Britain's ex-head of counter-terrorism says government failed to act on a recommendation to change legislationGaps in UK law that would allow words such as jihad" to be shouted at rallies were known to the government but not acted upon, Britain's former head of counter-terrorism has revealed.The comments from Neil Basu come as some ministers condemned police for their handling of weekend demonstrations in London, with the home secretary, Suella Braverman, due to meet the Metropolitan police commissioner on Monday. Continue reading...

Noiya Sharabi confirmed dead along with sister, Yahel, and mother, Lianne, after raid on Israeli kibbutz

Families given glimmer of hope by release of two US citizens, but fear time is running out before ground invasion

Communities secretary calls for safe return of Israeli hostages during Trafalgar Square event

Strike on distribution centre in Kharkiv on Saturday left people fighting for their lives', said regional governor

Exclusive: HMRC investigation into peer Anthony Bamford and his brother focuses on offshore trusts that own business empireThe influential Tory donors behind the JCB digger empire could be hit with a bill for more than 500m to settle a longrunning investigation by HM Revenue and Customs, the Guardian can reveal.The investigation into Anthony Bamford, a Tory peer, and his brother Mark, the director of a subsidiary of the Conservative party, is understood to span a complex network of offshore tax havens and companies. Continue reading...

PM under pressure from Tory right for more tax cuts and moderates for policies to tackle cost of living crisisRishi Sunak is facing discontent among his backbenchers as he heads into the one-year anniversary of his time in No 10, with Jacob Rees-Mogg calling for the government to wake up from a torpor".The prime minister is under pressure from rightwingers for tax cuts and more Conservative policies, while moderates are pushing for more centre-ground policies that deal with the cost of living to stop votes being lost to Labour. Continue reading...

Israel says anyone in northern Gaza will be considered an accomplice in a terrorist organisation'

Policy reportedly includes sexual relationships and friendships, and launch follows Phillip Schofield's resignation over workplace affairITV has drawn up strict new rules requiring staff to declare all relationships with colleagues - which could even include friendships - in the wake of Phillip Schofield's resignation earlier this year over a workplace affair, according to a report.The This Morning presenter quit after admitting that he had lied about an unwise, but not illegal" affair, amid allegations that ITV bosses had turned a blind eye to the relationship. Continue reading...

Reported security breach may lead to questions for PM about messages sought by the Covid inquiryRishi Sunak's old phone number and a voicemail recording appear to have been leaked online by pranksters in a security breach, according to reports.The incident, first reported by the Sun, involved a longstanding phone number for Sunak that the government had told the Covid inquiry was no longer operational. Continue reading...

Tunisia had applied for extradition of Islamist gunman who shot dead two football fans but file got forgottenThe Islamist gunman who shot dead two Swedish football fans in Brussels last weekend had escaped from a Tunisian prison where he was serving a long sentence, which prompted Tunisian officials to seek his extradition from Belgium, prosecutors have said.Belgian authorities received the extradition request in August 2022 but it was not dealt with. Continue reading...

Israeli military offensive in Gaza offers opportunity to extremist groups in west and Middle East, experts sayAl-Qaida and Islamic State (IS) have called on followers to strike Israeli, US and Jewish targets, raising the prospect of new terrorist violence in the Middle East or the west.In a series of statements over the past two weeks, affiliates of al-Qaida congratulated Hamas on its invasion of Israel", a reference to the terrorist attacks that killed 1,400 people, mainly civilians on 7 October. Continue reading...

As well as risk of death and injury, psychiatrist says situation is leading to symptoms such as convulsions and bed-wettingChildren in Gaza are developing severe trauma systems alongside the risk of death and injury, according to a Palestinian psychiatrist.On Sunday, the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza said 1,750 children had been killed in the 16 days of bombardment by Israeli forces following Hamas's murderous onslaught on 7 October. That is an average of almost 110 children a day. Thousands more have been injured. Continue reading...

