Sinn Féin councillor suspended over alleged inappropriate online messages

The party whip has also been removed from JJ Magee

Sinn Féin says that Belfast City councillor JJ Magee has been suspended from the party "without prejudice" following an allegation that inappropriate online messages were exchanged between him and a minor.

Sinn Féin National Chairperson Declan Kearney said in a statement that the party whip had also been removed from Magee.

Kearney said the chief executive of Belfast City Council has been notified.

KRW Law issued a statement on behalf of JJ Magee: “Our client absolutely denies any allegation of inappropriate conduct and in particular any conduct which may have occasioned a breach of the code of conduct for councillors."

Pro-EU leader claims Moldova victory despite alleged Russian meddling

REUTERS/Vladislav Culiomza Maia Sandu said the government would now have to prepare for fresh elections next year and preserve democracy

Moldova's pro-EU President Maia Sandu has claimed a second term after a tense election run-off seen as a choice between Europe and Russia. With most preliminary results counted, Sandu was leading with almost 55% of the vote, and in a late-night speech she promised to be president for all Moldovans. Her rival Alexandr Stoianoglo, who was backed by the pro-Russian Party of Socialists, had promised a closer relationship with Moscow. During the vote, the president's national security adviser said there had been "massive interference" from Russia in Moldova's electoral process that had "high potential to distort the outcome".

Russia had already denied meddling in the vote, which came a week after another key Eastern European election in Georgia, whose president said it had been a "Russian special operation". Stoianoglo, who was fired as prosecutor general by Sandu, has denied being pro-Kremlin. As polls closed, both Maia Sandu, 52, and her rival thanked voters, with Stoianoglo speaking in Russian as well as Romanian. Although Romanian is Moldova's main language, Russian is widely spoken because of its Soviet past.

Voting ended in Moldova at 21:00 (19:00 GMT), with a 54% turnout higher than four years ago, and especially high among expat voters at polling stations abroad. Stoianoglo took an early lead and won the vote in Moldova itself with more than 51%, according to the preliminary results. Sandu was far ahead in the capital Chisinau, and was completely dominant among expat voters. As she overtook her challenger late on Sunday night, there was cheering at her campaign headquarters and chants of "victory". In a hoarse voice she praised her compatriots for saving Moldova and giving "a lesson in democracy, worthy of being written in history books". Then, moving into Russian, she said: "I have heard your voice – both those who supported me and those who voted for Mr. Stoianoglo. In our choice for a dignified future, no-one lost... we need to stand united." Maia Sandu’s foreign policy adviser, Olga Rosca, told the BBC she was proud of the result. Asked whether she was surprised that Stoianoglo had won in Moldova itself, she said the vote in Moldova and abroad should be seen as one and the same: “We never divide people into Moldovans at home and expatriates - we see Moldovans as one family.” With elections coming next year she said the president had “clearly indicated she has heard the mood for change. On several occasions between the [two presidential] votes she said the fight against corruption must be intensified and justice reform must be accelerated – she’s committed to this work”. The final result will be declared on Monday. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen congratulated Sandu, saying "it takes a rare kind of strength to overcome the challenges you've faced in this election. "I'm glad to continue working with you towards a European future for Moldova and its people," her message on X said. Casting his ballot, Alexandr Stoianoglo had promised to be an "apolitical president", and that he had voted for "a Moldova that should develop in harmony with both the West and the East". Stoianoglo polled particularly well in rural areas and the south, while Sandu was ahead in the cities and with young voters.

EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock Alexandr Stoianoglo has denied being a pro-Kremlin candidate

After casting her ballot, Sandu had warned of "thieves" who sought to buy their vote and their country. Presidential national security adviser Stanislav Secrieru said Russia had organised buses and large charter flights to bring voters to polling stations. Bomb scares had briefly disrupted voting in Moldova, at UK polling stations in Liverpool and Northampton and at Frankfurt and Kaiserslautern in Germany, he added.

EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock Moldovan expats queued to vote in big numbers in Moscow and many other cities

A Soviet republic for 51 years, Moldova is flanked by Ukraine and Romania and one of Europe's poorest countries. It has a population of 2.5 million and an expat population of 1.2 million. Moldova's authorities have long warned that a fugitive oligarch called Ilan Shor has spent $39m (£30m) trying to buy the election for Moscow with handouts to 138,000 Moldovans. Shor, who is based in Moscow, denies wrongdoing but did promise cash payments to anyone prepared to back his call for a "firm No" to the EU. Commentators and politicians had warned that a Stoianoglo victory could radically change the political landscape in the Danube and Black Sea region, not because he was some kind of "Trojan horse", but rather because Russia has thrown its weight behind him. There were queues at polling stations in Moscow, Italy and among voters from a mainly Russian-speaking breakaway region of Transnistria, who had to cross the River Dniester into Moldovan-controlled territory to vote. Transnistria is home to a Russian military base and a huge arms depot.

