BBC hires 26-year-old entrepreneur to help reach younger audiences

• Two Israeli soldiers were killed in Lebanon, marking the first Israeli fatalities since a ceasefire was established with Hezbollah in June. • The deaths occurred during an escalation of tensions despite the existing truce intended to stabilize the border region.

• Tensions are escalating in Lebanon, causing the second day of diplomatic talks to end prematurely due to volatile events on the ground. • U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed optimism that a deal to resolve the conflict could be reached in the near future.

Joshua Bonehill-Paine, a former neo-Nazi activist, has been offered a role as an adviser to the Conservative party by Kemi Badenoch after he withdrew as a Tory candidate for next year’s local elections. The role will reportedly be focused on how young men become radicalised.Bonehill-Paine was convicted of harassing a Jewish MP and has previously described himself as a ‘nationalist, fascist, theorist and supporter of white rights’. He says he has carried out counter-extremism work since he was released from prison.Lucy Hough speaks to the Guardian political correspondent Ben Quinn – watch on YouTube Continue reading...

Passengers awaiting Northern and TransPennine trains advised not to travel, with cancellations and other services delayedTrains across parts of north-west England have ground to a halt after a power failure hit the signalling centre controlling the railway in the region.Passengers awaiting Northern and TransPennine trains have been advised not to travel, with widespread cancellations and other services delayed by more than an hour already. Continue reading...

Family says celebrity blogger remains under medical care after viewers alerted authorities over disturbing TikTok broadcastPerez Hilton is “able to communicate”, according to a new statement released by his family, one day after the celebrity blogger appeared to self-harm during a disturbing TikTok livestream that prompted his hospitalization.In a message posted to Hilton’s blog on Wednesday evening, his family thanked supporters for the outpouring of concern. Continue reading...

Government ‘urgently’ identifying men convicted in historic cases who could be freed in scheme loopholeUK politics live – latest updatesAndy Burnham’s government is “urgently” identifying any grooming gang perpetrators who may still be eligible for early prison release after concerns were raised about a potential loophole in the system.The prime minister has “personally intervened” after men convicted of assaulting children in Bradford were expected to be freed from prison early despite a promise earlier this week that they would remain behind bars. Continue reading...

German authorities investigating whether a foreign state is involved as they say a ‘ripped’ detonator stopped device going offA catastrophe with multiple casualties was possibly only narrowly averted by the discovery of a drone carrying explosives at Leipzig airport, German officials said, as they examined whether a foreign state could be behind the plot.One of the Ukrainian aircrafts next to where the bomb drone was found was loaded with military ammunition, according to a classified police report quoted by the public broadcasters WDR and NDR and the Süddeutsche newspaper. Continue reading...

Amid revelations that could damage the Liberals’ state election hopes, the NSW government dropped key documents on three contentious issuesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastDuring the first week of the Independent Commission Against Corruption’s (Icac) Operation Rosny’s hearings into allegations against people associated with the New South Wales Liberal party, Chris Minns took the high ground.“There’ll be no gloating or taking political advantage,” the NSW Labor premier told reporters. “It’s an important process, and ultimately, hopefully, it makes all political parties cleaner and sends a message to anyone who’s thinking of breaching the laws or committing a corrupt act, that someone is watching.” Continue reading...

President’s comment come after report he had demanded answers from Pete Hegseth over alleged shortagesMiddle East crisis live – latest updatesDonald Trump has lashed out at reports that the US is running short of key munitions in its war with Iran, threatening long prison sentences for officials who leak information about the military’s weapons stocks.The US president claimed on Thursday that the US had “massive amounts” of ammunition and said more was being manufactured and shipped to the region, as his frustration over the conflict spilled into a public attack on the media. Continue reading...

As Australia prepares for the H5 bird flu to potentially rip through hundreds of species, residents of the Limestone Coast are already seeing the impactsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastIt’s only been three weeks since H5 bird flu was detected on South Australia’s Limestone Coast, and already encounters with sick or dead birds are becoming commonplace.Maureen Christie, who lives in the seaside town of Carpenter Rocks, has been observing and protecting birds in the region for decades. She is now witnessing many stricken and suffering. Continue reading...

Culture secretary Lisa Nandy says she will not intervene in £85bn deal after securing guarantees on Channel 5The UK culture secretary, Lisa Nandy, has said she will not intervene in Paramount’s proposed acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery, removing one of the remaining obstacles to the blockbuster deal.However, Paramount has made significant concessions to secure the UK government’s backing for the $110bn (£85bn) takeover, which will create a global media powerhouse and effectively bolster the influence of Paramount’s CEO, David Ellison. Continue reading...