News 16/10/25

Sam Fender has won the 2025 Mercury Prize for his album People Watching.

The announcement was made in his hometown of Newcastle, marking the first time the ceremony has been held outside London. Crowds at the Utilita Arena erupted in celebration as the North Shields singer beat off competition from Britpop icons Pulp, Irish artist CMAT, and post-punk favourites Fontaines DC. The event was hosted by DJ Lauren Laverne, with the winner revealed by judge Sian Eleri, following performances from FKA Twigs, Martin Carthy, and other nominees.

Health officials are urging people to get their flu jab after an early rise in cases across the UK.

The UK Health Security Agency says hospital admissions are beginning to climb, particularly among children and younger adults. Although levels remain within the normal range, experts warn that now is the time to act before winter pressure builds. Free NHS flu vaccinations are available to everyone over 65, pregnant women, and people with underlying health conditions such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease.

Sir Keir Starmer has condemned the decision to block Israeli football fans from attending Maccabi Tel Aviv’s Europa League match against Aston Villa in Birmingham.

West Midlands Police classified the fixture as “high risk” after trouble involving Maccabi supporters in Amsterdam last year. The prime minister called the move “the wrong decision,” saying the role of police is to protect fans from violence, not prevent them from attending games. He added that antisemitism “will not be tolerated on our streets.”

Donald Trump says his call with Vladimir Putin was “very productive,” claiming “great progress” was made between the two leaders.

In a post on Truth Social, he said Putin congratulated him for what he called the “great accomplishment of peace in the Middle East.” Trump added that both sides have agreed for high-level advisers, led by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, to meet next week. He says he and Putin will then hold direct talks in Budapest, Hungary, to explore ways of ending what he described as the “inglorious war” between Russia and Ukraine.

The prime minister has ordered a review into antisemitism within the NHS, saying too many incidents are “simply not being dealt with.”

It’s part of a broader crackdown on antisemitism across the UK. All 1.5 million NHS staff will undergo updated antisemitism and anti-racism training. NHS England will also review uniform guidelines to protect freedom of religious expression while ensuring patient comfort. The Department of Health says all NHS organisations will be expected to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism.

The first Post Office Capture conviction has been referred to the Court of Appeal, marking a major milestone in the long-running IT scandal.

The case of sub-postmistress Patricia Owen, convicted of theft in 1998 based on faulty software, has been sent back by the Criminal Cases Review Commission. Mrs Owen received a suspended sentence and fought to clear her name until her death in 2003. Campaigners say it’s an important step towards justice for hundreds of wrongfully accused postmasters.

The government has again delayed its decision on China’s proposed super embassy near the Tower of London.

Housing Secretary Steve Reed was due to rule next week, but the deadline’s now December 10th. Downing Street says the extension gives more time to assess the complex plans — but confirmed the new date isn’t legally binding.

The head of MI5 says he’ll “never back off” from confronting threats from China, revealing his officers disrupted a case linked to Beijing just last week.

Sir Ken McCallum says investigations into hostile state activity — including from Russia and Iran — have risen by more than a third in the past year. He admitted frustration at the collapse of the trial of two British men accused of spying for China, but stressed the Security Service had still derailed the alleged operation. McCallum said “Chinese state actors” pose a national security threat to the UK every day.

A charity that breeds and trains guide dogs has welcomed its largest litter in three years — 13 puppies affectionately called “the baker’s dozen.”

The new arrivals at Guide Dogs HQ in Leamington Spa have been given bakery-themed names, including Biscuit, Bagel, Crumpet and Custard.
Janine Dixon from the charity says staff didn’t realise mum Yori “had quite so many buns in the oven.” Each dog costs up to £77,000 to breed, raise and train — meaning the litter could total over a million pounds.

Council tax could rise for households on low incomes and those out of work in Slough.

The council is consulting on plans to cut the discounts given through the Council Tax Support Scheme.
Under the proposal, working households could see their support reduced from 50 percent to 30, while for non-working people it would drop from 80 to 70 percent.

Former West Ham footballer Said Benrahma has been fined £12,000 after admitting his two XL bully dogs were dangerously out of control during an attack on a golden retriever.

