National Highways has reversed its decision to remove the 58-year-old Wyndham Road pedestrian bridge over the A36 in Salisbury, Wiltshire, following local backlash and a campaign by residents. Instead of demolition, National Highways will upgrade both the Wyndham Road and Victoria Road footbridges to improve accessibility and protect them from tall vehicles.
Summary headline: A36 footbridge in Salisbury saved from removal following community campaign
Police have informed Southwark Crown Court that an average of £1m worth of high-value watches is stolen from victims' wrists every month in London's West End. The disclosure came during the sentencing hearing of three men—Younes Djoudi, Ali Eldahouzze, and Abdel El Habchi—who stole a £137,000 diamond-encrusted Richard Mille watch from Romanian businessman Catalin Botezatu outside a Mayfair restaurant in January.
Summary headline: Watch thieves steal £1m a month from wrists in London's West End, court told
The UK government has appointed Sir John Kingman, chairman of Barclays Bank UK and former civil servant, as the chair of Great British Railways (GBR). GBR will unify track and train responsibilities under a single public sector organisation for the first time since the mid-1990s. The announcement follows the confirmation that the GBR headquarters will be located on the former Duckworth Square site in Derby city centre.
Summary headline: Sir John Kingman appointed as chair of Great British Railways
Faisal Razzaq, who was previously jailed for manslaughter for acting as a getaway driver in the 2005 murder of PC Sharon Beshenivsky, started selling firearms to criminals in London following his release from prison on parole in 2017. He is set to be sentenced alongside five other individuals at Harrow Crown Court for their involvement in a firearms conspiracy.
Summary headline: Killer of PC Sharon Beshenivsky sold guns to criminals after prison release
Three people have been taken to hospital after a two-vehicle collision on Pirn Road in Innerleithen, Scottish Borders. Emergency services, including an air ambulance and multiple land ambulances, responded to the incident. One person was airlifted to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and two were taken to Borders General Hospital, while police closed the road and advised motorists to avoid the area.
Summary headline: Three people hospitalised following a two-vehicle crash on the A72 in Innerleithen
Local politicians have expressed disappointment after the Department for Transport (DfT) removed the A10 dualling project between Cambridge and Ely from its upgrade programme, citing lower value for money and a lack of available funding. MP Charlotte Cane and Mayor Paul Bristow have criticised the decision, stating that the infrastructure is vital for regional growth, though Bristow intends to explore alternative revenue sources to fund the road improvements.
Summary headline: A10 Cambridge to Ely upgrade dropped from government funding list
The City of Wolverhampton Council has announced the dates and times for its upcoming Christmas lights switch-on events, beginning with Victoria Street in the city centre on 21 November. Further switch-on events will take place in Wednesfield, Bilston, and Tettenhall. The city will also host its first Bilston Christmas Village and a family festive fun day at Bantock House.
Summary headline: Wolverhampton announces dates and details for Christmas lights switch-on events
An auction of decorated elephant models from the 'Trunks across the Thames' art trail has raised more than £240,000 for Thames Hospice. The highest bid of £20,000 was achieved for a model signed by McLaren Formula One driver Lando Norris, which was created in memory of a McLaren engineer cared for at the hospice.
Summary headline: Lando Norris-signed elephant sculpture helps raise £240k for Thames Hospice
Private security teams hired by Essex County Council for Operation Vanguard have responded to 172 incidents during their first month of a three-month trial across Chelmsford, Colchester and Braintree. The patrols were launched in response to concerns about male migrants from the Wethersfield asylum accommodation, though data does not show whether asylum seekers were involved in the incidents. While council leaders and figures like Nigel Farage praised the scheme's success, local MP Pam Cox raised concerns about the lack of data tracking and the use of private guards without statutory powers.
Summary headline: Vanguard private security patrols in Essex respond to 172 incidents in their first month
At King's Lynn Crown Court, the defence for a 16-year-old boy on trial for attempted murder after stabbing a teenage girl at Thorpe St Andrew School argued that the attack involved 'limited force' and could not have been intended to kill. The defendant admits possessing a kitchen knife and wounding with intent, but denies attempted murder. The defence highlighted the shallow nature of the wound, the lack of life-threatening injury, and evidence of hesitation.
