Trump and Musk enter bitter feud - and Washington buckles up

2 hours ago Share Save Anthony Zurcher North America Correspondent Reporting from Washington DC Share Save

Trump: "I'm very disappointed in Elon"

What happens when the richest person and the most powerful politician have a knock-down, drag-out fight? The world may be about to find out. A disagreement between Elon Musk and Donald Trump started at a simmer last week, began bubbling on Wednesday and is now in full-on boil. And like everything these two men do, the implosion of their relationsip is spilling into public view. Trump and Musk have two of the world's biggest megaphones, and they have now turned them on each other. In remarks at the Oval Office on Thursday afternoon, Trump sounded a bit like a spurned lover. He expressed surprise at Musk's criticism of his "big, beautiful" tax and spending legislation. He pushed back against the notion that he would have lost last year's presidential election without Musk's hundreds of millions of dollars in support. And he said Musk was only changing his tune now because his car company, Tesla, will be hurt by the Republican push to end electric vehicle tax credits. Musk took to his social media site, X, with a very Generation X response for his 220 million followers: "Whatever". He said he didn't care about the car subsidies, he wanted to shrink the national debt, which he says is an existential threat to the nation. He insisted that Democrats would have prevailed in last year's election without his help. "Such ingratitude," he told Trump. The billionaire launched a series of extraordinary attacks throughout the afternoon, including suggesting without evidence that Trump appears in unreleased files related to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The BBC has contacted the White House for comment. Musk and Trump had formed a powerful but unlikely alliance , culminating in the tech billionaire having a key position of budget-slashing authority in the Trump administration. Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, or Doge, became one of the biggest stories of Trump's first 100 days, as it shuttered entire agencies and dismissed thousands of government workers. It wasn't long, however, before speculation began over when – and how - the two outsized personalities would ultimately fall out.

For a while, it seemed like those predictions were off the mark. Trump stood by Musk even as the latter's popularity dropped, as he feuded with administration officials and as he became a liability in several key elections earlier this year. Every time it appeared there would be a break, Musk would pop up in the Oval Office, or the Cabinet room or on the president's Air Force One flight to Mar-a-Lago. When Musk's 130 days as a "special government employee" ended last week, the two had a chummy Oval Office send-off, with a golden key to the White House and hints that Musk might someday return. It's safe to say that any invitation has been rescinded and the locks have been changed. "Elon and I had a great relationship," Trump said on Thursday – a comment notable for its use of the past tense. There had been some thought that Trump's surprise announcement on Wednesday night of a new travel ban, additional sanctions on Harvard and a conspiracy-laced administration investigation of former President Joe Biden were all efforts to change the subject from Musk's criticism. The White House and its allies in Congress seemed careful not to further antagonise him after his earlier comments. Then Trump spoke out and… so much for that.

Trading insults and threats

Zia Yusuf resigns as Reform UK chairman

2 hours ago Share Save Becky Morton Political reporter Share Save

Reuters

Zia Yusuf has resigned as the chairman of Reform UK, saying working to get the party elected was no longer "a good use of my time". In a post on social media, Yusuf did not expand further on his reasons for stepping down. However, it comes after he said it was "dumb" for the party's newest MP to call on Sir Keir Starmer to ban the burka. Reform leader Nigel Farage said he was "genuinely sorry" Yusuf was resigning, describing him as "enormously talented".

Farage said Yusuf was "a huge factor" in the party's success in last month's elections, when Reform won a by-election, two mayoral races and gained 677 new councillors. However, he told GB News he believed Yusuf had "had enough" of politics, which can be "totally unrelenting". Farage said he had "suspicions" Yusuf might quit after he seemed "very disengaged" when the pair spoke on Wednesday morning but was only given a "10-minute warning" his resignation was coming. Asked about reports that some in the party found Yusuf difficult to deal with, Farage said "not everyone got on with him". He added: "Were his interpersonal skills at the top of his list of attributes? No. But I always found him, with me, very polite."

In a post on X, Yusuf wrote: "11 months ago I became chairman of Reform. I've worked full time as a volunteer to take the party from 14 to 30% [in national polls], quadrupled its membership and delivered historic electoral results. "I no longer believe working to get a Reform government elected is a good use of my time, and hereby resign the office." Earlier, Yusuf had criticised Sarah Pochin - who won last month's Runcorn and Helsby by-election - for urging Sir Keir Starmer to ban the burka "in the interests of public safety" during her Prime Minister's Questions debut on Wednesday. He said it was "dumb for a party to ask the PM if they would do something the party itself wouldn't do". Pochin's call appeared to go down well with Reform's other MPs, although a party spokesman said it was "not party policy". In response to Yusuf quitting, Pochin said he had been "a great friend and colleague", adding that "the professionalisation he brought to Reform UK will have a lasting legacy".

Watch: Reform UK MP Sarah Pochin calls on PM to ban the burka

Yusuf, who was previously a member of the Conservative Party, became Reform UK's chairman shortly after last year's general election. A former banker who sold his tech start-up company for more than £200m, Yusuf has described himself as a "proud British Muslim patriot". He donated £200,000 to Reform during the general election campaign and as chairman he was given the job of professionalising the party, wooing donors and increasing Reform UK's activist base. Yusuf was seen as central to Reform's operation and had been spearheading the party's so-called Doge teams to cut wasteful spending in the councils it now controls. The acronym refers to Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency in the US. Tech entrepreneur Nathaniel Fried, who was brought in to lead the Doge unit, said he was stepping down with Yusuf. "I have a huge amount of respect for the work that the councils are doing to save taxpayer money, and reduce wastage," he wrote on X. But he added that Yusuf "got me in and I believe it is appropriate for me to leave with him". Yusuf's unexpected resignation came after he had spent recent days trumpeting the Doge initiative, which was only formally launched this week. He has previously hailed Farage as the UK's "next prime minister" who "will return Britain to greatness".

