Millions face hosepipe bans as UK heatwave reaches 34.7C

2 hours ago Share Save Hollie Cole BBC News Simon King Lead Weather Presenter Share Save

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More than seven million people had hosepipe bans imposed on them as temperatures soared in the UK's third heatwave of 2025. Astwood Bank in the West Midlands recorded the highest temperature of 34.7C by 18:00 BST on Friday, while Wales saw its hottest day of the year with 32.7C recorded in Usk. Amber heat health alerts for southern England, the Midlands, and East Anglia were issued on Friday and will remain in place until Monday, the UK Health Security Agency said. Less severe yellow warnings remain in place for northern England, while Scotland and Northern Ireland face warnings of wildfires on Saturday and Sunday.

Yellow weather alerts are issued during periods that are only likely to affect those who are particularly vulnerable, such as the elderly, and those with existing health conditions. Amber alerts are issued in situations that could put the whole population at risk. Yorkshire Water's hosepipe ban came into effect on Friday, affecting customers across much of Yorkshire, parts of north Lincolnshire, and areas of Derbyshire.

South East Water, which has also introduced a hosepipe ban, said demand for drinking water had "reached record levels" since May due to the extended spell of warm and dry weather in the region. It added that it was continuing to monitor the situation in its Western region, where it serves customers in parts of Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire. A hosepipe ban could include restrictions on certain activities like watering gardens, washing cars, or filling up paddling pools, and people who break the ban could face a fine. The weather alert service warns the public in England when high or low temperatures could damage their health or lead to disruption to critical public services.

Glasgow's TRNSMT Festival and London's Wireless Festival warned festival-goers to stay hydrated and wear sun cream, while Oasis has told fans to "prepare for extreme sun and heat" at their Heaton Park gigs in Manchester on Friday and Saturday. NHS urgent care doctor Lorna Powell told the BBC that people with existing health conditions were more likely to suffer during a heatwave. She said when someone has a health condition like a weak heart, kidney problems, or diabetes, an "extra load such as extreme heat can just deplete the body to the extent it can't control that condition anymore". The NHS has advised that during a heatwave, people should keep out of the heat where possible, stay in the shade when outside, have cold food and drinks, wear light clothes, and close windows during the day and open them at night.

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The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service issued an extreme wildfire warning on Friday covering central and eastern Scotland, which will be extended to "all areas, except low-lying areas with green grass" from Saturday to Monday. Leigh Hamilton, a ranger service manager at Loch Lomond National Park Authority, advised people to "avoid naked flames including disposable barbecues, dispose of waste properly, and call 999 immediately if you witness a wildfire". In Northern Ireland, the Natural Hazards Partnership issued an amber warning, which indicates a likelihood of difficult-to-control wildfires, for Saturday and Sunday. Seventy firefighters tackled a grass fire on Wanstead Flats in north-east London on Friday. London Fire Brigade said it has responded to 24 wildfires so far in 2025, four of which took place this week. "As the weather has been so dry, it only takes a few sparks to lead to a fire spreading rapidly," a spokesperson for the service warned. They urged people to "act responsibly to prevent fires from occurring".

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Trump surveys damage in Texas as search continues for 160 missing

1 hour ago Share Save Nomia Iqbal BBC News Reporting from Kerr County, Texas Ana Faguy BBC News Share Save

Watch: 'We're filled with grief' - President Trump visits Texas after deadly floods

US President Donald Trump reassured Kerrville, Texas, residents that the government would help rebuild after floods hit the central part of the state last week, killing 120 people. The president and First Lady Melania Trump met on Friday with local officials on the ground - standing in front of an upended tractor trailer - and surveyed the damage. "I've never seen anything like it," Trump said, after taking a tour of the devastation. More than 12,300 volunteers have gathered to help search for the 161 people still missing statewide. Officials said volunteers have been working 10 hours a day.

Watch: BBC's Nomia Iqbal on Trump's handling of the Texas floods as he visits disaster area

While storms damaged homes and killed residents throughout central Texas, Kerr County faced the brunt of the floodwaters. It was for that reason that the president and first lady toured that area. Trump told officials gathered for an afternoon roundtable at a Kerrville youth center that he and the first lady were in town to "express the love and support, and the anguish of our entire nation". The first lady, who ordinarily keeps a low profile, also toured the devastation. She said she hugged and prayed with families of the victims during her visit. "My deepest sympathy to all of the parents who lost beautiful young souls," she said. "We are grieving with you. Our nation is grieving with you." She also promised to visit again. Among those killed in the storms, were 27 young girls who attended Camp Mystic, located along the waterway that flooded. There are 18 summer camps in that area. In the wake of the deadly tragedy, questions have been raised about whether adequate warnings were provided and why some weren't evacuated ahead of the deluge. "Only an evil person would ask a question like that," Trump responded when the topic came up Friday, saying it's easy to sit back and wonder what could have happened. The Guadalupe River levels, which rose to flood homes, roads and cars, caught many by surprise.