National Trust seeks to prevent Berlin Wall-like souvenirs after several people reportedly caught trying to take piecesThe tree that once graced and gave its name to Sycamore Gap has been cut up and its pieces held at a secret location because of fears it will go the way of the Berlin Wall - chunks of which were looted by trophy hunters, the National Trust has said.Police have reportedly caught several people trying to take pieces of the wood, while several legitimate attempts to reclaim it for purposes such as making artworks have also been made. Continue reading...

Every pound spent helping children get community support could save nearly twice as much in long term, says Barnardo's reportEvery pound spent on helping young people access activities and support in the community could save nearly twice as much in dealing with longer-term mental health problems, according to new analysis.The children's charity Barnardo's is urging the government to introduce a national strategy for social prescribing" for young people in England amid a youth mental health crisis that is placing unprecedented demand on child and adolescent mental health services (Camhs). Continue reading...

No items are for sale and nothing is quite what it seems at Rachel Maclean's shop' on Ayr high streetWith its grubby pastel paint and wonky signage, Rachel Maclean's shopfront on Ayr high street at first appears like any other in a town centre that has seen better days.But look more closely through the window and you will notice that familiar promotional entreaties are backwards: don't buy mi, don't let me, nothing must go. Continue reading...

Farming areas and central Scottish belt could be added to party's general election targetsLabour is to widen the number of parliamentary seats it will consider for inclusion on its key target list" to take in more that have rural and farming areas, and more in the central belt of Scotland, following its recent byelection victories.The move comes as party strategists analyse the extraordinary results last week in Mid Bedfordshire and Tamworth, both of which Labour took from the Tories by overturning huge majorities, and the Rutherglen and Hamilton West contest that it won earlier this month from the SNP. Continue reading...

UK PM steps up calls for humanitarian needs to be met in Israel-Hamas conflict

Barney Page rode almost 1,000 miles from John o'Groats to Land's End after his friend took his own lifeSkateboarding may be more usually associated with riders refining their tricks in urban parks or cruising along sun-dappled beachside promenades. But the British professional skateboarder Barney Page went for something very different - a gruelling road trip of almost 1,000 miles from John o'Groats in Scotland to Land's End in Cornwall.A film detailing Page's journey, called Land's End, is being screened across Europe and North America, attracting plaudits not only for Page's spirit of adventure but for the way it tackles the issue of mental health and suicide. Continue reading...

Yes supporters break week of silence by stating 14 October result was so mean-spirited it would remain unbelievable and appalling' for decades

Abuse and complaints taking their toll on reporters, as well as trauma of assignmentsThe BBC is offering extra support to staff who are facing abuse and attacks over the corporation's Israel-Hamas coverage.Some staff have reported being targeted online or verbally attacked for working for the BBC, while also dealing with distressing footage from the conflict. Continue reading...

Former military officers and politicians say prime minister bears responsibility for the failures that led to the Hamas incursionFormer Israeli military, political and intelligence officials have expressed doubts over the leadership of prime minister as debate rages inside the country about the response to the Hamas attacks on 7 October that killed 1,400 Israelis.Former prime minister Ehud Barak described the terrorist attack as the most severe blow Israel has suffered since its establishment to date". I don't believe that the people trust Netanyahu to lead when he is under the burden of such a devastating event that just happened under his term," he told the Observer. Continue reading...

After a crushing week, MPs fear they will need a miracle to hold on to powerAs Keir Starmer embarked on a triumphant victory dash, first to Bedfordshire then to Tamworth in Staffordshire on Friday morning, Tory MPs sitting at home digesting the bombshell byelection news had hit rock bottom.Having pulled off two sensational wins overnight in previously safe Tory-held seats, the Labour leader was rubbing salt into their wounds. Starmer was obviously ecstatic, though straining to strike the right balance between expressions of elation and the necessary caution. Continue reading...

