Theme park played wails, screams and spooky music for 12 hours, prompting one man to put ear defenders on his dogThorpe Park has been forced to apologise to nearby residents after it kept them awake all night by blaring Halloween sound effects - with one local putting ear defenders on his dog.The theme park in Chertsey, Surrey, played wails, screams and spooky music for 12 hours straight after a technical glitch led to noise from its Fright Night event continuing into the early hours. Continue reading...
Human Rights Watch says verified videos show multiple airbursts of artillery-fired white phosphorus' from Israel's militaryHuman Rights Watch has accused Israel of using white phosphorus munitions in its military operations in Gaza and Lebanon, saying the use of such weapons puts civilians at risk of serious and long-term injury.Asked for comment on the allegations, Israel's military said it was currently not aware of the use of weapons containing white phosphorus in Gaza". It did not provide comment on the rights watchdog's allegations of their use in Lebanon. Continue reading...
by Robyn Vinter North of England correspondent on (#6FHP3)
Appeal follows emptying of shelves in apparent misunderstanding at fill a bag with books for 1' eventVolunteers at Batley library who watched helplessly as the shelves were emptied in a book sale misunderstanding are urging those who took books to come back and help save the Grade II-listed building.An advert posted on social media said customers could fill a bag with books from a sale table for 1, but sections of the library were decimated" as people loaded library books into their bags, believing the library was closing down. Continue reading...
Loose-fitting, button-up shirts are said to be flying off the shelves' into trendspotters' autumn wardrobesIt has long been a permanent fixture in the boardrooms of financial institutions but now the button-up business shirt is manspreading its way from the square mile to the high street - making the boyfriend shirt" a must-have fashion item.In the new Netflix Beckham documentary that has gripped people this week, Victoria Beckham endorsed the trend choosing an XXL white shirt to wear for her at-home interviews. Continue reading...
Day commemorating 1986 People Power Revolution omitted from official list of holidays for 2024The Philippine president, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, has dropped a public holiday marking the anniversary of a revolution that toppled his dictator father, further fuelling concerns his family is seeking to whitewash" history.Ferdinand Marcos Sr ruled the Philippines for more than two decades until he was ousted by the peaceful People Power Revolution of February 1986, when hundreds of thousands took to the streets. The Marcos family was forced to flee the country, and sought exile in Hawaii. Continue reading...
High court hearing comes days before Home Office is due to return asylum seekers to barge in PortlandDorset council is facing an urgent high court challenge by its own local mayor about the use of the Bibby Stockholm barge to accommodate asylum seekers in Portland.The case has reached the high court in two daysand is the first time the council has been challenged directly in the high court in relation to the barge. It comes days before the Home Office is due to return people to the barge, which has been empty for more than two months after deadly legionella bacteria was discovered onboard. Continue reading...
by Jessica Murray Midlands correspondent on (#6FHEC)
Museum's re-creation of Wolverhampton institution marks 75 years of national health service and Windrush generationFrom the exact shade of the orange juice to the colour of the lino, every last detail of a new 1960s replica of a Wolverhampton infant centre has been researched thoroughly by staff at the Black Country Living Museum (BCLM).The Lea Road Infant Welfare Centre, open to the public from Monday, will commemorate 75 years of the NHS and the 75th anniversary of the Empire Windrush arriving in the UK, through stories and characters from the period. Continue reading...
Fans seen singing the Cranberries' hit in stadiums but some Irish republicans are unhappy at revivalTwenty years after a lethal IRA bomb inspired its stark, chilling lyrics, the Cranberries' song Zombie has experienced an unlikely rebirth as a Rugby World Cup anthem.Ireland fans have belted out its chorus in stadiums across France and hope to do so again on Saturday after a quarter-final tie against New Zealand at the Stade de France in Paris. Continue reading...
Supporters of author, who castigated PM over migration policies, say verdict will have chilling effect' on mediaThe Italian anti-mafia writer Roberto Saviano has been found guilty of libelling the prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, and fined 1,000 (865) for calling her a bastard" over her migration policies.Supporters of the author criticised the verdict, saying it highlighted Italy's draconian defamation laws and warned of a chilling effect" on the media. Continue reading...
