Powell, who was sacked from cabinet in September, says party must be ‘more principled and strategic, less tactical, and strongly guided by our values’

Lucy Powell has paid tribute to former Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner, saying she has some “big shoes to fill”, as she took to the stage to celebrate her win.

Powell spoke about how “division and hate” has increased. She said the desire for change is “palpable”.

WHO’s director general says there has been little improvement in the amount of aid going into Gaza since the ceasefire took hold

Home to 2.7 million Palestinians, the West Bank has long been at the heart of plans for a future nation existing alongside Israel, but settlements have expanded rapidly, fragmenting the land, reports Reuters.

Palestinians and most nations regard settlements as illegal under international law, but Israel disputes this.

Ukrainian president’s comments come amid suspension of planned US-Russian summit and fresh attacks on Kyiv and Kharkiv

Children among six killed in Russian attack on Kyiv

Russia said on Wednesday that preparation for a presidential summit between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump was still continuing, despite the latter announcing it had been shelved (see 10.30am BST).

“We are saying that preparations for a summit are continuing,” Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov was quoted as saying by the state TASS news agency.

I want to officially confirm: Russia has not changed its position compared to the understandings that were reached during the Alaska summit.

Sébastien Lecornu will face further vote after winning narrow backing in first

The vote on the first no-confidence motion put forward by the left’s La France Insoumise is now under way.

It will take around 30 minutes. Even if Sébastien Lecornu survives the vote, there are difficult times ahead as parliament will begin to debate the 2026 budget.

Four bodies were handed over by Hamas on Tuesday to ease pressure on the fragile ceasefire, after the first four on Monday

• Israel reportedly pulls back from threat to slash humanitarian aid entering Gaza

The Israeli military said on Wednesday that one of the bodies handed over by Hamas the previous day as part of the ceasefire deal is not that of one of the hostages who was held in Gaza.

Four bodies were handed over by Hamas on Tuesday to ease pressure on the fragile ceasefire, after the first four on Monday – when the last 20 living hostages were released.

The military said that “following the completion of examinations at the National Institute of Forensic Medicine, the fourth body handed over to Israel by Hamas does not match any of the hostages”.

In the north of the territory, as Israeli forces withdrew from Gaza City, the Hamas government’s black-masked armed police resumed street patrols, reports Agence France-Presse (AFP).

Our message is clear: There will be no place for outlaws or those who threaten the security of citizens.