The visits and diplomacy have been to one end: containment. Because if the conflict spills over, the consequences will be global

Award-winning journalist takes on new role of national affairs editor at Nine four months after being flabbergasted' by ABC decision

Preschoolers with severe burns airlifted to hospital in Melbourne, Ambulance Victoria says

This blog is now closed. Our live coverage continues here

This blog is now closed

Swiss People's party believes its campaign focus on immigration and cost of living will increase its leadThe populist rightwing Swiss People's party (SVP) is expected to make gains as the country votes in federal elections, after a campaign season centred on the cost of living and immigration.Switzerland's leading political party is predicted to garner 28.1% of the vote in Sunday's election - an increase of 2.5 percentage points over its previous standing, according to polling by the Sotomo research institute. Continue reading...

NSW Labor says 20 hectares will be repurposed' to serve residents in what will become one of most densely populated areas in Australia

Central Land Council and Antar issue statements after week of silence, with latter claiming voice defeat an unparalleled act of racism by white Australia'

Six dead in Russian missile strike on Kharkiv postal distribution centre, says governor; Volodymyr Zelenskiy holds talks with Turkish counterpart ahead of peace summit next week

Great British Sewing Bee judge criticises government's shambolic' attempt to get protective gear into hospitals when Covid hitThe Scottish fashion designer Patrick Grant has said his father died very unnecessarily" due to personal protective equipment (PPE) shortages during the Covid pandemic.Grant's father, James, had been a manager of the Scottish pop rock band Marmalade as well as an accountant and rugby coach. Continue reading...

The Gulf state's role in the release of two American hostages by Hamas has burnished its reputation as a global mediatorIsrael and Hamas at war - live updatesAs news broke that two Americans held hostage in Gaza had been released by Hamas after talks brokered by Qatar, telephones started ringing in Doha.France's Emmanuel Macron, and the UK's Rishi Sunak were among the world leaders waiting at the end of the line, officially to congratulate the tiny Gulf state on its successful negotiations, but mostly to ask for help getting their own citizens home. Continue reading...

Protesters voice support for Palestinians and demand end to Israel's bombardment of Gaza

Hawks call for action after attacks on settlements in the north, while Rishi Sunak urges caution to prevent conflict spreading

City's character-zoning laws preserve prewar homes but prevent higher-density housing being built in areas with established infrastructurePlanning laws which preserve most prewar Brisbane homes are tantamount to exclusionary zoning", keeping poor people out of rich suburbs without substantially preserving the city's built heritage, according to new research.The lead author, Rachel Gallagher, said the city's character-zoning laws were justified as a means to preserve heritage - but in reality prevent higher-density housing being built in some of the city's most desirable suburbs such as Chelmer, Morningside, Ashgrove, Paddington, Bulimba and Bardon.Sign up for a weekly email featuring our best reads Continue reading...

Warnings from both the Met Office and the Environment Agency come as storm continues to batter the UKIn North Wales, a sheepdog named Patsy rescued three ewes which had been cut off by floodwater on Friday afternoon.Farmer Llyr Derwydd, 44, went to check on his sheep in Flintshire when he saw the sheep stranded on this little spot on the field".So we thought we'd better get them off and make sure they're safe.I just thought, I'll see if the dog will go'. I gave her the command and she swam across. Continue reading...

The chancellor will stand down before the election as likelihood of defeat in new Surrey seat looms, senior Tories sayJeremy Hunt is expected to stand down as an MP before the next election, according to senior Conservatives, who say the chancellor is aware he could suffer a Michael Portillo" moment on polling day.Hunt has already put himself forward and been selected for the new Surrey constituency of Godalming and Ash, after his South West Surrey seat was dissolved and split into two under boundary changes. Continue reading...

Onboard speaker system was used to lead chant among passengers on day 100,000 attended pro-Palestinian march in LondonA Tube driver has been criticised for leading a chant of Free, free Palestine" on a London Underground train.The minister for London, Paul Scully, said staff should focus on the day job" and warned against stoking tensions in the capital. Continue reading...