Animals and plants feature heavily in coinage that allows everyone to celebrate British nature'A new collection of coins bearing the face of the king has been unveiled by the Royal Mint, breaking tradition with designs inspired by plants and animals found across the four nations.The eight designs, overseen by King Charles, depict the flora and fauna found in different parts of the UK and reflect his interest in conservation and nature. Continue reading...
Unconfirmed reports say flight from Nairobi, which was diverted from Heathrow to Stansted, was intercepted by RAF fightersArmed police have surrounded a Kenyan Airways flight at London Stansted airport after a security alert.The Boeing 787 from Nairobi was due to arrive at Heathrow this afternoon but was diverted to Stansted in Essex 45 minutes before its expected arrival. Continue reading...
President says university student, 21, who died days after being tied to a fence and beaten, was murdered simply for being himself'Joe Biden has marked the 25th anniversary of the death of Matthew Shepard, a gay 21-year-old University of Wyoming student who died six days after he was beaten by two young men, tied to a fence, burned and abandoned in a remote part of the state.Shepard's death has long been memorialized as a hate crime that helped fuel the LGBTQ+ rights movement. Lamenting a brutal act of hate and violence that shocked our nation and the world", Biden, in a statement on Thursday, said Shepard was murdered simply for being himself". Continue reading...
by Julia Kollewe and Kalyeena Makortoff on (#6FGGA)
Jon Holt says some employees simply didn't do their job properly' in run-up to one of UK's biggest corporate failuresThe UK boss of KPMG has said he simply cannot defend" the firm's auditing work on the failed government contractor, Carillion, describing it as very bad," as the accounting giant was hit with a record 21m fine by Britain's accounting watchdog.The fine comes almost six years after the outsourcing firm collapsed with 7bn debts. Carillion had been one of the UK's biggest construction and facilities management companies, with several major government contracts. Continue reading...
At Nato meeting of foreign ministers, ongoing saga of Sweden's bid to join organisation in spotlight againOne issue defence ministers will discuss today is the implementation of the alliance's new military plans - and how equipment and troops will be placed on Nato's sensitive eastern flank.The US defence secretary, Lloyd Austin, assured other Nato defence ministers that it was possible to give strong support to both Israel and Ukraine, a US official and a European diplomat told the Guardian. Continue reading...
Volunteer says some people decided all stock was available to take' despite his protestations at West Yorkshire eventA 1 book sale at a town library was sabotaged" when people filled their bags with dozens of library books.The fill-a-bag sale at Batley library in West Yorkshire was decimated" when people raided the shelves, taking children's books, adult fiction, cookery books and graphic novels - as well as Lego from the library's Lego club. Continue reading...
Wise Employment questionnaire also asks jobseekers about employment barriers, potentially including being overweight or lazyA taxpayer-funded course run by one Australia's biggest employment service providers gives jobseekers instructions on how to shower properly and asks them in a questionnaire if one of the reasons they are unemployed is because they are overweight" or lazy".Wise Employment is among dozens of privatised job agencies contracted by the federal government to run the $500m Employability Skills Training program to help jobseekers become job-ready by providing intensive pre-employment training". Continue reading...
Two sides suspend negotiations with no resolution over artificial intelligence and other issues at core of three-month work stoppageNegotiations between Hollywood studios and the Sag-Aftra actors' union were suspended on Wednesday as the two sides clashed over streaming revenue, the use of artificial intelligence and other issues at the core of a three-month work stoppage.The breakdown in talks interrupted attempts to end labor tensions that have put most US-based film and television production on hold, cost the California economy billions and left thousands of crew members without work. Continue reading...
Case involves tycoon's alleged failure to declare 400m worth of overseas assets to HMRCFormer Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone has pleaded guilty to fraud at Southwark crown court after failing to declare more than 400m of overseas assets to the UK government.Ecclestone had pleaded not guilty to the charges in August, but changed his plea at a case management hearing on Thursday. Continue reading...
Cases are rising in many parts of the country and critics are blaming chronic water shortages and poor sanitation systemsThe Zimbabwean government has banned large gatherings in parts of the country and increased surveillance at ports of entry in an effort to contain a rise in cholera cases.With 100 suspected deaths, most of them in September, and nearly 5,000 possible cases of the water-borne disease in more than 41 districts, including Harare, authorities fear a repeat of the 2008 epidemic where 4,000 people died. Continue reading...
