News 10/09/25

Right-wing American influencer Charlie Kirk has died after being shot during a university event in Utah.

The announcement came from President Donald Trump, who described him as “great and even legendary” in a post on Truth Social. Kirk, a prominent conservative student leader and ally of the president, had been addressing students in Orem when the shooting took place. Trump paid tribute, saying Kirk was loved and admired by young people across the United States and that “no one understood or had the heart of the youth” better than him.

Right-wing American influencer Charlie Kirk has been shot in the neck while speaking at Utah Valley University.

Witnesses reported the gunfire came from a nearby building during his presentation in Orem. Video on social media shows Kirk clutching his neck as blood appears before he falls from his chair. He had been speaking for about 20 minutes under a tent emblazoned with the slogans “The American Comeback” and “Prove Me Wrong.” University officials confirmed the shooting to NBC News, saying emergency services responded immediately.

Prince Harry has reunited with the King at Clarence House for the first time in 19 months.

The 54-minute private tea came after their last meeting in February 2024, when Harry visited following the King’s cancer diagnosis. Speaking later at an Invictus Games Foundation event, the Duke of Sussex told reporters his father was “great.”

Gary Lineker has ended Ant and Dec’s 23-year run at the National Television Awards.

The former Match of the Day host was voted best TV presenter by viewers at Wednesday’s ceremony. Lineker stepped down from the BBC football programme in May after 26 years, saying it would be his final BBC appearance following controversy over his social media activity.

Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk has warned his country is now closer to armed conflict than at any time since the Second World War.

He said a line had been crossed following Russia’s overnight incursion into Polish territory, making the situation “incomparably more dangerous.” Washington has pledged support, with the US ambassador to NATO, Matthew Whitaker, vowing that the White House will defend every inch of NATO land.

A new Banksy artwork at the Royal Courts of Justice in London is being removed just days after it appeared.

The mural showed a protester on the ground holding a bloodied placard, with a judge looming over him brandishing a gavel. Security staff quickly covered the piece and HM Courts and Tribunals Service ordered its removal, citing the listed status of the building.

Buckinghamshire councillors have voted to close Burnham Short Breaks Centre, despite opposition during consultation.

The cabinet also agreed to shut a similar centre in High Wycombe and repurpose another in Buckingham. The council said the services relied too heavily on building-based care and needed updating. Councillor Isobel Darby admitted the decision had not been easy but said it provided certainty for the future.

NATO’s secretary general Mark Rutte has issued a sharp warning to Moscow following a drone incursion into Poland.

He urged Vladimir Putin to “stop the war in Ukraine, stop the escalation, and stop violating allied airspace.” Speaking to reporters, Rutte called the incident an extension of Russia’s war and vowed that NATO allies are ready to defend every inch of their territory.

In France, riot police have clashed with demonstrators in Paris and other cities after a campaign urging people to “Block Everything” gained traction online.

Tens of thousands took to the streets in protest against the government, with bins rolled into roads and makeshift barricades set up. Authorities deployed more than 80,000 officers nationwide, with at least 200 people arrested so far. The unrest comes on the same day the country’s new prime minister was sworn in.

Jaguar Land Rover says some of its data has been compromised in last week’s cyberattack.

The carmaker halted production after detecting the breach, and many employees have been told to stay at home since. The company now says production staff will not return until at least Monday. JLR added it is working with cybersecurity experts to safely restore global operations.

The UK’s first so-called “super-university” is set to be created through a merger of the universities of Kent and Greenwich.

The new institution will be known as the London and South East University Group and will be led by a single vice-chancellor from the autumn of 2026.

England’s higher education regulator, the Office for Students, has welcomed the move, suggesting other universities could follow as many face financial pressures.

The Department for Education also said ministers supported what it called “innovative approaches” to tackle the challenges in the sector.

French authorities say two children are among three people who have died overnight in the English Channel.

Local media report that three others are missing in a separate incident, quoting border officials. It follows confirmation that a woman died on Tuesday after what police described as “small boat activity” in the same waters.

Kent Police said she was airlifted to land shortly after 1pm but was pronounced dead soon after.

Poland says Russia has carried out what it calls an “unprecedented violation” of its airspace.

Warsaw’s military command confirmed drones had entered Polish territory during a Russian attack on Ukraine, calling it an act of aggression that posed a real threat to its citizens.

For the first time in the conflict, Poland says it scrambled its own and NATO air defences to respond to Russian assets directly in its airspace.

Unicef says more children are now obese than underweight for the first time in history.

A major new study by the UN children’s charity estimates one in ten young people aged between five and nineteen — around 188 million globally — are affected by obesity. Researchers point to a worldwide shift from traditional diets to cheap, ultra-processed foods high in calories.

Unicef is urging governments to crack down on unhealthy ingredients and prevent food companies from influencing public health policies.

Concerns about bus services and poor pavements have been raised at a disability and inclusion forum in the Royal Borough.

Members criticised what they called “diabolical” conditions during discussions on the council’s Local Transport Plan, which sets out proposals for cycling, public transport and congestion.

The current plan runs until 2026, but officials say the new version will focus on making streets and services more welcoming and accessible to all.

Bridget Phillipson has taken an early lead in the Labour deputy leadership contest.

The Education Secretary has secured 44 nominations from colleagues, according to the first tally published by the Parliamentary Labour Party. Former Commons leader Lucy Powell is second on 35, followed by Bell Ribeiro-Addy on eight, Dame Emily Thornberry with seven and Paula Barker on three.

Housing Minister Alison McGovern is trailing with just two backers, though her campaign insists support is stronger than the figures suggest.