Is the UK about to get dragged into Iran-Israel conflict?

16 minutes ago Share Save Frank Gardner BBC Security Correspondent Share Save

Getty Images People gather outside the UK parliament protesting against Israel's attacks on Iran

Is this, some will be wondering, 2003 all over again? In 2003 Britain joined the US in a highly controversial military campaign against Iraq in a quest to rid it of its supposed arsenal of "weapons of mass destruction". These turned out to have all been destroyed years previously. As America's closest but junior ally, Britain is almost certain to be affected in some way by what happens now in the Middle East. If Donald Trump decides to commit US forces to help Israel eliminate Iran's nuclear programme then what role will the UK be asked to play?

First off, Britain is very far from being a central player in this fight between Israel and Iran. The UK, along with other G7 allies, has called for de-escalation, but Israel is unlikely to be listening. This is not just because relations between Britain and Israel have recently soured after the UK joined other Western nations in sanctioning two Israeli cabinet ministers for inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. It is also because Israel had clearly decided that now was a window of opportunity to act militarily against Iran's suspect nuclear programme and that the time for talking was over. (In an apparent snub to the UK, Israel reportedly did not inform it in advance of its attack on Iran, considering it "not a reliable partner".) But the UK still has a diplomatic role to play, together with its European allies who helped draft the 2015 JCPOA Iran nuclear deal that introduced intrusive UN inspections of Iran's facilities in exchange for sanctions relief, until Donald Trump pulled the US out of the deal in 2018. David Lammy, the foreign secretary, is in Washington meeting his US counterpart, and he will be heading to Geneva, Switzerland, on Friday to join his French, German and EU counterparts in talks with Iran. The UK also has military and strategic assets in the Middle East and Indian Ocean. Here's how these could be involved.

Diego Garcia

This tiny, tropical Indian Ocean island base, jointly operated by the UK and US and now leased from nearby Mauritius, has a strategic significance out of all proportion to its size. At 2,300 miles (3,700km) from Iran, it is a potential staging base for the USAF B2 Spirit heavy bombers. These are the only aircraft in the world configured to carry the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bomb. This 30,000lb (13.6 tonne) monster is sometimes referred to as a "bunker-buster" but that's an under-estimate. Retired US Army General Petraeus referred to it this week as "a mountain-buster". It is thought to be the only weapon powerful enough to penetrate deep underground at Iran's suspect nuclear enrichment facility at Fordo. If the US were to use Diego Garcia it would need permission from the UK. The Attorney General, Richard Hermer, is reported to have advised the UK government that any UK military involvement needs to be purely defensive in nature to remain within the law. The B2 bombers have a range of nearly 7,000 miles, roughly the distance from their airbase in Missouri to Iran, and with inflight refuelling the US could, if it chose, bomb Fordo without using Diego Garcia.

What do we know about the Fordo nuclear site?

Cyprus

The UK has two major strategic assets on this Mediterranean island. One is RAF Akrotiri, currently home to a reinforced presence of RAF Typhoon jets. The other is the secretive Signals intelligence listening station on a mountain top at Ayios Nikolaos, known as "Ayia Nik", and part of Britain's Sovereign Base Area on Cyprus. The British Army has also long used Cyprus as a base for its "spearhead battalion", a rapid deployment force available for contingencies in the Middle East. The RAF's Typhoons are already engaged in Operation Shader, monitoring and occasionally bombing the Islamic State group (IS) and al-Qaeda bases in Syria and Iraq. Last year, during a brief conflict between Israel and Iran, UK warplanes were reported to have helped shoot down incoming Iranian drones heading for Israel. But in this conflict an Israeli spokesperson told the BBC that no UK assistance has been sought or offered in doing the same thing.

The Gulf

The Royal Navy has had a small but vital role to play in keeping the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz free from sea mines. This dates back to the 1980-88 Iran Iraq tanker war, where mines were deployed and the UK activated its "Armilla Patrol". Royal Navy minesweepers were based in Bahrain, an asset much appreciated by the adjacent US Navy's 5th Fleet HQ which surprisingly, has been weak on mine counter measures. However, the UK's vessels have been nearing the end of their working lives and the Royal Navy presence has been gradually reduced. This has contributed to the depressing assessment that should Iran decide to choke off the Strait of Hormuz, through which flows 20-30% of the world's oil supplies, its effect would be considerable. The Ministry of Defence says that one Royal Navy minesweeper, HMS Middleton, is now in the Gulf. "Royal Navy vessels in the Gulf are currently at sea", it adds, "and have not been retasked to undertake combat operations". There is also a small, 100-strong UK military presence in Iraq and a port facility at Duqm in Oman.

Blowback

'I was lying in bed... The ceiling fell in': At the scene of Israeli hospital hit by Iran strike

7 hours ago Share Save Lucy Williamson Middle East correspondent Reporting from Reporting from Beersheba Share Save

AFP The Soroka hospital in Beersheba was hit by an Iranian strike on Thursday, although Iran denies targeting it

Black smoke was still billowing from the middle of the Soroka Medical Center when we arrived, several hours after Iran's attack on the building. Pieces of twisted metal shrapnel – some of it apparently from the missile itself – scattered across a 200m (656ft) area in and around the hospital complex. Vehicles carrying medical staff lined the road outside – an emergency response to a situation that many had feared would be worse. Crowds of soldiers, police and rescue teams milled around the hospital entrances, as a stream of ministers arrived to express their outrage at the strike.

