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EU laws could block the UK from sending asylum seekers to Rwanda despite Brexit, lawyers have argued in the Supreme Court. The government is challenging a Court of Appeal ruling from June that its multimillion-pound plan to deport migrants to Rwanda to have their claims processed is unlawful. Richard Drabble KC, who represents one of the asylum seekers who challenged being sent to the east African country, argued in the UK’s highest court on Wednesday that the UK was still signed up to a crucial part of EU law, which bans the removal of asylum seekers to a country where they have no connection. The argument, if it is accepted, was described as a potential “knockout blow” for the government’s Rwanda deal by Supreme Court judge Lord Reed. Mr Drabble told the court: “The EU bans removal of people to countries to which they have no connection ... that part of EU law has been retained in UK law following our removal from the European Union.” He argued that the Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Act 2020 had withdrawn the UK from EU law relating to immigration, but had not mentioned asylum law. “Immigration and asylum are distinct concepts in EU law, which are subject to distinct legal frameworks,” he said. He added that UK lawmakers had “no intention to repeal a whole corpus of asylum rights” when they were writing the EU withdrawal act for Brexit FULL STORY

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Tens of thousands of protesters rallied across the Middle East and in parts of Asia, Europe and the United States in support of Palestinians and condemnation of Israel as it intensified its strikes on Gaza in retaliation for Hamas attacks a week ago. Elsewhere, Jewish communities in the US, France and other countries held rallies on Friday in solidarity with Israel after the Hamas attack from Gaza, the deadliest killing spree against Israeli civilians in the country’s 75-year history. There has been strong support and sympathy for Israel from western governments and many citizens over the Hamas attacks, but the Israeli response has also prompted anger, particularly in Arab and Muslim countries. In Turkey, crowds gathered outside mosques chanting against Israel and saluting Hamas. In the south-eastern city of Diyarbakir, 46-year-old business owner Mikail Bakan said: “All the Muslim world needs to be one against Israel.” In Nablus, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, youths set fires on the streets and clashed with the Israeli military. A huge Palestinian flag was passed overhead at a protest in Rome, and demonstrations took place in other European cities including in Braband in Denmark and in Berlin, where some protesters were detained by police. Germany and France had banned pro-Palestinian demonstrations and several western countries said they had stepped up security at synagogues and Jewish schools fearing that protests could lead to violence. Hamas, which rules Gaza, urged Palestinians to rise up in protest against Israel’s bombardment of the blockaded enclave, calling on them to march on al-Aqsa mosque. FULL STORY

Israel and Gaza explode, Ukraine asks for more help and other predicaments demand US attention while Republicans quarrel among themselves The US’s closest ally in the Middle East is reeling from what many call its “9/11” and now a humanitarian disaster looms in Gaza. Winter is approaching in Ukraine, which needs urgent supplies to maintain its counteroffensive against Russia. From China’s expansive ambitions, to coups in Africa, to the climate crisis, the world is crying out for leadership. But on Capitol Hill in Washington, Republicans can’t find one. Friday marked the 10th day of paralysis as the party struggles to elect a speaker of the House of Representatives to replace the ousted Kevin McCarthy. This after majority leader Steve Scalise won a closed-door vote but abandoned his run because he lacked enough support to win on the House floor. Such petty bickering, grievances and vendettas might typically fascinate seasoned Washington watchers and readers of political insider newsletters but be met by a shrug by many Americans and indifference overseas. This time, however, is different. The ripples of Republican dysfunction could soon be felt across a troubled world. “It’s a dangerous game that we’re playing,” Michael McCaul, chairman of the House foreign affairs committee, told reporters on Thursday. “It just proves our adversaries right that democracy doesn’t work. Our adversaries are watching us and Israel is watching. They need our help.” McCaul, a Republican congressman from Texas, has put forward a bipartisan resolution with Gregory Meeks of New York, the top Democrat on the committee, condemning Hamas and reaffirming support for Israel. But the House cannot vote on it until there is a speaker in the chair. McCaul added: “I’m going to remind my colleagues about how dangerous this is. If we don’t have a speaker, we can’t assist Israel in this great time of need after this terrorist attack. So I think we’re playing with fire and we need to stop playing games and politics with this and vote a speaker in.” Analysis byDavid Smith in Washington FULL ARTICLE:

The agony goes on. Ireland must wonder what they have to do to break this quarter-final curse, how long to spend as No 1 in the world, how many grand slams to win, how many victories in a row. Instead, let the record state: eight quarter-finals, eight defeats. So much came to an end. Not just the dream of a World Cup semi-final; not just the career of Johnny Sexton, who wandered the pitch in tears at the end; not just a run of 17 consecutive Test wins, only one shy of the record held by England and, yes, these blessed All Blacks. And for the All Blacks the record reads: nine quarter-finals, eight wins. How New Zealand have suffered themselves of late, toppled for some time from their perch as the perennial champions of all things rugby union. This may not mean a return to the top for them just yet –although they must feel a semi-final against Argentina is eminently winnable – but that familiar precision, that doggedness in defence, that nose for victory has been regained. FULL STORY

Australians have resoundingly rejected a proposal to recognise Aboriginal people in the country’s constitution and establish a body to advise parliament on Indigenous issues. Saturday’s voice to parliament referendum failed, with the defeat clear shortly after polls closed. To succeed, the yes campaign – advocating for the voice – needed to secure a double majority, meaning it needed both a majority of the national vote, as well as majorities in four of Australia’s six states. The defeat will be seen by Indigenous advocates as a blow to what has been a hard fought struggle to progress reconciliation and recognition in modern Australia, with First Nations people continuing to suffer discrimination, poorer health and economic outcomes. More than 17 million Australians were enrolled for the compulsory vote, with many expats visiting embassies around the world in the weeks leading up to Saturday’s poll. The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, called for Australians to show “kindness” to each other after the referendum. “This moment of disagreement does not define us. And it will not divide us,” he said. “We are not yes voters or no voters. We are all Australians. And it is as Australians together, that we must take our country beyond this debate without forgetting why we had it in the first place.” The vote occurred 235 years on from British settlement, 61 years after Aboriginal Australians were granted the right to vote, and 15 years since a landmark prime ministerial apology for harm caused by decades of government policies including the forced removal of children from Indigenous families. FULL STORY

France led a trio of teams to qualify for the Euro 2024 tournament as Kylian Mbappe’s double gave them a 2-1 away win against the Netherlands on Friday. The World Cup runners-up, who have a perfect record in Group B, will be joined in the June 14-July 14 tournament in Germany by Portugal and Belgium. Portugal also maintained a perfect record in Group J by beating Slovakia 3-2 at home while Belgium qualified from Group F with a 3-2 away victory against Austria. France have not missed a Euro finals since 1988 and were too good for an injury-ravaged Netherlands side at the Johan Cruyff Arena. Mbappé, who left the training camp for a day for personal reasons this week, volleyed home in the seventh minute from Jonathan Clauss’s perfect cross. Les Bleus allowed the hosts to gain confidence before the interval but Mbappé made sure there would be no comeback eight minutes into the second half. The 24-year-old, who has had an inconsistent start to the season with Paris Saint-Germain, collected a subtle layoff from Adrien Rabiot before curling a sublime shot into the far top corner from the edge of the box for his 42nd international goal. It took him past the France great Michel Platini into fourth place on the national team’s all-time top scorers list behind Olivier Giroud (54) Thierry Henry (51) and Antoine Griezmann (44). Griezmann was playing a record-extending 81st consecutive game for France. Stephen Kenny’s reign as Republic of Ireland manager reached the point of no return after a comprehensive 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Greece finally killed off any hope of Euro 2024 qualification. First-half goals from Giorgos Giakoumakis and Giorgos Masouras at a sparsely-populated Aviva Stadium plunged Ireland’s shambolic Group B campaign further into the mire and left Kenny, whose tenure is due to be reviewed next month, with nowhere to turn. FULL STORY

