It was a monumental transformation for them, their country and the wider Middle East. But potentially too for British people who went to Syria - and who were stripped of their citizenship as a result, on the grounds of national security. Tauqir Sharif, better known as Tox, went to Syria in 2012 as an aid worker. He was accused of being part of a group affiliated with al Qaeda, which he denies, and the then-home secretary Amber Rudd deprived him of his British citizenship in 2017. "As of now, I am deprived of my UK citizenship but I'm not a convicted terrorist - and the reason for that is because we refused, we boycotted, the SIAC [Special Immigration Appeals Commission] secret courts, which don't allow you to see any of the evidence presented against you," he said. "And one of the things that I always called for was, look, put me in front of a jury, let's have an open hearing." HTS is still a proscribed terrorist organisation but the British government has now established relations with it. Foreign Secretary David Lammy travelled to Damascus to meet the jihadist-turned-Syrian interim president - the man who swapped his nom de guerre of al Jolani for Ahmed al Sharaa. If the UK government takes HTS off the terror list, what does that mean for those who lost their citizenship after being accused of being part of it? People who joined HTS are only a subset among the scores of people who have had their citizenship revoked - a tool the UK government has been quick to use. According to a report by the Parliamentary Joint Human Rights Committee, the UK "uses deprivation of citizenship orders more than almost any country in the world". The peak of that was in 2017, and mainly in relation to Syria - especially in the case of people joining Islamic State, perhaps most famously Shamima Begum. And because people cannot be made entirely stateless, and need to have a second nationality, or be potentially eligible for one, there are worries of racism in who the orders apply to. Countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh offer dual nationality, whereas other nations do not. In 2022, the Institute of Race Relations said "the vast majority of those deprived are Muslim men with South Asian or Middle Eastern/North African heritage". Legal grey areas Sky News submitted Freedom of Information requests to the Home Office asking for a breakdown of second nationalities of those deprived of citizenship, but was refused twice on national security grounds. The independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, Jonathan Hall KC, told Sky News there are issues around transparency. "I do think there is a problem when you have people whose relationship with the country that they're left with is really technical and they may never have realised that they had that citizenship before and may never gone to that country," he said. "Me and my predecessors have all said, owing to how frequently this power is used, it should be something that the independent reviewer should have the power to review. I asked, my predecessor asked, we've both been told no, so I agree there's a lack of transparency." Read more from Sky News:Menendez brothers denied parole - but they could still taste freedomWhat Epstein's right-hand woman said about Trump and Prince AndrewUK set to bask in 30C sunshine over bank holiday weekend No automatic reversal Even if the government does remove HTS from the terror list, it would not automatically invalidate decisions to deprive people of their citizenship. Macer Gifford gave up a career as a banker in London to join the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) as a foreign volunteer between 2015 and 2017. He told Sky News that decisions "made years ago in the interest of the British public have to remain". "We can't sort of go through previous cases nitpicking through it, wasting time and money to bring it up to date," he added. "We can't be naive because the intent to go out, the decision to go in itself is a huge decision for them. So it shows commitment when they're there, they then, if they take an active participation in the organisations that they've been accused of joining, again, that involves training and perseverance and dedication to the cause." But those born and raised in Britain, who joined the same cause, and lost their citizenship as a result, might reasonably ask why that should remain the case.

More than 40 protests took place across the country, according to Palestine Action Group, an Australian organisation. The group said around 350,000 people attended rallies nationwide, although police have estimated lower numbers in some cities. Organiser Josh Lees in Sydney said the protesters were marching to "demand an end to this genocide in Gaza and to demand that our government sanction Israel". A group representing Australia's Jewish community, the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, said the rallies created "an unsafe environment and shouldn't be happening". In the last week, Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu launched more personal attacks against Australia's Anthony Albanese. "I think his record is forever tarnished by the weakness that he showed in the face of [these] Hamas terrorist monsters," he said on Wednesday, after earlier describing Mr Albanese as "a weak politician who betrayed Israel and abandoned Australia's Jews." Mr Albanese said he did not "take these things personally" and that he treated the leaders of other countries with respect. His government's decision to formally recognise the Palestinian state in September, made on 11 August, came after tens of thousands of Australians marched over Sydney's iconic Harbour Bridge in support of Palestine.

