I was on a flight - but British Airways told me I wasn't

21 minutes ago Share Save Catherine Snowdon BBC News Share Save

BBC Catherine Snowdon is still puzzled by her experience on a trip to Madrid

An extraordinary thing happened to me on a recent flight to Madrid: I unwittingly travelled under the wrong identity, becoming a potential security issue, and no one realised. I was packing for a short business trip to make a film for the BBC when I attempted to check-in online. It didn't work, so I headed to London Heathrow Airport to do it in-person. Upon arrival there, I tried once again to check myself in, this time at a self-service booth. Again I was denied, the machine flashing up an error code: "Assistance required." I ended up at a check-in desk and after checking in my bag, a British Airways staff member handed me a boarding pass. Admittedly I didn't read the pass in any detail, but headed off to get processed in the security area as normal. At the gate, I was among the first passengers to board flight BA7055 departing at 10:50 on 23 April, operated by BA's Spanish partner carrier Iberia, as I was in row six. Dutifully, I handed my passport and boarding pass to a member of BA ground crew, who glanced at them both and waved me through. Once on board I realised my seat was in business class. I assumed this must have been a free upgrade, because I would of course usually have been in economy; we had chosen this flight because it was the most cost-effective option with all our filming equipment. No sooner were we off the tarmac and at cruising altitude than the delicious baked cod and chickpea stew lunch was served. Tiramisu for dessert, too. No complimentary alcohol for me though; it was a work trip. It was on arrival in the Spanish capital when things started to go wrong.

A boarding pass mystery

As soon as I gained mobile signal on the ground, an email popped up: my return flight had been cancelled. I asked the BBC's travel provider what had happened and what the plan was for getting me home? In response, the travel company said it had been cancelled because I was a no-show on the outbound flight. I explained that I was in fact very much in Madrid and waiting - endlessly, it seemed - to collect my checked luggage from the baggage belt. After some no doubt confusing conversations between our travel team and BA, I received a further message to say the airline was adamant I had not travelled and that the boarding pass in my possession did not display the correct details. This was when I realised that the name on my boarding pass was not mine, it was a man called Huw H. The BBC is not using Huw H's full name, which was printed on the pass. His name was also printed on my luggage tags.

BA claimed there was no way I could have travelled using that document as security checks wouldn't allow it - but I did. My colleague, who was seated a few rows behind me, can vouch for me being on that plane. The airline was so sure that I was not in Madrid that the BBC had to book me another seat on the flight home I was originally booked onto, at great expense. BA has since offered a £500 goodwill voucher as well as refunding the cost of the extra ticket. The security protocol for passengers boarding flights is relatively simple: ground crew must check the name on the boarding pass matches that on the passport presented. This process appears to have broken down in my case - with no one at check-in or the boarding gate identifying the discrepancy between the name on the boarding pass and my passport. So what went wrong, and who is Huw H? I tried to find out.

An 'unusual' case

Some internet sleuthing brought limited proof of Huw H's existence. I made a few attempts to contact accounts using his full name via various social media channels, to no avail. It's made me fear that he might not even exist. I did manage to get in touch with someone with a similar name - Jonathan Huw H - who, it turns out, flew on a BA flight on 24 April, a day after mine, landing at Heathrow, so is it possible his name was somehow floating around in the BA system? "It's really worrying," Jonathan told me. My married name, which was on my booking confirmation and passport, begins with the letter H - though is very different to Huw H's surname. Could this have factored in? It's impossible to know, and BA cannot confirm anything for privacy reasons. Simon Calder, travel correspondent at the Independent, said it was to be expected that mistakes will sometimes happen "in the high-pressure, deadline-strewn world of aviation". But he added: "This case is unusual in that the error wasn't picked up at the departure gate, where it could have been easily rectified. "The airline needs urgently to investigate and make amends." Aviation security and operations expert Julian Bray added: "There is a security issue here, in that the plane took off with an incorrect passenger manifest. "It is wrong and shouldn't have happened. The passenger manifest should be correct as it is an important document that shows who is travelling and where. That said, as the name on the baggage tag matched the one on the boarding pass and the correct number of people were on board when the plane took off, I can see how it happened."

Catherine's plane home from Madrid - which she was relieved to eventually get on

Cassie at Diddy trial: I'd give back $20m settlement to undo freak-offs

17 minutes ago Share Save Sakshi Venkatraman BBC News Reporting from New York court Share Save

Watch: The BBC's Nada Tawfik on how Diddy's lawyers used freak-off texts against Cassie

Cassie Ventura has wrapped up four consecutive days of explosive testimony in the criminal trial of her ex-boyfriend Sean "Diddy" Combs. Breaking down in sobs, the singer told a New York court on Tuesday that she would give back a $20 million legal settlement from the rap mogul if it meant never having participated in his "humiliating" drug-fuelled sex parties, referred to as "freak-offs". Mrs Ventura, the government's star witness, faced intense questioning from both legal teams about the decade she dated Combs. Combs faces charges of racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution, and could face life in prison. He's pleaded not guilty and denied the accusations.

Mrs Ventura's testimony revealed graphic details about her sex life with the rapper, the physical violence she allegedly endured from him and the posse that she said aided in covering up his crimes. She also addressed that after filing a lawsuit against him in November 2023, which included many of those allegations, he gave her a settlement of $20 million. The settlement, which came just one day after the suit was filed, was public knowledge, but the number was previously unknown. The defence seemingly tried to hammer home the financial incentives for Mrs Ventura's accusations during their cross examination of her testimony, which went on all day Thursday and Friday. Combs' lawyer Anna Estevao seemed to imply Mrs Ventura was strapped for cash before filing her lawsuit. The singer had just moved to her parents house with her husband and children, for example. Mrs Ventura pushed back against this characterization, later sharing that she would trade it all for a life free of the "freak offs", which she said caused her physical injuries, would sometimes go on for days and stifled her career as a singer. "I would have agency and autonomy," she said.

Reuters

Inmates facing murder charges among 10 escapees from New Orleans prison

2 hours ago Share Save Ali Abbas Ahmadi BBC News Share Save

Getty Images The Orleans Parish Jail is only a few kilometres from the city's famous French Quarter

Ten prisoners, several of them facing murder charges, have escaped a New Orleans jail, authorities say. The inmates are thought to have fled around midnight, and were discovered missing during a headcount at 08:30 local time (13:30 GMT) at the Orleans Parish Jail on Friday morning. One inmate was apprehended in New Orleans' French Quarter, police said. The other nine inmates are considered "armed and dangerous", the Orleans Parish Sheriff's office said, adding that a search was underway.

