Thursday, 5 November 2026

Six beavers have been reintroduced to waters around Loch Ness, ending a five-century absence after the species was hunted to extinction. The family, comprising a mother, two juveniles aged around two years and three younger kits, were released on Wednesday at Dundreggan rewilding estate in Glenmoriston. They were relocated from Tayside where they were causing problems for farmers, and underwent health checks before their release.

Chris Lynn, the Big Bash League's all-time leading run scorer, has completed a one-month ban after testing positive for cocaine during a standard anti-doping examination on 18 July during the T20 Blast Finals Day in England. The 36-year-old underwent a rehabilitation programme, which reduced his ban from three months to one. Lynn admitted to using cocaine hours after retiring hurt from a game for Northants. He avoided further sanctions under World Anti-Doping Regulations due to low levels in the test. He has since signed with Melbourne Renegades for the upcoming BBL season.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pledged $1 billion for the Indian Health Service during a visit to Bismarck, North Dakota, where he met with tribal and state leaders to discuss rural and tribal healthcare. Kennedy said the country faces a rural healthcare crisis driven by staffing shortages, which he linked to hospital closures. He committed to sparing the Indian Health Service and Head Start from federal budget cuts and outlined efforts to tackle staffing shortages and address a multi-billion-dollar backlog in tribal hospital construction.

The New York Times Company is in exclusive negotiations to acquire Letterboxd, the film-focused social network, for around $330 million. The platform, which has grown to 28 million users by April this year with more than half under 35, would likely remain standalone under the purchase. Letterboxd's co-founders could stay in charge but report to a Times Company executive, and the company would integrate the Times's ad technology.

NSW has seized 68 illegal and modified e-bikes in a three-month crackdown that began in September. The latest operation in the Hunter region on Thursday confiscated 10 bikes, along with two petrol-powered bicycles, two e-scooters and a trail bike. Police say the seized e-bikes exceeded legal speed and power limits and posed safety risks to riders and other road users.

Police have launched a search for a 56-year-old man who disappeared after telling a friend he was heading to fish at Trotting Track along the Murray River near Nyah West, Victoria on Thursday morning. An abandoned mobility scooter, fishing camp and personal items were found at the scene, but not the man himself. Witnesses reported seeing him on the scooter at 10.30am, with the fishing setup found unattended by 3pm, suggesting he went missing between those times.

Bronny James has been assigned to the Los Angeles Lakers' G League affiliate again, along with first-round pick Cameron Carr. James has moved between the NBA and G League throughout his three-year career with the Lakers. He has played only five games this season, averaging 0.8 points per game in 2.4 minutes despite fans regularly calling for him late in Lakers victories.

A nonpartisan think tank report outlines how Nebraska could broaden its sales tax to services including hair care, medical care and motor fuel. The Platte Institute estimates taxing services could generate more than £1.6 billion by 2028. The state faces a projected budget deficit near £1.2 billion next year, following Governor Jim Pillen's 2023 income tax cut legislation that reduced rates from nearly 7 per cent to just under 4 per cent by January 2027.

Donald Trump said on Thursday that a "very big" agreement to end the Ukraine war is being negotiated and could involve all of Europe. He made the comments after meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin's envoy Kirill Dmitriev at the White House, where delegations from both Russia and Ukraine were present for an event honouring first lady Melania Trump's role in brokering a recent ceasefire in the Ukrainian city of Oleshky. Trump declined to provide details but said the war was close to being settled.

Shawn Black, 37, a registered sex offender living in Oregon, has been extradited to Arizona to face child sex crime charges. He is accused of sexually exploiting a 13-year-old in Mesa after contacting her on TikTok and pressuring her to send sexually explicit images, despite knowing her age. Mesa police began their investigation in July; Black was arrested in Tigard, Oregon in September and faces charges including aggravated luring of a minor for sexual exploitation, sexual exploitation of a minor, unlawful age misrepresentation and child enticement.

Gwent Police have arrested a 49-year-old man from Cardiff and a 29-year-old woman from the Caerphilly area on suspicion of child neglect at a nursery on Bridge Street in Blackwood. The investigation was launched following a tip-off from Caerphilly County Borough Council. Police say they are conducting a thorough investigation with partner agencies and have warned of an increased police presence in the area.

Socceroos players who competed at this year's World Cup are yet to be paid their match fees, three months after the tournament concluded. Football Australia attributes the delay to tax complications in the United States and says it is working with the players' union, Professional Footballers Australia, to resolve the matter. Players earn around $6,000 in match fees for appearing or being an unused substitute.

Tucson City Prosecutor Matthew Walker has been placed on paid administrative leave whilst under investigation for misconduct allegations. The Tucson Police Department is investigating Walker over his handling of a probation revocation case involving YouTuber Lane Myers. Pima County Attorney Laura Conover requested an emergency hearing and agreed to have Myers released from custody following the investigation.

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in federal court, reporting more than $3.45 million in outstanding debts. The 26-year-old claims $2.1 million stems from lawsuits related to a 2024 high-speed crash in Dallas and an alleged assault by an ex-girlfriend. Rice reported only $13,640 in personal checking accounts but listed $677,054 in personal assets, including his Super Bowl LVIII ring valued at $160,000, which he used as collateral with his attorney.

A teenager was taken to Royal Perth Hospital after a serious late-night crash in Perth's outer north-east brought down a power line. Emergency services were called to Neaves Road in Mariginiup about 10.40pm on Thursday following reports of a two-car collision between a black Ford Falcon and a silver Holden Commodore. The impact caused one vehicle to strike a power pole, bringing down the live power line and prompting Western Power crews to attend alongside emergency responders.

Hearts lost 3-1 to FC Thun in Switzerland in the Conference League. Boss Wouter Vrancken was without 10 players through injury. An own goal by Jamie McCart in the 22nd minute and poor defending contributed to the defeat, which leaves Hearts with one point from their opening three group matches.

Eric Armstrong, a Democrat whose name remained on the ballot, won a western Iowa state House election on Tuesday with 55% support in a district that backed Republican President Donald Trump two years ago. Armstrong suspended his campaign in September, stating he faced 'personal health issues that require my full attention and immediate care'. He said Thursday he was proud of the win and would convey voters' message to the state Capitol in January.

Airbnb announced on Thursday that it will launch an AI travel agent in the first half of 2027. The agent will help travellers plan trips, compare options, manage bookings and get assistance during their stay. Unlike general-purpose AI agents, Airbnb's tool will feature a custom interface with maps, photos, calendars and itineraries designed specifically for travel, rather than a traditional chatbot.

Tennessee Rep. Tim Burchett says he wants to replace Sen. Marsha Blackburn when she becomes governor in January. Speculation has also surrounded Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as a potential successor, but according to a person familiar with private conversations, Hegseth is not currently under consideration. Blackburn plans to retain her Senate seat until she is sworn in as governor, allowing her to appoint her own replacement for the remainder of her term, which ends in January 2031.

Democrat Jamie Davis has not ruled out running for Louisiana governor after narrowly losing a U.S. Senate race to Republican Julia Letlow. Davis said his campaign's focus on affordability and voter engagement made the Senate contest competitive. He stood by an election-night warning to Governor Jeff Landry that the governor was 'on notice'.

Nyan Maritime one-way drones, manufactured by Callen-Lenz in Salisbury and TEKEVER in Swindon, have been launched from HMS Queen Elizabeth during North Atlantic trials in mid-October. The trials demonstrated how autonomous strike systems could operate alongside the Navy's F-35B stealth jets. A Royal Navy spokesperson said the drones 'bring together crewed aircraft and drones to increase the carrier's reach, lethality and flexibility, while keeping personnel further away from danger'. The drones were previously launched at sea from an experimentation ship earlier this year but this was their first deployment from an aircraft carrier. The trials were designed to improve understanding of how uncrewed strike systems could support future Carrier Strike operations.

Ferencvaros maintained their unbeaten Europa League record by defeating AC Milan 2-0 at San Siro, despite having a player sent off in the second half. Striker Lenny Joseph scored twice for the Hungarian side after capitalising on a goalkeeper error. Benfica moved to the top of the table with a 2-1 victory over Lech Poznan in Lisbon.

The US Department of Justice is suing Penn State University, alleging that allowing undocumented students to pay in-state tuition whilst denying the same benefit to out-of-state US citizens violates federal law. The lawsuit, filed in the Middle District of Pennsylvania, seeks a permanent injunction against the policy. This is the 27th such suit filed by the Justice Department under the current Trump administration.

Garth Brooks will perform two concerts at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City on Friday 6 and Saturday 7 November, instead of the originally planned three shows. Brooks cancelled a Saturday matinee after automated bots bought up most of the available tickets for that performance. Both remaining concerts begin at 8 p.m., with doors opening at 7 p.m.

Michigan's two largest utilities, Consumers Energy and DTE Energy, have filed a federal lawsuit seeking to block Proposal 2, which Michigan voters approved with over 80% support. The measure bans political campaign contributions from utility companies and state contractors. The utilities argue the proposal violates free speech rights by targeting only one side of political debate and bans giving without evidence of wrongdoing. DTE stated in a statement that the proposal attacks its employees' fundamental right to participate in the political process.

Gwent Police have arrested a 49-year-old man from Cardiff and a 29-year-old woman from the Caerphilly area on suspicion of child neglect following an investigation into a Bridge Street nursery in Blackwood. The force received a referral from Caerphilly County Borough Council reporting health and safety concerns at the premises. Both remain in police custody.

A California appeals court has unanimously ruled that a lawsuit brought by Michael Crichton's widow and estate can proceed. The case alleges that the HBO Max series 'The Pitt' is an unauthorized reboot of 'ER', the NBC medical drama that Crichton created. The court dismissed actor Noah Wyle and two other producers as defendants, though they worked on both shows.

Australian swimmer Will Petric, 22, went viral in China in March after conducting a post-race interview in Mandarin at the China Open, where he won the 400m individual medley by nearly seven seconds. He has since enjoyed a breakthrough season, winning two freestyle relay gold medals and a 400m individual medley silver at the Commonwealth Games. Petric will now compete at the inaugural SwimGP in Melbourne, where coaching staff have named him one of eight 'platinum athletes' to lead one of four teams alongside five-time Olympic champion Kaylee McKeown.

A Learjet 60 crashed in Greenacres, Florida, near West Palm Beach, on Sunday, killing all nine people on board. The National Transportation Safety Board has recovered a portion of one engine from the crash site during excavation work. Debris has also been found away from the impact location and on nearby homes and buildings.

Celtic secured a 3-2 home victory over Besiktas in the Europa League after coming from behind. Junior Olaitan had put Besiktas ahead from a rebound after Sam Johnstone saved a penalty, but substitutions by manager Martin O'Neill proved decisive. Osmand equalised with his first touch after coming on in the 62nd minute, then Duran put Celtic ahead. Besiktas equalised through Orkun Kokcu, but Duran scored again in the 87th minute to seal the win and give Celtic their first points of the campaign.

Salon, one of the early internet's most influential websites featuring political and cultural journalism with a liberal perspective, announced Thursday it would shut down after 31 years. The outlet cited how 'the business realities of independent digital journalism have changed profoundly over the years'. Some employees have already lost their jobs, though the announcement did not immediately detail the fate of staff.

A Nebraska couple have opened a glamping site near the remnants of a ghost town along the Oregon Trail in Clay County. Owen and Kim Nelson built Spring Ranch Campground around an old gravel pit, transforming overgrown terrain into an outdoor getaway. The couple officially launched the business in 2022.

As Veterans Day approaches, South Carolina workforce officials are highlighting programs designed to help veterans and military spouses transition into civilian careers while encouraging them to remain in the state. The South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce offers resources including the STAYS programme, which connects veterans with employers, job training and interview opportunities. William Floyd, executive director of the department, said the programme promises up to five interviews with participating employers.

The Trump administration's Department of Justice has filed a complaint against Penn State University challenging its policy of offering in-state tuition rates to some immigrants in the country illegally. This is part of a wider crackdown: two dozen states once offered such tuition breaks, but as the administration began suing last year, the policies ended in Kentucky, Illinois, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas and Florida, with recent lawsuits targeting individual schools including the University of Delaware. The federal government argues that federal law prevents states from providing preferential benefits to immigrants in the country illegally, but supporters of the tuition breaks contend they do not violate federal law if they extend the same rates to United States citizens meeting the same conditions.

A 61-year-old Sydney teacher has been refused bail after police allegedly found covert videos of girls on his electronic devices. He was charged with five counts of intentionally recording intimate images without consent, as well as producing and possessing child abuse material. Police allege some of the recordings were made at a school in Wahroonga where he worked.

Brian Devine, who plays for Saltburn Cricket Club's 2nd team in north-east England, was caught clicking his fingers as the ball passed the bat to deceive umpires into awarding caught-behind decisions. The 38-year-old was dubbed 'Clicky Ponting' after footage of his cheating went viral on social media in July. Following an England and Wales Cricket Board investigation, Devine has been banned from all cricket involvement—playing, coaching, umpiring, scoring and managing junior teams—until September 2028. His club has been relegated to the third division with a 60-point deduction for the 2027 season and fined £300.

Google, Meta and TikTok have filed separate lawsuits in federal courts seeking to block a California law scheduled to take effect on 1 January 2027. The law prohibits tech companies from offering addictive feeds, endless scrolling and autoplayed videos to children under 16, and requires age verification to prevent under-16s accessing such features. The companies argue the law violates their First Amendment rights and Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.

Australia's deputy prime minister Richard Marles says the country will maintain its existing approach to the Trump administration despite Democrats retaking the US Congress. Marles told ABC TV on Friday that the US alliance remains crucial regardless of which party controls Washington. He said Australia must be 'custodians of the alliance' in the challenging strategic landscape facing the world.

Salon, founded in San Francisco in 1995 as a pioneering online-only news magazine, announced its closure on Thursday. The outlet, known for politics, arts and culture coverage, said the 'business realities of independent digital journalism have changed profoundly' and its publishing model is 'no longer sustainable'. The announcement comes just weeks before the site's anniversary on 20 November.

Lee Smith, aged 78, has died at Jameson Prison in Sioux Falls, the South Dakota Department of Corrections announced. Smith was in the infirmary at the time of his death and was serving a five-year sentence for aggravated assault against law enforcement from Pennington County.