The fatal accident happened shortly after midnight on Saturday in the trees near a highway in the Kassel district, north of Hesse in central Germany. The 32-year-old male driver, a 31-year-old female passenger, a 32-year-old female passenger, and a 30-year-old female passenger all died at the scene, despite the efforts of German emergency services. Sky News understands UK officials have not been contacted for assistance. At roughly 12.30am on Saturday, the car appears to have veered off the road and crashed into nearby trees around 30m from the road, according to the Kassel police department. One of the victim's phones automatically alerted the emergency services to the incident, who sent an ambulance to the scene. Soon, fire engines, ambulances, command vehicles and emergency support vehicles were all dispatched. When emergency workers arrived, the car was lying on its side, wedged between several trees. It wasn't until they removed the roof that they found all four passengers. The emergency workers who dealt with the victims were immediately supported by the specialist mental health workers at the fire station in Reinhardshagen. "This high number of deaths is an extraordinary operation for our Reinhardshagen Volunteer Fire Department," said a fire department spokesperson. "For some of the emergency personnel, it is the first time they have been confronted with death in this way. "Therefore, a great deal is being done to help us process these images. We will also discuss this among ourselves and within families, because not everyone can easily shake off what they have seen." An investigation into the accident is ongoing and is being conducted by the Hofgeismar police station.

The new measures, which would apply to people in England and Wales, "should remind all offenders that, under this government, crime does not pay", Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood said. Offenders' freedom could also be curtailed with limits on driving, travel bans and restriction zones confining them to specific areas, the government said. Similar measures could also apply to prisoners let out on licence, while drug testing would be expanded to include all those released, rather than just those with a history of substance misuse. While judges are currently able to impose limited bans for specific crimes, such as football bans for crimes committed inside a stadium on match day, the new measures would allow for such bans to be handed down for any offence. The justice secretary said: "When criminals break society's rules, they must be punished. "Those serving their sentences in the community must have their freedom restricted there too. "These new punishments should remind all offenders that, under this government, crime does not pay. "Rightly, the public expect the government to do everything in its power to keep Britain safe, and that's what we're doing." The proposals are part of the Labour government's efforts to tackle overcrowding in prisons. Back in June, it emerged that prisoners were to be transferred to lower security jails in an effort to ease overcrowding, as part of a new measure quietly unveiled by the government. Sky News reported earlier this month how the prison system was close to collapse on a number of occasions between autumn 2023 and summer 2024, according to an independent review by former chief inspector of prisons, Dame Anne Owers. The report said there was a systemic problem which has led to recurring prison capacity crises over the last 18 years.

Emergency services were called to the Spanish City Summer Funfair after reports that a man, in his 20s, had been injured at 2.15pm on Saturday, police said. The North East Ambulance Service said it had dispatched a rapid response paramedic, a clinical team leader, an emergency ambulance crew and the air ambulance to the scene, and added that an "off-duty medic was also present to support the patient whilst the ambulance was travelling". The man was treated at the scene but was declared dead a short time later. His family are being supported by specialist officers. The funfair, which was set to run throughout the bank holiday weekend, has been shut and the Health and Safety Executive has been informed. Read more from Sky News:Criminals could be banned from pubs and sports groundsThree in life-threatening condition after 'arson attack' at restaurant A Northumbria Police spokesman said: "Our thoughts are with the man's family at this extremely difficult time. "We have contacted the Health and Safety Executive and are working with them to establish exactly what happened. "The fair has been closed to the public and will remain closed until further notice."