In today's newsletter: Rachel Reeves delivers and Keir Starmer shows he's ready to lead at an event that both literally and figuratively sparkled Sign up here for our daily newsletter, First EditionAfter 13 years, is Labour finally ready for power? Sir Keir Starmer certainly believes so - and not just for one term but two. As the glittery Labour conference in Liverpool comes to a close today, we take stock of four key moments and what they tell us about the party's chance of winning the next general election.The atmosphere was completely different to the previous week at the Tory conference," says Peter Walker, the Guardian's deputy political editor, who is finally hanging up his lanyards after three consecutive weeks of covering party conferences. The place was packed, it was full of energy, it felt vigorous. They felt as if they weren't just trying to look like they are ready for power - but that they really are."Israel-Hamas war | Joe Biden has condemned the attack by Hamas militants on Israel at the weekend as the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust", as Israeli jets continued to strike Gaza, an enclave running desperately low on medical supplies, according to the World Health Organization.Weather | Freezing temperatures could be about to blast the UK, putting an end to the unseasonably warm October, and heavy rainfall is expected in parts of England. Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland could reach as low as -3C and the south of England and Wales could see about two inches of rain on Thursday and Friday.Conservatives | Anna Soubry, the former Conservative business minister, has announced she will be voting for Labour at the next general election. The former MP, now a criminal barrister, said on social media that with Keir Starmer, Labour has the values and competence to deliver the change our country desperately needs."Captain Tom | The daughter of Captain Sir Tom Moore has admitted to keeping 800,000 from books that the late army veteran had written. Hannah Ingram-Moore said the family kept the sum from three books because Captain Tom had wanted them to retain the profits.UK news | The Sycamore Gap tree is being removed from its spot on Hadrian's Wall after it was cut down by vandals two weeks ago. On Thursday a crane will lift the 50-foot sycamore off the wall in Northumberland and it will be put into storage at a National Trust property - the location of which is not being disclosed for security reasons. Continue reading...
The day after Cheng arrived back in Australia after three years' detention in China, Penny Wong says she had vowed to do everything I could to bring her home'
New Zealander had been in Sydney's Royal Prince Alfred hospital for a month before her death at 53, management says, as tributes flow for shining soul'
Organisers say they will still be loud and proud' on Sunday but have changed plans after premier Chris Minns vowed to stop any protestsA planned pro-Palestine march through the streets of Sydney on Sunday has been scrapped in favour of a static demonstration" at Hyde Park after the premier, Chris Minns, vowed to stop any protests.Event co-organiser Amal Naser said the decision had been made to avoid dealing with legal issues related to obtaining police protection for a march. Continue reading...
After breakdancing debuted at the games in China, members of the Thai national team say they needed support for hair treatmentA member of Thailand's national breakdancing team has spoken about one of the lesser known challenges of the sport - hair loss.At the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, where breaking - known in the media as breakdancing - debuted this year, Thailand's national team was asked about the kinds of support performers need. They said there was a lack of facilities for training in Thailand, meaning people have to practise in parks or shopping malls. Continue reading...
by Haroon Siddique Legal affairs correspondent on (#6FGAH)
Decision to release Robert Brown halfway through 26-year sentence for killing Joanna Simpson referred to Parole BoardThe early automatic release of a man who bludgeoned to death his estranged wife has been blocked by the UK justice secretary.Robert Brown was due to be released at the beginning of next month after serving half of his 26-year sentence for killing Joanna Simpson in October 2010. Continue reading...
Co-founder of Change UK who opposed Brexit praises Keir Starmer as having the values and competence' Britain desperately needs'Anna Soubry, the former Conservative business minister, has announced she will be voting for Labour at the next general election.The former MP, now a criminal barrister, said on social media that she will be voting for Keir Starmer. On Wednesday, she wrote on X, formerly Twitter: I will be voting #Labour. Continue reading...
Emergency meeting of Arab League calls for serious negotiations between the PLO and Israel'Arab foreign ministers have urged Israel to meet its international obligations as an occupying power and return to negotiations on a two-state solution that provides a viable state for Palestine.At an emergency meeting of the Arab League in Cairo on Wednesday, ministers underlined the importance of resuming the peace process and starting serious negotiations between the Palestine Liberation Organization and Israel". Continue reading...
After Mladenov's appointment, Latham aired further accusations that his former party misused electoral funds by spending thousands on unnecessary merchandise'