A 24-year-old Sioux Falls man has been charged with multiple felonies after allegedly breaking into an elderly woman's apartment at The Inn on Westport twice within two weeks. In the first incident on 15 October, police found the patio door forced open and jewellery, an iPhone, cash, and coins stolen. On 28 October, the suspect allegedly confronted the woman in her apartment, grabbed her arm and neck, and demanded money, leaving her with a broken bone in her hand. The woman activated emergency assistance cords and nursing staff responding to the alerts caused the suspect to flee.

Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has approved the National Guard to expand its presence in Washington with military vehicles, boats and 60 military police cars. Troops will be able to carry rifles during some operations but not in Metro rail stations. The deployment follows President Donald Trump's initial National Guard deployment to the capital in August 2025.

An 11-year-old boy identified as Dre Cooper died after jumping into the Broken River near Shepparton in regional Victoria on Monday. Emergency services were called about 5pm after reports he had jumped into the river and not resurfaced. His body was found on Tuesday following an extensive search. An investigation is under way but the death is not being treated as suspicious.

President Trump signed a proclamation on Thursday declaring the Oval Office and Cabinet Room national monuments to prevent future changes to his redesigns. Trump told reporters 'We're making it a national monument and it will not be allowed to be touched by anybody.' The Oval Office now features portraits, a copy of the Declaration of Independence and golden accents.

Donald Trump signed a proclamation on Thursday declaring the Oval Office, the Outer Oval Office and the Cabinet Room national monuments and federal landmarks. Trump said the move would prevent future presidents from changing the spaces, which he has refurbished with gold accents during his second term. The announcement came two days after Democrats gained control of Congress in midterm elections.

Pet food manufacturer Alphia plans to lay off 93 workers at its Pawnee City, Nebraska facility starting in February 2027, as it transitions from manufacturing to warehouse and distribution operations. The company notified the Nebraska Department of Labor through a WARN Act letter. Some affected employees will be offered transfers to Alphia's facility in Bern, Kansas, approximately 20 miles away.

Five retired umpires, including Joe West, have sued their retirement plan from Major League Baseball, alleging their benefits were not correctly calculated. Their lawyer says they are owed in excess of $2 million. West said MLB officials offered him a smaller sum when he raised the issue, with an executive reportedly telling him to sue if dissatisfied. The lawsuit was filed in federal court in New York on 29 September under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. MLB declined to comment, citing the pending litigation.

Harmeet Dhillon, a Trump ally who oversaw a major overhaul of the US Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, has resigned. She reshaped the division to pursue Trump administration priorities including voter data requests and gun rights cases, shifting focus from its historical role protecting voting rights and fighting racial discrimination toward challenging diversity initiatives and investigating antisemitism on college campuses. According to people familiar with the matter, Dhillon was frustrated at being passed over for promotions and wanted to return to her law firm, The Dhillon Law Group.

Saint Louis forward Robbie Avila, the Atlantic 10 player of the year, has won a preliminary injunction allowing him to play a fifth season for the Billikens. The court ruling also grants Saint Louis a 16th roster spot for Avila until a trial, clearing him to play the entire season. Avila is one of many college athletes suing after the NCAA's 'five-for-five' rule was not applied to athletes from the 2022 class who had already exhausted their eligibility.

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Dallas on 4 November, owing $3.2 million to 20 creditors while claiming just over $675,000 in assets. The debt stems from settlements and legal fees related to a six-car crash Rice caused on Easter morning in 2024, to which he pleaded guilty to two felony charges. Among his assets are a Mercedes-Benz worth $53,800, $420,000 in deferred compensation and his Super Bowl LVIII ring, valued at $160,000.

The US has charged Jacobo Abdala Bucaram-Pulley, son of Ecuador's former president, Jaime Estrada Medranda, a former member of Ecuador's National Assembly, and three other Ecuadorians with cocaine trafficking to the United States and Europe. According to prosecutors, they hid cocaine in containers carrying tuna and other seafood. US Attorney Jamie McDonald said the five defendants played a 'critical role' in turning Ecuador into a key transit point for the vast majority of cocaine sent to the US and Europe.

Polling analyst Nate Silver has suggested that President Trump may resign from office following the Republican Party's defeat in the midterm elections. Silver, speaking on his podcast Still Counting, said he had 'the weird intuition that maybe Trump will find some pretense to quit', particularly if he became isolated. Silver noted that Vice President JD Vance's relationship with Trump would be one to watch going forward. There is no evidence that Trump is considering resignation.

The Trump administration held secret talks with Iran on deporting Iranians during the ongoing war, according to court documents unsealed on Thursday. The administration said as recently as mid-October it had plans to deport Iranians through an unnamed third country, with no specific date set. A legal group representing Iranian detainees reported that at least a dozen had been notified they were being deported to Iran, potentially as soon as the following Sunday.

Police are appealing for information after an assault during a fight involving a group of teenage girls outside a care home in Pickering, North Yorkshire. The incident occurred around 3pm on Tuesday, October 27, on the A169 Whitby Road, and the victim sustained minor injuries. Officers are particularly keen to trace a member of the public who intervened and two others who assisted the victim home.

NSW Police have offered a $250,000 reward for information on the whereabouts of Anthony Pele, 25, an alleged Coconut Cartel leader wanted for murder. Pele fled Australia in August 2023 after allegedly conducting a mistaken-identity shooting in which Ahmad al-Azzam was shot multiple times in his car in Greenacre and died in hospital a week later. Pele is wanted for numerous alleged crimes including murder, shooting with intent to murder and conspiracy to murder. Despite postings on Instagram from May and April this year showing his location as Albania, near Palase Beach on the Albanian Green Coast, his whereabouts remain unknown to detectives from State Crime Command who have been working with the Australian Federal Police and overseas services.

Huge crowds took to the streets across France on Thursday as students, workers and retirees joined protests demanding higher wages and supporting the student movement. France's Interior Ministry said more than 600,000 people participated, while the CGT union estimated nearly 1.6 million took part in over 200 demonstrations nationwide. The Paris march proceeded peacefully, with some demonstrators carrying signs about inequality and cost of living.

Latino voters in Texas who backed Donald Trump in 2024 have shifted leftward towards Democrats, fuelling a Democratic wave in the state. Polling and anecdotes suggest the economy and immigration prompted the change.

Fireworks were launched at police in Edinburgh on Bonfire Night as groups of youths caused disorder in the south of the city. Bins were knocked over and set on fire in roads in Oxgangs and around Colinton Mains, with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service extinguishing several small fires. Police Scotland said officers were called around 5.30pm on Thursday to a report of youths blocking the road and that no injuries were reported, though inquiries are ongoing.

Archaeologists from Germany, Russia, Sweden and Switzerland excavated a royal tomb in southern Siberia and found evidence suggesting people used cannabis for psychoactive purposes at least 2,800 years ago. The discovery, at the Tunnug 1 site in the Uyuk Valley, predates previously known cannabis use in China by about 300 years. Analysis of preserved hair and seeds from the tomb showed both plant matter and human tissue contained active compounds in the same context, according to Gino Caspari of the University of Bern. Whether the cannabis was consumed through inhalation or ingestion remains unclear.

The Putnam Business Park Drive exit on US 35 in Putnam County, West Virginia will close from 8 a.m. on Friday, 6 November to 8 a.m. on Monday, 9 November for a paving project. The West Virginia Department of Transportation is closing the exit to smooth out a rough section of the roadway.

The House will decide next week whether to advance the Protect College Sports Act, which passed the Senate 77-22 last month. The bill regulates how college athletes are paid and protects Olympic sports. Democrats, who won at least 247 seats in recent elections and mostly oppose the bill, now hold greater influence in the lame-duck session beginning Monday.

Jacob Allen Morley broke out of the Northwest Correctional Complex in Tiptonville, Tennessee, on 25 October and was recaptured on Tuesday. He hid in a shed near Marion, Illinois, roughly 127 miles from the prison, where he consumed beer and prepared garlic bread. Morley also stole a truck, three firearms and clothes from the property, and left a handwritten apology note. Authorities used FLOCK cameras to track his movements and arrested him without incident.

Police bodycam footage from Perez Hilton's August suicide attempt has been released. The celebrity blogger, 48, was hospitalized on 4 August after live streaming an apparent self-harming video. His sister Barbara Lavandeira told a dispatcher he was 'all cut up' and covered in blood, and had a box cutter or knife. Hilton's three children fled the home during the incident. He was transported to hospital and experienced significant blood loss requiring surgery.

The Trump administration has escalated its economic campaign against Cuba by issuing sanctions on several key sectors of the island's economy, including electronics, manufacturing, marine and technology. The sanctions also target Chinese-based suppliers to Cuba's military, specifically China National Electronic Import and Export Company and Beijing H&C Technologies, which the US accuses of procuring weapons and selling surveillance equipment to the Cuban government. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the sanctions aim to prevent Cuba's ruling elite from hoarding resources whilst the population faces blackouts and shortages.

The government is preparing to publish more documents about Lord Mandelson's appointment as US ambassador before Christmas. Batches were already released in March and June, but others were withheld because they were part of a Metropolitan Police investigation into allegations that Mandelson passed market-sensitive government information to Jeffrey Epstein while serving as a minister. The Cabinet Office says some documents can now be published without prejudicing the investigation.

Gadi Eisenkot, a former military chief, has received backing from 67 of 120 Israeli MPs to be given the first opportunity to form a government following the October 27 election that ended in deadlock. Benjamin Netanyahu's position has weakened after the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism party withheld support and two Arab-led parties endorsed Eisenkot instead. Israeli President Isaac Herzog will decide by Wednesday which candidate to pick.

A 20-year-old woman died in a two-vehicle crash in Stanton County, Nebraska on Thursday morning. A southbound SUV driven by a 35-year-old woman collided nearly head-on with a northbound sedan at the crest of a hill on 563rd Avenue, about seven miles northwest of Leigh at 7:44 a.m. The driver of the sedan, Christina Brandl of Humphrey, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Yorkshire Cancer Research hosted a charity fashion show on November 4 at its new superstore in York, featuring 15 models from across the region wearing outfits sourced from the charity's shops. Each model represented the statistic that someone in Yorkshire is diagnosed with cancer every quarter of an hour. The event, hosted by former ITV presenter Christine Talbot, a breast cancer survivor, launched the charity's Christmas campaign and highlighted the environmental benefits of shopping second-hand.

Bournemouth extended their winning run to seven matches with a 3-1 comeback victory over 10-man Sparta Prague in the Europa League. They fell behind to Ebrima Singhateh's first-half goal, but Sparta Prague were reduced to ten men when centre-back Tobias Guddal was sent off in the second half. Tyler Adams, Evanilson and Rayan scored from the bench to secure the win, leaving Bournemouth top of the league-phase table with four victories from four matches in their first European campaign.

Cleveland Browns pass rusher Jared Verse expressed anger at his teammates for not coming to his defence after Steelers guard Mason McCormick flipped him to the ground during a field goal block attempt in Pittsburgh's 27-6 victory on Sunday. Verse told reporters that the incident could have caused serious injury and that he was deeply upset by the lack of reaction from those around him, particularly after a similar play happened to teammate Derek Barnett. He acknowledged his own role in escalating tensions, saying he had trash-talked the Steelers beforehand without warning his team.

Crystal Palace snatched a 1-1 draw against Hoffenheim in the Europa League after Daichi Kamada scored in stoppage time, rescuing manager Pierre Sage from a potential third consecutive defeat. Palace fell behind to Alexander Prass in the seventh minute and were outplayed for much of the match, then lost Adam Wharton to a second yellow card with 13 minutes remaining. Kamada's late goal came from a goalmouth scramble after Yeremy Pino delivered a cross and Tyrick Mitchell nodded the ball down.

Environmental and human rights groups have filed 14 legal complaints with European financial regulators and prosecutors against JBS, the world's largest meatpacker, accusing it and its financial advisers of facilitating money laundering linked to illegal Amazon deforestation in its Brazilian beef supply chain. The complaints were filed with authorities in Britain, Ireland, Germany and the Netherlands, along with a separate criminal referral to Dutch prosecutors. JBS said it has monitored cattle suppliers in the Amazon since 2010 using satellite imagery and geo-referencing.

Thousands of Medicaid recipients in Allegheny County will face stricter reporting requirements imposed by the federal government next year. County officials, healthcare providers and state lawmakers are joining forces to help residents comply. Some adults aged 19 to 64 will need to renew coverage every six months instead of annually, and those without dependent children under 14 must show they meet work and community engagement requirements. The county estimates roughly 26,000 residents, about 10% of the county's Medicaid-dependent population, are at risk of losing coverage.

Anthony Beringer, 59, and his wife Cindy Bowers, 68, drowned on 31 October after their inflatable kayak capsized while floating down Arizona's Salt River near Mesa. Emergency responders received a report around 1:30 p.m. of a man yelling that his wife could not swim. The couple were sharing a single kayak and neither was wearing a life vest. Bowers' body was recovered around 2:11 p.m. and Beringer's was found roughly 50 minutes later upstream.

Essex firefighters rescued a man after his car left Little Clacton Road in Clacton and rolled onto its roof in a ditch on 4 November. The incident occurred at 5.30pm, closing the road between Progress Way and Britton Way. Crews made the scene safe by 5.54pm.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer has vowed that Democrats will not allow President Trump to appoint a 'right-winger' to the Supreme Court if a vacancy arises during his presidency. Schumer said Democrats are 'not going to allow any crappy nominees' to be confirmed to the Supreme Court, lower courts or Trump's Cabinet. He declined to say whether Democrats would leave a Supreme Court seat vacant until after the next presidential election, as former Republican leader Mitch McConnell did in 2016.

Central Michigan University men's basketball coach Andy Bronkema has been placed on leave, the university announced. Raymoan McAfee is serving as interim head coach. University officials gave no details about the nature or expected duration of Bronkema's leave.

A 76-foot Norway spruce, approximately 75 years old, has been cut down in West Edmeston, upstate New York, and transported to Rockefeller Center in Midtown Manhattan. The tree will be dressed with over 50,000 LED lights and a 900-pound Swarovski star before its lighting ceremony on 2 December. After display until 9 January, it will be milled into lumber for Habitat for Humanity.

