Independent News & People Network Desk of News

Foamy war? St Andrews students play out modern take on ancient ritual

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-10-19T14:17:49+00:00

Scottish university’s annual tradition once involved giving out raisins but fancy dress and shaving cream now in vogueNobody at St Andrews University in Scotland seems to remember how Raisin Monday became a giant foam fight. For 600 years, first-year students have taken part in the ritual of thanking older students for mentoring them through their first few weeks of university life.Traditionally, freshers would give their elders a pound of raisins – hence the name. This Monday however, hundreds wore fancy dress as they streamed on to St Salvator’s lower college lawn at 11am armed with cans of

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Sobha Ltd Q2 profit drops 55% to ₹33 crore

Source: The Hindu Business Line – Markets · Published: 2026-10-19T14:14:41+00:00

During the first six months of FY27, Sobha Ltd's net profit fell to ₹83.80 crore from ₹86.14 crore in the year-ago period

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Hegseth wrong to say most non-US Nato forces in Afghanistan did not fight, says No 10

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-10-19T14:13:16+00:00

Downing Street emphasises sacrifices of UK troops and reasserts ‘unwavering’ support for Ukraine amid softening US policy towards RussiaUK politics live – latest updatesDowning Street has criticised Pete Hegseth for downplaying the role of Nato allies in helping the US with combat operations in Afghanistan, saying Donald Trump’s defence secretary had been wrong to do so.The direct condemnation came as No 10 more carefully distanced itself from Trump’s increasing willingness to engage with Russia, saying the UK’s backing for Ukraine was “unwavering”. Continue reading...

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Китай не зацікавлений у перемозі РФ у війні, бо це посилило б амбіції Путіна, - Кулеба

Source: UNIAN (General) · Published: 2026-10-19T14:12:00+00:00

Колишній міністр закордонних справ України зазначив, що в той же час Китай не зацікавлений у завершені війни, бо це на сьогодні послаблює Росію.

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Ebola cases in Kenya highlight US failures amid Trump cuts to key services

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-10-19T14:11:08+00:00

Opposition to US-led quarantine center in Kenya follows sweeping funding cuts and withdrawal from WHOAn eighth person in Kenya has tested positive for the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola in the country’s first-ever cluster of cases of the virus, as the second-largest outbreak in history kills more than 4,300 and sickens more than 9,000 people in the region.It highlights the diminished role the US has played in the worsening Ebola outbreak by building a controversial quarantine center in Kenya, pulling back health support globally, and banning travelers from certain countries. All of this has also r

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Tricky time for lunchboxes: banana shortage hits supermarket shelves after cool weather in Queensland

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-10-19T14:00:03+00:00

Dearth of bananas coincides with poor apple harvest and lack of summer stone fruitGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA shortage of Australia’s most popular fruit, bananas, has hit supermarket shelves at a tricky time for lunchboxes, right as apple season winds down after tough growing conditions and summer stone fruit is yet to arrive en masse.Cool weather in key Queensland growing regions has severely slowed banana production, leaving major supermarkets Coles, Woolworths and Aldi with sparse displays or very green stock. Continue reading...

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Calls to strengthen workplace privacy in Australia as employers turn to AI to track staff

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-10-19T14:00:03+00:00

Monitoring tools common in a range of workplaces, including factories, office jobs, delivery work and in retail – often without employees being informedGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastEmployers are increasingly using technology, from CCTV to keystroke monitoring, to track workers’ moves and it is being accelerated by the use of AI, the Human Technology Institute has warned.Examples provided to Guardian Australia by the institute include a fast-food restaurant using surveillance cameras to stop workers using their phones, and AI tracking leading to a cashier warned ov

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After 25 years, Australian dance star Lucy Guerin bows out of the company she founded

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-10-19T14:00:02+00:00

The choreographer said goodbye to Lucy Guerin Inc by dancing in public for the first time in 13 years - which she found ‘incredibly confronting’If there is one thing the professional dancer learns never to expect, it’s longevity. The physical demands on the body and increasing risk of injury tend to necessitate short careers. Melbourne-based choreographer Lucy Guerin has certainly bucked that trend, with a CV spanning decades and several international awards under her belt. But after 25 years at the helm of her eponymous company, she is now stepping away, conferring her artistic directorship o

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Albania accused of rushing through Trump-linked resort in formerly protected landscape

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-10-19T13:53:17+00:00

Dutch MEP says government is trying to avoid EU environmental rules as protests over luxury development turn violentMEPs have accused Albania of deploying “sneaky” practices to fast-track a proposed Trump-linked luxury resort in the country amid protests that have turned increasingly violent.As the prime minister, Edi Rama, pledged to “listen to the voices of young people” taking to the streets, there was mounting criticism of his failure to address demonstrators who had long opposed the controversial project peacefully. Continue reading...

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The Canary news website announces closure after ‘vicious campaign against us’

Source: The Guardian - World · Published: 2026-10-19T13:52:00+00:00

Leftwing outlet said it had faced ‘multiple attacks’ and ‘malicious lies’ which made its situation unsustainableBusiness live – latest updatesThe leftwing news site the Canary has announced that it is closing indefinitely. Earlier this year the media outlet was blocked from accessing funds and has faced allegations of internal turmoil.The outlet, founded in 2015 at the height of support for the then Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, said in a social media post it would be closing “for the foreseeable future”. Continue reading...

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