Russell Brand was ‘ruthless and calculated’, prosecutors tell jury as rape and sexual assault trial begins – live 14. October 2026 (11:52) Russell Brand back in Southwark crown court today where his rape and sexual assault trial beginsThe prosecution cited remarks made by Brand’s friends during the early years of his career, including one who described the comedian as someone who “was rampant in his desire to have sex”.Another friend, speaking about Brand before he found fame, described him as “very impulsive. His impulsivity led him to be very single-minded, and women and sex were a goal and an obsession,” Karmy-Jones told the court.Some of the women involved protested and said no, others had no opportunity to react to his advances but it mattered not to the defendant.Regardless of who they were and what they said or did, Russell Brand was not deterred. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Nigel Farage says charities that help asylum seekers get to UK should be prosecuted 14. October 2026 (11:50) Reform leader did not say who should be targeted but party figures have been critical of small boat rescues by RNLICharities and volunteers who help asylum seekers get to the UK should face potential criminal prosecution, Nigel Farage has said in an interview with a rightwing US podcaster.While the Reform UK leader did not specify which organisations should be targeted, he and other senior Reform figures have been heavily critical of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), which has faced a campaign of intimidation for its work in rescuing asylum seekers in the Channel. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Russian attacks on Ukraine leave 600,000 without power as Zelenskyy says Moscow ‘disrespecting’ US – Europe live 14. October 2026 (11:50) Zelenskyy says Russia attacked ‘infrastructure covered by the ceasefire announced by the American president’Ukrainian soldiers have access to Starlink satellite internet restrictedRutte gets asked “is Russia foolish enough to consider attacking any of Nato countries?”He says “we don’t think so” and that there is “no imminent threat against Nato territory,” but stresses that “if we see a build up, we will react to it.”“We will never, ever mount a attack towards anyone else because that is not in our interest. We are a defensive alliance.”“But here’s the main thing: we are stronger. Russia is not in a good place. These hybrid attacks, whatever it is, are a sign of weakness. What they allow us to do is to talk about it the whole day and to be rattled and to have press conferences on it. We’re not going to do that. We will react where we need to react.” Continue reading...(The Guardian)
Badenoch and Farage in spat over Chagos Islands, as she calls his offer to Trump ‘humiliating’ – UK politics live 14. October 2026 (11:45) Nigel Farage says Kemi Badenoch misinterpreted his suggestion for a deal with Donald TrumpHere are more comments from Kemi Badenoch on what Nigel Farage told a US podcast about wanting to make an offer to President Trump in relation to the Chagos Islands. (See 9.56am.)It is mad for someone who wants to be prime minister to say we should give away one piece of British territory just to stop an American President talking about another …Nigel Farage has made such a huge fuss about defending the Chagos Islands. He calls this making a deal. Giving away British territory in return for someone keeping quiet is not a deal. It is humiliating. Continue reading...(The Guardian)
IMF experts call on John Healey to slash debt NOW - casting doubt over hoped-for 'steady as she goes' Budget
Climate vigilante group The Tyre Extinguishers who waged war on 4x4s will end vandalism after nearly five years 'disarming thousands of SUVs in 22 countries'