National

Starmer defends UK role in Gaza peace deal after US snub

The prime minister seeks to set record straight on UK efforts behind the scenes, as well as future involvement

Faulty towers: Whitehall loses its grip on the business of buying

Whether it’s doors for high-security schools or windows for jails, bureaucrats are likely to bungle the order

Lostprophets singer convicted of child sex crimes is killed in jail

Ian Watkins, 48, said to have died having being knifed by a fellow prisoner in HMP Wakefield after surviving earlier attempt

Spitting Image hits back over Paddington filmmakers’ lawsuit

Satirical show makers post video of bear using a lawyers’ letter as toilet paper

Whitehall anger over collapse of case against alleged spies

Questions asked of the CPS over case against two men accused of spying for Beijing

Hargreaves Lansdown goes slow on crypto

The UK crypto ban for retail investors is over, signalling the start of a crypto-friendly era

The Puzzle Edit: how we led the way with the toughest puzzles of all

To celebrate the launch of our new newsletter The Puzzle Edit, our puzzles editor reflects on the birth of the cryptic crossword in the pages of The Observer

Unlocking the mystery of motor neurone disease in athletes

As former England rugby union captain Lewis Moody becomes the latest athlete to be diagnosed with the illness, questions remain over the risk posed by high-intensity sports

Jenrick’s ‘white face’ comment splits Tory ranks

Despite Kemi Badenoch defending the shadow justice secretary’s remarks about Birmingham, other senior Conservatives have slammed his rhetoric

At the Old Bailey, a mother confronts her son’s killer – and the system that failed him

Two teenagers have been sentenced for killing 15-year-old Daejaun Campbell. Their case is part of a growing epidemic

Labour cuts funding for state school IB diplomas

The sudden decision may mean the IB program is only available in private schools

Cyber-attack on Legal Aid Agency leaves abuse victims in danger

Hack of government agency has left lawyers with hours of extra red tape and forced them to turn down clients

Protests erupt over Gaza after plea to respect grief

More than 400 demonstrators were arrested in London on Saturday, while tensions ran high at a Manchester vigil for the victims of Thursday’s attack

NHS cuts will ‘severely impact’ those who struggle to breathe

Decision to cancel surgery in England to correct breathing difficulties has been criticised by doctors

It’s time to stop dismissing Jewish fears

To those who fuel an atmosphere that makes antisemitic violence inevitable, we will no longer accept it

She answers the prayers of those who long for change in society

Sarah Mullally, the first female archbishop of Canterbury, is a trailblazer with invaluable NHS leadership skills

Overcrowding and ‘chaos’ as colleges scramble for fees

Russell group hoovers up international students to stave off budget deficit fears

Last call for the phone-hacking scandal – but is anyone still listening?

ITV’s The Hack tells how Rupert Murdoch’s reporters intercepted voicemails. Will the story’s loose ends ever be tied up?