Alon Uzi was wandering around outside the hospital entrance with two bags of belongings. He said he had been receiving treatment in the emergency department when the attack happened, and didn't have time to reach the shelter. "I was lying in bed, and I heard a big boom," he told us. "And before I could do anything, there was an explosion and part of the ceiling fell and I was covered with white dust. "There was no time to get out of bed. I was just getting ready and then I heard a whistling noise." Inside the emergency reception area, the air carried the tang of chemicals mixed with dust. Patients were still being evacuated on stretchers from deep inside the building, as emergency teams passed through into the surgical wards that were hit. Medical staff told local media that patients there had recently been moved to the hospital's emergency shelters underground. Seventy-one people have been injured, according to Israel's ministry of health.

The BBC spoke to Alon Uzi who was receiving treatment at the time of the blast

Reuters Hospital staff rushed to move patients to safety following damage to the building

Professor Asher Bashiri, director of the maternity ward, said he could see the area of impact from his office. "It looks unbelievable," he told me. "The upper part of the building is cracked, and fire was coming from it in the first hours. Everything looks broken." He said they had moved all the patients to a more protected area when the war began. "We were very, very lucky," he said. "It could have been so much worse. But we are still living in an unbelievable situation. It's not finished – I don't know what will happen tomorrow, or the next day. We're just happy that we're alive." The hospital director, Shlomi Codish, said that the northern surgical building was hit and that several wards were demolished, with extensive damage to the entire hospital. "We expect that we will be transferring over 200 patients in the next few hours to other medical centres," he said. "We're trying to minimise the number of people; we don't know if buildings might collapse or if wards might collapse." Among the stream of ministers visiting the site today was Culture Minister Miki Zohar, from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party. "All the people need to know what we're facing – a regime that is trying to kill innocent people," he said. "When you're dealing with evil, this is a different war. Believe me, we won't stop until we win. We're going to reply and it's going to be very strong." Mr Zohar was asked about Israel's history of bombing hospitals in Gaza – locations its army says are being used as military control centres by Hamas. "We keep innocent people in Gaza safe as much as we can," he said. "We call them to evacuate before we bomb. This is the big difference between Iran and us."

BBC on the scene at Israeli hospital struck by Iranian missile

Government whip quits over disability benefit cuts

1 hour ago Share Save Kate Whannel Political reporter Share Save

UK Parliament

Labour MP Vicky Foxcroft has resigned as a whip over the government's plans to cut disability benefits. In a letter to the prime minister, Foxcroft said she understood the need to address "the ever-increasing welfare bill" but said cuts to personal independence payments and universal credit should "not be part of the solution". She said she had "wrestled with whether I should resign or remain in the government and fight for changes from within. Sadly it now seems that we are not going to get the changes I desperately wanted to see." Responding to her letter, a government spokesman said it was fixing a "broken welfare system" that was failing the sick and vulnerable.

"Our principled reforms will ensure those who can work should, that those who want to work are properly supported, and that those with the most severe disabilities and health conditions are protected." Earlier this week, the government published its bill, which tightens the criteria people have to meet in order to get personal independence payments (Pips) and cuts the sickness-related element of universal credit. More than 100 Labour MPs have expressed concern about the bill and the government could face a large rebellion from its own backbenchers when it comes to a vote in a fortnight's time. On Wednesday, Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall told the BBC her "door was always open" to colleagues worried about the bill but that ministers were "firm in our convictions". Under the current system too many people were being "written off" instead of being given support to find work, she said. She also argued that claimant levels were rising to unsustainable levels, and figures released this Tuesday found the number of people on Pips had reached a record high of 3.7m, up from 2.05m in 2019. Pip is a non-means-tested benefit available to people both in and out of work. It aims to provide support for those with long-term disabilities or who have difficulty doing certain everyday tasks. In a bid to reassure concerned Labour MPs, Kendall extended the transition period for those losing their personal independence payments from four weeks to 13.

Temperatures pass 32C as first UK area enters heatwave

3 hours ago Share Save Simon King Lead Weather Presenter Cachella Smith BBC News Share Save

PA Media

The UK has recorded its hottest day of the year with temperatures passing 32C, as part of the country entered a heatwave. A temperature of 32.2C was recorded in Kew and Heathrow, London - higher than the previous record for 2025 of 29.4C in Suffolk on 13 June. Suffolk became the first place in the UK to officially enter a heatwave on Thursday after temperatures passed 27C for the third day in a row. Amber heat health alerts are in place across the whole of England until 09:00 BST on Monday, as the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) warned that increased pressures on health and social care services were likely.

The heat is expected to build towards a high of 33C on Saturday, with central and eastern England seeing the peak temperatures. Parts of the country could experience "tropical nights" over the weekend, when temperatures remain above 20C, the Met Office said. Wales saw its hottest day of the year individually on Thursday, with temperatures of 30.2C recorded in Trawsgoed and Cardiff. Northern Ireland also registered a new record for 2025 – 25.7C in Castlederg. In Scotland, Glasgow Bishopton reached 24.4C – lower than its record for this year of 25.5C in May. For a heatwave to be declared by the Met Office a threshold temperature needs to be met for at least three consecutive days.