Every week we wrap up the must-reads from our coverage of the war in Ukraine, from news and features to analysis, visual guides and opinion. Treason, betrayal and grief in Hroza Fifty-nine people died and six were wounded last week when a Russian missile hit a cafe hosting a wake for a Ukrainain soldier in the village of Hroza. It was one of the worst episodes in Moscow’s bloody war. According to Kyiv’s SBU intelligence agency, it was also a story of treason and betrayal, Luke Harding and Phil Caller reported. For seven months last year, Russian soldiers occupied Hroza. They moved into private houses, looted cars and demanded vodka. Most villagers resented their new foreign overlords. A few welcomed them. They included two brothers, Volodymyr and Dmytro Mamon, who grew up in the village and served as police officers. Both, it is alleged, defected to the Russian side. In early October, the brothers allegedly began collecting information about a funeral. “Volodymyr Mamon gave this information to the Russians,” the SBU alleges. The SBU says Mamon knew that the locals who had tipped him off about the event would be inside the cafe. He understood they “would surely die”. Chat messages released by the agency suggest Mamon held a grudge against one attender. In one, he asks to be reminded of the name of the cafe “back in the homeland”. In another, he writes: “Tell me when he is dead.” An icy mood in the Arctic town of Barentsburg Until recently, the mostly Russian and Ukrainian residents of the Russian-owned town of Barentsburg have had remarkably warm relations with their predominantly Norwegian Arctic neighbours along the coast in the settlement of Longyearbyen. There were regular cultural exchanges, with visiting symphony orchestras and children’s choirs, chess competitions and sport fixtures. But since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine the two communities have found themselves on the edge of the west’s last remaining interaction point with Russia. And the mood has turned decidedly icy, Miranda Bryant reported. FULL ARTICLE

The JP Morgan boss, Jamie Dimon, has warned the world may be living through “the most dangerous time the world has seen in decades” as Israel prepares to launch an expected ground offensive on Gaza. The escalating conflict could have “far-reaching impacts” on energy prices, food costs, international trade and diplomatic ties, he said as JPMorgan Chase, America’s largest bank, reported earnings for the latest quarter. While the lender posted another robust set of results, Dimon cautioned that interest rates may increase further in the United States, as the savings of consumers dwindle. Dimon said: “The war in Ukraine compounded by last week’s attacks on Israel may have far-reaching impacts on energy and food markets, global trade and geopolitical relationships. This may be the most dangerous time the world has seen in decades. “While we hope for the best, we prepare the firm for a broad range of outcomes so we can consistently deliver for clients no matter the environment.” Earlier this week, Dimon informed staff that JP Morgan employees in the region had been confirmed safe. “This past weekend’s attack on Israel and its people and the resulting war and bloodshed are a terrible tragedy,” he wrote in an internal memo seen by the Guardian. In a later memo, he told employees that the conflict in the Middle East would have “ripple effects that extend far beyond the region”. Global companies have scrambled in recent days to account for their staff and formulate public comments on developments. Antonio Neri, the chief executive of Hewlett Packard Enterprise, described Saturday’s attack by Hamas as “unjustified and inexcusable”. FULL STORY

Thousands pack into cars and trucks or leave on foot after Israel told them to go, as violence flares in East Jerusalem and West Bank Thousands of people have been fleeing to the southern half of Gaza before an expected ground invasion of the blockaded strip as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict descends into its bloodiest period in decades. Hamas said 70 people had been killed when warplanes struck cars fleeing south on Friday, while Israel’s military said that its troops backed by tanks had conducted the first raids inside Gaza since the crisis began. Amid growing fears of escalating violence on several fronts after last weekend’s massacre of Israeli civilians by the militant group Hamas, almost half of Gaza’s 2.3 million trapped civilians faced the decision of whether to leave home, possibly never to return, after the Israeli army issued mass evacuation orders in the early hours of Friday. Messages from Hamas broadcast by mosques around the strip called on residents to stay put on Friday after the order from Israel for the population to move south of the Gaza River, just south of Gaza City. Hamas called it “Israeli propaganda” and urged residents to “hold on to your homes and land”. Joe Biden said it was a priority to “urgently address the humanitarian crisis” in Gaza. “We can’t lose sight of the fact that the overwhelming majority of Palestinians had nothing to do with Hamas and Hamas’s appalling attacks, and they’re suffering as a result as well,” he said. The UN warned that the order to flee en masse would be calamitous, and urged Israel to reverse its order. The UN secretary-general, António Guterres, said the situation in Gaza had reached “a dangerous new low” and called for immediate humanitarian access. “Even wars have rules,” he said. But Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said the bombardment of Gaza was “just the beginning” of his country’s response. “Our enemies have only just begun to pay the price,” he said late on Friday. FULL STORY

