Jeremy Bowen: Israel's allies see evidence of war crimes in Gaza mounting up

6 hours ago Share Save Jeremy Bowen International editor Share Save

Reuters

Two years ago, Hamas was putting the finishing touches to its plan to attack Israel. In Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu believed that the Palestinians were a problem to be managed. The real threat, he insisted, was Iran. Netanyahu's rhetoric opposing Hamas was undimmed, but he had also given permission for Qatar to funnel money into Gaza. It gave him space for his real priorities in foreign policy - confronting Iran and finding a way to normalise relations with Saudi Arabia. In Washington, then-President Joe Biden and his administration believed they were close to hatching a deal between the Saudis and Israelis. It was all a series of illusions. Netanyahu has refused to establish an enquiry to look into the mistakes he made alongside his army and security chiefs that gave Hamas its opportunity to attack with such deadly effect on 7 October 2023. The century-long conflict between Jews and Arabs for control of the land between the River Jordan and the Mediterranean was unresolved, festering, and about to explode into a war that looks to be as consequential as its other landmarks, in 1948 and 1967. The Middle East has been transformed since 7 October, and almost two years into the war, the conflict in Gaza is at another inflection point.

This has been a hard war for journalists to report. They were taken by surprise on 7 October when Hamas attacked, and since then Israel has banned international journalists from Gaza to report freely. Palestinian journalists inside the Strip have done valiant work, and nearly 200 have been killed doing their jobs. But key facts are clear. Hamas committed a series of war crimes in the attacks it launched on 7 October, killing 1,200 people, mainly Israeli civilians. Hamas took 251 hostages, of which perhaps 20 who are still being held inside Gaza are believed to be alive. And there is clear evidence that Israel has committed a series of war crimes since then. Israel's list includes the starvation of Gaza's civilians, the failure to protect them during military operations in which Israeli forces killed tens of thousands of innocents, and the wanton destruction of entire towns in a manner that is not proportionate to the military risk Israel faces. Netanyahu and his former defence minister are the subject of arrest warrants for war crimes issued by the International Criminal Court. They insist on their innocence. Israel has also condemned a legal process at the International Court of Justice which alleges that it is committing genocide against Palestinians. Israel denies the accusations, and claims they are antisemitic "blood libels". Israel is running out of friends. Allies who rallied around after the 7 October Hamas attacks have lost patience with Israel's conduct in Gaza. Even Israel's most important ally, Donald Trump, is reported to be losing patience with Netanyahu after being taken by surprise when the Israeli leader ordered the bombing of Damascus – attacking Syria's new regime, which Trump has recognised and encouraged. Other western allies of Israel ran out of patience months ago. Another joint statement, condemning Israel's actions, was signed on 21 July by foreign ministers from the UK, much of the European Union, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. They used strong words to describe civilian suffering in Gaza, and the failing and deadly aid distribution system run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) that Israel introduced to replace tried and trusted methods used by the UN and leading global relief groups. "The suffering of civilians in Gaza has reached new depths," the statement said. "The Israeli government's aid delivery model is dangerous, fuels instability and deprives Gazans of human dignity. We condemn the drip feeding of aid and the inhumane killing of civilians, including children, seeking to meet their most basic needs of water and food. It is horrifying that over 800 Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid. "The Israeli Government's denial of essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable. Israel must comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law."

Reuters The Israeli military launched a ground assault on Deir al-Balah on Monday, triggering a fresh wave of displacement

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'They shot patients in beds' – BBC hears claims of massacre at Suweida hospital

4 hours ago Share Save Jon Donnison • @jondonnisonbbc BBC News, in Suweida City, Syria Share Save

BBC / Jon Donnison The outbreak of violence in southern Syria's Druze-majority Suweida province has caused alarm in recent days

Syrian government forces have been accused of carrying out a massacre at a hospital during sectarian clashes which erupted just over a week ago. The BBC has visited Suweida's National Hospital, where staff claim patients were killed inside wards. Warning: This story contains descriptions of violence

The stench hit me before anything else. In the car park of the main hospital in Suweida city, dozens of decomposing corpses are lined up in white plastic body bags. Some are open to the elements, revealing bloated and mutilated remains of those who were killed here. The tarmac beneath my feet is greasy and slippery with blood.

In the sweltering sun, the smell is overwhelming. "It was a massacre," Dr Wissam Massoud, a neurosurgeon at the hospital, tells me. "The soldiers came here saying they wanted to bring peace, but they killed scores of patients, from the very young to the very old." Earlier this week, Dr Massoud sent me a video which he said was in the immediate aftermath of the government raid. In it, a woman shows you around the hospital. On the ground in the wards are dozens of dead patients still bundled up in their bloodied bed sheets.

BBC / Jon Donnison Hospital volunteer Kiness Abu Motab said the victims' were killed because they were in a minority group

Everyone here, doctors, nurses, volunteers say the same thing. That last Wednesday evening, it was Syrian government troops targeting the Druze religious community who came to the hospital and carried out the killings. Kiness Abu Motab, a volunteer at the hospital, said of the victims: "What is their crime? Just for being a minority in a democratic country?" "They are criminals. They are monsters. We don't trust them at all," Osama Malak an English teacher in the city told me outside the hospital gates. "They shot an eight-year-old disabled boy in the head," he said. "According to international law, hospitals should be protected. But they attacked us even in the hospitals. "They entered the hospital. They started shooting everybody. They shot the patients in their beds as they slept." All sides in this conflict have been accusing each other of committing atrocities. Both Bedouin and Druze fighters as well as the Syrian army have been accused of killing civilians and extra judicial killings.

There is not yet a clear picture of what happened at the hospital. Some here estimate the number of people to be killed last Wednesday at more than 300 but that figure cannot be verified. On Tuesday night the Syrian defence ministry said in a statement that it was aware of reports of "shocking violations" by people wearing military fatigues in the country's predominantly Druze city of Suweida. Earlier this week, Raed Saleh, the Syrian Minister for Disaster Management and Emergency Response, told me that any allegations of atrocities committed by all sides would be fully investigated.

Access to Suweida city has been heavily restricted, meaning gathering first hand evidence has been difficult. The city is in effect under siege, with Syrian government forces restricting who is allowed in and out. To get in, we had to pass through numerous checkpoints. As we entered the city, we passed burned out shops and buildings, and cars that had been crushed by tanks. Suweida city had clearly seen a serious battle between Druze and Bedouin fighters. It was at that point that the Syrian government first intervened to try and enforce a ceasefire.

Watch: BBC report from last checkpoint before Suweida city

US House speaker shuts down chamber to block Epstein vote

5 hours ago Share Save Ana Faguy BBC News Share Save

Trump says a DOJ meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell would be "appropriate"

US House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson has announced an early adjournment of the chamber, stalling efforts to force the release of documents related to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. The move delays a politically fraught vote on the matter until September amid growing bipartisan pressure for transparency. It followed a key committee vote to subpoena Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's longtime associate, to testify before Congress. Calls to declassify Epstein-related files have intensified recently, including from supporters of President Donald Trump. Earlier on Tuesday, the US justice department requested a meeting with Maxwell to ask: "What do you know?"

Maxwell's legal team told the BBC they were in discussions with the government and she would "always testify truthfully". On Capitol Hill on Tuesday, facing mounting pressure from both Democrats and some Republicans to force a vote to release Epstein-related files within 30 days, Johnson declared recess a day earlier than planned. The House is expected to reconvene in September, when the usual summer break ends. Johnson defended the decision, accusing Democrats of "political games". "We're done being lectured on transparency," the Republican congressman from Louisiana said. The decision to bring forward the summer recess gives Johnson times to mend cracks within the Republican party over how to manage disclosures in the Epstein case.