Watch: "I pray for them" - First Lady Melania offers condolences to Texas flood victims

The catastrophe unfolded before daybreak last Friday as the river rose 26ft (8m) in the span of just 45 minutes. Young children and staff at summer camps along the river were asleep as weather alerts went off. Texans did not immediately receive flood alerts after request, audio reveals Search crews in Texas are still sifting through debris for scores of missing people. Authorities have said they will not relent until everyone is accounted for. Experts have said there were a number of factors that led to the tragic floods in, including the pre-dawn timing, the location of some homes and the extreme weather. Some have suggested that cuts to federal agencies such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Organisation (NOAA) and its subsidiary, the National Weather Service (NWS) may have impacted the response to the sudden floods. Experts say that NWS alerts were timely in Texas last weekend, but are concerned about future weather events if the agencies are not properly staffed and funded.

Rayner in deepening row with union over bin strikes

5 hours ago Share Save Paul Seddon Political reporter Iain Watson Political correspondent Share Save

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Angela Rayner is embroiled in an escalating row with Unite over her role in the long-running bin strikes in Birmingham. The union announced earlier it had suspended the membership of the deputy prime minister, who has been urging striking bin workers to accept a deal to end the dispute tabled by the Labour-run city council. But a Labour source said she had already quit the union and "won't be pushed around," branding the announcement a "silly stunt". The union, which says it followed a motion approved by delegates at its policy conference, has insisted Rayner is on its membership system. The motion also threatened to rethink its relationship with Labour if any of its members are made redundant.

In any event, by making its announcement Unite has decided to advertise a very public political rift with the deputy prime minister. Unite is affiliated to Labour, giving it seats on the party's ruling national executive committee and delegates to its annual conference. It did not donate to the party's election campaign last year, but made donations worth £10,000 towards Rayner's campaign, according to her register of interests. Labour is less dependent on union financial backing than it was under Jeremy Corbyn, with the party having widened its sources of funding under Sir Keir Starmer. But if the union chose to disaffiliate, it would still deliver a significant financial blow. Unite is also its biggest union funder through the affiliation fees that members pay to the party, currently £1.2m a year. Senior union sources say the bin strike is the tip of the iceberg of discontent. What may really sink the union's relationship with the government is a range of other issues, such as the attempted welfare cuts, fears for jobs in the oil and gas sector, and a workers' rights agenda they do not believe goes far enough.

Getty Images Unite has commissioned posters featuring Rayner over the ongoing strikes

Members of Unite walked out in January over plans to downgrade some roles as part of the city council's attempts to sort out its equal pay liabilities. The dispute initially centred on the council's decision to remove waste recycling and collection officer (WRCO) roles - which the union said would leave about 170 affected workers up to £8,000 a year worse off. The council has disputed this, saying the maximum loss would be just over £6,000 and would only affect 17 workers, with pay protected for six months. The authority also says the role could not be reinstated without opening it up to a potential equal pay liability. Unite has also urged the council to guarantee long-term pay for Grade 4 bin lorry drivers, claiming in April that bin lorry drivers' pay could fall from £40,000 to £32,000 under new council plans. An all-out indefinite strike was announced in March, and a deal to end industrial action has not yet been reached.

'Disgraceful'

Conciliation service Acas has been mediating in the negotiations since May, but talks broke down on Wednesday, with council leader John Cotton saying the authority had "reached the absolute limit of what we can offer". The union has also previously blamed government-appointed commissioners, who have been overseeing the council's operations since its effective bankruptcy in 2023, for the apparent lack of progress. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said Rayner had "had every opportunity to intervene and resolve this dispute". She added that the government's backing for the "so-called Labour council" had been "disgraceful". Unite says it has also suspended the memberships of Cotton and other Labour councillors. "People up and down the country are asking whose side is the Labour government on, and coming up with the answer 'not workers'" she added. In a statement on X, Cotton said Unite had "repeatedly rejected reasonable offers" made by the city council to avoid "another equal pay crisis". Rayner, whose brief includes local government, has called on the union to accept a deal to end the strikes tabled by the city council, saying the authority had "moved significantly to meet the demands of the workers".

The BBC's Steve Rosenberg visited a Russian 'Patriotic Festival', a few miles outside of Moscow, where people shared their thoughts on how they think the Ukraine war will end. Some said they think it will end peacefully, but others are convinced it will end in victory for Russia.

For more on the Russia-Ukraine war here.

Jota joined Liverpool from Wolves in 2020 and scored 65 goals in 182 appearances for the club.

He also helped them win the FA Cup and League Cup in 2022 - also winning the latter in 2024 - and the Premier League title last season.

It was Liverpool's 20th top-flight crown and the Reds posted a video on social media, external with the message 'forever our number 20' at 20:20 BST on Friday.

"As a club, we were all acutely aware of the sentiment of our supporters - and we felt exactly the same way," said Fenway Sports Group chief executive of football Michael Edwards.

"It was vitally important to us to involve Diogo's wife, Rute, and his family in the decision and to ensure they were the first to know of our intention.

"I believe this is the first time in Liverpool's history that such an honour has been bestowed upon an individual. Therefore, we can say this is a unique tribute to a uniquely wonderful person.

"By retiring this squad number, we are making it eternal - and therefore never to be forgotten."