Louisiana State Police identified one escapee as Kendall Myles in downtown New Orleans through facial recognition technology after he was caught on a surveillance camera. He tried to flee on foot before being apprehended hiding underneath a car in a parking garage, the police force said. He was subsequently transported back to the Orleans Parish Jail, and "is being rebooked at the facility for a new charge of Simple Escape", it said in a statement. The New Orleans Police Department has released the names and photographs of the escapees in a post on X. The Orleans Parish Sheriff's office initially said 11 prisoners had escaped from the facility, but the number was revised down later on Friday. While authorities are yet to say how the inmates escaped, WDSU, an affiliate of NBC, reported they dug a hole possibly under a toilet. The BBC has not verified that account.

Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office Photos released by the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office show damage inside the jail

Brits can be extradited over Tokyo jewellery heist

10 minutes ago Share Save Thomas Mackintosh BBC News, London Share Save

Getty Images The high-end Harry Winston jewellery store in Tokyo was burgled in November 2015

Two British men accused of robbing a luxury jewellery store in Tokyo can be sent to Japan following a landmark ruling. For almost a decade, Japanese authorities have pursued the extradition of Kaine Wright, 28, Joe Chappell, 38, and a third man over allegations they posed as customers to steal items worth £679,000 (¥106m) from a Harry Winston store. On Friday, chief magistrate Judge Goldspring rejected Wright and Chappell's challenges against extradition. Their case now passes to the home secretary to decide whether they should be sent to Japan. No extradition treaty exists between the UK and Japan, meaning it would be the first time Japan have successfully received fugitives.

Japan's initial request was rejected, but the High Court overturned the original decision following an appeal lodged by the Japanese government. In Friday's judgement - seen by the BBC - Wright, of Plumstead, and Chappell, of Belvedere, both in London, had raised concerns over prison conditions in Japan which they argued were "arbitrary, excessive and breach international standards". The Japanese government said the submissions were "fundamentally flawed both legally and factually". District Judge Goldspring, chief magistrate of England and Wales, found there was a "prima facie case" - enough evidence to support a charge at first glance - against Chappell and that extradition would be "compatible" with his and Wright's human rights.

PA Media Kaine Wright appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court last month

Friday's ruling follows a recent High Court judgement that the Japanese government had a case to extradite Wright, Chappell and a third man named in papers as Daniel Kelly - who is Wright's father. Japan's case against Kelly will be heard at the end of this month. He has not appeared in previous extradition hearings due to a conspiracy to murder case against him taking precedence. Details from January's High Court judgement state that the Japanese "relied upon a range of evidence" which demonstrated that Kelly, Wright and Chappell travelled to Tokyo around the time of the jewellery raid in November 2015. CCTV captured all three arriving at Narita International Airport on 18 November 2015 and staying at "the Elm Share House", Japanese authorities said. Ch Insp Suzuki set out a record of the investigation to the High Court which indicated the trio "took taxis" to Harry Winston's branch in Omotesando Hills. In their efforts to escape, the trio left a number of items behind including an Armani jacket, he said.

How EncroChat crackdown uncovered Kerri Pegg's affair

9 hours ago Share Save Share Save

PA Media Kerri Pegg, 42, was seen as a "rising star" of the Prison Service

Kerri Pegg was considered a rising star of the prison service after a career change - but is now starting a nine year sentence. Pegg, who had spent eight years as a probation officer, was convicted of misconduct in public office and possession of criminal property for her affair with drug dealer Anthony Saunderson. She rose through the ranks quickly after joining as a graduate in 2012, and by April 2018 was in the top job at HMP Kirkham in Lancashire. But behind the scenes, it is now evident Pegg was struggling financially - with four "maxed out" credit cards and 6p in her savings account.

Even before her move to the top job, her previous boss at HMP Liverpool had pulled her up on undeclared County Court Judgments (CCJ) - which are considered a corruption risk. But in her office in Kirkham far more serious conflict of interests was beginning to develop. Already serving his sentence was Anthony Saunderson, a career criminal from Liverpool convicted of his involvement in smuggling cocaine in shipments of corned beef from Argentina. Pegg's trial in Preston Crown Court had heard there were concerns over Pegg's relationship to Saunderson from early on in her tenure at HMP Kirkham.

CPS Kerri Pegg accepted a Mercedes C-class car as a gift from the gang boss

The "bubbly" and "chatty" prison governor would spend significant periods in her office with Saunderson - with the door closed. Whether or not Saunderson was using Pegg or their relationship was genuine - his time with her appeared to pay off in October 2018 when she approved an application for his early release on temporary licence - despite not having the authority to do so. With Saunderson a free man, they continued to spend time together on the outside. In court, Pegg said at the time she was responsible for delivering the drug strategy for six jails in the north-west of England. Saunderson, meanwhile, was developing and delivering a programme called Beating Alcohol and Drug Dependency (BADD) for inmates at several prisons. Therefore, so she told the jury, their relationship was based on professional interests which she claimed was why they stayed in touch. However Saunderson had not given up his criminal interests and in 2022 he was back in police custody - charged with being involved in an enormous injectable amphetamine production plot based out of premises in Sealand in Flintshire, north Wales. His downfall, like hundreds of other serious criminals in the UK, had been his trust in the Encrochat encrypted phone network - which was believed to be impenetrable.

North Wales Police Saunderson had used the name Jesse Pinkman, a meth dealer in the hit TV show Breaking Bad

However after its servers were hacked in 2019, police across Europe could follow the messages of its users in real-time exposing a treasure-trove of evidence on organised criminals. Saunderson, it later emerged, was the man behind the Encrochat handles Jesse Pinkman - a reference to the meth dealer in the Breaking Bad television series - and James Gandolfini, the acclaimed actor who played Mafia boss Tony Soprano. He received a 31-year prison sentence in August 2022 for producing and dealing amphetamines as well as trafficking heroin, cocaine, cannabis, ketamine, MCAT and diazepam - plus firearms charges. But on top of his drugs business, detectives found concerning references to his relationship with Pegg. Messages between his fellow drug traffickers expressed concerns about how much time he was spending with her away from "business". That investigation also revealed she had accepted a £12,000 Mercedes car as a gift from Saunderson, which North Wales Police found had been paid for with 34kg of amphetamines. With enough to arrest Pegg, detectives raided her home in Wigan, Greater Manchester, and found further increasingly damning evidence.