Prominent Reform supporter Tim Montgomerie said he was "a big fan" of Yusuf but added: "He was a young man in a hurry - he upset quite a lot of people who didn't want the party to professionalise, to modernise. "He faced a lot of prejudice, not necessarily from inside the party but on social media, I think that affected him. "I think the row over the burka question that the new MP asked yesterday may have been the last straw for him." He said Reform was "looking like a party with too many internal tensions, but there is time to put that right". Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Daisy Cooper said: "By sacking himself, Zia Yusuf seems to be leading the 'UK Doge' by example. You have to admire his commitment to the cause. "It's already clear Reform UK cannot deliver for the communities they are elected to stand up for. Instead, they have copied the Conservative playbook of fighting like rats in a sack." A Labour Party spokesperson said: "If Nigel Farage can't manage a handful of politicians, how on earth could he run a country? "He has fallen out with everyone he has ever worked with. Reform are just not serious." Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said: "Reform is not a political party. It is a fan club."

Boy and girl sentenced for killing dog walker, 80

6 hours ago Share Save Matt Taylor BBC News, Leicester Laura Hammond BBC News, East Midlands Share Save

Supplied Bhim Kohli, 80, died the day after he was attacked at a park in Leicestershire

A 15-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl have been sentenced for killing an 80-year-old man out walking his dog in a park. Bhim Kohli died the day after he was assaulted in Franklin Park, yards from his home in Braunstone Town, Leicestershire, on 1 September last year. The boy, who racially abused Mr Kohli before slapping him in the face with a slider shoe, was sentenced to seven years in custody at Leicester Crown Court on Thursday. The girl, who encouraged the assault and laughed as she filmed it on her phone, was given a youth rehabilitation order of three years and made subject to a six-month curfew. Both were convicted of manslaughter.

During the hearing, prosecutor Harpreet Sandu KC said Mr Kohli was subjected to a "seven-and-a-half minute period of continuing aggression" while taking his dog Rocky for a walk. The attack left Mr Kohli with three broken ribs and other fractures, but Mr Sandhu KC said the fatal injury was to his spinal cord, caused by a spine fracture. Mr Kohli's children found him at the park "screaming out" in pain after the attack.

A trial previously heard Mr Kohli's children found him lying on the ground after the attack

Mr Kohli's daughter, Susan Kohli, told the court he was a "devoted life partner" to his wife Satinder for 55 years. Taking to the witness box to read her victim impact statement out to the court, she said: "We feel nothing but anger and disgust towards the boy and the girl. "The girl disgustingly videoed dad as he lay on his side after the attack. "Dad passed away before our eyes surrounded by his family who all had tears in their eyes." Ms Kohli added she and her mother were always "looking over our shoulders when taking Rocky for a walk after what happened to dad".

CCTV shows the moments before Mr Kohli was fatally attacked

Before passing sentence, Mr Justice Turner told the boy he did not find he attacked Mr Kohli due to his race, even though the court heard he used racist language. "You made a cowardly attack on an elderly man," he added. Mr Justice Turner said he was sure the boy wanted to "confront" Mr Kohli in order to impress the girl as she filmed what happened. He said the boy approached Mr Kohli while wearing a balaclava, adding the elderly man had done nothing to deserve the attack that followed. Addressing the girl, he told her she "did not play a leading role" but it was not a minor part either.

Watch: 'We don't want any other family to endure this pain', Bhim Kohli's daughter says

Speaking on the steps outside court after sentencing, Ms Kohli said: "The death of my dad has left a hole in our family. "A hole that can never be filled because of the actions of two teenagers. "I believe that on that day the two teenagers made a choice; the boy chose to attack my dad and the girl chose to film my dad's attack. "I feel angry and disappointed by the sentenced passed as it does not reflect the severity." She added that, after the boy and girl have served their sentences, "they still have life ahead of them".

Linda Haigh was friends with Mr Kohli for more than 20 years

The BBC was told it was reported to police that in July, Mr Kohli had stones thrown at him and was spat at by a group of children after he told them to get off his neighbour's garage roof. And the following month, Mr Kohli had spoke after he saw two white boys aged 12 and 13 racially abuse a man and throw a large rock at him near the same park where he encountered his own attackers. A witness to the August attack, Linda Haigh, said she warned police about racially motivated problems in the area before Mr Kohli died, and believes he would still be alive had they taken her more seriously. An investigation conducted by Leicestershire Police, reviewed by the Independent Office for Police Conduct, did not identify any "misconduct or missed opportunities which could have prevented Mr Kohli's death". Ch Supt Jonathan Starbuck said: "Prior to Mr Kohli's death, police were aware of two reports of anti-social behaviour involving youths in the Franklin Park area which were being investigated. "Partnership work in the area following Mr Kohli's death did identify further incidents which had not been reported." He added that "organisational learning" to improve logging anti-social behaviour had been identified.

Kelly Matthews, the senior district crown prosecutor for the CPS in the East Midlands, said the attack was "violent and unprovoked"

Kelly Matthews, senior district crown prosecutor for the CPS in the East Midlands, said it was "not often that we see individuals so young in court charged with violent offences". "The girl was the catalyst for this attack taking place," Ms Matthews said, when asked why the female defendant had also been found guilty of manslaughter. "If it wasn't for her, then events may have unfolded differently on that day. "She pointed out Mr Kohli to the boy. She approached Mr Kohli with the boy. When the boy started attacking Mr Kohli, she took out her phone and started filming the incident and laughing, encouraging him." Ms Matthews said "some very young witnesses" gave key evidence about what happened before and after the attack, "specifically of the two defendants bragging about what had happened".

