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Anti-monarchy group launches billboard campaign
Anti-monarchy group Republic has launched a new billboard campaign calling for the abolition of the monarchy. The campaigners, who want the Queen to be replaced with an “elected” head of state, have commissioned 12 billboards to go up across the UK this week, in cities including Aberdeen, Glasgow, Manchester, Newcastle and Leeds. Each billboard carries the same message: “Secretive, divisive, undemocratic.
Abolish the monarchy.” The campaign comes after a YouGov survey in May found that 41 per cent of young people aged between 18 and 24 believe Britain should have an elected head of state.
Police investigating death of man found ‘surrounded’
A murder probe has been launched following the death of a man, aged in his 50s, who was found by police not breathing and surrounded by a group of males in High Wycombe. Thames Valley Police said officers were on patrol in the Buckinghamshire town, when they saw the victim “on the floor” in Micklefield Road at about 12.20am yesterday. He was surrounded by a group of men who fled the scene as police arrived, officers said. Shortly after, it was discovered that the man was not breathing. A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and is in police custody, as detectives attempt to find out what happened.
Five-year-old boy dies after being found in river in Bridgend
A five-year-old boy has died after he was found in a river in Bridgend in Wales, police have said. Officers were alerted to the case of a missing child in the Sarn area at 5.45am yesterday. The child was discovered in the Ogmore River near Pandy Park and rushed to Princess of Wales Hospital where he was pronounced dead. His family is being supported by specially trained officers, police said. Anyone with information can phone 101 and use the reference number 2100268674.
Boy who saved his sister from dog attack ‘proud’ of his scars
The seven-year-old boy who sustained serious injuries while saving his younger sister from a vicious dog attack views his scar as “something to be proud of”, his dad has said. Bridger Walker suffered several bites to the head and face, needing more than 90 stitches, after he placed himself between a German Shepherd and his four-year-old sister in July 2020. Bridger, from Wyoming in the US, has since undergone surgery to improve the
appearance of his scars, but he does not want them to disappear completely.
Baby monkey rescued from ‘miserable life’ in Essex
A baby monkey has been rescued from its “miserable” life being kept in a cage at a residential property in Essex. The marmoset, which had been named TikTok after the social media app, was only a few months old. He had been prematurely taken away from his parents to be kept as an exotic pet in the town of Grays, the RSPCA said. Primates need to live in groups, and marmosets, unlike many other species, usually pair-up in monogamous relationships for life. But TikTok was depressed and kept alone in a parrot cage with no social stimulation. He has been taken in at the Monkey World sanctuary in Dorset and has been adopted by an adult pair of marmosets called Clydie and Ronnie, who spend hours grooming and playing with him.
Rats can make friends, according to study
Male rats have the ability to carefully decide who they spend time with in groups – and who they most want to avoid, a new study has shown. The research, conducted by scientists at the Universities of Portsmouth and Lincoln, also found that the rodents tend to have preferred partners in their so-called mischiefs. Experts said they were surprised by the findings following previous studies, which concluded female rats were reluctant to form friendships with other females. Despite there being “limited evidence available on social behaviour in rats”, as one of the researchers noted, the notably different findings in males and females suggests the former share traits with animals such as baboons and horses.
Five teenagers and man jailed for brutal killing
Five teenagers and a 24-year-old have been jailed for a total of 81 years after they stabbed to death a complete stranger in an alleyway. Bradley Gledhill, 20, was chased down the road before
being knifed, kicked and stamped on during the horrifying attack in Batley, West Yorkshire. Two of his friends were also stabbed during the incident – which started after the gang chanced across the three pals walking through an alleyway. All six of the attackers were convicted of his murder following a trial that lasted several weeks at Leeds Crown Court.
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