News 17/10/26

Violence broke out across France on Saturday as an estimated five hundred and fifty thousand people took to the streets to protest over education standards and the cost of living.

French authorities confirmed at least twelve hundred arrests during what they called an escalation in violence. Riot police in Paris deployed tear gas and water cannon as clashes continued into the evening, while fires caused significant building damage nationwide, including a partial roof collapse at Limoges town hall.

A Nottinghamshire NHS trust has dismissed four more staff members for inappropriately accessing the medical records of the Nottingham attacks victims, taking the total number of sacked employees to fifteen.

Barnaby Webber, Grace O’Malley-Kumar and Ian Coates were killed in June twenty twenty-three by Valdo Calocane. Grace’s father, Dr Sanjoy Kumar, expressed his shock at the findings, saying it was time for the trust to get a handle on such systemic failures.

Reform UK has suspended a party activist recorded by an ITV News undercover reporter claiming you cannot be Muslim and British.

The party is also investigating two councillors filmed apparently advocating the mass shooting of grooming gang members. Questions have been raised over Reform’s vetting procedures for candidates, though a spokesperson confirmed legal action is being pursued against ITV and the production company involved.

The BBC has announced that the popular home renovation series DIY SOS will be rested next year due to savings challenges.

The long-running programme, presented by Nick Knowles, will be temporarily replaced by a spin-off featuring highlights from previous series. BBC sources have denied national newspaper reports claiming the show, which first aired in nineteen ninety-nine, was being axed completely.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that Donald Trump’s decision to waive sanctions on Russia encourages Vladimir Putin to continue his attacks.

Posting on social media, the Ukrainian president said easing financial pressure rewards aggression as Moscow targets energy infrastructure ahead of winter. Mr Zelenskyy stressed that international pressure is urgently needed to prevent millions of Ukrainian people from being left without electricity and heating.

The Vatican has confirmed that Pope Leo is set to leave hospital today, four days after undergoing lung cancer surgery.

The pontiff had the lower lobe of his right lung removed during a successful ninety-minute procedure at Gemelli Hospital on Tuesday. Tests confirmed adenocarcinoma, the most common form of lung cancer. He is being discharged earlier than originally anticipated following his recovery.

Eighteen-year-old Gracey Mungulu has spoken out about how peer pressure led her to take up vaping at school.

Despite initially finding the habit as repulsive as smoking, Gracey explained that seeing it become widespread among her classmates led her to try it at sixteen. She warned that regular exposure quickly turned occasional use into a daily habit.

An eighty-year-old man and a sixteen-year-old boy have died after a light aircraft crashed in Scotland.

Emergency services were called to reports of a collision north-east of Drymen, Stirling, at around four forty-five on Friday afternoon. Police Scotland confirmed both victims were pronounced dead at the scene and their next of kin have been informed. Temporary airspace restrictions, including for drones, remain in place over the area following the accident.

Chancellor John Healey has backed the pro-growth case for building a third runway at Heathrow Airport, following sceptical comments from Prime Minister Andy Burnham.

Speaking at the International Monetary Fund in Bangkok, Mr Healey highlighted airport expansion as a key driver of jobs and growth. His remarks contrast with Mr Burnham, who previously declined to endorse the plans, describing expansion as a matter for Londoners.

US President Donald Trump has blocked numerous Congressional sanctions on Russia just two days before implementation, issuing an executive order claiming the suspension is in the national interest.

The move has triggered a backlash from American lawmakers and comes as tensions deepen with Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky following a US deal to import Russian diesel and allegations that Washington withdrew key military support.