Why Starmer faces a political storm over welfare reforms

5 hours ago Share Save Iain Watson, Henry Zeffman and Harry Farley Political correspondents Share Save

Reuters

Angela Rayner has declared that the government will go ahead with its controversial legislation, aimed at reforming the welfare system, next week. But a well-placed source told us it could still be pulled: "It's a live discussion." Conversations are continuing at the heart of government on the least worst course of action in the face of a significant backbench rebellion. More than 120 Labour backbenchers have signed an amendment calling for the proposals to be scrapped, making an embarrassing defeat for the government possible. Ministers are exploring whether some potential rebels can be won over with concessions or whether it's better to avoid next week's vote entirely, and postpone until the autumn. Sources suggest the Chancellor Rachel Reeves is "digging in". They fear concessions, if any, would only be offered from the dispatch box on Tuesday if defeat looms. But some in government believe this is seen as too much of a high-wire act, and don't want to risk defeat. Even if the reforms stumble through, one leading rebel predicted dire consequences. The subsequent bitterness in Labour's ranks, they suggested, would make it all but impossible for the leadership to handle their own parliamentary party. Labour's landslide election victory was just a year ago, so how could it now be even at the remotest risk of defeat on a flagship policy? Here are a few factors.

Ignoring the signals

Rayner confirms welfare vote will go ahead next week as she defends reforms

This rebellion has been a long time in gestation. What ignited the flame of rebellion was the government's own assessment in March that its welfare changes could force 250,000 people – including 50,000 children – into relative poverty. This did not take in to account new measures to get more people in to work, because these have yet to be implemented, but that headline figure made many MPs shudder. That the government had a problem with party management should have become obvious when backbenchers were called in to meet officials in Downing Street to be briefed on the welfare changes early in March. Some of these usually loyal MPs emerged unhappy. One of them told us: "People won't wear it. The costs of being disabled aren't going down. They can't just force this through like the winter fuel cut." Another said they had made a "heartfelt" plea for a change of course. Alarm bells should possibly have rung when welfare ministers - including Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall - held a series of sessions with concerned backbenchers, and some of the testy exchanges were leaked. The next milestone on the road to rebellion was in May when 42 Labour MPs wrote to the Guardian pushing for postponement of cuts and a rethink. But the sirens should have wailed when more than 100 Labour MPs wrote to the government whips last month. When only very small concessions – or "olive branches" as Department of Work and Pensions sources preferred to call them – emerged, discussions began behind the scenes among MPs on drawing up a 'reasoned' (at Westminster, this is a euphemism for 'wrecking') amendment - when dissenters would display their discontent in public. One cabinet minister told the BBC: "Some of those who signed the amendment did so thinking that the Speaker wouldn't select it, but that it would make the strength of feeling clear and bring the government to the negotiating table." But the government hasn't sat down at that table and the cabinet minister believes that if next week's welfare vote goes ahead, "the Speaker would be mad not to select it" - placing the government in danger of defeat.

Wrong way round

A chunk of blame is being apportioned to the chancellor's fiscal rules – and to the chancellor herself. Almost all Labour MPs believe a 'broken' welfare system needs to be fixed. They like the £1bn of extra support that Kendall secured for measures such as one-to-one coaching to help unemployed people into work, and a 'right to try a job' without a subsequent loss of benefits if it doesn't work out. But the dissenting MPs wanted this approach to be used first, before most cuts to benefits took place, and they complain that too much of this funding is scheduled for later in the parliament, while the process of restricting Personal Independence Payments will begin in around 18 months. As one rebel put it: "The welfare changes are the wrong way round." Rachel Reeves had promised to stick by her "iron clad" fiscal rules, which mean that debt has to be on a trajectory to fall as a share of national income on a five year horizon. To help meet these, she pencilled in £5bn of welfare cuts. While Kendall told the BBC that the welfare reforms didn't start with a spreadsheet, many of her colleagues believe Reeves couldn't make the same claim. What MPs felt gave the game away was this: the chancellor found extra cuts at her Spring Statement in March, when the budget watchdog, the Office for Budgetary Responsibility, didn't think the numbers added up. Even some supporters of the reforms believe that the emotional case for them – getting people off the unemployment 'scrapheap', ending stressful re-assessments for the most vulnerable – were not made soon enough or forcefully enough. One minister – who predicts the welfare vote will be postponed – suggested that the jobs of Kendall and the chief whip Sir Alan Campbell were on the line. Asked if Reeves's position could be at risk, the minister said: "Keir will do that in this parliament but it's the last lever he will reach for. He'll sack his advisers at least one more time before it comes to that."

PA Media Rayner (left) has vowed Reeves' £5bn of cuts will go ahead.

Rebel Alliance

Opposition to the welfare cuts is genuine and heartfelt among many of the Labour sceptics. But there is an underlying environment that might make conditions ripe for rebellion. Study the names of those calling for a rethink. They include people with front bench experience in opposition who hoped or expected to become ministers – and were overlooked. The names also include people who have direct experience of being on benefits, or of forming welfare policy, but who feel they weren't given their due or properly consulted by the party leadership. One of them told me: "Party management has been appalling right from the start. Holding meetings isn't the same as listening - they have not listened to us. There has been a lot of frustration." This group of MPs would not have responded well to the prime minister's description of the potential rebels as "noises off" at a press conference on Wednesday. He can expect more noise as a result. Around half of those calling for changes are MPs elected for the first time in 2024. Labour was supposed to have weeded out troublesome candidates, such as those close to the Jeremy Corbyn leadership, those with rebellious tendencies and dodgy social media histories. Yet the prime minister is facing the biggest rebellion of his leadership. Perhaps what wasn't factored in by those around Sir Keir is that many of the new intake were brought into politics by protests about Conservative welfare policies. As one person involved in drawing up these reforms said, the welfare state is to Labour MPs what Europe was to Conservative MPs. But according to one veteran MP – who has signalled her own willingness to rebel – some of her fresher colleagues are acting not just on behalf of disabled constituents but themselves. They have been inundated with constituents' complaints, they have small majorities and they want to distance themselves from unpopular policies.

PA Media Starmer (front, centre) swept to power with a huge majority and a new intake of MPs - some of whom are now turning on government policy

Big majority, big problem?

Some of the difficulties the government faces may not have come despite the majority - but because of it. There are only so many government jobs to go round. So MPs who believe they are never likely to become ministers are more open to acting independently. When whips or cabinet ministers warn colleagues that they may be killing off hope of a ministerial career if they rebel, the calculation may be that they are unlikely to receive preferment in any case. And while big majorities look impregnable, many MPs aren't feeling very secure. Labour secured lots of seats on a small share of the vote in 2024 - and the more Labour lags behind Reform UK in the polls, the more discipline diminishes. As one minister put it: "This is the new reality of our volatile politics. Welcome to Italy." Some MPs also don't seem to feel personal loyalty to Keir Starmer - they feel that it was the electorate's desire for change rather than their party leadership that was responsible for their elevation to Westminster. Some of them tell me they now feel embarrassed by promising during the election campaign that disabled benefits wouldn't be cut – or accusing the Conservatives of considering withdrawing winter fuel payments when in fact it was their own party that subsequently did so. Resentments have been simmering but now the political temperature is being turned up. One new MP told us: "In the first month, it's very difficult to stand up to your government and feel like you've got a voice, but I think in those intervening months that a lot of us have found that voice. "We have found support amongst others. And we do feel confident in saying what we think is right and what is wrong." With a large majority, some backbenchers feel under-used. One MP observed that many welfare rebels had also thrown themselves actively into one side or the other of the assisted dying debate: "They got a taste for anger and organising" - including against fellow Labour MPs.

One U-turn deserves another

The U-turn on winter fuel – which many backbenchers welcomed – may also have convinced some potential rebels that if enough pressure is applied, the government will fold. So far from buying off welfare rebels by that U-turn, they seem to have been emboldened. The consequences of this are making some of their more loyal colleagues shudder. Bad blood is flowing between some backbenchers. Some of the favoured sons and daughters (in some cases quite literally) of the party hierarchy were ushered in to winnable seats close to the general election by the party machine. They didn't have to engage in the jeopardy of a local selection battle. The leadership expected loyalty in return but even a small number of them have baulked at the welfare reforms. One critic bemoaned that they were "parachuted into their safe seats and have already forgotten how they got here". Another MP said: "I'm afraid it shows many in the party just aren't fit for government." And one of the new intake doesn't have much time for indiscipline, either. He told us that he had learned his some of his colleagues were "spineless" and "treacherous". Warming to his theme, he feared the party was retreating to the comfort of its traditional vote-losing ways: "Classic Labour. A year into government and we're already screwing it up."

What are the government's planned welfare cuts and how much will they save?

6 hours ago Share Save Ben Chu BBC Verify Share Save

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A significant number of Labour MPs are threatening to vote against the government's working-age welfare reform plan when it comes before the House of Commons next week. The reforms are designed to reduce the overall working-age welfare bill by about £5bn a year by the end of the decade. The rebel MPs have signed an amendment to the legislation that makes a series of objections, including a lack of official consultation and impact assessments. BBC Verify explains the detail of the reforms and their possible impact.

Which benefits would be cut?

