UK politics – live: Reform level with Labour in new poll as Treasury responds to gloomy economy update

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Emily Damari, a British-Israeli national, was among the first three hostages freed from Gaza by Hamas as part of a ceasefire deal with Israel after 15 months in captivity. She expressed gratitude to her family and supporters, and joy at being reunited with loved ones, despite losing two fingers during her abduction. Celebrations ensued in Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank as the ceasefire saw the release of 90 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails and...

Debra Tice, mother of American journalist Austin Tice who was abducted in Syria, met with rebel leader Ahmed al-Shara in Damascus, expressing hope for progress in finding her son. Despite no new information on Austin's whereabouts, she remains optimistic that the new leadership will assist in locating him. Former US officials believe Austin escaped captivity but was recaptured by Syrian intelligence, and Debra Tice criticized the Biden administration for not negotiating harder for his release....

Axel Rudakubana, an 18-year-old from Banks, Lancashire, pleaded guilty to 16 offenses, including three counts of murder and 10 counts of attempted murder after a meticulously planned rampage at a dance class in Southport. The victims, Alice da Silva Aguiar, Bebe King, and Elsie Dot Stancombe, aged 6 to 9, were killed in the attack. Rudakubana was referred to the government anti-extremism scheme Prevent three times before the murders due to concerns about his fixation...

In a shocking incident at a Taylor Swift-themed holiday club in Southport, teenager Axel Rudakubana pleaded guilty to murdering three children and attempting to murder 10 others in a mass stabbing that caused widespread riots. The attack, which took place in July 2024, resulted in the deaths of six-year-old Bebe King, seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe, and nine-year-old Alice da Silva Aguiar. Rudakubana also faced charges for producing ricin, possessing an al-Qaeda training manual, and sparking...

The latest data reveals a 48% increase in over 500,000 children forced from their homes in Haiti, with a total of one million internally displaced, half of whom are children in urgent need of aid. Reports show a surge in child recruitment by armed groups, escalating sexual violence, and disrupted access to basic services, leaving children at risk of malnutrition and disease. UNICEF is calling for immediate cessation of hostilities, protection of children's rights, and...