Exclusive: Campaigners urge ministers to intervene to prevent cruel punishments over carer’s allowance

More than 250 unpaid carers risk criminal prosecution after falling foul of draconian benefit rules in the past six months, official figures reveal.

Since April, when the carer’s allowance scandal was first revealed by the Guardian, officials have begun to recoup overpayments debts from more than 15,000 carers, with 50 of them repaying sums of at least £10,000.

Christian and Muslim groups say medics who refuse to help patients to die are not protected enough in England and Wales bill

A significant proportion of NHS medical staff in England and Wales are likely to exercise a “conscience clause” if assisted dying is legalised by parliament.

Labour MP Kim Leadbeater’s private member’s bill stipulates that no doctor would be under any obligation to participate in assisted dying.

IDF hits Lebanon, Gaza and Syria, with analysts saying air raids could be aimed at piling on pressure for ceasefire

• Middle East crisis – live updates

Israel has intensified its air offensives on three fronts, launching dozens of new strikes in Lebanon, Gaza and Syria as negotiations for a ceasefire on its northern border reach a critical point.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it struck about 30 targets in the southern suburbs of Beirut in 48 hours and described continuing efforts to “dismantle and degrade” the military capabilities of the militant Islamist organisation.

Zimin, a critic of his native country’s invasions of Crimea and Ukraine, leaves behind a wife and three children

Tributes have been paid to a London-based Russian chef, television presenter and writer after he was found dead in Belgrade.

Alexei Zimin, 52, died in the Serbian capital after travelling there to promote a book, Anglomania, in which he gave an immigrant’s take on Britain’s cultural history.

Urfan Sharif, who has admitted ‘full responsibility’ for Sara’s death, also admits credibility problem, saying ‘I didn’t tell the truth’

Sara Sharif’s father has admitted being “selfish” and a “bad father” by lying to protect himself over the death of his 10-year-old daughter.

On Wednesday, Urfan Sharif said he took “full responsibility” for his 10-year-old daughter’s death and admitted beating her with a cricket bat and a metal pole.

Exclusive: Malkinson, who spent 17 years in jail, told he must wait months to learn if he is even eligible for compensation

Andrew Malkinson, who spent 17 years in jail for a crime he did not commit, says the Ministry of Justice has left him “to rot” after telling him he is likely to have to wait months before learning if he is even eligible for compensation.

Malkinson was freed last year after he was wrongly convicted of a 2003 rape in Greater Manchester. His conviction was quashed by the court of appeal 16 months ago and since his release he has been struggling on universal credit and forced to turn to food banks.

Ally of Boris Johnson gave Reform UK leader a £8,000 trip to tour his JCB site, raising eyebrows among Tories

A firm run by the major Conservative donor Anthony Bamford has funded a £8,000 helicopter trip for the Reform UK leader, Nigel Farage.

Lord Bamford, who sat as a Conservative peer until his retirement from the House of Lords this year, has given millions of pounds to the Tories and been a close ally of Boris Johnson – funding the former prime minister’s accommodation after he left office.

Film director, who has fully recovered, backs campaign to address disproportionate impact of disease on Black men

The Oscar-winning film director and artist Steve McQueen has revealed that he paused the filming of his latest production Blitz in order to be treated for prostate cancer.

McQueen, whose father died of the disease in 2006, has spoken for the first time about his own treatment, which led to a tumour being removed in November 2022.

• Referees’ body says it is taking allegations ‘very seriously’
• Coote was suspended over remarks about Jürgen Klopp

The Premier League’s refereeing body has said it is aware of footage allegedly showing David Coote sniffing white powder.

The video emerged after Professional Game Match Officials Ltd (PGMOL) and the Football Association launched investigations into Coote after remarks he made about Jürgen Klopp in a video that surfaced online this week.

Condition of roads near singer’s Harlow home makes it difficult to drive the prestige vehicles

Rod Stewart has said he is considering selling his five sports cars because there are so many potholes on the roads near his home.

The singer’s love of sports cars has endured for more than half a century – and he now owns five. But now Stewart says he may sell them because the potholes have worsened near his home in Harlow, Essex.