The government wants to save money by: making it harder for people to access Personal Independence Payments (Pip)

cutting the rate of incapacity benefit Incapacity benefit - which is mainly paid through the health element of Universal Credit - goes to those deemed to be unable to work for health reasons. This benefit is set to be reduced by 50% in cash terms for new claimants from April 2026. For existing claimants, it is due to be held flat in cash terms until 2029-30 - meaning payments will not rise in line with inflation. The government estimates these two changes will save £3bn a year by the end of the decade. Pip is paid to people with a long-term physical or mental health condition or a disability and who need support. Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has acknowledged that almost 20% of recipients are in work.

The government plans to make it more difficult for people to claim the "daily living" element of Pip from 2026-27. Under the current assessment system, claimants are scored on a zero to 12 scale by a health professional on everyday tasks such as washing, getting dressed and preparing food. What are the Pip and universal credit changes and who is affected? Under the proposed change, people would need to score at least four on one task, ruling out people with lower scores who would previously have qualified for the benefit. The government estimates this will save an additional £4.5bn a year from the welfare bill by the end of the decade.

Why is the government trying to cut welfare spending?

It is concerned about the rise in the number of people claiming working-age benefits in recent years and the implications of this trend for the public finances. Last Autumn, the government projected that the numbers of working-age claimants of Pip in England, Scotland and Wales would rise from 2.7 million in 2023-24 to 4.3 million in 2029-30, an increase of 1.6 million. At that time, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), the government's official forecaster, projected that the overall cost of the working-age benefit system would rise from £48.5bn in 2024 to £75.7bn by 2030. That would have represented an increase from 1.7% of the size of the UK economy to 2.2%, roughly the size of current spending on defence.

Ministers argue that this rising bill needs to be brought under control and that changes to the welfare system are part of that effort. It is worth noting though that - even after factoring in the planned cuts - the OBR still projected this bill to continue to rise in cash terms to £72.3bn by 2030. And the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) still projected the total number of working-age Pip recipients to rise by 1.2 million between 2023-24 and 2029-30 - after the cuts.

In this sense, the main effect of the Pip cuts would be to reduce the increase in claimants that would otherwise have occurred.

What would the impact of the reforms be?

The government's official impact assessment estimates that about 250,000 additional people (including 50,000 children) will be left in "relative poverty" (after housing costs) by 2030 because of the reforms. However, that assessment included the impact of the government deciding not to proceed with welfare reforms planned by the previous Conservative administration, which government analysts had judged would have pushed an additional 150,000 people into poverty. Some charities and research organisations have suggested this means the government's 250,000 estimate understates the impact of its own reforms, since the previous administration's reforms were never actually implemented. Iain Porter from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation has suggested the actual poverty impact of the government's changes could therefore be up to 400,000 (adding the 250,000 figure to the 150,000 figure to generate an estimate of the total numbers affected). However, the government's impact assessment cautions against simply adding the two figures together, noting that "some people are affected by more than one [reform] measure", meaning this approach risks double counting individuals. Taking account of this, the Resolution Foundation think tank has estimated that the net effect of the government's reforms would mean "at least 300,000" people entering relative poverty by 2030.

What about the impact on employment?

The government has claimed that its reforms are not just about saving money, but helping people into work. Chancellor Rachel Reeves told Sky News in March 2025 that: "I am absolutely certain that our reforms, instead of pushing people into poverty, are going to get people into work. And we know that if you move from welfare into work, you are much less likely to be in poverty." To this end, the government is gradually increasing the standard allowance in Universal Credit - the basic sum paid to cover recipients' living costs - by £5 a week by 2029-30. This is projected to be a net benefit to 3.8 million households and the government argues it will also increase the incentives for people to work rather than claim incapacity benefits. The government is also investing an extra £1bn a year by 2029-30 in additional support to get people out of inactivity and into employment.

What are the rebels' objections?

Five takeaways from Nato's big summit on hiking defence spending

5 hours ago Share Save Laura Gozzi & Paul Kirby BBC News Share Save

NICOLAS TUCAT/AFP Nato's secretary general, Mark Rutte, hosted the 32 leaders in his home country

For the Netherlands this was the biggest security operation in its history; for Nato's 32 member states the Hague summit was historic too. There were unexpected moments of levity in among the momentous decisions over the looming threat from Russia and raising defence spending to levels not seen since the Cold War. Here is what we learned from a whirlwind two days in The Hague.

Big spike in defence spending

The main takeaway is the allies' commitment to a 5% defence spending target, to be reached within a decade. It's a remarkable jump from the current 2% guideline, which currently isn't even met by eight Nato members out of 32. Only 3.5% of that figure is meant to be achieved entirely through core defence spending on troops and weapons – while the remaining 1.5% can be put towards "defence-related expenditure". And that's a suitably broad concept that can apply to spending even only loosely linked to defence: as long as it is used to "protect our critical infrastructure, defend our networks, ensure our civil preparedness and resilience, unleash innovation, and strengthen our defence industrial base". Reaching that 3.5% core defence spending target will still be a significant ask for many Nato countries, many of which currently hover around the 2% line. Plans to reach the 5% figure will have to be submitted annually and will have to follow a "credible, incremental path". A review will take place in 2029.

One for all and all for one

For as long as Nato has existed, its Article Five on collective defence has been a core principle that means an attack against one ally is considered an attack on all. So when Trump suggested on the way to the summit there were "numerous definitions" of the mutual security guarantee, it was a reminder of comments he made on the campaign trail last year, when he suggested if a country did not pay its way "I would not protect you, in fact I would encourage [Moscow] to do whatever they want". This summit agreement appears to put to bed any lingering concerns about Trump's intentions because it reaffirms "our ironclad commitment to collective defence". "I stand with [Article Five], that's why I'm here," he told reporters afterwards. That reassurance will be well received by Nato member states seen as under most threat, but then they paid their way anyway. And Trump has gone back to Washington with a deal that means all other member states have agreed to do up their spending too.

BEN STANSALL/POOL/AFP Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky met many of the Nato leaders during the summit

Trump and the Russian war

The Russia question was always going to be tricky. Most Nato countries – particularly those in close proximity to the Russian border – are in agreement that Moscow could pose a direct threat to them in the near future; Rutte himself has said Russia could use military force against the alliance within five years. Last year's end-of-summit declaration referenced – in no uncertain terms – Moscow's "brutal war of aggression" several times. But Trump has had a much softer approach to Moscow, and has resisted treating it as an adversary. As such it was always unlikely he was going to approve a declaration that labelled Russia as the clear culprit for the bloody Ukraine war, now more than three years old. So while the statement mentions the "long-term threat posed by Russia to Euro-Atlantic security" and reaffirms the need to provide enduring support to Ukraine, there is no specific condemnation of Russia in the communique.

Spain accused by Trump of wanting 'a free ride'

Ever since Volodymyr Zelensky's difficult experience in the White House last February, European leaders have sought to avoid getting off on the wrong foot with Donald Trump. Spain's Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez went to The Hague already mired in domestic political scandals and he was expecting a tough time. Spain props up the bottom of the Nato spending league with 1.24% of economic output on defence. He came to The Hague insisting that 2.1% was plenty, and told reporters after signing the summit declaration that Spain considered the amount "sufficient, realistic and compatible with our social model and welfare state".

AFP The Spanish prime minister (far right of photo) appeared to stand by himself in the Nato "family photo"

The Spanish PM was noticeably aloof during the "family photo", preferring to stand on the end away from his Nato colleagues. There were suggestions that he had gone out of his way to avoid Trump too. But Sánchez had already caught Trump's eye and the US president was having none of it. "It's terrible, what they've done," said Trump, who accused Madrid of seeking "a little bit of a free ride". "We're negotiating with Spain on a trade deal but we're going to make them pay twice." Because Spain is a member of the European Union, Trump will find that difficult to do - but Sánchez will go back to Madrid isolated in Nato as well as struggling at home.

Rutte and his 'daddy issues'

Nato boss commends 'daddy' Trump's handling of Israel-Iran conflict

"Athletes across all sports have been discussing this for a long time, but it hasn't really changed. Hopefully something can get done soon."

Asked for his view - as both an ex-player and father-of-four - about what could be done to eradicate toxic abuse, Murray said: "If I'm being honest I don't know. Me and my wife are trying to keep our children off social media until they are much older, because I think it can be pretty damaging."

Murray's eldest child is nine, while his youngest is four. Many social media apps have a minimum age of 13 for users.

Technology firms will have to do more to protect young people from harmful content under the Government's Online Safety Act. It is being introduced in phases and social media platforms are now obliged to protect users from illegal or harmful content, while more child safety measures are being introduced next month.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer told the BBC the government will also explore whether further protective measures can be put in place on social media platforms.

Figures provided by data science firm Signify, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and Women's Tennis Association (WTA) show that in 2024, about 8,000 abusive, violent or threatening messages were sent publicly to 458 tennis players through their social media accounts.

Following Boulter's comments, fellow tennis players demanded more action, including calls for the introduction of identity verification.

Several of the England women's football team also plan to give up social media for their forthcoming European Championship defence in Switzerland.

Murray said: "I don't know whose responsibility it is, I don't know if the government needs to do more to tackle it, or [X owner] Elon Musk and people like that can do more to stop these messages getting through to individuals.

"I don't mean just athletes, but then you get into the whole debate around free speech and it's a difficult one."