Microsoft has completed its $69bn (£56bn) takeover of Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard in the gaming industry's biggest ever deal. It comes as Microsoft, which owns the Xbox gaming console, was given the green light for the global deal after UK regulators approved it. The Competition and Markets Authority said its concerns had been addressed, after it blocked the original bid. Microsoft's Phil Spencer said securing Activision was "incredible". Following the announcement of the deal, Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick confirmed in a letter to staff that he would step down at the end of 2023. "I have long said that I am fully committed to helping with the transition," he said. "[Phil Spencer and I] both look forward to working together on a smooth integration for our teams and players." Despite concerns from rivals such as PlayStation-maker Sony, and regulators over competition in the gaming industry, Mr Spencer, who is chief executive of Microsoft Gaming, sought to reassure gamers. "Whether you play on Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo, PC or mobile, you are welcome here - and will remain welcome, even if Xbox isn't where you play your favorite franchise," Mr Spencer said in a statement following the takeover. "Because when everyone plays, we all win. We believe our news today will unlock a world of possibilities for more ways to play." 'Preserve prices' Under the re-worked deal, Microsoft has handed the rights to distribute Activision's games on consoles and PCs over the cloud to French video game publisher Ubisoft. But while a concession has been made, Microsoft will now control games such as Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and Candy Crush that will provide the firm with huge revenues. The CMA said the revised deal would "preserve competitive prices" in the gaming industry and provide more choice and better services. But despite approving the takeover, the watchdog criticised Microsoft's conduct over the near-two year battle. "Businesses and their advisors should be in no doubt that the tactics employed by Microsoft are no way to engage with the CMA," said chief executive Sarah Cardell. "Microsoft had the chance to restructure during our initial investigation but instead continued to insist on a package of measures that we told them simply wouldn't work. Dragging out proceedings in this way only wastes time and money." FULL STORY

President Vladimir Putin has denied that Russia damaged an undersea gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia. Investigators found a rupture on the Baltic-connector pipeline was caused by mechanical force. Finnish officials said they could not rule out a state actor being involved. Mr Putin said it was "rubbish" to blame Russia, and the damage could have been caused by an anchor or earthquake. The pipeline shut last weekend as operators noted a sudden drop in pressure. A telecoms cable was also damaged. Helsinki said it believed the leak on the 77km (48-mile) gas pipeline was caused by "external" activity. Sources told the BBC that suspicion fell on Russian sabotage as "retribution" for Finland joining Nato in April this year. Estonia's Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur said the damage must have been done "by something greater than a diver or an unmanned submersible", ERR News reported. But the Russian leader said he did not even know the pipeline existed and that the accusations were "to distract attention from the terrorist attack carried out by the West against Nord Stream". Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said if the incident was proven to be deliberate, it would be met by a "united and determined response" from Nato allies. "Allies expressed strong solidarity with Estonia and Finland as they work to establish the facts. Nato and allies are sharing information to support that effort," Mr Stoltenberg said. On Tuesday, Jüri Saska, commander of the Estonian Navy, said he was "not going to be drawn into speculation" over the cause of the damage. Finnish authorities said damage to the cable and pipeline damage happened at two different locations in Finland's Exclusive Economic Zone. "The discovered damage could not have been caused by normal use of the pipeline or pressure fluctuations," Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo told journalists. Other possible causes such as seismic activity had already been ruled out. The pipeline is Finland's only direct link to the wider European Union's gas network. Mr Orpo said there were enough alternative sources of gas to ensure the country's energy security was not at risk. FULL STORY

Sir Michael Caine has confirmed he has retired from acting, following the release of his latest film. The 90-year-old screen legend stars in The Great Escaper opposite Glenda Jackson, who completed the film months before her death in June. Sir Michael has previously indicated his intention to retire but has often been tempted back. But he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I keep saying I'm going to retire. Well I am now." He added: "I've figured, I've had a picture where I've played the lead and had incredible reviews... What am I going to do that will beat this?" The Great Escaper sees Sir Michael portray Bernie Jordan, a real-life World War Two veteran who made headlines in 2014 when he escaped from his care home to attend D-Day anniversary celebrations in France. The Guardian's review said Sir Michael delivers "a gruffly heart-breaking performance" in the film, while the Radio Times added he "plays his role with complete dignity". But Sir Michael said the likelihood of fewer parts being offered to him in old age has ultimately prompted his decision to retire. "The only parts I'm liable to get now are 90-year-old men. Or maybe 85," he joked to presenter Martha Kearney. "They're not going to be the lead. You don't have leading men at 90, you're going to have young handsome boys and girls. So I thought, I might as well leave with all this." The star acknowledged he turned down his last film three times before finally saying yes, because he already considered himself retired. FULL STORY

