>>a >> a very, very good afternoon to you. it's 5:00 pm and welcome to you. it's 5:00 pm and welcome to the martin daubney show here on gb news. we're broadcasting live from the heart of westminster and all across the uk. on today's show, the israeli military says it is increasingly confident that it has eliminated hamas leader yahya sinwar is believed to be the mastermind of the 7th of october attacks. the terror attacks by hamas on israel. we'll bring you all the latest updates on this developing story. and in just two hours time, robert jenrick and kemi badenoch will battle it out on gb news exclusive event, decision time. the race to lead. who will be crowned the tory leader in a scrap that some are calling the last chance to save the tories. and at 5:15 pm. today, in a few minutes time, chris hope will toss a coin on the show to see which candidate

takes to the stage first and tributes are pouring in following the tragic death of one direction star liam payne, who has died aged just 31 and will speak to one of his good friends, former sas man ant middleton. and that's all coming up in your next hour. middleton. and that's all coming up in your next hour . well, the up in your next hour. well, the show always a pleasure to have your company. so two hours time. this is it . your company. so two hours time. this is it. head to head. kemi badenoch robert jenrick all to play badenoch robert jenrick all to play for. and perhaps all to lose. who do you think should be the next conservative party leader and the momentum seems to be with mr jenrick. leader and the momentum seems to be with mrjenrick. but kemi badenoch still massively favoured for her courage and her fighting spirit by many. is she .7 fighting spirit by many. is she.7 the fresh fighting spirit by many. is she? the fresh breath of air the party needs? is mrjenrick, who's been making all the right noises. he's sounding very much actually like a nigel farage tribute act. is he the one? a

poll out today puts mr jenrick slightly in front and i'll be joined by the man who did that poll from electoral calculus shortly in the studio, to go over the odds and the bets for tonight's big showdown, two hours away. now get in touch. who do you want to win ? who do you want to win? gbnews.com/yoursay. but now it's your headlines. gbnews.com/yoursay. but now it's your headlines . and here's your headlines. and here's sophia wenzler. >> martin. thank you. good afternoon. it'sjust >> martin. thank you. good afternoon. it's just gone. 5:00. these are your headlines from the gb newsroom. members of israel's security cabinet have been informed that hamas leader yahya sinwar is very likely dead after an operation in gaza targeting three militants. meanwhile, israeli tv stations are also reporting his death, and officials say the pentagon has been informed about the leader's potential death . in leader's potential death. in a statement, the idf said that the identities of those killed have yet to be confirmed and say there were no indications that israeli hostages were present at

the site of the attack. if confirmed, the 62 year old's death would mark a significant victory for israel amid a series of high profile assassinations of high profile assassinations of enemy leaders in recent months. believed to be the architect of the october seventh attack on israel that ignited the current conflict, sinwar has long been a top target for israeli forces. hamas has yet to comment on the reports. israeli forces. hamas has yet to comment on the reports . the comment on the reports. the family of former one direction star liam payne has expressed their heartbreak following his death at the age of 31. in a statement released through a spokeswoman, his family remembered liam as a kind, funny and brave soul. fans have gathered outside the hotel in buenos aires, where he died, lighting candles and leaving flowers in an impromptu vigil to pay flowers in an impromptu vigil to pay tribute to the music icon. meanwhile, reuters is reporting that buenos aires police say they found liam's hotel room in complete disarray with packs of

clonazepam, a central nervous system depressant, as well as various other over—the—counter drugs and broken items. liam rose to fame as part of one direction, one of the biggest p0p direction, one of the biggest pop groups in the world, before their indefinite hiatus in 2016. in other news, thousands of uk troops are being put on standby to deploy to estonia's border with russia, part of a crucial new agreement signed by defence secretary john healey. it means the army's fourth brigade will remain on high readiness to defend against rising tensions from the ongoing war in ukraine. currently, about 1000 british soldiers are in estonia and if called upon, the fourth brigade could arrive within ten days. equipped with advanced tanks and missile systems. as nato ministers gather in brussels, the defence secretary said the new deal will enhance the group's defences in the face of escalating global threats . escalating global threats. >> the uk's unshakeable commitment to nato could never be more important and at a time