David Nugent-Malone posts video of woods moving like the sea' that he filmed while walking his dog in Mugdock, StirlingshireIt was a surreal moment, even for a poet.David Nugent-Malone was taking his dog Jake for their usual walk through a local forest in Mugdock, Stirlingshire during Storm Babet when he saw the forest floor weirdly" lifting up and down in the wind. Continue reading...

This live blog is now closed, you can read more of our Ukraine war coverage hereThree more children have been rescued from Russia and brought back to Ukraine, the Ukrainian's parliament commissioner for human rights, Dmytro Lubinets, wrote on X, formerly Twitter.Kyiv has said about 20,000 children have been taken from Ukraine to Russia or Russian-held territory without the consent of family or guardians. It calls this a war crime that meets the UN treaty definition of genocide. Continue reading...

Oppenheimer star says she is appalled' by her remarks in 2012 interview with Jonathan RossEmily Blunt has apologised for referring to a restaurant worker as enormous" on a chatshow that aired 11 years ago.In a resurfaced clip from an episode of The Jonathan Ross Show first broadcast on ITV in September 2012, the star of the summer blockbuster Oppenheimer said a waitress who served her at a Chili's restaurant in Louisiana was enormous". Continue reading...

After visit to Rafah crossing, Antonio Guterres says regular supply of food, water, medicine and fuel needed

Prison letters sent by public enemy No 1' Jacques Mesrine to his girlfriend Jeanne Schneider to be sold at auctionBankrobber and serial prison escapee Jacques Mesrine had many names during his two-decade criminal career in the 1960s and 70s.In disguise and on the run from police, he made headlines as the man of a thousand faces" and public enemy number one". In Canada and the US with his girlfriend, Jeanne Schneider, the couple were nicknamed France's Bonnie and Clyde. Continue reading...

Change means drone operators could face fines of up to 2,500 for flying within 400 metres of prisons or young offender institutionsNew no-fly zones" will be introduced around prisons in England and Wales to prevent drones being used to deliver drugs and contraband to inmates.The legal change will mean drone operators could face fines of up to 2,500 for flying within 400 metres of closed prisons or young offender institutions. Continue reading...

Cross-party MPs host inaugural conference to agree on common statement to put to parliamentPoliticians, campaigners and community groups are uniting for the first time to make a very distinct and clear call for reparative justice" at an inaugural reparations conference this weekend.The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Afrikan Reparations (APPG-AR), a group of cross-party MPs, is hosting its first reparations conference in Euston in north London to collectively agree on a common statement with stakeholders and grassroots campaigners that can be used by MPs to push forward a policy for reparative justice in the House of Commons. Continue reading...

Suella Braverman accused by MP Stella Creasy of denying will of parliament in passing safe access lawPro-choice MPs and activists have expressed their frustration at the government's failure to implement a law on buffer zones around abortion clinics one year after 297 MPs voted in favour of the zones and as women face a new wave of protests when accessing reproductive care.A Home Office spokesperson told the Observer that timelines would be confirmed in due course" but refused to explain why the law was not yet in force and failed to confirm if a consultation on safe-access zones legislation had been launched. Continue reading...

Return of Sharif, who has conviction for graft, is likely to have been smoothed by deal with country's powerful military, expert saysNawaz Sharif, the three-time prime minister of Pakistan, arrived back in the country on Saturday after four years of self-imposed exile, poised to make a political comeback before the general election in January.Sharif spent the past few days in Dubai and left on a chartered flight packed with journalists, touching down in the capital, Islamabad, at about 1.30pm (0830 GMT), according to local media. Continue reading...

Complainant forced to give evidence for second time as case reheardA woman who was raped by her former partner has told how her fight for justice in the family courts left her traumatised. The woman, who has a son with her ex-partner, first put the allegation of rape to the court in 2021 after the father, who she also accused of coercive and controlling behaviour, made an application to spend more time with his child.The allegations were dismissed by Judge Christopher Dodd but the woman later won an appeal to have her case reheard on the basis of errors made by Dodd, including that he had failed to facilitate the provision of special measures" designed to help victims of domestic abuse to give their best evidence. Continue reading...