Nigel’s ‘chiselled cheekbones’ make the news – Reform’s the Reformer, digested by John Crace

Editor, agony uncle, crossword compiler – he even interviews himself. Our sketchwriter finds there’s no end to Farage’s talents

Welcome to your new super, soaraway Reformer. The paper that aims to take you back to the 1950s with all the stories that the mainstream media don’t want you to read. Free to all patriots. And those who happen to have found a copy on the floor of the bus.

Continue reading...

Avanti West Coast paid out £20m in ‘delay repay’ passenger refunds this summer

Intercity train operator’s compensation bill likely to top £70m this financial year amid rise in claims across network

Avanti West Coast paid out more than £20m to passengers in just three months this summer in refunds for disrupted journeys on Britain’s main intercity rail network.

The intercity operator paid out almost as much in a four-week period to 25 July – £9.3m – as its annual profits for each of the past two years. It repaid a further £12.2m in the subsequent eight weeks.

Continue reading...

US, South Korea, Japan call for ‘complete denuclearisation’ of North Korea – Al Jazeera

  1. US, South Korea, Japan call for ‘complete denuclearisation’ of North Korea  Al Jazeera
  2. United States-Japan-Republic of Korea (ROK) Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Meeting  U.S. Department of State (.gov)
  3. North Korea says sanctions don't work to deny its status as nuclear weapons state  Reuters
  4. U.S., South Korea and Japan vow ‘complete’ denuclearization of North Korea  The Japan Times
  5. U.S., UK, Canada and EU turn up pressure on North Korea to surrender nuclear arms; 2 African nations have also condemned Pyongyang  Business Insider Africa
Posted in Uncategorized

Storm warnings for Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney and Brisbane as cold front ‘packs a punch’

BoM predicts hail, damaging winds and possible flash flooding across Victoria, NSW and parts of Queensland into Sunday

Storm warnings are in place for multiple capital cities across Australia’s east and south-east as a severe weather front sweeps across the country.

Heavy rain, winds and thunderstorms are forecast to hit Melbourne and eastern Victoria throughout Saturday afternoon as a cold front meets warm, humid air.

Continue reading...

In 28 years of walking, Karl Bushby has overcome jungle, desert and red tape. Now he’s nearly home – AP News

  1. In 28 years of walking, Karl Bushby has overcome jungle, desert and red tape. Now he's nearly home  AP News
  2. After 28 Years Walking Across the Globe, He’s Almost Home  The New York Times
  3. Karl Bushby 'overwhelmed' at Humber Bridge welcome  BBC
  4. Karl Bushby's 28-year walk across the world is ending  The Journal Gazette
  5. AP Trending SummaryBrief at 8:38 a.m. EDT  Clinton Herald
Posted in Uncategorized

Is time up for backyard fireworks? UK ministers weigh partial ban over noise concerns

Consultation follows growing calls from campaigners, vets and National Farmers’ Union for tighter regulation

As the nights draw in, the season of sparklers begins, with Diwali, Bonfire Night and New Year’s Eve among the occasions typically celebrated with fireworks. But if campaigners get their way, this could be the last blast for bangers in the back yard.

In January concerns about the noise and availability of fireworks were aired in a parliamentary debate, with two petitions clocking up more than 180,000 signatures each, while earlier this month the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade closed a consultation on proposals including making louder fireworks only available to professional users.

Continue reading...

ISW Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, October 30, 2026 – Kyiv Post

  1. ISW Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, October 30, 2026  Kyiv Post
  2. Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, October 30, 2026  Institute for the Study of War
  3. Stalled on the front lines, Russia hits Ukraine harder  The Economist
  4. Russia unleashes killing spree against Ukrainian civilians on Thursday, targeting children, trains, and buses (Ukraine Battlefield update, Day 1,708)  EUobserver
  5. Russia ramps up daytime strikes on Ukraine to force capitulation ahead of winter – ISW  RBC-Ukraine
Posted in Uncategorized

Luigi Mangione’s lawyers file to dismiss state charges, citing double jeopardy law

Mangione pleaded guilty in August in federal case in the killing of UnitedHealthcare executive Brian Thompson

Luigi Mangione’s lawyers filed paperwork on Friday once again pushing for dismissal of his state-level case in the killing of UnitedHealthcare executive Brian Thompson following his federal guilty plea.

