Twenty killed and at least 450 injured in cities across Lebanon a day after exploding pagers killed 12

• Analysis: Pager and walkie-talkie attacks were audacious and carefully planned

A new series of extraordinary explosions aimed at Hezbollah – this time targeting walkie-talkies – has killed at least 20 and wounded more than 450 in cities across Lebanon, as international observers warned that the simultaneous detonation of thousands of booby-trapped communications devices may constitute a war crime.

The targeted detonations of the walkie-talkies came one day after more than 2,800 were injured and 12 killed by exploding pagers in an attack blamed on Israel that world leaders and diplomats have warned could lead to an all-out conflict between Israel and the powerful militant group despite efforts by the US and UN to avert an escalation with Hezbollah.

Exclusive: Housebuilders blame decline on former government’s decision to end binding targets for local authorities

Planning approvals for new houses in England have dropped to a 10-year low, according to new figures that underline how difficult it will be for Labour to hit its target of building 300,000 homes a year.

The data, from the Home Builders Federation (HBF), shows the number of new houses being approved is just over half what it was three years ago, having fallen to a level not seen since 2014.

More than 20 of Fayed’s former employees tell BBC of sexual assault and of Harrods’ cover-up

The former Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed has been accused of raping five women and sexually abusing at least 15 others when they worked at the luxury department store, according to a BBC investigation.

More than 20 women, all of whom were Fayed’s former employees, told a BBC documentary they were sexually assaulted by him and that Harrods covered up the abuse.

Other perks including nine-day fortnight and more planning time at home offered to attract recruits

• ‘A brave new world for educators’: teachers respond to nine-day-fortnight proposals

Teachers in England are being offered a range of incentives to make the job more appealing, including two free periods a week to give them a lie-in, a nine-day fortnight and more planning time at home to help with work-life balance.

An escalating crisis in teacher recruitment and retention is forcing schools and academy trusts to come up with novel ways to attract new recruits into the profession and keep experienced staff in front of classes.

Governments and private firms should contribute to help states unable to invest and benefit from advances

Governments and private companies should contribute to a global artificial intelligence fund that will allow developing nations to benefit from advances in the technology, according to a UN report.

The fund would help provide models, computing power and AI-related training programmes, according to recommendations from the UN secretary general’s high-level AI advisory body.

London police force looking into possible misconduct relating to complaint by one of victims of Carl Cooper

Four Metropolitan police officers are facing a misconduct investigation after two women were murdered by a man they both reported to the police for domestic abuse.

Carl Cooper, 66, is serving a life sentence for the murders of Naomi Hunte, 41, and Fiona Holm, 48, after his conviction earlier this year.

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news, as money markets indicate just a 20% chance of a UK interest rate cut today

• Federal Reserve cuts US interest rates for the first time in four years

Over in the European Union, car sales took a tumble last month as take-up of electric cars slumped.

Industry body ACEA has reported that registrations of battery-electric (BEV) cars across the EU dropped by 43.9% to 92,627 units, down from 165,204 cars in August 2023.

I will admit the Fed surprised me yesterday – I expected a light 25 bp touch on the accelerator. Instead, it was a 50 bp engine-revving pedal to the metal roar on the gas – which Powell immediately made clear was limited.

Think of it the kind of aggressively signalled overtake you might make from behind the guy oblivious to the fact he’s driving like a granny at 30-mph on a 60-mph road. The opportunity to pass him comes up, and you take it. One minute later, you won’t even remember what the colour the car in front had been.

International Energy Agency says coming winter will be hard as country has lost more than two-thirds of energy production capacity since Russian invasion

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen will travel to Kyiv on Friday and meet president Volodymyr Zelenskiy, as the bloc seeks to help Ukraine weather Russian attacks on its energy infrastructure.

“I will be travelling to Kyiv to discuss these matters in person with president Zelenskiy tomorrow in our efforts to help Ukraine,” von der Leyen told a press conference in Brussels on Thursday, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP).

Jonathan Reynolds, business secretary, suggests Starmer himself did not decide pay for his chief of staff

In interviews this morning Jonathan Reynolds, the business secretary, also said that he rejected “very much” a claim by Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, that Labour’s decision to suspend some arms sales to his country was a boost to Hamas.

Netanyahu made the claim in an interview with the Daily Mail. He told the paper:

After the October 7 Hamas massacre, the previous British government was clear in its support. Unfortunately, the current government is sending mixed messages.

They say that Israel has the right to defend itself, but they undermine our ability to exercise that right both by reversing Britain’s position on the absurd allegations made by the ICC [International Criminal Court] prosecutor against Israel and by blocking weapons sales to Israel as we fight against the genocidal terrorist organisation that carried out the October 7 massacre.

The new UK government suspended 30 arms licences to Israel, days after Hamas executed six Israeli hostages, sending a horrible message to Hamas.

These misguided decisions will not change Israel’s determination to defeat Hamas, a genocidal terrorist organisation that savagely murdered 1,200 people on October 7, including 14 British citizens, and took 255 people, including five British hostages.

I would respectfully reject very much that position and say the decision we took was fair, was proportionate, was consistent with international law, and, fundamentally what we need, what everyone needs in the Middle East is a ceasefire in that conflict.

That is in Israel’s interest. I think it’s in everyone’s interest to make sure we get there.

Compulsory preschool year for six-year-olds to be replaced with extra year in primary school from 2028

Children in Sweden are to start school at six years old from 2028, a year earlier than at present, in an overhaul of the country’s education system that signals a switch from play-based teaching for younger children.

The government has announced plans to replace a compulsory preschool year for six-year-olds known as förskoleklass with an additional year in grundskola (primary school).