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Madeleine McCann search in Portugal ends after three days

4 hours ago Share Save Phil Mackie Midlands correspondent Reporting from Algarve, Portugal Hollie Cole BBC News Reporting from London Share Save

PA Media Portuguese police confirmed on Monday it would be carrying out a new search for Madeleine McCann

The fresh search for Madeleine McCann has ended after investigators spent three days in areas near to where the three-year-old disappeared 18 years ago in Portugal. German investigators left the search area at about 17:15 local time before Portuguese counterparts then removed the outer cordon from the site. Madeleine disappeared while on holiday with her parents in Praia da Luz on 3 May 2007, sparking a Europe-wide police investigation that has become one of the highest-profile missing persons cases. It is unlikely authorities will disclose the result of the search for several weeks but a conversation the BBC had with one officer suggested nothing significant was found.

Police officers on Thursday were seen holding pitchforks as they combed land in the area on the outskirts of the municipality of Lagos and some used pick-axes and shovels to dig some of the undergrowth. A digger was used to remove rubble from one of the abandoned structures at the search site. Later in the day tents erected as part of the base area for investigators started to be taken down. Personnel were seen loading vans parked near the police officers' base area in Atalaia, and German and Portuguese officers were seen shaking hands and embracing as the search drew to a close. Diggers and specialist equipment were brought in to help scour scrubland and abandoned buildings on Wednesday.

On the night Madeleine disappeared, her parents had been at dinner with friends at a restaurant a short walk away while their three-year-old daughter and her younger twin siblings were asleep in the ground-floor apartment. Madeleine's case was initially handled by the Portuguese authorities with the aid of the Metropolitan Police. German police took the lead in 2020 when they identified German national Christian Brückner as their prime suspect, who is known to have spent time in the same part of Portugal between 2000 and 2017. German authorities suspect him of murder. British police continue to treat the case as a missing persons investigation.

PA Media Police officers were seen taken down tents and folding tables away as the search in Atalaia drew to a close

England manager Sarina Wiegman says "there is no crisis" despite a chaotic 10 days which has seen three high-profile senior players either retire from international football in the build-up to Euro 2025 or withdraw from the tournament.

Wiegman named a 23-player squad on Thursday for the tournament in Switzerland, which starts on 2 July, where England are defending champions.

She will be without goalkeeper Mary Earps and midfielder Fran Kirby, who have both retired from international football, while defender Millie Bright, who captained the side to the World Cup final in 2023, withdrew from selection to focus on her mental and physical wellbeing.

The loss of three players, who have won a combined 217 caps, in such a short time has led to a potentially unsettling period for the Lionesses - and distractions off the pitch dominated discussions at the end of their Women's Nations League campaign this week.

"Yeah, of course, [it] has been hard," said Wiegman. "I think there are three different stories and every story is one on its own.

"[These are] players who have been with us for a long time, who I have been working with for a long time and so that's hard."

But the Dutchwoman says she is happy with the atmosphere inside the England camp.

"You [the media] see part of it, you are not in our environment all the time and I can ensure that the training sessions were really good last week," she said.

"I didn't see anything [to suggest] that there were no connections within the team. I am really happy [with] where we are right now."

Wiegman had to address issues around player's performance-related bonuses in the build-up to the World Cup and there was also heavy scrutiny on her decision to omit former captain Steph Houghton from the Euro 2022 squad in her first year in charge.

"My experiences before is that there is always noise. We expect noise until we go into the tournament," said Wiegman.

"The difference is, between 2015 and 2017 to now, is that the attention and visibility of the women's game has increased so much.

"It seems like there is more noise but there's just more journalists here. Which is right. It shows what we are doing. We have to deal with it and move on. Which we have."

Trump's new ban dodges pitfalls faced by last attempt, experts say

4 hours ago Share Save Emily Atkinson and Neha Gohil BBC News Share Save

Getty Images Trump's first travel ban triggered protests across the US in 2017

US President Donald Trump has issued a sweeping new travel ban for people from 12 countries, revisiting a hallmark policy of his first term in office. There are some key differences, however. The original travel ban suffered a series of legal defeats. This time, the policy appears to have been designed to avoid the same pitfalls. Its predecessor, which targeted seven predominantly Muslim countries and was dubbed the "Muslim ban" by critics, was ordered just a week after Trump took office in 2017, during his first term in the White House. The ban was amended twice to overcome court challenges, after opponents argued it was unconstitutional and illegal because it discriminated against travellers based on their religion. A scaled-back version was eventually upheld by the US Supreme Court in 2018, which this new ban closely resembles. Legal experts told the BBC that it appeared Trump had learned lessons from his first attempt. Christi Jackson, an expert in US immigration law at the London firm Laura Devine Immigration, said the new ban was more legally robust as a result. While the first lacked "clarity", the new restrictions were "wider in scope" and had "clearly defined" exemptions, she said. While there are some similarities in the nations chosen by the 2017 ban and the 2025 ban, Muslim-majority states are not the express target of the latest order. Barbara McQuade, professor of law at the University of Michigan and former US attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, told the BBC World Service's Newshour programme that, on this basis, it seemed likely to win the approval of the Supreme Court if it was ever referred up to that level.

The 12 countries subject to the harshest restrictions from 9 June are mainly in the Middle East, Africa and the Caribbean, including Afghanistan, Iran and Somalia. There will be partial restrictions on travellers from another seven countries, including Cuban and Venezuelan nationals. Trump said the strength of the restrictions would be graded against the severity of the perceived threat, including from terrorism. But besides Iran, none of the 12 countries hit by the outright ban are named on the US government's state sponsors of terrorism list. Trump cited Sunday's incident in Boulder, Colorado, in which a man was accused of throwing Molotov cocktails at demonstrators attending a march for Israeli hostages, in a video announcing the ban on X. The alleged attacker was an Egyptian national. However, Egypt does not appear on either list.