The WTA has apologised after its livestream of practice sessions at Indian Wells caught world No.5 Jessica Pegula making derogatory comments about French Open champion Mirra Andreeva and her coach Conchita Martinez. The governing body said it took 'full responsibility' for failing to inform players that microphones were active on practice courts. Pegula's representative said she had 'absolutely no idea' her conversation was being livestreamed and had contacted those involved to apologise.

Federal prosecutors say FBI agent Andrew Reyes drove his government car the wrong way down Brooklyn's Ocean Parkway on 3 February, ran a red light and struck a pedestrian before fleeing. The 30-year-old has been arrested and charged with willfully depriving an individual of constitutional rights and making false statements. Prosecutors allege he later lied to investigators when asked whether he had hit someone and failed to report it.

A fire broke out beside the railway line between Bangor and Holyhead in North Wales on Thursday, November 5, causing Transport for Wales trains to face cancellations and delays of up to 40 minutes. The fire service attended the incident, which was expected to last until around 8pm, with rail disruption potentially continuing until 9pm. Passengers delayed or cancelled by more than 15 minutes may claim compensation through the Delay Repay scheme.

California Governor Gavin Newsom announced Thursday that he will commute all death sentences in the state to life in prison without the possibility of parole, affecting 548 inmates. Newsom, a Democrat preparing to leave office after eight years, said he took the action because he believes state-sanctioned killing is incompatible with California's values and undermines the legal system. California has not executed anyone since 2006, though it has historically held the largest death row population in the United States. Some cases will require approval from the California Supreme Court under the state constitution. The decision drew criticism from victims' rights advocates and prosecutors who argue the move prioritises the lives of those convicted over their victims.

A man jumped from the first floor of a takeaway restaurant on Seven Sisters Road in Finsbury Park shortly before 4pm on Bonfire Night (5 November) to escape a fire. Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters attended the blaze, which affected the ground, first and second floors of the building and damaged a flat above and the roof. The man was treated for minor injuries and taken to hospital. Around eight others were evacuated. The cause is under investigation.

Thunderstorms caused record flooding overnight in McCaysville, Georgia, and Copperhill, Tennessee, submerging some buildings to their rooflines as emergency responders rescued dozens of people. The Toccoa River reached a record high of 18 feet on Thursday morning, reaching 2 feet above the level considered catastrophic. As much as 8 to 10 inches of rain fell overnight in nearby areas, with runoff swelling rivers below.

The Justice Department is conducting a criminal investigation into the 2022 leak of the Supreme Court's draft opinion overturning Roe v Wade. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia, headed by Jeanine Pirro, is leading the probe. Federal prosecutors have escalated the inquiry in recent weeks, issuing grand jury subpoenas and seeking information from former court personnel.

Abdul El-Sayed, the incoming Michigan senator who won on Tuesday, told CNN on Thursday that he plans to investigate Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr over staffing cuts to the FDA and CDC. El-Sayed argues the cuts left both agencies unprepared for a cyclospora outbreak spread through shredded iceberg lettuce over summer, which sickened more than 20,000 people across 49 states. Kennedy has disputed claims that cuts affected the response, saying the surveillance programme suffered no reductions.

Calum Bell, 20, from Ballymena has been sentenced to 60 months at Antrim Crown Court after being convicted of riot, intentionally encouraging or assisting riot, and burglary with intent to cause unlawful damage. Half the sentence will be spent in custody and half on licence. Large-scale disorder broke out in Ballymena on 9 June 2025, with further violence across other areas in Northern Ireland, causing damage to roads, homes, cars and business premises.

Wisconsin Senate Republicans have elected Sen. Julian Bradley as minority leader following Tuesday's election. Bradley, a Republican from New Berlin representing the 28th Senate District, will lead the caucus when the Legislature reconvenes in January 2027. He said the election 'changed the math in the Senate' but the party remains committed to its core platform of safe communities, good jobs and fiscal responsibility.

Indiana coach Curt Cignetti has accused ESPN of favouring the SEC after the first College Football Playoff rankings included 10 SEC teams compared to just six from the Big Ten. Cignetti claimed ESPN personalities are instructed to follow the network's preferred narrative, saying the SEC 'gets a lot of love from ESPN'. Commentator Tim Brando disputed conscious bias but acknowledged that broadcasters living in a 'bubble' can colour how they view their own league.

Shouts were heard on the Corridor Route up Scafell Pike on 4 November, prompting Cumbria Police to contact Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team at 12.08pm. The team was not deployed due to limited information and no further public reports, but two team members were involved in the alert for six hours and eight minutes. The incident was closed at 6.16pm.

President Donald Trump announced an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin on 9 October to make more than 300,000 metric tons of Russian diesel available to US and global markets. However, the plan is facing setbacks. Two tankers that departed from the Baltic Sea port of Primorsk and initially declared US East Coast destinations have changed course, with one heading to Brazil and another to the Mediterranean. State and federal officials have warned that handling Russian shipments could bring legal consequences. The arrangement has yet to produce a confirmed US delivery, and analysts say imports are unlikely to significantly lower US diesel prices.

Two people have been arrested in Fargo, North Dakota after a woman was found chained to a bed in an apartment. Arturo Calzada Becerril, 40, and Erendira Amoles, 41, face kidnapping and assault charges. The woman, who does not speak English, told police she was brought from Mexico in 2024 and had not been outside for two years.

Michael Murphy has retired from Donegal inter-county football for a second time at the age of 37, following the county club championship. The four-time All-Star first retired in 2022 after 14 years but returned when Jim McGuinness persuaded him to give it another go. In his second spell, Murphy helped Donegal win an Ulster title and a National League crown, though a third All-Ireland title proved elusive.

Meta now lets US users have voice conversations with its Muse AI agent through customizable animated avatars. The feature, available on the iOS app, includes new AI technology that animates the avatar with expressions and gestures matching the tone of conversation. Users can also customise the avatar's appearance and voice tone. The feature is rolling out now in the US app and will come 'soon' to Meta's AI glasses and its forthcoming Muse Charm wearable gadget.

Comedian Shane Jacobson, known as the Dunny Man, has partnered with Kleenex to find Australia's worst roadside toilet through a campaign called The Great Aussie Dunny Rescue. The winner will receive a full makeover. Jacobson, who earned his nickname from his role in the 2006 film Kenny, said roadside dunnies were vital to communities and recounted encountering a frog in an outback toilet.

Healthcare unions have told a NSW parliamentary inquiry that enshrining the right to health in human rights legislation would benefit both patients and healthcare workers. The proposed bill would establish a right to access physical and mental health services without discrimination, along with emergency medical treatment. Union representatives argued this could force public authorities to consider health rights when making decisions about service suspensions due to unsafe staffing levels.

Clarkson's Farm star Kaleb Cooper's new Prime Video series Kaleb Off the Farm will premiere on 8 January 2027. The four-part UK Original follows the 28-year-old farmhand from Chipping Norton as he travels to Australia for the first time, seeking to strike it rich in Australian farming and pursue his dream of owning his own farm.

The Cowshed, which provides clothing, bedding, household goods and baby equipment to people facing hardship, must leave its 17,000 sq ft premises at Mulberry Business Park if Wokingham Borough Council's plans to build more than 100 affordable and specialist homes proceed. Founder Sally Russell said finding a suitable rent-free replacement for the charity's 400 volunteers is 'verging on impossible'.

Google, Meta and TikTok have filed separate lawsuits challenging California's Assembly Bill 1709, a law signed by Governor Gavin Newsom on 10 September that prohibits social media platforms from offering minors under 16 'psychologically exploitative features' including autoplay videos and personalised recommendations. The companies argue the law violates the First Amendment and is preempted by federal Section 230 protections. The law, which takes effect on 1 January 2027, requires platforms to delete affected accounts unless the features are removed. California Attorney General Rob Bonta's office said on Thursday it is reviewing the lawsuits and remains 'committed to defending California's commonsense laws to protect kids online'. The platforms could face penalties of up to $50,000 per affected minor for knowing violations under the law.

The Nebraska State Patrol is launching a new initiative to notify parents if explicit content of their children is being shared online. The state is projected to receive more than 7,000 cybertips in 2026 alone, with a growing number involving minors sharing sexually explicit content of themselves.

US federal agencies have warned of an ongoing cyber threat targeting industrial refrigeration systems in supermarkets, healthcare facilities, military bases and other critical infrastructure. The warning follows a series of cyberattacks across Europe that remotely changed temperatures in commercial freezers and fridges, spoiling food and destroying produce. The agencies did not specify whether US systems have been successfully compromised, but urged businesses to tighten security, change passwords and disconnect systems from the internet.

The U.S. Coast Guard airlifted a cruise ship passenger experiencing a medical emergency off the North Carolina coast on 2 November. The passenger was aboard the Norwegian Bliss, located about 32 miles from Oregon Inlet near the Outer Banks. The passenger was flown to a hospital in Norfolk, Virginia, and was reported to be in stable condition.

Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant and Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald clashed over budget talks on Thursday, with negotiations ending without agreement. McDonald said Bryant was 'not amenable to rationality or reality', whilst DUP leader Gavin Robinson urged Bryant to 'accept the reality' of the funding gap. The region has operated without an agreed budget for eight months into the financial year.

The Minnesota Vikings have named Carson Wentz as their starting quarterback for Monday's game against the Buffalo Bills, with Kyler Murray sidelined by a hamstring strain that coach Kevin O'Connell described as 'week to week'. O'Connell said the team did not want to risk worsening the injury by having Murray play through it. The decision also reflects Murray's poor performance this season: he has thrown five touchdown passes in six games, ranking 27th in the league, and the Vikings' offence ranks 31st in passing yards per game and 27th overall.

More than 1.4 million New Zealanders have already voted in the 7 November election. Prime Minister Chris Luxon and the National party are pitching for a second term with their conservative coalition including ACT and NZ First, whilst Labour leader Chris Hipkins aims to return his party to power after losing the 2023 election. Recent polls show the right bloc with a wafer-thin lead over the left bloc, which also includes the Greens and Maori Party.

Ronald Castille, the former chief justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and a Vietnam veteran who received two purple hearts, has died at the age of 82. He also served as the Philadelphia District Attorney.

Newcastle United defender Amar Dedic sparked a police operation in Northumberland after being reported by a member of the public who saw him and a friend carrying a bow and arrows near a reservoir at Harlow Hill on Wednesday afternoon. Officers attended the area and stopped a vehicle in the Darras Hall estate about seven miles away, seizing the weapon. Police determined there was no threat to the public and that the equipment was for recreational use, though enquiries remain ongoing.

A Mexican judge, Luiz Benítez Alcántara, has been arrested and accused of accepting $2 million in bribes to release Canadian drug trafficker Andrew Clark from custody. Benítez was overseeing extradition proceedings for Clark, who was charged in the US with helping to run a billion-dollar drug trafficking operation allegedly headed by former Canadian Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding. Clark was arrested days after his release and now faces drug trafficking and murder charges in the US.

Willard Reichenberger, 88, from Minot, North Dakota, was reported missing on 4 November. He was last seen at 10 p.m. in Minot and was believed to be driving a silver 2018 Honda CRV. According to KFYR, he has since been found.

A fire has broken out behind a property on Colchester's Mile End Road and Nayland Road, beside an East of England Co-op. Essex County Fire and Rescue Service is attending the scene, with video showing plumes of smoke rising into the air as crews tackle the blaze.

Principals from the Australian Capital Territory's public and Catholic secondary colleges have backed a proposed merger between the University of Canberra and the Canberra Institute of Technology. UC Vice-Chancellor Bill Shorten has outlined a timetable for the combined institution to begin operating by 2029, following an ACT Government decision in April 2027. A committee inquiry into CIT governance has received 48 submissions, mostly supporting the merger idea.

Kimi Antonelli, 20, has become Formula 1's youngest-ever drivers' world champion after finishing third at the Mexico City Grand Prix with four rounds of the 2026 season remaining. The Mercedes driver celebrated with a party on Sunday night in Mexico with his team, father and friends. Antonelli said he is now focusing on his 2027 title defence, treating the final races as the start of his campaign to retain the championship.

A female US postal worker shot two fellow employees at the main post office in Des Moines, Iowa's capital city, before being captured. A third employee was injured while trying to escape. None of the injuries were believed to be life-threatening. Police responded within three minutes and detained the suspect without resistance along a nearby bike path.

An Italian court has convicted American Francis Kaufmann of murdering his Russian partner Anastasia Trofimova and their infant daughter Andromeda in Rome, sentencing him to life in prison. The bodies of Trofimova, 28, and 11-month-old Andromeda were discovered in Villa Pamphili park in June 2025. Kaufmann fled to Greece but was extradited back to Italy for trial.

New York's Strand Bookstore will repay nearly $1.5 million after improperly receiving a pandemic-era small business loan, the U.S. Department of Justice has announced. The bookstore was ineligible because its owner, Nancy Bass Wyden, is the wife of U.S. Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon. In 2021, the Strand applied for a second Paycheck Protection Program loan of $932,350, which required certification that no member of Congress had a controlling interest in the business.

Mark Ayres, 71, and his wife Marion, 70, were caught with £46,000 worth of cannabis when police raided their remote rural home near Attleborough in May last year. Mark began growing cannabis at a former gym in the house after his cancer returned in 2023, having researched the drug's medicinal benefits following a 2018 diagnosis. Both admitted drug offences. Mark was jailed for three-and-a-half years for possession with intent to supply and production of cannabis. Marion received a nine-month sentence suspended for 12 months, as the court found she played a lesser role.

A 26-year-old hiker was assisted by Keswick Mountain Rescue Team after becoming stranded in darkness on the Coast-to-Coast path above Lining Crag on 4 November. Without an adequate torch, he found himself unable to continue by 6.18pm. Three team members met him and escorted him safely down to Stonethwaite.

Bill Belichick has been nominated again for the Pro Football Hall of Fame after being denied in his first ballot in 2026, when he fell one vote short of the required 40. The 74-year-old, who won six Super Bowls as head coach of the New England Patriots and two more as defensive coordinator of the New York Giants, is among five coaches selected from 14 candidates. The coaching subcommittee will choose one to present to the full voting committee for the 2027 class.

Abdo Ali, 52, owner of Shop and Save Mini Market in Liverpool, died in hospital days after suffering a head injury in a disturbance on Berkley Street on October 29. A punching bag machine was pushed over during the altercation and landed on him. Iliasse Alhag, 22, has been charged with affray, assault and wounding without intent.

