937, 1937, 1942 and 1946, each with original unrestored dust jackets. The dealer describes it as one of the most significant Tolkien offerings to come to market in recent years.

Oxford residents are paying significantly more than Londoners for Voi ride packages following Lime's departure from the city. A 300-minute package costs £34.99 in Oxford compared to £24.98 in London. With Lime gone, Voi is now the main shared micromobility operator in Oxford, leaving fewer choices for commuters.

Staff at Soho Farmhouse, a luxury members' club in the Cotswolds, have reportedly been asked to sign NDAs to protect the privacy of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The couple are said to have returned to Britain in August. Meghan has reportedly made several visits to the club for coffee, lunches and Pilates classes.

The Old Chapel in the village of Bowes, County Durham, is a £750,000 five-bedroom home created from a converted chapel. The property retains original ecclesiastical features throughout, including flagstone floors and exposed stone. It overlooks Bowes Castle just beyond the boundary wall and includes a bespoke kitchen designed and hand-built by Anthony Nixon, a butler's kitchen, mature garden and countryside views.

Bibury, a Cotswolds village awarded the title of 'world's most beautiful village' by Forbes magazine, has seen a surge in Japanese tourists. Many are fans of the anime series Kin-iro Mosaic, which features the village's locations. The manga original, created by Yui Hara, ran from 2010 to 2020, while the television adaptation first aired in 2013 and an animated film followed in August 2021.

A Golden Retriever suffered injuries to its legs in an attack by a Staffordshire Bull Terrier near Maldon Road in the Dengie peninsula on 18 October at around 4.40pm. The incident occurred on the sea wall between Bradwell-on-Sea and St Lawrence. A man and woman, believed to be in their late 30s or early 40s, were with the second dog. Essex Police is appealing for witnesses and information.

A body has been found in the search for James Corlett, 18, who disappeared after a night out in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire, on 29 October. The teenager, from Swadlincote, Derbyshire, had not been in touch with family or friends since the evening. His body was discovered in Ashby on Saturday. Police are treating the death as unexplained and continuing enquiries.

Two West Yorkshire Police officers were assaulted on Wakefield Road in Dewsbury at 12.15pm on Friday, 30 October whilst attempting to arrest a man and woman regarding possible road-related offences. One officer suffered a broken finger and was taken to hospital; the other received cuts and grazes. A 35-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of two counts of assault on an emergency worker, obstructing a constable and a public order offence. A 36-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of driving whilst over the prescribed limit, two counts of assault on an emergency worker and obstructing a constable. Detectives from Kirklees CID are appealing for witnesses and mobile phone footage from anyone in the area.

A seven-day undercover operation in Polk County, Florida, called 'Polk Around & Find Out II', resulted in 281 arrests targeting people accused of travelling to meet children for unlawful sexual activity and human trafficking. Among those arrested were 17 theme park employees: 13 from Disney and 4 from Universal. Disney told investigators it had fired employees connected to the arrests, whilst the sheriff said he had not yet received an update from Universal about the employment status of its arrested workers.

The US Embassy in Moscow issued a security alert on Saturday warning of a credible threat of a mass casualty event at the Tsaritsyno Museum Reserve. The embassy advised people to avoid the area, stay alert and avoid crowds, and keep mobile phones charged. Russia's Federal Security Service confirmed it had received information from US partners about plans for a terrorist attack in Moscow and said it was taking appropriate measures. The museum, founded in 1775 as Catherine II's summer home, is a popular tourist destination that attracted over two million visitors in 2022. The US government said it was coordinating with Russian authorities on a response.

Stock markets suffered sharp losses as Big Tech earnings reports prompted worries about AI spending levels. Investors moved away from technology and data centre stocks into more defensive positions. The Nasdaq experienced its worst month in over a year before some recovery at the week's start.

Three women came forward to Hobart-Lawrence Police with allegations against Packers running back Josh Jacobs, according to newly released documents. One woman alleged that Jacobs slapped her, grabbed her hair, threw her onto furniture, and spat on her during an argument in January 2022, saying she did not report it at the time because she remained friendly with Jacobs and doubted she would be believed. A second woman alleged an altercation in April 2021 in which Jacobs grabbed her arm, pushed her against a wall, and threw her belongings out of his house; police records indicate Jacobs told officers he had asked her to leave multiple times before removing her by her waist. Jacobs' attorneys denied all three accounts and stated he has 'substantial body of tangible evidence' to support his assertions, adding that one woman's claim to the NFL resulted in no action being taken.

An actor from Mexborough has paid tribute to his friend Patrick Stewart, saying 'I'll see you up in space, my dearest friend'. The exact circumstances and further details are not provided in the available reports.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio planned to host foreign minister counterparts from G20 nations at Saturday's college football game between Florida and Georgia in Atlanta, following a G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting. The game has moved from Jacksonville due to stadium renovations. U.S. officials say multiple ministers have expressed interest in attending.

Norwich City recovered from a 2-0 half-time deficit to beat Watford 3-2 in a Championship match. Manager Philippe Clement challenged his players at the interval to step forward or face a fourth consecutive home defeat. Norwich dominated the second half with energy and intensity to secure the comeback victory.

Pennsylvania cities and townships are working to establish regulations for data centres before the end of the year. Scranton's mayor said municipalities cannot legally exclude a single type of land use, so data centres must be permitted somewhere. Hazle Township's planners voted to forward zoning rules to supervisors despite significant resident opposition to the proposed regulations.

Aidan, aged 31, was reported missing from Mere, Wiltshire on Saturday, October 31, after last being seen at 9am. Wiltshire Police launched an urgent search, with Wiltshire Search and Rescue, Dorset Search and Rescue, Dorset Search Dogs and Hampshire Search and Rescue Dogs all responding. His family are described as extremely concerned for his welfare.

Atletico Madrid went to the top of La Liga after beating Levante 2-0, with goals from Alejandro Grimaldo in the 36th minute and Giuliano Simeone. The Spanish side went one point ahead of Barcelona, though Barcelona can reclaim the top spot when it plays Alaves later on Saturday.

Tom Lambourn, a 30-year-old skipper from Newlyn, Cornwall, has been named Fishing Hero of the Year at the Marine Stewardship Council UK Awards 2026 for his work promoting sustainable sardine fishing. The judges recognised his dedication to the small-scale Cornish sardine fishery and efforts to ensure stocks remain healthy. Lambourn, who captains the sardine boat Lyonesse, said it was 'brilliant to be part of a sustainable fishery' and emphasised the importance of educating young people about sustainable fishing practices.

North Wales Police closed a section of the A5 at Nant Ffrancon near Bethesda and Ogwen Lake because several vehicles were parked dangerously. The force's Roads Policing Unit was arranging for the vehicles to be towed away, with the closure expected to last a short period.