Hugo Boss flip flops which were found to have Saunderson's DNA on them

A pair of men's size 10 Hugo Boss flip-flops, clearly not the footwear of the Pegg, and a toothbrush were both tested and DNA profiles matching Saunderson were present. Pegg denied any inappropriate relationship with Saunderson in court, and said the only explanation she had for the presence of Saunderson's DNA in her flat was the fact she sometimes took her toothbrush with her to prison. The jury at Preston Crown Court did not believe her. On 8 April she was convicted of two counts of misconduct in a public office relating to her relationship with Saunderson and her failure to disclose her debts. She was also found guilty of possession of criminal property, in relation to the Mercedes she accepted from Saunderson. Judge Graham Knowles KC remanded her in custody ahead of her sentencing and told her: "I have no choice but to send you to prison due to the gravity of your offending."

Ex-FBI boss interviewed by Secret Service over Trump seashell post

30 minutes ago Share Save Max Matza BBC News Share Save

Watch: James Comey's 8647 post "meant assassination", says Trump

Former FBI director James Comey has been interviewed by the US Secret Service after he shared then deleted a social media post that Republicans alleged was an incitement to violence against US President Donald Trump. Comey voluntarily participated in the questioning at the law enforcement agency's Washington DC headquarters and was not being held in custody, sources told US media. It comes a day after he posted on Instagram a photo of seashells that spelled the numbers "8647". The number 86 is a slang term whose definitions include "to reject" or "to get rid of", however, it has more recently been used as a term to mean "kill". Trump is the 47th US president.

Comey, whom Trump fired as FBI director in 2017, was interviewed on Friday afternoon about what he meant by the post, and whether he intended it as a threat to Trump or an attempt to inspire others to commit violence, according to CNN. Trump said earlier in the day during an interview with Fox News that Comey was calling for him to be killed. What does '86' mean? "He knew exactly what that meant," said Trump, who survived two attempts on his life last year. "A child knows what that meant. "If you're the FBI director and you don't know what that meant, that meant assassination. And it says it loud and clear."

"Cool shell formation," Comey commented before deleting the post

Mexico accuses Youtuber MrBeast of exploiting Mayan pyramids filming permit

Mexican authorities say MrBeast violated the terms of his permit to film at the archaeological sites

Authorities said that while they had given permission for the Youtuber to film at the sites, they had not permitted for-profit use. A MrBeast representative denied some of the accusations.

But in one part of the video, which has received more than 60 million views in a week, MrBeast advertises his chocolate product as a "Mayan dessert" and urges viewers to buy it.

The video "I Explored 2000 Year Old Ancient Temples" shows the influencer and his team exploring ancient Mayan cities, with a permit from local authorities.

Mexico is seeking compensation from US YouTuber MrBeast and a production company, accusing them of exploiting the nation's ancient pyramids for commercial gain.

A spokesperson for the Youtuber told the BBC: "No advertisement material was shot on any archaeological sites overseen by INAH (National Institute of Anthropology and History)."

In the video, the scene promoting the chocolate snack appears to be filmed at the influencer's camping site.

The spokesperson also said the video was "meant to highlight these treasured Mayan sites in Mexico" and that it was "unfortunate that this has turned into a political issue - hopefully it can lead to a productive dialogue and encourages people to visit these unique historical treasures".

Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum on Wednesday called for an investigation into the conditions under which the filming permit had been granted.

In the video's caption, MrBeast - whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson- thanks Mexican tourism and government authorities for permission to film in the sites, while also plugging links to his chocolate product.

The video shows him and his team exploring areas of restricted access in the Mayan cities of Calakmul and Chichén Itzá. At one point he says "I can't believe the government's letting us do this."

They are also shown appearing to descend into a pyramid from a helicopter and in another scene are shown handling an ancient pre-Hispanic mask.

But heritage authorities said these were "false assertions" and accused the Youtuber of presenting misinformation. INAH said MrBeast had never held a real pre-Hispanic mask and there appeared to have been extensive post-production editing in the video - such as the helicopter scene.

"All of these are false assertions that obey the theatricality of the YouTuber in question," its statement on Monday read.

Mexico's Secretary of Culture Claudia Curiel de Icaza said on Thursday that, although they had authorised the permit for MrBeast to film, they had never authorised the publication of false information or the use of heritage site images for trademark advertising.

"We disapprove of any commercial pursuit that distorts the value of archaeological sites, which are a legacy of our indigenous cultures and the pride of our nation," she said.

She added that, although Mexico was open to content that contributes to the "knowledge and dissemination of Mexico's archaeological and cultural heritage" it was firmly against those who "take advantage of the willingness of institutions".

She said INAH would consider "administrative sanctions" against the production company Full Circle Media, who was issued the permit to film. The BBC has sought comment from the firm.

MrBeast, dubbed the King of YouTube, is the most-subscribed to person on the platform, with 395 million followers. His Mayan pyramids video was published on 10 May.

The poison paradox: How Australia's deadliest animals save lives

1 hour ago Share Save Katy Watson Australia correspondent Reporting from Sydney Share Save

Watch: How snakes and spiders are milked for venom

With a pair of bright pink tweezers in hand, Emma Teni is delicately wrestling a large and leggy spider in a small plastic pot. "He's posing," the spider-keeper jests as it rears up on its back legs. It is exactly what she's trying to achieve - that way she can suck the venom from its fangs using a small pipette. Emma works from a tiny office known as the spider milking room. On a typical day, she milks - or extracts the venom from - 80 of these Sydney funnel-web spiders. On three of the four walls there are floor-to-ceiling shelves stacked full of the arachnids, with a black curtain pulled across to keep them calm. The remaining wall is actually a window. Through it, a small child stares, both fascinated and horrified, as Ms Teni works. Little do they know that the palm-sized spider she's handling could kill them in a matter of minutes. "Sydney funnel-webs are arguably the most deadly spider in the world," Emma says matter-of-factly. Australia is famously full of such deadly animals - and this room at the Australian Reptile Park plays a critical part in a government antivenom programme, which saves lives on a continent where it's often joked that everything wants to kill you.