Jota and his brother died after their car, a Lamborghini, left the road because of a tyre blowout while overtaking another vehicle at about 00:30 local time on Thursday, 3 July.

Jota was on his way back to Liverpool for pre-season and, as doctors had advised him against flying because he had undergone minor surgery, he was making the trip by car and ferry.

The funeral of the brothers took place in their hometown of Gondomar last Saturday when a large Liverpool delegation were in attendance.

Jannik Sinner will face defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final after a ruthless demolition of Novak Djokovic's latest bid for a record 25th Grand Slam title.

Djokovic, 38, was left reflecting on how age was catching up with him after a humbling 6-3 6-3 6-4 defeat by a man who plays uncannily like the seven-time champion in his prime.

Sinner's victory put him into a first Wimbledon final and set up a re-match of last month's epic French Open showpiece, where he lost in five sets to Alcaraz having led by two sets and seen three championship points saved.

At least one of Sinner and Alcaraz have contested the men's singles final at the last six Grand Slam tournaments, while Sinner is going for a first title away from the hard courts against Alcaraz, a two-time winner at the All England Club.

Djokovic had admitted previously that this tournament on his favourite surface offered probably his best chance of setting a standalone record of major singles title.

"These guys are fit, young, sharp. I feel like I'm going into the match with tank half empty. It's just not possible to win a match like that," Djokovic said.

"I don't think it's bad fortune. It's just age, the wear and tear of the body."

Having been largely outplayed for two sets, Djokovic threatened a comeback in the third but Sinner remarkably won five games in a row on his way to securing a fifth Grand Slam final.

Three-time major winner Sinner, 23, has now won the last six meetings against Djokovic but this was the first time on grass.

There were doubts around the fitness of both players before the match and, while Sinner did not seem hampered by his elbow injury, Djokovic did require a medical time out after the second set and admitted he had considered "withdrawing".

Another final between Sinner and Alcaraz just five weeks after the last one at Roland Garros gives the Italian a chance for revenge against the Spaniard, who beat American fifth seed Taylor Fritz 6-4 5-7 6-3 7-6 (8-6) in Friday's first semi-final on a sweltering hot day.

"It's a huge honour for me to share the court again with Carlos," Sinner said.

"Hopefully it will be a good match like the last one - I don't know if it will be better because I don't know if that's possible but we will try - hopefully it will be an enjoyable match."

US has resumed military supplies to Ukraine, Zelensky says

Just now Share Save Mallory Moench BBC News Reporting from London Paul Adams Diplomatic Correspondent Reporting from Ukraine Share Save

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The US has resumed military supplies to Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky has said, after Washington halted some shipments of critical arms last week. US President Donald Trump told NBC News on Thursday that he had made a deal with Nato for the US to send Patriot air defence systems to Ukraine via the alliance, after a surge of Russian aerial attacks. Zelensky had raised concerns about the impact the pause would have on Ukraine's defences, with supplies of Patriot systems and precision artillery shells among the armaments reported to have been stopped. Russia has stepped up drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian cities in recent weeks, causing record civilian casualties.

In the wake of these attacks, Zelensky requested 10 Patriot systems. Patriot batteries detect and intercept oncoming missiles and are regarded as one of the world's best air defence systems. The latest deal announced by Trump will see Nato buy Patriot systems from the US and then distribute them to Ukraine. He said the alliance would "reimburse the full cost". Nato is funded through the contributions of its members, including the US. Zelensky said in Rome on Thursday that Germany was ready to pay for two of the Patriots and Norway one, while other European partners were also prepared to help. He touted "new European defence packages" in his Friday evening message, adding that Ukraine's military would be working with US envoy Keith Kellogg in the coming week. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters on Friday that he had urged allies including Germany and Spain to hand over some of their existing Patriot batteries, as they could reach Ukraine faster. "We have continued to encourage our Nato allies to provide those weapons... since they have them in their stocks, then we can enter into financial agreements... where they can purchase the replacements," he said. The renewed efforts to supply air defences to Ukraine come in the wake of a barrage of deadly aerial attacks - which have shown signs of increasingly frustrating the US administration as it seeks a negotiated peace. Ukraine was hit by a record 728 drones overnight on Tuesday, with the Ukrainian president warning that Russia wanted to increase that to 1,000. June saw the highest monthly civilian casualties in Ukraine in three years, with 232 people killed and more than 1,300 injured, according to the UN. Trump said on Tuesday that the US would send more weapons to Kyiv as "they're getting hit very hard now". After a phone-call with Russia's Vladimir Putin last week, he said he was "not happy" that progress had not been made towards ending the war. He has since complained that Putin's "very nice" attitude turned out to be meaningless. During his interview with NBC News, Trump said he would make a "major statement" on Russia on Monday, but did not say what it would be about.