Maxwell - a convicted sex trafficker and ex-girlfriend of the deceased paedophile financier Epstein - refuted several claims of child sex trafficking and abuse during the two-day-long interview with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche in July. Reacting after the transcripts of the interview were released on Friday, Ms Giuffre's family said it gave Maxwell the "platform to rewrite history" and showed she was "never challenged about her court-proven lies". "As the family of one of the most prominent survivors, Virginia Roberts Giuffre, we are outraged," they said in a statement. "The content of these transcripts is in direct contradiction with felon Ghislaine Maxwell's conviction for child sex trafficking." Ms Giuffre's family added: "This travesty of justice entirely invalidates the experiences of the many brave survivors who put their safety, security, and lives on the line to ensure her conviction, including our sister." Referencing Maxwell's move to a minimum-security facility in Texas earlier this month, they said it "sends a disturbing message that child sex trafficking is acceptable and will be rewarded". "We continue to call upon the DOJ (Department of Justice) to do its job by investigating and holding accountable the many rich and powerful people who enabled Ghislaine Maxwell's and Jeffrey Epstein's crimes," they concluded. Ms Giuffre, who died by suicide in April, had previously claimed that Maxwell introduced her to Epstein and hired her as his masseuse, before she was sex trafficked and sexually abused by him and associates around the world. She sued Prince Andrew for sexual abuse in August 2021 - saying he had sex with her when she was 17 and had been trafficked by Epstein. The duke has repeatedly denied the claims, and he has not been charged with any criminal offences. In March 2022, it was announced Ms Giuffre and Andrew had reached an out-of-court settlement - believed to include a "substantial donation to Ms Giuffre's charity in support of victims' rights". During her interview with Mr Blanche last month, Maxwell said Ms Giuffre's allegation against the duke "doesn't hold water", and denied ever introducing Epstein to him or Sarah Ferguson. She insisted Epstein and Andrew met separately, and said "I think Sarah [Ferguson] is the one that pushed that", before saying that allegations Andrew had sex with Ms Giuffre were untrue, as she was at her mother's 80th birthday celebrations in the countryside outside the city. Maxwell then claimed Ms Giuffre's allegation that she and Andrew had sexual contact in the bathroom of her London flat was not true, as the room was not big enough. She also claimed that an image of her standing alongside Andrew with his arm around Ms Giuffre's waist was "literally a fake photo". During the interview with Mr Blanche, Maxwell denied ever seeing US President Donald Trump in an "inappropriate setting" and insisted she was not aware of any Epstein 'client list'. Read more:All we know about Trump and Epstein's 'friendship'Trump told in May his name appears in Epstein files - reportVirginia Giuffre wanted Epstein files released, her family say Under growing pressure to release files related to Epstein, as he promised to do during his 2024 presidential campaign, Mr Trump has made a series of denials and claims about the paedophile financier. In July, the president told reporters on Air Force One that Epstein "stole" Ms Giuffre and other young women from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. Mr Trump has also floated a pardon for Maxwell, saying earlier this month that "nobody" had asked to but insisted that he has "the right to do it". "I'm allowed to do it, but nobody's asked me to do it. I know nothing about it," he added. "I don't know anything about the case, but I know I have the right to do it. "I have the right to give pardons, I've given pardons to people before, but nobody's even asked me to do it." Maxwell was sentenced in the US in June 2022 to 20 years in prison following her conviction on five counts of sex trafficking for luring young girls to massage rooms for Epstein to abuse. She has asked the US Supreme Court to overturn her conviction. Epstein, 66, was found dead in his cell at a Manhattan federal jail in August 2019 as he awaited trial on sex trafficking charges. His death was ruled a suicide. Read more from Sky News:Man wrongly sent to El Salvador threatened with deportation to UgandaWhy Donald Trump believes he 'deserves the Nobel Peace Prize' His case has generated endless attention and conspiracy theories due to his and Maxwell's links to famous people like royals, presidents and billionaires, including Mr Trump. No one other than Epstein and Maxwell has been charged with any criminal offences.

As it currently takes, on average, more than a year to reach a decision on asylum appeals, the government plans to set up a new independent panel focused on asylum appeals to help reduce the backlog. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said "completely unacceptable" delays in the appeals process left failed asylum seekers in the system for years. There are about 51,000 asylum appeals waiting to be heard. The new independent body will use professionally-trained adjudicators, rather than relying on judges. Ministers are introducing a new 24-week deadline for the first-tier tribunal to determine asylum appeals by those receiving accommodation support and appeals by foreign offenders. But they believe the current tribunal system, which covers a wide range of different cases, is still failing to ensure failed asylum seekers can be returned as swiftly as possible, nor can it accommodate a fast-track system for safe countries. It comes amid protests about the use of hotel accommodation for migrants. The home secretary said the overhaul would result in a system which is "swift, fair and independent, with high standards in place". Read more from Sky News:UK set to bask in 30C sunshine over bank holiday weekendCoca-Cola brews up sale of high street coffee giant Costa She said: "We inherited an asylum system in complete chaos with a soaring backlog of asylum cases and a broken appeals system with thousands of people in the system for years on end. "That is why we are taking practical steps to fix the foundations and restore control and order to the system. "We are determined to substantially reduce the number of people in the asylum system as part of our plan to end asylum hotels. "Already since the election, we have reduced the backlog of people waiting for initial decisions by 24% and increased failed asylum returns by 30%. "But we cannot carry on with these completely unacceptable delays in appeals as a result of the system we have inherited which mean that failed asylum seekers stay in the system for years on end at huge cost to the taxpayer." Official figures released earlier this month showed a total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.

