Ministers

Netanyahu coalition seeks to extend control with ‘Nahal’ outposts in Gaza and over $400m in West Bank fundingIsrael’s defence and finance ministers announced plans for three illegal settlements in Gaza and more than $400m (£300m) in funding to expand construction in the occupied West Bank, as Israel’s military commander for the region celebrated violent outposts as his “security partners”.With national elections scheduled for 27 October, Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right coalition is racing to expand control of land in occupied Palestine and drive out Palestinians before its mandate expires. Continue reading...

Bloomberg’s editor-in-chief, John Micklethwait, stands by reporting, saying ministers who sued ‘imposed an extremely strained meaning on what was a solid ​story’Bloomberg News and one of its reporters have been ordered to pay S$460,000 (US$355,734) in damages after an article it published was found to have defamed two Singapore government ministers, the city-state’s high court said in a judgment released on Tuesday.Bloomberg and the reporter, Low De Wei, are liable to jointly pay S$230,000 to each minister, comprising S$170,000 in general damages and S$60,000 in aggravated damages, ⁠the judgment said. Continue reading...

• ASEAN foreign ministers held an informal "icebreaker" meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, with Tin Maung Swe, the foreign minister of Myanmar’s military-backed civilian government. • During the discussions, the Southeast Asian bloc reaffirmed its commitment to the Five-Point Consensus initiative, a diplomatic framework aimed at ending violence and restoring peace. • The meeting follows a recent rejection of the Five-Point Consensus by Myanmar’s military-dominated parliament, highlighting the ongoing tension between the junta and regional diplomats.

Measures to be announced to make funding more transparent amid new revelations about Reform UK leaderMinisters will launch a crackdown on large political donations on Monday, as Nigel Farage faces a possible second investigation into gifts he received from a convicted fraudster before becoming an MP.The government will announce a series of measures to make political funding more transparent, including restrictions on donations from foreign-based benefactors. Continue reading...

• The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe has officially launched the election process to fill five upcoming vacancies on the European Committee of Social Rights. • The seats, which will become vacant on December 31, 2026, are distributed across three regional groups: two for Group II, one for Group III, and two for Group IV. • This process is critical for maintaining the body's capacity to monitor compliance with the European Social Charter and protect social and economic rights across member states.

Councils and schools urged to do more as figures show there is no information on whereabouts of 32,100 ‘Neets’Business live – latest updatesThe government has urged councils and schools in England to drastically improve the way they identify young people at risk of dropping out of training and work, as it admitted thousands are unaccounted for.Publishing official figures on Thursday, the government said councils had no information on the whereabouts of 32,100 young people aged 16 to 17 who were not in education, employment or training (Neet). Continue reading...

Robert Jenrick and MP for Lincoln among those whose constituencies could be hit by cuts to road infrastructure plansThe MP for Lincoln and the Middle East minister, Hamish Falconer, and the Reform MP Robert Jenrick have voiced anger at the cancellation or delay of key transport infrastructure projects to fund the defence investment plan.Falconer and Jenrick were among MPs who have had cuts to road improvements in their constituencies, with savings contributing towards the increase in defence spending. Two roads in the East Midlands are among those where investment cuts have been made to fund a £15bn uplift in defence. Continue reading...

PM hopeful tells meeting of women’s parliamentary Labour party that any staff who undermine female members of his team will be sackedUK politics live – latest updatesAndy Burnham has said he will to end the culture of briefing against female ministers, promising Labour MPs he will sack any staff who undermine women in his team.Speaking at the meeting of the women’s parliamentary Labour party in Westminster, Burnham also strongly criticised descriptions of him as “the first female Labour PM” in the Spectator. Continue reading...