North Korea has released what it described as “proof of life” images of leader Kim Jong Un, following unsubstantiated claims that he had died after suffering a brain haemorrhage.

The photographs, issued on Monday, appear to show the 42-year-old leader alongside his daughter, Kim Ju Ae, 13, visiting a clothing and footwear exhibition hall in Pyongyang.

The images emerged after Chinese dissident Xie Wanjun claimed, without providing evidence, that the General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea had suffered “a severe cerebral haemorrhage” and fallen into a coma.

Wanjun, the US-based chairman of the China Democracy Party, alleged that Kim had been taken to a hospital in Beijing, where he supposedly died.

Writing on X, he said: “His body has been secretly transported back to North Korea, and the news of his death is being kept under wraps.”

North Korea’s state news agency subsequently published the photographs of Kim and his daughter. Although the agency said they were taken on Monday, the timing and location of the images could not be independently verified.

One photograph shows Kim examining a pink shoe while officials stand nearby.

In another, he appears to inspect rolls of fabric as an official speaks with him.

A third image shows the North Korean leader touching the fabric of a woman’s coat draped over a mannequin, with aides following behind him.

Questions about Kim’s health have persisted for years.

In September, South Korea’s spy agency said he was “extremely obese” and faced an elevated risk of heart disease after gaining weight.

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Kim’s heavy smoking and chronic obesity have also prompted international speculation about who could succeed him as Supreme Leader of the nuclear-armed state if he were to die unexpectedly.

Seoul politician Youn Kun-young, citing South Korea’s National Intelligence Service, said Kim’s health condition was classified as “extremely obese” and that he weighed more than 310lb.

Youn added that Kim was considered at “high risk of cardiovascular disease”, although he had shown no apparent difficulty with physical activity, including running up stairs.

“It is assessed that there are no signs of health issues, given the close monitoring by (his) dedicated medical team,” he said.

Speculation about Kim’s health intensified in 2020 after he missed a commemoration marking the birthday of his late grandfather. His absence from public view for around 20 days fuelled reports that he had become seriously ill following surgery.

Kim’s father, Kim Jong Il, and grandfather, Kim Il Sung, were also obese and heavy smokers. Both men died from heart attacks.

This is despite the fact that North Korea has struggled with repeated food shortages over the years, with the UN calling food insecurity a key humanitarian concern.

But a chef who worked with Kim’s personal chefs during a North Korea-US summit has said the leader has a taste for luxury foods.

Paul Smart – who was the executive chef at Hanoi’s Metropole hotel, where the summit was held – said in 2019: ‘He likes caviar, lobster, really luxurious product. Foie gras, he really likes to indulge in cuisine.’

He added the steaks the North Koreans brought for the leader weren’t dissimilar to highly coveted Japanese wagyu, and were cooked rare.

Halloween fans have been urged by the RSPCA not to hang fake cobwebs outside their homes.

The animal welfare organisation issued the warning on its blog last week, as Australians began preparing for Halloween on October 31.

Fake spiderwebs are a popular Halloween decoration, with some brands sold at Woolworths, Kmart and Coles for as little as $1. However, many products already carry a warning that they are intended for indoor use only.

The warning reflects the serious danger the decorative netting can pose to native wildlife, including birds and bats.

The risk is particularly high in Australia because Halloween takes place during spring, when wildlife is especially active.

“Artificial spiderwebs are one of the biggest safety hazards and unfortunately one of the most commonly used decorations for yards and fences,” the RSPCA said.

“Artificial spiderwebs, loose netting and fine fibres can entangle birds, flying foxes, insects and small mammals, potentially causing injury or preventing them from feeding and moving safely.

“Decorations placed in trees, shrubs or near waterways may also block flight paths, disturb nesting or sheltering animals and leave harmful debris behind.”

The RSPCA instead advised Australians to keep fake cobwebs and other netting-based decorations indoors.

“For a safer display, avoid netting and loosely woven materials, keep displays clear of vegetation and water sources, and ensure all decorations are securely placed,” the organisation said.

“Remove them promptly after Halloween celebrations end and check the area carefully for any pieces that may have come loose.”

Woolworths has also published a warning on its website: “Protect our wildlife at Halloween: Fake spiderwebs can entangle and trap birds and small animals. Please use indoors only.”

The same instruction appears on the packaging of its fake cobweb products.

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Coles told Yahoo News that it would reconsider selling the decoration after being made aware of the threat to wildlife.

