England

England's children's services are in a "state of emergency" and young people face extreme inequality depending on where they live, according to a major new report. Children's Commissioner for England Dame Rachel de Souza's Childhood Lottery study analysed a hundred metrics across health and social care, education, safety and play, and called for minimum standards and an emergency fund for children's services.

The health secretary has asked the NHS to draw up urgent plans to end corridor care for children in England, saying no child should be treated in a corridor, as she announced £140m to prepare hospitals for what she called a more difficult winter than usual.

An NHS leader has warned that up to 20 maternity units in England may have to close or change role to protect the safety of mothers and babies, prompting immediate objections from midwives and obstetricians who say services should stay close to home.

Tonga has defeated England 30-12 in a Rugby League World Cup pool match in Perth, putting the English at serious risk of missing the semifinals for the first time in the tournament's history. A sellout crowd of 18,302, including His Majesty King Tupou VI, watched the Mate Ma'a dominate the second half.