Murray also said athletes could help themselves "by trying to avoid looking at the comments and going on our phones immediately after matches", but the onus was not on them to solve the problem.

Former British tennis player Naomi Broady, 35, told BBC Radio 5 Live about her experiences of abuse on social media, saying: "I've seen the worst of trolling and after I had children, I don't show their faces any more."

Man arrested over 1980s sex attacks days after BBC questions police

7 hours ago Share Save Mark Daly BBC Disclosure Share Save

BBC Fiona (left) took her case to the police 20 years ago and they were also told of Fee's case

Four women have told a BBC investigation they were sexually assaulted or raped by the same man in the 1980s and 90s. The alleged attacks took place in Dumfries over an 11-year period when the women were teenagers. One was just 15. Days before the BBC was due to broadcast its documentary The Rapist In Our Town, police arrested a man over claims by two of the women in the programme. The women had first gone to the police 20 years ago but prosecutors decided not to take the case to court.

Warning: This article contains details that readers may find upsetting

The BBC Disclosure investigation, which began in April, uncovered new alleged victims in the case and features claims that police missed a crucial lead two decades ago. The man, who the BBC is not naming for legal reasons, denies the allegations. He says the claims had been previously "robustly investigated" and he was never prosecuted.

Fiona - I kept saying 'no, no, no'

Gavin Hopkins Fiona first went to the police with the allegations 20 years ago

In 1989, Fiona was 18, living in Dumfries and working in a local bank. One night, she'd been out with a friend in a club. They ended up in a taxi with a man her friend was seeing, and another man she didn't know. "I didn't think that I was in any danger at that point," Fiona said. She ended up in the stranger's home after her friend went with the other man to a house across the road. "He made me a cup of tea and I asked him could he phone across to see when my friend was coming over," Fiona said. "That's when everything changed. "He started coming across to try to take my clothes off." Fiona said: "He had me pinned down with one arm. "I kept saying to him: 'No, no, no'. But he didn't stop. "And then once he had raped me, he said to me: 'I suppose you'll say I've raped you now'." Fiona said the man raped her again the next morning. "My next recollection was getting back to my house, taking a deep breath - I'm safe now," she said.

Fee - I kept telling him to stop and he wouldn't

Gavin Hopkins Fee was working in a bar when she was allegedly attacked by a man

Five years earlier in 1984, 18-year-old Fee was working in a Dumfries bar the same man used to frequent. She said she had gone upstairs one night to lock up and been followed by the man. Fee said: "He knew that there'd be nobody up there. He was prowling." She said the man attacked her and pinned her to the ground. "He started kissing me," she said. "I kept fighting with him and telling him to stop and he wouldn't." Fee said the man tried to rape her. "And I thought, there's no way, you're not doing this to me," she said. "I just fought and fought. I kneed him, punched him, kicked him, just so he would get off me." Fee said the man then fled downstairs and out of the pub.

Threatened with defamation

Neither Fee or Fiona, who didn't know each other, told anyone initially. They say they feared they would not be believed. Fee said: "I thought it's my word against his. I'll just forget it happened." Within a few years, Fiona started telling people what she said had happened to her. Then in 2005 she received a letter from the man's lawyers, threatening a defamation action if she didn't stop telling people he had raped her. Fiona told the BBC: "It was probably the kick up the arse I needed to get the courage to go to the police." The police had also heard about Fee's case and took a statement from her. The man was charged and a file sent to prosecutors in the procurator fiscal's office. In 2007, the fiscal told the women the case would not proceed because of "insufficient evidence". A review by another fiscal in 2010 seemed to close the door on the case, telling Fiona: "There is no realistic prospect of us being able to take any action at any time." Fiona said she was devastated as she believed there were other alleged victims the police had missed. In November last year she went back the police, who reopened the case. She said she had since become frustrated at what seemed like a lack of progress, especially around leads she felt were important.

Caroline - I thought folk wouldn't believe me

Steven Donnelly Caroline says she was attacked in a phone booth in 1982

The BBC started to investigate the case in April this year. Soon, a third woman had come forward. Caroline told the BBC about an alleged sexual assault carried out by the same man in about 1982. She said she had been using a phone booth when the man, who was known to her, came in and closed the door behind him. Caroline, who was about 18 or 19 at the time, said: "He literally had got me up against the wall. "Before I knew it he grabbed my breasts and I sort of pushed him and went: 'What are you doing? Get out!'." Like Fee and Fiona, Caroline didn't report it. "Maybe I thought folk wouldn't believe me," she said.

'I didn't do anything wrong'

Fiona says she gave the police a lead about another alleged victim in 2005. She says she provided the same details in November last year when she went back to the police. The BBC tracked the woman down. Now 48, she says she has never been contacted by the police about the case. The woman says she was raped by the same man in 1993, when she was aged 15. She kept her alleged attack secret for 32 years, and tells her story for the first time in BBC Disclosure's The Rapist In Our Town. She said: "I've come to realise it's not my fault. I didn't do anything wrong." The woman said she would have cooperated with police if they had asked her 20 years ago - and that she is still prepared to do so. "If I can help put him where he belongs, yeah, I want to help do that," she said.

Crowds pour in as Glastonbury Festival gates open

8 hours ago Share Save Sarah Turnnidge BBC News, West of England Emma Hallett BBC News, Somerset Share Save

Watch: Gates open for Glastonbury Festival 2025

Thousands of people have poured into Worthy Farm after the gates officially opened for the 2025 Glastonbury Festival. Co-founder Sir Michael Eavis and his daughter Emily Eavis, who now runs the festival, led the countdown shortly before 08:00 BST in front of many who slept outside the gate on Tuesday night. More than 200,000 people are set to descend on the site in the coming days ahead of the main festival programme launching on Friday. Speaking shortly before the gates opened, Ms Eavis told the BBC: "It's been such a build-up this year, it's been an amazing amount of excitement."

Emily Eavis described the festival as "the most joyful city in the UK"

Ms Eavis said: "We're all so looking forward to opening the gates and to be able to do it with my dad has been amazing. "It's the best moment to let them all in and it's just such a joyful city, the most joyful city in the UK for the next five days."

The man carrying all of his stuff to Glastonbury in a wheelie bin

Hundreds of people arrived on Tuesday night, sleeping under the stars in queues in a bid to be the first on site. Among them were James Trusson, 31, from Ash, Somerset, Grace Ball, 29, from Bournemouth and Dan Mortimore, from Compton Dundon, Somerset, who made it to the front of the line for the second year in a row.

(L to R) James, Grace and Dan were among the hundreds of people queuing through the night ahead of the gates opening

Having put themselves in prime position for a top camping spot, Ms Ball said their plans for the rest of the day were to go "back to the car for snacks, and then sleep". "I'll crack a beer I think," added Mr Trusson.

Hair maintenance "just vibes and prayers" at Glastonbury

Hundreds of people have got in touch with the BBC with photos and stories of travelling to the festival - whether that's a train into Castle Cary, a long coach journey or by bike. A coach full of Glastonbury-goers was sat on the hard shoulder of the M6 with a blown tyre, and Bobby told us he had broken down next to the A303 on his way to the festival. Many heading to the festival for the first time shared their excitement, while others said returning for the 13th time was "pretty awesome". We also spoke to Laurence, who said he quit his job to attend Glastonbury Festival because his leave request was denied.

Laurence (right) quit his job after his request for time off to attend the festival was denied

Apart from the expected traffic on the A361 between Glastonbury and Worthy Farm, the main travel routes to the festival have remained relatively clear throughout the day.

PA Thousands of people are expected to arrive at the festival via Castle Cary station

While the main acts might not start performing until Friday, there is plenty for revellers to enjoy away from the music. There are performances at the circus and theatre fields, seaside entertainment on offer at "Glastonbury-on-Sea" and plenty of food and drink stalls.

PA It might only be the first day, but people at every gate were dressed to impress for the event

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The second heatwave of 2025 is set to send temperatures soaring back over the 30C mark this weekend.

The hot weather will last into the first part of next week with the heat becoming increasingly intense with the possibility of recording the highest temperature of the year so far.

The hottest day of 2025 to date was recorded on 21 June at Charlwood, Surrey with temperatures reaching 33.2C (91.8F).

Heatwaves are becoming more common due to climate change, with a greater chance of seeing extreme heat.

There are lots of summer events that will be affected by the heat. It's likely to be the hottest start to Wimbledon, surpassing the record of 29.3C (measured at Kew) from 2001. Temperatures will get close to the Glastonbury record of 31.2C (measured at Rodney Stoke) recorded in 2017.

At a Nato press conference in the Netherlands, President Trump took a question from Myroslava Petsa from the BBC Ukrainian Service.

She asked whether the US would be supplying Patriot air defence systems to Ukraine.

Trump then asked where she was from and took an interest in her personal situation, asking whether her husband was a soldier in Ukraine, to which she said yes.

"I wish you a lot of luck, I can see this is very upsetting to you and say hello to your husband," he concluded.