'Spider girl'

While the quickest recorded death from a Sydney funnel-web spider was a toddler at 13 minutes, the average is closer to 76 minutes - and first aid gives you an even better chance of surviving. So successful is the antivenom programme here at the Australian Reptile Park that nobody has been killed by one since it started in 1981. The scheme relies, however, on members of the public either catching the spiders or collecting their egg sacs. In a van plastered with a giant crocodile sticker, each week Ms Teni's team drives all over Australia's most famous city, picking up Sydney funnel-webs that have been handed in at drop-off points such as local veterinary practices.

Spider keeper Emma Teni in her office at the Australian Reptile Park...

Where up to 80 Sydney funnel-web spiders are milked for their venom every day

There are two reasons why these spiders are so dangerous, she explains: not only is their venom extremely potent, but they also live exclusively in a densely populated region where they're more likely to encounter humans. Handyman Charlie Simpson is one such person. He moved into his first home with his girlfriend a few months ago, and the keen gardener has already found two Sydney funnel-webs. He took the second spider to the vet, where Ms Teni picked it up shortly after. "I had gloves on at the time, but realistically I should have had leather gloves on because their fangs are so big and strong," the 26-year-old says. "I [just thought] I had better catch it because I kept getting told you're meant to take them back to be milked, because it's so critical." "This is curing my fear of spiders," he jokes. As Ms Teni offloads one arachnid that was delivered to her in a Vegemite jar, she stresses her team isn't telling Australians to go looking for the spiders and "throw themselves into danger". Rather, they're asking that if someone comes across one, they safely capture it rather than kill it. "Saying that this is the world's most deadly spider and then [asking the public to] catch it and bring it to us does sound counter-intuitive," she says. "[But] that spider there now, thanks to Charlie, will… effectively save someone's life."

Charlie Simpson says catching a Sydney funnel-web has helped him with his fear of the arachnids

All of the spiders her team collects get brought back to the Australian Reptile Park where they are catalogued, sorted by sex and stored. Any females that get dropped off are considered for a breeding programme, which helps supplement the number of spiders donated by the public. Meanwhile, the males, which are six to seven times more toxic than the females, are used for the antivenom programme and milked every two weeks, Emma explains. The pipette she uses to remove the venom from the fangs is attached to a suction hose - crucial for collecting as much venom as possible, since each spider provides only small amounts. While a few drops is enough to kill, scientists need to milk 200 of these spiders to have enough to fill one vial of antivenom. A marine biologist by training, Emma never expected to spend her days milking spiders. In fact, she started off working with seals. But now she wouldn't have it any other way. Emma loves all things arachnid, and goes under various nicknames - spider girl, spider mama, even "weirdo", as her daughter calls her. Friends, family and neighbours rely on her for her knowledge of Australia's creepy crawlies. "Some girls arrive home to flowers on their doorstep," jokes Emma. "For me it's not unusual to arrive home to a spider in a jar."

The best place to be bitten?

Spiders represent just one small part of what the Australian Reptile Park does. It's also been providing snake venom to the government since the 1950s. According to the World Health Organisation, as many as 140,000 people die across the world from snake bites every year, and three times that many are left disabled. In Australia though, those numbers are far lower: between one and four people each year, thanks to its successful antivenom programme. Removing a King Brown snake from its storage locker, Billy Collett, the park's operations manager, brings it to the table in front of him. With his bare hands, he secures its head and puts its jaws over a shot glass covered in cling film.

Mr Collett collects venom from a King Brown snake

"They are very uninclined to bite but once they go, you just see it pouring out of the fangs," Mr Collett says, as yellow venom drips to the bottom. "That is enough to kill all of us in the room five times over - maybe more." Then he switches to a more reassuring tone: "They're not looking for people to bite. We're too big for them to eat; they don't want to waste their venom on us. They just want to be left alone." "To get bitten by a venomous snake, you've got to really annoy it, provoke it," he adds, noting that bites often occur when someone is trying to kill one of the reptiles. There's a fridge in the corner of the room where the raw venom Mr Collett is collecting is stored. It's full of vials labelled "Death Adder", "Taipan", "Tiger Snake" and "Eastern Brown". The last of these is the second-most venomous snake in the world, and the one that's most likely to bite you here, in Australia.

No one in Australia has been killed by a Sydney Funnel-web Spider since 1981 when the antivenom programme started

This venom gets freeze-dried and sent to CSL Seqirus, a lab in Melbourne, where it's turned into an antidote in a process that can take up to 18 months. The first step is to produce what's known as hyper-immune plasma. In the case of snakes, controlled doses of the venom are injected into horses, because they are larger animals with a strong immune system. The venom of Sydney funnel-web spiders goes into rabbits, which are immune to the toxins. The animals are injected with increasing doses to build up their antibodies. In some cases, that step alone can take almost a year. The animal's supercharged plasma is removed from the blood, and then the antibodies are isolated from the plasma before they're bottled, ready to be administered. CSL Seqirus makes 7,000 vials a year – including snake, spider, stonefish and box jellyfish antivenoms - and they are valid for 36 months. The challenge then is to ensure everyone who needs it has supplies. "It's an enormous undertaking," says Dr Jules Bayliss, who leads the antivenom development team at CSL Seqirus. "First and foremost we want to see them in major rural and remote areas that these creatures are likely to be in." Vials are distributed depending on the species in each area. Taipans, for example, are in northern parts of Australia, so there's no need for their antivenom in Tasmania. Antivenom is also given to the Royal Flying Doctors, who access some of the nation's most remote communities, as well as Australian navy and cargo ships for sailors at risk of sea snake bites.