Watch: President Trump announces travel ban from "high-risk regions"

Israel strikes southern Beirut on eve of religious holiday

Smoke and flames rises following an Israeli airstrike in the Dahieh district in southern Beirut on Thursday

The attack occurred despite a ceasefire being in effect between Israel and the armed group for the past six months.

The Israeli Defence Forces said it had identified a Hezbollah unit producing "thousands" of drones underground, funded by "Iranian terrorists".

The attack on Thursday night, the eve of Eid Al Adha, one of the most important celebrations in Islam, followed evacuation warnings for several buildings in the area, where Hezbollah is based in the capital.

Israel has carried out several air strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs, saying it was targeting Hezbollah's drone production.

"I consider them to constitute a systematic and deliberate attack on our homeland, its security, stability, and economy, especially on the eve of the holidays and the tourist season," Nawaf Salam said in a post on X.

Thousands fled packed streets in the densely populated area following the evacuation warning, causing a traffic gridlock. Plumes of smoke then appeared in the sky.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun described the strikes as a "flagrant violation of an international accord" while noting it had occurred "on the eve of a sacred religious festival".

Israel's military said Hezbollah's "extensive use" of drones was central to its attacks on Israel, calling the activities "a blatant violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon".

There was no immediate comment from Hezbollah.

An hour before the air strikes occurred, the Israeli military's Arabic spokesman, Avichay Adraee, ordered residents living in the neighbourhoods of Hadath, Haret Hreik and Borj el-Barajneh in the Dahieh area to evacuate.

"You are next to infrastructure belonging to Hezbollah," he said in a social media post that included a map identifying specific buildings.

Prior to the Israel-Gaza war, Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group had engaged in more than a year of cross-border hostilities that culminated in an intense Israeli bombing campaign and ground incursion into southern Lebanon.

The offensive killed about 4,000 people in Lebanon - including many civilians - and led to the displacement of more than 1.2 million residents.

Israel said the military intervention was necessary to dismantle Hezbollah installations near the border that it argued a UN peacekeeping mission had failed to stop.

Its stated goal was to allow the return of about 60,000 residents who had been displaced from communities in the country's north because of the group's attacks.

A ceasefire struck in late November between Israel and Lebanon - but not Hezbollah - saw Israel withdraw while the Lebanese army took over policing southern Lebanon.

The agreement also stated that its commitments "do not preclude either Israel or Lebanon from exercising their inherent right of self-defence, consistent with international law".

Israel has carried out air strikes in Lebanon on targets it says are linked to Hezbollah in the months since.

In April, Israel attacked what it described as a Hezbollah store of "precision-guided missiles" in the same Dahieh region.

Earlier the same month, it launched a similar strike, killing a Hezbollah official and three other people, Lebanon's health ministry said at the time.

Lebanon's government said those attacks, as well as the continued stationing of Israeli soldiers in five locations in southern Lebanon, constitute violations of the truce.

Hezbollah launched its campaign the day after Hamas launched its 7 October 2023 attack into Israel, saying it was acting in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.

Bosses' bonuses banned at six water companies

1 hour ago Share Save Faarea Masud & Tom Espiner BBC Business reporters Share Save

Getty Images

A number of water companies have been banned from paying "unfair" bonuses to senior executives under new rules, the government has announced. The measures apply to water companies that do not meet environmental and consumer standards, are not financially resilient or have been convicted of a criminal offence. There has been growing public concern about sewage spills and rising bills for years while water companies have paid out £112m in rewards to executives over the past decade. Under the beefed-up Water Act, six firms are banned from paying bonuses this year including Anglian Water, Southern Water, Thames Water, United Utilities, Wessex Water and Yorkshire Water.

The ban, which is backdated to April 2024, means regulator Ofwat can force firms to claw back bonuses that have been paid or face enforcement action. It applies to share awards as well as cash. It is part of new measures in the Water Act which comes into force on Friday. Environment Secretary Steve Reed said that water company bosses "should only get bonuses if they've performed well, certainly not if they've failed to tackle water pollution". Officials said the government would look into companies trying to get around the ban by raising executives' base salaries. But Liberal Democrat Environment spokesperson Tim Farron called the government's announcement "half-baked". He added that it "doesn't touch the sides in enacting fundamental reform - especially if water companies can still workaround bonuses and wriggle off the hook". In the last year alone, £7.6m in bonuses were paid to water bosses in England the government said. Water UK, which represents companies in the industry, said that firms' independent committees, which decide on performance-related pay, will abide by the laws set by government. It added: "Water companies are focused on investing a record £104bn over the next five years to secure our water supplies, end sewage entering our rivers and seas and support economic growth."

Private school pupil numbers drop by 11,000

But private schools disagreed and said more pupils than expected were leaving the independent sector due to higher fees putting more pressure on parents.

A government spokesman said the drop in pupils "remains firmly within historical patterns" and "shatters the myth" of a private school exodus.

The figures, released on Thursday, come after the government removed a VAT exemption for private schools on 1 January.

There were 11,000 fewer pupils at private schools in England this January compared to the same time last year, according to the latest school census data.

The figures from the census of all schools in England provide the first complete picture of what is happening in the independent sector after the new 20% VAT on fees was introduced at the beginning of the year.

Overall, 582,477 pupils in England attended private schools when the census data was collected in January this year, down from 593,486 the year before - a drop of 1.9% (or 11,009 pupils).

Overall pupil numbers in England have fallen slightly to just over nine million. There was a smaller drop (0.6%) in the number of pupils not at private school.