Tanishq Indian restaurant at Toot Hill Golf Club in Ongar, Essex, has been named among the world's best in TripAdvisor's 2026 awards. The restaurant was ranked 21st in the UK's top 100 fine dining establishments and is currently the top-rated restaurant in Ongar on TripAdvisor. The award recognises the top 1 per cent of global listings based on 12 months of traveller reviews.

Iran's strikes on more than two dozen US military bases in the Middle East deliberately targeted early-warning systems before hitting aircraft and buildings, according to an Associated Press analysis using satellite imagery and interviews with regional officials. Through August, more than 115 drone or missile strikes claimed by Iran or Iranian-backed militias damaged or destroyed structures on 26 military bases and sites with US equipment. The damage has prompted the US to move many assets, including aircraft, air defence systems and communications equipment, out of the Persian Gulf.

President Trump told supporters at a rally in Daytona Beach on Friday that he was 'never particularly attracted' to either of his sisters, Mary or Elizabeth, whilst attacking Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar over allegations she married her brother. Trump's eldest sister, Maryanne Trump Barry, a federal appeals judge, died in November 2023 aged 86. His other sister, Elizabeth Trump Grau, is 84 and lives in Palm Beach, Florida.

The 2027 Zeekr 7X electric SUV features minor visual and interior updates alongside more powerful electric motors, with prices remaining unchanged. All three models gain 25kW of power and 80Nm of torque. The RWD model starts at $57,900, the Long Range RWD at $63,900, and the Performance AWD at $72,900.

Haas replaced Esteban Ocon with reserve driver Ryo Hirakawa for the remainder of the Mexico City Grand Prix weekend. The team gave no official reason for the decision, though it follows a dispute between Ocon and his race engineer over tyre strategy during Friday practice. Ocon has denied reports of a physical altercation with team principal Ayao Komatsu, stating only that 'a difference in viewpoints led to a discussion'.

Manchester United lost 2-0 to Chelsea in the Premier League, with goals from Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer in the second half. The defeat extends United's winless streak to nine matches in all competitions, their longest since 1988. Lisandro Martinez was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for an elbow strike on Wesley Fofana that led to a penalty. Manager Michael Carrick, already under pressure and operating on a match-by-match basis, saw his position further jeopardised. United remain on one league win from nine games and sit one point above the relegation zone.

Hibernian defeated Hearts in a Premier Sports Cup semi-final at Hampden. Manager Reedijk's side will face Rangers in the final. The result gives Hibs confidence as they prepare for the remainder of the season.

Historic Everleigh Manor in Wiltshire has been taken off the market after failing to sell since January 2025. The 18th-century property, managed by estate agent Fine & Country, was withdrawn in April after no buyer emerged. The owners say they are 'weighing up their options' on how to proceed.

The Police Federation of England and Wales' 2026 Pay and Morale Report reveals that 92 per cent of Cheshire Police officers feel their pay does not reflect the 'stresses and strains' of policing, with 86 per cent dissatisfied with their overall pay and conditions. The survey highlights severe operational pressures: 63 per cent report excessive workloads, 68 per cent have had rest days cancelled in the past year, and 45 per cent experienced physical attack. Jamie Thompson, chair of Cheshire Police Federation, notes that Cheshire officers are 20 per cent above the national average for cancelled rest days and altered shifts affecting family life, though 18 per cent struggle to meet household costs. Despite these challenges, only nine per cent intend to resign within two years.

Connor Cowie, 34, of Bolton, has denied 11 sexual offence charges after appearing in Swindon Magistrates' Court on 26 October. He is accused of grooming a 13-year-old girl in South Gloucestershire from 2020 to 2021, sexually touching a 15-year-old girl in South Gloucestershire and Swindon in December 2022, and raping women in Tenerife, Bristol, Bath and Newcastle between January and June 2023. The case has been sent to Bristol Crown Court, where his trial is scheduled to begin on 16 August 2027 and is expected to last five days.

The Premier League has only one match on Sunday this weekend because Aston Villa's home game against Fulham has been moved to Saturday at 8pm. Villa face Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday, so playing on Sunday would breach the rule that teams should not play two games within 60 hours. Liverpool host Arsenal at 4.30pm on Sunday, with Newcastle playing Everton on Monday.

A child is in critical condition in hospital following a collision between two cars, one towing a caravan, on Cusher Road near Markethill on Saturday afternoon. Two other children sustained minor injuries. A woman in her 30s has been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm and driving whilst unfit through drink or drugs, and remains in police custody.

Relationship expert Susan Trombetti says most opposite-sex friendships begin with an underlying sexual or romantic interest, even if timing or circumstances prevent a romantic relationship from developing. The question was raised when Jenny McCarthy and her husband Donnie Wahlberg discussed on her podcast whether an attractive male friend crosses a line. Trombetti told Fox News Digital that attraction alone does not threaten a friendship, but unspoken feelings and growing emotional intimacy can blur boundaries.

Lucy Harrison, 23, from Warrington, was shot in the chest by her father Kris Harrison at his home in Prosper, Texas on January 10, 2025. A grand jury in the US declined to indict him, but a British coroner ruled her death unlawful. Her mother Jane Coates asked Cheshire Police to gather evidence and liaise with US authorities, but the force said it was constrained by legal, jurisdictional and practical barriers and had no lawful authority to intervene.

Oregon wide receiver Messiah Hampton was arrested on two felony charges of attempting to elude police and one misdemeanor charge of reckless driving following a high-speed chase with Springfield, Oregon police on 18 October. Hampton was released from Lane County Jail on Friday and will not play against No. 20 Northwestern on Saturday. The incident occurred hours after Oregon beat Nebraska 17-14, and one of the two vehicles involved was found abandoned near where fellow Ducks receiver Evan Stewart was arrested on a DUI charge.

Quinton Baker, 28, a former running back for Portland State and Western Kentucky universities, was shot dead by Las Vegas Metropolitan Police in February after attacking his girlfriend Raneka Pate and another woman following revealing his sexuality to Pate. Baker fled with their son Kentre, three, using him as a human shield and pointing a gun at the child's chest. Police bodycam footage shows Baker advancing towards officers whilst ignoring their orders to drop his weapon. Both Baker and Kentre were killed in the ensuing gunfire. Police initially claimed Baker shot his son, but have now said they cannot determine whether police or Baker fired the fatal shot.

Manchester United manager Michael Carrick's position became more precarious after a 2-0 defeat at Chelsea on Saturday. Goals from Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer, the latter a penalty, sealed the loss. Lisandro Martinez was sent off after striking Chelsea's Wesley Fofana in the face at a corner, receiving a second yellow card. The defeat extended United's winless run to nine matches across all competitions, their longest such streak since 1988. United have now won just once in nine league games and sit only one point above the relegation zone.

August Priske scored twice as Birmingham defeated Lincoln 3-1 in the Championship, bouncing back from defeat at Cardiff. The Danish striker scored either side of the break, with Alex Cochrane adding a third after Lincoln substitute Tom Bayliss had reduced the deficit. The victory moved Birmingham at least temporarily into second place.