Spanish 'flood fury' and US candidates in 'final push'

Many of Monday's newspapers focus on two things: The US election and Spain's King and Queen being pelted with mud when visiting flood-devastated Valencia. Both stories appear on the front page of the Guardian, along with a much-reported photograph of King Felipe with mud on his face, consoling a local.

The Metro also leads on the confrontation the King and Queen of Spain faced in Valencia. The headline 'Spanish royals face floods fury' reflects how the residents felt. There has been anger at a perceived lack of warning and insufficient support from authorities after the floods.

With one day to go until the US election, the i reports on its own poll which suggests that many Britons want Democrat Kamala Harris to win, but expect Republican Donald Trump to return to the White House. Other polls suggest that the race is still exceptionally close.

The Financial Times leads on a story critical of Donald Trump. 'That he is even on the cusp of the American presidency again is remarkable.' the paper says. In a separate story, the paper reports that a 'Barbie world' is planned, according to the doll's manufacturer Mattel.

The Sun leads on a different story, focused on Prince Andrew. The paper reports that the Duke of York's Windsor home is going 'to ruin'. The story follows earlier reports the King has ordered Prince Andrew's annual allowance to be stopped according to an updated biography of the monarch by Robert Hardman.

The Times reports businessman Sir James Dyson has criticised the government's Budget as 'spiteful', following its release on 30 October. Images of the King and Queen of Spain are prominent on the front page, describing the royal's Valencia visit as 'Emotional'.

The Daily Mail continues its coverage of an updated biography on King Charles, by Robert Hardman. The paper offers an exclusive 'moving' story about the monarch's experiences with cancer. Elsewhere, journalist Samantha Brick shares how her husband's use of weight loss drug Ozempic has affected her own life.

An image of a lead pipe and a bloodstained bag is on the front page of the Daily Mirror. The paper returns to a much reported story from 1974 of Lord Lucan, who disappeared after the body of Sandra Rivett, nanny to his three children, was found. This pipe is alleged to be the weapon used and is pictured for the first time.

Actor Olivia Colman accompanies a marmalade sandwich-eating Paddington Bear on the front of the Daily Express, pictured at the premiere for the Paddington in Peru film. Colman plays a guitar-playing nun in the latest instalment.

And finally, the Daily Star with the paper's second consecutive Bonfire Night front page story. Monday's paper estimates that temperatures will reach 21C this week. The BBC Weather's Matt Taylor has forecast temperatures will be around 15C.

Hindsight is very handy, but I was surprised with the timing of some of the changes England made, as I didn't feel they were necessary.

They replaced the entire front row early in the second half when they were still handling themselves well.

New Zealand were behind in the scrum in the first half and you knew they were definitely going to do something about it.

The first scrum after the break, the All Blacks just had a little edge and immediately England made changes in the front row.

You probably thought they would go to another scrum and see if England could handle it, but it was immediate.

I wholeheartedly disagree, however, with the timing of the decision to replace half-backs Ben Spencer and Marcus Smith with Harry Randall and George Ford.

Spencer and Smith had managed the game really well. There were threats everywhere and they were playing a great style of rugby.

They didn't have a lot of possession but when they did, Marcus created problems.

The game was nowhere near won. England were leading by eight points but you knew New Zealand were still going to have a say.

I just think it took the momentum out the game and the way England were organising their defence.

Nonetheless, there is not one part of me that will lay any blame with Ford for the missed drop-goal attempt in the final play.

It was an utter shambles of a drill.

From the moment that scrum went down under the posts, it seemed every single player looked at Ford for the drop-goal. Randall picked up from the middle of the scrum, when it should have been Alex Dombrandt's ball at number eight.

Then he shipped it on and they go through the phases a bit. Everyone is looking at Ford but no-one is doing their job of trucking it up and getting into a good position.

Go back to England v Ireland in the Six Nations when it all came down to Marcus Smith's drop-goal.

England had two penalty advantages right in front of the sticks. If Smith had topped that, they had a penalty because of the amazing work the forwards had done to create that situation.

Jonny Wilkinson was great at drop-goals but he had an England forward pack in front of him to control the narrative around the breakdown.

You could see Ford was looking at Randall and not wanting the ball because he was on the back foot and static. When he did get it, it was above his head with several All Blacks running at him.

It was a one-in-a-100 shot.

'The second special one' - Amorim by those who know him best. Video, 00:02:22'The second special one' - Amorim by those who know him best