Author: News Desk

Israeli airstrike on Gaza school shelter killed 17 including children  An Israeli airstrike on Thursday hit the Al-Shuhada school in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, killing at least 17 people, according to local reports from Al-Awda hospital. The school was being used as a shelter for displaced civilians, mostly women and children. Nine children were among those killed, and over 50 people were injured. The Israeli military said the strike targeted a Hamas command centre operating from the site, accusing the group of planning attacks from there. The Hamas-run government media office reported that thousands of displaced people…

Arizona man charged in shootings targeting Democratic office Arizona authorities have charged Jeffrey Michael Kelly, 60, with terrorism and other serious offences after he allegedly targeted a Democratic campaign office in three separate shootings. Although no one was injured, the attacks led to the closure of the campaign office in Tempe, near Phoenix. Investigators searching Kelly’s home discovered over 120 guns, 250,000 rounds of ammunition, a machine gun, body armour, and other equipment. Prosecutors suspect he was planning a large-scale attack. Additionally, Kelly allegedly lined campaign signs with razor blades and suspicious powder in a nearby town. Kelly, who has…

Canada announces immigration cuts to ‘pause population growth’ Canada has announced a sharp reduction in immigration targets to curb population growth and allow provinces to address housing and social service strains. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government will lower the number of permanent residents allowed in 2025 from 500,000 to 395,000—a 21% decrease. By 2027, the goal will fall further to 365,000 new permanent residents. The PM acknowledged his government “didn’t get the balance quite right” when increasing immigration following the pandemic to fill labour shortages. While Canada’s growth was 97% immigration-driven last year, rising concerns over housing shortages and stretched…

Bulgarians head to the polls again amid political deadlock Bulgarians will vote in their seventh general election in just over three years this Sunday, as the country grapples with ongoing political instability. Since 2021, only two of the six elections have resulted in a working government, but each coalition soon collapsed over attempts to tackle corruption, reduce Russian dependence, and push reforms. June’s election yielded no clear winner, leaving a divided parliament with no stable coalition. Analysts predict this election will likely yield similar results, with low voter turnout and further gains for pro-Russian and far-right factions. Voter fatigue is…

Keir Starmer sparks Labour storm over slavery reparations Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailSir Keir Starmer has sparked a row at the heart of the Labour Party after senior figures urged him to rethink his decision to rule out reparations for Britain’s role in the slave trade.The prime minister flew into a diplomatic storm with Caribbean leaders over the issue at a summit in Samoa – and drew condemnation from his own MPs back in Britain.Commonwealth leaders are preparing to defy the UK and agree…

No plans to hold weddings for the public at the King’s Balmoral Estate For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emailsThere are no plans to host weddings for members of the public on the King’s Balmoral Estate, a spokesman for the royal residence has said.Weddings are mentioned in plans a representative for the Aberdeenshire estate had lodged for the Queen’s Building, on the grounds near Balmoral Castle.The plans state the venue “may be used for weddings, dinners, meetings and associated events”, which…

Rachel Reeves set to increase borrowing after announcing major change to fiscal rules Rachel Reeves has announced a change to the fiscal rules ahead of next week’s budget, allowing her to borrow billions more each year. The chancellor today confirmed her rules will “make space for increased investment in the fabric of our economy”, amid widespread expectation she will change the way debt is measured. But former chancellor Jeremy Hunt warned his advice from the Treasury “was always that increasing borrowing meant interest rates would be higher for longer – and punish families with mortgages.” She said her “investment rule”…

Coventry student who hid newborn baby in cereal box convicted of murder A university student who put her newborn baby in a cereal box before hiding it inside a suitcase at her halls of residence has been convicted of murder. Jia Xin Teo, a 22-year-old from Malaysia who arrived in the UK earlier this year to study at Coventry University, was found guilty of murdering the baby she gave birth to in March. Teo concealed her pregnancy and gave birth to the baby girl in the en suite of her bedroom, where her flatmate found her bed “covered in blood”,…

Planned ban on smoking in pub gardens ‘set to be ditched by No 10 Sir Keir Starmer is set to drop a proposed ban on smoking in pub and restaurant gardens, it’s been reported. Smokers will still be barred from lighting up outside hospitals and schools, under plans first outlined in the summer. But the government will axe the idea of including pubs and racecourses in the outdoors smoking ban, according to The Sun. It’s thought ministers reconsidered their plans in the light of outrage from pub landlords and hospitality chiefs, who warned customers would be deterred and their futures…

New, strengthened Online Safety Act needed to protect children, charity says Ministers should commit to a new version of the Online Safety Bill which strengthens regulation in order to better protect children, a charity has said. The Molly Rose Foundation has warned that the current implementation of the Bill by new online safety regulator Ofcom has been risk averse and unambitious, while also exposing structural weaknesses in the Act which it says need to be fixed. In a report published to mark one year since the Act was passed, the charity said it was concerned that Ofcom’s draft regulatory plans…