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Homeless men shelter in Reading car park amid safety concerns
- At least a dozen men are sheltering in Reading’s Civic B Car Park.
- One resident says his immigration status leaves him without access to housing support.
- The car park’s hourly charge has more than doubled to £4.30.
At least a dozen homeless men are living in makeshift shelters inside Reading’s Civic B Car Park, a busy council-run facility used by shoppers and barristers. The conditions have raised concerns about safety and rough sleeping in the town, while the article also highlights how people can become…
South Wales officers restrain and handcuff boy, 12, during scooter seizure
- A 12-year-old was handcuffed as police seized his scooter.
- His mother says he was injured and the scooter was broken.
- Police cited suspected criminal damage and believed the scooter was used illegally.
A 12-year-old boy was handcuffed and forced to the ground by South Wales Police while officers seized his e-scooter in Pontardawe. Footage of the incident has prompted criticism of the officers’ use of force, while the boy’s mother says he was injured and distressed. Police said officers found…
Salford’s promotion push makes Championship ambition more credible
- Salford moved five points clear after an eighth straight win.
- New signings and a bigger budget have strengthened the promotion bid.
- Building a local fanbase remains a major challenge.
Salford City’s push for promotion from League Two has gathered pace, making the club’s ambition to reach the Championship seem more plausible. Their eighth consecutive win, against Exeter, put them five points clear at the top and raised hopes that the high-profile ownership group’s investment can deliver progress.…
Dafne Keen and Harriet Walter recall Patrick Stewart’s playful generosity on set
- Dafne Keen remembers Stewart making the *Logan* set feel welcoming.
- His jokes and playful ideas turned work into shared fun.
- Co-stars recall a celebrated actor who made room for others.
Dafne Keen and Harriet Walter remember Patrick Stewart as a generous, playful colleague who brought joy to his work and made others feel included. Their recollections show why his influence reached beyond his celebrated acting: he treated collaboration as a chance to teach, connect and have fun. Keen,…
Taylor criticises government over convicted terrorist’s release from prison
- Isaac El Matari was released under an interim control order.
- The government says it could not meet the threshold for continued detention.
- Angus Taylor argues the restrictions do not go far enough.
Opposition Leader Angus Taylor criticised the Australian government after convicted terrorist Isaac El Matari was released from prison, arguing that restrictions imposed on him do not go far enough. The government says it did not seek to keep him detained because it could not meet the legal threshold…
Brassed Off at 30: ‘Community spirit has kept this village going’
- *Brassed Off* marked Grimethorpe’s struggle after the pit closed.
- The colliery closure cost about 2,000 jobs.
- A memorial honours 163 miners.
Thirty years after its release, *Brassed Off* remains closely associated with Grimethorpe, where the 1996 film portrayed the effects of pit closures through the fictional village of Grimley. Former miner Johnny Wood says it helped show the damage the closure of Grimethorpe Colliery caused and argues that the…
Stories to make you smile from across Yorkshire
- Three generations of one family have worked in NHS care.
- Rescuers saved a dog after a 9m fall.
- A Keighley pool team won £10,000.
A Yorkshire round-up features five uplifting stories, from a family whose women have served NHS patients across three generations to a dog rescued after falling into a hole. The accounts highlight community service, local achievement and efforts to preserve regional history. Dorothy Henry moved from Grenada to Huddersfield…
Rhino siblings celebrate first birthday with cake
- Rhino siblings Markus and Mo turned one.
- They now weigh about 500kg each.
- Their births took the park’s rhino total to nine.
White rhino siblings Markus and Mo celebrated their first birthday at Cotswold Wildlife Park with cakes made from soaked pellets, carrots and salad leaves. Their births brought the park’s rhino population to nine, its highest in 56 years, and highlight the continuing role of conservation. Born last year…
Leaked birthdays can help fraudsters build convincing profiles of customers
- Retailer breaches can help scammers piece together identity profiles.
- Leave optional birthday fields blank or use a false date.
- Give your real date of birth where identity checks require it.
Cybersecurity experts advise giving retailers a false date of birth or leaving the field blank, because information exposed in data breaches can help scammers build convincing profiles and impersonate customers. A birthday on its own is of limited use to criminals, but combined with names, contact details and…
Isla Fisher starred in a $288 million hit. Then she couldn’t get another acting job for a year
- *Wedding Crashers* was a hit, but work did not follow for Fisher.
- She auditioned three times a day for a year without success.
- Her first leading role came in *Confessions of a Shopaholic*.
Isla Fisher’s breakout role in *Wedding Crashers* did not immediately lead to steady work, despite the film’s commercial success and her award-winning performance. She later described the following year as a low point, showing how a prominent role does not guarantee an acting career. Fisher said she spent…
Wales hit by Australia century in World Cup record defeat
- Australia beat Wales 124-6 in a record international score.