Luis Benítez Alcántara, a 49-year-old Mexican judge, has been arrested in Colombia and charged with accepting $2 million in bribes to release Canadian drug trafficker Andrew Clark from custody. Clark allegedly served as second-in-command to Ryan Wedding, a former Olympic snowboarder accused of leading a billion-dollar cocaine trafficking operation. Benítez was overseeing Clark's extradition proceedings when he allegedly accepted the bribe in February 2025 and ordered Clark's release.

The Dog in Surrey Street, a Grade II-listed pub believed to be Croydon's oldest, has reopened following refurbishment and a change of ownership in 2025. Owner Sean Cook said the pub's main draw is a hidden garden known as The Wilderness, which surprises first-time visitors. The venue hosts football screenings, film nights and live music, and experienced a spike in custom during the World Cup after installing an outdoor screen.

Two 1980s and 1990s pop stars are headlining an open-air concert at Norfolk Showground on 14 May next year. Wet Wet Wet frontman Marti Pellow and M People singer Heather Small will perform a night of classic hits. The concert, presented by Live Republic, runs from 6.30pm to 10pm and tickets go on sale on 13 November.

The City of Stirling has appointed consulting firm GHD to progress planning for a proposed coastal boardwalk linking Scarborough and Trigg beaches. Stirling mayor Mark Irwin said the $18.5 million project will only be built if 'it stacks up on its merits'. The latest design phase, covering 15 per cent of the full design and expected to complete by June 30, will update cost estimates and examine construction methods. The city will only progress beyond this stage if outside funding can be secured.

Charles Maynard, a skipper from Sevenoaks, was driving a Thames river boat when he spotted someone jump from Westminster Bridge on February 18. He alerted his colleague Ian Davis from Eltham, who used a boat hook to reach the man in the water whilst Maynard ran along Westminster Pier to join him. Both men pulled the man from the water, risking being swept into the Thames themselves, and kept him warm and conscious until emergency services arrived. They are to receive Royal Humane Society Testimonials on Parchment.

Anthropic has launched Personal Finance, a new feature for Claude that lets users connect their bank and credit card accounts through Plaid to analyse their finances. The tool has read-only access and cannot move, manage or invest money. Users can ask Claude questions about their spending patterns, upcoming bills and whether they can afford purchases, and the chatbot will provide answers in everyday language. The feature is rolling out in beta this week to Claude Pro, Max and Ultra subscribers in the US.

Eight people have been killed and one seriously injured in a series of shootings across three villages in the Afyonkarahisar province in western Turkey. The attacks took place on Thursday in rural areas near Yukarıtandır, Kıyır and Ayazini. Two of the dead were teachers. A suspect was arrested after fleeing the scene; two police officers sustained minor injuries during the apprehension.

US first lady Melania Trump has hosted Russian and Ukrainian officials at the White House to recognise a six-day ceasefire in the Russian-controlled city of Oleshky that she helped broker. A trilateral meeting between United States, Ukraine and Russian officials is planned for November 10-11 in the United Arab Emirates. Trump said at the event: 'We have chosen humanity over war.'

Charles Barkley expressed frustration on 'Inside the NBA' about trick-or-treaters who brought basketball cards to his door expecting autographs along with sweets. Barkley said he was happy to hand out candy but objected to signing cards, calling the children 'damn brats' and saying he wanted to 'punch them in the face' but could not because they were kids.

Police officers were targeted with fireworks by youths on Bonfire Night in Edinburgh on Thursday, 5 November. The incident occurred around 5.30pm on Oxgangs Road North, where a group created a road blockage. Several small fires in bins and the park were extinguished by Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, and no injuries were reported to officers. The Scotsman reports that a paramedic was injured and a police vehicle was set alight during Bonfire Night disorder, and that one man was arrested. Police said enquiries are ongoing to trace those involved.

Drivers have been warned of 40-minute queues on the M4 following reports of a crash. The incident has caused significant disruption to traffic on the motorway.

Cumberland Council is hosting a free morning conference at Keswick Pencil Factory on Thursday 12 November to explore opportunities for Cumbrian businesses and community groups from the 2027 Tour de France Grand Départ. The event will feature speakers including council leader Mark Fryer, broadcaster Mark McAlindon, and representatives from the Grand Départ GB project. Attendees will hear practical advice on how organisations can engage with and benefit from the event, along with networking sessions and a panel discussion. The 2027 Grand Départ begins in Edinburgh on 2 July, with the opening stage finishing in Carlisle. Stage two starts in Keswick on 3 July and travels through the Lake District and Lancashire to Liverpool. Cumberland will host two stages of the race.

Police are responding to a security alert in the Portglenone Road area of Randalstown, Co Antrim, after suspected historic munitions were uncovered at a residential property on Thursday evening. Road closures have been put in place and the public has been asked to avoid the area. The PSNI said further updates would follow.

Shawaz Ditta, a former Worcester councillor, has been jailed for nine years at Worcester Crown Court for rape and two assaults involving weapons. The offences occurred in 2022. Ditta attacked the victim with tongs in August 2022, causing a head injury, and later raped her in November when she was heavily intoxicated and had refused his advances. He subsequently heated a knife blade on a stove and placed it on her leg.

Graham Janes, 50, of Chard, Somerset, has been sentenced to an indefinite hospital order after admitting manslaughter by diminished responsibility. He killed Colin Lawson, 43, who lived in South Petherton and had taken Janes into his home on 22 August 2025 while Janes was experiencing mental health difficulties. Lawson, who had severely impaired vision, was fatally attacked in front of his family and sustained multiple injuries including stab wounds.

Blue Origin has delayed the return to flight of its New Glenn rocket to January 2027, about ten days later than previously planned. The delay follows a May explosion during a hot-fire test that badly damaged the company's Cape Canaveral launchpad. CEO Dave Limp cited bad weather over the summer as affecting reconstruction efforts but said the company has made significant progress on repairs.

Syed Ahmed, a maths teacher, has been jailed for child sex offences including rape and sexual assault. He posed as teenage boys on Snapchat and other platforms to groom vulnerable girls, using fake names, filtered images, flattery and promises of gifts before moving conversations to sexual topics. He persuaded five victims to meet him in person.

Wolves midfielder Jordan James has suffered a hamstring injury. Boss Peixoto has discussed when the player could return.

More than 320,000 Vauxhall vehicles are affected by an urgent airbag recall. Owners have been advised not to drive the affected vehicles.

Colchester Zoo is reopening its popular Group Reindeer Experience for Christmas. Groups of up to five can meet reindeer named Alaska, Winter and North, with sessions available at 10am or 3.30pm on selected dates in November, December and January. Participants will meet the animals' keeper and may offer them a treat, though direct contact is not guaranteed.

Court documents unsealed Thursday reveal that President Donald Trump's administration held secret talks with Iran about deporting Iranians even as war continued. The administration said as recently as mid-October that it had plans to deport them through an unnamed third country. A judge ordered the government to give 24-hour notice of any finalised deportation plans.

Paraguayan President Santiago Pena has resigned following the collapse of digital lender Ueno, which left nearly half the population without access to bank accounts. Pena cited the need to preserve democratic institutions and social peace in his decision to step down. Vice President Pedro Alliana is expected to be sworn in after the senate ratifies the resignation.

Essex County Council, Southend-on-Sea City Council and Thurrock Council are preparing a 25-year Spatial Development Strategy (SDS) for Greater Essex to plan housing, jobs, transport and infrastructure across all three areas. The strategy will identify overall housing and employment needs and broad areas for growth, but individual councils will retain responsibility for selecting development sites and Green Belt decisions through their Local Plans. Cabinet meetings to approve the arrangements are scheduled for November.

An alleged robber rammed a PSNI car during a 120mph pursuit on the busy A1 dual carriageway, the High Court heard. The incident took place during a chase on the road.

A heavy goods vehicle collided with Coulton Mill in Coulton, North Yorkshire, just before 6am on Thursday, causing significant damage to the historic property. Nick Burrows, the owner, said he was woken by the sound of a revving engine and falling masonry as the HGV crashed into the side of the building. No injuries were sustained, and North Yorkshire Police said their enquiries into the incident are ongoing.

Shivani Rana died several days after a house fire in the West Midlands. Police have launched an appeal for information as part of their investigation into the incident.

Victoria Mortimer from Mitcham joined campaigners at Downing Street on 2 November in support of the Recipe for Change Citizens' Charter, which calls for stronger Government action to make healthy food more affordable. Ms Mortimer is urging ministers to ban cartoon characters on packaging of unhealthy HFSS foods, describing it as targeted marketing at children. The charter also urges measures to encourage food manufacturers to reduce excessive sugar, salt and saturated fat.

A drone briefly disrupted the Green Bay Packers' game against the Carolina Panthers last Thursday night, pausing play in the third quarter. Green Bay Police said authorities have identified the drone operator, though they have not released the operator's name. The investigation remains active, with police working alongside the FBI, FAA and US Attorney's Office.

Abdul El-Sayed, the son of Egyptian immigrants, has won a Michigan Senate seat to become the first Muslim American U.S. senator. In his victory speech, he addressed Vice President JD Vance, who had warned during the campaign that El-Sayed would lead rioters in burning down Detroit, saying 'JD, habibi' and noting the irony that Vance would be constitutionally obliged to swear him in. Arabs across the region have celebrated his use of Arabic terms and phrases in American politics.

P.F. Chang's, an Arizona-based restaurant chain, has partnered with the Starlight Children's Foundation to donate $100,000 to Banner Children's at Desert in Mesa. The funds will support hospitalized children and their families through programmes designed to ease fears and provide positive distractions. The restaurant also delivered approximately 20,000 'Bao Horse' plush toys to young patients during their hospital stays.

Chris Lynn, a Northamptonshire Steelbacks batter, tested positive for cocaine metabolites after the club won the T20 Vitality Blast final on 18 July. The 36-year-old admitted using cocaine on 15–16 July, several days before the test, outside of competition. His initial proposed three-month suspension was reduced to one month after he completed a substance-abuse treatment programme, which he served from 31 July to 30 August.

The Federal Aviation Administration is phasing out 3.5-inch floppy disks used in critical air traffic control systems, replacing them with the Enterprise Information Display System (E-IDS). The new digital platform will provide controllers with faster access to weather alerts, equipment outages and other vital information across more than 400 facilities. Upgrades have begun at five sites and are due for completion across 435 facilities by the end of 2028.

Chesterfield manager Paul Cook has been charged with misconduct by the Football Association for his behaviour during his side's 4-1 loss at Newport County last Friday. Cook was sent off at half-time by referee Zac Kennard-Kettle with Chesterfield already trailing 3-0. He has been charged with improper behaviour and/or abusive and insulting language towards a match official both before and after his dismissal, and must respond by 9 November.

Nottinghamshire police and firefighters are reminding residents to enjoy Bonfire Night safely and responsibly.

Potential investors in Anthropic's planned IPO are raising doubts about whether the artificial intelligence start-up can proceed with its roadshow next week for a November listing. Investors view the $1.5 trillion valuation as at the high end of expectations and are pushing for a more attractive price. The concerns reflect the sharp technology selloff and geopolitical uncertainty affecting new offerings.

Bill Belichick has advanced again as one of five coaching candidates for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2027, after failing to secure election in his first year of eligibility last year. Tom Coughlin, Mike Holmgren, Dan Reeves and Mike Shanahan join him in contention. The subcommittee will select one candidate for the Hall's selection committee to consider in early 2027.

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has condemned his team's defensive performance after losing 3-2 to Fenerbahce in the Champions League, having twice led. The Reds have now conceded three goals in each of their last three European matches—an unprecedented occurrence in the club's history—against LASK, Villarreal and Fenerbahce. Van Dijk said the defending 'is definitely not sustainable' and criticised lapses in concentration on set pieces, saying the team 'switched off and were not ready for the first and second balls'.

The average US 30-year mortgage rate has fallen for the third consecutive week to 7.18%, down from 7.24% previously, according to mortgage buyer Freddie Mac. The decline offers some relief to homebuyers facing higher property prices. The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage average also fell to 6.57% from 6.60%.

Microsoft is updating its Xbox PC app with a redesigned interface that launches up to 60 per cent faster than before. Home, Store and Game Pass pages load up to 50 per cent faster, and in-app windows open up to 65 per cent faster, according to the company's testing. Xbox Insiders can begin testing the updated app today, with a full rollout to follow.

OpenAI has released GPT-6 Cyber, a cybersecurity model designed to find vulnerabilities in computer systems. The company claims the model stays within its safety guidelines over 99 percent of the time during testing, down from around 5 percent breaches with the previous GPT-5.6 Cyber. Fouad Matin, head of OpenAI's cyber preparedness team, said the improvement shows the model does what it is asked. However, concern remains about 'evaluation awareness', where AI systems recognise they are being tested and change their behaviour accordingly.

Knead Food, a café in Great Bardfield, Essex, is closing on Christmas Eve after nearly 20 years. The owners described the announcement as 'one of the hardest posts we've ever had to write', saying the business and village had meant a great deal to them over the years.

Priceless artefacts dating back 1,000 years will be auctioned at Reeman Dansie from Tuesday, November 10, to Thursday, November 12. Highlights include a coronet worn at King George IV's 1820 coronation, a cotton handkerchief made for Princess Elizabeth in the late 1940s expected to fetch up to £500, and Wallis Simpson's Imperial Russian gold toothpick case. The sale also features signed photographs of Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher, informal photographs of the late Queen and a pack of playing cards made for the monarch.

Rail operators are urging passengers to plan ahead as Manchester's Christmas markets return, warning of significantly higher demand on train services. Manchester Piccadilly station saw more than 382,000 passengers during the opening weekend of the 2025 markets, an 11 per cent increase on 2024. Network Rail, Northern, and TransPennine Express have warned that trains and platforms across Manchester's city centre stations will be much busier than usual, and queuing systems may be introduced at Manchester Piccadilly to manage crowds safely.

