Jilly Cooper, author of Rivals and Riders, dies aged 88

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The author of 18 ‘bonkbuster’ novels including Riders, Rivals and Bella has died following a fall

Jilly Cooper has died at the age of 88, her agent has confirmed.

The author, whose 18 novels include Riders and Rivals, “defined culture, writing and conversation since she was first published over 50 years ago,” said her agent Felicity Blunt. “You wouldn’t expect books categorised as bonkbusters to have so emphatically stood the test of time but Jilly wrote with acuity and insight about all things – class, sex, marriage, rivalry, grief and fertility.”

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Political waves send Nikkei, bitcoin, gold soaring to record highs – Reuters

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  1. Political waves send Nikkei, bitcoin, gold soaring to record highs  Reuters
  2. Japan’s New Leader Gets a Volatile Greeting From Markets  The New York Times
  3. Takaichi Win Sends Yen Plunging With Bonds as Stocks Jump  Bloomberg.com
  4. Morning Bid: Politics dominate markets, from Japan stocks to bitcoin  Reuters
  5. Japan’s ruling party elects Sanae Takaichi as leader, likely to become first female PM  NPR
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He-Man poised to be next retro name to join UK toy ‘newstalgia’ trend

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Films of old favourites help lift toy sales 8% this year, with 2026 Masters of the Universe movie tipped for similar

A wave of “newstalgia” has fuelled a step up in growth of UK toy sales, with the muscle-bound 80s hero He-Man the latest retro name tipped for a revival thanks to the big screen.

After falling almost 4% in 2024, UK toy sales are up 8% so far this year, buoyed up by the Minecraft and Lilo & Stitch films as well as parents rebuying toys they once owned as children such as Care Bears and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, according to new data.

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VIP appearances, books and beer: what Valerie the dachshund is up to after her Kangaroo Island adventure

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‘Australia’s bravest sausage dog’, who was lost in the wild for more than 500 days, now has an ambassadorial role, merchandise and an Australian Story episode

World-famous dachshund Valerie, who was lost in the wild for more than 500 days, now has merchandise, an ambassadorial role, a public relations representative and a spot on Australian Story.

In November 2023 Valerie’s owners, Georgia Gardner and Josh Fishlock, were visiting Kangaroo Island in South Australia with Valerie in tow. But she escaped from her pen and bolted.

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Trying to Survive Gaza’s War-Torn Present, and Hoping for a Future – The New York Times

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  1. Trying to Survive Gaza’s War-Torn Present, and Hoping for a Future  The New York Times
  2. We Tried to Reach Gazans We Interviewed Over Two Years of War. Here’s What Happened to Them.  The New York Times
  3. In Gaza, Can There Be Peace Without Trust?  Foreign Affairs
  4. A ‘magic pill’ made Israeli violence invisible. We need to stop swallowing it | Diana Buttu  The Guardian
  5. Is Israel’s war in Gaza actually about to end?  vox.com
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‘I Am Lucky’: In a New Memoir, a Former Israeli Captive Looks Ahead – The New York Times

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  1. ‘I Am Lucky’: In a New Memoir, a Former Israeli Captive Looks Ahead  The New York Times
  2. Opinion | What my captivity taught me about Hamas and its hateful ideology  The Washington Post
  3. ‘Hostage’ Review: From a Place of Darkness  The Wall Street Journal
  4. 'Our happy life turned into hell,' says released hostage as Israel marks 7 October anniversary  BBC
  5. Israeli who was captured on Oct. 7 pleads for return of other hostages: "Until they come back … I cannot live"  CBS News
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Erin Patterson: Australian prosecutors appeal mushroom murderer’s ‘inadequate’ sentence – BBC

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  1. Erin Patterson: Australian prosecutors appeal mushroom murderer's 'inadequate' sentence  BBC
  2. Prosecutors appeal for longer sentence for Erin Patterson in mushroom poisoning murders  Yahoo
  3. Breaking: Prosecutors to appeal 'manifestly inadequate' sentence for Erin Patterson  Australian Broadcasting Corporation
  4. Victorian DPP confirms it will appeal Erin Patterson’s sentence on the basis it ‘is manifestly inadequate’ – as it happened  The Guardian
  5. Australia prosecutors appeal 'inadequate' sentence for mushroom murderer: media  swiowanewssource.com
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Mount Everest hikers describe ‘extreme’ conditions as huge rescue effort continues

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At least 200 people still stranded after unseasonally heavy snowfall during China’s Golden Week holiday

Trekkers have described facing “extreme” conditions after an unseasonable snowstorm during one of China’s busiest holiday weekends stranded hundreds of people on Mount Everest, prompting a massive rescue effort.

Chinese authorities said about 350 people had made their way down but at least 200 remained stranded at the Everest Scenic Area, to the east of the mountain, on the Tibetan side of the border.

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Nearly a third of bosses report increase in cyber-attacks on their supply chains

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CIPS survey shows cyber threats have risen up the list of concerns for procurement managers

Almost a third of bosses have reported an increase in cyber-attacks on their supply chains over the past six months, as the fallout from devastating hacks on corporate stalwarts including Jaguar Land Rover highlighted a growing threat to businesses.

Cyber threats have risen up the list of concerns for procurement managers at hundreds of companies worldwide across industries including manufacturing, energy and technology, according to a survey conducted in September by industry body the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (Cips).

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Released hostage says he no longer has faith in peace as he reflects on Hamas torment – The Times of Israel

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  1. Released hostage says he no longer has faith in peace as he reflects on Hamas torment  The Times of Israel
  2. Opinion | What my captivity taught me about Hamas and its hateful ideology  The Washington Post
  3. ‘I Am Lucky’: In a New Memoir, a Former Israeli Captive Looks Ahead  The New York Times
  4. After Gaza captivity, freed Israeli hostage sees no peace 'in our generation'  Reuters
  5. Another October 7 and a Remorseless World  Commentary Magazine
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Tories say people denied benefits in UK can return to home countries

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Mel Stride outlines plans to slash £47bn a year from public spending, including £23bn welfare cut

Overseas nationals denied benefits under a Conservative plan to limit social security to UK citizens would have the option to return to their own countries, the shadow chancellor, Mel Stride, has said.

Before his speech to the Conservative conference on Monday, Stride set out Tory proposals to cut £47bn a year from public spending, with the biggest chunk, £23bn coming from reductions in welfare.

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Mount Everest: More than 200 hikers still stranded after blizzard hits Mount Everest – follow live – BBC

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  1. Mount Everest: More than 200 hikers still stranded after blizzard hits Mount Everest - follow live  BBC
  2. Hundreds of trekkers still awaiting rescue on blizzard-struck Everest in Tibet  CNN
  3. Race to reach hikers stranded by Mount Everest blizzard  BBC
  4. Almost 1,000 trapped on Tibetan side of Mount Everest by blizzard  Yahoo
  5. Blizzard traps hundreds on Mount Everest as rescue teams race to save lives  Fox News
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Cause of Gold Coast mass fish kill unknown with marine heatwave most likely culprit, scientists say

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Local community group says whatever the cause ‘kids shouldn’t be in the water’ with dead fish

Queensland authorities are investigating the deaths of thousands of fish that washed up on a popular Gold Coast beach.

The state environment department said dead baitfish had been observed at The Spit, at the northern end of the Gold Coast since last Wednesday, but no obvious source of pollution had been found.

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