Factions of Trump's Make America Great Again (Maga) movement have been incensed by the justice department and FBI's conclusion on 6 July that Epstein did not have a so-called client list that could implicate high-profile associates, and that he did take his own life. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who previously served as Trump's personal attorney in his 2024 criminal trial, said that assessment "remains accurate". His statement noted that a recent, thorough review of FBI records related to the Epstein case uncovered "no evidence to predicate an investigation against uncharged third parties". "This Department of Justice does not shy away from uncomfortable truths, nor from the responsibility to pursue justice wherever the facts may lead," Blanche said. He confirmed plans to meet Maxwell "soon." "If Ghislaine Maxwell has information about anyone who has committed crimes against victims, the FBI and the DOJ will hear what she has to say," he added.

US Department of Justice Ghislaine Maxwell is serving 20 years in prison for helping Jeffrey Epstein abuse young girls

Speaking to reporters from the Oval Office, President Trump said interviewing Maxwell "sounds appropriate to do" adding: "I don't know anything about it." The justice department's meeting invitation has already been critiqued by some in the Maga world. Laura Loomer, a far-right influencer who has the ear of Trump, questioned why the Maxwell interview was not done "on day 1". "I guess what I want to know is whether the DOJ is basically saying they have never met with Ghislaine Maxwell to ask her or interview her about whether she has information about sex crimes committed against minors," Ms Loomer wrote on social media. Epstein, a convicted sex offender, died by suicide in a New York prison cell in 2019 while he was awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Last week, Trump directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to petition a court to release all relevant grand jury testimony in the case. Maxwell was found guilty of helping Epstein sexually abuse young girls. She was sentenced to 20 years in prison in June 2022. On Tuesday, her lawyer David Oscar Markus said in a statement: "We are grateful to President Trump for his commitment to uncovering the truth in this case."

Watch: "It's exhausting" - Epstein accuser talks to the BBC about files saga

Earlier this year, Maxwell urged the Supreme Court to review her case. The justice department pushed the court to reject that appeal last week. Throughout the course of Maxwell's 2022 trial, four women testified that they had been abused as minors at Epstein's homes in Florida, New York, New Mexico and the Virgin Islands. One of those women, Annie Farmer, said her only sense of justice came from the conviction of Maxwell. She told the BBC in an interview this week that the "rollercoaster" of the Epstein saga was a "real weight" on accusers, adding that too much focus has been paid to the abusers with little new information emerging, leaving her feeling "used".

Brewdog to close 10 pubs across UK, some 'within days'

9 hours ago Share Save Megan Bonar BBC Scotland News Share Save

PA Brewdog has 71 bars across the UK, including 17 in Scotland

Scottish craft beer giant Brewdog is to close 10 bars across the UK, including its flagship pub in Aberdeen. Trade union Unite criticised the move and said some of the pubs would shut "within days". The bars earmarked for closure are in Aberdeen, Dundee, Leeds, Brighton, Oxford, Sheffield, York and three in London. The Scottish brewery and pub group was founded by fishermen James Watt and Martin Dickie in Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, in 2007.

A spokesperson for Brewdog said the "difficult decision" had been taken as a result of "ongoing industry challenges". They added these included "rising costs, increased regulation, and economic pressures". The spokesperson said: "Despite our best efforts, and the hard work of our teams, it has simply not been possible to make these bars commercially viable. "This decision is not simply a response to the challenging UK hospitality market, but a proactive decision to redefine the bar division's focus for long-term and profitable growth." The spokesperson acknowledged some of the locations chosen were "woven into" the company's' history. But they said there was "no realistic prospect of making these venues commercially viable".

Getty Images James Watt co-founded Brewdog in 2007

Bryan Simpson, national lead for hospitality at Unite, said: "For Brewdog to give loyal workers less than four days notice of the closure of their workplace is not just morally repugnant, it is potentially unlawful. "This is yet another example of a company that doesn't have the slightest regard for basic employment law let alone the welfare of their workers. "We are currently supporting our members across these 10 sites to collectively challenge these redundancies, and we would urge anyone impacted to reach out to us for legal support." Brewdog said a 14-day consultation process would be carried out for all staff at risk of redundancy. The company would not disclose the number of employees affected and told BBC Scotland News its focus was on redeployment. The company is known for its craft beers and IPAs and has breweries and pubs across the globe, including 71 in the the UK, of which 17 are in Scotland. It also has bars in Dubai, the USA and Australia.

Getty Images Brewdog's marketing is based on the firm being brewing "punks" who are challenging corporate beer brands

In recent years Brewdog has made headlines for its marketing campaigns and workplace culture. In 2021 former workers used an open letter to highlight what they said was a "culture of fear" within the business and "toxic attitudes" to junior staff. The following year several ex-Brewdog workers accused founder and former CEO Mr Watt of inappropriate behaviour in a BBC Disclosure investigation. Lawyers for Mr Watt said the allegations were false. But Ofcom rejected complaints that Brewdog and Mr Watt were unfairly treated by the programme. In January last year the firm also faced a backlash after revealing it would no longer hire new staff on the real living wage, instead paying the lower legal minimum wage. Mr Watt stood down as CEO last year and moved to a newly-created position of "captain and co-founder" but retained his shares in the company. The firm expanded into the Chinese market in 2023 in a joint venture with US brewing giant Budweiser. Revenue for the company grew to £321.2m in the 2022-23 financial year. The company struggled to make a profit for a few years, but it was reported to have returned to profitability in 2024.

Full list of Brewdog pubs to close

Five-day doctor strike will go ahead, says BMA

7 hours ago Share Save Nick Triggle • @nicktriggle Health correspondent Share Save

Getty Images Resident took part in a series of strikes under the previous government

A five-day doctors' strike due to start in England on Friday by members of the British Medical Association will go ahead, the union says. Five days of talks between the government and the BMA had raised hopes of a breakthrough, focused on improving working conditions for resident doctors, the new name for junior doctors. Health Secretary Wes Streeting wrote to the BMA earlier on Tuesday saying he would continue talks if strike action was postponed. But the BMA said what was up for discussion was not enough and achieving better pay remained the key issue. Streeting responded by saying the union had "recklessly and needlessly" opted for strike action.

BMA resident doctors committee co-chairs Dr Melissa Ryan and Dr Ross Nieuwoudt said they had tried to reach a compromise during the talks. "We have always said that no doctor wants to strike and all it would take to avoid it is a credible path to pay restoration offered by the government. "We came to talks in good faith, keen to explore real solutions to the problems facing resident doctors today. "Unfortunately, we did not receive an offer that would meet the scale of those challenges. "While we were happy to discuss non-pay issues that affect doctors' finances we have always been upfront that this is at its core a pay dispute."

