News 09/10/25

A man arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences following the Manchester synagogue attack has been re-arrested at the city’s airport.

Two people were killed when 35-year-old Jihad Al-Shamie launched a car and knife attack at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation earlier this month. Counter Terrorism Police say the 30-year-old suspect was detained again at Manchester Airport for allegedly failing to disclose key information under the Terrorism Act.

He’s since been released on bail under strict conditions as investigations continue.

Rishi Sunak has taken up paid advisory roles with Microsoft and artificial intelligence start-up Anthropic.

The former prime minister has been warned by the government watchdog Acoba not to lobby ministers on their behalf. Sunak, who remains the MP for Richmond and Northallerton, says he’s “delighted” to work with two of the world’s leading tech firms and will donate his earnings to charity.

During his time in office, he hosted the UK’s first AI safety summit, pushing for stronger global tech regulation.

Ten Metropolitan Police officers are facing accelerated misconduct hearings after a BBC Panorama investigation exposed racism and misogyny at Charing Cross police station.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct says there’s enough evidence to show serious breaches of professional standards. It follows undercover footage of serving officers joking about rape, calling for immigrants to be shot and boasting about using force.

The watchdog’s director, Rachel Watson, said she was “appalled” by what she saw and promised swift disciplinary action.

Donald Trump’s top Middle East negotiator has arrived in Israel, following the signing of a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas in Egypt.

Steve Witkoff, the president’s envoy, told NBC News he plans to visit Hostages Square in Tel Aviv on Saturday night — a site where families of those still held by Hamas have gathered throughout the war to call for their release.

Madeleine McCann’s sister Amelie has told a court her family’s alleged stalker sent her “creepy” messages claiming to be the missing girl.

She said Julia Wandelt was “desperate” to prove she was Madeleine, sending edited photos and describing false childhood memories. Leicester Crown Court heard that Wandelt wrote to Amelie saying she had “flashbacks” of playing ring-a-ring-a-roses. Amelie described the messages as “disturbing” and “distressing.”

A man who killed another with boiling water mixed with sugar before stabbing him has been jailed for at least 20 years.

Gavin Gallagher, 33, claimed he acted in self-defence after throwing what’s known as “prison napalm” over 23-year-old Stephen Gray. A jury found him guilty of murder, with the judge saying he had staged the crime scene to conceal the attack.

US regulators are investigating Tesla after 58 reports that its self-driving cars broke traffic laws — including running red lights and driving on the wrong side of the road.

Around 2.9 million vehicles could be affected. The company, led by Elon Musk, has yet to comment.

Tim Westwood has been charged with multiple sexual offences, including four counts of rape, nine counts of indecent assault and two counts of assault.

The charges relate to seven women between 1983 and 2016, according to the Metropolitan Police. The 68-year-old former BBC Radio 1 DJ is due to appear before Westminster Magistrates’ Court on November 11.

Detective Superintendent Andy Furphy praised the women who came forward, saying it takes “courage” to report allegations of this nature and confirmed they are receiving ongoing support.

Israel’s security cabinet is meeting in Jerusalem tonight to discuss a proposed Gaza ceasefire deal. The Times of Israel reports the full cabinet is expected to ratify the agreement later, but finance minister Bezalel Smotrich has already vowed his Religious Zionism party won’t back it.

He said he feels “tremendous fear” over the release of Palestinian prisoners and warned it could free the next generation of terrorist leaders.

Two drivers have been fined for littering along the Buckinghamshire-Berkshire border.

CCTV in Iver Heath caught one man throwing rubbish including tin foil and snack wrappers from his van window in June. He ignored an initial £500 penalty, which later doubled to £1,000 — and was finally paid in full.

The father of the Manchester synagogue attacker has called for unity a week after the assault that left two men dead.

Mourners gathered outside Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation this morning to pray and remember the victims. Jihad al Shamie was shot dead by police after launching his car and knife attack during Yom Kippur.

In a statement, his father expressed sorrow and said his family’s “hearts and prayers” are with the victims’ loved ones.

The number of hate crimes recorded by police in England and Wales has risen for the first time in three years, driven by increases in race and religion-related offences.

Religious hate crimes against Muslims rose by nineteen percent, with a spike after the Southport murders and riots last summer. Crimes targeting Jewish people fell by eighteen percent in the year to March, though those recorded by the Met Police weren’t included.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said both Jewish and Muslim communities still face “unacceptable levels of often violent hate crime.”

Pubs and bars in England and Wales could soon have longer opening hours under a government review of what it calls “outdated” licensing rules.

The plans aim to make it easier for venues to serve food outside and host live music events. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the move is about cutting red tape and boosting footfall, but critics warn it could fuel antisocial behaviour.

English football’s new independent regulator says he won’t be able to block club owners accused of human rights abuses, because his powers are limited to ensuring financial stability.

In his first major interview, David Kogan said he is, however, ready to step in over Sheffield Wednesday’s growing financial crisis. He also vowed not to interfere with the Premier League’s success but warned clubs to prepare for a possible fall in TV rights revenue.

His own appointment remains under scrutiny, with the public appointments commissioner investigating how he was chosen for the role.

Britain faces its lowest risk of winter power blackouts in six years, according to the National Energy System Operator.

The grid says better battery storage and a new subsea cable to Ireland have strengthened supply, while extra wind power capacity has boosted reserves.

Margins between expected demand and supply are now equivalent to three large gas-fired power stations more than last year.

Millions of households in England are facing even higher water bills than expected after five major suppliers won an appeal to the competition regulator.

Anglian, Northumbrian, Southern, Wessex and South East Water argued that Ofwat’s approved 36% rise over five years wasn’t enough to fund vital infrastructure improvements.

The Competition and Markets Authority has now allowed an extra 3% increase on top of the original decision, meaning some families could see bills rise by nearly 40% in total.

The Liberal Democrats have lost almost half their membership since 2020.

Figures show the party now has around 60,000 members, down from nearly 118,000 when Sir Ed Davey took over as leader. That’s despite the Lib Dems winning a record number of seats at last year’s general election.

A party spokesperson insists support among voters is growing, even if membership numbers have fallen.

Slough Borough Council has approved plans to expand an industrial building at Axis Park in Langley.

Developers Brixton, part of SEGRO, have been given the green light to extend both the warehouse and service yard on Hurricane Way, near the M4. The building was previously leased to DHL until June but has remained empty since.

The council says the extension will help attract new business investment to the area.

Benjamin Netanyahu has hailed what he calls “a critical turning point” in the Gaza war after Israel and Hamas signed off the first phase of Donald Trump’s peace plan.

The Israeli Prime Minister said the deal will see all remaining forty-eight hostages returned, including around twenty believed to still be alive. Netanyahu praised what he called Israel’s “steadfast resolve” and thanked President Trump for his role in securing the agreement.

Sir Keir Starmer, speaking from India, described it as “a moment of profound relief felt around the world” and urged both sides to fully implement the deal without delay.