At least 20 killed in crush at US-backed GHF aid site in Gaza

3 hours ago Share Save David Gritten BBC News Reporting from Jerusalem Share Save

Reuters Casualties from the incident were brought to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis

At least 20 people have been killed in a crush at an aid distribution centre in southern Gaza run by the US- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), the organisation and a local hospital say. The GHF said 19 were trampled to death and one was stabbed "amid a chaotic and dangerous surge" at its site in the Khan Younis area. It added that it believed people "armed and affiliated with Hamas" fomented unrest. But Gaza's Hamas-run Government Media Office denied this claim and accused the GHF of trying to "cover up" a crime. Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis said it had received the bodies of 21 people who died from suffocation as a result of tear gas inhalation and a crush at the aid site.

It is the first time the GHF has confirmed deaths at one of its aid sites. The media office accused the US private security contractors, who distribute aid for the GHF, of causing the crush by closing the gates of the site after thousands of people had gathered in narrow channels to collect food, and then firing canisters of tear gas and live rounds towards them. In a graphic video shared on social media and verified by the BBC, a witness standing on a cart filled with the bodies of six boys and men at Nasser hospital said they had been crushed between fences set up at the GHF site while waiting for food handouts. "They are children. What is it their fault dying for aid?" the man shouts as he holds up the body of one of the boys. "What happened is [that] at the door of the aid [site], the foreigners made a fence here and a fence here," he gestured. "The boys went to the front and the people came and stepped on them."

UK inflation at highest for almost a year and a half

2 hours ago Share Save Lucy Hooker and Connie Bowker Business reporters, BBC News Share Save

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Prices rose by more than expected in the year to June, pushing inflation to 3.6%, the highest it has been since January 2024. Higher prices for food and clothing, air and rail fares - and a lower drop in fuel prices than this time last year - contributed to higher inflation, official figures show. The rate at which prices increase matters to shoppers, whose money doesn't go as far if goods and services are becoming rapidly more expensive. Inflation remains much higher than the Bank of England's target rate of 2%, but a cut in the cost of borrowing is still expected at next month's rate-setting meeting.

The pace of price rises affects whether the Bank decides to raise or lower interest rates as higher rates can slow inflation by dampening economic activity. The higher figure for June was unexpected, with economists having predicted the inflation rate would stay at the 3.4% it hit in April and May. Yael Selfin, chief economist at KPMG UK, said persistent underlying pressures, including tax rises in April, meant inflation was likely to peak at 4% in the autumn.

Richard Heys, acting chief economist for the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the largest contribution to June's higher inflation came from transport. While petrol and diesel are less expensive than they were a year ago, the price fell only slightly between May and June this year, compared to a larger fall in the same month last year. Airfares, which can be volatile, were higher, specifically long-haul and European routes, the ONS said. The rise in rail fares came from more expensive tickets on international routes.

'Groceries add up'

Average wages have risen over the past year, by 5.2%, suggesting many people will not be worse off overall, but shoppers, particularly those on low incomes, are more affected by higher prices for daily staples such as food and petrol. Alissia Mardlin, a bartender from London, said her rent in a shared flat was "extortionate" leaving her with little spare spending money. "I eat sweetcorn and pasta," she said, blaming the higher cost of living. Private rents increased by 6.7% in the year to May, according to figures published by the ONS on Wednesday, a slightly slower pace than a month earlier. House prices picked up again, rising by 3.9%. Jonathan Ballantyne, a marketing manager from Bishop's Stortford, told the BBC he had not noticed much change in his supermarket shop but was noticing a squeeze on petrol and energy costs. "I'm more conscious of not driving places because I'm thinking what is it going to be costing," he said. Saul, who did not want to share his surname, said he had noticed coffee and beer getting more expensive, making people less likely to go out and socialise. "Groceries add up massively," he said. "Meal deals in supermarkets have gone up massively - they've increased by 50p since I can remember."