A major housing scheme in Portchester is facing further challenges as winter approaches. Assheton Court will replace a former development with 60 new homes for older residents. Fareham Borough Council officers told councillors on 26 October that the project is slightly behind schedule and forecasting an overspend of less than one per cent, with unusual weather previously causing delays.

Fareham Borough Council is receiving significantly more income than budgeted from Hackney carriage licences, but the surge in applications is placing strain on council staff. Neil Wood, the council's financial planning and audit manager, said the service was 'really, really busy' and a consultation was underway on reducing licensing criteria to bring application numbers down. The council's overall finances show a forecast underspend of around £328,000, with planning income also performing above budget.

A giant inflatable spider measuring more than eight feet tall and 12 feet wide has been crawling through York city centre streets on Halloween. Operated by a puppeteer, the spider bounced and scuttled through Little Stonegate, Back Swinegate, Swinegate and Grape Lane, with performances scheduled for 3pm and 4pm. The free event was organised by York Business Improvement District as part of its Family Friendly Saturday programme.

A 42-year-old Michigan man has been arrested for allegedly threatening to kill FBI Director Kash Patel. According to the New York Post, Anthony Daniel Palazzolo of Chesterfield Township sent Facebook messages to one of Patel's associates claiming he had 'put a hit out' on the director. He also allegedly told an FBI agent he would use deadly force against FBI and Secret Service officials.

Apple has published an EU energy label for the new iPad mini 8 revealing a battery capacity of 4,900 mAh, slightly lower than the previous model's 5,034 mAh. Despite the smaller battery, Apple lists identical battery life estimates for both models, suggesting the improved power efficiency of the A20 Pro chip and new OLED display offset the reduced capacity. Pre-orders are open, with shipping expected on Friday, 6 November, starting at $699.

Activists staged protests supporting Palestine Action outside the US consulate in Edinburgh and the US embassy in London. Palestine Action was proscribed as a terrorist organisation in June 2025, making public support for it an offence under the Terrorism Act. The demonstrations come ahead of a Supreme Court appeal hearing on the group's designation, which Huda Ammori, Palestine Action's co-founder, is bringing.

A 35-year-old man has been charged under the Explosives Act and Firearms Order following police searches in Belfast. He faces two counts of possessing explosives under suspicious circumstances and possession of a prohibited weapon. He is due to appear before Belfast magistrates court on Monday.

Archaeologists have identified Europe's largest known collection of Iron Age iron bars in Austria, recovered during gravel extraction work in Deinham in 2019. The over 500 bars, weighing more than a metric ton combined, likely date to the third or second century B.C. according to radiocarbon dating. Researchers believe the iron may have been forged in Bavaria, Germany, before being transported along the Danube River, possibly lost in a shipwreck. The bars could have been used to forge roughly 500 swords weighing between 3.3 and 4.4 pounds each.

As autumn arrives in Norwich, several parks and walking routes have become popular destinations for those seeking to enjoy the season's changing colours. Whitlingham Country Park features a broad path circling the Great Broad with reflections of autumn colours, whilst Mousehold Heath offers sweeping views over the city with miles of trails. Other options include Earlham Park along the River Yare, Waterloo Park with its formal gardens, and Eaton Park covering around 80 acres with mature trees displaying seasonal colour.

Jennifer Bentley, 48, of Congleton in Cheshire, has been banned from keeping animals for life after her cane corso, Snoop, was found dead wrapped in a rug in her garden on January 16 last year. She pleaded guilty under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 to failing to address the dog's weight loss and poor condition, and was sentenced to a 20-week prison sentence suspended for 18 months at Crewe Magistrates' Court. Magistrates called it a 'very serious case involving the death of an animal'.

St Elizabeth Hospice's Christmas Day Dip returns to Felixstowe seafront on 25 December. Participants in festive costumes will take the plunge at 10am, with registration opening from 8.30am. Advance tickets cost £17 until 23 December, with on-the-day registration also available. Money raised supports the hospice, which provides free care to over 4,000 patients and families annually across East and Mid Suffolk, Great Yarmouth and Waveney.

A paedophile magician, ULEZ bomber and monkey torturer were among south London criminals jailed in October. The cases included serious offences ranging from child abuse to violent crime.

A man in his 80s died after being struck by a car in the car park at Tesco Extra on Escot Road in Sunbury-on-Thames at around 15:00 GMT on Friday. Emergency services attended the scene. Police have appealed for witnesses and anyone with dashcam footage to contact them.

A West Australian won $6.6 million after matching all six numbers in Saturday's Lotto Superdraw. The winning ticket was purchased online and was one of three division one winners across Australia; the others were sold in Victoria and New South Wales. Lotterywest spokesperson Jennie Fitzhardinge encouraged West Australians to check their tickets.

Nearly 1,000 migrants crossed the Channel to Britain over two days following a three-week pause in arrivals. On Friday, 671 people in nine boats made the journey, and on Thursday, 263 people in three boats crossed. Footage captured a man wielding a knife threatening other migrants before boarding a dinghy, while French rescue boats were nearby.

Pig heads, including one impaled on a wooden stick, appeared in Kilbroney Park in Rostrevor, County Down, early on Saturday morning, accompanied by a sign reading 'here piggy piggy'. Police are investigating and keeping an open mind about the motivation. A local councillor described it as 'absolutely disgusting and sick' and said the incident was sinister and disturbing.

Irish traditional musician Dónal Lunny has died aged 79 after battling cancer. His family remembered him fondly at a funeral service held at St Conleth's Parish Church in Newbridge, Co Kildare on Saturday morning. His daughter Cora told mourners the family felt lucky to have been loved by 'this beautiful man', recalling his musical talent and warmth.

Environmentalists staged a Halloween demonstration in Edinburgh, reportedly gathering outside First Minister John Swinney's official residence to protest over fossil fuels. Campaigners said Swinney is 'not getting any treats this year'.

A manhunt is underway after a man produced a firearm and pointed it at three gardaí in Dublin city centre at approximately 5am on Saturday, 31 October. The officers, including a trainee, were on routine patrol on Abbey Street when they spotted a cyclist behaving suspiciously and gave chase. During a confrontation, one gardaí was attacked and sustained minor injuries before the man drew the weapon. He escaped and threw the gun into the River Liffey, though it remains unrecovered. Gardaí say initial investigation indicates the weapon is a realistic imitation firearm.

Christmas markets are returning across Cumbria in the run-up to the festive season, offering handmade gifts, local produce, street food and seasonal entertainment. Events will be held throughout November and December in locations including Barrow, Ulverston, Hawkshead, Keswick, Cockermouth, Workington and Kirkby Lonsdale.

