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Despite deal which is dependent on Hezbollah ceasing fire, Israel carried out multiple drone strikes in southern Lebanon on Thursday morningIsrael and Lebanon have agreed to implement a ceasefire to end hostilities, the Trump administration has announced, as the US looks to overcome one of the largest barriers to reaching a broader deal to end the war with Iran.The Israel-Lebanon ceasefire is contingent on a complete cessation of fire from the Iran-aligned Hezbollah armed group and the evacuation of all its fighters from the area south of the Litani river in south Lebanon , a joint statement released by the US state department said after negotiations in Washington. Continue reading...

Government-ordered review reveals routine ostracism' of Jewish staff and patients in health serviceThe NHS is taking action to tackle antisemitism after a government-ordered report found that Jewish patients and staff face routine ostracism" in the service.Anti-Jewish hatred in the NHS means some patients hide their identity and staff suffer in silence", a review by Lord Mann, the government's adviser on antisemitism, has found. Continue reading...

The state's commissioner for children and young people raised the alarm about cycles of ineffective referrals to voluntary services and closed reports in 35 cases of children who died after interactions with the system

No service expected on Circle or Piccadilly lines with Metropolitan and Central lines also badly affectedA London Underground drivers' strike has brought another day of transport disruption to the capital on Thursday.Transport for London (TfL) had urged the RMT union to call off the strike, the second 24-hour stoppage this week in a dispute over the introduction of a four-day working week. Continue reading...

NSW police appeal after comprehensive class action loss in 2025 when force admitted music festival search of Raya Meredith was unlawful and unjustified

Light from nearly 4m galaxies measured as it twisted and travelled through intergalactic space

High court dismisses organisation's injunction attempt against designation as a hate group

Success would establish for first time that a betting firm had duty of care to customers with signs of problem gamblingThe widow of a gambling addict who took his own life after falling 18,000 into debt begins a legal claim on Thursday against Betfair that could have far-reaching consequences for the UK's gambling industry.Luke Ashton, 40, from Leicester, died in April 2021 after suffering from a gambling disorder that led him to place thousands of bets with the company, which sent him promotional free" bets.In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is at 988 or chat for support. You can also text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis text line counselor. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org Continue reading...

Protest over killing of Nowak and his treatment by police was attended by several far-right leaders, anti-immigrant influencers and known fascistsSome of those who attended a protest in Southampton on Tuesday night were ordinary members of the public, appalled at the killing of Henry Nowak and his treatment at the hands of the police - who handcuffed him after a false accusation of racism by his killer, Vickrum Digwa.But the protest, which turned violent, was also attended by several far-right leaders, anti-immigrant influencers and known fascists. Eleven police officers and a police dog were injured as protesters threw bricks and bins at riot officers. Two people have been arrested. While the violence occurred after many of the speakers at the protest had left, some leading figures could be seen in clashes with riot police. Continue reading...

Silenced, a documentary about violence against women, opened the Sydney film festival on Wednesday

Conservation groups say work has begun in protected coastal area, while prime minister insists project will bring jobs and investment

Bosses believe having single booking process will drive up ticket sales for all festivals to offset funding squeezeThe Edinburgh festivals hope to launch a single box office for all the city's 11 festivals to make it simpler to buy tickets and profit from the lake" of customer data they hold.Festival directors hope a universal box office will allow them to increase ticket sales and attract a wealthy corporate sponsor, such as Mastercard, to offset deep cuts in public funding they expect to see in coming years. Continue reading...

Islamic State-linked militia blamed for raids in North Kivu as governor says three patients with disease fled clinicsRebel attacks around a town that is one of the centres of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have left more than 30 people dead over the past few days, complicating the response to the disease.At least 10 people were massacred in raids on three villages around the city of Beni, in North Kivu, in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Continue reading...

Sultanate says talks with Tehran are limited to lawful management of waterway, but Washington has doubts about neutralityOman is resisting US pressure to break its links with Iran, and insists it has only been negotiating with Tehran on a future management system for the strait of Hormuz that would be compliant with international law. The aim would be to implement any regime after consulting the UN's International Maritime Organization (IMO).Traditionally Oman, a longtime US ally that shares stewardship of the strait, has adopted the role of a back-channel mediator allowing it to remain neutral in disputes that have led to fissures in other parts of the Gulf. Continue reading...