Mangione pleaded guilty on 14 August to federal charges in Thompson’s grisly death outside a Manhattan hotel on 4 December 2024. The shocking plea came less than a month before his state murder and weapons trial, which had been scheduled for 8 September.

Continue reading...

On board a Spanish high-speed train in the aftermath of the system’s latest catastrophe – AP News

  1. On board a Spanish high-speed train in the aftermath of the system’s latest catastrophe  AP News
  2. Cambridge scientist dies in Spanish train crash  BBC
  3. Tributes paid to ‘inspiring’ Cambridge scientist who died in Spain train crash  The Guardian
  4. Why Does Spain Keep Having Deadly Rail Accidents?  WSJ
  5. Sánchez Rethinks Reelection Plan After Spain’s Rail Disaster  Bloomberg
Posted in Uncategorized

Apple Warns iPhone Users in 99 Countries of Sophisticated Mercenary Spyware Attacks – CyberSecurityNews

  1. Apple Warns iPhone Users in 99 Countries of Sophisticated Mercenary Spyware Attacks  CyberSecurityNews
  2. German agency alerts lawmakers to possible spyware attack  Yahoo
  3. Apple notifications alert victims in 99 countries about mercenary spyware infections  CyberScoop
  4. Apple Sends New Threat Notifications to Users in 99 Countries  Techaeris
  5. Hackers target German lawmakers’ and government officials’ devices: Minister  Anadolu Ajansı
Posted in Uncategorized

Britain’s Prime Minister Says He’s Open to a Formal Apology for Slavery – The New York Times

  1. Britain’s Prime Minister Says He’s Open to a Formal Apology for Slavery  The New York Times
  2. British people can’t be made to pay for the wrongs of slavery – but we must confront our complicated history  The Guardian
  3. U.K. PM Andy Burnham open to apologizing for slave trade but rules out financial reparations  NBC News
  4. UK PM Burnham Says He Is 'Open' to Formal Apology for Slavery, but Rules Out Reparations  U.S. News & World Report
  5. King visits Guyanese slave rebellion site on Caribbean tour  BBC
Posted in Uncategorized

Oman rescues 25 from burning oil tanker in Strait of Hormuz – Al Jazeera

  1. Oman rescues 25 from burning oil tanker in Strait of Hormuz  Al Jazeera
  2. Shipping Strikes In Hormuz Leave Both Sides With Economic Pain  Bloomberg.com
  3. Iran's IRGC Navy says four tankers catch fire in Strait of Hormuz  Reuters
  4. Oman Evacuates Tanker Crew as Iran Claims Spate of New Attacks  The Maritime Executive
  5. 'Supertanker' strikes mine in Hormuz, losing two million barrels of oil  ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Posted in Uncategorized

Albanese looks for reset on world stage as ‘spot fires burn’ domestically and likely interest rate hike looms

The prime minister will speak with King Charles and others at the Commonwealth heads of government meeting in Antigua and Barbuda

As “summit season” begins, reaffirming ties with fellow leaders on the world stage could be a circuit breaker for Anthony Albanese amid domestic and economic woes, analysts have said.

But a likely interest rate hike, triggered by higher-than-expected inflation, while the prime minister is overseas will make his job – and the treasurer’s – even harder.

Sign up for Guardian Australia’s Politics, really newsletter here

Continue reading...

Ukraine’s Zelenskyy praises US over $2.1bn Patriot missile deal but warns it could take years

The Ukrainian president called the US decision strong, but added that delivery of 500 Patriot PAC-3 missiles ⁠could take years

The US has approved the sale ⁠of 500 Patriot PAC-3 missiles ⁠to Ukraine for an estimated $2.1bn, but Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned deliveries could take years and stockpiles were needed now to counter Russian ballistic missile attacks.

“The proposed sale will improve Ukraine’s capability to meet current and future threats by improving its integrated air and missile defense capabilities,” the US state department said in a statement on Friday.

Continue reading...