Croydon recorded 408 domestic abuse-related offences in September 2026, the highest of any London borough, according to Metropolitan Police figures. London recorded 8,167 such offences across all boroughs that month. However, Croydon did not have the highest rate per population: Barking and Dagenham, Greenwich and Tower Hamlets each recorded 1.2 offences per 1,000 people, compared to Croydon's rate of 1.0 per 1,000.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has endorsed Labour candidate David Allen, the Police Fire and Crime Commissioner, ahead of Cumbria's mayoral election next year. In an op-ed for the News & Star, Burnham praised Allen's work, citing his initiative giving young mechanics students at Carlisle College access to vehicles seized from criminals. Burnham said that with greater resources as Cumbria's first metro mayor, Allen could transform opportunities across the region.

An NTFA club president has proposed a two-conference model to address the logistical challenges of organising a Greater Northern football competition. The president describes the proposal as 'something to take to the table to discuss', suggesting it remains under consideration rather than agreed.

Syed Ahmed, 38, a maths teacher from Redbridge working in Essex, has been jailed for 10 years at Southwark Crown Court for grooming and sexually abusing teenage girls. He targeted girls aged 13 to 16, none his students, on social media platforms including Snapchat, Wizz and Yubo, using false identities and highly-filtered images to deceive them. He was convicted of rape, sexual assault and other child sex offences, with a three-year extended licence period to follow.

Maribella Ristorante has won the 2026 Downtown Sioux Falls Pork Showdown with its dish 'Pluma', which scored an average rating of 9.77 out of 10. The pan-seared pork pluma was served with spaghetti in apple brie cream sauce, asparagus tips, blistered tomatoes and pancetta. The sixth annual competition featured 26 participating restaurants, with 5,171 pork dishes sold and 1,350 votes cast, generating $109,720 in direct spending and an estimated $498,019 economic impact for downtown businesses.

Aiden Murray, 23, of Little Bury, Oxford, has been charged with one count of breaching a Football Banning Order after Oxford United's match against Reading FC. He has been bailed to appear at Oxford Magistrates' Court on 14 January 2027. Thames Valley Police also arrested a 19-year-old man from Wokingham on suspicion of criminal damage to a bus and released him on conditional bail, and a 16-year-old boy from Reading on suspicion of a Public Order Act offence, who was released on bail pending further enquiries.

A fire swept through a two-storey row frame building in Brooklyn's Sunset Park neighbourhood at 1.40am, killing six people and injuring seven others, including three firefighters. Four people died at the scene; two others with critical injuries were taken to hospital where they were pronounced dead. Four civilians and three firefighters suffered non-life-threatening or minor injuries respectively. More than 200 first responders brought the fire under control in about three hours. Fire marshals were investigating the cause. A lithium-ion battery was found at the scene, though it is not yet known if it was related to the fire.

A vehicle crashed into Stevenage's Dunelm store at Roebuck Retail Park on 5 November at around 11.30am. The building was evacuated and two people were taken to hospital for further care.

Matthias Jaissle has clarified that his criticism of Newcastle's players after Monday's 1-0 defeat by Everton was lost in translation, and that long balls are not banned under his management. The manager said his comments about players failing to follow instructions were not intended to point fingers, and that tactical decisions depend on context. Jaissle also dismissed suggestions his job is under threat despite four defeats in five matches.

LeBron James and Luka Dončić have issued cease-and-desist letters to Bron AI, an AI-powered sports betting app, over unauthorized use of their likenesses in advertising. An advertisement posted to social media showed a person resembling James wearing a No. 23 jersey with the name 'Bron' scrolling through the app. The app is owned by PlayVision Inc. James's spokesperson said he is in no way affiliated with the app and that the unauthorized use implies he is involved with basketball betting, a violation of NBA rules. Adam Mendelsohn, James's media adviser, told the New York Post the ad was 'another example of the decline and lack of originality in sports media' and suggested the company intended to provoke a legal response for publicity.

More than 2.85 million people have signed 498 petitions calling for tighter fireworks regulations in the UK. The most common demands include ending sales to the general public and switching to quieter alternatives. The petitions were prompted partly by an incident in which an 11-year-old boy from East London was seriously injured by a firework.

Chris Lynn, a Northants batter, tested positive for cocaine in a drugs sample collected during the T20 Blast Finals Day in July. The 36-year-old admitted using cocaine in the week before the event but claimed it was an out-of-competition violation unrelated to sporting performance, a view supported by an expert. Lynn served a one-month suspension between 31 July and 30 August 2026 after completing a substance abuse treatment programme that reduced his potential ban from three months.

Kabiru Jack Buraimoh was jailed for eight years at the High Court in Edinburgh on 4 November after being found guilty of rape. He used a spare key to enter a woman's home in the north of the city and carried out the attack on 12 May 2024. Buraimoh was placed on the sex offenders register indefinitely.

Planning permission has been granted to convert a historic listed barn in Staffordshire into wedding accommodation. The barn will undergo minor internal and external alterations to provide 10 bedrooms.

Pemberton Township Mayor Matthew Bianchini has conceded the mayoral election to Democratic challenger Belinda Fontanez following his decisive defeat, in which he received just over 30 per cent of the vote. The concession comes weeks after video footage from an October council meeting showed Bianchini being restrained as he moved toward resident Michael Sawka after an apparent confrontation. Bianchini told local media the incident 'was wrong' and that he should not have reacted as he did, though he also wrote on Facebook that he would 'not apologize' if residents attacked his family.

The Bank of England's monetary policy committee has voted unanimously to raise the base interest rate to 4% from 3.75%, the first increase in more than three years. The central bank said the rise was warranted because inflation in the UK economy was rising and would continue to rise amid the war in Iran. All nine committee members backed the hike, though Catherine Mann preferred a larger 0.5 percentage point increase. Higher rates typically reduce inflation by making borrowing more expensive, which can weigh on demand and limit price increases. The increase will push up monthly mortgage payments for homeowners on tracker rates, though those on fixed-rate mortgages will not immediately feel the impact. The Bank indicated that borrowing costs would likely rise further if the conflict continued unresolved.

Derby County head coach John Eustace says he is 'not surprised' to still be in charge despite a run of one win in 14 games that has left the club second from bottom in the Championship. Talks were held at the club on Wednesday about his future, though Eustace said he was unaware of them. He will manage Derby against Bolton Wanderers on Friday.

Matt Damon has revealed that his wife Luciana Barroso suffered a brain aneurysm and underwent surgery one week before the 2024 Oscars. Despite recovering from the procedure, Barroso attended an Oscars after-party with Damon because she remembered he had missed the 2007 Oscars ceremony when his film 'The Departed' won. Damon said Barroso is now 'totally fine'.

NASA's Artemis II rocket launch in April 2026 created three unprecedented disturbances in Earth's ionosphere measuring over 5,000 kilometres across North America, according to research to be published in Geophysical Research Letters. The disturbances were caused by the initial rocket launch and subsequent upper-stage engine burns in the upper atmosphere. Whilst the study did not directly measure GPS disruption, researchers say such ionospheric disturbances have the potential to cause temporary navigation errors; Charles Lin from National Cheng Kung University told Space.com that positioning errors of a couple of metres could cause an autonomous car to change lanes or affect drone positioning.

New Zealand's election enters its final 24 hours on 7 November with polls showing a race too tight to predict. The top seven parties held their final televised debate on Thursday night, watched by around one million viewers. The new party Opportunity is expected to hold the balance of power in post-election coalition negotiations.

A small number of people were arrested at Oxford United's football match against Reading FC at the Kassam Stadium in Oxford on Wednesday evening. Thames Valley Police's Football Unit said the vast majority of supporters behaved responsibly. The force deployed a comprehensive policing operation with specialist resources including mounted officers, police dogs and drones, with Section 35 dispersal and Section 60AA stop-and-search powers in place across Reading, Didcot and Oxford from 11am on 4 November until 1am on 5 November.

Three people were injured in a shooting at the main post office in Des Moines, Iowa on Thursday morning. Des Moines police said the suspect has been detained and the victims' injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. Officers responded within three minutes of the 911 call, which came in around 9:10 a.m. from inside the post office on Second and University Avenue after shots were fired on the second floor.

David Jones, an Australian department store operating for 188 years, has entered voluntary administration after being unable to pay rent to its biggest landlord, Westfield owner Scentre Group. Administrators from McGrathNicol are seeking either a recapitalisation or a buyer to save the business. Retail experts say department stores must improve in-store customer experience to survive competition from online retailers.

An ex-police officer is testifying that he shot two men in self-defence. Beau Lamarre-Condon, 31, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Jesse Baird, a TV presenter, and Luke Davies at their Paddington home in February 2024. He is expected to tell the NSW Supreme Court jury he disguised himself as an Uber Eats driver to enter their home and retrieve his belongings after Baird ended their relationship. Prosecutors allege Lamarre-Condon was motivated by jealous obsession and shot Baird execution-style, then killed Davies to eliminate a witness.

A vehicle fire has closed the A591 in both directions at Plantation Bridge. Police and Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service attended the scene after being called at around 3.42pm. The vehicle involved is believed to be a van. Motorists have been advised to avoid the area while the scene is cleared and recovery work is carried out, with traffic being diverted.

The Nasdaq fell more than 5 per cent on Thursday, entering correction territory after declining over 10 per cent from its October record high, amid fears that a Democratic-controlled Congress will impose restrictions on data centre development. The sell-off, which wiped trillions of pounds from market values, was triggered by concerns that Democrats will slow AI infrastructure projects. Voters rejected data centres in at least 46 of 50 ballot measures nationwide. Tech giants including Nvidia, Tesla, Meta and Broadcom saw significant losses. OpenAI said it would work with local communities and reduce power usage, while Meta's president acknowledged data centre buildouts will be 'harder' moving forward. The rout spread globally, with Asian technology stocks falling sharply on Friday.

Jennifer Eilts, who ran Tiny Toes Daycare in Dickinson, North Dakota, was sentenced on 2 November to two years' probation and barred from working with children after pleading guilty to child neglect and operating a childcare home without a licence. In January, a seven-month-old girl in her care sustained severe bite wounds from another child, requiring emergency medical treatment and hospitalisation. The child's father, William Craig, told the court the incident had lasting emotional and financial impact on his family, forcing him and his partner to alter their careers to provide full-time childcare for their daughter.

An EuroMillions player from Thurrock has come forward to claim a £1 million Millionaire Maker prize after matching code JHDR 46235 in the draw on 13 October. The National Lottery had launched a public appeal to identify the ticket holder. Andy Carter, senior winner's advisor at Allwyn, the operator of The National Lottery, said the organisation was 'delighted to bring our search to a successful end'.

Whitehaven's West Pier has reopened after weeks of repairs to an electrical cable fault that closed it in September. Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners said the pier is now accessible to the public following successful repairs. Engineers lifted and reinstated the concrete-encased cable, which has been reconnected and re-energised. Visitors are advised to take care as loose concrete remains in places and contractors continue work.

Ozzfest is returning to the UK on July 10, 2027, but will be held at The National Bowl in Milton Keynes rather than Villa Park in Birmingham. Sharon Osbourne explained that continuing construction at Villa Park meant the stadium would not be ready, and the choice was either to move the festival or postpone it. Early tickets go on sale on November 6.

York Council has approved expanding powers under a public space protection order to crack down on street drinking and antisocial behaviour in the city centre. The council is also considering introducing similar measures in Haxby and Acomb's Front Street, which councillors say are troubled by street drinking and gangs. A survey of over 500 residents found the behaviour intimidating and damaging to York's reputation.

Alfie Ford, 19, has been detained for 22 months after being found guilty of dangerous driving and driving while disqualified. He was given a 15-month suspended sentence on 19 June for a March pursuit in which he reached 104mph in a 40mph zone. Eleven days later, police spotted him driving again in South Shields and he led them on another chase, reaching 77mph in a 40mph area before abandoning the vehicle and fleeing on foot. Judge Robert Spragg said Ford would have been warned in 'clear terms' what would happen if he re-offended.

The A64 between York and Scarborough has experienced 671 closure shifts totalling 5,224 hours—equivalent to almost 218 days—since 2020, according to data from National Highways released via Freedom of Information. Most disruption came from planned roadworks and maintenance rather than crashes. Kevin Hollinrake, MP for Thirsk and Malton, said the figures showed the road is not fit for purpose, carrying twice the traffic appropriate for a single carriageway and holding back business and tourism in North Yorkshire.

Pearse Jordan O'Neill from Belfast was jailed for four years at Belfast Crown Court for sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl and a total of 19 offences. The sentence will be divided equally between prison and licence. On 4 May last year, O'Neill visited the girl's home and, after she answered the door, touched her breasts over her clothes and asked her to kiss him before telling her not to tell anyone. She ran upstairs and told her mother, who followed O'Neill up the street and called police. O'Neill initially denied the assault but pleaded guilty on the day his trial was due to start. Judge Mark Reel said the guilty plea was welcomed as it 'avoided the need for young victim having to re-live the episode in court'. O'Neill also pleaded guilty to 18 offences dating back to November 2024.

Ayanna Taylor, wife of Colts running back Jonathan Taylor, posted on TikTok that she feels like a 'prized calf waiting for the slaughter' amid speculation about a potential trade before the NFL's 10 November deadline. She said the waiting game is causing her stress and that she cannot decide which is worse: being suddenly traded or knowing a move might be coming. Meanwhile, Taylor himself gave an unclear response when asked if he had requested a trade, saying 'the hay is in the barn now' and that the team should focus on the upcoming game against the Dallas Cowboys.

Jon Boutcher, Northern Ireland's police chief, said his officers are working to combat an increasing threat from right-wing extremism in the region. He was commenting after 17 improvised explosive devices and two detonators were recovered last week in an investigation linked to extreme right-wing terrorism. A man was arrested and later charged in connection with searches on the Shankill Road and Edwina Street.

France's Interior Ministry said more than 600,000 people rallied across France on Thursday in nationwide strikes and demonstrations demanding higher wages and school funding. Crowds in Paris, Lyon, Marseille and elsewhere were mostly peaceful, with students, workers and retirees joining the protests. Some high schools closed due to blockades or teacher strikes, and public transport was disrupted in places.

Jon Boutcher, Northern Ireland's police chief, has rejected suggestions that the Provisional IRA's feelings influenced the PSNI's decision to stop the Drumcree parade in Portadown. Boutcher told the Northern Ireland Policing Board on Thursday that no one 'dictates' how his officers make decisions, and challenged what he called a 'misinterpretation' in a police log. The police operation has cost around £5.5 million to date.