Private school pupils now make up 6.4% of the total school population, a slightly lower proportion than last year, when it was 6.5%. This is the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic that independent school pupil numbers have fallen.

The government had previously predicted that around 3,000 private school pupils would need to be absorbed into the state system this academic year, with state school places needed for around 37,000 private school pupils over the coming years.

This was an estimate of those who would be motivated to take their children out of private school as a direct result of its decision to remove the VAT exemption from private school fees, not taking into account any demographic changes.

The census data does not give clear reasons as to why pupils have left private school.

It could include a shift in international students or a move to home-schooling which would not be reflected in the state school figures.

Julie Robinson, chief executive of the Independent Schools Council (ISC), a body which represents most of the private schools in the UK, suggested that VAT on fees was putting pressure on parents and was the reason behind the drop.

She said: "More pupils have left than the government's own estimates. This outsized exodus should concern anyone who is interested in this tax on education as a revenue raiser."

The ISC, which represents more than 1,400 private schools, previously said its annual census showed average school fees were 22.6% higher in January 2025 than they had been in January 2024.

'Draco is back' - Harry Potter star Tom Felton to reprise role on stage

9 hours ago Share Save Paul Glynn Culture reporter Share Save

Warner Bros Pictures/PA Media Felton said joining the cast of the play would be "a full-circle moment for me"

Tom Felton is to reprise his role as the villainous Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter stage show on Broadway. It marks the first time that a star of the Harry Potter movies has joined the spin-off stage production, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. The hit play - which serves as an epilogue to the famous wizard's story, following on from the end of the book series - opened in London's West End in 2016 before transferring to New York two years later. Felton said: "It's surreal to be stepping back into his shoes - and of course his iconic platinum blond hair - and I am thrilled to be able to see his story through and to share it with the greatest fan community in the world."

He will play the role at New York's Lyric Theatre for 19 weeks from 11 November.

Getty Images He appeared in all eight Harry Potter movies

The English actor featured opposite Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson on screen in the film franchise from 2001 to 2011. Now 37, he will become the first member of the cast to join the stage show, which takes place 19 years after the end of the original story, with Harry, Ron and Hermione, as well as Draco, all sending their own children to Hogwarts. "Being a part of the Harry Potter films has been one of the greatest honours of my life," Felton said in a statement. "Joining this production will be a full-circle moment for me, because when I begin performances in Cursed Child this fall, I'll also be the exact age Draco is in the play." He added: "I look forward to joining this incredible company and being a part of the Broadway community." He also posted a teaser video on Instagram, in which he dons Draco's blonde wig and black robes and reaches for his wooden wand before menacingly asking: "Scared, Potter?" A caption then reads: "Draco is back."

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How countries responded to Trump's travel ban

7 hours ago Share Save Hafsa Khalil BBC News Share Save

NurPhoto via Getty Image

US President Donald Trump has signed a proclamation banning travel to the US from nationals of 12 countries, which goes into effect on 9 June. The countries listed are Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo-Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Nationals from a further seven countries - Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela - will face partial travel restrictions. So far, only the African Union, which represents all 55 nations on the African continent, Chad, Somalia and Venezuela have responded. Here is what they said.

Chad President Mahamat Déby said he has told his government to "act in accordance with the principles of reciprocity" and has suspended issuing visas to US citizens. "Chad has no planes to offer, no billions of dollars to give but Chad has its dignity and pride," he said in a statement. Somalia, whose nationals are banned, had a different response and made an immediate promise to work with the US to address security issues. Somali ambassador to the US, Dahir Hassan Abdi, said: "Somalia values its longstanding relationship with the United States and stands ready to engage in dialogue to address the concerns raised." Meanwhile, African Union called on the US to "engage in constructive dialogue with the countries concerned". In a statement, it appealed to the US to exercise its sovereign right to protect its borders and its citizens' security "in a manner that is balanced, evidence-based, and reflective of the long-standing partnership between the United States and Africa". The union said it remains concerned about the "potential negative impact of such measures", and added that it "stands ready to support efforts that promote understanding, resolve concerns, and strengthen cooperation".

Birmingham bin strike could last until December

2 hours ago Share Save Richard Price BBC News, West Midlands Share Save

EPA Mountains of rubbish piling up on Birmingham's streets became a common sight

A long-running strike by bin workers in Birmingham could last until December, according to union Unite, after members voted to continue industrial action in a dispute over pay and jobs. The union said on Wednesday that 97% of those who voted backed continued strike action, on a 75% turnout. "The decision makers at Birmingham council need to get in the room and put forward an acceptable offer," said Unite general secretary Sharon Graham, warning strikes would continue for "as long as it takes". A Birmingham City Council spokesperson said it had made a "fair and reasonable offer" and that it remained committed to resolving the dispute.

It added that it had urged the union to put that offer to its members. However, Ms Graham said: "After smearing these workers in public since January and telling them to accept a fair and reasonable offer that never existed, the council finally put a proposal in writing last week. "True to form, the proposal came weeks late and was not in line with the ballpark offer discussed during Acas talks in May." Last week Ms Graham claimed the deal had been watered down - a point denied by the council.

PA Media On-and-off strikes began in January with all-out action from 11 March

A spokesperson for the Labour-run local authority said the bin collection service needed to be transformed "to one that citizens of Birmingham deserve". "We have made a fair and reasonable offer that we have asked Unite to put to their members and we are awaiting their response," they said. The ballot was not a response to the latest offer made through the conciliation service Acas, they added.

On-and-off strike action began on 6 January with 12 walkouts planned across four months, and the union began an indefinite all-out strike on 11 March. Talks have been held under the chairmanship of Acas, but the dispute has remained in deadlock. UK law requires unions to reballot their members every six months to continue industrial action, meaning the current vote gives permission for strikes up until December.