PA Media

The threshold varies from 25C across the north and west of the UK, to 28C in parts of England. In Suffolk, where the threshold is 27C, a temperature of 29.3C was recorded in the village of Santon Downham on Thursday. This was the third day in a row the county's threshold had been breached - resulting in a heatwave being declared. In London, where the threshold is 28C, a heatwave could be declared on Friday, as the temperature has now passed that figure for two days in a row. At Royal Ascot, which takes place in Berkshire, outside of London, race organisers confirmed dozens of attendees required medical assistance because of heat-related illness. Dozens fall ill in heat at Royal Ascot The alert system works in conjunction with the Met Office but has a focus on health risks using four levels of warning: green, yellow, amber and red. An amber warning means the whole health service is likely to be affected by the hot weather. Among examples given by UKHSA are difficulties managing medicines, the ability of the workforce to deliver services and internal temperatures in care settings exceeding the recommended thresholds. The agency also refers to a possible rise in deaths - particularly among those aged 65 or over or with health conditions - as well as health risks to the wider population.

PA Media Coastal areas are likely to be busy over the weekend as temperatures continue to rise

The rising temperatures are down to an area of high pressure situated across the UK which, with a south-easterly wind, draws in hot weather from other parts of Western Europe. Friday will again see temperatures widely in the mid to high twenties across the UK, with a few spots in South East England once again exceeding 30C. Northern and western parts of the UK will see a slight fall in temperature on Saturday with the risk of some showers or thunderstorms. For central and eastern England, Saturday will be the peak in the heatwave with temperatures rising to between 30 and 33C, although the Met Office has suggested the peak could be as high as 34C.

Regional fire services have issued warnings about water safety amid the high temperatures. Pam Oparaocha, assistant commissioner for prevention and protection at the London Fire Brigade, warned that strong currents, underwater hazards and cold water shock "can be deadly". "With warm weather and school holidays on the horizon, we want people, especially young people, to enjoy our waterways safely, and that starts with education," she added. "It's important to know the risks and to familiarise yourself with lifesaving equipment like throwlines, which are available along many of London's waterways."

Daves Patch/Weather Watchers

Other organisations have also provided advice over recent days. British Heart Foundation (BHF) told those with heart conditions to take precautions as high temperatures can put extra strain on the heart. Age UK encouraged people to check in on older relatives, friends and neighbours. A change in wind direction to a westerly on Sunday is set to cause the heatwave to break and all parts will be a little cooler. Although eastern areas won't be as hot, temperatures will still be in the mid to high twenties.

PA Media

Student who raped 10 women jailed for 24 years

7 hours ago Share Save Victoria Cook BBC News Daniel Sandford UK correspondent Reporting from Inner London Crown Court Share Save

Police entered Zhenhao Zou’s London flat in January 2024

A Chinese PhD student named by police as "one of the most prolific predators" in the UK has been sentenced to life with a minimum term of 24 years. Zhenhao Zou, a Chinese national, drugged and raped three women in London and another seven in China between September 2019 and May 2023. Three of the 10 victims have been identified, prosecutors say, but Metropolitan Police detectives fear he could have targeted dozens more and have appealed for potential victims to contact them. Since the trial, 24 women have come forward. During sentencing, Judge Rosina Cottage KC said the defendant was a "very bright young man" who used a manipulative "charming mask" to hide that he was a "sexual predator".

At the sentencing hearing at Inner London Crown Court, Judge Cottage told Zou: "You appear to the world to be a very well-to-do man. You are also a sexual predator." She said Zou had "planned and executed a campaign of rape", treating the women "callously" and as "sex toys" for his own pleasure, which had had "devastating and long-term effects". Judge Cottage added Zou had a "sexual interest" in "asserting power and control over women", and that the victims had been "pieces in an elaborate game" for the defendant, who had "no understanding of the meaning of consent". Warning: This article contains distressing details

Met Police Since an appeal was launched, 24 women have come forward

During sentencing, she added: "You told (the victims) that resistance was futile. "Sometimes you would be begged to stop. You sought power over them - these women you treated callously - and used them as sex toys for your pleasure." Judge Cottage said the court had watched videos of the rapes which had been "extremely distressing". "Some who watched, wept," she said. Zou, who was living in Elephant and Castle, south-east London, was convicted of 11 counts of rape, with two of the offences relating to one victim. He was also convicted of three counts of voyeurism, 10 of possession of an extreme pornographic image, one of false imprisonment and three of possession of a controlled drug with intent to commit a sexual offence. He kept a trophy box of women's belongings and filmed nine of the rapes, as the victims lost consciousness. Det Insp Richard Mackenzie from the Met Police said Zou was "one of the most prolific predators we have ever seen".

How a student rapist was sentenced to life in prison

Judge Cottage told Zou: "You are a highly manipulative and intelligent young man, but you have no understanding of the meaning of consent. "There is a high level of danger because of your distorted thinking. You are a risk for an indefinite period."