Council boss quits, leaving 18-year-old in charge

4 hours ago Share Save Elizabeth Glinka Political Editor, BBC Midlands Share Save

BBC Rob Howard said health issues were the reason for his resignation

The recently elected leader of Warwickshire County Council has resigned, leaving his 18-year-old deputy in charge. Reform UK councillor Rob Howard released a short statement in which he said he had made the decision with "much regret". Howard was elected in May, when Reform made unprecedented gains in the local elections, becoming the largest party in Warwickshire and forming a minority administration. The outgoing leader cited his health as the reason for his decision, adding: "The role of leader is an extremely demanding role and regretfully my health challenges now prevent me from carrying out the role to the level and standard that I would wish."

He also confirmed that his current deputy, George Finch, would serve as interim leader until the council confirmed a new leader in due course.

George Finch, 18, will lead Warwickshire County Council

Speaking to the BBC earlier this month, Howard said he was "not intimidated" by the challenge of running a local authority with £1.5bn of assets and a revenue budget of about £500m. Despite resigning the top job with immediate effect, Howard confirmed he would be staying on as a county councillor. "I am honoured and privileged to have held the role, even if only for a short time. I remain committed to my continued role working as a county councillor for the benefit of Warwickshire residents," he said. Mr Finch, councillor for Bedworth Central, was a member of the Conservative Party for three months before switching to Reform on the grounds that it would better tackle illegal immigration. On the New Reformer website, he said his politics could be summed up as "Brexit, sovereignty and a strong and united family unit". The BBC has contacted the interim council leader for comment.

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Satellite images reveal new signs of damage at Iranian nuclear sites

6 hours ago Share Save Shayan Sardarizadeh & Thomas Spencer BBC Verify Share Save

BBC

Satellite images have revealed new signs of damage to access routes and tunnels at Iran's underground Fordo enrichment facility which was targeted by Israel on 23 June, a day after the US dropped bunker-buster bombs on the site. Previously unseen damage is also visible near tunnel entrances at Iran's Isfahan Nuclear Technology Centre after it was hit by the US. Meanwhile, there are signs work is already underway to fill in craters at the Natanz enrichment complex in the wake of US strikes. A leaked US intelligence document has cast doubt on the overall impact of the strikes. Media coverage of its conclusions prompted an angry response from President Donald Trump. Other new satellite images reveal previously unseen damage at a university in north-east Tehran and an area adjacent to a major airport west of the capital. Israel, and subsequently the US, said strikes were aimed at preventing Iran from building a nuclear weapon. Iran has consistently denied those allegations, insisting its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes.

New damage at Fordo

The Fordo enrichment facility, buried underground in a mountainside near the city of Qom, was struck with US bunker-buster munitions on 22 June, resulting in six large craters visible in satellite images, as well as grey dust and debris scattered around across the area. A day later, Israel said that it had struck Fordo again, this time targeting access routes to the facility. The attack was later confirmed by Iranian authorities. High-resolution satellite images captured on 24 June and published by Maxar Technologies show new craters and damaged buildings that were not visible in the aftermath of US strikes. One new crater can be seen on an access road that leads to a tunnel entrance north-west of the facility. At least two craters are also visible near a tunnel opening at the southern edge of the complex. Maxar images also show a destroyed installation north of the facility, alongside air strike craters and grey dust in the same area.

One new additional crater and scorch marks can be seen in the middle of an access road at the western edge of the facility. It's believed the strikes were intended to make these sites difficult to reach and repair.

The volume of grey dust visible in some of the satellite images may be sign of the level of destruction beneath the surface, analysts believe. "Deep below ground detonations of sufficient magnitude to expel the concrete as described would cause significant blast damage to underground structures," said Trevor Lawrence, head of the Centre for Energetics Technology, Cranfield University and an expert on effect of explosions. "Given the complexity of building these structures, significant damage is very unlikely to be repaired in the short term, if at all."

Damage to tunnel entrances at Isfahan complex

The Isfahan Nuclear Technology Centre, located south-east of the city of Isfahan, is Iran's largest nuclear research complex. It also houses a uranium conversion facility where natural uranium is converted into material that could be enriched in the country's two uranium enrichment facilities in Natanz and Fordo. The complex was struck twice by Israel. It was then targeted by the US on 22 June, resulting in more extensive damage across the complex. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the efficacy of the US strikes on Iran, apparently referencing the uranium conversion facility at Isfahan. "You can't do a nuclear weapon without a conversion facility, yet we can't even find where it is, where it used to be on the map - because the whole thing is just blackened out… it's gone… wiped out." The overall complex has been captured in the latest Maxar images, and there is extensive destruction to a large number of buildings. One structure, previously identified by the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS) as the main uranium conversion building has been mostly destroyed. New images of the aftermath of US strikes also reveal damage to tunnel entrances located north of the complex. Damage can be clearly seen to one tunnel entrance at the northern tip of the facility near a complex by the mountainside.

Additional damage is also visible at two more tunnel entrances in another image. Experts from intelligence analysis firm Maiar assessed that the entrances probably sustained "moderate" structural damage. They noted scorching around the entrances but also the relative lack of damage to the adjacent concrete and the fact that there wasn't visible caving in of the earth above the entrances. Iran's prior efforts to reinforce the entrances by piling up earth may have reduced the effectiveness of the US attacks. "One Isfahan tunnel entrance looks like there was an internal explosion and fire, given the darkened debris spilling out of the entrance. If so, that would take years to repair," said Mark Cancian, from the Centre for Strategic and International Studies. "On the other hand, the discoloration could be caused by the weapon itself and not any penetration. The other tunnel entrance looks like it was covered with sand and dirt. If that's all that happened, it could be opened in a few weeks."

Craters covered in Natanz

Natanz, Iran's primary uranium enrichment facility, was targeted by both Israel and the US during the conflict. Satellite images captured on 22 June in the immediate aftermath of US strikes revealed two visible craters in a large area at the centre of the complex. The craters are believed to be above underground buildings housing centrifuge halls, where uranium enrichment takes place.

A new image, taken on 24 June, shows the craters have since been covered with dirt, which may suggest work is underway to address damage inflicted on the facility. "Think of what you do if you have a hole in your roof," says David Albright, from the ISIS, "and also they likely want to at least offer some resistance to another earth penetrator hitting the same spot."

Mehrabad airport

A key target of Israeli strikes during the conflict was Mehrabad airport, located west of Tehran. Videos and images authenticated by BBC Verify show it was bombed multiple times by Israel. Once the capital's main international airport, it now mostly serves domestic flights. Israel shared footage of it targeting two F-14 Tomcat fighter jets, purchased by the Shah before the 1979 Islamic revolution, at the airport. One image, captured in an industrial area immediately south of the runway, shows damage to multiple structures.

Another image shows an area west of the runway, where at least one warehouse appears to have been completely destroyed. The area is home to several aerospace companies which have been linked to Iran's defence industry.

Shahid Rajaee University

Satellite images also show multiple buildings targeted at Shahid Rajaee University, located in Tehran's northeastern district of Lavizan. Videos verified by the BBC confirm Lavizan was the target of multiple air strikes by Israel during the conflict.

Satellite images reveal extensive damage to multiple large buildings near the university campus, with debris scattered around the area.

Make Iran Great Again? 'Tehrangeles' community in LA reflects on US strikes

6 hours ago Share Save Share Save

Regan Morris and Jon Donnison BBC News, Los Angeles

Getty Images Iranian Americans call for regime change in Iran at LA demonstration

A woman in a "Make America Great Again" hat leads a chant for "regime change" in Iran. The crowds dance and wave Iranian, Israeli and American flags as Persian music blasts. Car horns beep in support but also some annoyance in LA's gridlocked traffic. Protests outside the West LA Federal Building are a common site, but even by LA standards this one is unusual, happening under the watchful eyes of armed US Marines, controversially ordered there by President Trump during protests against immigration raids. But these immigrants are proudly demonstrating in MAGA hats in support of President Trump and his decision to intervene in the Israel-Iran conflict by launching air strikes against Iranian nuclear sites. Follow latest on Iran-Israel conflict

Talk of regime change resonates with fleeing Iranians "We want regime change in Iran," says Bita Ashrafi, who left Iran 50 years ago and attended the protest wearing a "Trump Was Right About Everything" hat. "I fully support President Trump's decisions because this has been going on for 46 plus years - the tyranny, the dictatorship." West LA, often called Tehrangeles, is home to the largest population of Iranians outside of Iran, formerly known as Persia. There are Persian restaurants and bookstores and shops selling the saffron and rose ice cream popular in Iran. Many of Southern California's Iranian Americans are in full support of President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu.

Watch: BBC's Lyse Doucet reports from Iran during ceasefire with Israel

But others say the involvement of the US, called the "Great Satan" by hardliner religious leaders in Iran, will only bolster Iran's leaders. Ms Ashrafi took to the streets with several hundred others to show her support for Trump and regime change in Iran a day after a "No War" protest broke out in the same spot in response to the US "bunker busting" bombing of nuclear sites in Iran. The US president said the action was necessary because Iran was close to developing a nuclear bomb. Tehran has always said its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes. Trump takes victory lap but big questions remain

What leaked intel report tells us about damage to Iran sites Persian Americans are worried about friends and family in their homeland who they've struggled to reach with Iran's phones and internet shut off. They also have strong feelings about how their adopted country should respond to Iran. "Do not negotiate with them. They will go back to terrorising the world," said Farzan Seyed, who was dressed in a MIGA (Make Iran Great Again) hat - the acronym popularised by Trump on social media - and a tie showing the lion and sun emblem from Iran's pre-1979 flag. He says Trump should show support for regime change but not get too involved.