Flávio Bolsonaro left Brazil after losing Sunday's presidential election to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Bolsonaro, who is under investigation for money laundering and corruption, said on Monday he had no intention of leaving the country before departing shortly thereafter. The sequence of events sparked a flurry of viral memes on Brazilian social media.

An 80-year-old man was found dead in Glenrothes, Fife, after emergency services were called to Dunecht Court at about 03:20. Police Scotland arrested a 22-year-old man and said the death is being treated as suspicious. A post mortem examination will take place.

A burglar targeted vehicles, a home and a shed in Milton Close, Howden, on Thursday 29 October around 11.30am. The suspect entered a backyard, took a garden hoe and attempted to open locked summer house doors before opening an unlocked vehicle and stealing a pocketknife, binoculars and four £1 coins. The burglar then tried door handles on other vehicles in the street before leaving on foot. Humberside Police is appealing for information from anyone with CCTV or other evidence.

South Africa has won the Test series against Australia after a heavy defeat in Cape Town. Chasing 288 for victory, Australia were undone by Kagiso Rabada taking three wickets in the first over and spinner Simon Harmer taking 6-16. Only Travis Head (14) and Cameron Green (27) reached double figures as Australia were all out for 111. The loss threatens the future of the Test team ahead of the home summer and tours of India and England next year.

Ministry of Defence officials have accused Cambridgeshire police of wrongly handing the investigation of Captain Jacob Wulfson to US military authorities, according to documents obtained by the Guardian. Wulfson was accused of drugging, raping and strangling Sarah Steele in his Cambridge flat. Under a long-standing US-UK agreement, the US military should only take control of investigations if offences occurred while Americans were on duty or involved other service members or military property. Wulfson was tried in a military tribunal on a US airbase in Suffolk rather than in an English criminal court, where he was acquitted of aggravated sexual assault but convicted of strangling Ms Steele. The government has set up an inquiry into how and why police forces transfer serious crime investigations to US military authorities.

Nottingham Forest fell to a 2-0 defeat at Brentford, with goals from an own goal by Nikola Milenkovic and Igor Thiago, leaving them second from bottom in the Premier League. Forest's poor goalscoring run continued as they struggled despite creating more chances than Brentford. Manager Oliver Glasner said he had made too many compromises and warned that unless players accept major changes, Forest will be searching for their sixth manager in just over a year. Glasner added he would not make further compromises and that players must 'buy in' to his approach or leave. Forest have one league win in nine games and are the Premier League's lowest scorers with six goals.

Brighton have confirmed they will be without Ferdi Kadioglu for their Premier League match against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday at 3pm. The club has announced a double injury boost, though the Chichester Observer does not specify which players return.

Cove Communities Holiday Park UK HoldCo Limited entered administration in November due to high interest rates, consumer spending contraction and rising operational costs. The company operates eight locations in Argyll with 197 staff and a Scottish Borders site with 20 employees, among other UK facilities. Administrators Alvarez & Marsal are seeking a buyer, with property agents Colliers marketing the Scottish sites including Loch Lomond, Hunters Quay and Drimsynie Holiday parks.

Four fans were arrested after clashes between Bradford City and Huddersfield Town supporters at Valley Parade ahead of and during their Yorkshire derby fixture on Saturday. West Yorkshire Police deployed a significant policing operation including mounted officers to manage rival supporters gathering in the city centre and on Manningham Lane. Projectiles were thrown between the two sets of supporters and there was pushing and shoving involving some fans and officers.

Keir Starmer has said the UK and other European nations must work more closely together as the US becomes a less-reliable partner under Donald Trump. Speaking at the British Irish Chamber of Commerce in Dublin on Friday, the former prime minister warned that the shift in relations with Washington was permanent and would not reset after Trump leaves office. He said Europe must build a common security framework with the UK at its centre.

Laura Caron, 36, a former New Jersey elementary school teacher, pleaded guilty on 28 October to second-degree endangering the welfare of a child with sexual conduct. She gave birth to a daughter in 2019 fathered by a former student when he was 13; prosecutors say the abuse began when he was 11. Caron faces five years in prison. The victim, now about 21, has stated he initiated the relationship and wants charges dropped.

Carlisle United won 4-2 against Altrincham at the J.Davidson Stadium in the National League. The visiting support was strong, with 1,058 Carlisle fans travelling to the match.

Cumbria's drought status has been downgraded to 'in recovery' after storms Austen and Boelo brought the wettest week in two years, the Environment Agency said on 30 October. However, most of England remains in drought, with ten key reservoirs at exceptionally low levels and many households still under hosepipe bans.

Wiltshire Police are searching for Aidan, 31, reported missing from Mere on 31 October. He has not been seen since 9am. His family are extremely concerned for his welfare. He is described as 6ft tall with a shaved head, beard and blue eyes. Anyone with information is asked to call 999 quoting log 78.

Bottom-ranked Illawarra have pulled off the biggest upset of the NBL season, stunning third-placed Perth 105-98 at RAC Arena on Saturday night. The Hawks led throughout the first three quarters before Perth rallied to take the lead midway through the fourth, but Illawarra reserve Johny Narkle made a series of decisive plays to secure victory. Narkle made a four-point play, hit three free throws after an offensive rebound, completed a steal and dunk, and blocked a Brandon Knight lay-up in the final seconds.

A midfielder has joined AFC Fylde after leaving Bamber Bridge. The player is described as AFC Fylde's latest addition.

Tributes to Newcastle United legend Kevin Keegan are now on public display at the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art. Thousands of supporters left heartfelt messages, shirts, scarves and mementos at St James' Park following his passing. The free public display offers visitors the chance to honour the Magpies legend.

A decision is expected soon on plans for a huge logistics park at Baynards Green near the M40 after a public inquiry wrapped up on 29 October 2026. The Tritax Symmetry development proposes up to 300,000 square metres of logistics warehousing on land east of Baynards Green Farm. Cherwell District Council's planning committee rejected the application in January 2026, but the developers appealed.

Grantchester, a village two miles from Cambridge, combines countryside tranquillity with city convenience and is frequently rated among the best places to live in Cambridgeshire. Set on the banks of the River Cam and surrounded by open countryside and Grantchester Meadows, the village has a strong community spirit and easy access to green spaces. It boasts historic amenities including The Orchard Tea Garden, serving visitors since 1897, and traditional pubs such as The Red Lion and The Green Man.

Ricky Harvey, 37, is to stand trial at Norwich Crown Court accused of breaking into a disused country hotel and another property to steal hot water tanks and copper piping, causing thousands of pounds of losses and damage. Harvey, of Boundary Road in Norwich, denies the charges. His trial is scheduled for 14 June next year.

John Fury made surprise visits to East Cheshire Hospice Shop in Knutsford, first while filming in the area. He returned weeks later and told volunteers he loved 'mooching around charity shops' and that theirs was his favourite. The shop, which opened last year, stocks designer clothes, handbags, shoes, fine china and jewellery.

