Introduction The past 24 hours have seen a wide range of news stories, from the world of entertainment and sports to significant developments in science, technology, and politics. This briefing will provide an overview of the most important events.

Entertainment and Sports US actor Chad Lowe has announced the death of his 13-year-old daughter, Fiona, describing her as "the light of our lives". In sports news, England's Underhill will miss the autumn internationals due to a ruptured biceps, while the Lynx became the first No. 1 seed in league history to get swept in its opening series. Cardiff fly-half Callum Sheedy has spoken about his surprise after a "header" against Scarlets in the United Rugby Championship game went viral.

Science and Technology A group of 16 teenagers has taken part in a hackathon to devise ways to combat issues such as light pollution. The Orionid meteor shower is set to streak across the night sky this week, as Earth passes through debris left behind by Halley’s Comet. Meanwhile, concerns have been raised about sewage flowing into a local canal network in Brentford, where dead animals have been found. In technology news, America.gov has been found to produce unusual responses when asked about Minecraft, although this has been explained as a deliberate feature rather than a glitch.

Business and Economics Greggs has announced plans to shut four factories and cut 740 jobs, citing the need to "keep evolving alongside changing customer expectations". Africa's richest man is set to launch a Kenya oil refinery, despite land protests, as part of his bid to expand and help industrialise Africa by 2030. Start-ups are also hoping to return battery making to the US, using sodium-ion technology and locally sourced materials.

Politics and Social Issues The UK's prime minister has suggested that rejoining the EU is among the options for the country, stating that the current Brexit settlement has caused "more harm than good". Andy Burnham has delivered a deeply personal and political speech, in which he vowed to end the existing pension triple lock in 2030 to help fund care. A judge in India has written an emotional letter to a child sex abuse survivor, promising that the perpetrator "will never walk free".

Conclusion These are just a few of the significant news stories from the past 24 hours. From developments in science and technology to important events in the world of entertainment and politics, there has been no shortage of interesting and thought-provoking news.