The Vector

Supreme Court hears appeal over murder retrial

The case will examine jury directions and a legal rule on causation before any retrial can proceed.

The Supreme Court began hearing an appeal on Tuesday against the quashing of a murder conviction and the order for a retrial. The case centres on how juries should assess causation when another person’s voluntary act is part of the prosecution case.

13 Oct 2026, 16:03

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Tiger park to stay closed as safety probe begins

Doncaster council is investigating the fatal incident while the park remains shut for a fourth day.

Yorkshire Wildlife Park will remain closed for a fourth day after a man died inside a tiger enclosure. City of Doncaster Council, the park’s licensing authority, has launched a health and safety investigation.

13 Oct 2026, 14:04

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London crossing closed after dangerous behaviour filmed

Network Rail has extended the closure of Brickfields level crossing near Upminster while safety measures are considered.

A railway crossing in east London has been closed after children and teenagers were filmed engaging in dangerous behaviour near passing trains. Network Rail said the closure would continue while it works with British Transport Police and local schools on safety measures.

13 Oct 2026, 09:03

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MI5 chief says Russian meddling did not decide Brexit

Ken McCallum said Moscow attempted to influence the 2016 referendum but warned against giving the campaign renewed attention.

MI5 director general Sir Ken McCallum said Russian actors attempted to influence the 2016 Brexit referendum, but there was no evidence that the effort changed the result. He also warned that prolonged political debate could give Russian propagandists more publicity.

13 Oct 2026, 16:03

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Hungary scraps key anti-LGBTQ rules from Orbán-era law

The vote removes restrictions on LGBTQ representation in media and other content accessible to children.

Hungary’s parliament has voted to remove major anti-LGBTQ provisions from a child-protection law introduced under former prime minister Viktor Orbán. The measure passed by 139 votes to 51, in the first significant rollback of Orbán-era LGBTQ restrictions since Péter Magyar took office.

13 Oct 2026, 15:33

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Welsh Government and Labour agree £60m ALN package

The reported deal could bring Wales’s defeated supplementary budget back to the Senedd.

The Welsh Government and Welsh Labour have reportedly agreed an extra £60 million in funding for additional learning needs (ALN) in Wales this financial year. The agreement could clear the way for a revised supplementary budget, although the detailed terms had not yet been published in an official document by 12:31 on Tuesday.

13 Oct 2026, 12:33

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Update 13 Oct 2026, 15:31

Second early-release phase begins with 650 prisoners

The latest tranche extends the government’s prison-capacity plan to people serving longer determinate sentences.

About 650 prisoners in England and Wales are due to leave custody early on Tuesday in the second phase of the government’s progression model. The scheme is intended to ease pressure on prisons, but probation staff and victims’ groups have raised concerns about capacity and supervision.

13 Oct 2026, 15:31

Nuremberg Airport reopens after aviation emergency

A passenger aircraft from Corfu landed safely after fighter jets escorted it, while an earlier possible drone sighting disrupted six flights.

Nuremberg Airport was briefly closed on Tuesday after authorities responded to an aviation emergency involving a passenger flight from Corfu. The aircraft landed safely and an all-clear was issued, but the cause of the alert had not been disclosed by 14:32.

13 Oct 2026, 14:35

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Update 13 Oct 2026, 14:32

Waterford fire becomes murder inquiry as four die

Two children are among the dead and two more remain critically ill after the blaze.

An Garda Síochána has launched a murder investigation after a house fire in Waterford, Ireland, killed two adults and two children. Two other children remain critically injured in hospital.

13 Oct 2026, 14:32

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Bulgaria summons Russian ambassador after fresh drone strikes

Sofia says it has no clear evidence of responsibility but is seeking NATO and EU support.

Bulgaria summoned Russia’s ambassador on Tuesday after drones struck two commercial vessels in the Black Sea, sinking one and damaging another. Prime Minister Rumen Radev said the attacks happened close to Bulgarian waters and that Sofia was seeking stronger surveillance assistance from NATO and the European Union.

13 Oct 2026, 13:03

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Update 13 Oct 2026, 14:32

Deaths reported after Waterford house fire

Gardaí said the incident remained under investigation as emergency services stayed at the scene.

Several people have been reported dead after a house fire in Waterford city, Ireland. Gardaí said on Tuesday morning that the incident was still evolving and that they could not yet provide further details.