Mr Collett says snakes won't waste their venom on humans, who are too big for them to eat

The 'peacock of Savile Row' on dressing stars for the Met Gala

29 minutes ago Share Save Wedaeli Chibelushi BBC News Share Save

Getty Images Ozwald Boateng (L), was at this month's Met Gala, with his son (C), Oscar, and daughter (R), Emilia

Ozwald Boateng, celebrating four decades of making his indelible mark on the fashion industry, got his chance to stamp his style on the Met Gala in New York earlier this month. The esteemed British-Ghanaian designer for the first time dressed celebrities - including three of Africa's biggest musicians, Tems, Burna Boy and Arya Starr, as well as actors Ncuti Gatwa and Jaden Smith - at what is seen as his industry's biggest night of the year. The theme - Superfine: Tailoring Black Style - was "completely in my wheelhouse", he says, as it looked at the way that style formed black identities. Given that he already has a robust legacy in the design world, the 58-year-old saw the opportunity to find fresh adherents to the Boateng look. "I think it's, in a way, communicating to a new audience," he tells the BBC a few days after the showcase. Throughout his 40 years in fashion, the designer has built a reputation for challenging the norms of men's tailoring. His eponymous brand sells form-fitting, stylish suits, often accented with bold colours and West African-inspired patterns. The son of Ghanaian immigrants, Boateng reimagined the country's iconic kente cloth to produce his signature "tribal" pattern. "It's all about having a strong concept, having a thorough idea of what you want to achieve from the textiles," he says. The Met Gala perfectly matched his outlook. "Being a theme about black culture and black cultural influence, I mean, how can you do that without Africa?" he asks.

Getty Images Actors Ncuti Gatwa (L) and Jaden Smith (R) were both dressed by Ozwald Boateng for the Met Gala

Considering the link to Ghana, Boateng explains: "When we were colonised by the Europeans or the Brits, we kept our traditional dress, but tailoring was a big part of how we dressed to look more... effectively more European. "My father always wore tailored suits. You had to be smart at all times, that was something I was taught." As if producing outfits for 16 celebrities for fashion's premier event was not stressful enough, Boateng switched up Burna Boy's outfit less than 24 hours before the event. "We did his fitting quite literally the night before the Met Gala," Boateng says, adding that everyone in the room got "really excited" when they saw the Grammy-award winning musician in the finished product.

Getty Images Burna Boy was pleased with his Met Gala look

The look - a red suit paired with a buttercup yellow shirt and eel-skin cape - was partly inspired by Burna Boy's Nigerian roots. The musician told Vogue: "As a waterside pikin [Pidgin for "child"] from the Niger Delta, the eel and fish in general are the lifeblood of my people - they symbolise survival, spirit and the flow of tradition through generations."

Getty Images Afrobeats star Tems was among those who wore Boateng creations at this year's Met Gala

The Met Gala was "not unusual", Boateng says, explaining that Africa has been part of his "message" throughout his career. Back in 1995, Boateng was the first black designer to open a shop on Savile Row, a London street famed for fine tailoring. "When I first started as a designer, Savile as a street was a dying street," Boateng recalls. "The concept, it was dying. I effectively moved there in the early 90s and breathed new life into it." Boateng was dubbed the "peacock of Savile Row" - with his flamboyance, 6ft-something frame and modelesque facial features, he stood out among his neighbours. Colour and flair had long been part of Boateng's psyche. At five years old his favourite outfit was a purple, mohair suit made by his mother, who was a seamstress. Young Boateng commandeered his mother's sewing machine and although he initially chose to study computing at college, he switched to fashion after realising menswear was his future. As a teenager, Boateng was greatly inspired by tailoring titan Giorgio Armani - and decades later, Armani would praise the London designer for his "elegance" and "cutting edge" designs.

Getty Images Boateng has spent the last 40 years making his mark on the British fashion industry

Boateng opened his first studio in his early 20s, dressing the likes of Mick Jagger, Jimmy Paige and Spike Lee. He then opened his Savile Row store - at the age of 28 he was the youngest to ever do so. The burgeoning designer captivated London's fashion scene initially, but in 1998 he went bankrupt when an economic downturn in east Asia scuppered a major order. Both his professional and personal life descended into disarray - in just 12 months an entire collection was stolen from his studio and his marriage broke down. But the peacock strutted his way back. Boateng gradually rebuilt his business and in 2002 moved into bigger premises on Savile Row. Since then, he has served as Givency's creative director for menswear, been awarded an OBE, designed staff uniforms for British Airways and branched out into womenswear. While racking up professional and charitable commitments, Boateng was raising two children. Now adults, Oscar and Emilia Boateng accompanied their father to the Met Gala, dressed in the suits that made their surname one of the most famous in contemporary British tailoring. They are not, however, keen to follow their father into fashion design. "I'm trying to slowly but surely seduce them into the fashion business," Boateng jokes. "It is ultimately their decision to decide what they want from their life. If they find something they're passionate about in a way I have, I am happy." And what is next for his own passion? Boateng might have a brain brimming with concepts, but he has a clear vision of where he wants his brand to go next. "The future is expansion," he says, "raising capital to really, really push the brand globally". "I think it's the moment in time - and it's the right moment."

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'Better deal' ahead with EU and 'winter fuel U-turn'

36 minutes ago Share Save Share Save

Ahead of the EU-UK summit on Monday, Rachel Reeves has spoken to the Guardian about getting a "better deal" on trade with the bloc. There is a "lot of room for improvement" in building closer ties with the EU, she tells the paper. The frontpage carries a photo of Kristen Stewart at the Cannes film festival.

The Times leads with an interview in which Sir Keir Starmer insists people would be "better off" ahead of announcing a youth mobility scheme at the EU summit - which would let young Europeans live and work in Britain. Reform UK and the Conservative Party both claim the idea amounts to a return to freedom of movement via the back door and accuse the government of planning to give ground - something Starmer denies.

Obesity drug giant Novo Nordisk has "ousted" its chief executive, the Financial Times reports. Shares in the company, which makes Ozempic, have fallen more than 50%, causing it to "lose its crown" as Europe's most highly-valued listed company, according to the paper. An image of French actor Juliette Binoche at the Cannes Film Festival features on the front.

The Daily Express reports the prime minister has "opened the door" to a U-turn on cuts to the winter fuel payments, following a "backlash" from pensioners. Starmer has previously defended the policy as necessary to restore public finances. Elsewhere Dame Esther Rantzen's daughter is pictured holding a a placard calling for the legalisation of assisted dying.

Also leading on winter fuel payments, the Daily Mirror reports Starmer has "refused to rule out" making more people eligible for the allowance. The paper reports Reality TV personality James Argent has been spotted "out for first time" since he was handed a suspended prison sentence for a gender violence offence against his partner.