Matt Rattley, a biochemistry lecturer at St Hilda's College, Oxford, has attracted formal complaints over his appearance, which includes wearing prosthetic breasts, women's clothing and makeup. Three college graduates, including a clinical psychologist, have written to the college expressing concern that his behaviour 'violates women's dignity' and creates an 'intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating and offensive environment'. St Hilda's has received at least three formal letters of complaint, some alleging sexual harassment of female students and teachers. The gender-critical advocacy group Sex Matters has called on the university to act, saying there is 'no evidence' he identifies as a woman.

A 27-year-old motorcyclist died after colliding with a pedestrian on New Road in Feltham on Friday, 30 October at approximately 3.40pm. He was taken to hospital in critical condition but later died from his injuries. The pedestrian sustained only minor injuries not believed to be life-threatening or life-changing.

Police shut down a Halloween party at a house on Moss Lane in Whittle-le-Woods, Chorley, on 30 or 31 October, attended by more than 200 children. Officers found evidence of excess alcohol consumption, cannabis use, loud music disturbing neighbours and fireworks being set off towards a nearby house. Three children were arrested; one was de-arrested and taken home, and two were released and referred to the Youth Offending Team. A child was hospitalised and police are investigating the circumstances. The homeowner had barricaded a door to try to keep the children out and was grateful for police assistance.

Jack Grealish has been dropped by Everton for a breach of club discipline. The breach relates to an unauthorised absence from training, understood by the Press Association. The 31-year-old England international was left out of the squad for Everton's Carabao Cup fourth-round tie against Newcastle on Thursday night.

A man was transported in critical condition after being found with a stab wound to the chest just before midnight on Friday near Capo's bar on Pittsburgh's South Side, at the intersection of East Carson Street and South 14th Street. Police found evidence of a fight inside the bar and evacuated the building. The incident is the latest violent occurrence at Capo's, which in August was placed under a safety consent order by the Allegheny County District Attorney's Office after a separate incident in which a woman reported being raped in a nearby parking lot.

Pope Leo XIV met on Saturday with basketball teams from Villanova and Notre Dame at the Vatican, ahead of the two Catholic universities' season opener on Sunday in Rome. About 7,000 people gathered for the audience. The pope, who graduated from Villanova in 1977, said sports bring people together and promote values such as cooperation and solidarity. He joked that he must remain neutral between the rival teams, though acknowledged his former self might hold different views.

Isle of Wight police stepped up patrols over Halloween to address antisocial behaviour. Officers conducted stop searches and engaged with residents across Newport, Cowes and East Cowes. One young person was arrested for underage drinking in Newport, and police confiscated alcohol, expressing concern about its source.

Lifestyle magazine and website Muddy Stilettos has released its annual best places to live guide for 2027. Betws-y-Coed, located in Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park in North Wales, was celebrated for its natural beauty, community spirit and cultural heritage. Eight Wiltshire locations were also included: Aldbourne, Great Bedwyn, Holt, Malmesbury, Neston, Pewsey, Tisbury and Wilton.

A man was seriously injured in a single-vehicle collision on the A23 near Gatwick Airport on Saturday 31 October. Sussex Police said the 58-year-old driver of a TVR Chimaera left the carriageway at Lowfield Heath, Crawley at about 2.30pm and sustained serious, life-changing injuries. Officers are investigating and have appealed for witnesses and dashcam footage.

Great Western Railway is offering up to 50 per cent off selected Standard and First Class Advance tickets in a Black Friday sale. A total of 60,000 discounted tickets are available for journeys across the South West, the Cotswolds, the Thames Valley and South Wales, for travel between 6 November and 17 December. The sale ends on 2 November.

Horspath Cricket Club raised £3,000 for mental health support through a Tape Ball Six-a-side Competition, with funds split equally between Mind and Oxfordshire Mind. The competition featured ten teams of men's and women's players, juniors, friends, supporters and families, held at the Recreation Ground in Horspath on August Bank Holiday Sunday. Olivia White, events and fundraising manager at Oxfordshire Mind, said the funds would make 'a meaningful difference to the lives of people experiencing mental health challenges across Oxfordshire and West Berkshire'.

Cokethorpe School has placed practical skills at the centre of its sixth form curriculum through a dedicated life skills programme for Lower Sixth students. The scheme covers financial literacy, first aid, cookery and independent living, and has been running for several years. Ed Tolputt, head of sixth form, said the programme helps students develop personally and become more self-aware, enabling them to have a clearer idea of what they want from their futures.

Public hearings for Cherwell's long-term development blueprint will begin in January 2025 as part of the independent examination of the Cherwell Local Plan Review 2042. The hearings will take place at Cherwell District Council's Castle Quay offices in Banbury on January 12 to 14, January 19 to 21, and February 2 to 4. Members of the public not directly involved can watch online via the council's live stream, with recordings made available daily.

World-renowned pianist Yuja Wang will make her debut with the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra on December 14 at Olivier Hall, performing Béla Bartók's First Piano Concerto. The concert will be conducted by Marios Papadopoulos. Wang gained international recognition in 2007 when she replaced Martha Argerich with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and later secured an exclusive contract with Deutsche Grammophon.

A Singapore Airlines flight aborted its landing at Perth Airport on Saturday in what was filmed as a dramatic manoeuvre. The Airbus A350-900, flight SQ213, approached the runway under dark skies before tilting sharply, bringing one wing close to the ground, before pilots climbed back into the air. Wind speeds reached 32km/h at the time. The plane landed successfully on its second attempt just after 12.30pm. Known as a 'go-around', the manoeuvre is standard aviation procedure when pilots determine landing should not proceed.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has warned that any attack on Iran will be met with an immediate response 'without geographical restriction'. The warning comes as mediators, including senior diplomats from Qatar, continue efforts to prevent renewed conflict. The US is reportedly preparing for potential military action against Iran following next week's midterm elections.

Leeds United midfielder Anton Stach has been hampered by a foot injury sustained in May and has not matched his previous season's performances. The German player, who has been deployed in an advanced wide position by manager Daniel Farke this season, came off the bench in the last two games after picking up a fresh foot issue. Stach posted on Instagram that 'difficult periods test you in ways people will never see', in an apparent reference to his struggles.

Anne Morris, from Knowsley, Merseyside, died in hospital in Icmeler, Turkey on 29 October, three days after arriving to celebrate receiving an all-clear from lung cancer. She went into cardiac arrest and despite attempts by her husband Alan and paramedics to revive her, suffered a second cardiac arrest on life support. Her family now faces a £33,500 hospital bill after her travel insurance was deemed invalid because she had failed to declare previous medical conditions including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cataracts.