'Never forgive him'

One woman was raped after Zou pushed her to drink excessive amounts of alcohol and would not let her leave his flat. In a victim impact statement, she wrote the attack had "deeply affected" her personality. She said: "I have lost faith in human beings, I have no trust in others. Before this incident, I was not aware that a human could do such evil things. "When I meet with strangers, I get flashbacks of what he did." A second identified woman, who is now living in China, was also raped by Zou in his student flat near Russell Square in October 2021 when she was unconscious. She said: "I know words will never fully convey the depth of this wound. But one thing is certain, what happened that night is etched into my soul forever. "His face, his expression - they will never leave me. I will never forgive him."

Metropolitan Police Zou kept a trophy box of victims' belongings

Met Police He paid £4,000 a month to rent his luxury flat

Commander Kevin Southworth, from the Metropolitan Police said: "I hope the fact Zou can no longer harm others serves as a small amount of comfort to the women who have suffered immeasurably. "I would also like to take this opportunity to stress that our investigation remains open and we continue to appeal to anyone who may think they have been a victim of Zou. "Please come forward and speak with our team - we will treat you with empathy, kindness and respect." Saira Pike, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said Zou was a "serial rapist and a danger to women" and that "his life sentence reflects his heinous acts". She added: "I'd like to take this opportunity to once again express my heartfelt thanks to the courageous women who came forward to report Zou's horrific crimes. "They have been incredibly strong and brave - there is no doubt that their evidence helped us to secure his conviction, and the life sentence handed to him today."

Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk

Leadbeater 'confident' assisted dying bill will pass

6 hours ago Share Save Kate Whannel Political reporter Share Save

EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Kim Leadbeater, the MP behind the assisted dying bill, has said she is "confident" MPs will back the legislation when it returns for its final stage in the House of Commons on Friday. If the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill - which allows terminally ill adults to get medical assistance to end their own lives - is approved it will then go to the House of Lords for further scrutiny. MPs gave the proposal their initial backing in November, with 330 MPs voting in favour and 275 against. But debate over the bill has become increasingly fractious and since last year at least a dozen MPs who backed or abstained on the bill had said they were likely to oppose it.

On Thursday, a further four Labour MPs said they were switching sides to oppose the bill. Markus Campbell-Savours, Kanishka Narayan, Paul Foster and Jonathan Hinder said the bill had been "drastically weakened" since last year's vote. In a letter to colleagues, they warned that safeguards in the bill were "insufficient" and would "put vulnerable people in harm's way". Speaking at a press conference in central London, Leadbeater said the bill was "the most robust piece of legislation in the world". She said it had got a "good majority" of 55 in November, adding: "There might be some small movement in the middle, some people might change their mind one way, others will change their mind the other way. "But fundamentally, I don't anticipate that that majority would be heavily eroded. So I do feel confident we can get through tomorrow successfully." She added that if the bill didn't pass, it "could be another decade before this issue is brought back to Parliament".

Some MPs have complained that the bill had not been given enough scrutiny and earlier this week 50 Labour MPs urged the government to allow more time for debate. Leadbeater insisted it was "not being rushed through", adding: "This has been going on since November. This is not a quick thing that's happened overnight. It has gone through hours and hours and hours of scrutiny."

As is usual for matters of conscience, MPs will get a free vote, meaning that they do not have to follow any particular party line. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer voted in favour of the bill last year and has indicated that he will do so again on Friday. Earlier this week he told reporters his position was "long-standing and well-known". Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has said that although she had previously supported the principle of assisted dying, she would not vote for the bill. "This bill is a bad bill. It is not going to deliver. It has not been done properly," she said. "This is not how we should put through legislation like this. I don't believe that the NHS and other services are ready to carry out assisted suicide, so I'll be voting no, and I hope as many Conservative MPs as possible will be supporting me in that." Broadcaster Esther Rantzen, who is terminally ill, has been a vocal supporter of the bill. She said it would help those "for whom life has become unbearable and who need assistance, not to shorten their lives but to shorten an agonising death".

At least 12 Palestinians killed waiting for aid in Gaza, say medics

8 hours ago Share Save Share Save

Reuters Funerals continued on Thursday for Palestinians killed by the gunfire

At least 12 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces while waiting for aid in central Gaza, according to rescuers and medics. Reports say the group was killed by gunfire near an aid distribution site run by the US- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) on Thursday. The GHF denied there were any incidents near its site. The Israeli military told Reuters that "suspects" had attempted to approach forces in the area of Netzarim, and that soldiers had fired warning shots. It said it was unaware of any injuries. The incident is the latest in almost daily shootings near such aid sites in Gaza.

Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed since late May, when the GHF took over aid distribution in Gaza in an attempt by Israel to bypass the UN as the main supplier of aid. Nearly all the casualties in Gaza in recent days have been linked to incidents around the delivery of aid, rather than Israeli strikes on Hamas targets. Gaza's health ministry said on Thursday that since midnight 12 people had been killed while seeking aid, without giving further details. The Hamas-run civil defence agency - Gaza's main emergency service - told AFP news agency that a group was killed by Israeli gunfire near the Netzarim corridor, where thousands of people have been gathering daily seeking aid. Civil defence official Mohammad al-Mughayyir said 15 people were killed and 60 injured in the incident. Israel does not allow international news organisations, including the BBC, into Gaza, making it difficult to verify figures. AFP said it had spoken to witness Bassam Abu Shaar, who said thousands of people had gathered overnight at the GHF-backed distribution site, and that Israeli forces opened fire at about 01:00 (22:00 GMT). He said the size of the crowd had made it impossible for people to escape the gunfire, adding: "We couldn't help them or even escape ourselves."

