Category: Politics

On Wednesday, the Australian state of Victoria was hit by thunderstorms. The town of Casterton was particularly badly affected, receiving 21mm of rain in just 30 minutes, followed by large hailstones. Vehicles and properties were severely damaged, with reports of broken windows and tiles blown off roofs due to the strong winds associated with the […]

Key events Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature Rachel Reeves will seek to make about £3bn of cuts to welfare over the next four years by restricting access to sickness benefits, it is understood, according to the PA news agency. The chancellor is expected to commit to the previous […]

Introduction: UK retail sales growth slows despite tech boom Good morning, and welcome to our rolling coverage of business, the financial markets and the world economy. Growth in retail sales across Great Britain has slowed, as consumers snapped up technology but cut back on supermarket spending. Sales volumes grew by 0.3% in September, new data […]

Pick of the weekBefore Billy Crystal plays (reasonably convincingly) against type in this thriller, as child psychologist Eli, a man reeling from the suicide of his wife Lynn. When a mysterious, mute child appears on his doorstep with bloodied hands and an unblinking stare, Eli assumes he has dreamed him. But Noah (a creepy turn […]

Key events Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature 14th over: England 45-3 (Pope 16, Brook 3) Brook is off the mark with a cute paddle for two down to fine leg. He then picks up a single to hog the strike. Noman is slowing it right down, allowing the […]

Joe Biden has urged Israel’s prime minister to “move on” and make progress towards a ceasefire in Gaza following the killing of Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader and mastermind of the 7 October attack, as world leaders renewed a push for an end to the conflict. Hours after the killing on Thursday in Rafah, Gaza’s […]

Since the beginning of its war in Gaza, Israel has been hunting one man in particular – Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar. Described as the mastermind behind the 7 October attack on Israel, he was believed to be hiding deep underground. There were glimpses of him early on, in the tunnels under Gaza – a hostage […]

The US has unveiled its first ever sanctions against China-based companies for “directly developing and producing complete weapons systems in partnership with Russian firms” for use in Ukraine. The sanctions are for the alleged production of drones that Russia has deployed in its war against Ukraine, according to the US Treasury. Matthew Miller, spokesperson for […]

Iran says manner of Sinwar’s death will strengthen ‘spirit of resistance’ Iran’s mission to the UN has said the circumstances of Yahya Sinwar’s death will strengthen the “spirit of resistance”. Sinwar was apparently killed while fighting Israeli forces in Rafah, rather than hiding in a bunker as Israel had consistently portrayed him. A still from […]

Bruised by months of financial scandals, a cost-of-living crisis and unpopular leaders, some might be forgiven for expecting to see the end of Japan’s beleaguered ruling Liberal Democratic party (LDP), which has been in office for most of the past seven decades. The election on 27 October will take place a year earlier than many […]