Loan forgiveness

A range of different non-pay related issues have been discussed over the past week after Streeting made clear he could not shift on pay. This included the government covering the cost of mandatory exam fees which can run to several thousand pounds during medical training as well as giving doctors more control over where they are placed during their first two years of training and more notice of rotas. Ways of speeding up career progression after the first two years of training was also discussed. Resident doctors can spend 10 years or more in training. Creating some sort of student loan forgiveness scheme for doctors, who can accrue debts of up to £100,000 during university, was also brought up by the BMA, but the BBC understands the government was not prepared to agree to this. Resident doctors were awarded an average 5.4% pay rise for this financial year, following a 22% increase over the previous two years. But the BMA says wages are still around 20% lower in real terms than in 2008 and are demanding "pay restoration". Streeting said the opportunity was there with the BMA to work with us on a range of options that would have made a "real difference" to working conditions. "The BMA would have lost nothing by taking up the offer to postpone strike action. By refusing to do so, they will cause unnecessary disruption." He said resident doctors had had the most generous pay rises in the public sector for two years running, saying the strike action was "completely unjustified" and demonstrated a "complete disdain" for patients.

Gaza health ministry says 33 people died from malnutrition in 48 hours

5 hours ago Share Save David Gritten BBC News, Jerusalem Share Save

Anadolu via Getty Images Thirteen-year-old Abdul Hamid al-Ghalban was among the four children who reportedly died of malnutrition over the past 24 hours

At least 33 Palestinians, including 12 children, have died as a result of malnutrition across the Gaza Strip in the past 48 hours, the Hamas-run health ministry has said. The deaths of 11 adults and four children were reported over the past day, a spokesman told the BBC. It came as UN Secretary General António Guterres told the UN Security Council that "malnutrition is soaring" and "starvation is knocking on every door" in Gaza. He has said the 2.1 million population is facing grave shortages of basic supplies and that Israel has an obligation to facilitate humanitarian assistance by the UN and its partners.

The Israeli military body responsible for co-ordinating aid deliveries, Cogat, accused Hamas of "conducting a false campaign regarding the humanitarian situation". It has insisted that Israel acts in accordance with international law and facilitates the entry of aid while ensuring it does not reach Hamas.

International journalists, including the BBC, are blocked by Israel from entering Gaza independently, so it is difficult to verify the number of reported malnutrition deaths. However, footage filmed by a local Palestinian journalist working for the BBC at al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital in the central city of Deir al-Balah showed the emaciated body of a man called Ahmed al-Hasanat, who doctors said had died from malnutrition on Tuesday. Health officials said a 13-year-old boy, Abdul Hamid al-Ghalban, also died in the southern city of Khan Younis. Photos from AFP and Anadolu news agencies showed the teenager's small body being prepared for burial at Nasser hospital and then carried in a white shroud. Palestinian media meanwhile posted a video showing the body of a six-week-old boy, Yousef al-Safadi, who health officials said died at al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City due to malnutrition. The US-based medical humanitarian group MedGlobal also said in a statement that its nutritional teams in Gaza had witnessed five severely malnourished children, aged between three months and four years old, die within the past three days. "This is a deliberate and human-made disaster," MedGlobal's executive director, Joseph Belliveau, said. "Those children died because there is not enough food in Gaza and not enough medicines, including IV fluids and therapeutic formula, to revive them." MedGlobal said that since the beginning of July, cases of acutely malnourished, mainly children, had nearly tripled at its facilities, indicating a widespread food crisis. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (Unrwa) also said that it was receiving "SOS" messages from its staff in Gaza, saying they were desperately short of food. Some Unrwa doctors and aid workers had reportedly been fainting while working, due to hunger and exhaustion, it added. Gaza residents also told the BBC that the hunger crisis was the worst in living memory. Osama Tawfiq, a veteran employee of al-Shifa hospital, said: "I go to work hungry and leave my six children behind, also hungry." "There is no food for the patients. Children are dying of hunger inside the hospital. I've worked here for 20 years, and never in my life have I seen someone die from starvation until now." Mohammed Mahmoud, a father of four, said his family were surviving on tiny amounts of food. "We haven't eaten anything except a few lentils in two days," he said. "We mix a little table salt into a glass of water and drink it, just to get some electrolytes." Earlier this week, the World Food Programme (WFP) reported that malnutrition was surging, with 90,000 women and children in urgent need of treatment, and that nearly one person in three was not eating for days. It noted that food aid was the only way for most people to access any food because prices in local markets had skyrocketed. It said a 1kg (2.2lb) bag of flour now cost over $100 (£74). The WFP called for a "massive scale-up in food aid distribution" and said it had food supplies nearby and teams on the ground ready to respond. The UN says a minimum of 600 aid lorries a day need to enter Gaza. However, the UN Organisation for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said it was only permitted to bring in 1,600 lorries of aid between May and July - an average of around 27 per day. On Tuesday evening, Israeli Army Radio quoted Cogat as saying that Hamas was "conducting a false campaign regarding the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, as a pressure tool within the negotiations" for a new ceasefire and hostage deal taking place in Qatar. Israeli military spokesman Lt Col Nadav Shoshani also posted a video on social media that he said showed 950 lorry loads of aid "currently waiting in Gaza for international organisations to pick up and distribute to Gazan civilians". "This is after Israel facilitated the aid entry into Gaza," he added. The UN has said that it struggles to pick up and distribute supplies because of the ongoing hostilities, Israeli restrictions on humanitarian movements, and fuel shortages.

AFP via Getty Images Queues of lorries, packed with aid, were a common sight at crossings into Gaza when Israel suspended the entry of supplies into the territory

WHO condemns Israeli attacks on facilities in central Gaza

11 hours ago Share Save David Gritten BBC News, Jerusalem Share Save

Anadolu via Getty Images Smoke rises over western Deir al-Balah during an Israeli offensive on Monday

The World Health Organization (WHO) says Israel's offensive in central Gaza has compromised its efforts to continue working, after its facilities came under attack. The UN agency accused Israeli forces of attacking a staff residence in the city of Deir al-Balah on Monday and mistreating those sheltering there. Its main warehouse was also attacked and destroyed. The WHO said one of its staff detained by troops during the raid on the residence was still being held and demanded their immediate release. The Israeli military said it detained "several individuals suspected of involvement in terrorism" in the area and that most were released.

The first major Israeli ground operation in Deir al-Balah since the start of the war has displaced tens of thousands of civilians, amid warnings of a severe hunger crisis. Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry said on Tuesday that 33 people, including 12 children, had died from malnutrition across the territory over the past 48 hours. The UN also said it had received growing reports of children and adults suffering from malnutrition and warned that "the last lifelines keeping people alive are collapsing".

On Sunday, the Israeli military ordered the immediate evacuation of six city blocks in southern Deir al-Balah, warning that it would be operating "with great force to destroy the enemy's capabilities and terrorist infrastructure". The estimated 50,000 to 80,000 people living in the affected areas were instructed to head south towards the al-Mawasi area in the south of the territory. The UN's humanitarian office said UN staff would remain in Deir al-Balah despite the evacuation order, spread across dozens of premises whose co-ordinates had been shared with Israel, and stressed that they had to be protected. On Monday night, the WHO put out a statement saying it condemned "in the strongest terms" attacks on its facilities. It said the WHO staff residence was attacked three times, and that staff and their families, including children, were "exposed to grave danger and traumatized after air strikes caused a fire and significant damage". "Israeli military entered the premises, forcing women and children to evacuate on foot toward al-Mawasi amid active conflict. Male staff and family members were handcuffed, stripped, interrogated on the spot, and screened at gunpoint," it added. "Two WHO staff and two family members were detained. Three were later released, while one staff member remains in detention." The WHO demanded the immediate release of its detained staff member and the protection of its other staff, who have been relocated with their families to its office in Deir al-Balah. The WHO said its main warehouse in the city was damaged after "an attack caused explosions and fire inside". The warehouse was later looted by desperate crowds, it added. The agency did not attribute blame for the attack, but said it was "part of a pattern of systematic destruction of health facilities". The WHO warned that its operational presence in Gaza was "now compromised, crippling efforts to sustain a collapsing health system and pushing survival further out of reach for more than two million people". The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement on Tuesday its troops had come under fire in the Deir al-Balah area and "responded toward the area from which the shooting originated". Without mentioning the WHO, the IDF said it had warned civilians to evacuate beforehand and had also been "in contact with the international organisations working in the area". "As part of IDF activity against the terrorist organisations in the area, the troops detained several individuals suspected of involvement in terrorism," it added. "After questioning in the field, the majority were released and evacuated from the area in co-ordination with the international organisations. It should be emphasized that the suspects are treated in accordance with international law."