The New York Times, quoting unnamed US officials, reports that a Patriot battery formerly based in Israel will be sent to Ukraine after refurbishment in the US. Negotiations over the Israeli battery have been going on for some time. Last month, a senior official in Kyiv said it had already been sent to the US, but that Ukraine was still waiting to receive it. Patriot air defence batteries, and the interceptor missiles they fire, play a critical role in defending Ukrainian cities, civilian and military infrastructure, from Russian cruise and ballistic missile attacks. Alongside Soviet-era S-300 surface-to-air missiles and Western-made Nasams (National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System), the Patriots help Ukraine maintain what the military often calls a "layered defence". With its advanced radar and tracking and high interception rate, the Patriot is a highly effective weapon without which Ukraine would struggle to protect itself against Moscow's relentless bombardments. But it is also eye-wateringly expensive, with a single battery, including missiles, worth around $1bn (£740m). This helps explain why Western countries that operate Patriot systems have been reluctant to part with them. Ukrainian troops already know how to use them. The first two Western-supplied batteries arrived in April 2023, after months of pleading from Kyiv. The exact number of systems currently in use is a closely guarded secret. But each additional battery allows Ukraine to put more cities and key facilities, including military bases and power stations, under the system's protective umbrella. Ukraine is a huge country. It will never be able to protect everything – or everyone. But with Russian aerial attacks increasing in frequency and size, Kyiv's Western allies seem to recognise the urgency of the need.

Getty Images A Patriot system received by Ukraine is seen in 2024

Some GPs to offer coaching to get sick people back to work

6 hours ago Share Save Hugh Pym • @bbcHughPym Health editor Share Save

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GP surgeries in England can offer advice to patients on getting back to work, including career coaching or exercise classes, as part of a pilot project to reduce the number of people who are signed off work sick. The aim is to help people return to the workplace more quickly to reduce the length of time they need fit notes - better known as sick notes. These are issued by health professionals if a patient is unwell or cannot work for more than seven days. A total of £1.5m is being made available to 15 regions in England, and will be shared between GP practices in these areas to hire coaches or occupational therapists to support patients in their return to work.

The Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: "It's about fundamentally changing the conversation from 'you can't' to 'how can we help you?' "When someone walks into their doctor's surgery worried about their job, they should walk out with a plan, not just a piece of paper that closes doors." Health staff would be offered training to give work and health advice. People could be pointed towards fitness classes or career coaching. In one case quoted by the government, a woman who was off work with a fractured ankle had an assessment with a fitness adviser and was referred for a 12-week exercise programme with the aim of strengthening the ankle. The Department of Health and Social Care says that of 11 million fit notes issued electronically in England last year, 93% simply declared people "not fit for work" with no alternative support offered. This new scheme expands on an initiative launched last October in the same 15 regions called WorkWell, jointly run by the Departments of Work and Pensions and Health and Social Care. It involves NHS staff referring patients to other services. People in work but at risk of quitting have been given advice on mental health in the workplace. In the new scheme, those out of work will be referred by NHS staff to services that offer support for finding a job, such as CV and interview techniques and liaising with employers on appropriate support.

Former Met Police commissioner Ian Blair dies

3 hours ago Share Save James W Kelly BBC News, London Share Save

Getty Images Ian Blair led the Met Police from 2005 to 2008

Former Metropolitan Police commissioner, Lord Blair, has died at the age of 72. Ian Blair led the UK's largest police force between 2005 and 2008, during which the 7/7 bombings took place. He died on Wednesday following a short illness, a Met Police spokesperson said. Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said Lord Blair's death was a "huge loss to the police family" and he would be "remembered as one of the most influential police leaders of recent decades". London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan said that Lord Blair had "dedicated over 30 years to public service as a police officer" and offered condolences to his family.

The senior police officer saw his career cut short when he was axed from Scotland Yard by then-mayor Boris Johnson. Until that point, he had held on to the job despite the furore caused by death of Jean Charles de Menezes. Met Police firearms officers fatally shot the Brazilian electrician at Stockwell Tube station in July 2005 after mistaking him for a suicide bomber. Cressida Dick, who was later promoted to the role of Met Police chief, was the officer in charge of the operation. Blair clung on with the support of the home secretary, the Police Authority and, most of all, his senior officers. But when Johnson took charge of the Police Authority and told him privately that he had no confidence in his work, he walked out.

Lord Blair told the BBC in a documentary earlier this year: "We shot a totally innocent man called Jean Charles de Menezes"

Born in Chester in 1953, Blair joined the Met in 1974 as part of its graduate entry scheme. He rose through the ranks, serving in both uniform and as a detective, and went on to lead major investigations, including the response to the King's Cross fire of 1987. In 1998, he became chief constable of Surrey Police before returning to the Met two years later as deputy commissioner. He was appointed commissioner in February 2005, just months before a series of bombings killed 52 people on London's transport network.

Sir Ian Blair appearing on the Andrew Marr Show in 2009

It was two weeks later that Mr De Menezes was killed by officers who were responding to the threat of further possible suicide bombers. The Met was ultimately found to have breached health and safety laws over the shooting. Blair was cleared of personal wrongdoing but faced sustained pressure over the killing for the remainder of his time in the role.

In his resignation letter, he said: "It has been the proudest task of my life to lead the men and women of the Metropolitan Police. "It is the duty of the commissioner to lead the Met through good times and bad- to accept the burdens and pressures of office and, above all, to be a steward of the service he commands."

