Calls grow for US death penalty halt after ‘torturous’ botched execution of Christa Pike

Top lawyers, doctors and members of the faith community are calling for a moratorium on the US death penalty after Tennessee’s failed attempt to execute Christa Pike left the prisoner alive but in critical condition and receiving life-saving medical care.

Russia tries to freeze Ukraine as it suffers record casualties and retreats

Russia suffered its highest losses of 2026 in September, when 46,230 of its soldiers were killed or wounded, according to the Ukrainian military.

The new record comes after Russian casualties of about 40,000 a month since June, and is close to the goal Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy set in January of 50,000 Russian casualties a month. Russia reportedly lost 2,090 troops on September 28 – its highest 24-hour casualty rate of the war.

Russia targets busy Pivdennyi bridge in central Kyiv

Two Russian drones have hit one of Kyiv's main bridges, bringing public transport in the Ukrainian capital to a halt and signalling a new stage in Moscow's attacks.

The Pivdennyi or Southern bridge came under fire as a metro train was travelling across. Passengers described how dust from a blast wave entered their carriage through the ventilation system.

Naomi Campbell wins legal challenge over charity trustee ban

Naomi Campbell has won a legal challenge to overturn a five-year ban on being a charity trustee after judges found she was unaware of serious misconduct at the charity she set up and helped oversee for several years.

Witnesses detail horror of Tennessee woman’s botched execution: ‘None of it was normal’

When the prison warden asked Christa Pike if she had any last words, she said she was going to leave this world “with love” for those on her side and also the ones angry with her.

School gate to checkmate: British chess prodigy, 11, is youngest ever woman grandmaster

Over the weekend, 11-year-old Bodhana Sivanandan became the youngest ever holder of the title of woman grandmaster at the Chess Olympiad in Uzbekistan – while playing on a car booster seat so she could reach the board. By Tuesday morning she was back at school in north London for a design and technology lesson.

Flydubai passenger describes hugging his children as plane nosedived during attack

A man has described how he hugged and reassured his two young children as their plane suddenly descended after one pilot stabbed the other in an attempt to seize control of the flight.

UK PM Burnham says Iran likely behind RAF base incident: Is there evidence?

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said the UK’s security services have “strong indications” of Iranian involvement in the incident at a British Royal Air Force (RAF) station near Fairford this week in which five men were arrested before they were released on bail.

Celebrity Traitors: What you need to know ahead of the first show

Kristi Noem, former Trump homeland security chief, files for divorce

Kristi Noem, who was fired by Donald Trump after a rumbustious stint as homeland security secretary, is divorcing her husband, Bryon Noem, after 34 years of marriage, citing “irreconcilable differences”.