Mountains of rubbish heaped up on the city's streets in March and April, and led to concerns over public health - at the same time there were queues of up to a mile at some mobile collection points as residents tried to get rid of their waste. The city is currently affected by strike action five days a week, from Monday to Friday, continuously.

PA Media Long queues built up outside recycling centres in April

The dispute initially centred on the council's decision to remove Waste Recycling and Collection Officer (WRCO) roles but escalated amid anger over an alleged move by the local authority to hire temporary labour which the union claimed would "undermine" the walkouts. The union claimed about 170 workers faced losing up to £8,000 a year - but the council disputed the figures.

The local authority claimed the number of staff that could have lost the maximum amount of just over £6,000 was 17 people, and they would have pay protection for six months. The dispute has since grown to include issues over the long-term pay of bin lorry drivers. In April, the union said, under new council plans, drivers' pay could also fall from £40,000 to £32,000. The council said it was carrying out a "fair and transparent job evaluation process" agreed with trade unions, to comply with equal pay laws. A spokesperson for Acas said: "We recognise the challenges on all sides and the desire to find a resolution, and we stand ready to offer our support."

PA Media A so-called mega-picket was held in support of bin workers a month ago

Elizabeth Glinka West Midlands Political Editor

Industrial disputes are by their very nature difficult to resolve. Agreement can and does take time, and there is of course a necessity for the two sides to find common ground. As we enter the fourth month of all-out strike action in Birmingham, what is becoming increasingly apparent is that neither side feels it has much ground to give. The union says its members facing cuts to pay are being asked to make sacrifices that they as individuals cannot afford. Their determination is apparent in the outcome of this ballot. At the same time, the council says there are limits to what it can offer and that for the most part, are not about money. The reorganisation of the service which prompted the dispute centres on the authority's long-standing problem with equal pay claims. Claims made by female council staff on the same job grades elsewhere in the authority have already cost over £1bn and were one of the main drivers of the council effectively going bankrupt in 2023. This loss must be stemmed says the council, and so there are limits to what can be negotiated under the new pay grades or it says it risks falling into the same legal quagmire. Further talks involving Acas are due to take place in the coming days. This ballot does not mean industrial action will continue until Christmas, but it means it is possible, and Unite will believe it hands its negotiators the strongest possible hand in those talks.

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Mine tunnels confirmed around giant sinkhole site

4 hours ago Share Save Piers Hopkirk & Julia Gregory BBC News, Godstone Stuart Maisner BBC News, South East Share Save

Getty Images Some 30 families were forced to leave their homes after Godstone High Street partially collapsed

Engineers working to repair a giant sinkhole collapse in a Surrey village have confirmed they have discovered a network of Victorian sand mining tunnels around the site. They say the eight-metre deep (26ft) tunnels may "provide a clue" into what may have caused Godstone High Street to collapse in February. Businesses have told the BBC they have been "left in the dark" over repair plans for the holes - one of which was 20 metres in length - with their income down considerably. Authorities told a public meeting in the village on Thursday evening that they "hope to have the road reopened during December this year".

Lloyd Allen, infrastructure manager at Surrey County Council, said: "Currently, we're investigating the Victorian tunnels, plotting them to see the extent of them and where they go. "We'll likely be finished by the early part of December, but there's a lot of reconnecting services and redoing water mains, gas mains and electric cables." Mr Allen added that the presence of the tunnels "puts one of the pieces into place" over why the sinkhole formed, but that there were "several scenarios that could have happened that led to this collapse".

Piers Hopkirk/BBC Garage owner Shane Fry is calling on authorities to keep businesses in Godstone up to date

Shane Fry, who runs DD Services, a garage on the high street, told the BBC before the meeting that his income was a third of what it was because of the sinkhole. "They said they would keep us up to date, but this hasn't happened," he said. "We need to know. It will benefit everyone in the area."

Will McLean, owner of Dorwyn Ltd, a residential windows and doors company with a branch on Godstone High Street, said: "Financially it has been massive. "In terms of business, we are down 60% to 70%, which is huge - devastating in fact." He said the sinkhole had "reduced footfall to virtually zero".

Piers Hopkirk/BBC Sami Bristow said takings were down considerably in her coffee shop

Sami Bristow, owner of Blossoms coffee shop, said her takings were down about 20% compared to last year. "Not knowing when the road is going to open has been really frustrating because we have had such a lack of footfall," she said. "Each month we have seen a decrease in our sales. "It has been hard-hitting especially with inflation and all the other things that small businesses are having to cope with." Matt Furniss, cabinet member for highways at Surrey County Council, said: "Our focus will be on ensuring the road is safe to use, so the exact date will be confirmed once we are fully assured of this." Catherine Sayer, Tandridge District Council leader, added: "Things are moving as fast as they can. "The key thing is to get everything back to normal as quickly as possible."

Julia Gregory/BBC Residents attended a packed public meeting in Godstone on Thursday

Residents were told at the packed meeting on Thursday evening that they had been let back into their homes because the authorities "don't feel there is a risk". One woman who had been back in her home in William Way for a week and a half said the disruption had been "really, really distressing". Another evacuated resident told the meeting he had been billed by SES Water while his supply had been turned off for several months. A Godstone resident also called for speed limits in the village as there were concerns about rat runs and fears there could be "a serious accident". The comment was met with applause.

Rare diamond tiara fetches £889,400 at auction

The tiara was reportedly worn to the premiere of the Charlie Chaplin film City Lights

A Cartier turquoise and diamond tiara owned by the first woman to take a seat in the House of Commons has been sold for £889,400.

American-born Nancy Astor was elected in 1919 to represent Plymouth Sutton in Parliament and held the seat until she stood down in 1945.

London Auctioneers Bonhams said it was the first time the tiara had been on the market since it was bought by her husband Lord Waldorf Astor in 1930.