A teenage boy was assaulted with a bottle inside McDonald's on Union Street in Torquay on Friday 30 October at around 4.20pm. Wayne Abbotts, 52, from Birmingham, was arrested and has been charged with attempted murder. The boy sustained cuts to his head and was taken to Torbay Hospital; his injuries are not life-threatening or life-changing. Abbotts is due to appear before Plymouth Magistrates Court on Monday 2 November.

The American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists has updated its guidance on managing menopause symptoms for the first time in a dozen years. The new advice covers hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disruption and other disruptive symptoms. Doctors are stressing the importance of hormone therapies, which many women are reconsidering after federal safety warnings were removed, with the Food and Drug Administration ensuring an adequate supply. The guidance also describes nonhormonal treatment options.

A 17-year-old boy was arrested after climbing onto the roof of a terraced home on Cornwall Street in Hartlepool on October 31 and throwing items into the street. Police erected a cordon after residents reported hearing sounds from objects being thrown. Sergeant Rutherford urged residents whose property was damaged to call 101 with reference number 217786.

Aubrey Trail, then 52, was convicted of strangling Sydney Loofe, 24, with an electrical cord in 2017 after meeting her through Tinder. Trail and his girlfriend Bailey Boswell, then 25, dismembered Loofe's body into 14 pieces and disposed of it in roadside ditches. Witnesses testified at trial that the pair had discussed the occult and claimed they could gain 'powers' through killing. According to filmmaker Christopher St. John, Trail later said he 'picked the wrong person' to kill, expressing regret not about the murder itself but about choosing someone with strong family and friends who would pursue his capture. Trail's case is featured in a new Hulu true crime docuseries.

Newcastle United face Everton in a Premier League match on Monday night, days after losing to the same side in a Carabao Cup tie at Wembley. Manager Matthias Jaissle says his team should use the frustration from that defeat as motivation. Newcastle created 28 attempts but lost the cup match, with Dan Burn scoring a consolation goal.

Women may be better at tasting bourbon than men because they have just under 50% more neurons in olfactory regions, according to experts cited by whiskey authority Susan Reigler. A 2014 scientific paper supports this theory, showing women have a keener sense of smell and taste. However, experts note that tasting bourbon involves more than smell alone.

HMP Chelmsford is recruiting prison security escorts for a temporary long-term role based at the prison on Springfield Road. The position requires no previous experience, though full training will be provided. The job pays £13.16 an hour, or £17.50 for overtime above 39 hours weekly, with 33 days' holiday per year and typical hours of 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

Cherry Branch café in Cherry Hinton has scaled back operations after receiving a warning from a business consultant that it would 'run out of money' without major changes. The charity operating the café, Cherry Hinton Community Benefit Society, faced financial difficulties in its first year due to a £32,000 annual facilities management charge and the cost of hiring a catering manager as a contractor. The group has ended the catering manager's contract, and Cambridge City Council has frozen the facilities management charge until March 2027.

Manningtree and Leigh-on-Sea have been named among the UK's 260 best places to live by lifestyle website Muddy Stilettos for 2027. Manningtree, one of eight Essex locations on the list, is praised for its River Stour views, independent businesses, foodie scene and community spirit. Leigh-on-Sea is described as 'Southend's smaller, trendier sister', praised for seaside charm, food and shopping, with growing popularity among relocating Londoners.

The government is pursuing new Mayoral Strategic Authorities across England. Council leaders in Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Swindon are discussing whether to proceed with establishing one for the Thames Valley region. The authorities would devolve strategic government functions to regional level rather than create an additional layer of local government.

North Yorkshire Council's housebuilder Brierley Homes received a £3.4m taxpayer bailout in 2025 to avoid administration after forecasting a £7.8m loss. The council confirmed the company has borrowed £27.54m in total. Opposition councillors questioned the decision to extend the company's loan facility by three years, to 2031.

Three eight-week-old male kittens—Doc, Diego and Dennis—are ready for adoption from RSPCA Westmorland from Tuesday, 3 November. Doc is black and white, while Diego and Dennis are tabbies. The charity will rehome them as a pair or individually. Interested applicants should complete an online form or call 01539 736307. All three have been blood tested, vaccinated, microchipped and treated for fleas and worms.

Angel and Charles Shakespeare from Hackbridge in Sutton take Halloween extremely seriously, spending months planning elaborate costumes and locations. Their clown outfits were once so frightening that people fled a Tube carriage to escape them. The couple have previously dressed as aliens, Cruella de Vil with a Dalmatian, and a dead bride and groom.

Rory King, a traveller from Belfast who has visited more than 70 countries, has named Suffolk the most beautiful place in the world. King spent four years living in the county and described it as 'absolutely beautiful' and 'quite underrated'. He praised its spa hotels, walks and scenery, noting that its appeal attracts retirees.

A 15-year-old has been convicted of attempted murder following the stabbing of a fellow pupil at Thorpe St Andrew School in Norwich. Norfolk mental health charity MensCraft has warned of the dangers of harmful online influences after evidence emerged during the trial at King's Lynn Crown Court. The court heard the boy expressed hatred of women, fascination with killers and violence, and made internet searches relating to Elliot Rodger, a figure associated with online incel communities. MensCraft chief executive Shantinara Allard said the evidence raised serious questions about influences shaping young people's attitudes towards women, violence and masculinity, though he stressed it would be wrong to attribute the attack to any single cause.

Nottinghamshire's road repair scheme has reached a record milestone. The drive represents the largest effort to fix roads in the county to date.

Portsmouth drew 0-0 away at Burnley, a side that competed in the Premier League last season. Boss John Mousinho called the result 'a really good point'. The match showed Portsmouth defending solidly but struggling in attack, wasting several promising positions. A first-half goal by Marlon Pack was disallowed for a foul on the Burnley goalkeeper by Ryan Kavuma-McQueen, a decision the BBC's analysis described as 'extremely harsh'.

A man has died and another has been injured following an attack at an International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) centre in Tralee, County Kerry, on Saturday morning. Emergency services were called to the centre at Ballymullen Barracks at around 5.20am. The man was found with serious injuries and pronounced dead shortly after arrival. A second man, aged in his 40s, was taken to University Hospital Kerry with injuries not believed to be life-threatening. A third man, also in his 40s, was arrested at the scene and is being detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a Garda station in County Kerry. GB News reports the three injured men were all Somali nationals and that they were stabbed. The Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration confirmed they were responding to a 'critical incident'. An Garda Síochána has commenced a criminal investigation. The Office of the State Pathologist has been notified and a post-mortem examination will be arranged.

Democrat Shomari Figures is fighting to hold his Alabama House seat after Republicans redrew the district to favour the GOP. Figures is one of several Black members of Congress whose districts were redrawn following the Supreme Court's decision to weaken the Voting Rights Act. He is campaigning in both Black-majority cities such as Montgomery and Tuskegee and conservative areas, focusing on issues including food and fuel prices.