The GHF however told the BBC: "There were no incidents anywhere near our site today." "This is yet again another example of false and misleading reporting by the GHM [Gaza health ministry]." The BBC has contacted the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) for a response. According to Reuters, the Israeli military said people had approached its forces in a threatening manner. In a Telegram statement on Wednesday, Hamas called for the UN and its humanitarian agencies to be the sole distributors of aid in Gaza.

BBC Breakfast boss takes extended leave after bullying allegations

Richard Frediani accepted the Bafta when BBC Breakfast won best news coverage in May

The editor of BBC Breakfast, Richard Frediani, is taking an extended period of leave after allegations about his behaviour were reported in the media.

An HR adviser from consultancy firm PwC is also supporting the corporation as it looks into the culture of the BBC One morning programme.

It comes after the Sun and Deadline reported that an internal investigation is being carried out into allegations of bullying.

The BBC said it did not comment on individual cases but takes "all complaints about conduct at work extremely seriously and will not tolerate behaviour that is not in line with our values".

Trump confirms further delay to TikTok ban or sale deadline

5 hours ago Share Save Liv McMahon Technology reporter Share Save

Getty Images

President Donald Trump has extended the deadline for TikTok's sale in the US for a further 90 days. The video-sharing app has faced questions over its future after the US passed a law last year requiring the app to be banned unless sold by its Chinese parent company, ByteDance. Lawmakers said it posed a risk to national security - something TikTok denies. Trump, who vowed to save TikTok during his presidential campaign, signed an executive order on Thursday which has delayed the date for enforcing the law for a third time. In a statement, TikTok said it was "grateful for President Trump's leadership and support" in keeping the app online for its 170m US users.

"We continue to work with Vice President Vance's Office," it added. A deal for the sale of TikTok in the US by ByteDance must now be reached by 17 September, Trump said in a post on his platform Truth Social. The further delay was an expected development in the long-running process of securing a buyer for TikTok. It is thought the authorities in Beijing will need to approve any sale or part sale of the app by its parent company. The law was prompted by fears in the US that TikTok or ByteDance could be forced to hand over data on US users by the Chinese government. Trump said on Tuesday he expected there would be a further delay. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Wednesday that a further 90-day extension would "ensure this deal is closed so that the American people can continue to use TikTok with the assurance that their data is safe and secure."

'Flouting' the law

Woman held on suspicion of murder in Rolex case

3 hours ago Share Save Olivia Demetriades BBC News, London Share Save

Metropolitan Police Jennifer Abbott, known also as Sarah Steinberg, was well known in the community

A 66-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a 69-year-old was found fatally stabbed in her home in north London. Emergency services were called to a report of an unresponsive woman at a property in Mornington Place, Camden at 18:00 BST on Friday, 13 June. The victim, named by police as Jennifer Abbott, was found by her niece and neighbours. The neighbour said she had been left with tape across her mouth. On Wednesday, the Metropolitan Police said a missing Rolex watch may be linked to Ms Abbott's death.

Met detectives added that they were keeping an open mind about the possible motive for the stabbing and appealed for information about the watch which they believed was missing from Ms Abbot's address. The watch has a distinctive diamond-encrusted face.

The suspect remains in police custody after being arrested on Wednesday, the force added.

Metropolitan Police Detectives have made the missing Rolex watch a focus of the murder investigation

The 69-year-old, also known as Sarah Steinberg, was last seen walking her pet corgi in Camden on 10 June, before she was found fatally injured three days later. A post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as sharp force trauma. The victim's family have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers. Det Insp Barry Hart, from Homicide Command, Specialist Crime North, said: "This arrest marks a significant step forward. "There are several lines of enquiry ongoing, and we are working hard to establish the exact circumstances of this incident. "Locals can expect to see an increased police presence in the area while we conduct our enquiries."

One neighbour, who did not want to be named, told the BBC Ms Abbott had recently confided to friends she was fearful living at her flat because of crime in the area. "Jenny was having a coffee with [her neighbour] only last week, and was crying in the cafe saying, saying 'I'm scared to go to sleep at night because of all the drug-taking activity that goes on'." Ms Abbott had told her neighbour that drug abusers had gained access to her block of flats and were using her hallway to use drugs. The neighbour said: "I remember Jenny saying to me that she came out one day and they're all standing in front of her door, cooking up their stuff, making the whole area a shooting gallery. "She told me she came out and asked could she get by and the answer came 'wait a minute, we're not finished'."

French trial exposes human trafficking among champagne workers

They had been recruited via a Whatsapp group message for the West African Soninke ethnic community living in Paris, which promised "well-paid work" in the Champagne region.

The workers – all undocumented migrants – were found during the 2023 September harvest living in cramped and unhygienic conditions in a building at Nesle-le-Repons, southwest of Reims in the heart of champagne country.

Three people – a woman from Kyrgyzstan, a man from Georgia and a Frenchman – are accused of exploiting more than 50 seasonal workers, mainly from west Africa.

Conditions for grape-pickers in France's champagne business lie at the heart of a human trafficking trial that has opened in the eastern city of Reims.