This blog is now closed. See our full report on the latest Middle East newsThe Kuwaiti defence ministry said it intercepted 13 ballistic missiles and 17 drones launched by Iran today.A drone and missile attack on Kuwait's international airport killed one person, which Kuwaiti authorities identified as an Indian national. It is the first reported death in a Gulf state since the US and Iran agreed to a ceasefire in April. Continue reading...

Commonwealth's barrister tells federal court they will return diary to former political staffer but it must be declassified first

Stunning rebuke to president as lawmakers vote 215-208 for measure forcing him to seek congressional approvalThe US House of Representatives delivered a stunning rebuke to Donald Trump over his war on Iran on Wednesday, as representatives backed a move to force him to seek approval from Congress or withdraw US forces.The House voted 215 to 208 in favor of the war powers resolution, as four Republicans voted with Democrats. The dissident Republicans were Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, Warren Davidson of Ohio and Tom Barrett of Michigan. Continue reading...

Measure expected to succeed next week represents major rebuke to big tech as local disquiet over AI boom growsSeattle's city government is on the verge of passing a year-long ban on the construction of new datacenters, the largest city yet in the US to consider such a moratorium as nationwide backlash grows.Four companies sought to build five large datacenters in areas serviced by Seattle's public utility; if approved, they would have consumed approximately a third of the city's current daily demand for electricity. Continue reading...

The Middle East is Japan's main source of crude oil, from which naphtha is extracted and used to make items including printing ink and plasticsTakeaways, supermarkets, and bakeries in Japan are running out of plastic bags, trays and food service gloves amid widening shortages of the key plastic ingredient, naphtha, due to the Middle East crisis.The food sector accounts for nearly one-third of Japan's annual plastic use of more than 8m tonnes, and price rises and shortages are hitting hard across the industry and beyond. Some outlets have begun offering perks to customers who bring their own bags, plates or containers. Continue reading...

El Dorado blaze that burned 22,744 acres and claimed the life of a firefighter was ignited by an illegal device

Research suggests NHS trusts with higher empathy ratings also benefit financially and have improved staff wellbeingPatients and staff fare better at hospitals that rank highly on empathy, research suggests, with institutions also benefiting financially by spending less on agency staff, locums and consultants.The finding comes from the first study to rate NHS trusts in England according to an empathy score that is drawn from information on the organisation's culture, leadership behaviour and practitioner empathy, among other factors. Continue reading...

Advertisements for non-existent jobs aim to draw in people with access to classified or sensitive informationChinese spies are targeting UK government and military staff on job websites including LinkedIn to try to get access to classified or sensitive information, MI5 has warned.A bulletin has been released by the Five Eyes powers - the UK, US, Australia, Canada and New Zealand - highlighting an aggressive" online recruitment strategy where spies for Beijing military intelligence pose as workers acting on behalf of private businesses or thinktanks.Security clearance holders, especially those who specialise in defence, foreign affairs and security and intelligence.Military personnel, including those stationed in the Indo-Pacific region, who have knowledge of regional capabilities and general activities.People with either indirect or peripheral access to government information, including academics, journalists, freelance writers, thinktank employees or anyone with links to the defence, security, policy and economic sectors. Continue reading...

Senior police figures are pushing back against politicians they accuse of stoking tensions over Henry Nowak's murderPolicing could be driven back to the 1960s by false claims officers are biased against white people, the leader of Britain's black officers has said.Ch Insp Andy George, president of the National Black Police Association, spoke out amid growing concerns that politicians such as Nigel Farage were stoking tensions around the murder of teenager Henry Nowak by making baseless and provocative claims. Continue reading...