'Vast contribution'

He took a seat as a crossbench peer in 2010 when he became Lord Blair of Boughton, a nod to his roots in Cheshire. He had been knighted in 1999. Paying tribute to Lord Blair, Sir Mark said: "He oversaw some of the most challenging moments in our history, not least the response to the horrific terror attacks on July 7 2005 which we commemorated earlier this week." Sir Mark said Lord Blair would also be remembered for the "vast contribution he made to improving our overall approach to policing and the service we provide to victims". The Met commissioner added that Lord Blair had led changes in how rape cases were handled with his "empathy and foresight". "Even after leaving the Met, he continued to be friend of policing and police officers, contributing thoughtfully from his position in the House of Lords."

MP Rupert Lowe cleared by standards watchdog

In a statement , standards commissioner David Greenberg said Lowe had provided evidence that the 28-day window for registering the donations had not passed "and no breach of the Rules has occurred".

Lowe insisted that he had only received the donations on 23 June, giving him until 21 July to register them, and he had "demonstrated to the commissioner" all rules have been followed.

The BBC reported that the investigation was for allegedly failing to register money raised in donations via a crowdfunder for Lowe's independent "Rape Gang Inquiry".

The commissioner announced the investigation on Friday morning but has now put out a statement saying the complaint has not been upheld.

Former Reform MP Rupert Lowe has been cleared after a brief investigation by Parliament's standards commissioner.

Reacting to the commissioner's announcement on X, Lowe said: "This complaint was a malicious attempt to shut me down and undermine our inquiry."

He added: "I was informed on Thursday morning that this investigation was happening, and I immediately provided undeniable proof that all was done within the rules - the money arrived in the Rape Gang Inquiry account on June 23rd and I have 28 days from that date to register. It is all in hand, and being done entirely correctly.

"This irrefutable evidence was provided to the parliamentary authorities, I met them yesterday to discuss, yet they still decided to publish."

He said he would be making a formal complaint to the BBC about the way it had reported the story.

The BBC said it would consider any complaints in the usual way.

More than £600,000 has been donated to a crowdfunder started by Lowe in March to support a national inquiry into gang-based sexual exploitation across the UK.

Lowe started the project before the PM announced a government-backed national inquiry into grooming gangs last month. He has since said his investigation will continue regardless.

Under parliamentary rules, MPs must declare any donation from a single source over £1,500 - or over £300 in earnings or gifts.

Lowe's crowdfunder includes a statement that donors giving above the parliamentary limit will have their names published in the Commons register.

Most of the £600,000 came in small sums - but records show over a dozen donations exceeded £1,500, which have yet to appear in Lowe's register of financial interests.

The complainant emailed Mr Greenberg on 23 June to "highlight that Mr Lowe has failed to register his crowdfunder".

In an email to Lowe on 10 July, Mr Greenberg told the Great Yarmouth MP he was opening a formal inquiry into whether he had "failed to register individual donations made to the Crowdfunder for the "Rape Gang Inquiry" as required by the rules".

The investigation was into whether the MP had broken Rule 5 of the Commons code of conduct.

In a resolution letter, sent on 11 July, Mr Greenberg says: "I concluded that the evidence submitted did not demonstrate on the balance of probabilities that a breach of the rules had occurred."

In a statement the Rape Gang Inquiry said: "The first donations were drawn from our Crowdfunder and arrived in the Rape Gang Inquiry bank account on June 23rd - Rupert had been funding the inquiry until then.

"All appropriate checks have been made for Rupert's parliamentary declaration. He has 28 days from the money arriving in the account, which was on June 23rd, until the submission has to be complete - although this has almost entirely been finished already.

"Once the inquiry is complete, spending will be published in the interests of full transparency."

'All my savings are going': Pub landlords fear closure as costs rise

7 hours ago Share Save Danny Savage & Emily Holt BBC News Share Save

BBC Emma says pubs landlords need to come together to voice their struggles.

Behind the bar at The King's Head in Pollington, east Yorkshire, Emma Baxter has a problem. She runs the pub in her evenings - but it makes no money. It is the last remaining pub in the village after another shut down, along with a greengrocer and the post office. She says she can't take a salary from the business. "I run the pub for the love of it and for the fact I'm a village girl," she says. "I'm a strong believer in the fact that it's the centre of the community and I said when I bought it I would keep it going. "But my electricity bill has doubled in the last six months – where is that money going to come from?" Emma felt so strongly about the tough financial situation facing many pubs that she contacted Your Voice, Your BBC News - an initiative to share the stories that matter to you.

According to the British Beer and Pub Association, the number of pubs in the UK has steadily decreased every year since 2000. Some 15,000 pubs have closed in that time, including 289 last year - the equivalent of six a week. The average price of a pint is set to increase from £4.80 to £5.01. Budget measures mean that pubs face a loss of 9p on each pint if they continue to charge the same pre-budget prices. This means the price of a pint will need to rise by 21p to £5.01 for pubs to maintain current 12p profit. The industry faced particular struggles during the Covid pandemic, but Emma believes things have deteriorated in the last two years - and it's left some pubs struggling to stay afloat. "We saw maybe one price increase a year if we were lucky [during Covid] - sometimes we didn't even see that," she says. "Now we're seeing three for a year and we've got another one coming. That will be the second one in the last two months. So how much more is this going to happen?" At the same time as battling rising costs, she is attempting to entice customers in. "I think everybody's trying their best - but you can't compromise the service and the quality that you give and the environment that you give. "So you can't turn around at 9pm, turn all the lights off and make people sit around one bulb, you know. That's not what people come out for."