The auction house said it was worn by Lady Astor to the film premiere of City Lights at the Dominion Theatre in London in 1931.

Eight injured on Ryanair flight hit by 'severe turbulence', police say

Eight passengers were injured on a Ryanair flight that diverted to an airport in southern Germany after experiencing "severe turbulence" due to bad weather, police have said.

Among those injured on Wednesday night were a two-year-old who suffered bruising and a woman who incurred a head injury, according to Bavarian police.

Three people were taken to a local hospital for treatment, while others were treated on site, they said.

Ryanair apologised to affected passengers. It said the captain of the flight - originally planned to go from Berlin to Milan - called ahead for medical assistance and the plane "landed normally" at Memmingen Airport, to the west of Munich.

Judge threatens to remove Diddy from courtroom

51 minutes ago Share Save Sakshi Venkatraman and Kayla Epstein Reporting from Reporting from New York court Share Save

Jane Rosenberg/Reuters In a courtroom sketch, Sean "Diddy" Combs watches as a prosecutor questions "Jane" during the rapper's sex trafficking trial.

The judge presiding over Sean "Diddy" Combs' criminal trial has threatened to ban the disgraced music mogul from the courtroom for nodding and making faces at members of the jury. Judge Arun Subramanian called his actions "absolutely unacceptable". Mr Combs' attorneys assured the judge that it would not happen again. Judge Subramanian said Mr Combs was "vigorously nodding" during the cross questioning of Bryana Bongolan, a friend of Mr Combs' ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura who accused the rapper of holding her over a balcony. Mr Combs has pled not guilty to all charges, including sex trafficking and a racketeering conspiracy.

A new witness takes the stand

The court also heard from a woman using the pseudonym "Jane", who dated Mr Combs between 2021 and his arrest in 2024. Jane described the initial months of her relationship with Mr Combs as an exciting whirlwind; she said he took her on trips to Miami, and another one to Turks and Caicos, and The Bahamas. The rapper took her to upscale restaurants and she described herself as "head over heels" for him. But she testified that Mr Combs soon asked her to participate in what prosecutors referred to as "hotel nights", when Mr Combs hired an escort in order to watch Jane engage in sexual acts with another man. The first encounter in May 2021 took place in Miami, and she believed it would be a one-off experience. "That night opened a Pandora's box in our relationship," Jane told the court. "It was a door I was unable to shut for the rest of the relationship. There was so much of it after, and it was too much." What is Sean 'Diddy' Combs charged with and how long will his trial last?

Was Diddy a 'mastermind'? How ex Cassie's testimony builds the sex trafficking case against him Jane testified that she went along with additional encounters because "I just really loved him at that point and wanted to make him happy". But she also said "many times" that she had told Mr Combs she did not want to engage in these "hotel nights". But Mr Combs asked her to participate in several more and she "felt frustrated, I felt just obligated" to go along with his wishes, she told the court. Starting in approximately April 2023, Mr Combs began paying $10,000 per-month for a home for her, she testified. Jane said the arrangement came with a sense of obligation, and the rapper had implied he did not want to pay rent for a woman he was not seeing. Mr Combs also provided her with drugs such as ecstasy, cocaine and ketamine from the onset of the relationship, she testified. She told the court she had used the substances during some of her encounters with Mr Combs as well as the "hotel nights". Her testimony will continue on Friday, and she will later face questioning from Mr Combs' defence team.

Diddy on Trial' podcast available wherever you get your BBC podcasts.

Alleged balcony incident comes under scrutiny

'Reform civil war' and 'arise Sir Becks'

25 minutes ago Share Save Share Save

"David finally gets a knighthood... and Posh to be a Lady" writes The Sun in an exclusive, heralding the footballer's supposed new title "Sir Becks". It reports he will get the "gong next week" in the Birthday Honours List of King Charles III. The BBC has not verified the report.

It's "civil war" for Reform UK as the party's chair Zia Yusuf quits the party, writes the Daily Telegraph. Reform leader Nigel Farage was given "just a 10-minute warning" before Yusuf posted his resignation on X after he called a question by the party's MPs over banning burkas "dumb". A "bitter slanging match" between Elon Musk and US President Donald Trump also makes the front page after the tech billionaire wrote "without me, Trump would have lost the election".

The FT also leads with Yusuf's resignation, with the former Reform chair saying he didn't think the position was a "good use of my time". Nigel Farage has called him "enormously talented" and said he was "genuinely sorry" he had stepped down. On the world stage, "Trump and Xi dial down rhetoric and agree to new round of trade talks".

Labour has banned the bosses of 10 water companies from receiving bonuses "with immediate effect" over "serious sewage pollution" reports The Guardian. In the past decade, they have been paid £112m in bonuses. Last year, sewage pollution "rose to a record 2,487 events", according to the paper. "Bosses should only get bonuses if they've performed well" the paper quotes Environment Secretary Steven Reed.

The Times covers Musk and Trump's disagreement too, highlighting the X founder's comment that the president had appeared "in the Epstein files" as a barb that "signals war". Trump was named in one document released by a judge last year regarding a connection with the disgraced financier - but this carries no inference of wrongdoing. The BBC has contacted the White House for comment on the allegations. Also on the front page an image of four Chelsea pensioners doffing their hats atop mobility scooters.

The i Paper's front page is mostly taken up by the news of the UK water bosses "finally" receiving a bonus ban "amid public anger at sewage scandal". The paper draws attention to how it had "campaigned for tougher powers to restrict such payments".

"Russia blames UK for drone attack on jets" and "says it could lead to World War Three" reads the top headline of the Daily Mail. Kremlin ambassador to the UK Andrei Kelin said the UK military's tech had helped Ukraine hit the targets inside Russia, the tabloid reports. It also picks up Trump and Musk's argument calling it a "war of words".

