Ceasefire at risk after Israeli military action and a halt to some aid deliveries. Israel says it targeted sites in response to an alleged incident against its forces in Rafah; the armed group denies involvement. US Vice President JD Vance is set to visit in a bid to shore up talks.
A senior royal has been compelled to relinquish titles and withdraw from public life after pressure from the King amid scrutiny over associations. Advisers acted to protect the monarchy’s reputation. The royal and former spouse lose York titles; daughters unaffected; Windsor home retained.
MI5’s chief says China mounts daily espionage against the UK and urges a firm defence. His rare intervention follows the collapse of a Westminster spying case, piling pressure on the Director of Public Prosecutions and prompting likely parliamentary scrutiny. Beijing rejects the allegations.
A leaked memo indicates Labour plans to cut London developers’ affordable housing quota from 35% to 20% to boost construction and meet its 1.5m homes pledge. Councils and housing experts warn this would reduce social housing and set a UK‑wide precedent, while lowering costs for developers.
The state pension will rise 4.8% under the triple lock next April, lifting the full rate to £12,547.60 a year—up £574.60. About 400,000 retirees will be within £22 of the income tax threshold. Persistently high inflation makes rate cuts less likely, setting a budget headache for the Chancellor.
Twenty remaining hostages held for over two years were freed under a ceasefire deal, with families reunited. The Red Cross also transferred four victims’ remains. In a reciprocal move, authorities began releasing detainees as negotiations advance.
Leaders will meet to finalise a Gaza truce that would free 20 hostages and start staged prisoner releases. The PM will attend alongside international counterparts. Tony Blair is expected to take a key role on a new peace board to help oversee the deal’s implementation.
A ceasefire in Gaza has begun with displaced residents are attempting to return as families of captives await release. The UK pledges reconstruction support instead of troops.
A ceasefire deal in the region is expected to start within 24 hours pending cabinet approval, with military forces preparing to withdraw and detainees scheduled for release as international mediation seeks a durable settlement.
Badenoch pledges a £9bn abolition of stamp duty, sharpening pressure on Reeves’s Budget as Labour seeks to plug a £40bn fiscal gap and weighs a replacement property tax.