Maurice says he is being charged 'ridiculous' prices for beer and spirits

Pubs operate under various business models. There are free houses, which are not owned by a brewery or landlord stipulating where landlords buy their beer from. These are often run by owner-occupiers. Then there are brewery-owned pubs, which generally only sell beers from that brewery. And there are firms that own thousands of pubs and are occupied by tenants - often referred to as a "pub co". Some tenants are also obliged to buy the drinks they sell from the same company. In some cases they are responsible for the upkeep of the building too.

Maurice, a tenant for one such company in Sheffield, tells the BBC he is trying to renegotiate his deal to run the pub. He says he will have to close the establishment if he can't get better terms. "The prices that we are charged for spirits, beer, is ridiculous. I could actually go to a supermarket and buy about two bottles for what they're charging me for one. But I'm not allowed to because I'm tied," he says. He also wants to see "pub co" breweries offered more help with the maintenance of their pubs, rather than leaving tenants to chase money for repairs. Having been in the trade all his working life, he says he got involved with running a pub because of his love for community, but he's struggling to see a bright future. "At the end of the day, you've got to make money. Financially, we're losing about £1,000 a week at a minimum here. And that's been for about the last couple of months. "I can't afford to carry that anymore. All my savings are going."

Paul is calling for a VAT cut for pubs

For its part, the UK government says the pub is a central part of Britain's national identity and it is working hard to support the industry. "We are a pro-business government and we know the vital importance of pubs to local communities and the economy, which is why we are supporting them with business rates relief and a 1p cut to alcohol duty on draught pints." However, campaigners say that's not enough. "Bringing down the VAT rate for hospitality would be a massive win," says Paul Crossman, landlord of The Swan, in York. Paul, who is also chair of the pressure group the Campaign for Pubs, says: "I know the Chancellor of the Exchequer won't like that because there will be a cost attached to it, but surely getting 10% VAT from businesses that are still open is better than asking 20% from businesses that can't sustain that and will close." There are some positive stories, too. Meg and Patrick have recently taken over the oldest pub in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, and say their re-opening "couldn't have gone better". Both former teachers, the couple had a shared dream of running their own pub, eventually saving enough to buy the Ye Royal Oak in the town centre.

Meg and Patrick said reopening Chesterfield's oldest pub was "really special"

A child became trapped inside a claw machine filled with stuffed animals in Mason, Ohio after trying to climb into the game through the prize door. The Mason police and fire departments were dispatched to the city's community centre and rescued the child through the back of the machine. The child was reunited with his parents unharmed.

'I was lucky to survive a one-punch attack'

13 hours ago Share Save Rebecca Curran and Ken Banks BBC Scotland, Aberdeen Share Save

BBC Ross McConnell was badly injured in the attack

An attack victim has said he is lucky to be alive after being knocked out by a single punch from a stranger who has now been jailed. Airline pilot Ross McConnell, 35, was assaulted following a Busted concert at Aberdeen's P&J Live in 2023, leaving him unable to work for several months and with permanent scarring. He has now spoken out to warn of the dangers of a single punch, saying the "split-second action" can have "absolutely devastating consequences". Ben Corfield, 40, admitted the assault, and was jailed for a year at Aberdeen Sheriff Court.

Speaking after the sentencing, Mr McConnell said: "Justice has been done today, that guy very nearly killed me. "I understand that he has had time to reflect on it. I accept his remorse, but ultimately he did what he did. "Every day I'm reminded that the situation could be much more different." Mr McConnell and his wife Lisa were both assaulted in the incident on 19 September 2023. Corfield, from Doncaster in South Yorkshire, admitted punching the pilot, causing severe injury and permanent disfigurement. He also admitted assaulting another man on the same night. Claire Maclagan, 36, from Dundee, admitted assaulting Lisa McConnell and was sentenced to carry out 187 hours of unpaid work. Sheriff Morag McLaughlin said she had "wrestled" with her decision, but she had no choice but to impose a custodial sentence on the first-time offender. She described it as an "extremely serious assault" which could have turned out "significantly worse". The sheriff told the court "everyone wishes Mr Corfield had just walked away".

Ross McConnell Ross McConnell needed stitches to the wound in his head

Mr McConnell said events on the night unfolded very quickly. "Out of nowhere this guy comes up to me," he said. "He just punched me to the left-hand side of my jaw. It caused me to fall backwards. The next thing I remember was waking up in the recovery position on the floor. "I don't recall saying anything to him, it all happened in the space of seconds. I just thought, what did I do to deserve this? If someone else had been in my position it looks like they would have got the same treatment."

How bad were the injuries?