The aim of the Israeli offensive in Deir al-Balah is not year clear. But Israel's Haaretz newspaper said troops were operating to "establish a corridor that will cut through the city, severing it from the al-Mawasi area and preventing free movement between central Gaza refugee camps where the Israeli army has no ground presence". Israeli sources say that the possible presence of Israeli hostages held by Hamas is one reason why Deir al-Balah has so far not been the target of a ground offensive. At least 20 of the 50 hostages still in captivity are believed to be alive. Hostages' families have expressed concern that an offensive could endanger them.

Wounded 'left to bleed without treatment'

Medics said shellfire killed at least three Palestinians in Deir al-Balah on Monday, as Israeli tanks advanced into southern and eastern areas. Another two people were killed on Tuesday, according to the Hamas-run Civil Defence agency. In northern Gaza, at least 14 people were killed and 25 wounded overnight when tents for displaced families were hit by two shells in al-Shati refugee camp, west of Gaza City, a local hospital said. Children and women were among the casualties, it added. Raed Bakr said a "massive explosion" blew away the tent where he lives with his three children. "I felt like I was in a nightmare. Fire, dust, smoke and body parts flying through the air, dirt everywhere. The children were screaming," he told AFP news agency. According to the UN, about 87.8% of Gaza is now covered by Israeli evacuation orders or is within Israeli militarised zones, leaving the 2.1 million population squeezed into about 46 sq km (18 sq miles) of land where essential services have collapsed. Asma Mustafa, a mother of two and teacher who has just been displaced for the ninth time during the war, said Gaza was "a place of death, hunger and exhaustion". "Clean water is a dream. The wounded are left to bleed without treatment. Children cry from hunger and mothers are powerless. We are living through a slow miserable death," she said in a message to the BBC's Newsday programme. UN human rights chief Volker Türk said in a statement: "It seemed the nightmare couldn't possibly get any worse. And yet it does." "Given the concentration of civilians in the area, and the means and methods of warfare employed by Israel until now, the risks of unlawful killings and other serious violations of international humanitarian law are extremely high," he said.

Reuters An Israeli strike hit tents for displaced people in the Gaza City area overnight

Gaza war: Is the UK selling arms to Israel?

6 hours ago Share Save Matt Murphy & Thomas Spencer BBC Verify Share Save

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UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy has condemned Israel's conduct in Gaza and said that Britain could "do more in the coming weeks" if the Israeli government does not change how it is pursuing the war in the strip. He expressed anger that the "international community has not been able to bring this war to an end" and said he was "sickened" by the killings of Palestinians at aid centres by Israeli forces in recent days. Since Israel began its military campaign in Gaza after the 7 October attacks, significant public attention has focused on the issue of assistance provided by the UK. Much of the weaponry used in Israel Defense Forces' (IDF) strikes on the strip has been built or sold by Western nations. But information around the extent of the UK's military support to Israel often remains unclear or classified, and some MPs have called for a public inquiry into the extent of the assistance.

Does the UK supply Israel with arms?

The UK is not one of Israel's main suppliers of arms. The US is by far the biggest seller - helping Israel develop one of the world's most advanced militaries - followed by Germany and Italy. Since 2015, the UK has approved arms export licences to Israel worth over £500m ($676.4m) - peaking in 2018, according to Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) pressure group. However, much of the attention around the UK's support for Israel has focussed on parts made in Britain for the F-35 jet. A state-of-the-art multi-role fighter, it has been used extensively by Israel to strike Gaza. The UK supplies between 13-15% of the components used in the jet, including ejector seats, rear fuselage, active interceptor systems, targeting lasers and weapon release cables. After the Labour Party came to power last year, it suspended 30 out of 350 arms export licences, affecting equipment such as parts for fighter jets, helicopters and drones. Any UK company that wants to sell arms abroad must apply for a licence, and the government said at the time that there was a "clear risk" the equipment could be used to commit serious violations of international law. But crucially, parts for the F-35 were not included in the export ban. The government said it could not prevent Israel obtaining these components as they are sent to manufacturing centres abroad as part of a global programme - not directly to Israel.

Professor Anna Stavrianakis, an expert in UK Arms Export, described the government's decision to allow for this exemption as "an enormous loophole". "UK-made parts for the F-35 mostly go to the USA, where they are incorporated into jets bound for Israel," she told BBC Verify, noting that because the White House "does not want to stop supporting Israel", the UK export bans were quite limited in their effectiveness. The UK also co-developed the Hermes drone, which has been widely used in Gaza. While the UK version of the aircraft, called the Watchkeeper 450, is unarmed, the Israeli-made Hermes drone can be armed with Spike missiles and was reportedly used in the attack that killed seven World Central Kitchen aid workers last year. It is hard to say what the UK is still exporting to Israel under the active licences. Foreign Secretary David Lammy said last year that the ban was not a "blanket ban or an arms embargo" and said it remained essential that Israel could defend itself from attack. According to the Department of Business and Trade, 161 of the extant licences relate to military products. A UK Parliament report said that the remaining licences could include "items such as trainer aircraft and naval equipment, and dual-use items for civilian use in telecoms and data equipment".

Has the UK shared intelligence with Israel?

The extent to which the UK has shared intelligence with Israel since the 7 October attacks is unclear. The government has a long-standing "defence partnership with Israel" which defence officials say includes "education, joint training and capability development". The Royal Air Force (RAF) has flown hundreds of surveillance flights over Gaza since December 2023, reportedly using Shadow R1 spy planes based at an RAF base in Akrotiri in nearby Cyprus. In an interview on Monday, Lammy insisted that the RAF flights over Gaza have not led to the sharing of any military intelligence with the IDF. "It would be quite wrong for the British government to assist in the prosecution of this war in Gaza," the foreign secretary said. "We are not doing that."

Reuters

In 2023 the UK acknowledged that some of its "unarmed" drones circling over the strip were aiding in the search for Israeli hostages taken by Hamas during the 7 October attacks. There are 50 people still held by Hamas, with 20 believed to be alive. Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard reaffirmed that stance in April 2025, telling MPs that UK drone flights over Gaza were being conducted with the "sole purpose of locating hostages". The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has refused to comment on whether Israeli aircraft have access to the RAF's base in Cyprus. But BBC Verify also identified Israeli Air Force planes in UK airspace over the past year after reports in the independent outlet DropSite. Several Re'em refuelling planes appeared on specialised flight tracking sites over RAF bases at Brize Norton and Fairford. An MoD spokesperson told BBC Verify: "It is standard practice to routinely authorise requests for limited numbers of allies and partners to access the UK's air bases." "We cannot comment on or provide information relating to foreign nations' military aircraft movements or operations," the spokesperson added.