A 58-year-old man was stabbed in a Boots store on Kilburn High Road in north London at around 10:30am on Friday 30 October after attempting to help security staff prevent a shoplifter from leaving. He was treated at the scene by paramedics and taken to hospital with stab wounds that were deemed non-life-changing. No arrests have been made and police are continuing enquiries to locate the suspect.

Lola-Fleur Whittaker, a 22-year-old British-French student and supporter of the hard-left France Unbowed party, sparked outrage by mocking victims of riots in France during an appearance on the television programme La Grande Confrontation. She clashed with a bakery owner whose premises had been ransacked by looters. The unrest in France, which has gripped the country throughout October, stems from widespread anger over the rising cost of living and teacher shortages, with violent mobs raiding retailers and setting fire to historic landmarks over successive weekends.

Henry Barnes, 23, has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving and drink driving following a single-vehicle crash on Hackmans Lane in Purleigh on 6 January. Thomas Chapman, 21, a passenger in the car, was pronounced dead at the scene. Barnes appeared at Colchester Magistrates' Court on 30 October and is due to appear at Chelmsford Crown Court on 27 November. Chapman's family attended court and paid tribute, saying he was 'a good and kind man who loved and protected the people in his life'. BBC Essex reports that Chapman was a keen Tottenham Hotspur fan with plans to travel abroad, and that a charity fundraiser in his memory raised more than £12,000 within a week.

The Princess of Wales has shared a previously unseen photograph of Prince Louis aged one with a large pumpkin to mark Halloween. The image, taken by Kate herself, shows the now eight-year-old in a blue raincoat and red boots. It is thought to be the first time the family have publicly marked the holiday in this way, though they are known to celebrate privately each year.

The UC Capitals secured their second win of the WNBL season with a 77-68 victory over Geelong Venom on Saturday. Sharpshooter Amy Atwell scored 25 points to lead Canberra, while Meg McConnell and Nyadiew Puoch provided crucial contributions. Geelong, missing injured stars Bec Cole and Maddy Rocci, was led by Han Xu with 25 points on her birthday, but 20 turnovers and poor three-point shooting hampered their chances.

Up to 45 holiday lodges are planned for Langborrow Farm near Tilton on the Hill, Leicestershire, a site featured in David Attenborough's 2020 documentary A Life on our Planet. The application by Brayden Cooper would also include a gatehouse, bike rental and shop building, a cafe and restaurant, and leisure facilities. The plan has drawn 320 objections from residents, who say the development would be inappropriate for the area adjacent to the Tilton Railway Cutting, a Site of Special Scientific Interest where Attenborough first discovered his love for natural history.

Dr Marta Shahbazi, an affiliate associate professor at Cambridge University and group leader at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, has been confirmed dead in a train crash in Spain on 28 October. The crash, which occurred near Urda south of Madrid, involved two trains and killed at least 69 people. Dr Shahbazi was travelling to a Spanish Society for Developmental Biology conference where she was due to receive an award for her contributions to early human development research.

Thames Valley Police has defended its 'No Trick or Treat' poster after GB News anchor Alex Armstrong criticised it on X, claiming the force had issued a warning that Halloween can upset religious or cultural beliefs. The police force said the poster is designed for residents who do not wish to have unexpected callers, particularly elderly or vulnerable people, and that they never mentioned religious or cultural concerns. The scheme has been promoted for many years, with versions dating back to at least 2009.

The Oxford Palestine Solidarity Campaign will march through Oxford at 12.30pm today, starting on Manzil Way and proceeding to the Clarendon Building. The protest is part of coordinated demonstrations in London and Edinburgh organised by Defend Our Juries in support of Palestine Action, which was banned under the Terrorism Act in June 2025. The Metropolitan Police have warned that anyone attending the protests in support of Palestine Action could be arrested, regardless of whether they are carrying placards. Expressing support for the group is an offence under the Terrorism Act. The protests precede an appeal at the Supreme Court against Palestine Action's proscription on November 4.

Unauthorised drone activity near Jersey Airport caused significant disruption to flights over two nights. On Friday evening, three inbound flights from London Heathrow, London Gatwick and Southampton were diverted; one eventually landed safely at around 23:45, whilst the other two were cancelled. The disruption continued on Saturday night, when four flights were unable to land as scheduled, with services from Heathrow and Southampton again affected. Jersey Police launched a multi-agency response involving the Honorary Police, Channel Islands Air Search and airport staff, but no drone operator was found despite searches across the west of the island. Jersey's chief minister, Senator Lyndon Farnham, said the deliberate and unlawful operation of drones was not 'a prank or a harmless hobby' and warned those responsible should expect 'the full consequences of the law'. Police are investigating and appealing for information from the public.

Preliminary works on Ollerton roundabout in Nottinghamshire will begin in November, with vegetation clearance, footway improvements and utility diversions continuing until March. The main roundabout improvement scheme, part of a £46.9 million project to upgrade five junctions on the A614 and A6097, will then start in spring with overnight traffic management measures including single-lane closures and temporary traffic lights.

The Mayfly, a Fuller's pub on the River Test near Stockbridge in Hampshire, reopened on Thursday, 29 October after a major refurbishment. The work was designed to refresh indoor and outdoor spaces while maintaining the pub's character. The general manager, Eloise Triquart, said the aim was to become 'the very best version of ourselves' and make everyone 'feel at home'.

Melbourne United defeated Cairns Taipans 113-97 at the Cairns Convention Centre on Saturday night, moving from seventh to fifth on the ladder. Josh Oduro scored 26 points and Cole Anthony added 25 as United recovered from trailing early in the second quarter to dominate the rest of the game and record their highest score of the season. The Taipans suffered significant losses when Jaylin Galloway was hurt on a screen in the opening quarter and Jaylon Brown limped off in the final term with a right knee injury.

Passengers on Great Britain's busiest railway lines face significant disruption over Christmas from ten days of engineering works. London Paddington station will close, affecting intercity trains to the west of England and Wales until January, while Birmingham New Street will shut for five days. Network Rail said most routes would stay open and that the Christmas period remained the best time to conduct the £152m of essential maintenance works.

Parishad Kavyani, an Iranian-born Canadian, has left the pro-Palestine movement she supported for two years. She says the movement became 'ideology-driven, not human rights driven' and was damaged by 'liberal intellectualism' focused on oppressors rather than human rights. Kavyani reports experiencing homophobia, racism and sexism from fellow leftists in the past nine months. She criticises the movement for staying silent on Iranian women's rights while claiming to advocate for liberation and women's freedoms, saying supporters even back the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps.

A.W. Lymn, a Nottinghamshire funeral director, has raised thousands of pounds for Alex TLC charity. The funds support the organisation's work.

A range of shows including Disney Princess - The Concert, Buffy Revamped and Julian Clary: Fully Dilated are now on sale at Norwich Theatre. Disney Princess - The Concert features Broadway and West End stars performing beloved Disney princess songs, with an extra date added for March 21, 2027. Buffy Revamped is a fast-paced, award-winning production retelling all 144 episodes of the 1990s TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer from Spike's perspective.

