Sally Rooney says she can no longer sell books in UK due to Palestine Action support 14. October 2026 (17:50) Irish writer of Normal People says she can no longer receive royalties from British sales and she cancelled UK trip due to fear of arrestSally Rooney has said she is being forced to withdraw her books from sale in the UK because of her support for the banned organisation Palestine Action.The Irish novelist, whose books include Normal People and Conversations With Friends, said her public support for the direct action group meant she could no longer receive royalties from UK sales. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Pope Leo’s recovery from lung cancer surgery ‘progressing as planned’ 14. October 2026 (17:48) Pontiff has begun walking in his hospital room and is eating normally after operation to remove growth, doctors sayPope Leo’s recovery from a lung cancer operation is progressing as planned, his doctors have said, as the pontiff received good wishes from around the world, including a letter from Britain’s King Charles.Leo, who had a cancerous mass removed from his right lung late on Tuesday, began walking in his hospital room after respiratory therapy on Wednesday. He was eating normally, his doctors Luigi Carbone and Stefano Margaritoria said in a statement issued by the Vatican. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Campaigners decry slow progress in repaying victims of carer’s allowance crisis 14. October 2026 (17:35) Only 1.04% of estimated 230,900 cases reviewed in first five months of £75m three-year schemeCampaigners have urged Andy Burnham to step in after it emerged just a handful of the tens of thousands of unpaid carers who unknowingly racked up huge debts when welfare officials unlawfully changed benefits guidance have been repaid.The first official update on the carers allowance reassessment exercise launched by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in April confirms that progress in cancelling wrongful overpayments has started slowly. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Container ship sinks near strait of Hormuz amid surge in Iranian attacks 14. October 2026 (17:35) Second vessel also reportedly sinking as uptick in strikes suggests Iran trying to close waterway before US electionsA container ship has sunk near the strait of Hormuz and a second cargo vessel was reportedly sinking amid the sharpest uptick in Iranian attacks on shipping since the start of the US-Israel war with Iran.The surge of attacks suggests Iran is trying to fully close the strategic waterway in a deliberate attempt to frustrate Donald Trump’s efforts to bring down fuel prices before the US midterm elections on 3 November. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