13 Oct 2026, 14:32

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Update 13 Oct 2026, 13:03

Drone attacks hit two ships off Bulgaria; one sinks

Bulgaria says one crew member was rescued and that it is seeking NATO and EU assistance.

Two merchant ships were hit by drones near Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast on Tuesday, with one vessel sinking, according to Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev. The attacks are the latest in a series of incidents affecting commercial shipping in the region, but responsibility has not been established.

13 Oct 2026, 13:02

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Update 13 Oct 2026, 10:01

Investigation: Latin American groups expand their European reach

A new investigation and UK crime assessment point to deeper links between South American suppliers and European networks.

Latin American organised crime groups are expanding their presence across Europe, according to a Guardian investigation drawing on police, intelligence and court material from several countries. The findings matter to Britain because the National Crime Agency says cocaine supply chains linking South America to the UK are becoming more collaborative and international.

13 Oct 2026, 10:01

Update 13 Oct 2026, 11:31

One dead after rollercoaster incident at Six Flags Over Georgia

Police are investigating after several other people were injured at the Georgia theme park.

One person has died and several others have been injured after an incident involving a rollercoaster at Six Flags Over Georgia on Monday. Cobb County police said detectives from its Major Crimes Unit were investigating, while the park said it was co-operating with authorities.

13 Oct 2026, 11:31

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Households using heating oil to get stronger consumer protections

The government will develop regulation for the market, but has not proposed a price cap or start date.

The government has accepted plans in principle to regulate the UK heating oil market for the first time. Ministers say households will receive clearer rights, better support and easier access to redress, while warning that the reforms will take time.

13 Oct 2026, 15:03

Lidl gains ground as Aldi’s UK sales growth slows

Fresh Worldpanel figures show Lidl taking share while grocery inflation edges higher.

Lidl increased its share of Britain’s grocery market as Aldi’s sales growth slowed to 0.4 per cent, according to figures published on Tuesday. The data also showed grocery price inflation rising to 2.5 per cent in the four weeks to 4 October.

13 Oct 2026, 13:33

Poundland management backs Martin Group rescue bid

The proposed management buyout could preserve the retailer’s shops and workforce, but no deal has been agreed.

Poundland said on Monday that its management team had identified Martin Property Group as its preferred partner for a management buyout, as owner Gordon Brothers seeks a buyer. The proposed deal is intended to keep the business solvent, but the sale process remains open.

13 Oct 2026, 12:03

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Grocery inflation rises as shoppers brace for higher bills

Worldpanel records annual grocery price growth of 2.5% in the four weeks to 4 October.

Grocery price growth accelerated for a second consecutive month, according to data from Worldpanel by Numerator, as reported by Sky News. The figures suggest households are becoming more cautious as energy, fuel and possible tax changes add to pressure before the government’s next Budget.

13 Oct 2026, 11:04

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Update 13 Oct 2026, 10:31

IMF raises UK growth forecast, warns of 2027 slowdown

The Fund expects stronger growth this year before higher energy costs and borrowing rates weigh on the economy.

The International Monetary Fund has raised its forecast for UK growth in 2026 to 1.3%, but expects expansion to slow to 1.2% in 2027. It said higher energy prices and long-term interest rates were likely to weigh on household spending and business investment.

13 Oct 2026, 10:31

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Update 13 Oct 2026, 11:02

EU sets provisional cap on Chinese hybrid car imports

Brussels says the arrangement could halve Chinese hybrid exports, pending approval by EU leaders.

European Commission officials told the Associated Press on Monday that the EU has provisionally agreed to cap imports of Chinese-made hybrid cars at 350,000 a year. The arrangement, reached after talks with Beijing, is not yet a binding measure: its legal form and implementation still require approval from EU governments.

13 Oct 2026, 11:02

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Coastal erosion forces demolition of 183 English homes

New figures show councils are removing properties before they become unsafe, while thousands more remain at risk.

At least 183 homes on England’s east coast have been demolished over the past 16 years after councils judged them too vulnerable to remain safe to occupy. The figures highlight the growing conflict between protecting coastal communities and accepting managed retreat.

13 Oct 2026, 08:32

Update 13 Oct 2026, 16:01

Apple launches HomeView in smart-home challenge to Amazon

The company has unveiled a screen-based home hub alongside a new HomePod mini and Apple TV 4K.