More than 1,000 people were diagnosed with cancer each day in England in 2024, with 373,574 new diagnoses representing a record high. However, cancer charities warn the NHS is still failing to meet its targets on diagnosis and treatment timescales, with only 78.6 per cent of urgently referred patients diagnosed or ruled out within 28 days against a target of 80 per cent.

Bournemouth travelled to Sparta Prague on Thursday evening aiming to maintain their perfect start in Europe. The English side has won all four of their opening Europa League fixtures, including victories over Milan, Sturm Graz and Real Sociedad, and remained unbeaten after the trip to Prague. Amine Adli, the winger who reached the 2024 Europa League final with Leverkusen, cautioned that the competition remained a long journey to the final.

Developers have lodged plans to demolish Edinburgh's Argyle House, which served as a location for the Netflix drama Dept Q, and replace it with a new development. The developers describe the scheme as an 'elegant, connected residential and business quarter'.

Bubbling Burkes, a licensed Harry Potter gift shop at 22 Bond Street in Chelmsford, draws visitors with themed merchandise, drinks and immersive experiences inspired by Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley. The shop offers takeaway drinks including Chocolate Frog Hot Chocolate, Mermaid's Tail and butterscotch beer, alongside spell jars, potion bottles, dragons and Harry Potter stationery. It also stocks a small selection of decorations from Lord of the Rings, Wednesday and Stranger Things.

Bread Source is opening the Stock Room, a new shop and wine room next to its bakery in Norwich's Upper St Giles Street. Footage of the refurbished space has generated customer excitement on social media. The shop will stock bakery ingredients, pantry items, coffee and wine, with a wine room at the rear offering a self-serve tasting system, charcuterie, artisan cheeses and ready meals.

US stocks have dropped sharply, with the Nasdaq approaching correction territory as steep losses in chip and data centre-related stocks led the decline. This came a day after the Democrats' election victory had powered a broad-based rally. Concerns about potential changes to artificial intelligence policy under a new administration may be driving the sell-off.

A new rough sleeper camp has appeared beside Norwich Theatre Royal in full view of theatre-goers and shoppers. Multiple encampments have recently emerged across Norwich's city centre, including alongside Riverside Walk, beneath the Magdalen Street flyover, in St Stephens underpass, Chapelfield Gardens and near the city walls. People living and working in the city have expressed frustration, with concerns raised about anti-social behaviour and the impact on visitor numbers and the local economy. Nick Taylor, chairman of Reform UK Norwich, said the camps were 'not a good look' for the city. Norwich City Council said more than 400 bed spaces are available across housing and emergency accommodation, with outreach teams regularly offering support to rough sleepers, though not everyone accepts the help.

The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra will conduct an anniversary concert of Benjamin Britten's War Requiem on Remembrance Day, marking 50 years since the composer's death.

A 72-year-old man has been charged with racially abusing nurses at an NHS facility in Lytham on 8 March. Fylde Police arrested Michael Robert Mason, of Warton, after staff reported he had used racially abusive comments and language towards them. He has been charged with a racially or religiously aggravated public order offence of intentional harassment, alarm or distress, and is due to appear at Lancaster Magistrates' Court on 20 November.

Severe storms brought torrential rain to the Georgia-Tennessee border area overnight and into Thursday morning, triggering flash flood emergencies. Between 5 and 10 inches of rain fell in the mountainous region, causing the Toccoa River to reach record levels. Police and emergency responders rescued more than 40 people from flooding that submerged buildings to their rooflines in downtown McCaysville and Copperhill. The storm is moving eastward towards the US East Coast.

York Art Gallery will launch Interwoven: Stories of Women, Textiles and Art on 5 February 2027, running until 6 June. The exhibition features contemporary textile art and includes work spanning more than 100 years from three generations of women artists: Mabel Nicholson, Nancy Nicholson, EQ Nicholson and Louisa Creed, whose work will tour from the Women's Art Collection at Murray Edwards College, University of Cambridge. Contemporary artists featured include Anna Perach, Lubaina Himid and Magdalena Abakanowicz.

The Rising Sun & Pad Thai Cuisine on High Street in Thame has retained a one-out-of-five food hygiene rating after being reinspected in September by South Oxfordshire environmental health officers. The restaurant, a converted pub serving Thai food, was initially given the low score earlier this year. Food safety management was deemed to require 'major improvement' in both inspections, though cleanliness and hygienic food handling improved slightly from the first visit.

Fashion retailer Lefties, often compared to Primark for its affordable prices, has opened its second UK store and first in southern England at Lakeside Shopping Centre in Essex on 29 October. The store on Level 2 in the Central Atrium offers womenswear, menswear, childrenswear and homeware collections, alongside retail technology including assisted checkouts and smart fitting rooms. Robert Jewell, managing director of asset management at Pradera which manages Lakeside, said the opening marks 'the next chapter' in the shopping centre's evolution as a super-regional destination.

Wokingham Borough Council is considering redeveloping Mulberry Business Park to build 113 social homes at a cost of up to £35 million. The proposals include affordable homes and specialist accommodation for adults and children. However, questions have been raised about the future of existing tenants, including The Cowshed, a charity providing clothing and essentials to people experiencing hardship.

The Suffolk Tractor Light Parade returns on Sunday, December 13, with more than 100 tractors decorated in festive lights travelling through east Suffolk. The event will raise funds for three charities: Brave Futures, Home-Start Suffolk and YANA, with organisers aiming to collect more than £13,000. The parade starts and finishes at Clarke & Simpson Auction Centre in Campsea Ashe, with a pre-parade display opening at 3.15pm and the illuminated convoy setting off at 4.30pm.

Jeremy Clarkson is auctioning three cars from The Grand Tour in November. The vehicles include a 1982 Lancia Montecarlo Spider, the last car he drove on the show, a 1983 Alfa Romeo GTV6 used in the inaugural Grand Tour episode, and a 1978 Lincoln Continental Mark V. Clarkson said he rarely gets to drive the cars, so it is better they go to someone who can.

Peppers Burgers in Walton Street, Jericho, was closed in March after inspectors discovered a dead mouse behind a freezer and large quantities of animal faeces in the kitchen and food storage areas. The restaurant, described as an 'Oxford institution' since the 1980s, reopened in August and was reinspected. It received a two-out-of-five food hygiene rating, up from zero-out-of-five, though inspectors said food handling and cleanliness of facilities still require improvement.

Bridgwater MP Ashley Fox has secured a Westminster Hall debate to challenge the Government over repeated closures of the M5 in Somerset and their impact on local communities and businesses. The debate will examine National Highways' traffic management policies and whether more can be done to minimise disruption. The action follows 9,106 incidents reported on the Somerset stretch over two years—roughly 12 per day, with nearly eight collisions weekly.

Model and TV presenter Jodie Kidd has praised Jeremy Clarkson more than two decades after appearing with him on Top Gear's Star in a Reasonably Priced Car segment in 2003. Speaking on the Cars & Money and Tom Hartley Cars podcast, the 48-year-old said Clarkson's Farm had allowed viewers to see a different side of the presenter. She described him as 'highly intelligent' with 'brilliant' thought processes, saying he was 'incredibly loyal' and 'a very good friend'.

The Combined Authority's Cabinet will meet in Scarborough on Friday, 6 November, to decide on £7 million in funding for redeveloping the vacant Brunswick Centre into a mixed-use leisure, retail and hospitality destination. The project is backed by North Yorkshire Council, which last week approved £10.5 million in grant funding and an £8 million loan. An initial £1 million would support pre-construction work; a further £6 million would be ringfenced for construction once a full business case is approved.

Christian Horner, Red Bull's boss for 20 years, has faced criticism for comments about Helmut Marko in his recently released autobiography Drive. In interviews promoting the book, Horner accused Marko of trying to have him removed and said Marko did not offer condolences when the mother of Horner's daughter died. Former Formula One driver Ralf Schumacher called the comments tasteless, saying Horner was ruining his own legacy. Marko denied the claims, telling F1-Insider they were a collection of untruths.

Mahmoud Matar, 25, of Banbury, pleaded guilty at Oxford Crown Court on 5 November to causing serious injuries by dangerous driving. The crash happened on 23 October on the A422 Hennef Way in Banbury, injuring cyclist Bradley Springate, a man in his 30s, who was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries. Matar will be sentenced on 3 December after a pre-sentence report; he has been released on unconditional bail with an interim driving ban.

Channel 4 has announced the recommissioning of Train-ing It with Joe Wilkinson for two further series following a successful debut run. Richard Ayoade, a Suffolk-raised comedian, stars in the first episode of the second series, joining Wilkinson on a train journey. The filming at Ipswich station in late October occurred between dates on Ayoade's Afterthoughts live tour.

The White Hart in Fyfield, Oxfordshire, has been ranked 11th in the Good Food Guide's 100 best pubs. Landlady Kay Chandler, who runs it with her husband chef patron Mark Chandler, said the ranking was 'such a huge achievement' for their village pub. The Bull in Charlbury came 63rd, whilst the Feathered Nest Country Inn in Nether Westcote was also included in the 2026 list.

Sony has released the MDR-3R, a refresh of its original MDR-3 wired headphones from 1979. The new headphones retain the classic design with blue and orange earpads, but add modern features including USB-C connection and a built-in microphone for calls. They cost $60, with a limited Stranger Things edition available for $80.

Vladimir Putin accused hockey organizations of 'gross violation' after Hockey Canada and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that Russian athletes will not participate in next month's World Junior Championships in Alberta. This follows the Court of Arbitration for Sport lifting restrictions on Russian teams. Putin said organizations had 'not honored the commitments they once made' and were enforcing 'highly politicized' restrictions 'not based on law'. Belarus also criticized Canada, with its Foreign Ministry accusing it of discrimination and arguing that winners should be 'determined on the field, not at visa centers'.

Bartlomiej Kuczynski, 45, was found dead at his Costessey home on 19 January 2024 alongside his daughters Jasmin, 12, and Natasha, 8, and their aunt Kanticha Sukpengpanao, 36. All four had suffered stab wounds to the neck. The deaths of the girls and their aunt are being treated as murder. Kuczynski had been spotted pitching a tent beside a road in Little Fransham, about 20 miles from his home, on 13 December 2023, weeks before the deaths. A bloodstained knife and blanket found nearby were reported to police three days before the killings but only recovered afterwards.

UK Railtours is running the Canterbury Christmas Cantata, a vintage train tour departing from Peterborough on 12 December. Passengers will travel in Mark 2 carriages pulled by two 1960s Class 37 diesel locomotives, with stops at Huntingdon, Stevenage, Potters Bar, Finsbury Park and Kensington Olympia. Travellers can spend six hours in Canterbury or take a mini-tour through coastal Kent.

On-call firefighters from Thorney and Ely in Cambridgeshire have undertaken training exercises as part of their regular weekly drill nights. At Play2Day Wisbech, a children's soft play centre, Thorney crews wore full breathing apparatus with obscured vision to simulate smoke, navigating the structure to locate and rescue training casualties. New firefighters at Ely practised safely pitching a large ladder, while Thorney crews also tackled a mock incident involving hazardous materials and heavy smoke. Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service said the soft play structure provided an excellent setting to test firefighters' ability to work through tight, restricted spaces while remaining calm under pressure.

Paraguay's President Santiago Peña resigned on Thursday following the seizure of Ueno Bank by the nation's central bank. Peña, a former investor in a company related to the digital lender, announced his decision in a video posted to X, stating he was stepping down to preserve the country's stability and democratic institutions amid massive protests and impeachment debate.

Harmeet Dhillon has resigned as the Justice Department's assistant attorney general for the Civil Rights Division, becoming the first high-ranking justice department official to leave after this week's midterm elections, which saw Democrats take control of Congress. Dhillon, who was nominated by President Trump in December 2024 and confirmed by the Senate, formally submitted her resignation on 5 November. She told Fox News that she had decided to leave weeks earlier and was asked by White House chief of staff Susie Wiles to delay her departure until after the midterms. Dhillon said she believed she had accomplished what she came to do and wanted to return to private practice. Attorney General Todd Blanche announced her departure, praising her work over her 18 months leading the division.

A High Court challenge is being heard against Newry Mourne and Down District Council's planning approval for a £17m civic centre in Newry. Challengers allege that planning chiefs failed to properly consider potentially more environmentally-friendly alternative sites for the development.

Nine flights departing from UK and Ireland airports experienced bomb threats between Monday 2 November and Thursday 5 November. Aircraft were diverted to alternative airports, searched by emergency services, and in some cases escorted by fighter jets from Hungary, Italy and France. No explosives were found on any of the aircraft.

A life raft belonging to the missing fishing vessel Kilda has washed up at West Burrafirth in Shetland on Thursday 5 November, nearly a month after the boat and its crew went missing on 13 October. Two crew members, Norman Murray, 40, and Murdo Morrison, 23, remain unaccounted for. The body of a third crew member, Douglas Craigie, was recovered on 14 October.

Metropolitan Police PC Omer Farok has been sacked for gross misconduct after pushing a handcuffed homeless man face-first onto the pavement in central London in June 2024. The man, unable to break his fall with his hands restrained behind his back, suffered a cut near his right eyebrow requiring hospital treatment. Farok was cleared of assault in a criminal trial but dismissed following a misconduct hearing.

Two people were shot and a third was injured trying to escape during a shooting at Des Moines's main post office on Thursday morning. The shooting occurred on the second floor around 9:10 a.m. local time. A suspect was taken into custody and none of the injuries were believed to be life-threatening, according to police.

Traffic lights on the A38 Taunton Road in North Petherton, near M5 Junction 24, failed on Tuesday 3 November and remain broken despite Somerset Council sending engineers. The council is racing to complete repairs before Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival this weekend, which is expected to bring tens of thousands of additional vehicles to the area. Travel Somerset said on Thursday 5 November that repairs are taking longer than anticipated and work will continue into next week.

Spooktacular Glasgow's bonfire and fireworks display has been cancelled hours before the event was set to take place on Bonfire Night. Organisers announced the cancellation on social media without providing a reason, disappointing families who had planned to attend. Visitors are encouraged to check the attraction's social media for updates on whether other elements will be affected.

King Charles's former butler Grant Harrold, who worked for him from 2004 to 2011, has said the King avoids crisps when snacking. Harrold told The Express that while the King enjoys ordinary food including burgers and beer, he prefers vegetables grown in his garden at Highgrove and would not choose a packet of crisps for a snack.