A Mexican court has granted a three-month extension for further investigation into the case, according to Chávez's lawyer, Rubén Fernando Benítez Alvarez. He said the claims against his client were "speculation" and "urban legends" after a court hearing on Saturday in the northern Mexican city of Hermosillo. If convicted, Chávez - who took part in the hearing virtually from a detention facility - could face a prison sentence of four to eight years, Mr Alvarez said. Chávez, 39, who has been living in the United States for several years, was arrested in early July by federal agents outside his Los Angeles home for overstaying his visa and providing inaccurate details on an application to obtain a green card. The arrest came just days after a fight he had with famed American boxer Jake Paul in Los Angeles. Mexican prosecutors have been investigating the boxer since 2019 after US authorities filed a complaint against the Sinaloa Cartel for organized crime, human trafficking, arms smuggling, and drug trafficking. The case prompted investigations into 13 individuals, including Ovidio Guzmán López - the son of convicted drug lord Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán - as well as several associates, hitmen, and accomplices of the criminal organization. Guzmán López was arrested in January 2023 and extradited to the US eight months later. Read more from Sky News:Criminals could be banned from pubs and sports grounds under new plansUK braces for more protests over the use of hotels to house asylum seekersFollowing the inquiry, the Federal Attorney General's Office issued several arrest warrants, including one against Chávez. The boxer was deported by the US on 9 August and handed over to agents of the Federal Attorney General's Office in Sonora state, who transferred him to the Federal Social Reintegration Center in Hermosillo. The high-profile case comes amid the Trump administration's efforts to pressure Mexico into cracking down on organized crime, including cancelling visas of prominent Mexican artists and celebrities, and increasing deportations. Chávez has struggled with drug addiction throughout his career and has been arrested multiple times. In 2012, he was found guilty of driving under the influence in Los Angeles and was sentenced to 13 days in jail. The boxer was arrested last year for weapons possession. Police said Chávez had two rifles. He was released shortly afterward upon posting $50,000 bail (£36,000), on the condition that he attend a facility to receive treatment for his addiction.

Anna Dixon has accused her constituency neighbour of having "personally inflamed hatred against me" in a video he posted on Facebook, regarding her position on calls for local and national inquiries into grooming gangs. The Labour MP for Shipley, who was first elected last year, said Robbie Moore, a Conservative, had demonstrated "irresponsible behaviour" by posting "blatant misinformation about a colleague". In a lengthy message on social media, Ms Dixon wrote: "I want local residents to be aware that I have received threats of death and violence directly posted in response to a misleading video recently shared by the MP for Keighley and Ilkley, Robbie Moore. "These have been reported to the police, and an investigation is currently underway. "Other responses to his post have subjected me to misogynistic abuse and made deeply offensive claims against me - he has chosen to let these remain public in the comments section on his social media." What does the video say? Mr Moore first posted the video on social media on Wednesday, 20 August. Above the video, he wrote: "Wow. Shipley's Labour MP Anna Dixon is 'misleading public' [sic] on grooming gangs inquiry. "Anna is telling constituents she voted against an inquiry because it was a 'political stunt'. But a closer look at the facts shows Anna has been dismissing calls for an inquiry since day one... Your voice - or just another voice protecting Bradford's Labour Party?" The film is a little under two minutes long and examines Ms Dixon's position in the style of a news video, with a voice-over referring to "our investigation" and starts by announcing that she "isn't telling you the truth". It also uses clips from a BBC Politics North episode, which Ms Dixon appeared on, as well as extracts from an email. The video claims that Ms Dixon has been misleading the public about her reasons for voting against plans for a national inquiry into grooming gangs, and alleges that she has always been opposed to one from when she was first elected. Responding to the video on Saturday, Ms Dixon wrote: "In putting out misleading information online in relationship to my position on child grooming gangs he has personally inflamed hatred against me, and in responding to constituents he has doubled down and repeated the attacks against me. "We must always put victims and survivors first when it comes to tackling the horrific crime of child sexual exploitation - this issue should never be used to make personal attacks based on party politics." The Labour backbencher added: "Group-based child sexual exploitation, committed by grooming gangs, is one of the most despicable and damaging crimes imaginable. I fully support all efforts by [the] government and West Yorkshire Police to bring perpetrators of these crimes to justice." She referenced how she has sought to tackle the issue by speaking about it in the Commons and meeting with survivors. Ms Dixon added that she has "always been transparent and direct with constituents", and that she was "shocked by the claim made in the video" that she would oppose a focus on the Bradford district in any national inquiry into grooming gangs. She stated that the Tory MP's video selectively quotes an email she wrote, leaving out the sentence: "If the national inquiry deems that another local inquiry is needed in Bradford, this is something I and the Local Authority will fully support." What is the argument fundamentally about? It appears the origin of the argument is Ms Dixon's decision in January 2025 to vote against an amendment to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill. The Conservatives scheduled what Ms Dixon has called a "wrecking amendment" to the bill, which called for a national inquiry into grooming gangs. But voting for this amendment would have "effectively killed the bill, which aimed to enhance safeguards for children", Ms Dixon said. Mr Moore, who is the shadow farming secretary, has said this is not the real reason that Ms Dixon voted against the amendment, and claims that instead, she is opposed to a national inquiry altogether. Sir Keir Starmer announced in June that there would be a national inquiry into grooming gangs, after spending several months resisting calls to do so. Ms Dixon has said she believes Mr Moore has disrespected her and fallen below the standards expected of MPs. She said: "It is one thing to engage in lively debate on party policies in parliament or on TV, but to launch such a personal attack against a neighbouring MP falls well below the standards expected of parliamentarians. "I am disturbed by Robbie Moore’s seeming willingness to spread misinformation on this scale with his constituents and beyond, particularly when it pertains to such a serious issue." She has called on both her own constituents and Mr Moore's to condemn "these actions in the strongest possible terms". The video is 'not a personal attack' but highlights 'legitimate concerns' Mr Moore has told Sky News that he "utterly condemns any threats of violence" and has previously had armed police come to his house in the middle of the night due to a death threat. He said his video is "not a personal attack", but "raises legitimate concerns" about her public position on a grooming inquiry in Bradford. He added: "I have been fighting for an inquiry since being elected in 2019 and have been clear that this is not a political issue." The shadow minister continued: "We are now in a situation in Bradford where victims and survivors and leading child abuse lawyers are desperately calling for a focus on Bradford in the grooming gangs inquiry, with a sitting Labour peer explicitly saying there has been a cover-up inside Bradford Council. "The fact that the MP for Shipley does not and, from her public comments today, still does not unequivocally support a focus on Bradford in this national inquiry is both a newsworthy and legitimate concern."