Farzan Seyed says President Trump should show support for regime change but not get too involved.

"The people have to choose," he says, though he hopes they choose exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi who also lives in the United States. Iranian-American families in Southern California lost so much when they fled Iran, he says, adding that when they get together – whether Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Baháʼí or Zoroastrian – they "speak with one voice from West LA" against the Islamic Republic. Many Iranian Americans dispute that there is one voice. The cafes and restaurants in West LA are full of debates about what should and could happen next in Iran. And not everyone in the community wears MAGA hats and supports the US bombing. 'We're exhausted' - how Iranians feel after fragile ceasefire

'We thought it was the end' - Israeli town reels Roozbeh Farahanipour – once imprisoned in Iran for his activism - says he fears the US involvement will push Iran into a broken, uncertain future. "The job needs to be done by Iranian people," he says in one of the three restaurants he now owns in the heart of Tehrangeles. "If we look at the history, I don't think that's the result of the Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, even Syria."

Watch: Three things we learned about Trump's foreign policy from Iran strikes

While he voted for Trump, Mr Farahanipour says he's disappointed in the president. He said he supports targeted sanctions, not missiles, and that he doesn't want his taxpayer money going to fund attacks against Iran. He knows that's not a popular opinion in this community and it's caused a rift with one of his oldest and closest friends, Elham Yaghoubian. While the majority of this region's Persian community fled to LA in 1979 after the Islamic Revolution, Mr Farahanipour and Ms Yaghoubian came later in 2000 after they were both targeted as enemies of the state for creating an underground opposition movement. Mr Farahanipour was arrested along with his mother and several friends for his activism during a meeting at his home. Ms Yaghoubian escaped arrest – she was meant to be at Mr Farahanipour's house that night but decided not to go.

Courtesy Roozbeh Farahanipour Elham Yaghoubian and Roozbeh Farahanipour - with fists raised - had worked shoulder to shoulder for decades

For decades, they have worked together as activists in Iran and in LA, where they both became successful entrepreneurs. Together they were instrumental in getting a corner of LA named "Persian Square." Later, they successfully lobbied the city to rename part of Westwood Boulevard "Women Life Freedom Square" in honour of Masha Amini, who was killed by Iran's morality police in 2022 for not wearing her hijab head covering the way they wanted. "We were shoulder-to-shoulder, until now," says Mr Farahanipour. Ms Yaghoubian says her position is nuanced. "I've never been a supporter of military action against Iran," she says. "Now that it has happened and many of the regime's tools of suppression have been weakened it may present an opportunity for people in Iran to push for change." She says she hopes the Israeli and the US attacks on Iran will help Iranians rise up and overthrow the regime. The majority of people in Iran are "living in poverty," she says. Her friends there tell her they have nothing to lose.

Thailand's 'weed wild west' faces new rules as smuggling to UK rises

40 minutes ago Share Save Jonathan Head South East Asia correspondent Reporting from Bangkok Share Save

Reuters Since Thailand decriminalised cannabis in 2022, shops selling the drug have popped up across the country

Thailand is trying to rein in its free-wheeling marijuana market. The government has approved new measures, which will soon restrict consumption of the drug to those with a doctor's prescription - in the hope that this will help regulate an industry some describe as out of control. The public health minister has also said that consumption of marijuana will be criminalised again, although it's unclear when that could happen. Ever since the drug was decriminalised in 2022, there has been a frenzy of investment. There are now around 11,000 registered cannabis dispensaries in Thailand. In parts of the capital Bangkok it is impossible to escape the lurid green glare of their neon signs and the constant smell of people smoking their products. In the famous backpacker district of Khao San Road, in the historic royal quarter, there is an entire shopping mall dedicated to selling hallucinogenic flower heads or marijuana accessories. Derivative products like brownies and gummies are offered openly online – although this is technically illegal – and can be delivered to your door within an hour. There has been talk of restricting the industry before. The largest party in the government coalition wanted to put cannabis back on the list of proscribed narcotics after it took office in 2023, but its former coalition partner, which had made decriminalisation a signature election policy, blocked this plan. But the final straw appears to have been pressure from the UK, which has seen a flood of Thai marijuana being smuggled into the country. It is often young travellers who are lured by drug syndicates in Britain into carrying suitcases filled with it on flights from Thailand. Last month two young British women were arrested in Georgia and Sri Lanka, with large amounts of marijuana from Thailand. Both now face long prison sentences.

Thai Customs Department A growing number of young people have been caught trying to smuggle cannabis to the UK

"It's massively increased over the last couple of years," says Beki Wright, spokesperson at the National Crime Agency in London (NCA). The NCA says 142 couriers carrying five tonnes were intercepted in 2023. This number shot up to 800 couriers in 2024 carrying 26 tonnes, and that number has continued to rise this year. "We really want to stop people doing this. Because if you are stopped, in this country or many others, you face life-changing consequences, for something many of them think is low-risk. If you bring illicit drugs into the UK you might get through the first time, but you will eventually be found, and you will most likely go to jail." So far this year, 173 people accused of smuggling cannabis – nearly all from Thailand – have gone through the court system in the UK and received sentences totalling 230 years.

Jonathan Head/BBC Thai airport authorities have had to intensify their inspections to combat drug smuggling

The NCA is working together with Thai authorities to try to deter young people from being tempted to smuggle cannabis to Britain. But this has proved difficult, because of the very few regulations that exist in Thailand to control the drug. "This is a loophole," says Panthong Loykulnanta, spokesman for the Thai Customs Department. "The profit is very high, but the penalties here are not high. Most of the time when we catch people at the airport they abandon their luggage. But then there is no punishment. If they insist on checking in the luggage, we can arrest them, but they just pay the fine and try again." The legalisation of cannabis in 2022 was supposed to be followed by the passing of a new regulatory framework by the Thai parliament. But this never happened, partly, says one MP involved in the drafting process, because of obstruction by vested interests with links to the marijuana industry. A new cannabis law was drawn up last year, but it could be two years away from being passed. The result has been a weed wild west, where almost anything that can make money out of marijuana is tolerated. There has also been an influx of foreign drug syndicates hiding behind Thai nominees, growing huge quantities of potent marijuana strains in brightly-lit, air-conditioned containers. This has flooded the market and driven the price down, which is what has attracted the smugglers. Even if more than half the people carrying marijuana get stopped, they can still make money from what gets through to the UK because of much higher prices there.

Jonathan Head/BBC Small cannabis growers have been calling on the government to better regulate the industry

"You cannot have a free-for-all, right? This became a bar fight rather than a boxing match," says Tom Kruesopon, a businessman who was instrumental in legalising marijuana, but now thinks things have now gone too far. "When there is a weed shop on every corner, when people are smoking as they're walking down the street, when tourists are getting high on our beaches, other countries being affected by our laws, with people shipping it illegally – these are negatives." He argues that the proposed new public health ministry regulations will restrict supply and demand, and restore the industry to what it was always intended to be, focused solely on the medical use of marijuana. There is plenty of opposition to this notion from cannabis enthusiasts who believe the new rules will do nothing to curb smuggling or unlicensed growers. They say the measures will wipe out small-scale businesses who are already struggling because of the glut caused by over-production.

Thanyarat Doksone/BBC Kitty Chopaka, who runs a small weed farm, is an advocate for the community

Earlier this month, many of these smaller growers descended on the prime minister's office in Bangkok to deliver a formal complaint to the government, calling for a more sensitively regulated industry, and not just what they believe is a knee-jerk reaction to foreign criticism. "I totally understand that the government is probably getting yelled at during international meetings," says Kitty Chopaka, the most vocal advocate for smaller producers. "Countries saying 'All your weed is getting smuggled into our country,' that is quite embarrassing. But right now they are not even enforcing the rules that already exist. If they did, that would probably mitigate a lot of the issues like smuggling, or sale without a licence." The collapse in prices forced her earlier this year to close down her cannabis dispensary, one of the first to open three years ago.

Thanyarat Doksone/BBC Confiscated luggage, which contains marijuana, in a room at the Bangkok airport

South Korea banned dog meat. So what happens to the dogs?

19 hours ago Share Save Gavin Butler & Hyunjung Kim BBC News Reporting from Singapore and Seoul Share Save

Watch: BBC follows a dog meat farm rescue operation in South Korea

When he isn't preaching the word of God, Reverend Joo Yeong-bong is raising dogs for slaughter. Business is not going well though. In fact, it's on the brink of becoming illegal. "Since last summer we've been trying to sell our dogs, but the traders just keep hesitating," Mr Joo, 60, tells the BBC. "Not a single one has shown up." In 2024, the South Korean government implemented a nationwide ban on the sale of dog meat for consumption. The landmark legislation, which was passed last January, gives farmers like Mr Joo until February 2027 to shutter their operations and sell off their remaining animals. But many say that isn't enough time to phase out an industry which has propped up livelihoods for generations – and that authorities still haven't come up with adequate safeguards for farmers or the estimated half a million dogs in captivity. Even those who support the ban, including experts and animal rights advocates, have flagged issues around its enforcement – including the difficulty of rehoming dogs that, having been saved from the kill floor, now face the increasingly likely threat of euthanasia.