of growing russian aggression and increasing wider threats , and increasing wider threats, today we will make the commitment to reinforce nato's eastern flank with a new plan alongside estonia for our forces there, and we will make a commitment, a uk commitment, to bolstering the future of europe's defences . europe's defences. >> now a tory councillors wife has been jailed for two and a half years after stirring up racial hatred against asylum seekers on the day of the southport attacks. lucy connolly, a married to conservative councillor raymond connolly, posted a violent message on x calling for mass deportation and arson against hotels housing immigrants. she wrote the post on the day three young girls were killed in a knife attack in southport. the post was deleted after two hours and she later apologised, but

connolly was today sentenced to 31 months imprisonment at birmingham crown court. 31 months imprisonment at birmingham crown court . a second birmingham crown court. a second body has been discovered following a large explosion in newcastle, where a seven year old boy tragically lost his life. the body, believed to be a man in his 30s, was located in the debris by emergency crews. drone footage shows the wreckage with roofs collapsed and debris strewn across the street. northumbria police confirmed that six others have been hospitalised, with one man in a critical but stable condition. the investigation into the cause of the explosion is ongoing, with police urging the to public refrain from speculation . refrain from speculation. thousands of migrants could be granted asylum in the uk as the government pushes to clear a huge backlog of applications. the refugee council estimates the number of pending asylum claims could reach almost 120,000 by january, following labour's decision to scrap the rwanda plan. new analysis suggests that processing the

backlog could see over 62,000 more people recognised as refugees in the uk. it comes as downing street says it's committed to ending the use of asylum hotels, despite reports the home office may reopen some that were previously closed . and that were previously closed. and kemi badenoch says her bid for conservative leadership is a grassroots campaign taking aim at her rival robert jenrick. more media focused approach as the two contenders compete to replace rishi sunak. the shadow housing secretary says the tories need to regain voters lost to reform and the liberal democrats. meanwhile, robert jenrick has outlined his vision for a smaller state and lower taxes , arguing that returning taxes, arguing that returning the spend on benefits to pre—pandemic levels could help a tax cut . from 7 pre—pandemic levels could help a tax cut. from 7 pm. pre—pandemic levels could help a tax cut . from 7 pm. tonight, tax cut. from 7 pm. tonight, they'll make their pitches to tory members in a special programme moderated by our political editor, christopher hope. political editor, christopher hope . those are the latest gb hope. those are the latest gb news headlines. now it's back to

martin for the very latest gb news direct to your smartphone, sign up to news alerts by scanning the qr code, or go to gb news .com forward slash alerts . alerts. >> thank you sophia. the israeli military says it is increasingly confident that it has eliminated hamas leader yahya sinwar, who is believed to be the mastermind of the october 7th terrorist attacks by hamas on israel. we can now speak with gb news homeland security editor mark white for the very latest mark, a significant result if this is the case. when we last spoke, you said we were waiting for official confirmation. the photographic evidence seems compelling. what's the latest ? compelling. what's the latest? >> well, the dna tests we're told, are now underway, but

ahead of the results of those dna, dna tests, the israeli war cabinet has been told that they believe it's very likely that yahya sinwar has been killed in this israeli strike that took place yesterday. and it is a very, very significant day, if confirmed as far as the israeli people are concerned. and we've just had actually word from the uk defence secretary, john healey, who said if it's confirmed that yahya sinwar is among those who have died here, he, for one, will not mourn his death. this was, he says, a terror leader responsible for the attacks on the 7th of october last year , who not only october last year, who not only was responsible for the darkest day for jewish people was responsible for the darkest day forjewish people since was responsible for the darkest day for jewish people since the second world war, but also set in chain a conflict that has led

to intolerable suffering for the palestinian people, so that the words of palestinian peop