Summary headline: Thorpe St Andrew School pupil stabbing had 'limited force', defence tells court
Hull City Council has handled more than 1,800 reports of damp and mould in homes since Awaab's Law was introduced. The figures include 1,631 reports of significant damp and mould and 202 critical emergencies, all of which were investigated within the legally required 24-hour timeframe.
Summary headline: Hull City Council deals with over 1,800 mould cases under Awaab's Law
A petition started by councillor David Henwood has gathered about 1,500 signatures, urging Oxford University Hospitals to reform parking arrangements at the John Radcliffe hospital in Oxford. Over 700 people have shared experiences of missing appointments, births, or being unable to be with dying relatives due to a lack of parking spaces. The trust stated it has implemented measures to alleviate pressure and is working to balance parking availability with responsible traffic management.
Summary headline: Petition launched to improve parking at Oxford's John Radcliffe hospital following severe delays
Der Bundesrat hat eine Entschließung gefasst, um Minderjährige besser vor lebensgefährlichen Online-Mutproben wie sogenannten Blackout-Challenges zu schützen. Ziel ist eine Änderung des Strafrechts, damit künftig nicht nur die Teilnehmer selbst, sondern auch Personen strafbar werden, die Minderjährige über digitale Medien gezielt zu solchen gefährlichen Handlungen verleiten oder dazu aufrufen.
Summary headline: Bundesrat fordert härteren Schutz von Minderjährigen vor gefährlichen Online-Mutproben
A 36-year-old woman has been sentenced at Lincoln Crown Court for false imprisonment after luring a man to her home in Market Rasen, where he was attacked, held hostage, and filmed by other offenders before escaping.
Summary headline: Lincolnshire woman sentenced for luring kidnap victim to house
West Lindsey District Council has unanimously refused retrospective planning permission for an unauthorised car and tyre storage site on North Street in Gainsborough. Councillors cited visual impact and safety concerns, including local worries about fire hazards from large tyre piles and uncertainty over whether old petrol tanks were removed. The applicant, Ali Mohammed Saleh, did not respond to council queries or attend the meeting, though he retains the right to appeal.
Summary headline: Planning permission refused for unauthorised car and tyre storage site in Gainsborough
A serious collision on the northbound A34 near Chieveley Services and Newbury led to closures in both directions. While the southbound carriageway has since reopened, National Highways warns that partial closures on the northbound side are expected to last for several hours.
Summary headline: Serious A34 crash near Newbury causes severe traffic disruption
A new clinical trial testing a 'pill-on-a-thread' device for early detection of oesophageal cancer has expanded to Lancashire using mobile screening vans. Backed by Cancer Research UK and the NIHR, the BEST4 Screening trial aims to recruit 120,000 people across the UK as a quicker, less invasive alternative to traditional endoscopies for individuals with chronic heartburn.
Summary headline: 'Pill-on-a-thread' cancer screening trial launches in Lancashire
Zack Coughlan, a 23-year-old robotics student at the University of the West of England, is on trial at Bristol Crown Court for the murder of his 21-year-old housemate, Jamie Collins. Coughlan admits to stabbing Collins 30 times at their home in Filton on 8 April, but denies murder on the grounds of self-defence, claiming he feared for his life after Collins threatened to kill him over a dispute regarding rent.
Summary headline: Bristol UWE student testifies he was 'terrified' after housemate made death threat prior to fatal stabbing
Die Bundesregierung plant eine Kooperation mit dem US-Chiphersteller Nvidia, um Künstliche Intelligenz in der deutschen Industrie voranzutreiben und den Standort für Investoren attraktiven zu machen. Laut Medienberichten will der Bund einen dreistelliger Millionenbetrag investieren. Die Pläne sollen im Rahmen der Konferenz "Invest in Germany" in Berlin vorgestellt werden.
Summary headline: Bundesregierung plant KI-Kooperation mit US-Chiphersteller Nvidia
South African police have arrested a pastor and his wife after rescuing 200 people from a suspected illegal rehabilitation centre operating out of a church in Mpumalanga province. Authorities uncovered gross inhumane conditions, including patients with sores and some chained together in crowded rooms without running water or functioning bathrooms. The couple charged a monthly fee and are facing kidnapping charges, with a court appearance scheduled for Monday.
Summary headline: South African police rescue 200 people from an illegal rehabilitation centre in Mpumalanga