On Saturday, demonstrations under the Abolish Asylum System slogan were held in England, Scotland and Wales, including in Bristol, Exeter, Tamworth, Cannock, Aberdeen, Mold, Perth, Nuneaton, Liverpool, Wakefield, Newcastle, Horley and Canary Wharf. Counter-protests were also organised by campaign group Stand Up to Racism. In Bristol, mounted police separated the two groups in the Castle Park, with officers scuffling with protesters. A 37-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker. Avon and Somerset Police said no officer sustained serious physical injury or has required hospital treatment, but inquiries will be carried out after reports of assaults on officers. Chief Inspector Keith Smith said: "While there were moments of disturbance, we're pleased to say the two protests have passed without significant incident." Police kept around 200 anti-immigration protesters draped in English flags away from roughly 50 Stand Up to Racism protesters in Horley, Surrey. One man, wearing a West Ham United football shirt, was held by police as he yelled: "You're not welcome here, you're not welcome here, you're not welcome here" at anti-racism protesters. Read more:Fast-track asylum appeals process to be introducedWho says what on asylum hotelsMigration stats going in the wrong directionLabour may have walked into political trap over Epping hotel Anti-immigration protesters also chanted: "Tommy, Tommy, Tommy, Tommy Robinson" in support of the far-right activist, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon. The anti-racism protesters chanted "say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here" and held signs calling for solidarity and to "stop deportations". The Stand Up to Racism protesters were shepherded into a smaller area as they continued to chant: "No hate, no fear, refugees are welcome here", which was met with "No they're f****** not" from the other side of the street. Three people were arrested - two for breach of the peace and one for breaching the conditions of a community protection notice, Surrey Police said. In Perth, protesters gathered outside the Radisson Hotel. The anti-migration protesters held up signs with slogans such as "Perth is full - empty the hotels" and "get them out". Stand Up to Racism Scotland said it had achieved "victory" in Perth, with more than 200 gathering to oppose the Abolish Asylum System demonstration. Merseyside Police said 11 arrests were made for various offences, including being drunk and disorderly, assault and affray, after a UKIP protest and a counter-protest in Liverpool city centre on Saturday. A dispersal order was issued in the city to try to contain the protests. Protests today are expected to take place in Manchester, Birmingham, Dudley, Norwich, Epping, and London. The weekend of action comes amid continued tension around the use of the hotels for asylum seekers. Regular protests had been held outside the Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, which started after an asylum seeker housed there was charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl on 10 July. Hadush Gerberslasie Kebatu, 38, was charged with trying to kiss a teenage girl and denies the allegations. He is due to stand trial later this month. In the wake of those protests, Epping Forest District Council sought and won an interim High Court injunction to stop migrants from being accommodated there - a decision which the government is seeking permission to appeal. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer posted on X saying: "We are tackling illegal migration. Since July last year, 5,300 foreign national offenders have been returned. "This is our Plan for Change in action."