A British healthcare worker who contracted Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo will be evacuated to the UK for treatment, in the first confirmed case involving a British national during the current outbreak. The patient is reportedly stable and will be transferred to a specialist infectious-disease unit. UK authorities say the public risk remains low.
George Madgwick, the Reform UK group leader on Hampshire County Council, has been charged with 35 offences involving four complainants who were aged 16 or 17 at the time of the alleged offences. He denies wrongdoing, has resigned as group leader and says he will continue as an independent councillor. Reform UK has suspended him.
Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust has apologised and accepted that a breach of duty contributed to the death of Danielle Brown’s unborn daughter, Maisie. Brown had pre-eclampsia and was discharged before returning to hospital, where she was told the baby had died and was then sent home to arrange a later delivery.
Dr Marta Shahbazi, a University of Cambridge and MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology researcher, died in a Spanish train collision that killed at least 69 people. She had been travelling to receive a scientific excellence award for research into early human development and the causes of failed pregnancies.
Dense fog is expected to disrupt travel in parts of England and Wales on Sunday before the main risk shifts north during the coming week, forecasters say. Visibility could fall below 100 metres in places. The settled pattern is also renewing concern about drought, with 82% of England still officially affected.
Lewis Hamilton secured his first pole position for Ferrari at the Mexico City Grand Prix, narrowly beating Mercedes’ George Russell by 0.009 seconds. Kimi Antonelli will start fourth after Max Verstappen’s grid penalty and needs only ninth place or better to become Formula One’s youngest world champion. Oscar Piastri qualified 13th after struggling with rear grip.
King Charles III is expected to speak with “unflinching honesty” and “sincere sorrow” about the lasting pain of the transatlantic slave trade when he addresses Commonwealth leaders in Antigua. The speech comes as Prime Minister Andy Burnham says he is open to a formal British apology, while the Palace stresses policy decisions belong to government.
The Metropolitan Police said 139 people had been arrested at a demonstration outside the US embassy in London opposing the UK government’s proscription of Palestine Action. Organisers said around 400 people attended, while police warned that expressing support for the banned group could constitute a criminal offence. An appeal is due before the UK Supreme Court.
Comedian Romesh Ranganathan and actor Sebastian “Bash” Croft have won the second series of BBC One’s Celebrity Traitors and will share £83,000 for charity. They reached the end as the remaining faithful players after banishing traitors Maya Jama and King Kenny in a finale watched by more than 15 million people.
Prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones KC told jurors that six women who accuse Russell Brand of rape and sexual assault had “nothing to gain” from giving evidence and were not driven by a 2023 documentary. Brand denies seven charges, and the defence is due to deliver its closing speech on Monday.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct has launched an investigation into the Metropolitan Police’s decision not to pass allegations in a 2019 letter about Thomas Markle to overseas authorities. The Met gave the letter to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s office, while Thomas Markle denies recent allegations against him.
BP reported quarterly underlying replacement-cost profit of $8.46bn, almost four times the figure from a year earlier and its highest level since 2008. The Guardian attributed the increase mainly to stronger refining margins amid the Middle East war, while campaigners criticised the company for profiting as fuel prices and climate concerns rise.
Polymarket temporarily suspended trading on its international platform for about an hour after identifying a security incident involving a compromised third-party provider. The prediction-market company said it had fixed the issue, referred it to a UK law-enforcement agency and would fully reimburse affected traders. The extent of any impact remained unclear in reports published after trading resumed.
Russell Brand denied seven charges involving six women as he gave evidence at Southwark Crown Court. The former comedian acknowledged that he had used fame to facilitate sexual access and called that wrong, but said he was innocent of the allegations. He also told jurors that consent was fundamental and could be withdrawn at any time.
King Charles began a nine-day Caribbean tour in The Bahamas by acknowledging the “suffering and injustices” of the past, but Buckingham Palace confirmed he would not issue a formal apology or offer reparations. The visit includes Guyana and Antigua and Barbuda, where slavery reparations will be discussed at a Commonwealth summit.
Two London men have appeared in court accused of offences under Britain’s National Security Act after an incident involving petrol-filled vans near RAF Fairford. Prosecutors say a suspected handler known as Ali directed the group, while counter-terrorism police believe the operation was connected to Iranian intelligence. Iran denies involvement.
Harry Kane has won the 2026 men’s Ballon d’Or after scoring 61 goals for Bayern Munich and helping England reach the World Cup semi-finals. The 33-year-old becomes the first English winner since Michael Owen in 2001, despite falling short in Europe’s biggest competitions. Alexia Putellas claimed the women’s award for a third time.
Storm Boelo caused two deaths, widespread power cuts and major travel disruption across the United Kingdom and Ireland, with exposed areas recording winds above 80mph. Electricity was restored to most affected properties in Northern Ireland, but outages remained substantial in Scotland and the Republic of Ireland as forecasters warned of more strong winds.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has called for an “honest discussion” about restoring freedom of movement with the European Union, drawing support from senior Labour figures but concern from MPs representing Brexit-voting constituencies. Burnham says closer ties could be included in a Labour manifesto without another referendum, although fully rejoining the EU would require a new vote.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has called for an evidence-based public discussion about whether Britain could eventually restore free movement with the European Union, while stressing that any major change would require an electoral mandate. Conservative and Reform UK opponents say the idea would reverse the Brexit vote. Burnham is due to meet EU leaders in Brussels on 20 November.
Amber warnings are in force across Scotland, Northern Ireland and northern England as Storm Boelo brings potentially dangerous winds, heavy rain and gusts approaching 80mph. The storm follows Storm Austen, which left thousands without electricity in south-west England, and has already prompted transport cancellations, road closures and the abandonment of public events.