Parking fines could "rocket" by 75%, the Daily Mail declares, in what the paper says would be a "major blow" for millions of "hard-pressed" motorists. Elsewhere a feature is teased promising "super easy" lifestyle tweaks to reduce biological age.

Banks have told Chancellor Rachel Reeves to "leave Isas alone" as she prepares to review the savings scheme, the Daily Telegraph says. The paper has an interview with Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker, who apologised for sharing a social media post about Zionism earlier this week.

And the Daily Star heralds the arrival of sunshine with the declaration: "Three o'clock is beer o'clock," suggesting pub bosses want a "3pm beer garden break" law brought in when the mercury hits 20C, as a reward for a day's thirsty work.

Doom: One of gaming's oldest series reckons with the challenges of 2025

26 minutes ago Share Save Peter Gillibrand & Tom Richardson BBC Newsbeat Share Save

Bethesda Slay, king: Doom's iconic main character has been around since 1993

Few names are as synonymous with video games as Doom. First launched in 1993, the first-person shooter (FPS) remains one of the most influential - and popular - series in the industry. But even it and its superhuman protagonist, The Doom Slayer, have to contend with the pressures of the games industry in 2025. Attracting new players, competing with the new titans on the scene and the rising cost of making - and selling - blockbuster titles. BBC Newsbeat spoke to the project leaders of the latest instalment, Doom: The Dark Ages, about navigating some of these challenges.

'You know exactly what you're getting'

While the Doom series is famous for pitting players against colossal enemies, there are other behemoths it has to face. "There's so much stuff competing for our attention these days, whether it's games, movies, or whatever," says executive producer Marty Stratton. Free-to-play (F2P) games, such as Fortnite and Roblox, and annually updated series such as Call of Duty and EA FC regularly dominate most-played charts. There's evidence to suggest players, particularly younger ones, are spending most of their time on these titles - sometimes referred to as "forever games". In the latest Online Nation report by UK regulator Ofcom, five of the top ten games among UK players were F2P. Fortnite recorded about 2.65m active UK users in May 2024, and Roblox 1.22m, according to the report, and global figures are much higher. Drawing those players to premium titles can be a challenge but Marty argues games such as Doom, which can be completed in under 20 hours, can "fit into those habits". "It doesn't have to become your obsession for the next two years," he says.

Bethesda Doom is a series that's not known for its subtlety - over-the-top weaponry and enemies are par for the course

The Doom series - developed by Dallas-based ID Software - has an advantage over others because it's so well-known and has a large, loyal fanbase. But, as industry expert Rhys Elliot, from Alinea Analytics, tells Newsbeat, it's getting harder to rely solely on your hardcore players. Overall, he says, the number of people playing premium titles isn't increasing, but the cost of making them is. "The people who make games - they still need to make revenues each year because, you know, capitalism," he says. One way of doing this is by attracting new players. Doom's director Hugo Martin says the response to Doom: The Dark Age's previews were encouraging - something he puts down in part to its new "Medieval sci-fi" setting and altered gameplay style. "We see it in the comments - a lot of people are saying 'I think this is going to be my first Doom', and that's exciting for us," he says. The games industry has also leaned into customisation in recent years, giving players the power to finely tweak different elements and aspects of difficulty - something that's been incorporated into The Dark Ages. "In that regard I think it's going to be a great first-time experience for a lot of fans," says Hugo. But there's still the small matter of the cost of entry.

Bethesda Doom was relaunched in 2016, providing the series' biggest hit in years

The debate over prices has been a feature of gaming discourse for years. In 2010, a new game cost roughly £40 in the UK - and players had plenty to say about it at the time. If you take into account inflation (using this Bank of England tool), that would be about £60 in today's money. Doom: The Dark Ages itself costs £69.99 for a standard edition or almost £100 for a limited Premium Edition with extras included. "When you look at the history of game pricing... it really hasn't skyrocketed," says Marty. The issue has been thrown back into the spotlight thanks to worries over Donald Trump's tariff plans and price announcements from the three major console makers. That could make competitors such as Fortnite - which don't require new, specialised hardware to run - even more appealing for cash-strapped players. But Doom producer Marty argues that "free" games can end up costing players more in the long run, while there are "no unknown expenses" with a one-off purchase such as Doom. "You're not going to be asked to pay anything else, two hours in," he says. F2P games generate cash with in-game purchases, ranging from "microtransactions" equivalent to a handful of change or, in some cases, hundreds of pounds. Those costs can mount up, and a recent poll of 2,001 gamers by British bank TSB suggested dedicated players can spend about £22 a month on those transactions. That's still less than a tentpole new release, but Doom's director Hugo also believes people are happy to pay more for a "curated experience" with "replay value". "Typically, if you just make a really good game then people will want to play it again," he says.

Getty Images EA Sports FC is another titan in terms of player attention - and a profitable one thanks to its popular Ultimate Team mode

Analyst Rhys believes we're going to see more "fiddling with prices" and surcharges "to see what customers are willing to pay" and a wider range of RRPs for new releases. "Hopefully there'll be more competition there. It's good for consumers," he says. Doom is also available on PC and Xbox via Game Pass - Microsoft's Netflix-style subscription priced at £14.99 a month. There's evidence more people are turning to this, as well as Sony's PlayStation Plus - raising questions over whether they put players off paying full price. Game Pass players could pay a £34.99/$34.99 upgrade fee to access the game two days early and receive bonus content. Hasan Piker: Streamer says he was detained at US airport

What have we learned from Grand Theft Auto 6's second trailer?

Clair Obscur: How a passion project became 2025's most talked-about game Rhys says we are likely to see more of these sorts of offers are aimed at "superfans" who want to keep up with the latest releases. For everyone else, waiting is an option. "You can pick up the first 2016 Doom game for like £4 right now," says Rhys. Doom's makers, perhaps unsurprisingly, believe their latest is worth jumping into. "We think about price when we're developing it - we obviously want the value to be there for players," says Marty. "Ultimately, it's a market. Players will determine what they want to spend." "I think it's there's obviously still a place for a good, premium, highly polished, fun single-player game," adds Hugo.

