A region of the United Kingdom on the island of Ireland
Multiple outlets report undercover footage shows Turning Point UK chief executive Jack Ross offering to broker violent acts for pay, including stabbing, shooting, and killing, amid wider scrutiny of his party ties. Authorities are reviewing the material for potential criminality as responses from TPUK and Conservative circles emerge.
Storm Austen has caused widespread disruption with winds up to 84 mph and power outages across the south and west. Boelo is set to bring further amber warnings, heavy rain, and risk to travel as the UK braces for another battering.
Conservative leaders have pledged to abolish the so-called 0,000 childcare cliff edge, extending free childcare to higher earners and promising to fund the move by cutting other spending. The policy is framed as pro-work and pro-growth, with officials arguing it would remove disincentives to work and boost economic activity. The plan follows earlier proposals to reform taxation and stamp duty.
Celtic manager Martin O’Neill has reaffirmed his commitment to the club after a brief period of reflection following a rough spell. He has signalled his intention to push for the league title despite a challenging run of results.
Margaret Hamilton has died at 90. The MIT computer scientist has led development of the onboard flight software for NASA's Apollo program, coined the phrase "software engineering," and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016. Her daughter has confirmed she died on 30 September in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Northern Ireland has seen a ban on a Protestant Orange Order march through Garvaghy Road. Secretary of State Chris Bryant has intervened to stop the procession, citing public safety concerns amid long-running tensions between unionists and republican residents. Courts are grappling with the latest ruling as authorities seek to avert broader conflict.
UK Antarctic Heritage Trust is in its second year of a three-year drive to save Port Lockroy. A team of eight will reinforce the historic base on Goudier Island, protect the world’s southernmost post office and monitor a penguin colony as climate pressures threaten the site.
The government has backed amendments to the Troubles legacy bill, moving it to the Lords for further scrutiny. The bill aims to address the legacy of the Troubles, with a legacy commission, an information recovery body, and a role for an Irish police unit. Provisions require attorney general consent for serious prosecutions, drawing mixed reactions from victims, veterans, and politicians.
Jeffrey Donaldson, once a leading Northern Ireland politician, has been sentenced to 15 years for 18 counts of sexual abuse against two women who were children at the time. The conviction, in June, includes one rape. The case triggered political fallout and emboldened scrutiny of party conduct.
Former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after being convicted of multiple charges of rape, indecent assault and gross indecency involving two girls. The judge described the case as a catastrophic descent into disgrace. Victims welcomed the ruling; the court noted no remorse from Donaldson.
The SNP has renewed its push for a second independence referendum as party leaders frame the issue as central to Scotland’s future. With the party securing a fifth term, officials say the movement is moving toward a new, sustained campaign despite mixed polling.
Sarah Helm’s X post praising Palestine Action is being assessed by the Metropolitan Police after publishers faced backlash over Sally Rooney’s UK sales. Officials say the post did not meet the criminal threshold and no action is planned. Palestine Action remains proscribed under UK law.
Scottish First Minister John Swinney has declared that the campaign for independence is underway, backed by a six-figure fund and cross‑nation cooperation. The party’s Aberdeen conference frames a future vote, while UK leaders respond with calls for devolution and regional empowerment.
Threatening messages claiming a bomb was placed in hundreds of schools have been sent to dozens of schools across Scotland and Northern Ireland. Police say the threats are being treated as hoaxes and investigations are under way. Several Edinburgh schools evacuated; some remain in disruption as pupils return from autumn breaks.
Hong Kong qualifier Cheung Ka Wai has upset seven-time champion Ronnie O’Sullivan 4-3 in a NI Open first-round thriller. Cheung staged a late comeback, sealing victory in a decider after O’Sullivan’s early dominance, including a 138 clearance in frame two.
The Orionids meteor shower has reached its peak tonight, with up to 20 meteors per hour expected under clear skies. The shower, caused by debris from Halley’s Comet, is visible across hemispheres through early November. Moonlight may wash out fainter meteors, but dark skies and patience will reward observers.
The Covid inquiry has found that care homes were treated as an afterthought and that a protective ring around them did not exist. Discharges of hospital patients into care homes without testing or isolation are among the problems, contributing to over 43,000 deaths in UK care homes between March 2020 and July 2022. The report recommends better planning, PPE access, visiting guidance, and end-of-life training.
The BBC has announced a plan to move BBC Scotland, BBC Three, and related services online as part of a broader effort to save £500m over the next two years. Linear channels will close in spring, with content rerouted to iPlayer, BBC Sounds, and YouTube while some programming shifts to BBC One/Two in Scotland. The changes aim to align with changing audience habits while preserving key regional content.
A multi-vehicle crash at the Armagh Road and Church Road junction has left one person dead and several others seriously injured. The incident occurred early Monday morning; police say the road remains closed as investigations continue.