Indulged by his mother and ignored for too long by his siblings, it is behaviour like Andrew’s that could ultimately kill the monarchy

For Halloween, Guardian writers pick their most terrifying films ever – from The Shining and The Descent to The Strangers

He launched a thousand memes as the beleaguered Tory MP in The Thick of It, and starred in the original production of Les Misérables. Now the actor is making not-so-sweet music in the Alan Bennett-scripted film The Choral. But there are plenty of things he draws the line at …

PC Marie Thompson sentenced to 40 months after posing as anonymous ‘paedophile hunter’ to extort £3,500 A police officer who blackmailed a suspect she had arrested in an indecent images case to fund her gambling addiction has been jailed for more than three years. PC Marie Thompson was sentenced to 40 months in prison on Thursday after pleading guilty in September to blackmail and perverting the course of justice. Continue reading...

Pitchfork was jailed in 1988 for rape and murder of two teenage girls, Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth Colin Pitchfork, who was convicted of raping and murdering two teenagers, has had his application to be released from jail rejected by the Parole Board, which also said he should not be moved to an open prison. A panel found that Pitchfork, 65, who was jailed for life in 1988 for raping and strangling Lynda Mann and Dawn Ashworth, both 15, in 1983 and 1986 in Leicestershire, posed a risk of reoffending. Continue reading...

Liberal Rob Jetten edges ahead of rightwing populist in race to form next government with 2% of votes still to count Geert Wilders is almost certain to be shut out of the next Dutch government after a knife-edge general election in which support for his far-right Freedom party (PVV) slumped and the liberal-progressive D66 party made spectacular gains. With more than 98% of votes counted from Wednesday’s election, the two parties were neck-and-neck on a projected 26 seats each in the Netherlands’ 150-seat parliament, with the difference between them only a couple of thousand votes. Continue reading...

Between 2019 and 2023, as the Taliban returned to power, Lorenzo Tugnoli took photos of families and fighters in Afghanistan, hoping to show a side to the country not seen in the news

The pricing standoff between government and industry has stalled research and put thousands of jobs at risk

Ahead of the budget, Rachel Reeves should be out making her arguments. Instead, there is silence – and a huge opportunity for Labour’s opponents, says Guardian columnist Aditya Chakrabortty

US president references China and Russia in Truth Social post shortly before meeting with President Xi Jinping * Trump meets Xi in South Korea – latest updates Donald Trump has instructed the US Department of Defense to begin testing nuclear weapons at a level equal to China and Russia. In a Wednesday post to Truth Social, Trump said that, “because of other countries testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis. That process will begin immediately.” Continue reading...

Prospect of a tough budget is thought to have brought forward the likely date for a cut in interest rates to 3.75% The threat of higher taxes in next month’s budget and concerns about slowing economic growth pushed the pound to its lowest level against the euro in more than two and a half years on Wednesday. Sterling also slumped against the dollar as traders digested news that Rachel Reeves will need to fill a larger hole in the public finances when she puts together her budget plan, after a bigger-than-expected downgrade to the UK’s productivity outlook. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Five women said Reform leader’s comments that they were victims of other types of sexual abuse were ‘degrading’ Five women have asked for an apology from Nigel Farage after he suggested they were not victims of grooming gangs. Last week, they wrote to Keir Starmer saying they would only remain on a panel advising the government’s inquiry into the issue only if the safeguarding minister Jess Phillips stayed in post and “anyone who believes their evidence should be included” could contribute. Continue reading...

PM ducks question from Conservative leader but talks about positive news in economy

This series, set prior to the 2017 Pennywise-starring movie is a gory, mystery-packed horror, which is full of all of King’s favourite topics. It’s solidly entertaining stuff, if not the best ever adaptation of his work

Adrian Daulby sustained shot to chest as he attempted to prevent attacker from entering synagogue A victim of the Manchester synagogue attack died from a single police gunshot wound as he held the building’s doors shut against a terrorist, an inquest has heard. Adrian Daulby, 53, was described at his funeral as a “quiet man” who became a “tremendously strong hero”. Continue reading...

Dania Alafranji, 16, still waiting on visa from Home Office despite being offered school place in Berkshire 18 months ago A teenager from Gaza who has been denied an opportunity to attend school in Britain and be reunited with her mother has said she is “stuck in hell”, despite other European countries making exceptions for students from the region. Dania Alafranji, 16, was accepted on to the Nsouli Scholars Programme to attend Reddam House school in Berkshire more than 18 months ago, but has yet to receive a visa that would allow her to escape the war in Gaza, with her family saying that they feel helpless and have been “going in circles” trying to get her to Britain. Continue reading...

Poet laureate pays tribute to ‘message in a bottle tied to a life buoy thrown from a ghost ship’ released when he was 12

This highly personal look at the space race interviews those involved in the 70s programme that destroyed the dominance of white, male astronauts. It’s a relatable watch which makes the cosmos seem smaller

Dave Richards, 75, who suffered full-thickness burns, given mimetic prosthetic by new NHS 3D medical centre A cyclist who received severe third-degree burns to his head after being struck by a drunk driver has been fitted with a printed 3D face. Dave Richards, 75, was given a 3D prosthetic by the NHS that fits the space on his face and mimics his hair colour, eye colour and skin. His face received full-thickness burns after a speeding drunk driver hit him while he was out cycling with friends. Continue reading...

Five ways the chancellor could mitigate a UK inflation rate that is harming households – and Labour’s vote share

Jamie Oliver says he’s only hanging out with ‘lovely people’ in his 50s. But sometimes we all need an Eeyore around

A decade ago, a prominent analysis was falsely cast as a call for austerity. Our real offence was suggesting there might be a trade-off between debt and growth

A media in thrall to Wilders’ party ensures its agenda is entrenched in Dutch politics and will dominate Wednesday’s election, says political scientist Cas Mudde

Daisy May and Charlie Cooper stay in the nation’s spookiest spots. Plus: Vicky McClure’s explosive drama Trigger Point. Here’s what to watch this evening