Fears that push for ballroom spending could jeopardize $70bn funding for immigration enforcementSenate Republicans on Wednesday formally dropped their attempt to spend $1bn on security improvements for Donald Trump's White House ballroom, as it became clear the president's demand for the money could jeopardize long-term funding for immigration enforcement.The Senate judiciary committee had last month included funding for security improvements related to the new ballroom in a broader measure that would authorize $70bn in spending for agencies involved in Trump's mass deportation campaign through the duration of his term. Continue reading...

Actor sentenced to probation for incident in which he attacked three men and yelled homophobic slurs, according to witnesses

German director says he recognises actor should have been better protected during filming of Wrong MoveGerman director Wim Wenders has withdrawn from circulation his 1975 film Wrong Move, because of a scene featuring a child actor topless who was 13 at the time of filming.The director said in a statement released on Wednesday: Streaming, TV and distribution partners have been instructed to no longer make the film publicly accessible." Continue reading...

Republican Steve Hilton and Democrat Xavier Becerra lead the field as votes continue to be counted

Democrats say appointment of Bill Pulte could doom bipartisan agreement to renew section 702 of Fisa

Operation will use specially built container to protect fragile 11th-century embroideryAs the Bayeux tapestry wends its way across the Channel in a top secret operation there will be no jolts, no bumps, no shakes or vibrations - unlike the voyage of William the Conqueror whose 1066 victory at Hastings the artefact recounts.Nothing has been left to chance," Catherine Pegard, the French minister of culture, told a gathering to mark the historic loan, which will be physically achieved with the tapestry, which is really an embroidery, transported in a specially constructed cradle within a container, the minister said. Continue reading...

File detailing security mitigations is among those withheld at the request of the Metropolitan policeMinisters have faced renewed cross-party pressure in parliament over documents missing from a 1,500-page release of papers about Peter Mandelson's appointment as ambassador to Washington.Despite the volume of information published on Monday, crucial documents were withheld at the request of the Metropolitan police on the grounds that they could potentially prejudice" an investigation. They include a document summarising the vetting process, which concluded with officials recommending Mandelson not be given security clearance. Continue reading...

Keir Starmer says Younger led an exemplary life', while foreign secretary says country owes him an enormous debt of gratitude'Alex Younger, the former head of MI6, has died at the age of 62 after being treated for cancer.Younger led the Secret Intelligence Service, the agency also known as MI6, between 2014 and 2020. Continue reading...

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says the virus had a big head start' but that the response was catching upThe Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo could have begun as early as January, the head of the World Health Organization said, giving the virus a big head start".Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also said the response was being hindered by blanket travel restrictions and highlighted high levels of community mistrust and low levels of contact tracing as key concerns. Continue reading...

Clear-up has begun but psychological impact likely to last much longer as community recovers from violent protestsThe clean up was quick. The day after an anti-police demonstration turned violent in the Portswood area of Southampton, workers cleared up broken glass and fixed fences that had been torn down to use as missiles against officers.But the psychological impact is likely to last much longer. Continue reading...

US and Iran exchange more strikes but Trump says he is not looking to escalate and there is no need for boots on the ground

Alexis Boon says student's death was a tragedy and video was a very difficult watch'Zia Yusuf, the Reform UK home affairs spokesperson, told Sky News this morning that he thought the treatment of Henry Nowak did justify his party's claim that two-tier policing operates in the country. He said:Having watched that footage [of Nowak's arrest] ... it's hard to escape the conclusion that it is a demonstrable example of structural two-tier policing that is embedded in Hampshire police force and forces across the country.People can go to Hampshire police's website and read their race action plan that was brought about under a Tory government.We understand and appreciate as police officers that we are accountable for our actions. What we ask, however, is that those actions are judged through fair and transparent processes. In this case, that process is already underway with the IOPC conducting their independent investigation.What we, as a society, cannot accept is the violent scenes we saw in Southampton last night.I know that since the release of the body-worn video footage from the night of Henry Nowak's murder, there is a desire for answers and accountability but that must be done in the right way and not used as an excuse to threaten and intimidate my officers and bring violence to our streets causing fear and harm to those living and working in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Continue reading...