Apple has launched HomeView, its first dedicated screen-based smart-home hub, as it seeks to compete more directly with Amazon and Google in connected homes. The company also announced a second-generation HomePod mini and a refreshed Apple TV 4K.

13 Oct 2026, 16:01

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Meta takes Ofcom fee regime to the High Court

The judicial review tests how the online-safety regulator calculates fees and potential penalties for large platforms.

Meta’s legal challenge to Ofcom’s online-safety fee and penalty framework is being heard in the High Court. The case is one of the first major tests of how the regulator’s revenue-based system should operate under the Online Safety Act.

13 Oct 2026, 15:03

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Update 13 Oct 2026, 15:02

MI5 warns AI could widen terrorists’ access to bioweapons

The warning came as ministers outlined new measures to test advanced AI and prepare for serious incidents.

MI5 director-general Sir Ken McCallum has warned that artificial intelligence could increase terrorists’ and hostile states’ ability to cause harm, according to a report published on Monday. The warning adds a national-security dimension to the government’s new programme for testing advanced AI systems and strengthening cyber defences.

13 Oct 2026, 15:02

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Update 13 Oct 2026, 15:02

Anthropic says small AI models may soon self-replicate

The company’s controlled experiments suggest consumer devices could eventually host spreading AI agents.

Small AI models could be months away from being able to copy themselves across some internet-connected devices, Anthropic researchers have said. The company stressed that no model tested could yet self-replicate reliably on a smart television under realistic conditions.

13 Oct 2026, 15:02

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Watchdog says asylum AI fails accuracy checks

Open Rights Group says Home Office tools generate errors as checks remain limited.

The Open Rights Group says artificial intelligence tools used in Home Office asylum casework have produced inaccurate summaries and are subject to limited checks. Its findings are based on a six-month investigation of ministerial correspondence and Freedom of Information responses.

13 Oct 2026, 10:02

Cyber incident disrupts systems at TFG London brands

The UK arm of South African retailer The Foschini Group is investigating whether sensitive information was compromised.

The UK operations of fashion retailer The Foschini Group have been hit by a cybersecurity incident affecting parts of its information systems. The company said several systems remained unavailable on Tuesday while specialists investigated the incident and whether any personal data had been compromised.

13 Oct 2026, 09:03

Basildon maternity staff receive £735,000 payout over gas exposure

The settlement covers 121 claims after staff were exposed to excessive nitrous oxide at the Essex hospital.

Maternity staff at Basildon Hospital have secured £735,000 in settlements after bringing claims over excessive workplace exposure to nitrous oxide. NHS Resolution confirmed that 121 claims had been settled, while some cases remain outstanding.

13 Oct 2026, 07:32

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Update 13 Oct 2026, 12:01

Scottish student denied exam adjustments for communication by blinking

Qualifications Scotland says it must balance equal access with the integrity of National 5 assessments.

A Scottish student who communicates by blinking has been denied the adjustments her family requested for a National 5 history exam. The case has reopened questions about how qualification systems should assess learners who cannot complete written papers at ordinary speed.

13 Oct 2026, 12:01

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Cavendish book brings fertility gap into policy debate

Generation Maybe links falling birth rates to housing, work and the growing cost of family life.

A new book by crossbench peer and journalist Camilla Cavendish has brought the reasons for falling birth rates back into Britain’s policy debate. A Guardian review published on Tuesday describes Generation Maybe as an evidence-based examination of why people often have fewer children than they expected.

13 Oct 2026, 10:33

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Clinicians urge review of screen use in schools

More than 150 health professionals say classroom technology needs independent scrutiny for possible effects on children.

More than 150 clinicians have urged ministers to commission an independent review of screen-based learning in schools. Their open letter says children’s physical and developmental health is not being properly considered when schools buy and use education technology.

13 Oct 2026, 10:33

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Update 13 Oct 2026, 12:01

Rwanda to host Formula 1’s African return

A 10-year deal will bring the championship back to Africa from the early 2030s.

Formula 1 has confirmed that Rwanda will host a new African Grand Prix from the early 2030s. The race will be held at a purpose-built circuit in Bugesera, south-east of Kigali, under a 10-year agreement.

13 Oct 2026, 12:01