Why youth mobility and fishing are key issues ahead of UK/EU summit

24 minutes ago Share Save Tom Edgington and Tamara Kovacevic BBC Verify Share Save

BBC

The right of young people to move freely between the UK and EU has emerged as a key negotiating point - along with fishing rights - ahead of a summit in London which the prime minister hopes will "reset" relations between the two sides. Before Brexit, people were allowed to come and go under "freedom of movement" rules. The EU would like a new "youth mobility scheme" but there are concerns about what impact this might have on UK immigration numbers. Fishing rights are another potential sticking point with the EU calling for an extension of the current post-Brexit deal, but UK fishing groups calling for changes to it. BBC Verify has been examining both issues and why they are important.

What are the rules on youth movement?

Since Brexit, UK and EU citizens no longer have an automatic right to live, work, or study in each other's countries. To come to the UK for an extended period, EU nationals usually need specific visas - many of which require a sponsor. Following these new rules, there has been a significant drop in the number of EU students coming to the UK.

The UK does have an existing Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) which allows young adults to live, work and study in the UK for up to two years. People from specific countries can apply but not from EU ones. They have to pay an application fee, the health surcharge, and have at least £2,530 in savings. Unlike most other visa schemes, the YMS does not require sponsorship. Last year, just over 24,000 YMS visas were issued - Australians were the largest single group, followed by New Zealanders and Canadians.

What impact could a UK/EU scheme have?

Just over a year ago, the EU proposed a "youth mobility scheme" for EU and UK citizens (aged 18 to 30), allowing stays of up to four years. The idea was rejected by the-then Conservative government. It it is politically sensitive, given Sir Keir Starmer's pledge to "significantly" reduce immigration levels in the coming years. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has warned against "backsliding on freedom of movement". Documents circulated between EU states suggested any deal could be rebranded as a "youth experience" scheme, in an apparent bid to downplay any link to migration.

Madeleine Sumption from Oxford University's Migration Observatory told BBC Verify that a UK/EU youth mobility scheme would likely increase net migration in the short term, as new participants arrive. However, she adds that if everyone left the UK when their visa expired, the long-term impact on migration levels would be minimal. "If the UK is worried about the impact, it could phase in the scheme, where it gradually increases the quota. So as people leave, the quota could be raised rather than a big bang, all come at once," she said. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is reportedly arguing for visas to be limited to one year so that EU citizens taking part do not show up in official immigration figures, with applications also subject to an overall cap. Another consideration, Ms Sumption points out, is how many people would go home when their temporary visa comes to an end. "Even on temporary visas, people do stay. They get a job offer and end up getting a skilled visa through their employer", she says. The Oxford Migration Observatory says about 10% of people who arrived on temporary worker visas in 2014 from Australia, Canada and New Zealand remained in the UK at the end of 2023.

What about fishing?

Fishing is another sensitive subject. The post-Brexit deal on fishing rights - who gets to fish where - expires at the end of June 2026. Several EU countries, including France, are asking the UK for concessions, in return for the things the UK wants from the summit. They are pushing for a long-term extension of the current arrangements, agreed in 2020. Fishing only accounts for an estimated 0.4% of UK GDP but it was a big issue in the Brexit campaign and promises were made that the UK would become an "independent coastal state". Under the Brexit deal in 2020 however, EU boats were given continued access to UK waters. In 2023, UK vessels landed 719,000 tonnes of fish - an increase of 14% compared to 2019. However, this growth has been driven by Scottish catches, while English fishing boats have seen a fall in their landings. This is linked to the way in which fish quotas were divided up after Brexit, benefitting some areas.

At the same time, it has become harder for the UK to export fish to the EU due to post-Brexit paperwork and checks. In 2023, the UK exported 235,606 tonnes of fish to the EU. That's down 29% compared to the 2019 figure of 333,403 tonnes.

What do UK fishing groups want?

Chris Ranford, Chief Executive of the Cornish Fish Producers' Organisation (CFPO), represents 175 member vessels and says nothing much has changed, since BBC Verify last spoke to him in 2022. He says French vessels are still fishing off the Cornish coast: "Very modern, very high-powered French fishing vessels that have much greater catching capacity than the UK or Cornish boats come up to the six-mile line. We don't have space to fish." For him, the number one priority for any future fishing deal is to stop EU vessels entering the stretch of coastal water that lies between six and 12 nautical miles offshore.

Chris Ranford, Chief Executive of Cornish Fish Producers' Organisation

France has reportedly called for continued access to UK waters for its fishing boats, in exchange for a defence deal the UK is pushing for. We asked the Maritime Fisheries Committee for Northern France for comment. Another area of improvement Mr Ranford is calling for is easier access to EU markets. "Our small to medium-sized businesses can't afford to do the extra paperwork to get the fish to the EU market," he said. Elspeth Macdonald, who represents 450 fishing boats as Chief Executive of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation, says: "The market access to the EU has become more bureaucratic."

Elspeth Macdonald, Chief Executive, Scottish Fishermen's Federation

'Teachers are having scissors thrown at them - we've had enough'

22 minutes ago Share Save Charlie Jones BBC News, Suffolk Share Save

Sophie Walker Science teacher Sophie Walker says she and her colleagues have reached breaking point

When Sophie Walker graduated and became a teacher 10 years ago, she felt excited for the future. But this week the science teacher walked out on strike with 50 colleagues at her Ipswich school in protest at pupil behaviour. Teachers at Westbourne Academy are having chairs and scissors thrown at them, and many are struggling with their mental health, Ms Walker says. Some students are refusing to attend lessons and are disrupting other classes, and even exams, she adds. "They go and collect other students from classes and roam around in large groups. They come in with no intention of attending any lessons." Ms Walker, a representative for the National Education Union (NEU), admits it has made her consider quitting both the school, and teaching altogether. "I'm only still here because of the students who want to learn. They deserve an education," she says. Another teacher, who asked to remain anonymous, says she resigned from the school, which has just over 1,000 pupils, after being pushed by students and sworn at more times than she can remember. The trust that runs the school acknowledges there is a "small but significant minority whose behaviour does not yet meet our high expectations" and says it is "actively addressing" this.