Aged between 16 and 65 at the time, the 48 men and nine women came from Mali, Mauritania, Ivory Coast and Senegal. Many are attending Thursday's trial.

"They shouted at us in Russian and crammed us into this broken-down house, with mattresses on the floor," Kanouitié Djakariayou, 44, told La Croix newspaper.

"There was no clean water, and the only food was a bowl of rice and rotten sandwiches.

"I never thought the people who made champagne would put us up in a place which even animals would not accept."

"What we lived through there was truly terrible. We were traumatised by the experience. And we have had no psychological support, because when you have no papers, you have no rights either," Doumbia Mamadou, 45, told the local newspaper L'Union.

Tipped off a week later by a local resident, labour inspectors visited the scene and documented conditions which "were a serious breach of the occupants' safety, health and dignity," in the words of state prosecutor Annick Browne.

The prosecution says living and eating areas were outside, unprotected from the elements; toilets were filthy; showers were inadequate with only intermittent hot water; and the electrics were a safety hazard.

In addition the migrants were working ten hours a day with only 30 minutes for lunch, having been transported to the vineyards squatting in the back of trucks. They had no written contract, and the pay they received bore "no relation to the work performed," according to the prosecution.

"The accused had a total disregard for human dignity," said Maxime Cessieux, who represents some of the migrants.

The 44 year-old female suspect, named Svetlana G., ran a recruitment agency called Anavim, which specialised in finding labour for the wine industry. The two others were her associates.

In addition to the charge of human trafficking, the woman is also accused of undeclared labour, employing foreigners without permits, inadequate pay, and lodging vulnerable people in unfit conditions. All three face jail terms of up to seven years and large fines if they are convicted.

The case has raised questions about the extent of worker exploitation in the €6bn (£5.1bn) champagne industry. With every grape having to be picked by hand, producers rely on some 120,000 seasonal labourers every autumn, many of whom are recruited via agencies.

In 2023 six grape pickers died from suspected heatstroke during the harvest in the Champagne and Beaujolais regions - and in recent years there have been two other criminal cases in which agents have been found guilty of maltreatment of migrant vendangeurs.

Trade unions have said some champagne houses hide behind middlemen, and they want the law changed so that producers can lose the "champagne" label if they are found to have used illegal labour – even indirectly.

"It should not be possible to harvest the grapes of champagne using human misery," said Jose Blanco of the CGT union.

But the main body representing champagne producers – the Comité Champagne -- said mistreatment of workers happened very rarely and when discovered was immediately stopped.

The Comité is represented at the trial as a civil plaintiff, in recognition of the "damage done to the brand" by these "unacceptable practices."

PCs who put spit hood on 90-year-old face hearing

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Getty Images The IOPC found there were gross misconducts cases to answer over the treatment of the woman

Two serving Metropolitan Police officers and a former officer will face a gross misconduct hearing after a 90-year-old woman with dementia was "red-dotted" with a Taser, handcuffed and put in a spit hood. The woman was targeted with the Taser when she refused to drop kitchen utensils she had been holding after officers were called to an address in Peckham, south London, on 9 May 2023 over reports of a disturbance. She was then handcuffed and taken to hospital, but not arrested. Following an investigation, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) found two serving PCs and a former PC had gross misconducts cases to answer over the treatment of the woman.

The IOPC launched its investigation in June 2023 after a voluntary referral from the Met and a complaint from the family over use of force and allegation of discrimination due to the woman's age, race, sex and disability. It was determined there was a gross misconduct case to answer for one officer over their treatment of the woman, including their use of force regarding the Taser and their communication towards her. Another serving officer and former officer, who left the force in August, will also answer their own cases over the time the woman was kept in the handcuffs and spit hood and failing to take into account her age and disability during the incident. The police watchdog found no evidence the woman was discriminated against based on race or sex.

'Concerning incident'

The Met said both the serving officers had been placed on restricted duties, while three other officers will undergo a reflective practice review process following their behaviour during the incident. IOPC director Amanda Rowe said: "This was a concerning incident particularly given the woman's vulnerabilities. "It was important that we investigated the full circumstances surrounding this incident to determine exactly what occurred. "As a result we have decided that three officers who attended the incident should face a police disciplinary hearing which will ultimately determine whether the gross misconduct allegations are proven." Ch Supt Emma Bond, who leads policing in Southwark, said: "Officers know we expect them to show compassion and to adjust their approach according to the circumstances they are faced with. Over the coming days we will work closely with those communities most affected to ensure they feel heard and supported. "We have provided every assistance to the IOPC throughout its investigation and will now arrange for the hearing to be held as soon as possible."

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The government has pledged to spend £900m on major sporting events and grassroots facilities across the UK as part of a "transformational" investment.

More than £0.5bn of the money will be used to support the delivery of "a pipeline of major international events", including Euro 2028, which will be hosted in the UK and Ireland.

The 2026 European Athletics Championships in Birmingham and the Grand Departs of the men's and women's Tour de France cycling races in 2027 will also benefit.

All those events had already received government backing, along with a proposed UK bid to host the women's football World Cup in 2035, which the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is continuing to work on with the home nations football associations.

However, the government is yet to decide whether to support London's bid to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships, with more than 100 of Britain's most renowned athletes urging Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to do so earlier this month.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: "Sport tells our national story in a way few other things can – uniting communities, inspiring millions, and showcasing our nation on the global stage.

