One of Labour’s new MPs has defended the decision by the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, to rule out a wealth tax, claiming it would not have much of an impact. Reeves has previously rejected calls for the tax as a solution to what she says is the £22bn shortfall that is blighting public finances. Torsten Bell,…

Three hospitals in south Lebanon were forced to close on Friday after Israeli bombings struck two and the other ran out of supplies, displacing a number of doctors from the area and creating concerns around the state of the Lebanese health sector. Marjayoun governmental hospital and the Salah Ghandour hospital in Bint Jbeil, large healthcare…

Workers’ representatives have welcomed UK government plans to give greater rights to millions, amid reports ministers are about to bring forward a bill to grant sick pay, ­maternity pay and protection against unfair ­dismissal from an employee’s first day in the job. Ministers have set themselves an ambitious timetable to introduce a law to deliver…

Tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered to march in central London on Saturday to mark the passing of a year since the 7 October attacks in Israel. Another event is expected later in Edinburgh, while a memorial event is due to be held in Hyde Park on Sunday, organised by the Board of Deputies…

IDF indicates it will hit back at Iran as 7 October anniversary looms Peter Beaumont The Israeli military has indicated it will expand its operations on multiple fronts around the anniversary of the 7 October attacks on Monday, including a “significant and serious” retaliation against Iran for last week’s large-scale ballistic missile attack on Israel.…

Oklahoma’s top education official is seeking to buy 55,000 Bibles for public schools and specifying that each copy contain the Declaration of Independence and US constitution, which are not commonly found in Bibles but are included in one endorsed by former president Donald Trump. The request is part of Republican state superintendent Ryan Walters’ ongoing…

A child was reported to be among several people who died attempting to cross the Channel overnight, according to French officials. The French interior minister, Bruno Retailleau, suggested the child had been “trampled to death” on a boat. “Several migrants have again lost their lives trying to reach Great Britain by crossing the Channel,” the…

The family of a woman who went missing five days ago have appealed to volunteers not to put themselves at risk as the search for her continues. Victoria Taylor, 34, was last seen at 9am on Monday at her home in Malton, North Yorkshire, police said. A CCTV still of her at a garage in…

A dog saved her owner – who hurt his leg at home in rural Washington state, fell and couldn’t get up for hours – by walking to a road, sitting in the middle of it until a local sheriff’s deputy stopped, and leading the officer to him, according to authorities. Gita’s ability to be “a…