'Kicking doors and throwing water'

Jamie Niblock/BBC Marc Emmanuel, who teaches English at the school, says robust systems need to be put in place

Disruption is not dealt with consistently, according to several teachers, who say there is a lack of support from the senior leadership team. Marc Emmanuel, who has taught English there for 24 years and is also an NEU representative, says four very experienced teachers have left in the last year. While it is unusual for teachers to strike over pupil behaviour, he says it is a "last and desperate resort" to get some support. "Pupils are running down the corridors for up to five hours a day. It can be 30 to 40 of them. "They're kicking doors, throwing bottles full of water into classrooms and going into exam rooms and shouting. "It's not being adequately dealt with. We want robust systems put in place that are followed through. We need to address this to stop it from spreading further."

'They think they don't have to work hard'

Luke Deal/BBC Ms Walker hopes the strike, which teachers describe as a last resort, will have an impact

Social media and mobile phones play a big part in the poor behaviour at Westbourne Academy, Ms Walker says. Students are not supposed to have phones in school but she says it is difficult to stop them. "They see these people on social media making a lot of money and they think they don't have to work hard," she says. "The content they are exposed to doesn't encourage good behaviour."

Sophie Walker Ms Walker has been a teacher for 10 years and says she does not want to give up her career

The 31-year-old says she hopes the leadership team can start to communicate better and that staff, including the pastoral team, can be more consistent in handling poor behaviour. "We got a new principal in September and he is trying hard but things need to change quickly." Her mental health has recently been "at an all-time low", she says. "I've worked hard to get where I am and I don't want to walk away from the students who want to learn, but I don't know how much longer I can cope."

What do parents say?

One mother says smaller issues, such as with school uniform, are punished while bigger ones are often not dealt with. She says her son was attacked twice outside the school by older students and threatened with a knife. She was told it was being investigated but heard nothing back, she says. Yet she claims her other child at the school has been sanctioned for minor breaches of the rules. One father says he removed his autistic daughter from the school to home educate her after she was bullied and threatened with sexual violence. "The leadership took no accountability," he says. "They said they would do something about it but instead they made my daughter feel like she was in the wrong by putting her in a room on her own to learn. "They let the perpetrator get away with it."

Zoie O'Brien/BBC Teachers are striking for four days - two days last week and two days next week

Some parents say they have lost all faith in the school. One father says the best teachers have left, with more due to leave in September. "It's absolutely diabolical. Relationships have broken down between teachers and students and the strike will not help build back trust," he says. "I have decided to move my daughter, who has special educational needs, to another school. She has been suspended several times for verbally lashing out but she can't regulate herself in that environment." He says he disagrees with the strike, finding it unfair that teachers are allowed to walk out while he would be fined if he took his children out of school.

'I don't blame the teachers'

But other parents say they support the action and hope it leads to improved behaviour. Rebecca, 40, whose daughter attends the school, says she is "fully behind" the strike. "We had a period where she wouldn't go to her class because behaviour was so bad but she's happy going in now and that's all we can ask for," she says. "I don't blame the teachers for going on strike. They shouldn't be getting abused. Parents need to work alongside them to improve behaviour. "These pupils are pushing boundaries with how far they can push these teachers and it's not fair on those that want to learn."

Luke Deal/BBC Teachers formed a picket line outside the school earlier this week

Some parents say they were shocked when the school was rated as "good" by Ofsted last summer. Inspectors noted the school "has not ensured that some pupils behave well enough around the school site and to a much lesser extent in lessons". But they said the Academy Transformation Trust, which runs the school, had taken "decisive action" to address "unacceptable standards of behaviour and internal truancy".

'Behaviour in schools has deteriorated'

Vic Goddard says some pupils get in a spiral of poor behaviour

Vic Goddard, who featured on TV show Educating Essex and runs a multi-academy trust of six schools in the county, says behaviour has declined in schools since the Covid pandemic. An increasing number of young people get into a "spiral of behaviour", he says. "As school leaders, our job is to support teachers to manage behaviour while allowing others to continue to learn, and that's where the battle is." He points out that current Year 9 and 10 students missed the start of Key Stage Two in primary school and were affected by the closure of Sure Start centres. He believes funding cuts to schools are also having an impact on behaviour. "Once you've recruited, you've got to retain. Because the only way you can improve your school is by keeping people in it," he says.

What do the school and the Department for Education say?

Zoie O'Brien/BBC Some school years are having online lessons during the strike action

In a statement, the trust says it takes the wellbeing of staff seriously, and supports their "desire to teach in disruption-free classrooms". Many parents are happy with the education, it adds, and says the trust is providing assistance to improve special educational needs and disabilities (Send) provision and pastoral support. "The majority of pupils at Westbourne behave well, are respectful, and want to learn," it says. "But we acknowledge there is a small but significant minority whose behaviour does not yet meet our high expectations. We are actively addressing this. "We encourage any parent who feels unheard to get in touch directly — we want to work together to ensure every child at Westbourne thrives."

A Department for Education spokesperson says it is "committed to turning the tide on poor behaviour" and that new regional improvement teams will work with schools to improve standards.

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US President Donald Trump says "a lot of people are starving" in Gaza, and the US will make sure the situation is "taken care of".

Gaza has been under a complete Israeli blockade of all food and other humanitarian supplies for 10 weeks.

The BBC's Analysis Editor Ros Atkins looks at how world leaders have responded to the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation there.

Venezuela's Jhonattan Vegas maintained his lead at the US PGA Championship while Rory McIlroy and defending champion Xander Schauffele avoided early exits at Quail Hollow.

Vegas carded a one-under 70 in his second round to move to eight under par, two shots clear of England's Matt Fitzpatrick, France's Matthieu Pavon and Kim Si-woo of South Korea.

The 40-year-old, who was out in the early wave, led by four on the 18th but he posted a double-bogey six to keep a congested chasing pack in close proximity.

Fitzpatrick, who won the 2022 US Open, said after his second round of 68: "Having been in this position before is a huge advantage.

"I want to win another major, but I've already won one, so I feel like there's less pressure."

Kim recorded the longest hole-in-one in a major on the 252-yard par-three sixth during a superb round of 64 to join the Europeans two off the pace.

Among those gathered behind are world number one Scottie Scheffler and US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau, who are ominously placed three and five shots off the lead respectively.

Scotland's Robert MacIntyre followed his opening 68 with a one-under 70 to sit four off the lead on four under par. He is one ahead of England's Aaron Rai (72) and Richard Bland (69).