Conservative firebrand Jim Jordan has been chosen as Republican nominee to become Speaker of the House. The Ohio congressman won 124 votes from party members in the secret ballot held on Friday afternoon, with 81 against. But Mr Jordan, who has the backing of former President Donald Trump, is already facing mounting opposition from the ranks of his own party. The week ends with Republicans no closer to successfully installing a Speaker amid continued infighting. While Mr Jordan emerged victorious from Friday's secret ballot against Georgia lawmaker Austin Scott, he faces mounting criticism from many House Republicans. Immediately following the vote, Republican representatives held a second motion to determine whether members would support Mr Jordan in a floor vote, before breaking up for the weekend. The second vote saw 55 members vote "no" on Mr Jordan. As things stand, Mr Jordan has no clear path to the Speaker's office, leaving House Republicans leaderless and wracked by uncertainty. Supporters of Steve Scalise - who was nominated as the party's candidate for Speaker on Wednesday before withdrawing - have vowed to oppose Mr Jordan at all costs. And Mr Jordan only narrowly expanded the fragile margin Mr Scalise earned on Wednesday of 113 votes to 99. Whether he has enough support to secure an overall majority in the chamber is therefore unclear. Among those still opposed to Mr Jordan was Florida's Mario Díaz-Balart, who told reporters that Mr Jordan faces a "very, very big hurdle" to become Speaker. "I don't think he is the one," Mr Díaz-Balart said. "Ultimately, we're going to have to have someone who can truly unify us." FULL STORY

Summary Israel is telling everyone in north Gaza - about 1.1 million people - to relocate to the south of the Strip in the next 24 hours, according to the United Nations Israel's military has directly told Gaza City residents to leave for their "safety and protection", as its forces mass ahead of an expected ground offensive The UN has called on Israel to withdraw the order, arguing it's "impossible" for Palestinians to fully comply and warning of "devastating humanitarian consequences" Hamas kidnapped at least 150 people and took them into Gaza during deadly attacks on Israel at the weekend that killed 1,300 people More than 1,400 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel launched retaliatory air strikes, Palestinian health officials say The bombardment comes amid a total blockade, with fuel, food and water running out. Israel says it won't lift the restrictions unless Hamas frees all hostages Elsewhere, three Jewish schools in north London have told parents they won't be opening today, citing safety concerns SOURCE:

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Next month ChatGPT will celebrate its first birthday – marking a year in which the chatbot, for many, turned AI from a futuristic concept to a daily reality. Its universal accessibility has led to a host of concerns, from job losses to disinformation to plagiarism. Over the same period, tens of millions of users have been investigating what the platform can do to make their lives just a little bit easier. Upon its release, users quickly embraced ChatGPT’s potential for silliness, asking it to play 20 questions or write its own songs. As its first anniversary approaches, people are using it for a huge range of tasks. We’ve all heard about uses like crafting emails, writing student essays and penning cover letters. But with the right prompts, it can take on jobs that are more esoteric but equally useful in everyday life. Here are a few that might come in handy. Jargon demystifier You’re at a work meeting, and the accountants are talking about GAAP operating income for Q4 of FY22, the design people are panicked about kerning, and the CEO wants you to circle back to drill down on some pain points. On top of that, your British boss says your work is “quite good” but strangely doesn’t seem happy with it, while your US colleague claims everything anyone has ever done is amazing. Users say they’ve turned to ChatGPT for help as an intermediary, employing it to translate workplace jargon so everyone’s on the same page about the concerns you flagged, tnx. FULL ARTICLE

Study finds more than 40% of ice shelves have shrunk, with millions of tonnes of freshwater entering ocean More than 40% of Antarctica’s ice shelves have shrunk since 1997 with almost half showing “no sign of recovery”, a study has found, linking the change to the climate breakdown. Scientists at the University of Leeds have calculated that 67tn tonnes of ice was lost in the west while 59tn tonnes was added to the east between 1997 and 2021, resulting in a net loss of 7.5tn tonnes. Warm water on the western side of Antarctica has been melting ice, whereas in the east, ice shelves have either stayed the same or grown as the water is colder there. The ice shelves sit at the end of glaciers and slow their rate of flow into the sea. When they shrink, glaciers release larger amounts of freshwater into the sea which can disrupt the currents of the Southern Ocean. Dr Benjamin Davison, an expert in Earth observation and the study’s lead, said: “There is a mixed picture of ice-shelf deterioration, and this is to do with the ocean temperature and ocean currents around Antarctica. FULL STORY