Are Israeli troops training in the UK?

The UK often runs training courses for the militaries of allied nations, many of which focus on leadership, logistics and cyber-operations. For example, thousands of Ukrainian troops have come to Britain since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022 for basic training. Lord Coaker - a minister of state at the UK MoD - said in April that "fewer than 10" IDF personnel have been trained on non-combat military academic courses in the UK every year since 2020. He declined to say exactly how many IDF troops had taken part in courses over that time, or what classes they had taken "in order to protect personal information". But ministers have insisted that the courses emphasise the importance of complying with international humanitarian law. Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard confirmed in June that "a limited number of Israel Defense Forces personnel" were taking part in UK-based training courses, but declined to offer further details.

Has the UK sanctioned Israel for its actions in Gaza?

Wild life of Ozzy Osbourne, rock's 'prince of darkness'

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Ozzy Osbourne, who has died at the age of 76, helped forge the sound that became known as heavy metal - and on top of that, the frontman practically invented the image of the wild rock star. Ozzy's band Black Sabbath made an indelible mark on music by pioneering heavy metal - and was hailed as a major influence by a range of artists who followed. With his wailing vocal style and "prince of darkness" reputation, Ozzy led the band to become global stars - before he was fired, mainly because of his increasing dependency on drugs and alcohol. But he carved out a successful solo career before reuniting with the band, as well as becoming the unlikely star of a hit TV reality show which showcased his erratic domestic life. Ozzy Osbourne dies, weeks after farewell show

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Getty Images Music transformed Osbourne's life, after a difficult start at school

He was born John Michael Osbourne in the Aston area of Birmingham on 3 December 1948. His father Jack was a toolmaker, while his mother Lillian worked at the Lucas factory, which made car components. He picked up the nickname Ozzy at primary school and it stuck. Aside from gifting him his moniker, school was a dismal experience for young Osbourne. He suffered from dyslexia and what would now be termed attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). He left school at 15 and wandered into a series of random jobs, including some time spent working in a slaughterhouse, which allowed him to play practical jokes in pubs by putting cows' eyeballs in peoples' pints. He even turned his hand to crime but found he had little luck there either. A TV fell on him while he was burgling a house and he later spent six weeks in Birmingham's Winston Green prison after robbing a clothes shop.

What saved Ozzy was music: the sound of the Beatles singing She Loves You out of a crackly transistor radio transformed his life. "It was such an incredible explosion of happiness and hope," he later told writer Bryan Appleyard. "I used to dream - wouldn't it be great if Paul McCartney married my sister." He persuaded his dad to buy him a microphone and an amplifier and, together with a friend Terry 'Geezer' Butler, formed a band called Rare Breed - which lasted for just two performances.

Rex Features The original members of Black Sabbath, who came together in Birmingham, are considered heavy metal pioneers

The pair became part of a Blues outfit named Polka Tulk Blues, later renamed Earth, along with guitarist Tony Iommi and drummer Bill Ward. The band, intent on making what they called "scary music", rehearsed in a room opposite the local cinema - where a screening of 1963 horror film Black Sabbath gave birth to the band's name and first hit. "I didn't invent that sort of music," Ozzy later recalled. "When I look back at that song, Black Sabbath, I think, how did I even begin to think of a melody like that?"

Critical praise for a 'masterpiece'

The song, written by Osbourne and Butler, opened their 1970 debut album which, despite a mauling from music critics, reached number eight in the UK charts and number 23 in the US. Further success followed with a string of best-selling albums including Paranoid, Master of Reality and Volume 4, all of which sold more than a million copies. By the time the band released Sabbath Bloody Sabbath in 1973, even the critics were beginning to heap praise on them.

Rex Features Behind the scenes the band's relations with Ozzy were frayed

One writer described it as a "masterpiece" and went on to say he thought the band had discovered a newfound sense of finesse and maturity. The 1975 album Sabotage also received critical praise, but by this time the band were beginning to unravel and Black Sabbath were destined to lose their momentum. Osbourne was already starting to succumb to the drink and drugs that would come to dominate his life. His unreliability became legendary and was beginning to irk fellow members of Black Sabbath. Family life was also under strain, with his addictions, affairs and frequent touring jeopardising his relationship with then-wife Thelma and their two children. The pair would later split.

'We were all as bad as each other'

Osbourne had always covered up his insecurities by acting as the band's clown, but by now his antics were seriously hindering Sabbath's development. His relationship with Iommi had never been smooth and Ozzy began to resent what he saw as the guitarist's domination of the band. In 1978 he spent three months working on a solo project called Blizzard of Ozz, but returned to Sabbath to record the album Never Say Die. After a lacklustre tour, Osbourne was fired by the other members of Sabbath on the basis of his substance abuse, being replaced by Ronnie James Dio.

PA The singer carved out a successful solo career post-Black Sabbath - but his misdemeanours were equally legendary

Osbourne later claimed that his dismissal was unfair, arguing: "We were all as bad as each other." The problem was that Ozzy was not as good at handling the effects of the myriad substances in which the whole band indulged. He resurrected Blizzard of Ozz with the help of Sharon Arden, the daughter of Black Sabbath's manager Don Arden. The couple would later marry and go on to have three children - Aimee, Kelly and Jack. She also attempted to help him control his intake of drink and drugs. There were periods when he appeared to have kicked his addictions - but he often fell off the wagon.

Unfortunate bat - and doves

"If it wasn't for Sharon," he later told Appleyard, "I'd be long dead." Controversy was never far away. The most notorious incident was biting the head off a live bat while on stage in Iowa in 1982. He had been catapulting raw meat into the audience on tour, which prompted fans to throw things on stage in return. He claims he thought the bat was fake before he took a bite. He did not attempt to use the same excuse about the two doves whose heads he bit off during a record label meeting the previous year. His other exploits included being arrested for urinating on Texas war monument the Alamo while wearing one of Sharon's dresses; getting thrown out of the Dachau concentration camp for being drunk and disorderly while on a visit during a German tour; pulling a gun on Black Sabbath's drummer while on a bad acid trip; blacking out and waking up in the central reservation of a 12-lane freeway; and massacring the inhabitants of his chicken coop with a gun, sword and petrol while wearing a dressing gown and pair of wellies. That all added to Ozzy's legend, but in reality most of his behaviour was not very appealing or glamorous. He was a wreck, and the drink and drugs gave him a Jekyll and Hyde personality. In 1989, he woke up in jail to be told he had been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder for strangling Sharon. He could not remember anything about it. She dropped the charges.

PA Black Sabbath reunited in 2005, following Osbourne's full recovery from the quad bike accident at his home in Buckinghamshire

Meanwhile, his first solo album went platinum and the follow-ups, Diary of a Madman and Bark at the Moon, were also best-sellers. He toured extensively throughout the 1980s and 90s, as well as achieving huge commercial success with Ozzfest - a series of tours, mainly in the US, that featured bands across all genres of metal. Osbourne headlined most of the festivals and there were even appearances by his former Black Sabbath bandmates. Then In 2002, he and his family were catapulted to a new form of fame when they unwittingly pioneered reality TV as cameras captured the foul-mouthed (but affectionate) dysfunction of their home life.