“We care about the impact the products we sell can have on the environment and recognise concerns that artificial spiderweb decorations used outdoors can pose an environmental risk,” the supermarket said.

“We regularly review our seasonal ranges and will continue to work with our suppliers to explore more sustainable options for seasonal decorations.”

Several local councils have also taken actions against the common Halloween decoration with Marion Council, in the southern suburbs of Adelaide, warning residents with fake cobwebs outside could be fined.

The council will issue $300 fine if cobwebs are left on public footpaths, trees or fencing but cannot extend to private property due to South Australian laws.

‘Fake spider webs, while spooky, can be harmful to birds and other wildlife. They can get tangled or even eat the plastic, which hurts them,’ the council wrote online.

‘Can you take the challenge of using decorations that are safer for nature?’

The RSPCA urged anyone who finds an animal caught in fake cobwebs to contact it or a local wildlife service as quickly as possible. 

‘Do not try to untangle it or aid it yourself. Instead, call a local wildlife rescue group or the RSPCA in your state immediately,’ it said.

‘Only trained professionals should handle these animals to avoid causing further harm to the animal, or risk to humans.’

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Motorists will receive stronger protections against unfair private parking penalties under new Government rules, including a guaranteed five-minute period to decide whether to stay and park. The maximum charge will remain capped at £100.

Drivers will also have a 10-minute grace period to leave a car park after their paid-for parking time expires without automatically receiving a ticket.

Under the new private parking code of practice, appeals should succeed where a driver has made an honest mistake or faced circumstances beyond their control. Examples include briefly stopping to check directions, suffering a breakdown, dealing with a medical emergency or finding that a payment machine is not working, according to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

A reduced maximum charge of £20 will apply on appeal where the error involves forgetting a permit, entering an incorrect registration number or failing to confirm the details at a parking machine.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham welcomed the changes, saying that a driver returning to a car just a few minutes late or mistyping one number on a registration plate should not be hit with a large bill.

He said private parking penalties can leave people feeling exploited and financially pressured, adding that the Government was taking action to prevent such charges.

The Prime Minister said the reforms would introduce clearer guidance, longer grace periods and lower penalties for genuine errors, while targeting deliberate practices designed to take advantage of motorists.

The code will keep private parking charges at no more than £100. Operators that fail to follow the requirements could lose their ability to obtain vehicle keeper details from the DVLA, the Government said.

Private parking firms currently rely on DVLA vehicle keeper information when pursuing unpaid parking charges.

Private companies issued a record 16.9 million parking tickets in the 12 months to the end of March, analysis of Government figures by the Press Association and motoring research charity the RAC Foundation found.

The total compares with 14.4 million tickets the previous year and 6.8 million during 2018-19.

With individual penalties reaching £100, the figures suggest motorists could collectively face more than £4.6 million in charges every day at the current rate.

The parking sector has said the increase reflects the growing number of car parks now operated or monitored by private companies.

The new private parking code will cover England, Scotland and Wales. It will also establish an independent scrutiny and oversight board for the first time.

Operators will have to provide information about the penalties they issue and the way appeals are dealt with. That data will be reviewed by the new oversight board.

The Government is also preparing a consultation on private parking debt recovery fees. It will consider reducing the current £70 limit or removing the additional fees altogether.

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Simon Williams, head of policy at the RAC, described the code as progress towards protecting drivers from questionable practices, but said it did not go as far as the motoring organisation had hoped.

The RAC has repeatedly called for debt recovery fees to be banned when added to parking charge notices, as well as for one independent appeals service to replace the two bodies currently run by the industry. Mr Williams said neither proposal had been adopted, which he described as disappointing.

However, he said it was still encouraging that a code had finally been introduced, seven years after the Private Parking Code of Practice Act became law.

‘Car park management companies will now have to conform to a new set of rules or risk losing access to the DVLA’s database which they depend on to issue PCNs to drivers.

‘This will hopefully prevent many drivers wrongly being issued tickets in the first place.’

Mr Williams added: ‘While this isn’t quite the Christmas present we wanted for drivers, it should hopefully save many the stress of having to challenge unfair tickets.’

Director of policy for charity IAM RoadSmart, Nicholas Lyes, said: ‘It is welcome to see new protections put in place for drivers through a single code of practice; however, we would have liked to see a single appeals system and action against debt recovery organisations as part of the package.