"This major backing for world-class events will drive economic growth across the country. Coupled with strong investment into grassroots sport, we're creating a complete pathway to allow the next generation of sporting heroes to train and take part in sport in communities across the UK. "

Doctor's warning over Turkish weight loss surgery

6 hours ago Share Save Jon Ironmonger BBC Investigations Share Save

BBC Hayley Butler began suffering from pain and vomiting soon after undergoing surgery in Turkey

An obesity doctor has told an inquest his team has dealt with more than 100 problems in patients who have undergone weight loss surgery in Turkey. Tanveer Adil, who works at Luton & Dunstable Hospital, was giving evidence at the inquest of 40-year-old Hayley Butler, a dog groomer from Norwich who died of organ failure after a sleeve gastrectomy at the Ozel Gozde Hospital in Izmir. He said Miss Butler had died as a result of the procedure and the "lack of safety netting" afterwards. Norfolk area coroner Yvonne Blake said it was clear the operation "had not been done properly".

Hayley Butler had apparently waited two years to be seen for weight loss surgery in the UK before flying to Turkey

Miss Butler flew to Izmir with a friend in September 2024 for the operation to remove a large part of her stomach after apparently failing to get help in the UK, the inquest in Norwich heard. Flights, transfers, accommodation, pre-op tests and medication were all included in the trip at a cost of about £2,500. After the procedure, the hearing was told she was given a 'fit to fly' letter from the hospital and returned home two days later, but was already feeling unwell. In a statement read by the coroner, her mother Gill Moore said Miss Butler was "constantly thirsty and had no energy... but thought it was normal". She added: "Things got worse over the weekend of the 5 October; she was projectile vomiting and could only consume tiny amounts of anything." Miss Butler was admitted to Norfolk and Norwich Hospital and later transferred to a specialist bariatric unit at Luton and Dunstable Hospital on the morning of 11 October. She eventually went into surgery at 17:00 and afterwards Mrs Moore said she was told her daughter had a 30% chance of survival. She died on 24 October of multiple organ failure due to sepsis. Mrs Moore said a doctor told her it was "the worst case he'd ever seen".

Mexico begins clean-up after hurricane Erick hits southern coast

Mexican Navy members help with the clean-up after Erick passed through Puerto Escondido in Oaxaca

The NHC warned of a potential for "life-threatening" storm surge in the hurricane's wake and Mexico's environment ministry also warned of waves of up to 10m (33ft).

There have been no reports of deaths or injuries. The storm dropped to Category 1 soon after making landfall, although the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said flooding and hurricane-force winds would persist as Erick headed north.

The tourist town of Puerto Escondido in Oaxaca state was left without electricity and phone coverage, after the storm damaged infrastructure, including two hospitals, and flooded streets.

Southern Mexico began a major clean-up on Thursday in the aftermath of Hurricane Erick, which hit its Pacific coast as a powerful Category 3 storm.

Hundreds of troops were called in to help with clean-up efforts in Puerto Escondido, where several buildings had suffered damage and roads were flooded near where the storm made landfall.

The water "had never hit with this magnitude", 44-year-old merchant Luis Alberto Gil, whose shop was among those flooded, told AFP.

State-owned utility CFE said that more than 120,000 users lost power in Oaxaca, with service restored to a quarter of those affected by late morning.

Gusts in the state reached 125mph (205km/h) an hour before falling to 85mph.

Around 250 miles (400km) north along the Pacific coast, the port and resort city of Acapulco was largely deserted as residents heeded calls to hunker down, with shops boarded up and tourist boats grounded.

Many had stocked up the day before on food, water and gasoline.

Alerts remained in place on Thursday for life-threatening flooding and mudslides in Oaxaca and neighbouring Guerrero, as well as the potential for a life-threatening storm surge on the coast.

However, the NHC said that Erick was to continue its "rapid weakening" and would probably dissipate in the later hours of Thursday.

President Claudia Sheinbaum had urged people to avoid going out and advised those living in low-lying areas or near rivers to move to shelters - some 2,000 of which had been set up in Chiapas, Guerrero and Oaxaca in anticipation.

Southern Mexico was severely battered by Hurricane Otis in 2023. At least 50 people were killed when the Category 5 hurricane battered Acapulco.

Otis intensified rapidly, meaning many people were unprepared when the hurricane made landfall.

Few things are as inevitable as the ball hitting the back of the net when Lionel Messi sizes up the target before executing a free-kick from 20 yards.

Messi reminded world football - if we even needed a reminder - that he is still capable of delivering special moments during Inter Miami's 2-1 win over Porto at the Fifa Club World Cup.

The 37-year-old's free-kick was vintage, trademark, and there was nothing goalkeeper Claudio Ramos could do to save it.

This is, of course, a man who scored an eye-watering 73 goals in 60 appearances across all competitions during the 2011-12 season for Barcelona.

Standing centrally and on the edge of the D, the goal was at Messi's mercy, but he elected for the more difficult of the two options - going both over the wall and to the goalkeeper's side.

With that strike his 68th goal from direct free-kicks, Messi certainly has no shortage of experience and doesn't lack in anything when it comes to confidence.