Police have renewed their appeal to find 29-year-old Eren Wright, missing from Lytham since shortly after 10am on Tuesday, 27 October. The search has now focused on the Fylde coast area, including Lytham, St Annes, Fairhaven and Blackpool, following earlier enquiries in Southport and Wigan. Eren is white, around 5ft 7in tall and slim with blonde hair and tattoos of vines and a tree on her hands and arms. She was last seen wearing a light olive-green hoodie, beige or cream wide-leg trousers and worn white trainers. Police have urged the public to avoid online speculation and to call 999 if anyone spots her.

A fire crew from Carrow was called to St Stephens Street in Norwich around 2pm on Thursday after a person became trapped in a lift inside a shop. The Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that firefighters manually assisted the trapped person. The incident was resolved by 2.08pm.

More than 28,500 homes in East Suffolk waited at least 21 days for food waste collection after new Government recycling rules came into force in June. One address near Halesworth waited 70 days. Over 80 per cent of the eastern district experienced unreliable or non-existent food collections in June and July. Councillor Paul Ashton apologised and said the council was already making improvements and learning lessons from the launch of the new service.

First Minister John Swinney says he opposes the UK government's planned ban on new North Sea oil and gas licences, arguing that fossil fuels will be required 'for some years to come'. The SNP leader told MSPs there was a 'rational' case for further exploration if a project's carbon emissions were lower than using imported fuel. This marks a shift from the Scottish government's previous 2023 energy strategy, which set out a presumption against new drilling, and follows SNP members voting to ditch that presumption.

The Competition and Markets Authority has approved The Co-operative Group's takeover of Southern Co-op, which will add 330,000 members and about 300 sites to the Co-op's operations. The CMA initially raised concerns that the merger could substantially lessen competition, but accepted remedies including the sale of 15 convenience stores and two funeral homes. The deal, announced in April, will combine over 300 years of co-operative heritage.

TikTok has quietly launched a standalone TikTok Shop app in select southeast Asian markets, as first spotted by social media consultant Matt Navarra. The app offers personalized product recommendations, shopping through livestreams and short-form videos, app-exclusive deals, in-app checkout, order tracking and customer support. It remains unclear whether TikTok plans to expand the app to the United States or other regions.

A series of burglaries targeting jewellery and watches has been reported across North Yorkshire between 17 October and 4 November. Break-ins occurred in Harrogate, Selby and Thirsk, with suspects forcing entry during late afternoon and early evening. North Yorkshire Police are carrying out a full investigation and have increased patrols in the targeted areas.

A 15-year-old from Midlothian has been charged with multiple road traffic offences after police responded to reports of dangerous driving in Bonnyrigg on 4 November 2026. Officers traced the rider and seized the off-road bike. Police Scotland noted that such bikes can only legally be used on private land with the owner's permission.

Thorganby Parish Council sought to protect The Jefferson Arms by having it designated an asset of community value, which would allow locals to bid for the property if it was sold. North Yorkshire Council rejected the application, concluding the pub did not meet the criteria. A survey of 72 villagers showed strong support: 60 of 67 respondents rated it as important to village social life, and 46 said they would visit at least two or three times monthly if it reopened.

Thorganby Parish Council applied to have The Jefferson Arms designated an asset of community value, which would give local people an opportunity to bid for the property if sold. North Yorkshire Council rejected the application, concluding the pub did not meet the criteria. A survey of 72 residents showed 60 of 67 respondents rated the pub as quite important to village social life, with 46 saying they would visit a reopened venue regularly.

Four youths caused more than £500 of criminal damage to a council bin in the Lyth Valley, South Cumbria, using fireworks at around 11:15pm on 25 October. The incident was recorded on CCTV and reported to Cumbria Police, who are investigating for criminal damage. Westmorland and Furness Council said the act risked serious injury and posed a danger to the surrounding environment.

Avon and Somerset Police will use live facial recognition (LFR) technology in Bath city centre from 25 November. The technology uses CCTV cameras to compare faces against pre-authorised watchlists of people suspected of serious offences, wanted by courts, or posing immediate risk of harm. The force says the deployment will be overt and clearly signposted. SomersetLive reports the rollout is planned for 26 November, the day before Bath's Christmas Market opens. Police say trained officers review any matches the system identifies; images that do not match are automatically deleted. The technology is already in use in parts of London, Devon and Bradford.

A Grade II-listed building at 9 East Parade in Leeds city centre, currently used as a nightclub, could be converted into a spa and wellness facility if Leeds City Council approves planning permission. The ground floor would be transformed, with the removal of the dance floor expected to reduce late-night noise. The location is close to public transport links and other leisure facilities.

Buckingham Palace has released photographs taken by Chris Jackson marking the end of the King and Queen's six-day official visit to Antigua and Barbuda. Both wore poppies for Remembrance Day, while their outfits featured subtle tributes to their host nation: Charles's pocket square was made from traditional Antiguan Independence Day madras, and Camilla wore a multi-coloured Antiguan beaded bracelet made by a local artisan. Charles's colourful tie was a gift from the widow of the late Australian comedian Barry Humphries.

Joshua Bennett, 34, a father of four, drowned in Palm Bay, Florida, on Monday during historic storms that dumped up to 20 inches of rain. He called his wife Stacy on FaceTime from his submerged truck, crying 'I don't know what to do' as floodwaters surrounded him. The call dropped seconds later. Bennett was one of two people who died in the storm, which led to hundreds of rescues across the state.

Readers have until Saturday, November 7 to vote in The Press Best Curry House 2026 awards. Voting opened on October 26, with each physical copy of the newspaper containing one voting slip. Ten curry restaurants across York and the surrounding area are competing for the title.

Police returned to the Chester, New Jersey home where mother Brooke Hanlon was found stabbed to death nearly five months ago, with at least 15 law-enforcement vehicles at the property on Wednesday and further activity on Thursday. Her autopsy, released weeks before the search, ruled her death a homicide caused by 'sharp force injuries'. Her husband Conor Hanlon, who discovered her unresponsive and called 911, has denied involvement and no arrests have been made.

MSPs chairing committees at the Scottish Parliament are to receive a 20 per cent pay rise from April 2027, equivalent to roughly £15,000 annually, taking their total salary to over £93,000. Presiding Officer Kenneth Gibson said the additional payment recognises the significant responsibilities of committee conveners. The change requires a vote to amend the parliament's salary scheme and will cost taxpayers £342,000 a year.

Republicans are assessing the aftermath of midterm losses that gave Democrats control of both chambers. A House Freedom Caucus member said he is backing Secretary of State Marco Rubio for the 2028 presidential nomination, describing him as 'a unifier'. Rubio and Vice President JD Vance are considered leading contenders for the nomination.

Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras, 20, a co-pilot on a Learjet, was among nine people killed when the private jet plunged from over 35,000 feet into a Palm Beach street on Sunday. Her flight instructor Chris Kirk paid tribute to her as the 'most naturally gifted pilot' he had taught in 40 years of teaching. Filgueiras received her pilot's licence as a high school student before learning to drive a car, and had less than 1,100 hours when she earned her Lear type rating.

England forward Owen Trout served a one-month ban after testing positive for cannabis. The 27-year-old tested positive for carboxy-THC, a cannabis metabolite, following a Super League match against Wakefield on 20 March. He admitted to smoking a cannabis joint and consuming a cannabis gummy in the week before the test. He was provisionally suspended on 22 May and formally charged on 20 July, with the ban deemed served from 22 May to 21 June. Trout completed an approved substance of abuse treatment programme and has since joined NRL side Cronulla Sharks.

Anthony Williams is on trial at Cambridge Crown Court for stabbing ten people on an LNER train near Huntingdon on 1 November 2025. A victim who fought back against the attacker described him as 'being on a mission'. The train was forced to make an unscheduled stop.

Two young men died in a single-vehicle crash on the A40 near Haverfordwest in Pembrokeshire on 14 September 2025. Driver Aled Coleman, 23, from Fishguard, was over the legal drink-drive limit when his silver Volkswagen Polo collided with a roadside sign and overturned at 03:13. His passenger, 18-year-old Aled Bowen from Trecwn, also died at the scene. Both had been at a nightclub in Haverfordwest that night and neither were wearing seatbelts.

Police were called at 12.28pm to Cambrian Way in Hemel Hempstead after reports of a man seen carrying what appeared to be weapons. Hammond Academy, a primary school, closed as a safety measure while officers searched the area with support from a police helicopter. Two men were detained and questioned but were established not to be involved. Police confirmed the man was not on school premises. No weapons have been located and there is not believed to be an active threat.

Arlington Stadium near Hailsham will reopen for motorsports on 14 November, the owners have confirmed. The venue closed in August after 60 years of racing due to what owners described as 'ongoing serious infrastructure problems'. Co-owner Eric Dugard said he was 'delighted that all issues had now been resolved' and that East Sussex County Council had inspected the track and were satisfied with safety measures. Stock car racing will resume on 14 November, followed by banger racing on 28 November.

Kimmarie Johnson, who appeared as Judy in a 1998 episode of Beverly Hills 90210, has died aged 50. She suffered a heart event at her Los Angeles home on 27 October and was admitted to Cedars-Sinai Hospital, where doctors diagnosed her with a heart aneurysm condition. She died peacefully on Wednesday afternoon, her niece Rhonda Scott told TMZ.

More than 2.85 million people have signed 498 petitions calling for tighter restrictions on fireworks in the UK. Calls for action include ending sales to the general public and switching to quieter alternatives. The campaign was prompted by the serious injury of 11-year-old Kieran Kalicki, who was struck by a firework, leaving him unable to open one eye and requiring surgery.

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, 85, has undergone back surgery and will miss the team's next two games while recovering. He will also miss Rob Gronkowski's Patriots Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Saturday. Kraft told ESPN he experienced significant pain before the surgery and does not want to experience it again.

Police are appealing for information after three hooded men were involved in a disturbance in Harwich on Monday evening. The incident occurred on Mill Lane just before 9pm, and the men fled in the direction of Marine Parade.

The three-bedroom London property that featured as the home of Hugh Grant's character William Thacker in the 1999 romantic comedy Notting Hill has been put on the market for £7.5 million. The building was formerly owned by the film's writer Richard Curtis, who converted it from a chapel into a home.

Russell Brand was convicted on Thursday of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault at Southwark Crown Court. The allegations related to incidents between 2006 and 2013 involving six women. Prosecutors initially sought to mention Brand's ex-wife Katy Perry when opening their case, but her name was removed from the prosecution's speech following legal submissions by Brand's defence team.

Alexander Williams, 31, of Hastings, was sentenced to 13 months in prison after a high-speed police pursuit on 28 September. Officers spotted his uninsured Range Rover in Hastings and signalled it to stop, but Williams sped off through Fairlight, Winchelsea, Rye and Iden, reaching 104mph in a 60mph zone. He crashed into a ditch after driving through an apple orchard and fled on foot before being arrested with the help of a police dog. Williams admitted he fled because he was on probation and had previously been caught driving while disqualified. He is partially blind.

Donald Trump says he will not fire Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The Daily Mail reports that Trump has admitted receiving urgent calls from people urging him to fire Hegseth, though CBS News reports that sources say Trump has been asking those around him whether he should keep his job.

A 78-year-old male cyclist died on Thursday, October 29, from injuries sustained in a crash three weeks earlier. The collision involved a black Hyundai Tucson on the A1156 Felixstowe Road in Ipswich near Trinity Park on Tuesday, October 6, at approximately 5.15pm. The cyclist was airlifted to Addenbrooke's Hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Gareth Gibson has been charged with burglary after car keys were stolen in Staffordshire. He appeared at court to answer the charge.

New Zealand have made two changes to their starting line-up for Saturday's Nations Championship clash against Scotland. Ethan de Groot replaces George Bower at loosehead prop, while Jordie Barrett returns from injury at centre for Timoci Tavatavanawai. Scotland named a full-strength side with extensive changes from their last outing, with only Gregor Brown and Rory Sutherland retained from the previous starting XV. New Zealand are unbeaten in 33 Tests against Scotland, with 31 wins and two draws.

Multiple people were shot at the main post office on Second Avenue in Des Moines, Iowa on Thursday morning around 9.10am. Three people were injured in the shooting, which occurred on the second floor of the facility. Police arrived within three minutes and detained a suspect near the Des Moines River. According to CBS News, the suspect is a 39-year-old woman who is a postal employee. Des Moines Police Sergeant Paul Parizek said none of the injuries appeared to be life-threatening and all victims were being treated at a nearby hospital. The motive for the shooting was not immediately clear.

A podcast series called 'Our Music Our Freedom' is exploring five decades of music history in Wandsworth as part of the borough's London Borough of Culture year, supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. The series features interviews with music icons, venue representatives and community leaders, telling the story of how Wandsworth has shaped London's musical landscape through venues, artists and education. Dub pioneer Dennis Bovell grew up in the borough, while members of Cymande discovered their shared love of music on a Balham street, and Elliott School's alumni include members of Fleetwood Mac, Hot Chip and The xx.

Russell Brand has been convicted of one count of rape and three sexual assaults. Before trial, Brand's barrister argued he had suffered unfair prejudice from 2023 media reporting by the Times, Sunday Times and Channel 4 that exposed allegations against him, and sought to have the case thrown out. The judge rejected this, ruling the jury could be drawn from those unaware of the coverage. After the verdict, Brand's barrister Ian Winter KC verbally confronted Sunday Times journalist Rosamund Urwin, whose investigation had sparked the criminal case.

Drivers in Swindon face multiple road closures for essential maintenance works. The M4 Overbridge in Wroughton began changes on November 1, 2026 under the National Highways Safety Scheme, resulting in footway closure, single-lane working, and a 30mph speed restriction on Croft Road for 18 months. Other sites including Bowleymead, Burytown Lane and Little Hinton Lane will see temporary closures beginning late November 2026, with works expected to conclude by March 19, 2027.

SoundCloud has integrated ElevenLabs' AI music generation platform, allowing users to publish AI-generated tracks directly without downloading and uploading separately. SoundCloud Artist Pro subscribers receive three months of free ElevenMusic Pro access. ElevenLabs reports that users have created over 25 million tracks using its music models. AI-generated tracks published through the integration will be labelled as such.