Saul said he had noticed basic things like coffee getting more expensive

Food prices rose at a rate of 4.5% in the year to June, the highest rate since February 2024 but well below the peak seen two years ago. Food industry representatives said manufacturers were facing higher costs for key ingredients - such as chocolate, butter, coffee and meat - as well as higher energy and labour costs.

Bad for savers

Emma Watson banned from driving for speeding

Watson already had nine points on her licence before the speeding incident occurred, the court heard

The 35-year-old, now a student, was made to pay a total of £1,044 at High Wycombe Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.

Watson already had nine points on her licence before the speeding incident occurred, the court heard.

Watson, who played Hermione Granger in the film franchise, drove 38mph in a 30mph zone in Oxford on the evening of 31 July last year.

Harry Potter actress Emma Watson has been banned from driving for six months, after she was caught speeding.

She did not attend the five-minute hearing. Representatives for Watson have been approached for comment.

The actress has been studying a master's degree in creative writing at the University of Oxford since 2023.

Watson shot to fame in 2001 with the release of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, alongside fellow child stars Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint.

She starred in eight Potter films in total, with the last being released in 2011, before going on to appear in movies such as Beauty and the Beast, The Bling Ring and The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

Watson's last film role was in the 2019 remake of Little Women, directed by Greta Gerwig. She launched her own sustainable gin brand with her brother in 2023.

A new TV adaptation of JK Rowling's Harry Potter books is currently in production, starring Dominic McLaughlin as Harry, alongside Arabella Stanton as Hermione and Alastair Stout as Ron.

John Lithgow has been cast as Dumbledore, Nick Frost as Hagrid, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall and Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape.

The series, being produced by HBO, is expected to take a decade to complete.

Contains very strong language, adult humour, graphic violent scenes and scenes which some viewers may find upsetting.

England captain Leah Williamson will be acutely aware of Sweden striker Stina Blackstenius' speed and the fact she likes to stretch the backline because they play together at Arsenal.

Blackstenius is so good at running in behind. The way she took the first goal in Sweden's 4-1 win over Germany showed a real intelligence to keep onside. It was top-level forward play.

She has been accused of missing clear-cut chances, but she executed that perfectly. That will have given her a real boost.

Sweden had 48% possession against Germany, but they showed they could handle pressure because they had weapons on the counter-attack. Blackstenius is a focal point for the team and the one that probably allows Sweden to play more direct when they need to.

England centre-backs Williamson and Jess Carter need to have good awareness of where Blackstenius is. They need to get it right positionally.

They need to get tight to her in the box when the ball goes out wide because Blackstenius is really good in the air. Sweden recorded the most open-play crosses during the group stage (61) and they are dangerous in those situations.

Williamson showed her defensive strengths in the Champions League final. She came up against top-quality forwards and used her pace and reading of the game to intercept passes.

She is so composed on the ball that she can play her way out of pressure. That is so important for the way England build from the back.

Carter complements Williamson well because she can distribute off both feet and is very good at using her body to block runs.

Goalkeeper Hannah Hampton has a role to play in helping England's centre-backs by reducing the space Blackstenius has to run in behind.

There was a lot of noise around Hampton becoming number one, but her distribution has been excellent so the Sweden defence need to be wary of that. If they push up too high she can play long balls over the top.

Teams have analysed England and looked at ways they can exploit them, which has often been through those direct passes or outpacing the defence. But there is no way England will not acknowledge Sweden's strengths. They will be prepared.

Wales goalkeeping great Wayne Hennessey has retired from playing.

The 38-year-old's career lasted almost two decades, during which he played 109 times for Wales - a national record in his position - and was part of the side that reached the semi-finals of Euro 2016.

Hennessey made his professional club debut in 2006 for Wolverhampton Wanderers, playing on loan for clubs including Bristol City, Stockport County and Yeovil Town, before permanent moves to Crystal Palace, Burnley and his final club Nottingham Forest.

"I have decided to bring my playing career to an end, I look back with gratitude and forward with optimism as I take the next steps on my footballing journey," Hennessey said on social media.

More to follow.