News1 Joo Yeong-bong says he's worried about the repercussions of South Korea's dog meat ban

Midway through the grace period, dog farmers are finding themselves with hundreds of virtually unsellable animals, farms that can't be closed, and little means of putting food on the table. "People are suffering," says Mr Joo, who is also president of the Korean Association of Edible Dogs, a group representing the industry. "We're drowning in debt, can't pay it off, and some can't even... find new work. "It's a hopeless situation."

A storm of obstacles

Chan-woo has 18 months to get rid of 600 dogs. After that, the 33-year-old meat farmer – who we agreed to anonymise for fear of backlash – faces a penalty of up to two years in prison. "Realistically, even just on my farm, I can't process the number of dogs I have in that time," he says. "At this point I've invested all of my assets [into the farm] - and yet they are not even taking the dogs." By "they", Chan-woo doesn't just mean the traders and butchers who, prior to the ban, would buy an average of half a dozen dogs per week. He's also referring to the animal rights activists and authorities who in his view, having fought so hard to outlaw the dog meat trade, have no clear plan for what to do with the leftover animals – of which there are close to 500,000, according to government estimates. "They [the authorities] passed the law without any real plan, and now they're saying they can't even take the dogs."

Hyunjung Kim/BBC News There are an estimated half a million dogs remaining on meat farms across the country

Lee Sangkyung, a campaign manager at Humane World for Animals Korea (Hwak), echoes these concerns. "Although the dog meat ban has passed, both the government and civic groups are still grappling with how to rescue the remaining dogs," he says. "One area that still feels lacking is the discussion around the dogs that have been left behind." A foreign press spokesperson from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (Mafra) told the BBC that if farm owners gave up their dogs, local governments would assume ownership and manage them in shelters. Rehoming them, however, has proven challenging. Since weight equals profit in the dog meat industry, farms tend to favour larger breeds. But in South Korea's highly urbanised society, where many people live in apartment complexes, aspiring pet owners often want the opposite. There is also a social stigma associated with dogs that come from meat farms, Mr Lee explains, due to concerns of disease and trauma. The issue is further complicated by the fact that many are either pure or mixed tosa-inu, a breed that is classified as "dangerous" in South Korea and requires government approval to keep as a pet. Meanwhile, rescue shelters are already overcrowded. This perfect storm of obstacles points to a perverse irony: that countless so-called rescue dogs, with nowhere else to go, now face the prospect of being euthanised.

Hyunjung Kim/BBC News A combination of factors has made dog adoption difficult in South Korean society

"It's just unbelievable," says Chan-woo. "Since the law was made according to the demands of these groups, I assumed they had also worked out a solution for the dogs - like they would take responsibility for them. But now I hear that even the animal rights groups say euthanasia is the only option." Cho Hee-kyung, head of the Korean Animal Welfare Association, conceded in September 2024 that while rights groups would try to rescue as many animals as possible, there would "be dogs left over". "If remaining dogs become 'lost and abandoned animals' then it's heartbreaking but they will be euthanised," she said. The government sought to temper these concerns weeks later, saying that euthanising animals was "certainly" not part of their plan. More recently, Mafra told the BBC it was investing about 6bn Korean won ($4.3m; £3.2m) annually to expand animal shelters and support private facilities, and would offer up to 600,000 Korean won per dog ($450; £324) to farmers who shut their businesses early.

Hyunjung Kim/BBC News Multiple farmers voiced fears for their livelihoods now that the dog meat industry has been banned

Hwak, however, says they have lobbied Mafra "hard" to have a clear rescue component in its phase-out plan. They also point out that, while Hwak has rehomed almost 2,800 dogs from South Korean meat farms since 2015, animal welfare charities shouldn't be expected to absorb the huge number that have proliferated over the years. Chun Myung-Sun, director of the Office of Veterinary Medical Education at Seoul National University, agrees that the government's plan for leftover dogs is largely lacking. "There needs to be a concrete discussion about how to 'dispose' of the dogs," she says. "Both adoption and euthanasia should be on the table. [But] if we've gone to the effort of rescuing dogs from cruel slaughter only to euthanise them, it's understandable that people would feel heartbroken and angry."

A livelihood unravels

Some have looked for solutions further afield, sending the animals overseas to more willing adopters in countries like Canada, United Kingdom and the United States. In 2023, a team from Hwak rescued some 200 dogs from a farm in Asan city – all of which have since been sent to Canada and the US. The former owner of that farm, 74-year-old Yang Jong-tae, told the BBC that as he watched the rescuers loading his dogs into their trucks, he was astonished by the level of compassion they showed. "When I saw how they handled the animals - like they were handling people, so gently and lovingly - it really moved me," he said. "We don't treat them like that. For us, raising dogs was just a way to make a living. But those people from the animal group treated the dogs like they were individuals with dignity, and that really touched my heart."

Hyunjung Kim/BBC News Some rescue organisations have opted to send dogs overseas to places like Canada, UK and US

Mr Yang hastened to add, however, that he disapproves of the ban on dog meat farming. "If dog meat is banned because dogs are animals, then why is it okay to eat other animals like cows, pigs or chicken?" he said. "It's the same thing. These things exist in nature for people to live on." Eating dog is not the same as eating other meats, according to Ms Chun. She points out that dog meat carries more risk from a food safety and hygiene perspective - especially in South Korea, where it has not been integrated into the formal, regulated meat production system. The meat is also consumed in countries such as China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, parts of northeastern India and several countries in Africa, according to Humane World for Animals. But while consumption rates have fluctuated throughout Korea's history, it has become increasingly taboo in South Korea in recent years. A government poll from 2024 found only 8% of respondents said they had tried dog meat in the previous 12 months – down from 27% in 2015. About 7% said they would keep eating it up until February 2027, and about 3.3% said they would continue after the ban came into full effect. Since the ban was announced, 623 of South Korea's 1,537 dog farms have closed. "As society and culture have evolved, South Korean society has now made the decision to stop producing dog meat," Ms Chun says.

Hyunjung Kim/BBC News Advocates are concerned about what might happen to the rescue dogs in the long term

Neighbour jailed for doorbell camera threats

3 hours ago Share Save Jemma Crew BBC News Reporting from Kingston upon Thames Crown Court Tarah Welsh Housing correspondent Share Save

Metropolitan Police Drina Gray had "engaged in a campaign of harassment" against the young couple living in the flat above hers

A woman who shouted threats to get her neighbours "killed" through their doorbell camera has been jailed for three years and four months. Kingston upon Thames Crown Court heard that Drina Gray had "engaged in a campaign of harassment" against the young couple living in the flat above hers. The 52-year-old from Wandsworth, south-west London, left her victims feeling trapped and frightened to be at home, the court was told. Sentencing Gray on Wednesday, Judge Peter Lodder KC said she made her neighbours' lives "hell", having "persistently harassed them morning, noon and night".

Incidents included damaging their front door camera repeatedly, shouting and swearing and making threats such as "watch your back and that's a warning" and "I can get you [expletive] killed", the court heard. Victim Ben, who owns the upstairs flat, said he had found the threats "terrifying" and experienced suicidal thoughts, and he is now on medication to manage anxiety and depression.

Ben and Emma told the BBC that their neighbour had been making life a "misery" earlier this year

In a statement read to the court, he said he was forced to stay with friends and family, struggled to sleep, had nightmares and ultimately lost his "peace of mind, health and job". Addressing the defendant, Judge Lodder KC said: "You made lives of your neighbours hell. "You persistently harassed them morning, noon and night. Despite orders being obtained to seek to prevent you from behaving in the way you did, you continued in your campaign. "It may well be you were under influence of alcohol but that is not an excuse, that is an aggravation, and it is no consolation at all to the people you were threatening with extreme violence."

The court heard Ben and Emma were put through "hell"

Speaking outside court after the sentencing, Ben and his partner Emma smiled and hugged, telling the BBC they feel "incredible" and "as though the fight was worth it". "It has been such a long and drawn-out battle," Ben said, adding their "resilience and resistance" had paid off. "Finally, we can relax for the first time in two years." Ben told the BBC earlier this year that he felt ignored by the authorities. He added that they were "totally let down by almost every system that we felt was there to protect us". The court case took place on the day that the Housing Ombudsman for England told the BBC that some social landlords were failing victims of anti-social neighbours.

The judge said that, as well as alcohol use, other aggravating factors were the fact the victims were in their own home, and Gray's 18 previous convictions relating to 40 offences. In mitigation, defence lawyer Tammy Sher said Gray had experienced problems with alcohol for a long time, and in 2023 had been involved in two road accidents which had affected her physical and mental health and caused her alcohol use to spiral. In a letter read out to the court, Gray said she regretted her actions and she had been going through a period of poor mental and physical health. Gray was sentenced for four charges, including of harassment, criminal damage, and using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with the intent of causing harassment, alarm or distress, spanning six months in 2024. She also failed to comply with a Community Protection Notice, which was dealt with by another court.

'Changes are being made'

The court was told Wandsworth Council, which owns the flat Gray lived in, has started eviction proceedings, and that Gray has no intention of going back to the property. The judge also granted a restraining order, in place for 10 years, banning her from going within a mile of the victims' address and from contacting them directly or indirectly. Wandsworth Council said it was "continuing to seek possession" of Gray's property. Aydin Dikerdem, cabinet member for housing, said: "We accept that we could have acted more swiftly, and following this case changes are being made to our anti-social behaviour case management system to ensure the appropriate actions are taken more promptly and that complainants are kept updated." The Labour councillor added: "Council officers have met with the individuals affected to discuss what further support could be provided." If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this story you can visit BBC Action Line.