‘Ultimately, we need to get to a place where parking on private land is a seamless, straightforward, and clear process, not one fraught with potential traps which leaves drivers unfairly out of pocket.’

Alison Tooze, chief policy officer at the British Parking Association, said her organisation ‘welcomes’ the new code, which is an ‘important step forward for motorists, communities and responsible parking operators’.

‘The code builds on many of the principles already established through the sector’s existing voluntary code, helping create a more consistent, transparent and trusted framework,’ she said.

‘Overall, the code strikes the right balance between stronger protections for motorists and effective parking management, helping keep communities, businesses and local economies moving.’

The new code is expected to come into force by the end of this year.

The Government has also announced a crackdown on second-hand car dealers who wind back mileage clocks on vehicles.

While selling a ‘clocked car’ is already illegal, it will be added to an official list of banned practices making it easier for enforcers to address it.

Greg Smith, a shadow transport minister, said: ‘Andy Burnham posing as the driver’s friend is a joke. This is the same Labour Government that is doubling parking fines right across England. Five minutes’ grace in a supermarket car park will not fool anyone.

‘The £100 maximum stays exactly where it is and Labour has ducked banning the debt recovery fees piled on top. Labour’s war on drivers carries on regardless.

‘Only the Conservatives, with our Plan for Drivers, will back the people who keep this country moving.’

Gael Monfils has brought his tennis career to an unexpected end, reportedly after Elina Svitolina’s decision to end their marriage left him feeling that the sport had “lost all meaning.”

Svitolina, 32, announced their separation on Monday, explaining that Russia’s war in Ukraine had taken a devastating toll on her mental health.

Monfils, 40, and Svitolina began dating in 2018 before marrying three years later. The couple have a four-year-old daughter, and Svitolina emphasized that their child would remain their central priority as they move through the separation.

According to L’Equipe, the breakdown of the marriage prompted Monfils to bring forward his retirement from professional tennis.

The French newspaper reported that the news “hit him like a ton of bricks.” It added that tennis had subsequently “lost all meaning” for Monfils, who felt he was “no longer able to play.”

Tennis fans were already caught off guard last week when Monfils appeared as inactive on the retired players list maintained by the International Tennis Integrity Agency.

Being included on the list means Monfils is no longer eligible to compete in professional tennis events.

Monfils had announced in October last year that he intended to retire after the 2026 season. The Paris Masters, scheduled for early November, was expected to serve as his farewell appearance in front of his home fans.

He had also received a wildcard for this week’s Grand Prix Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes in Lyon, an ATP 250 tournament.

The Frenchman was due to join retired compatriots Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Gilles Simon and Richard Gasquet in an exhibition at the event. During their playing days, the four men were dubbed the “New Musketeers” by the French media.

However, organizers announced earlier this month that Monfils had withdrawn for “personal reasons,” with Lucas Pouille named as his replacement.

His final professional appearance came at the US Open in September, where he lost to Learner Tien in the second round.

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“I’m just me, Gael Monfils,” he said after the match. “I think I have been the same since I came on tour, with a lot of joy.”

“The most important for me is how my family lived all these years and how they will remember this ride was unbelievable.”

Monfils, widely regarded as one of the greatest players never to win a Grand Slam title, had competed alongside Svitolina in the US Open mixed doubles event.

The French star had already received an extended farewell at his home Grand Slam, Roland-Garros, in May.

Monfils, who was ranked as high as world No6 at his very peak and reached two Grand Slam semi-finals in 2008 and 2016, confirmed at the US Open that he will embark on a career in finance after joining a Swiss management firm.

Svitolina had confirmed their separation in a social media post, which featured a black and white picture of her and Monfils embracing.

The Ukrainian opened up about sleepless nights and self-doubt amid the ongoing conflict in her homeland, admitting on Instagram that she needs to rediscover her identity after ‘slowly losing myself’.

‘This is the most difficult thing I have ever had to share. Everyone knows how much Ukraine means to me. What I have rarely spoken about is what the war has done to me inside,’ she wrote.

‘Gael saw all of it. He never let go of my hand. We fought through this together for a long time, with everything we had. But some battles happen deep inside you, and no amount of love from someone else can win them for you.

‘Please know that there is no one to blame here. There are only two people who loved each other deeply and a story that is changing shape.’

Svitolina, the world number six, this week was confirmed to have qualified for the season-ending Women’s Tennis Association Finals.