The 30-year-old Algerian international pleaded guilty to two counts of owning dangerously out of control dogs at Willesden Magistrates’ Court. The court heard the incident in July last year was “very distressing” as Benrahma’s dogs chased and mauled the retriever in Hornchurch, east London. Its owner, Luke Rehbin, suffered grazes to his arms and legs while trying to fight off the attack.

Five men have been arrested in London in connection with an alleged cryptocurrency investment scam worth more than one million pounds.

Detectives from the Met’s economic crime unit say several websites were used to lure investors into so-called “pre-sale opportunities” in new cryptocurrencies. Victims were promised big returns once the coins were listed on major exchanges, but police say those listings were never intended to happen. Officers have seized electronic devices and financial records as the investigation continues.

Three men are due in court charged with the rape of a woman on Brighton beach earlier this month. Sussex

Police say the alleged attack happened around 5am on the 4th of October along the lower esplanade. Twenty-year-old Karin Al-Danasurt, 25-year-old Ibrahim Alshafe – both Egyptian nationals from Horsham – and 25-year-old Iranian national Abdulla Ahmadi from Crewe each face two counts of rape. All three have been remanded in custody to appear before Brighton Magistrates’ Court.

An inquest has heard that former boxing world champion Ricky Hatton was found hanged at his home in Greater Manchester.

The court in Stockport was told the 46-year-old is believed to have taken his own life. His manager, Paul Speak, discovered him unresponsive on the 14th of September after arriving to take him to Manchester Airport.

Hatton was last seen two days earlier, on the 12th, and his family said he had seemed “well” at the time. He failed to appear at an event the following day as expected.

The care minister has refused to give public backing to the Director of Public Prosecutions amid growing controversy over the collapsed China spying case.

Stephen Kinnock was asked if he still supported Stephen Parkinson, who leads the Crown Prosecution Service, but declined to say.

It follows witness statements from the case in which the deputy national security adviser described China as “the biggest state-based threat to the UK’s economic security”.

However, Mr Parkinson said the CPS had to withdraw charges against two men accused of spying because the government failed to provide the evidence needed to prove China posed a national security threat.

Nestle has announced plans to cut 16,000 jobs worldwide over the next two years as part of a major automation drive.

The company says most of the losses will come from white-collar and professional roles, with around 12,000 positions affected. A further 4,000 jobs will go across its manufacturing and supply chain operations.

Nestle, which owns brands such as Nescafe, Cheerios, KitKat and Rolos, says the move is aimed at improving efficiency as it modernises its global operations.

Fewer than half of BBC viewers believe the corporation is effectively independent from the government, according to a major public survey.

More than 870,000 people took part in the questionnaire, which explored the BBC’s role in society.

While 91 percent of respondents said independence from government was important, only 43 percent said they thought the BBC was doing this effectively, with 38 percent saying it was not.

Director General Tim Davie said the findings show audiences want an independent BBC producing trusted, high-quality content.

The UK economy grew slightly in August, helped by stronger manufacturing output.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics show the economy expanded by 0.1%, following a 0.1% contraction in July. Boosting growth has been one of the government’s main priorities, but pressure is building ahead of next month’s Budget.

Economists have warned that tax rises or spending cuts may be needed if the chancellor is to meet her own borrowing rules.

The late Virginia Giuffre has accused Prince Andrew of believing “having sex with me was his birthright”, in a memoir published after her death.

In the book Nobody’s Girl, Giuffre recounts alleged encounters with the Duke of York when she was 17, claims which she had previously made public. Prince Andrew has always denied any wrongdoing.

The memoir also details her exploitation by Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Epstein died in prison while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, while Maxwell is serving a 20-year sentence for recruiting young girls for him.

President Donald Trump says Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has agreed to stop buying Russian oil.

Speaking to reporters, the president said he’d been assured by Modi that India would end purchases “within a short period of time”, calling it “a big stop”. The move is part of US efforts to tighten economic pressure on Moscow over the war in Ukraine.

A spokeswoman for the Indian embassy in Washington declined to comment.

Police are searching for a wanted man with links to Slough and Windsor.

Thirty-six-year-old Gareth Healey, originally from Truro, is wanted by Devon and Cornwall Police for breaching the conditions of his post-sentence supervision. He’s described as around 5 feet 8 inches tall, of muscular build, with short brown hair.

Officers are asking anyone who may have seen him to get in touch.