Profanity-laden TV career

It was a huge success, even though the US broadcasts were heavily censored to remove Osbourne's frequent profanities - something that was not deemed necessary when the show aired in the UK. At the same time, Osbourne continued to record - but was forced to take a break in 2003 when he fell off a quad bike and sustained serious injuries. It was while he was recovering in hospital that he topped the UK singles charts for the first time, with a recording of the Black Sabbath song Changes, on which he sang a duet with daughter Kelly.

PA His wife Sharon guided his career and both went on to have successful careers in television

When she was a ball girl at an England match at Wembley just four years ago, Michelle Agyemang says she was "never that close to the action".

The 19-year-old certainly is now, having scored decisive goals to help keep the Lionesses' Euro 2025 dreams alive in Switzerland.

Her 81st-minute close-range finish sent their quarter-final against Sweden to extra time and then penalties, where England triumphed in a chaotic shootout.

With her side moments away from a shock 1-0 defeat by Italy in the semi-final too, Agyemang - on as a late substitute again - pounced to drag her side level in the 96th minute, before Chloe Kelly sealed a 2-1 success in extra time.

Having come through England's under-age teams, her first real encounter with the senior side came when she was a ball girl in Sarina Wiegman's third match in charge - a World Cup qualifier against Northern Ireland in 2021.

"It was crazy," Agyemang told BBC Sport. "Seeing the girls so close to my face. Beth Mead got a hat-trick that day, so to be a part of that experience was invaluable and I'll never forget it."

Wiegman knows about her evolution from ball girl to first-team player, but the Arsenal forward does not think her England team-mates know about her history - and that's OK.

They know her as the quiet, unassuming teenager who comes alive on the pitch.

Against France in England's opening match, Agyemang provided a taste of what she is capable of.

Her four-minute cameo almost led England to pull off an unlikely comeback, with nobody in the team having more touches in the opposition box than Agyemang's five.

But while she could not save the Lionesses from defeat then, her goal against Sweden in the quarter-final kept them in the tournament and, ultimately, on track to retain their title.

"It means the world to me to finally be here," she added.

"I don't think I would have expected that maybe a year ago but everything happens for a reason and to be here is great. To step on the pitch, even just to wear the kit is a great privilege for me and I enjoy it - every single second of it."

How are hosepipe bans enforced?

9 hours ago Share Save Ian Aikman & Maia Davies BBC News Share Save

Michael Dunning/Getty Images

Millions of people in England are facing temporary hosepipe bans this summer, following the country's driest start to the year since 1976. Hosepipe bans - also known as Temporary Use Bans - are introduced by water companies during periods of high demand or low supply. Four companies have so far issued bans - Southern Water, Yorkshire Water, Thames Water and South East Water. Anyone breaking the rules could be fined up to £1,000 - but how are the rules enforced?

Caroline Loup, a garden landscaper who lives in Overton, Hampshire, where Southern Water's hosepipe ban has just begun, said people should be encouraged "to be nosy neighbours" to make sure the rules were being followed - but she wouldn't report someone. "This ban isn't going to work unless everybody does their part," she said. "I'd probably go up to them and say, 'Have you heard about the ban?' I'd rather be up front than snoop on a neighbour." Ms Loup said action had to be taken by the water companies, including fining people who had broken the rules to deter others. "There needs to be some teeth behind the action."

Tim Parry Gardener Tim Parry said his clients were worried about the prospect of fines

On the Isle of Wight, also supplied by Southern Water, gardener Tim Parry said he had received calls from "very emotional" clients who were worried about their gardens and the "intimidating" prospect of a fine. He said one client of his, a 90-year-old lady, asked him: "Do I have to walk a watering can up my garden? I don't think I can do that." "They don't want their neighbour looking out a window and thinking, 'She's out there with a hose'." He said he would be helping customers follow the rules because "our gardens aren't as important as the environment".

Fines are a 'last resort'

The BBC asked the four water companies whether they had ever issued fines for breaches. Only Yorkshire Water directly answered this, saying it had never issued a single fine and would prefer not to do so, instead asking customers to "respect" the restrictions. The company said it had received at least 100 reports of people who had continued to use hosepipes since the ban came into effect for more than five million households on 11 July. "If we are told repeatedly about someone breaking the restrictions, the first thing we do is remind them of their obligations - that is usually enough," a spokesperson said. "However, if they continue to use a hosepipe, we may escalate our enforcement accordingly." The other three suppliers did not say if they had ever issued fines, but they all said enforcement would be the very final option. Southern Water will first write to a customer who has been reported for using their hosepipe to remind them of the ban. The company said it might take enforcement action for "repeated or serious breaches". On its website, South East Water says prosecution is "very much a last resort" and "something no company wants to have to do". Police have told people not to contact them to report breaches of the ban, and instead to report them to their water company directly. But Thames Water has said customers do not need to report breaches at all, adding that it "may get in touch with customers who repeatedly don't follow the rules... just to make sure they're aware of the restrictions and how to use water responsibly". Trade body Water UK said it was not aware of anyone having ever been fined for using a hosepipe, though it did not hold data.

Glyndwr Meredith Glyndwr Meredith - a blue badge holder - said he was unsure whether he would use a hosepipe during the ban

But some people are exempt from the ban - those who are registered disabled, blue badge holders, and those who have paid a business to sow a lawn in the last 28 days. Glyndwr Meredith is a blue badge holder who lives in Oxford, where Thames Water's ban has now begun. He has mobility issues that restrict him from using a watering can - which is allowed during the ban - rather than a hosepipe to water his garden. He said the onus should not be on blue badge holders to make sure neighbours are aware they are allowed to continue using hosepipes if they decide to. "I would not be uncomfortable using a hosepipe during a hosepipe ban," he said, adding that it would depend on what the weather was like or whether someone was around to help.

Are warnings enough?

Yorkshire Water said since the ban came into effect its customers' water usage dropped by about 26m gallons (100m litres) in just two days - without issuing a single fine and despite more than 100 reports of people flouting the rules. Dr Sianne Gordon-Wilson, who is currently looking into which factors can convince people to save water, said "peer influence" was the biggest driver. "It's all about the friends and the social network," the assistant professor in marketing at Queen Mary University of London told the BBC. "If they're saying it's something that you can do, it's not too much work, or it can be quite easy... then that is the most influential factor."

PA Media Baitings Reservoir in West Yorkshire has become dry and cracked after months of extremely hot weather

Nicci Russell, chief executive of water-conservation charity Waterwise, said more had to be done to make the public aware of water scarcity. "We are running out of water right across the UK," she said. "There is nothing you can think of from the minute you wake up until the minute you go to bed that doesn't need water." She added that while her organisation did not advise people to report their neighbours, hosepipe bans did encourage the public to think about how they could save water.

Mike Lynch estate and business partner owe HP Enterprise £700m, court rules

Mike Lynch and his daughter Hannah died when his yacht sank

A spokesperson said Mr Lynch had prepared a statement on the ruling last year which called HPE's initial claim for up to $5bn (£3.7bn) a "wild overstatement".

The court ruled that HPE had paid more than it would have done "had Autonomy's true financial position been correctly presented" during the sale.

HPE bought Mr Lynch's tech firm Autonomy in 2011, but it says Mr Lynch and Autonomy's former chief financial officer, Sushovan Hussain, misrepresented the company's finances.

The estate of tech tycoon Mike Lynch - who died last year when his yacht sank - and his business partner owe tech giant Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) over £700m, the High Court has ruled.

Mr Lynch and his teenage daughter Hannah were among seven passengers and crew who died when the Bayesian went down off the coast of Sicily last August during a storm which caused the vessel to capsize and sink.