Christi Hill and male police officer misidentified in Vickrum Digwa case on AI platforms including Grok

Non-binding agreement to start building vehicles in 2027 would safeguard jobs at UK's largest car factoryNissan has agreed to look at building cars in northern England for Chinese manufacturer Chery, in a move that would secure jobs at the UK's largest car factory.The Japanese carmaker on Wednesday said it had signed a non-binding agreement and that discussions were ongoing over contract manufacturing by Nissan for Chery, which is part-owned by the Chinese state. Continue reading...

Premier Chris Minns says changes would balance road safety and a more practical approach for medicinal cannabis users

There's a three-week wait on test results in Yuendumu, near Alice Springs, and locals say NT Health has dropped the ball on telling locals what to do if they test positive

Obstetricians and gynaecologists say anti sex-selective abortions bill predicated on misinformation' and underlying aim is to restrict access to abortion'

DfE plans to withdraw funding for assistive software, saying it is now rarely needed due to widely available free tools'Disability campaigners have called on the government to halt plans to cut funding for specialist tech support for tens of thousands of disabled students in England.Almost 10,000 people have signed a petition opposing Department for Education (DfE) proposals to withdraw funding for specialist assistive software, currently available as part of the Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA). Continue reading...

Chancellor hails deal saying it will create tens of thousands of jobs in the construction, hospitality, creative and technology sectors

Stephen McCullagh planned cold-blooded and calculated' killing of Natalie McNally in Lurgan, Northern Ireland, in great detailA YouTuber who set up a false alibi by livestreaming a video-gaming session online has been sentenced to 31 years in prison for the cold blooded and calculated" murder of his pregnant partner.Stephen McCullagh, 36, of Lisburn, County Antrim, showed no emotion on Wednesday as he was sentenced at Belfast crown court for the murder of Natalie McNally, a crime that chilled Northern Ireland. Continue reading...

New issue of the American Journal of Public Health focuses on parallels between marketing for cigarettes and UPFsThe new issue of the American Journal of Public Health focuses on ultra-processed foods, and reveals that big tobacco companies used strategies that helped them sell cigarettes to sell ultra-processed food products, including Lunchables, geared toward children.The parallels between ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and cigarettes include not only how UPF products were formulated and marketed to drive excess consumption, but also the growing body of evidence linking UPFs to a variety of health risks. For UPFs, these include cardiovascular diseases, certain cancers and cognitive health decline. Continue reading...

Petrol station attack in Calabria throws spotlight on widespread exploitation of foreign farm labourersThe exploitation of farm workers in Italy has come under the spotlight again after four men - three Afghans and one from Pakistan - were allegedly burned alive in a car at a petrol station in Calabria.The attack was captured by a surveillance camera at the garage in Amendolara, close to Cosenza. Two Pakistani nationals have been arrested on charges of aggravated murder, according to public prosecutor Alessandro D'Alessio. Continue reading...

Clifton George convicted of fatally stabbing charity worker Annabel Rook after she tried to end relationshipA man who fatally stabbed his partner and then set off a gas explosion at their north-east London home last summer has been found guilty of her murder.Clifton George, 45, had denied murdering Annabel Rook, a 46-year-old charity founder, during an argument at their home in Stoke Newington on 17 June 2025. Continue reading...

Mixed picture emerges from races across the US, as Trump's pick fails in Iowa. Plus: Jill Biden speaks about her husband's decision to drop out of the 2024 election

Home Office barred Cenk Uygur and Hasan Piker on grounds their visit was not conducive to the public good'Two leftwing US political commentators who were banned from entering the UK will still speak at the Oxford Union via livestream.The Home Office told Cenk Uygur and Hasan Piker their presence in the country was not conducive to the public good" when they attempted to come to London to attend this week's SXSW London event. Continue reading...

Proposal for 10-12.5% levies, to also include EU, Taiwan, Canada and Australia, would allow US president to skirt court-imposed limitsDonald Trump has threatened tariffs of between 10% and 12.5% on 60 countries including the UK, EU and Australia over alleged forced labour failures, in the latest attempt to revive his signature trade policy.The EU immediately hit back, saying it expected the US to respect the tariff deal it entered into last July and arguing that stealth tariffs breached the spirit of that agreement. Continue reading...