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Technician dies of pneumonia after illness at Siberian plague institute
Daria Shipilova, a 28-year-old scientist at Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute in Siberia, died on 2 October after contracting pneumonic plague, allegedly from dropping a test tube containing the pathogen on 25 September. Her death has triggered an extraordinary response from Russian authorities, including the deployment of the country’s chief sanitary doctor to personally oversee the crisis,…
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Badenoch pledges £10bn air defence system amid Russian missile fears
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has pledged a £10 billion “Iron Dome” air defence system to protect British cities and Army bases from missile attacks. The proposal is framed as a response to threats from countries including Russia and Iran, and the article invites readers to say how concerned they are about a possible Russian attack.…
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Criminal gangs ‘are recruiting foot soldiers as young as 11 to go shoplifting’
Police in Scotland are finding more children carrying stolen goods, prompting concerns that criminal gangs are using them to steal from shops. Retail and police representatives say children may be exploited to shield those directing the thefts, while shop staff face abuse and intimidation. The number of children caught rose from 104 in 2023-24 to…
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Nike refocuses on sport as shares hit decade low
Nike chief executive Elliott Hill has said the company has spent the past year putting “sport at the centre of everything we do”, as he leads a turnaround amid weak sales and falling investor confidence. The article presents the message as a possible shift away from high-profile social campaigns, which critics say distracted from products,…
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Restored film captures the first Battle of Hastings re-enactment in 1966
A restored film of the first Battle of Hastings re-enactment in 1966 will be shown publicly this weekend for the first time. Created by Alan Wootton and his wife Mary, the footage captures hundreds of re-enactors in armour with weapons, revealing notably relaxed health and safety standards compared to modern times. Filmed to mark the…
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Maidstone hotel could become co-living studios for 65 people
Plans have been submitted to convert a former hotel in Maidstone into co-living studios for up to 65 people, prompting concern among nearby residents about parking, local services and the effect on their neighbourhood. Some fear the site could later be used to house asylum seekers, although no such use is confirmed; the debate reflects…
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John Simpson says BBC needs funding reform to survive its worst crisis
John Simpson, a BBC broadcaster of 60 years, has warned the corporation is facing ‘the worst crisis in its history’ and will not survive unless funding is reformed. His stark assessment highlights an existential threat to an institution he describes as embodying what it means to be British and respected globally. Simpson’s warning accompanies sweeping…
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Greens for Palestine-backed candidates win places on nearly every contested party committee
Greens for Palestine-backed candidates won places on nearly every Green Party committee they contested after the group urged members to support its recommended slate at the party conference in Brighton. Critics said the results showed growing factional influence and raised concerns about antisemitism; the group said its campaigning was ordinary party activity and that the…
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Tory MP Jack Rankin urges lower tobacco duty to curb illicit trade
Jack Rankin, the Conservative MP for Windsor and Parliamentary Private Secretary to party leader Kemi Badenoch, has suggested the Tories should consider cutting tobacco duty if they return to power. He argues that the tax is so high it has fuelled a black market, meaning the Treasury is actually losing revenue rather than maximising it.…
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Conservatives pledge to abolish Labour’s high-value property surcharge if elected
The Conservative Party has pledged to abolish Labour’s mansion tax – officially the High Value Council Tax Surcharge – if they return to power, Shadow Chancellor Andrew Griffith announced at the Conservative conference in Birmingham. The tax, due to take effect in April 2028, will charge up to £7,500 annually on properties valued above £2…