Tuesday's ruling was delayed because of the tragedy.

The judge expressed his "sorrow at this devastating turn of events, and my sympathy and deepest condolences", adding that he "admired" Mr Lynch despite ruling against him.

In response to the ruling, HPE said it was "pleased that this decision brings us a step closer to the resolution of this dispute".

"We look forward to the further hearing at which the final amount of HPE's damages will be determined," it added.

The US technology giant had accused Mr Lynch and Hussain of fraudulently inflating the value of Autonomy, which HPE bought for $11.1bn in 2011 - worth £7.1bn at the time.

Mr Lynch made £500m from the sale.

Just over a year later, HPE wrote down the value of Autonomy by $8.8bn because it said it had found "serious accounting improprieties".

Mr Lynch and Hussain denied the claim, with the former saying HPE had "botched the purchase of Autonomy and destroyed the company".

Hussain was convicted in April 2018 in the US of fraud and other crimes related to Autonomy's sale and was sentenced to five years in prison.

In a ruling in the UK in 2022, Mr Justice Hildyard said HPE had "substantially succeeded" in its claim, but that it was likely to receive "substantially less" than the $5bn it sought in damages.

Mr Lynch was extradited to the US in 2023 to face criminal charges, and he was cleared of fraud charges in 2024.

He was celebrating being acquitted on his yacht when it sank.

More than 100 victims of Al Fayed abuse claim compensation

Harrods also said that it has filed a case at the High Court asking for the executors of Fayed's estate to be replaced following the lack of "any progress" in resolving his affairs since he died in 2023.

Eligibility for the scheme has been extended to employees of one of Fayed's private airline companies, Fayair (Jersey) Co Ltd, Harrods said.

Harrods started issuing compensation at the end of April and the scheme remains open for new applications until 31 March 2026.

More than 100 victims of Mohamed Al Fayed's abuse have entered a compensation scheme opened by Harrods on 31 March, the luxury department store has confirmed.

This is to "ensure the Estate is responsibly administered, [and to] to protect any assets in the Estate for the benefit of potential claimants", Harrods said.

The BBC has contacted representatives of the Fayed family for comment.

Harrods also said that "feedback from survivors continues to be listened to whether raised directly or via legal firms or Dame Jasvinder Sanghera, the Independent Survivor Advocate".

Multiple women who worked for the former department store owner who died last year have accused him of rape and sexual assault.

In March Harrods said victims of abuse by the former Harrods owner could receive up to £385,000 in compensation plus treatment costs if they agree to be assessed by a consultant psychiatrist.

Harrods said individuals can apply for different compensation amounts, including General Damages of up to £200,000 and a Work Impact Payment sum of up to £150,000.

Many of those who say Fayed abused them underwent intrusive medical examinations when they were hired. Compensation for such testing could be up to £10,000.

Past treatment costs will also be covered.

The redress scheme outlines different pathways for survivors to receive compensation depending on whether or not they are medically assessed - something which can impact to the amount they receive.

Harrods previously stated an eligible applicant does not need to have been a Harrods' employee, but their claim must contain a "sufficiently close connection".

Those who allege they were assaulted outside the UK "in circumstances that are sufficiently connected" to Fayed's role at Harrods could also be eligible for compensation.

All eligible applicants are offered a meeting with a senior Harrods' representative, to receive an apology in person or by video, as well as an individual written apology.

The scheme only requires "documentary evidence", meaning applicants are not asked to give oral evidence regarding their claims.

If a person makes a successful application and accepts an offer, it is treated as "full and final settlement", meaning they waive their right to pursue further action for damages.

The BBC's Al Fayed: Predator at Harrods heard testimony from more than 20 female ex-employees at Harrods who said Fayed sexually assaulted or raped them.

Dozens more women sent the BBC their accounts of abuse by Fayed including sexual harassment, sexual assault and rape after the documentary and podcast were published in September.

The documentary and podcast found that during Fayed's ownership, Harrods not only failed to intervene but helped cover up abuse allegations.

Responding to the investigation at the time, Harrods' current owners said they were "utterly appalled" by the allegations and that his victims had been failed - for which the store sincerely apologised.

Fayed was not charged before his death.

Trump's ex-lawyer replaced as federal prosecutor by judges

Habba was sworn in for a three-month interim period in March

It is rare for judges to reject an interim prosecutor from continuing in the role, according to experts.

The decision comes just before her interim term expires after 120 days. Trump officially nominated her to take the post, but Democrats in the Senate blocked her path to confirmation.

Alina Habba had served as Trump's personal attorney, defending him in several legal cases, before she was chosen for the role in March. She has no previous experience as a prosecutor in criminal law.

A group of US judges has voted to replace President Donald Trump's selection for New Jersey's top federal prosecutor amid opposition from Democrats in the state.

The judges instead selected her deputy, career prosecutor Desiree Leigh Grace, to take over the role. No reason was given for the decision.

Habba has clashed with Democrats since taking office in March.

During her tenure, she has filed assault charges against a Democratic congressman, and opened investigations into the state's Democratic governor and attorney general.

US Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a post on Monday that she had the backing of Trump and the justice department, and dismissed criticism of her as "political noise."

After the ruling from the 17 judges, he again took to X to accuse the judges of pushing "a left-wing agenda, not the rule of law".

"When judges act like activists, they undermine confidence in our justice," he wrote.

Exactly when Habba's term expires is the subject of some confusion. She was named by Trump on 24 March "effective immediately", meaning her 120 day term would expire on Tuesday. However she was officially sworn in four days later, on 28 March in an Oval Office ceremony.

Both of New Jersey's senators - who are each Democrats - have opposed her nomination to be the US attorney for the state, arguing that she has pursued "frivolous and politically motivated" prosecutions and "did not meet the standard" for the office.

It is uncommon for judges to oppose an interim prosecutor from staying on, absent confirmation from the US Senate.

But a similar situation played out last week in New York, where judges also voted to block the interim US attorney from staying on.

John Sarcone III departed the role, but will stay on as an "special attorney to the attorney general", according to the justice department.

It is unusual for judges to choose someone other than the interim US attorney, although choosing the first assistant "is generally a sensible choice," said University Richmond law professor Carl Tobias.

He added that Desiree Grace "is well respected in the New Jersey legal world".

Edinburgh's funniest joke award scrapped for 2025

7 hours ago Share Save Paul Glynn Culture reporter Share Save

PA Masai Graham has won the funniest joke award three times

Edinburgh Fringe's annual funniest joke award has been scrapped for this year's comedy festival, organisers have confirmed (no joke). The award, launched in 2008 - providing many humorous headlines - is usually presented by the TV channel U&Dave [formerly Dave], which is owned by UKTV. But bosses said in a statement it was on pause "as our commissioning focus evolves", so the broadcaster could "reflect on how we continue to support comedy in the best way possible." It added: "While we're resting the award this year, we remain committed to championing great comedy across U&Dave and beyond, and we'll always look for ways to bring laughter to audiences in exciting ways."