Deadly airbag fault sees 2.5m cars recalled in France

7 hours ago Share Save Hugh Schofield BBC News Reporting from Paris Share Save

Getty Images

France has ordered the recall of 2.5 million cars equipped with defective airbags that can explode on impact and have caused a series of deaths. It follows a fatal accident earlier this month in Reims, east of Paris, in which a 37 year-old mother driving a Citroen C3 was struck in the head by pieces of flying metal after a minor collision. It is the latest drama in the 20-year scandal over now-defunct Japanese manufacturer Takata, whose airbags were installed by nearly all the world's leading car-makers. The airbags use ammonium nitrate gas for instant inflation. But the gas can deteriorate in hot and humid conditions, leading to powerful explosions which throw shrapnel into the driver's face.

The transport ministry in Paris on Tuesday issued a "do not drive" order on cars of all brands bearing Takata airbags in Corsica and in France's overseas territories, as well as on pre-2011 cars in mainland France. The difference is because hotter climates – such as in the Caribbean or the Mediterranean – make the airbags more unstable. Of the 18 French deaths attributed to the airbags, 16 have been in the overseas territories. The number of affected vehicles is put at 1.7 million. The ministry said owners of a further 800,000 post-2011 cars on the mainland should report to their dealers and have their airbags changed. The measure is a major step-up from the initial reaction to the Reims tragedy, which was to immobilise only certain Citroën vehicles – the CS3 and DS3. "This decision should send a clear and firm message to the manufacturers, and at the same time encourage owners to have their vehicles checked as soon as possible," the ministry said.

The move risks causing serious disruption to families, a few weeks ahead of summer holidays. The ministry said all drivers affected by order should be able to access free replacement vehicles until their airbags are changed. In a statement last week, car-maker Stellantis - which produces the C3 and DS3 - said it was "committed to acting quickly and with the utmost transparency" to provide its customers with a solution.

It is thought that 35 people have been killed by Takata airbags around the world, and some 100 million vehicles have been recalled in various countries. The scandal was mainly focused in the US and has belatedly hit Europe over the last two years. The UK arm of Stellantis also issued a stop drive notice for its Citroen C3 and DS3 cars this week.

Lawyers and victims' families met in Paris to discuss possibilities of legal redress on Tuesday. "The rhythm of accidents is accelerating. Since January 2025 there has been a death every two months," lawyer Charles-Henri Coppet said. "It is urgent to force manufacturers to issue recalls and make sure they are properly carried out, otherwise there will be more deaths." "If my father had not had a Takata airbag, he would be alive today," Vicky – a woman from the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe – told Le Figaro newspaper. Her father was killed in July 2024 when his airbag exploded.

When Iran's Supreme Leader emerges from hiding he will find a very different nation

30 minutes ago Share Save Kasra Naji Special Correspondent, BBC Persian Share Save

BBC

After spending nearly two weeks in a secret bunker somewhere in Iran during his country's war with Israel, the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 86, might want to use the opportunity of the ceasefire to venture out. He is believed to be holed up, incommunicado, for the fear of being assassinated by Israel. Even top government officials apparently have had no contact with him. He would be well advised to be cautious, despite the fragile ceasefire that the US President Donald Trump and the Emir of Qatar brokered. Though President Trump reportedly told Israel not to kill Iran's supreme leader, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not rule it out. When – or indeed if – he does emerge from hiding, he will see a landscape of death and destruction. He will no doubt still appear on state TV claiming victory in the conflict. He will plot to restore his image. But he will face new realities – even a new era. The war has left the country significantly weakened and him a diminished man.

Murmurs of dissent at the top

During the war, Israel quickly took control of much of Iran's airspace, and attacked its military infrastructure. Top commanders of the Revolutionary Guard and the army were swiftly killed. The extent of the damage to the military is still unclear and disputed, but the repeated bombings of the army and revolutionary guard bases and installations suggests substantial degradation of Iran's military power. Militarisation had long consumed a vast amount of the nation's resources. Iran's known nuclear facilities that earned the country nearly two decades of US and international sanctions, with an estimated cost of hundreds of billions of dollars, are now damaged from the air strikes, although the full extent of this has been hard to assess. What was it all for, many are asking.

Getty Images The war has left Iran significantly weakened

A vast number of Iranians will singularly hold Ayatollah Khamenei, who first became leader in 1989, responsible for setting Iran on a collision course with Israel and the US that ultimately brought considerable ruin to his country and people. They will blame him for pursuing the ideological aim of destruction of Israel – something many Iranians don't support. They will blame him for what they perceive as a folly – his belief that achieving nuclear status would render his regime invincible. Sanctions have crippled the Iranian economy, reducing a top oil exporter to a poor and struggling shadow of its former self. "It is difficult to estimate how much longer the Iranian regime can survive under such significant strain, but this looks like the beginning of the end," says Professor Lina Khatib, a visiting scholar at Harvard University. "Ali Khamenei is likely to become the Islamic Republic's last 'Supreme Leader' in the full sense of the word."

Getty Images Ayatollah Khamenei, who became leader in 1989, has been accused of setting Iran on a collision course with Israel

There have been murmurs of dissent at the top. At the height of the war, one semi-official Iranian news agency reported that some top former regime figures have been urging the country's more quiet religious scholars based in the holy city of Qom, who are separate to the ayatollah, to intervene and bring about a change in leadership. "There will be a reckoning," according to Professor Ali Ansari, the founding director of the Institute of Iranian Studies at the University of St Andrews. "It's quite clear that there are huge disagreements within the leadership, and there's also huge unhappiness among ordinary people."

'Anger and frustration will take root'

During the last two weeks, many Iranians wrestled with conflicted feelings of the need to defend their country versus their deep hatred of the regime. They rallied for the country, not by coming out to defend the regime, but to look after each other. There have been reports of vast solidarity and closeness. People in towns and villages outside urban areas opened their doors to those who had fled the bombardments in their cities, shopkeepers undercharged basic goods, neighbours knocked on each other's doors to ask if they needed anything. But many people were also aware that Israel was probably looking for a regime change in Iran. A regime change is what many Iranians wish for. They may draw the line on a regime change engineered and imposed by foreign powers, however.

Getty Images Many Iranians may draw the line on a regime change engineered by foreign powers

In his nearly 40 years of his rule, Ayatollah Khamenei, one of the world's longest reigning autocrats, has decimated any opposition in the country. Opposition political leaders are either in jail or have fled the country. Abroad, the opposition figures have been unable to formulate a stance that unites the opposition to the regime. They have been ineffectual in the establishment of any semblance of an organisation able to take over inside the country if the opportunity arises. And during the two weeks of war, when the collapse of the regime could have been a possibility, if the war went on relentlessly, many believed the likely scenario for the day after was not the takeover by the opposition, but the descent of the country into chaos and lawlessness. "It is unlikely that the Iranian regime will be toppled through domestic opposition. The regime remains strong at home and will ramp up domestic oppression to crush dissent," says Prof Khatib.

Getty Images Few people in Iran think that the ceasefire brokered on Monday will last

Iranians are now fearing further clampdown by the regime. At least six people have been executed in the past two weeks since the start of the war with Israel on charges of spying for Israel. Authorities say they have arrested some 700 people on this charge. One Iranian woman told BBC Persian what she fears more than the death and destruction of the war is a regime that is wounded and humiliated turning its anger against its own people. "If the regime is unable to supply basic goods and services, then there will be growing anger and frustration," says Prof Ansari. "I see it as a staged process. I don't see it as something that, necessarily, in a popular sense, will take root until long after the bombing is over." Few people in Iran think that the ceasefire brokered on Monday will last – and many believe Israel is not yet finished now that it has total superiority in the sky over Iran.

Iran's ballistic missile silos

One thing that seems to have escaped the destruction are Iran's ballistic missile silos that Israel found hard to locate as they are placed in tunnels under mountains throughout the country. The Israeli Defense Forces Chief of Staff, Eyal Zamir, said Israel launched its opening attack on Iran knowing that "Iran possessed around 2,500 surface-to-surface missiles". The missiles that Iran fired caused considerable death and destruction in Israel. Israel will be concerned about the remaining possible 1,500 still in the hands of the Iranian side. There is also a serious concern in Tel Aviv, Washington and other Western and regional capitals that Iran may still rush to build a nuclear bomb, something it has continued to deny trying to do.