- The Jillaroos scored 21 tries, including six by Jaime Chapman.
- Paige Travis scored Wales’ first try against Australia in the tournament.
Australia beat Wales 124-6 in the women’s Rugby League World Cup, setting a new record for the highest score in an international match. The result matters as it surpassed the previous international mark and extended the Jillaroos’ winning run as they pursue a fourth consecutive title. Australia scored…
Oil tank vandalism results in waterfowl park ‘nightmare’
- Oil from a vandalised heating tank polluted the park’s pond.
- Thirteen birds have died and more are receiving care.
- The park is closed during clean-up and recovery.
An oil spill caused by vandalism of a nearby home heating tank has killed 13 birds at Broughshane Waterfowl Park in County Antrim. The park has closed while a recovery effort continues, and police are asking anyone with information to come forward. More than 20 birds were taken…
‘Rok’ solid recognition for Slovenian space scientist
- Space scientist Rok Nežič has an asteroid named after him.
- His asteroid is 10.9km wide and was discovered in 1999.
- Armagh colleague Shane Kelly has also received the honour.
Dr Rok Nežič, a space scientist and outreach officer at Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, has had an asteroid named after him. He says the honour feels like a dream come true, recognising his work and lifelong interest in astronomy. The asteroid, officially named (20560) Nežič, was discovered in…
Councillor calls on mayor to fund ‘adverts & vouchers’ to help Crystal Peaks traders amid Supertram sinkhole – The Star
- Councillor wants mayoral support for Crystal Peaks traders.
- Supertram’s blue route has been suspended since August.
- Traders say replacement buses have not made up for lost customers.
A councillor has urged South Yorkshire’s mayor to help Crystal Peaks businesses affected by the suspension of Supertram services, proposing adverts and vouchers to attract customers. The disruption followed the discovery of a sinkhole beneath the tracks, and traders say fewer visitors are putting their livelihoods under pressure.…
Cummins concerns and weaknesses to target – takeaways from SA-Australia
- South Africa beat Australia and regained the top Test ranking.
- Cummins’s form and Australia’s ageing attack face scrutiny.
- Harmer’s ten wickets point to spin as a possible route for England.
South Africa beat Australia in the final Test to win an enthralling series, reclaim the top spot in the Test rankings and underline their strength ahead of England’s winter tour. The result also exposed questions about Australia’s ageing attack and captain Pat Cummins’s form, while offering England clues…
Blue Planet III returns with tropical marine life and Attenborough’s narration
- *Blue Planet III* returns with remarkable footage of tropical marine life.
- Tawny nurse sharks hunt together in the opening episode.
- A shrimp eats a starfish’s arm, which later grows back.
The main recommendation is the return of *Blue Planet III*, which takes viewers into tropical seas to show the abundance and unusual behaviour of marine life. The programme matters as a showcase for the BBC Natural History Unit’s striking footage, with David Attenborough presenting in his 101st year.…
Talarico seeks to end Democrats’ decades-long drought in Texas statewide races
- Talarico is seeking a historic Democratic Senate win in Texas.
- The result could influence which party controls Congress.
- Spending in the race has exceeded half a billion dollars.
James Talarico, a 37-year-old Democrat and former teacher, is trying to win a Texas Senate seat in a race that could affect control of Congress. Democrats have not won a Texas statewide election in more than three decades, so a victory would mark a major political shift and…
Bingo licences could preserve tax breaks for slot machine arcades
- Slot machine duty is set to rise from 20% to 25%.
- Bingo licences may let some arcades keep a business rates discount.
- An MP is urging the government to close the loophole.
The government plans to raise gambling duty on slot machine takings from 20% to 25% and remove adult gaming centres in England from a business rates discount for leisure and hospitality businesses. But hundreds of high street venues may retain the discount by holding bingo licences, despite appearing…
The 2017 Michael Nau song José González hails as “perfect Sunday morning music”
- González recommends ‘I Root’ for a slow Sunday morning.
- The track appears on Michael Nau’s 2017 album *Some Twist*.
- The album’s sequence follows a full 24-hour cycle.
José González has praised ‘I Root’, a track from Michael Nau’s 2017 album *Some Twist*, as “perfect Sunday morning music”. His comments highlight the value of gentle, warmly recorded songs that can accompany everyday activities while subtly shaping a listener’s mood. Nau made *Some Twist* through an experimental…
‘Huge’ – Chris Wilder makes Romelle Donovan vow after eye-catching Sheffield United display – The Star
- Donovan impressed in Sheffield United’s win over Wrexham.
- He delivered nine crosses and started for the first time in over seven weeks.
- Wilder expects him to contribute across the remaining 33 league games.
Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder said Romelle Donovan has a major role to play this season after the winger impressed in a 1-0 win over Wrexham. Donovan’s first Championship start in more than seven weeks brought pace and creativity to the attack, giving Wilder a chance to reaffirm…