Only Juninho Pernambucano (77), who spent most of his career with Lyon and Pele (70) have scored more direct free-kicks than Messi.

"Touched by God, isn't he? Incredible. What a player," former Portugal defender Jose Fonte said on Dazn.

"If you get a chance to go see this guy live - you go and see him. This is what he does," ex-Newcastle goalkeeper Shay Given added on Dazn.

"It's nearly like a penalty for him - he is so precise. He is a genius.

"You call him maestro, magician, the words run out."

Messi's strike followed another stunning finish from team-mate Telasco Segovia and completed a comeback victory to put Inter Miami firmly in the running for a spot in the last 16 at the Club World Cup.

It is the first time the MLS franchise have won a game at the competition and means a draw in their final Group A game against Brazilian outfit Palmeiras, who sit top, would send both teams through.

This is, in every sense, it.

Bazball. Pensioning off James Anderson. Ben Stokes' knee. Ben Stokes' hamstring. The Raid of Rawalpindi and the Heist of Hyderabad. One run in Wellington. The moral Ashes and enough rounds of golf to forge a major champion.

All leading to this.

Ten Tests - five against India now and five against Australia in the winter - the difference between this England team being remembered as ideological entertainers, glorious winners, or both.

Stokes, the captain, has a place in history assured. Further success between now and January would strengthen his claim as England's greatest cricketer of all time. Coach Brendon McCullum could quit today and still go down as the man that resuscitated the England team. Now he has the opportunity to take some of the biggest prizes back to his stables in New Zealand.

There is every chance both are still in charge this time next year – McCullum is contracted until 2027 anyway – but also an alternative outcome that sees the end of both. In the story arc we have reached the Half-Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows, the finale of which will determine the appetite for a Cursed Child stage show.

Talk of a "defining period" will not seep into the dressing room. Stokes famously told Jofra Archer "today doesn't define you" before he bowled the super over in the 2019 World Cup final. On a human level, how many of us would want to be judged on a six-month period at work?

"I don't tend to worry myself about what other people are going to say about what I've done as a captain at the end of it," said Stokes.

"Since I've done this role I've done it wholeheartedly and thrown everything I possibly have into doing it, both on the field and off the field. That's all I can really control. The results will be the results and hopefully we'll have more in favour than not."

Manchester City have been fined over £1m by the Premier League after repeatedly kicking-off or restarting matches late last season.

Nine of City's matches last season started or restarted late, with the longest delay coming before the second half of the Manchester derby in December 2024 which resumed two minutes and 24 seconds later than billed.

The Premier League said City had accepted and apologised for the breaches, external, with the fines totalling £1.08m. They have 14 days to pay.

Last season the club were fined £2.09m for delaying 22 matches, and manager Pep Guardiola said he would try and make his team talks shorter.

Dozens fall ill in heat at Royal Ascot

10 hours ago Share Save Daisy Stephens BBC News, South Share Save

Getty Images Temperatures were expected to reach 30C in Ascot on Thursday

Dozens of people required medical assistance because of heat-related illness on the second day of Royal Ascot, racecourse officials have confirmed. The event attracted over 41,000 spectators on Wednesday, during which temperatures reached 29.7C (85F). A Royal Ascot spokesperson said one person was taken to hospital while a further 42 received treatment on site. Free water is being provided to all those attending, the spokesperson added.

Getty Images More than 40,000 people attended Ascot on Wednesday

They also said additional gazebos and parasols had been installed. Horses are kept cool using misting fans and a mobile water bowser with a 1,000-litre (220-gallon) capacity. In total, more than 250,000 people are expected to attend the five-day event, which ends on Saturday. The event was founded by Queen Anne in 1711 and is now well known as a key social occasion, as well as a sporting event. King Charles, Queen Camilla and the Prince of Wales appeared in a carriage procession at the event on Wednesday - but the Princess of Wales was not in attendance.

Amber heat health alerts were issued across the whole of England from 09:00 BST on Thursday, with temperatures likely to exceed 30C for the first time this year. The UK Health Security Agency said "significant impacts are likely" for health and social care services, including increased demand. It follows a period of high temperatures across the UK with yellow heat health-alerts having previously been in place.

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This is just a second match on grass for Alcaraz after the physical and emotional toll of the Roland Garros final.

He started strongly against Munar but grew unusually frustrated as the match went on, shouting at his team and disputing a time violation with the umpire midway through the second set.

World number 59 Munar said before the match that his chances of an upset were "low" - but he came within touching distance of victory, thanks to some strong serving and deep, powerful forehands.

After a composed first set, Alcaraz could not find the breakthrough in the second, with Munar saving three break points in a gritty display.

Munar also missed nine break points and needed eight set points to eventually edge over the line after one hour and 41 minutes.

Alcaraz held to love to start the deciding set and quickly went a break up, with Munar looking to have expended all his energy taking the second set.

However, Munar broke back and led 4-3 30-0 before Alcaraz hit back, reeling off four points in a row to force the set back on level terms.

There was a glimpse for Munar as Alcaraz went 0-30 down in his next service game - but, as the top players often do, Alcaraz simply found a way through, holding serve before capitalising as Munar served for a match tie-break.

"It was a really tough battle. He's a great competitor and showed how difficult it is to beat him," Alcaraz added.