Author: Darren Smith

Essex Police say a man in his 30s is being questioned on suspicion of a public order offence and criminal damage after a video appeared to show someone spitting on the memorial in Southend. A man has been arrested after a video appeared to show a person spitting on the statue of Sir David Amess, the Conservative MP murdered in 2021. Essex Police said the man, in his 30s, was arrested in Westcliff-on-Sea on Friday morning, close to the memorial. He is being questioned on suspicion of a public order offence and criminal damage, and remains in custody. The incident…

A large trial of more than 1,100 patients found the Moderna vaccine, given with the immunotherapy Keytruda, reduced recurrence or death after surgery. Overall survival data are not yet mature. The world’s first personalised mRNA cancer jab for melanoma has cut the risk of patients’ cancer returning or of them dying by 42% when combined with immunotherapy, a large trial shows. The vaccine, called intismeran, was paired with Keytruda, made by MSD, which is known as Merck in the US. The comparison was with Keytruda alone, two years after treatment. Patients in the UK and worldwide took part, and the…

The Met Office says strong winds could bring a danger to life from flying debris, while Storm Austen has already caused flooding and power cuts. The warning colour needs checking before publication. Forecasters have warned that Scotland could be hit by gusts of up to 80mph this weekend as Storm Boelo sweeps in. It is expected to arrive on Saturday, the day after Storm Austen brings heavy rain to many areas on Friday. A Met Office yellow warning for strong winds has been upgraded to amber for all of mainland Scotland and the islands off its west coast, according to…

A tribunal found the former delivery driver, known as J4, had shown a “plain inference” of intent to attack the Danish politician. MI5 accepted he had taken no practical steps towards doing so. A former delivery driver has lost his fight to regain British citizenship after MI5 branded him a “terror threat”. The man, known as J4, discussed a plot against Rasmus Paludan, a hard-right Danish politician, on WhatsApp in March 2023. Mr Paludan had announced plans to burn a Koran in Wakefield, West Yorkshire. The Special Immigration Appeals Commission upheld the decision to strip J4 of his citizenship. His…

Services between Woking and Brookwood were brought to a standstill on Thursday, disrupting South Western Railway routes and other operators across the south of England. Commuters at London Waterloo faced widespread disruption on Thursday after a police incident closed railway lines between Woking and Brookwood. South Western Railway (SWR) initially warned of delays of up to 90 minutes, and later notices raised that to 120 minutes, with some trains cancelled or diverted. Police were at the scene, and power to the tracks around Woking was switched off during the emergency response. Major disruption was expected to continue until the end…

Carl Hardy and Tony Evans, both 19, have been charged with murder and attempted murder. A third man was charged earlier this week. Greater Manchester Police have charged two more men with murder after the death of Alisha Samuels, 26, on Dorking Avenue in Manchester, a few minutes from Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium. She was found dead on Thursday 15 October. The force confirmed the latest charges on 22 October. Both men have been remanded in custody and are due at Manchester City Magistrates’ Court on 23 October. Charged people are presumed innocent unless proven guilty. The charges Carl Hardy,…

Three men were seen behind the property on Wednesday evening, and police say items were stolen. The captain’s family were not at home. Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes had his family home in Cheshire burgled on Wednesday while he was in Italy for the club’s Champions League game against Como. It is understood his family were not in the house and that the intruders were inside for less than five minutes before police arrived. United were beaten 4-1 in the match. The club is understood to be supporting the 32-year-old. What police have said According to talkSPORT, Cheshire Police received…

Serbia’s student movement says “victory” is within reach, while the governing party’s leader predicts a “tough, uncertain struggle” ahead of Sunday’s parliamentary election. Hundreds of thousands of supporters of Serbia’s protesting student movement packed Belgrade’s Slavija square on Thursday for their final rally before Sunday’s parliamentary election. Crowds filled the square and several blocks around it, waving flags and chanting “Victory”. The vote, on 25 October, follows almost two years of student-led protests against the rule of Aleksandar Vucic. Analysts say a close result could leave the outcome uncertain and pave the way for post-election instability if both sides claim…

A new Government campaign recommends “small steps” for households, as 32 Government websites go offline while a critical flaw in the PHP programming language is fixed. A new Government campaign has told households to “be ready” for a national crisis. Its checklist includes keeping three days of food and water, having enough cash to cope if the electronic payments system fails, and owning a wind-up or battery radio. The guidance is aimed at events such as wildfires, flooding and cyber attacks. It was announced as organisations worldwide rushed to fix a serious security flaw in PHP, a language used by…

Rice’s 82nd-minute equaliser kept Arsenal unbeaten in this season’s Champions League. Gerrard praised the “character and mentality” they showed after falling behind in Munich. Steven Gerrard has described Declan Rice as a “world-class midfielder” after Arsenal came from behind to draw 2-2 at Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday. Rice’s 82nd-minute goal made him the third England player to score in an entertaining game at the Allianz Arena. Gerrard also praised Arsenal’s response after Harry Kane’s penalty put Bayern 2-1 ahead. The result leaves Arsenal with seven points from their first three games. What Gerrard said Speaking to…