Comedian Mark Simmons' witty pun about a sailing trip, listed below, was named as the funniest joke at last year's event. The prize has been criticised in some quarters for its tendency to always favour one-liners, while others have noted its ability to shine a light on newer comics. UKTV noted it had been "originally created to celebrate and spotlight grassroots comedy talent." The esteemed but seperate Edinburgh Comedy Awards main prize recognises the best performance and routine overall each year. But the funniest joke gong has been a mainstay of the festival for the best part of two decades, apart from when the jamboree was cancelled in 2020 amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. The jokes are usually chosen by a panel of comedians and critics, then sent anonymously to 2,000 members of the public to collectively choose their favourite. Here is a selection of winners from recent years that you can pass off as your own in the pub later on:

Mark Simmons last year: "I was going to sail around the globe in the world's smallest ship but I bottled it." Lorna Rose Treen in 2023: "I started dating a zookeeper, but it turned out he was a cheetah." Masai Graham in 2022: "I tried to steal spaghetti from the shop, but the female guard saw me and I couldn't get pasta." Masai Graham in 2021: "I thought the word Caesarean began with the letter S but when I looked in the dictionary, it was in the C section." Olaf Falafel in 2019: "I keep randomly shouting out 'Broccoli' and 'Cauliflower' - I think I might have Florets." Adam Rowe in 2018: "Working at the job centre has to be a tense job - knowing that if you get fired, you still have to come in the next day." Ken Cheng in 2017: "I'm not a fan of the new pound coin, but then again, I hate all change." Masai Graham in 2016: "My dad has suggested that I register for a donor card. He's a man after my own heart." Darren Walsh in 2015: "I just deleted all the German names off my phone. It's Hans free." Tim Vine in 2014: "I've decided to sell my Hoover - well, it was just collecting dust."

Lord's has not been kind to fingers.

Steve Smith mangled his pinky in the World Test Championship final, then a rather fortuitous blow to India's Rishabh Pant meant he could bat and not keep wicket in the third Test against England last week.

Shoaib Bashir came off worse than Smith and Pant. Ravindra Jadeja's belt back at the England off-spinner resulted in surgery to Bashir's left little finger and an absence from the fourth Test at Old Trafford, starting on Wednesday, and the finale at The Oval next week.

One wonders about the butterfly effect caused by the swish of Jadeja's blade. England were too deep into the Bashir project to change course either in this series or the Ashes. Now they have been given an unexpected opportunity to see what they could have won.

It is, if you will pardon the pun, a sliding Daws moment.

Liam Dawson, in the England Test team for the first time in eight years, is the polar opposite of Bashir.

Bashir was picked after Ben Stokes saw a clip of him on social media, Dawson has been the unpicked social media darling. Dawson could not get in despite a proven first-class record, Bashir was picked despite not having one.

Bashir is tall, Dawson isn't. Bashir is 21, Dawson 35. Bashir is right-arm, Dawson left. Without being unkind, Bashir is a one-dimensional cricketer, Dawson is an all-rounder. The Hampshire man has more first-class runs than every player in the India squad.

Bashir has been an experiment in whether a Test cricketer can be grown on the international stage. Of his 34 first-class matches, 19 have been Tests.

He has something. The Somerset bowler is the youngest England man to 50 Test wickets. Of all England spinners to have at least 50 wickets since World War Two, his strike-rate is bettered only by Graeme Swann.

It has often been a step forward, then a step back. Bashir had a difficult winter, so made some tweaks. He got closer to the stumps in the one-off Test against Zimbabwe in May and his line improved. Nine wickets in the match followed.

In the series against India, the master players of spin, he has gone back wider of the crease and the line has remained consistent. In three Tests where spinners have struggled to make an impact, Bashir's 10 wickets is the most of the tweakers on either side. Jadeja, a much more accomplished bowler, only has three.

While fresh faces have arrived at the dawn of a new Rangers era, Russell Martin has continually reiterated his openness to be surprised by members of the squad he inherited.

It would be fair to assume Findlay Curtis files into that category after the teenager was trusted to start on the left of Martin's attack in his first competitive match in charge at Ibrox.

The first leg of the Champions League second-round qualifier against Panathinaikos was just a sixth Rangers appearance for the 18-year-old. It was only his second start.

"He has the athleticism and talent to play in his team for sure, but he also has the character," Martin explained pre-match.

With Rangers looking nervy and vulnerable in a first half Martin described as "uncomfortable", Curtis eased growing tension by demanding the ball, driving inside, and unleashing a stunning strike to ignite Martin's reign.

A first goal in senior football, it was a moment that swung momentum and had former Rangers wide men waxing lyrical.

"Brilliant, son. He's a cool cat this kid, I tell you," ex-Ibrox winger and coach Neil McCann said on Premier Sports. "That's a fantastic finish, I love that," was the view of Peter Lovenkrands on BBC Sportsound.

Raducanu, the British number three, took the opening set after a gruelling 71 minutes, despite sacrificing a 4-0 lead in the tie-break.

She then held a 3-0 advantage in the second set but Kostyuk, who had lost five singles matches in a row since May, rallied to break and draw level at 4-4.

Having forced Kostyuk to serve to stay in the match, the Ukrainian double faulted to hand Raducanu two match points, which the Briton took on her second chance.

The 2021 US Open champion said it was an "extremely good win".

"I'm happy with the way I fought through the first set and in the second, stayed tough when I needed to," she added.

Norrie, meanwhile, managed only three winners in the first set, two of them on aces, but dominated the second to force a decider.

After saving five break points in the fifth game of the final set, he broke Musetti, who had a first-round bye, in the sixth to take a 4-2 lead.

The Italian saved two match points in the final game - one on a Norrie double fault - but then sent a backhand beyond the baseline, handing the Briton victory after two hours and seven minutes.

Admitting he was playing "like a kid again", Norrie said: "I just kind of let go of the expectations and I'm playing tennis more to enjoy it now.

"You've got to enjoy it otherwise you can get burned out on this long schedule."

Legendary former bowler Katherine Sciver-Brunt questioned the mindset of some of England's players during their defeat by India, suggesting sometimes they look "lazy".

After India piled up 318-5, England slid to a 13-run defeat at Chester-le-Street as the tourists clinched the series 2-1.

Sciver-Brunt, England's record wicket-taker, was a notoriously vocal player on the field and suggested the team were lacking similar characters.

"I wouldn't say that nobody in this team wants it, they all want it and to do their best," she told BBC Test Match Special.

"There is a lot of timid people and not many front-footed people who are willing to do anything."

Halfway through his post-match chat at the Marvel Stadium in Melbourne on Tuesday night, Andy Farrell, really for the first time on this tour, gave it the Gettysburg Address in terms of what lies in wait for the British and Irish Lions against Australia in Saturday's second Test.

The storied Melbourne Cricket Ground. A crowd of 85,000-plus. A chance to win the series and put their names in Lions history.

"If you can't get up for what's coming, we're all in the wrong place," said Lions coach Farrell. "To me, this is the biggest game of our lives, every one of us."

That's a heck of a statement given the magnitude of some of the contests these players have appeared in over the years, but there was no doubting Farrell's sincerity. This is huge right enough.

The MCG isn't just a sports stadium, it's a palace sitting on hallowed ground. It's gobsmacking in its scale even when empty. When full, or nearly full, it'll be a momentous place on Saturday night when the Lions walk out there.

But which Lions? The inference from the camp is that Joe McCarthy, a big performer on this trip and a fine player in the first Test, is not going to be fit for Saturday. McCarthy hasn't trained all week.

Farrell said he will see how the Ireland lock is on Thursday but the team will have been named by then. Too late for Big Joe, sadly.

The word, also, is that Mack Hansen, a strong contender for the bench if all things were equal, is not going to make it either. Farrell says Hansen's foot injury is progressing but then posed a question of his own about whether he was progressing quickly enough. A rhetorical question, you sense.