Anglian Water has discovered unusual items including hair straighteners, watering cans and a £5 note clogging its sewers. The company clears roughly 35,000 blockages from its 76,000km of pipes annually. An estimated 500,000 wet wipes are flushed daily in eastern England, combining with fats and sanitary products to create stubborn blockages.

Grey Walls, a historic Lake District building in Windermere, is undergoing transformation into 17 luxury apart-hotel suites. The project, overseen by Oakden, aims to blend the building's traditional Lakeland stone exterior with modern self-contained accommodation suitable for short breaks and extended stays. Doors are set to open in December 2026.

Australia suffered a catastrophic collapse on the final morning of the Test series in Cape Town, reaching 7-60 while chasing 288. The collapse leaves them on the brink of series defeat and risks losing top spot in the Test rankings. Matt Renshaw and Marnus Labuschagne fell in the opening over, with Kagiso Rabada taking 3-14 and Simon Harmer 3-5 as the middle order disintegrated.

The Carolinas will warm up early in the week, with highs in the low to mid-70s on Monday and Tuesday, before rain and thunderstorms return from Wednesday onwards. An area of low pressure moving east from the Plains will bring increasing chances for measurable rainfall from Wednesday afternoon, with a First Alert in place for Thursday's showers and thunderstorms. Highs will remain in the 70s, with additional scattered showers possible on Friday.

Harley Hartley, 15, died on 28 October from injuries sustained when his off-road electric bike collided with a black Audi S3 on School Street in Bierley, Bradford, on 1 October. Emergency services attended the scene at around 5.30pm and took him to hospital with serious injuries. His mother paid tribute to him, saying he was the 'light of my life' and describing him as someone who 'would do anything for anyone'. West Yorkshire Police's Major Collision Enquiry Team is investigating and appealing for witnesses and footage.

Western Sydney were held to a 0-0 draw by Macarthur FC on Saturday night after German Ferreyra's first-half goal was disallowed for offside following a VAR review. Coach Ufuk Talay expressed anger at the decision, which denied the Wanderers back-to-back wins after their 5-2 victory over Auckland FC. Both sides remain undefeated in the A-League Men competition.

The Lancashire Telegraph and Chorley Guardian have published death notices between 26 and 31 October. The Lancashire Telegraph lists five recent deaths, ranging in age from 57 to 95 years old, with notices appearing online as lasting tributes alongside print publication.

Hertfordshire is home to seven notable gardens hidden behind walls, hedges and historic gateways. These include Benington Lordship Gardens, set behind Norman castle ruins with snowdrop walks and herbaceous borders; Pembroke Farm near Ashwell, a woodland garden with over 150 rose varieties; George Bernard Shaw's former home with its famous revolving writing hut and surrounding orchard and wildflower meadow; and Ashridge House's formal gardens with Italianate designs and Victorian fernery.

A lithium battery believed to have come from a vape sparked a fire in a bin lorry on Patrick Road in West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire. Rushcliffe Borough Council said firefighters were called after an explosion on the vehicle and nearly all of its load had to be dumped on the road to help extinguish the fire. It took more than two hours to clear the waste back into smaller vehicles.

Chelsea Becirevic, girlfriend of former Port Adelaide player Ivan Soldo, has publicly backed Jules Neale after Lachie Neale's affair with her former best friend Tess Crosley ended their marriage. Speaking at Derby Day on Saturday, Becirevic said she was '100 per cent' on Jules's side. Jules claimed in August that Neale had a four-month affair with Crosley and initially believed they had only kissed; she also alleged it was not his first infidelity. Neale has since joined Collingwood and is now in a relationship with Emma Field.

A single vehicle struck a building on the Stafford Park 7 industrial estate in Telford late on Friday, 30 October, rupturing a gas pipe. Emergency services including fire crews from Telford Central and Wellington stations, West Mercia Police and National Grid representatives attended the scene. Firefighters established a safety cordon but could not safely approach the vehicle to disconnect its electrical system due to the active gas leak. Cadent gas engineers took over to isolate and repair the damaged gas main.

Houghton Mill, a National Trust site on the banks of the River Great Ouse in Cambridgeshire, is an underrated attraction combining heritage, wildlife and scenic walking routes. The mill is the last surviving working watermill on the river, where volunteer millers demonstrate how grain was traditionally transformed into flour using the site's machinery and giant waterwheel. Beyond the mill, Waterclose Meadows offers riverside grassland, wildlife habitats and walking paths towards The Hemingfords villages. The site provides a tea room, parking, gift shop and accessible routes, making it popular with families, walkers, photographers and cyclists.

A security alert in Dervock, Co Antrim, ended on Friday after a device left on a house windowsill in Greystone Crescent was deemed non-viable. Police received a report at around 5pm and evacuated residents, establishing cordons whilst Ammunition Technical Officers examined the object. A controlled explosion was carried out before residents returned home shortly before 10.30pm.

Cambridgeshire contains more woodland scenery than many people realise, with six recommended walks this autumn. These range from ancient woodlands and National Trust estates to wildlife-rich nature reserves, offering varied habitats and seasonal colour.

Fishpool Street in St Albans is lined with period buildings spanning centuries of history, from Roman Verulamium through a Saxon settlement called Kingsbury to medieval and Georgian times. The street's name comes from a large medieval fish pool that may have pre-dated St Albans Abbey, founded in 793 AD. For centuries it was a major route between London and the north-west, with dozens of stagecoaches passing through daily by the early 19th century.

Bereaved families of asbestos disease victims will receive thousands of pounds in additional compensation. The increase applies to grieving loved ones across affected regions.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said he is open to listening to calls for Britain to formally apologise for its role in the transatlantic slave trade, whilst ruling out financial reparations. His comments were made while King Charles is touring the Caribbean ahead of a Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Antigua and Barbuda. Conservative critics including former Brexit minister David Jones and Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg have accused Burnham of poor judgment and irresponsibility for announcing this position while the King was overseas following previous Government advice against apologising. Downing Street has denied reports that Burnham is considering additional financial assistance, stating the Government's position is clear that financial reparations are not the answer. The row has intensified pressure on Burnham from left-wing MPs including Clapham and Brixton Hill Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy, who are pushing for the British state to recognise its historic responsibility.

Football fans in the Midlands are being advised to plan their travel for matches this evening. Aston Villa play Fulham at 8pm, with trains serving Witton and Aston stations expected to be busier and road closures in place on Witton Lane and Trinity Road. Wolverhampton supporters heading to Wolves v Cardiff are similarly urged to allow extra time for their journey.

FC Halifax Town beat Yeovil Town 2-0 at home, bouncing back from a midweek defeat to Barrow. Manager John McGrath praised his side's performance, saying they played 'really good football'.