Mr McConnell was taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary where he received stitches to his serious head wound. He said: "My daughter nearly lost her father, my wife nearly lost her husband, my mother nearly lost her son - all because one guy had a bad night and decided to punch me. "Just about 30cm from where my head struck was uneven granite cobble. If my head had hit that, I shudder to think. The situation could have been a lot worse. I might not even be here today at worse case." He was unable to properly return to his job as an airline pilot for nearly four months. "That really gets you down," he said. "You know I thought 'why me?' A single punch has caused all of this impact for me, the physical impact as well as the financial loss and the mental impact too. "I sat for days wondering, had I done anything? Was this my fault?"

Maxine Thompson-Curl lost her son after a single-punch attack

Maxine Thompson-Curl set up the charity One Punch UK after her 18-year-old son Kristian's death in 2010. He was punched by a man in a nightclub. "He had a fractured skull and a catastrophic brain injury," she said. "My life from that moment has never been the same. "He was in a coma for five days. And then for many months he was trying to get over having a brain injury. But he died nine months later. It was absolutely horrific." She added: "We know these one-punch assaults happen, but the difficult thing statistically is that it isn't recorded by the police as a one-punch attack it is recorded as an assault. "I have contact with people from across the country - Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland - and I would say at least twice a week I am hearing from people who are going through this, they get in touch looking for help. "We know that one punch can ruin two lives. What I would say is - stop, think and walk away. Don't use those fists as weapons. They weren't given to punch, they were given to us to care, to hold each other, not to kill."

Why has Ross told his story?

Oasis sweep UK charts after reunion frenzy

7 hours ago Share Save Ian Youngs Culture reporter Share Save

Reuters Liam Gallagher has buried the hatched with brother Noel (for now)

Oasis fans have gone mad for their music again following their reunion, sending the band to number one in the UK album chart. After the group kicked off their comeback tour last week, their greatest hits compilation Time Flies has gone back to the top spot, followed by 1995 album (What's the Story) Morning Glory? at number two. Debut album Definitely Maybe, from 1994, is at number four - with only Sabrina Carpenter preventing them from completing a clean sweep of the top three. News of the chart revival comes as the Britpop heroes prepare for their homecoming with the first of five sold-out nights in Manchester.

Vaccine roll-outs cut deaths by 60% - study

9 hours ago Share Save Dominic Hughes Global Health Correspondent Share Save

Getty Images The study examines the impact of emergency vaccine roll-outs for five major infectious diseases, including Ebola

Emergency vaccination programmes – rolled out in response to outbreaks of five major diseases – are believed to have reduced deaths by around 60% over a period of 23 years, according to a new study. A similar number of infections are also thought to have been prevented. Researchers believe that vaccinations stopped much bigger outbreaks of illnesses like Ebola, cholera and yellow fever. The study also points to the significant economic benefits of vaccination programmes, which run into billions of dollars.

Researchers say this is the first comprehensive study to assess the impact of emergency vaccination programmes in response to the outbreak of five infectious diseases – Ebola, measles, cholera, yellow fever and meningitis. They studied 210 different incidents from 2000 to 2023, covering 49 different countries. The vaccine roll-outs seem to have had an impressive impact, reducing deaths by nearly 60%. The number of overall cases of theses infections were also reduced by nearly 60%. The swift deployment of vaccines also appears to have halted wider outbreaks. There were economic benefits too – worth an estimated $32 billion. These benefits come mainly from averting deaths and years of life lost to disability. But researchers believe this could be a significant underestimate of overall savings, as it doesn't take into account the costs of dealing with a wider outbreak, or the economic disruption caused by a more serious health emergency. It's believed the 2014 Ebola outbreak, which occurred before the existence of an approved vaccine, is estimated to have cost West African countries alone more than $53 billion.

The power of vaccines

The preliminary report into the Air India crash in June has found that both fuel control switches, which are used to turn the engines off, were moved to the cut-off position.

The BBC's International business correspondent Theo Leggett explains the role of the switches and how shifting them is a two-stage process.

Why Is It So Hot? Why Is It So Hot?

Nigel Planer narrates the story of the struggle to make programmes for children in the days before everything went digital.

Unusually, Jofra Archer plays cricket wearing a watch.

The reason for his need to know the time when he's on the field for England is unclear.

Then again, when your job is to hurtle a ball at a batter, giving them a fraction of a second to react, and you have waited more than four years for the opportunity to do it again in Test cricket, time is important.

When Archer last played a Test for England, Shoaib Bashir was eight months short of his 18th birthday, Joe Biden had just been sworn in as US President and the UK was in a Covid lockdown.

Life moved on without him after that third Test against India in February 2021. England played 53 Archerless matches.

The 'void' Ashes, the birth of Bazball. Retirements of Stuart Broad and James Anderson, memorable wins in Rawalpindi and Hyderabad. The Jonny Bairstow stumping. The beginning and end of Ollie Robinson's Test career.

It has been a monumental collective effort to get Archer back in England whites, but only the man himself will know everything it has taken. The setbacks and heartbreak, lonely days in the gym and solo net sessions. One-dayers, T20s and Barbados club cricket.

Gradually, a fanciful dream became a reality. A return to red-ball cricket with Sussex and a place in the England squad for the second Test against India, all building to the third Test at Lord's.