Getty Images President Trump reportedly told Israel not to kill Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

Although Iran's nuclear facilities have almost certainly been set back, and possibly rendered useless during the bombings by Israel and the US, Iran said it had moved its stockpile of highly enriched Uranium to a safe secret place. That stockpile of 60% Uranium, if enriched to 90%, which is a relatively easy step, is enough for about nine bombs, according to experts. Just before the war started, Iran announced that it had built another new secret facility for enrichment that was due to come on stream soon. The Iranian parliament has voted to sharply reduce its cooperation with the UN's atomic watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). This still requires approval, but if it passes Iran would be one step away from exiting the nuclear non-Proliferation Treaty, the NPT – as hardliners supporting the supreme leader push for Iran's breakout to build a bomb. Ayatollah Khamenei may now be confident that his regime has survived, just. But at the age of 86 and ailing, he also knows that his own days may be numbered, and he may want to ensure continuity of the regime with an orderly transition of power – to another senior cleric or even a council of leadership. In any case, the remaining top commanders of the Revolutionary Guard who have been loyal to the supreme leader may be seeking to wield power from behind the scenes. Top image credit: Pacific Press via Getty

Eurostar services returning to normal after major disruption

On Wednesday evening, Eurostar said the line had been fully repaired and more cancellations were not expected, though some delays would continue throughout the evening.

Eurostar had earlier urged passengers to postpone their journey as services were cancelled and delayed in both directions on lines connecting London with Paris, Brussels and Amsterdam.

Wednesday saw knock-on disruption after two people died in separate incidents on the LGV Nord line the previous day, before services were further impacted by cable theft.

Eurostar services have resumed but some delays are expected until the end of Wednesday following two days of major disruption.

Technicians worked to reconnect railway cables at the Mont-de-Terre train station in Lille, France, on Wednesday

The theft near Lille, which French media said was of around 600 metres of copper cables, caused trains to be rerouted, leading to extended journey times.

Five trains between London and Paris were cancelled.

It added that impacted passengers can change their travel plans for free or request a full refund.

"We're very sorry for the impact this is having on our customers," Eurostar said in a statement.

"Our teams are working closely with the French authorities and infrastructure teams to manage the situation and restore services safely."

The operator earlier said one track had reopened, allowing some trains to run in both directions until full repairs were completed.

Water was being handed out to passengers onboard delayed trains, and stations are also very busy.

Hundreds of people were queuing at London's St Pancras International railway station trying to access the service centre to rebook onto other trains.

Elizabeth Romijn, a yoga teacher from the Netherlands, told PA news agency at St Pancras that the situation was "very chaotic" and people were having to sit on the ground because there were not enough chairs.

The 75-year-old was planning to travel home to Brussels after visiting friends in Surrey.

"My plan is to just wait. Maybe I should go and be more proactive and go to ask one of the staff but nobody seems to know anything," she said, adding that "it's quite horrible long queues."

The railway line in France was closed for much of the afternoon and evening on Tuesday after the two fatalities between Lille and Paris.

Services were cancelled on routes to and from Paris while trains between London, Brussels and Amsterdam ran with delays.

Eurostar said disruption continued into Wednesday as trains and crew were displaced.

Stormzy awarded Cambridge University doctorate

The rapper took a selfie with students after receiving his degree from Cambridge University

Stormzy has been awarded an honorary degree from the University of Cambridge for his work helping black students get into higher education.

The 31-year-old received a Doctorate in Law for his "transformative" scholarship programme, which funds black UK students to study at the university.

Stormzy, whose real name is Michael Ebenazer Kwadjo Omari Owuo Jr, launched the Stormzy Scholarship in 2018.

Prof Deborah Prentice, vice-chancellor at the university, said: "Stormzy's scholarship programme has had a transformative impact and we are proud to recognise his work with this degree."

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With just five minutes to go, Harvey Elliott stood and savoured the acclaim.

The Liverpool player raised his arms at the Stadion Tehelne pole in celebration, drinking in the reception after scoring his - and England Under-21s' - second goal - one which ultimately sent the Young Lions into their second successive Euro final.

Elliott's double booked a showdown with Germany on Saturday as Lee Carsley's defending champions deservedly beat the Netherlands in the sweltering heat of Bratislava.

A pocket of young fans had spent the majority of the second half chanting Elliott's name, especially after he smashed in a fine 62nd-minute opener, and he deserved the adulation after a season of frustration.

He did, though, admit he would need to re-think the sliding celebration that came after his opener.

"I decided to a do a silly knee slide which really hurt, but you have to live in the moment," Elliott told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"You do these things, but I forgot the pitch was ridiculously dry and it is the price I have got to pay. Hopefully it is nothing too silly."

The 22-year-old attacking player won the Premier League with Liverpool last season but made just two starts to leave his Anfield future uncertain.

Elliott has said he does not want to be "wasting years" in his career and will assess his club situation this summer.

If his performances in Slovakia are anything to go by, then he will have plenty of suitors and options to play regular first-team football.

Four goals for the Young Lions has left Elliott as the tournament's second top scorer and well placed to complete a personal double having helped England lift the Euro 2023 title.

He is one of the leaders of the group and only he and Toulouse's former Leeds defender Charlie Cresswell remain from the trophy-winning team of two years ago.

Elliott was emotional after Wednesday's game as he reflected on his late and decisive winner, saying: "It's up there. Every goal I score is a massive moment because I enjoy scoring goals, I enjoy the feeling and buzz, and it gives me confidence.

"Emotionally and mentally it's definitely up there. There's nothing better than scoring for your country in front of your family in the stands.

"We all deserve to be here, the squad is incredible in terms of the quality, in terms of how we play football as a team and the togetherness we have.

"The moment we have fear within ourselves is the moment it goes wrong. I think now, especially after the Spain game [in the quarter-finals], the fear isn't there any more. We can take on any team."

Emma Raducanu says she needs to get her "head in the game" for the start of Wimbledon after defeat by teenager Maya Joint ended her difficult week in Eastbourne.

The 22-year-old lost 4-6 6-1 7-6 (7-4) to the Australian 19-year-old in an edgy second-round match.

Former US Open champion Raducanu rallied from 5-2 down in the deciding set to force a tie-break.

But the out-of-sorts Briton could not make it two comeback victories in as many days, having fought back from a set down in an emotional first-round win on the south coast.

"Unfortunately I couldn't get over the line today but I can get some rest ahead of next week," she said.

Wimbledon starts on Monday, 30 June, leaving Raducanu with a tight turnaround.

She said on Tuesday she had received "some really bad news" which knocked her mentally.

"I feel quite tired. Just going through some stuff and I need to do my best to get my head in the game ahead of next week," she said.

"Realistically, the turnaround is pretty soon - it's only four days away really that Wimbledon starts.

"I think I'm just going to start with [a day off] tomorrow and then hopefully I can get on the court on Friday."

On the list of football manager knights, only Winterbottom and Southgate have not won a trophy in their managerial career.

Southgate fell short of being the winner England and the Football Association wanted as they tried to end a barren sequence for the men's senior team stretching back to the 1966 World Cup triumph.

But along the way, Southgate did much to restore the image of his squad and the game.

England lost successive European Championship finals, to Spain in 2024 and to Italy at Wembley in 2021.

They were also beaten in a World Cup semi-final by Croatia in Moscow in 2018, meaning Southgate's reign will ultimately be judged as that of a nearly manager of a nearly team.

This may be regarded as a harsh judgement, but reality shows that Southgate could not overcome the obstacles to that elusive England success with a richly talented squad, as well as in circumstances that favoured them, such as against Italy in a home final.

Legacies can be built on the finest of margins, and this was Southgate's.

In the wider context, however, that record stands comparison to – and indeed improves upon – that of any of his predecessors following Sir Alf's World Cup win.

The knighthood accolade is reward for the exemplary manner in which he served England and the Football Association on so many levels: as a distinguished full international, coach of the under-21s, then as senior team manager when he succeeded Sam Allardyce, who left after one game, in late 2016.

He inherited chaos and almost turned it into silver.

When measured in honours, Southgate's career may not be able to stand alongside those other names who claimed the game's biggest prizes - as a player he won the League Cup with Aston Villa in 1996 and again when he captained Middlesbrough in 2004 - but his significance and influence in the recent era is unquestionable.

Arsenal have agreed a deal with Brentford to sign midfielder Christian Norgaard.

Sources have indicated the Gunners have been discussing a fee worth in the region of an initial £10m, with a possible £5m in performance-related add-ons.

The move for Norgaard comes just a week before Thomas Partey's Arsenal contract expires.

Ghana international Partey, 32, has been in talks over a new deal to stay at Emirates Stadium, but no agreement has been reached.

BBC Sport understands Sevilla's French midfielder Lucien Agoume, 23, also featured prominently on Arsenal's list of potential targets to replace Partey.

Crucially, however, it is understood manager Mikel Arteta identified Norgaard as the midfielder he wanted because he preferred a Premier League-ready player.

Club-to-club discussions over the Denmark international have accelerated in the last 24 hours and a deal is now in place.

The 31-year-old, who joined Brentford from Fiorentina in 2019, will now undergo a medical before completing his move.

Australia were skittled out for just 180 against West Indies - but hit back with the ball as 14 wickets fell on a chaotic opening day of the first Test in Bridgetown.

Seamers Jayden Seales and Shamar Joseph shared nine wickets as Australia were dismissed in less than 57 overs after winning the toss.

Travis Head top-scored with 59 and opener Usman Khawaja hit 47, but captain Pat Cummins (28) and Beau Webster (11) were the only other batters to reach double figures.

The tourists clawed their way back into the match when their experienced pace trio of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Cummins combined to reduce West Indies to 57-4 at close.

Playing their first Test match in the Caribbean for 10 years, Australia named a new-look top order with Steve Smith injured and Marnus Labuschagne dropped following their World Test Championship defeat to South Africa.