Sudan’s army battles RSF advances in el-Fasher, Bara as civil war rages | News

The escalation in fighting comes amid deepening concerns about the vast humanitarian toll of the conflict.Fighting has intensified across Sudan as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group has launched attacks on the besieged city of el-Fasher in North Darfur and the North Kordofan city of Bara.The RSF attacked Bara, a city 350km (215 miles) southwest of Khartoum, the capital, from multiple directions on Saturday morning, drawing artillery fire from the Sudanese armed forces (SAF), a military source…

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Abbotsbury Swannery cancels Halloween event amid bird flu fears

A visitor attraction that cares for hundreds of swans has closed for winter a week earlier than planned and cancelled its half term Halloween events amid fears of a bird flu outbreak.Abbotsbury Swannery in Dorset had been due to welcome visitors to its Ghostly Games trail from Saturday 25 October to Sunday 2 November.A post on its website said: "Due to suspected avian influenza (bird flu) on the reserve, as a precautionary measure, and in line with other…

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Tank Museum hosts emergency services chemical response exercise

A military museum has hosted a training exercise to test the emergency services' response to a chemical incident.Police, fire, ambulance, search and rescue teams and university paramedics took part in the exercise at the Tank Museum in Bovington, Dorset.The fake scenario involved a forklift truck colliding with a chemical tanker carrying chlorine, resulting in a chemical leak, casualties and missing people.The Tank Museum remained open throughout the event on Thursday and there was no risk to the public.Sgt…

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Mother asks for help to find ring containing daughter’s ashes

Lilly-Mae MessengerSomerset , BBC West of EnglandTanya RussellTanya Russell's daughter, Johdi (L), died in 2017A Somerset mother is appealing for help after losing a ring containing her daughter's ashes.Tanya Russell, a grief counsellor based in Cheddar, posted the appeal on social media when she realised the ring was missing.Her daughter, Johdi, died in 2017 from sudden unexplained death in epilepsy (SUDEP).Mrs Russel said: "It's similar to losing a loved one as it was part of her... I feel…

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Messi double fires Inter Miami in MLS Cup playoff lead against Nashville SC | Football News

Argentina forward Lionel Messi celebrates his new contract with Inter Miami by scoring twice in win against Nashville SC.Published On 25 Oct 202525 Oct 2025Click here to share on social mediashare2ShareArgentinian superstar Lionel Messi scored twice to lift Inter Miami to a 3-1 victory over Nashville SC in the opening game of their MLS Cup round one playoff series.Tadeo Allende also scored for Inter, who took a 1-0 lead on Friday night in the best-of-three series, with game…

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Spooky family fun across the West of England this Halloween

Trowbridge Pumpkin TrailThe annual Trowbridge Pumpkin Trail begins on Saturday 25 OctoberWith Halloween right around the corner, the West of England is bursting with exciting activities this spooky season. From decorated pumpkins, spooky houses to family-friendly fright nights, here is a round up of some of the spookiest events happening in the west.BristolBristol Aquarium and We The Curious are hosting a Halloween silent disco - one ticket grants access to both venues.Families can step on board the SS…

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Cornwall Council campaign encourages parents to put phones away

A council has launched a new health campaign to encourage parents and caregivers to put down their phones and connect with their children more.The "Phones Away - Talk and Play" campaign aims to highlight the role face-to-face interaction plays in early childhood development, said Cornwall Council.The council said research showed excessive parental phone use could interfere with a child's brain development.Public Health Cornwall and Together for Families have partnered to lead the campaign.Hilary Frank, cabinet member for children,…

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Nine-day railway closure affecting Surrey passengers begins

A nine-day rail closure affecting passengers in Surrey and southern England during school half-term has begun.Replacement buses are to run for services between Staines and Windsor, and between Guildford and Havant from Saturday until 2 November.The final phase of upgrades to the Portsmouth Direct line are to be completed between Guildford and Havant, while nine level crossings in south west Surrey and north east Hampshire are to be upgraded.Mark Goodall, Wessex Route Director for Network Rail and South…

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Essex mental health trust neglectful over Braintree woman’s death

Nikki Fox,East of England health correspondent at Essex Coroner's Court and Lewis Adams,EssexFamily handoutAbbi Smith understood and felt the world around her differently due to being autistic, her family saidA mental health trust that discharged a patient despite a "real and immediate risk to her life" was neglectful in its conduct, a coroner has said.Abbi Smith, 26, died the day after her release from the Linden Centre, an inpatient unit run by Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust…

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Barnstaple museum exhibition celebrates North Devon innovation

An exhibition has opened in Barnstaple to showcase North Devon's growing reputation for innovation and technology.Northern Devon Innovates, which opened at the Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon, said it would focus on local businesses developing products and ideas for global markets.The exhibition includes case studies of companies like AutoNaut, Ecotribo and Krempel to show that there is more to the region than "agriculture and farming".Alison Mills, director of the museum, said the exhibition was due to run…

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RNLI lifeguards return to South West beaches for half-term

RNLI lifeguards in the South West have returned to some beaches for the school half-term holiday.It said lifeguards would patrol 23 beaches across Devon, Cornwall and Jersey for the half-term period from Saturday, 25 October until Sunday, 2 November.Henry Saddler-Irvine, RNLI regional lifeguard lead for the South West, said "conditions can be challenging at this time of year" with autumn storms "bringing large swells and an increased risk to people on the coast". The RNLI said lifeguards would…

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Zohran Mamdani defends his Muslim faith amid ‘racist, baseless attacks’ | Elections News

The emotional speech against Islamophobia from the NYC mayoral race frontrunner comes a day before early voting begins.New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani gave an emotional speech addressing “racist, baseless attacks” from his opponents, a day before early voting begins in the race he is projected to win.Speaking outside a mosque in the Bronx on Friday, Mamdani criticised his opponents for bringing “hatred to the forefront”, noting that their Islamophobia not only affects him as the Democratic…

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