When Archer was confirmed in the England XI the day before the game began, he prepared by bowling spin - right and left-arm - in the nets.

A rare Ben Stokes choice to bat first meant a wait to get the ball in hand. On a boiling Friday, Archer looked genuinely disappointed when his batting was cut short by the genius of Jasprit Bumrah.

There were times during his Wimbledon semi-final that Novak Djokovic must have felt as if he was looking in a mirror.

Elements of Jannik Sinner's game scream pure Djokovic - whether it's the sliding, the rally tolerance or the movement around the court.

But, as three-time Wimbledon singles winner John McEnroe said, there was one difference.

"We were watching a better version of Novak Djokovic playing himself," McEnroe said on BBC TV.

"He was doing the exact same things that took him to the pantheon of the sport."

World number one Sinner was ruthless against Djokovic, dominating the first two sets and coming back from a break down in the third to win 6-3 6-3 6-4 and end the Serb's latest bid for a standalone record 25th Grand Slam title.

For the first time, Djokovic looked as though he was feeling the 15-year difference between himself and Sinner.

Both came into the match with injuries - Sinner with his right elbow and Djokovic with his movement hindered after a fall late in his quarter-final - and both took precautions throughout the week to recover.

But while Sinner appeared relatively untroubled, Djokovic's movement was hindered. Being half a step slower than usual was enough for Sinner to pounce - just as Djokovic has done to opponents over the years.

"It's just age, the wear and tear of the body," Djokovic said.

"As much as I'm taking care of it, the reality hits me right now, the last year and a half, like never before, to be honest."

Crystal Palace had never won a major trophy.

Never been in Europe.

The scenes of pure joy after their 1-0 win over Manchester City at Wembley made for one of 2025's most memorable football stories.

They believe they earned their right to play in the Europa League next season. According to well-placed sources, there are factions at Uefa who have a similar opinion.

But less than two months on, the aftermath has been tainted by acrimony, rivalries and, ultimately, Uefa rules around multi-club ownership rules.

The upshot is Palace are out of the Europa League. And Nottingham Forest take their place. Palace are now in the Conference League where the prize money and glory are significantly less.

Palace are now expected to take their case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Why did this happen? What does it tell us about football ownership? What went on between Palace and Forest? And will it spark a deeper rivalry between the clubs?

As trilogies go, Friday's third instalment of the Katie Taylor v Amanda Serrano rivalry at New York's Madison Square Garden doesn't add up, but still makes all the sense in the world.

Ordinarily, a third meeting in boxing is to break the tie, but, despite undisputed light-welterweight champion Taylor holding a 2-0 advantage from previous meetings, this final chapter feels like day one.

Their initial fight at MSG in 2022 broke new ground, selling out the 20,000-capacity venue out as the first female boxers to headline, producing a 10-round classic from which Ireland's Taylor emerged narrowly victorious, leaving fight fans craving more.

Two years later and they threw down again, this time in Texas, in a fight which Taylor again shaded, but opinions were divided in the aftermath with many feeling Serrano ought to have got the nod despite suffering a gruesome gash to her right eye which may come into play on Friday should it reopen.

Regardless, Taylor backed up that initial win, so why do it a third time?

It makes financial sense as Jake Paul's MVP Promotions and Netflix are handing both women their career-high payday.

That is a result of what they produce - drama and excitement - ensuring this latest edition is as eagerly anticipated as their first.

Noah Lyles beat Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo in the men's 200m at the Diamond League meet in Monaco.

Botswana's Tebogo beat the American in the Olympic 200m final last year when it emerged after the race that Lyles, who came third, had tested positive for Covid.

Tebogo had also gone into the race in Monaco having set a world leading 19.76 seconds when he won the 200m at the last Diamond League meeting in Eugene on 5 July.

Olympic 100m champion Lyles had not raced since a 400m run in April and last competed 338 days ago in the 200m.

Yet the 27-year-old impressively held on to win in 19.88 as Tebogo came in second in 19.97.

"It was a great race, I'm really glad to be healthy," said Lyles, who had not raced over 100m or 200m this season prior to Monaco. "This shows I'm still in the game.

"I put myself in the fire for that one coming back against Tebogo. But I didn't feel any pressure, I don't see any reason to put pressure on myself - that's what we love to do."

Having missed the Euros in 2022 after she suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury on the eve of the tournament, Alexia Putellas has been making up for lost time on the European stage.

The Barcelona midfielder won back-to-back player-of-the-match awards thanks to stellar performances in the 5-0 victory over Portugal and the 6-2 win against Belgium, scoring three goals and assisting three more across the two games.

She added another two assists in the 3-1 win against Italy to equal the record for group-stage goal involvements by a single player - set three years ago by England's Beth Mead.

Not only does Putellas rank first for direct goal involvements, but she's created more chances per 90 minutes (five) than any other player at Euro 2025.

"She is just impossible to defend against," former Scotland captain Rachel Corsie told BBC Sport.

"She is so good in possession, she's got so much awareness, she sort of looks like she's playing in slow motion but she's actually just so in control.

"I think the only way to stop her is to limit the ball getting to her because once she has it, she's just so dangerous."