The Daily Mirror headlines on a promise by Health Secretary Wes Streeting to "end corridor care", as he says £450m will go towards tackling the issue. The Mirror also runs the story of the race attack on Bhim Kohli on its front page that resulted in his death as his teen attackers have now received their sentences. "They can rebuild their lives, we can't" writes the paper, describing the "anguish" of Kohli's family.

A veteran standing by two tombstones appears on the front page of the Daily Express as "our last D-Day heroes remember fallen friends 81 years on". "Never forget their sacrifice", the paper writes.

For the Daily Star, it's "blast orders" as it writes "most of us say we're off down the pub if there's a nuclear war".

Spain and France played out a Nations League semi-final game for the ages with a scoreline that looks like it belongs in a penalty shootout.

The 5-4 win for Spain has everyone wondering if anyone can stop these attackers - although the less said about the defenders, the better.

Spain, who play Portugal in Sunday's final, are looking for a third Uefa tournament success in a row having won the last Nations League and Euro 2024.

And they are favourites for the World Cup coming up next summer, with France second on the list.

Spain showed why they will be tough to stop after one of the most exciting international games in memory.

A total of 40 shots, 17 on target, nine goals. Spain led 4-0 and 5-1 - and threatened to blow France away - before their rivals rallied.

If only every match was like this.

"It was a crazy game," said Spain goalscorer Mikel Merino. "Not the best game for the coaches - nobody wants to concede so many goals - but an amazing game for the fans."

His boss Luis de la Fuente seemed to actually disagree with him.

"I'm happy. I enjoy suffering! I don't understand sport without suffering," he said.

"When two great teams face off like today, it's normal every team makes the most of their moments."

Lamine Yamal, who turns 18 later this summer, netted twice for Spain to cement his credentials as a Ballon d'Or contender.

He is up to six goals for his country now, to add to 25 for club side Barcelona.

Yamal impressed more than France's PSG stars - Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue - who were hyped up pre-game after phenomenal club seasons.

Les Bleus debutant Rayan Cherki help spark France's fightback after coming off the bench to show why he is being linked to Liverpool and Manchester City.

Manchester United may have no European football to look forward to next season but it has not prevented them from delving into the transfer market.

A £62.5m deal was agreed to sign Brazil forward Matheus Cunha from Wolves on the opening day of the latest transfer window, which is split into two phases this summer.

United are now also in pursuit of Brentford striker Bryan Mbeumo after submitting a bid of £45m and £10m in add-ons for the Cameroon international.

However, this activity is set against the backdrop of part owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe delivering a dire assement of the club's finances in March and the subsequent ramifications of their Europa League final defeat by Tottenham.

That denied the 20-time English champions a Champions League spot and a guaranteed £70m just for participating in Europe's elite club competition.

Since then captain Bruno Fernandes has also rejected the overtures of Saudi Pro-League club Al-Hilal, which may have generated a transfer fee of between £80m-£100m.

And given United ended up 15th in the Premier League last term, and boss Ruben Amorim is wedded to a 3-4-3 formation that is not suited to those at his disposal, the club's need for new blood seems greater than ever before.

But just how can they afford it without breaching profit and sustainability rules (PSR) which limit clubs to losses of £105m over three years?

BBC Sport talks to football finance expert Kieran Maguire, who estimates that the club will still be well within their means even if they outlay £150m on new signings.

In the eyes of many seasoned observers, Swiatek was the third favourite for the title behind Sabalenka and American second seed Gauff, who beat French wildcard Lois Boisson in Thursday's second semi-final.

Swiatek has been nowhere near her dominant best over the past year, failing to reach a final since last year's French Open triumph and slipping to her lowest ranking since March 2022.

After a chastening defeat in the Italian Open third round, Swiatek's return to Paris offered positivity.

"I think I already changed my mindset before this tournament," said Swiatek shortly after her first French Open defeat since 2021.

"Losing early in Rome gave me some time and perspective."

The former long-time world number one looked more like her old self as she rolled through her opening three matches without dropping a set.

When a tougher test arrived against Elena Rybakina in the last 16, Swiatek fought back from losing the opening set 6-1 and answered more of the lingering questions around her form.

She showed similar resilience in the opening set against Sabalenka, recovering from 4-1 down to force the set back on serve.

Altering her return position helped Swiatek fight back from a poor start, where she was overwhelmed by Sabalenka's power, and take the match into a decider.

However, the fifth seed did not have the capability - or perhaps belief - to sustain her level and rolled over in a 22-minute third set.

Overall, though, Swiatek felt she had positives to take from the past fortnight.

"I played some quality matches," said Swiatek, who has still won 32 of her 42 matches this season.

"Now it's probably not the best time to look at the wider perspective.

"Probably it wasn't a bad tournament, but obviously not the result I wanted."

Liverpool have rejected an approach from Barcelona to speak to forward Luis Diaz.

Club sources told BBC Sport that Colombia international Diaz, one of Liverpool's key players in winning the Premier League title last season, is not for sale.

The 28-year-old joined Liverpool from Porto in January 2022 and has a contract with the club until 2027.

He scored 13 goals and made seven assists in the league as Liverpool won the title by 10 points.

Diaz attracted interest from Manchester City last summer and also has admirers in Saudi Arabia.

"I'm very happy at Liverpool - I've always said so," said Diaz, who is on international duty for his country's games against Peru and Argentina. "They've welcomed me very well.

"The transfer market is opening, and we're trying to arrange what's best for us. I'm waiting to see what happens.

"If Liverpool gives us a good extension or I have to see out my two-year contract, I'll be happy. It all depends on them. I'm here to decide and see what's best for us and the future."