“I just shared with my colleagues that I’m withdrawing my name as a candidate for speaker-designee,” Scalise said as he emerged from the closed-door meeting at the Capitol, where he first informed fellow Republican colleagues of his decision. Scalise, a hardline conservative representing Louisiana, said the Republican majority “still has to come together and is not there”. “There are still some people that have their own agendas,” Scalise said. “And I was very clear, we have to have everybody put their agendas on the side and focus on what this country needs.” Next steps are uncertain as the House is now essentially closed, while the Republican majority tries to elect a speaker after a small number of them voted alongside Democrats to oustKevin McCarthy from the job. The standoff over the speakership, which was sparked by the hard-right Florida congressman Matt Gaetz, has left congressional business at a standstill, with many Republican lawmakers furious at the degree of division within their party – and how voters are likely to judge them for their inability to govern. FULL STORY

The UK will send two Royal Navy ships and surveillance aircraft to the eastern Mediterranean in plans to "bolster security", No 10 says. The aircraft will begin patrols on Friday to "track threats to regional stability such as the transfer of weapons to terrorist groups". Three Merlin helicopters and a detachment of Royal Marines are also being dispatched. Rishi Sunak spoke to Israel's PM on Thursday to reaffirm the UK's support. His call to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was meant to "reaffirm the UK's steadfast support for Israel following Hamas' appalling terrorist attack", Downing Street said. "The additional military assistance would be deployed in the coming days to bolster security in the wider region and mitigate any attempts to escalate the conflict," it added. "He [Mr Sunak] reiterated that the UK stands side by side with Israel in fighting terror and agreed that Hamas can never again be able to perpetrate atrocities against the Israeli people. "Noting that Hamas has enmeshed itself in the civilian population in Gaza, the Prime Minister said it was important to take all possible measures to protect ordinary Palestinians and facilitate humanitarian aid." The two prime ministers "agreed to remain in close contact and to explore any further support the UK can provide". FULL STORY

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. declared his “independence from the Democratic Party” on Monday in Philadelphia, ending his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination and launching an independent bid that he said aims to heal the political divide, which he portrayed as a fiction of a corrupt establishment. “I intend to wrest the reins of power from both parties and give to it the American people,” he said, comparing Republicans and Democrats to teenagers fighting over the steering wheel of an out-of-control car, both following a GPS route programmed by lobbyists. “This hatred we have for each other is orchestrated,” Kennedy said, switching to a medieval metaphor. “My job ... is to unify Americans. Then we’re all going to go over the castle walls together.” Kennedy has struggled to gain traction in the Democratic primaries, even with voters expressing a desire that someone younger take the party banner from President Joe Biden. His views on issues like vaccines and abortion has left him outside the Democratic mainstream. A crowd of about 1,000 turned out on a sunny fall day to hear Kennedy speak in front of Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was signed. Some wore suits and ties; others wore homemade Kennedy T-shirts, hats and buttons and at least one custom-made cape. One sign read, “I want Camelot," a reference to the mythologized Kennedy dynasty. “There have been antiestablishment candidates before but none of them who actually understand how to get the job done,” he said. “This time the independent is going to win.” Kennedy said the time is ripe, citing the growing proportion of Americans who tell pollsters they’re fed up with both parties — a record 63% say Republicans and Democrats do “such a poor job” of representing America that “a third major party is needed,” according to a new Gallup survey. Still, Kennedy faces long odds. The best-perform FULL STORY

The King has expressed his condolences and "deep shock" at the "barbaric" actions by Hamas in a call with Israel's president - as Prince William said he was "profoundly distressed" by the "horrors" inflicted. Israel's President Isaac Herzog thanked the King for his support and said his words were an "important statement" which would serve as a "great comfort to the people of Israel". Mr Herzog's office said in a statement: "President Isaac Herzog spoke today with the King of the United Kingdom, King Charles III, who called to express his condolences and deep shock at the criminal and barbaric actions of the terrorist organisation Hamas in its attack on the citizens of Israel." The statement added: "The two talked at length about the terrible massacre and how it was carried out. "The conversation between the two took place as part of a series of conversations the president has been holding on a daily basis with leaders from all over the world, including leaders of international organizations, and Jewish community leaders." The King has also asked to be "actively updated" on the conflict as he is "appalled" by the "barbaric acts of terrorism" in Israel, Buckingham Palace has said. The spokesman said the King is "extremely concerned" and his "thoughts and prayers are with all of those suffering". FULL STORY