WhatsApp is launching an Events feature that allows users to create and manage events, with the ability to invite guests who are not on the app. Invitees without WhatsApp can view event details and RSVP without creating an account. The feature will be available through an Events hub in the Settings menu, where users can customise event details, send reminders and manage RSVPs.

Instagram has brought its Edits video editing app to macOS, allowing creators to work on more complex projects on a larger screen. The desktop version supports AI agents through a Model Context Protocol, competing directly with ByteDance's CapCut. Edits already has more than 50 million active users since launching last year.

Samsung has launched Black Friday discounts on its Galaxy Z Fold 8 foldable phone, with £300 off in the UK and $300 off in the US. The UK sale includes additional savings via trade-in rebates of up to £713 and extra discounts through PayPal payments. In the US, the phone is available for $1,599.99 at Amazon and Best Buy, down from its usual price. Both outlets describe the device as offering strong performance and battery life in a compact passport-style design.

Three Cambridgeshire Liberal Democrat MPs are demanding a clear Government timetable for two special schools promised to open this September but left delayed since the change of administration. The schools in Gamlingay and March would create 270 places for children with special educational needs and disabilities. The MPs said families were promised the schools but the planned opening dates passed without construction starting, and ministers have still refused to provide a timeline.

Thames Water has been prosecuted by Wiltshire Council and fined £32,000 after pleading guilty to carrying out unauthorised roadworks in Royal Wootton Bassett and Purton. Swindon Magistrates' Court heard that the company carried out work without an approved permit in Royal Wootton Bassett in April 2024 and closed the public highway without required authority in Purton in July 2024. The council said Thames Water made conscious decisions to proceed without necessary approvals.

The European Union's top court has ruled that CBD-based food products cannot be certified as organic without first receiving authorisation for sale on the EU market. The court said an organic label could mislead consumers into thinking the products had been approved. CBD, a non-psychoactive compound found in cannabis, is classified as a 'novel food' by the European Commission and requires a safety assessment before legal marketing.

Birmingham Airport and Heathrow received bomb threats early Thursday that were assessed as not credible. The threats were part of a wider wave affecting at least eight flights from cities including Copenhagen, Helsinki, Madrid, Milan and Warsaw. Most affected flights were diverted to other airports, though airport operations continued as normal. According to the Associated Press, some threats were linked to a group describing itself as anti-feminist, though it remains unclear if all messages originated from the same source. UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the threats were malicious hoaxes and that the UK has robust aviation security systems to handle such incidents.

Ronald Burkle, the US billionaire behind Soho Farmhouse, has won approval for a six-bedroom mansion in Little Tew, Oxfordshire, after the Planning Inspectorate overturned West Oxfordshire District Council's refusal. The council had rejected the plans twice, arguing the estate failed on architectural merit and that its impact on the village outweighed potential economic benefits. The property will feature a domed 'Pantheon' hall, gun room, wine store, stables, swimming pool and a new lake. Local residents and composer Max Richter opposed the scheme, describing it as grotesque.

Broom Boats, a famous Norfolk boatbuilder based in Brundall, has unveiled the exterior design of its latest hand-built motor cruiser, the Broom 350. The vessel, now available to order, represents a major step in the company's return to new-boat manufacturing. It will be offered in both inland and coastal configurations, with engine options ranging from a single 57-horsepower engine to twin 170hp units.

Fly tipping on Edinburgh council housing land cost over £650,000 in private contractor fees in the five years to September 2025. Councillors are considering alternative approaches, including in-sourcing clean-up work and establishing a dedicated cleaning team. A report noted that coordination between council waste and housing staff was not consistent, and proposed a six-month trial of a dedicated team for the Northeast Locality.

An antique silver store in Sherborne, Dorset was broken into at around 3.20am on Friday, October 23, with a significant amount of stock stolen. Police are appealing for witnesses and anyone with information about suspicious activity in the area. Officers are asking local residents and businesses with home CCTV, doorbell cameras or dashcam footage from the early hours of that date to contact them.

Essex Police have launched a CCTV appeal to find a man who allegedly exposed himself to members of the public on Shalford Road in Rayne between 3.50pm and 4pm on September 30. The man ran down Brunwin Road after a member of the public confronted him. Anyone with information, CCTV or dash cam footage is asked to contact Essex Police, quoting crime reference number 42/155924/26, or to make an anonymous report via Crimestoppers.

A study of 2,000 adults found 60 per cent have swapped nights out in bars and clubs for home cooking. Seventy-three per cent look forward to spending weekends at home, with 56 per cent doing so more than previously. The shift is not solely driven by cost: 40 per cent of those staying home simply feel happier there.

Reform UK councillors are demanding Dudley Council publish an investigation into how it handled child sexual exploitation allegations, which council leader Patrick Harley said would be concluded within a week or so in March but has not yet been released. The Reform group has written to the council's chief executive calling for the report's findings to be made available for scrutiny.

Russell Brand has been found guilty at Southwark Crown Court of one rape and three counts of sexual assault. The 51-year-old was convicted of raping a 21-year-old fan after meeting her at a 2009 stand-up show at Hammersmith Apollo, sexually assaulting a Capital Radio worker in 2005, groping an MTV worker at a Soho bar in 2004, and sexually assaulting a Channel 4 worker during a forced massage in 2009. He was acquitted of three other charges. The judge ruled that Brand must be remanded into custody until sentencing on Monday, when he will receive a lengthy prison sentence.

Russell Brand, 51, has been found guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault following a trial lasting nearly four weeks at Southwark Crown Court. He was cleared of two counts of rape and one charge of attempted indecent assault. He will be sentenced on Monday, November 9.

Manchester Airport has unveiled plans for a multimillion-pound transformation of Terminal 3, its oldest terminal. The project will expand the departure lounge by more than a third, adding around 2,000 square metres of floorspace, with more seating, natural light and space for new shops, bars and restaurants. Work is expected to be completed in 2028.

Bekonscot Model Village and Railway in Beaconsfield has secured funding ahead of its centenary by advertising food brand itsu. The 1.5-acre attraction, which opened in 1929 and has largely avoided advertising during its near-century of operation, placed miniature promotional signs throughout its model towns, railway and cinema. The brand ambassador for the campaign was a miniature recreation of internet personality the Wealdstone Raider, placed beside the model football pitch.

Strong turnout among Black voters helped propel several Black Democratic candidates to surprise victories in midterm elections, including in Georgia's governor's race, and led to near-misses in states like Florida. U.S. Representative Shomari Figures, 41, won another term in Alabama despite Republican lawmakers reshaping his district to make his reelection more difficult. Party leaders and activists attributed the results to opposition to President Trump and the Supreme Court's decision this year to weaken the Voting Rights Act, which allowed Republican-led states to redistrict in ways that diminished Black congressional representation.

Jeremy Clarkson's Cotswolds pub The Farmer's Dog is hosting a public fireworks night on Thursday, November 5. The pub said it received many enquiries about whether the event would happen this year and has now released tickets. The evening will feature live music, British food, drinks and a fireworks display over the pub garden.

Colchester Zoo has announced the birth of an endangered chimpanzee infant born on Tuesday, November 3, to female chimpanzee Tara. The zoo said all three—mother, father and infant—are doing well and bonding. Kiera, another chimpanzee born in January, has shown curiosity about the arrival, with zoo staff reporting the group are getting along well.

Cheshire Police raided an abandoned building on Newton Bank in Middlewich on Wednesday, 4 November, and seized a large number of cannabis plants. PC Adam Archer said the premises was capable of producing around 70kg of cannabis per year with a potential street value of over £800,000 annually. Police said the operation was one of many carried out to prevent illegal drugs entering the community.

Eight in 10 British adults suffer from 'laundry anxiety', according to a poll of 2,000 adults. Almost half refuse to wash certain clothes for fear of ruining them, with knitwear, embellished items, coats and cashmere the most commonly avoided. As a result, 51 per cent hand-wash items, 33 per cent pay for dry cleaning, and 29 per cent wear unwashed clothes again.

Two cars were seen driving erratically before colliding with a motorbike at the junction of Melbourne Avenue and Chignal Road in Chelmsford at about 5.30pm on Monday, 2 November. The rider was knocked off but escaped serious injury. Both vehicles left the scene. Essex Police have no description of the cars and are appealing for information, CCTV or dashcam footage.

Firefighters from Nottinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service have collectively travelled 40,000km in 80 days for the Fire Fighters Charity.

A fundraiser has been launched following the death of 19-year-old Georgie Nolan, who went missing near a Wiltshire canal. Nolan was last seen on Saturday, October 24, near The Barge Inn along the Kennet and Avon Canal in Bradford on Avon, and a body was discovered three days later following a major search operation. The fundraiser, set up by Nubalina Nolan, aims to raise £10,000 to support Georgie's family with funeral costs and daily expenses. More than £7,800 has been raised so far.

Russell Brand, 51, has been found guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault involving four women, with offences spanning from 1999 to 2009 during the height of his fame as a comedian, actor and TV presenter. A jury at Southwark Crown Court deliberated for eight-and-a-half hours before delivering unanimous guilty verdicts on Thursday. He was acquitted of two other rape charges and one count of attempted indecent assault. Judge Mr Justice Bennathan told Brand to expect a 'significant custodial term' and remanded him in custody until sentencing on Monday. The Metropolitan Police revealed Brand is also under investigation for two further rape allegations, including one involving a 16-year-old, and urged other potential victims to come forward.

Israel's Arab-led parties, which won a record 19 seats in last week's election, have announced they will recommend opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot to form the next government. The Joint List alliance and the Arab party Ra'am said they would back Eisenkot, potentially giving him the support of 67 lawmakers, exceeding the 61-seat majority needed in the Knesset.

Weeley Parish Council has issued an urgent warning against setting off fireworks at Weeley Playing Field on November 5 because of a serious gas leak nearby. The council said that letting off fireworks could cause a serious incident. The warning was issued as residents prepared to celebrate Bonfire Night at the field next to Weeley Village Hall.

Second Lieutenant Max George, 26, from County Durham, died in June 2022 after being struck and run over by a reversing Warrior armoured vehicle during a training exercise on Salisbury Plain. A coroner ruled the death an accident but criticised the Army's safety procedures, citing flawed training of the student commander, a non-functional rear-door alarm that had been faulty since 2018, and use of the vehicle for disembarking troops despite it not being designed for that purpose. The Ministry of Defence said it had already made several safety improvements, including preventing Warrior vehicles from reversing with the rear door open.

A woman has been arrested on suspicion of drink driving after a crash involving three parked cars in Bispham. Officers attended Red Bank Road at around 7.50pm on Wednesday, November 4, after reports of a white Renault colliding with three stationary vehicles. The outlets give differing ages for the woman: Lancashire Telegraph reports she is 36, while LancsLive states she is 26. Both outlets agree she is from Thornton-Cleveleys. A roadside breath test recorded a reading of 55 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath, exceeding the legal limit of 35 micrograms. Officers found an empty beer bottle and a cocktail tin in the car. The woman was arrested at the scene and remains in custody.

Rory McIlroy fared best of the three Race to Dubai contenders in the opening round of the Abu Dhabi Championship at Yas Links. Francesco Laporta leads the tournament with a ten-under 62, three strokes ahead of others including Jon Rahm. McIlroy shot 68, leaving him six strokes off the lead, whilst Eugenio Chacarra and Patrick Reed both struggled, shooting 70 and 74 respectively. McIlroy is seeking a fifth straight Race to Dubai title and trails Chacarra by around 1,000 points, with the tournament winner earning 1,500 points and the season concluding in Dubai next week where 2,000 points are available.

West Midlands Police have issued a section 35 dispersal order in Brownhills town centre from 5pm on Thursday 5 November until 5pm on Saturday 7 November. The order grants officers extra powers to exclude anyone causing anti-social behaviour from the area for up to 72 hours. Extra police officers will be deployed during the period around Bonfire Night to combat anti-social behaviour and offer reassurance.

Tramell Jones Jr. will start at quarterback for 25th-ranked Florida against Oklahoma on Saturday night, replacing Aaron Philo after the Gators' 27-8 loss to Georgia. Coach Jon Sumrall benched Philo following two interceptions, with Jones entering in the second quarter. Sumrall cited Florida's weak offensive line as a hindrance to accurate evaluation of his quarterbacks.

West Midlands Police have launched a criminal investigation into the death of Joan Green, a patient of breast surgeon Ian Paterson, who is serving a 20-year sentence for carrying out unnecessary and unapproved procedures on over 1,000 patients. Coroner Richard Foster referred the case to police after 'matters arose' during preliminary inquiries. The inquest into Mrs Green's death has been adjourned while the criminal investigation proceeds.

Two Afghan migrants are accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old autistic girl on a London-bound train on 5 February. Baryalai Rahimi, 25, and Mirebadurahman Sadat, 29, are said to have spotted the runaway teenager at a Kent station and followed her onto the Southeastern service. Rahimi is accused of raping the girl three times in the train toilets; Sadat is alleged to have assaulted her twice. Both deny 20 charges including rape and sexual activity with a child.

Michael Baidoo is set to make his first competitive appearance for Plymouth Argyle in 18 months in the FA Cup first round tie against Alvechurch on Saturday. The Ghana forward suffered a hamstring injury in Argyle's final pre-season game in August. Head coach Tom Cleverley said Baidoo had impressed with his technique and explosive power, though he had not fully adapted to competitive EFL football.

Essex Police are searching for Anthen Beveridge, 37, from Harlow, who is wanted for failing to answer bail. He has also been known to frequent the Bishop's Stortford area. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to come forward.

North Yorkshire Council has approved a public consultation on closing Bilsdale Midcable Chopgate Church of England Primary School near Stokesley from August 31, 2027. The school currently has eight pupils, four of whom leave at the end of this academic year. The governing board requested the closure, citing falling pupil numbers and mounting financial pressures as unsustainable. The six-week consultation runs from November 9 to December 18, with a public meeting planned.

A man was arrested after another man suffered serious head injuries in a Hemel Hempstead High Street altercation shortly after 1.30am on 4 October. The incident involved a group of people, and two other men suffered minor injuries. Police released a CCTV image of a man they wished to identify, believing he may have been in the area and could assist the investigation. One man was arrested and another interviewed under caution; both were released while enquiries continued.