Orionid meteor shower to peak in UK skies this week 20. October 2026 (08:31) Clear skies permitting, skygazers could be able to spot as many as 10-20 meteors per hour as the shower peaks this week.(BBC News)
She was harassed for crude remarks about Modi at a Cockroach protest. Now she can’t leave home 20. October 2026 (08:30) After a protest clip went viral, a teenager’s life was torn apart by threats that sent her and her family into hiding. Plus, a book on citizen journalismBefore 24 July, a person I will call R was preoccupied with the ordinary routines of teenage life: experimenting with makeup, grumbling over mathematics homework and hanging out with friends at a tea stall.That month, as the fever of student protests spread across the country, the 15-year-old watched on her phone as young people poured into Jantar Mantar, the designated protest site in Delhi, demanding education reform. She went too. But an 11-second video clip from the protest site, in which she made crude and profane remarks about the prime minister, Narendra Modi, upended her life. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Surprise drop in UK unemployment to 4.7% 20. October 2026 (08:29) ONS data shows rate down from 4.9% but number of job vacancies continues to shrinkBusiness live – news updatesUnemployment in the UK fell unexpectedly in the three months to August, to 4.7% from 4.9%.The Office for National Statistics figures, which provide a backdrop to the budget on 28 October, also showed that the number of payrolled employees rose by 13,000 between August and September, to 30.3m. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
A young life ‘dominated by gambling’: Victorian coroner delivers stinging findings on death of 22-year-old 20. October 2026 (08:29) Online betting was the ‘direct and paramount’ cause behind Kyle Hudson’s decision to take his own life, inquest findsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastKyle Hudson was “a young man brimming with promise”, with a loving and supportive partner, family and friends, and prospects.“It was a near ideal picture – except for the grip that online sports betting had upon him,” the Victorian coroner Paul Lawrie said on Tuesday. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
‘Lack of curiosity’ about family’s religious beliefs was ‘missed opportunity’ to save eight-year-old, inquest hears 20. October 2026 (08:28) Coroner says she’s considering adopting recommendations from Victoria’s cults inquiry as investigation into Elizabeth Struh’s death continuesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe coroner investigating the death of Elizabeth Struhs is considering adopting recommendations from Victoria’s cults inquiry, warning a “lack of curiosity” about her family’s religious beliefs was a “missed opportunity”.Elizabeth, an eight-year-old, died on 7 January 2022 of diabetic ketoacidosis after her father ceased providing insulin to treat type 1 diabetes. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Brendan Nugent’s family say Helen Haines has been their friend for more than 20 years 20. October 2026 (08:27) Father of 43-year-old Tarrawingee man who allegedly attacked the independent MP says incident is ‘devastating and unfathomable’Who is Helen Haines, the MP allegedly attacked in Victoria?Get our new political email, free app or daily news podcastThe father of a 43-year-old man accused of allegedly attacking Helen Haines has pledged to work with police and described the incident as “shocking and horrific”.The independent MP remained in a critical condition on Tuesday after being airlifted from Wangaratta in northern Victoria to Melbourne’s Alfred hospital for emergency surgery on Monday night. She has lost one leg, with surgeons working to save the other. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Unemployment rate dips to 4.7% - but vacancies hit five-year low after Labour was warned soaring cost of doing business 'holding back recruitment'