Populism poses serious challenge to independent central banks, Bailey says

• The news — Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has unveiled ‘RAKSHA’, a strategic roadmap designed to make defence diplomacy a more structured component of India's international engagement. • The number — The roadmap outlines a strategic focus spanning the next decade to enhance global partnerships and maritime security.

• The news — Defence Minister Rajnath Singh released the 'RAKSHA' document in New Delhi, establishing a strategic framework for India's global defence diplomacy. • The number — The comprehensive roadmap outlines India's vision for international defence partnerships over the next 10 years.

• The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) released a report confirming that the El Niño phenomenon is now firmly established. • The WMO warns that the event will intensify into a "very strong" phase over the coming months.

Senior party figures do not appear united, but Farage may be more concerned about impact on performance in pollsUK politics live – latest updatesMidway through an event at Reform’s annual conference on Friday there was question for the audience: who was worried about a Channel 4 News exposé of potential wrongdoing by party officials over donations? Almost no hands went up. The faithful might be sanguine. But make no mistake, Nigel Farage faces yet another problem.Careful plans have been again upset. After months of answering – or primarily dodging – questions about his own finances, Farage had planned to use Reform UK’s biggest conference yet to make a blitz of policy announcements. Continue reading...

James Elmore Jr sentenced in death of Laura Miller, whose body was found in 1986 in notorious ‘Texas Killing Fields’A man found guilty in the death of teenager Laura Miller, whose body was recovered in 1986 in the notorious so-called “Texas Killing Fields”, was given a 20-year prison sentence on Thursday.James Elmore Jr received that punishment from a Galveston county jury that a day earlier had convicted him of manslaughter in connection with Laura Miller’s death, which inspired her father, Tim Miller, to launch Texas EquuSearch, a non-profit organization specializing in searching for missing people. Continue reading...

Jury starts seven day of deliberations after foreperson told judge juror won’t follow instruction about reasonable doubtThe deadlocked jury in the Lindsay Clancy trial started a seventh day of deliberations Friday, a day after the jury’s foreperson told the judge a single juror won’t follow the court’s instructions about reasonable doubt.The extraordinary disclosure made in the form of a note delivered to the judge offered the clearest glimpse yet of what may be keeping jurors from reaching a verdict on whether the Massachusetts mother is criminally responsible for killing her three children. Continue reading...

State decides to proceed hours after Trump administration asks supreme court to let it carry out proposed crackdownNorth Carolina became the first state to start sending out mail-in ballots for November’s US midterm elections on Friday, as Donald Trump’s administration fights to impose sweeping restrictions on the practice before millions of Americans cast their votes.The state’s decision to proceed – hours after Trump’s officials asked the supreme court to let the administration press ahead with its proposed crackdown – comes amid deep uncertainty over whether new federal rules governing mail ballots will be allowed to take effect, and whether the US Postal Service can implement the changes in time. Continue reading...

Cotality says prices have declined in most capital cities over winter. Search the data to see how they have changed in your areaGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAustralia’s property market is facing a rare price correction, as rising interest rates and less favourable tax settings for investors accelerate a downturn.Most capital cities recorded winter price falls, according to Cotality data, with Sydney leading the decline. That weakness is expected to continue, as higher inflation could lead to further interest rate hikes, denting demand. Continue reading...

Comedian and his wife, Cerys Morgan, set up charitable foundation in memory of Felix, who died shortly after birthRussell Howard has announced the death of his baby son, in what he described as the “most devastating time of our lives”.The 46-year-old comedian said his family had been “changed for ever” after their “beautiful baby boy”, Felix, died shortly after birth. Continue reading...

Lorena Isceri was thrown off a motorway bridge, allegedly by ex-boyfriend Federico VellaA 45-year-old woman has been killed and thrown off a motorway bridge near Florence, in the seventh alleged femicide in Italy since mid-August.Lorena Isceri was abducted on Thursday afternoon, allegedly by her ex-boyfriend, Federico Vella, in the Rifredi area of Florence, before being forced into the boot of his car and driven towards the bridge on the A1 motorway.In the UK, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123 and the domestic abuse helpline is 0808 2000 247. In the US, the suicide prevention lifeline is 988 and the domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14 and the national family violence counselling service is on 1800 737 732. Other international helplines can be found via www.befrienders.org Continue reading...

Footage provokes outrage, as bellicose and performative far-right politics continue to spread across AmericasColombia’s hardline president, Abelardo De La Espriella, has provoked outrage after posting a video on social media in which he strides through rows of white body bags that he says contained the corpses of 23 “neutralised” guerrillas.De La Espriella took power last month vowing “all-out war” against illegal armed groups and he published the footage on Thursday in an apparent attempt to show he was fulfilling that pledge. Continue reading...