Starmer pleads with resident doctors to halt strike

Resident doctors, previously known as junior doctors, are set to strike for five days from Friday

The BMA has said it was "very sorry that strikes have become necessary" and they were "something that doctors don't want to have to do".

Resident doctors – the new term for junior doctors – are to start a five-day strike in England at 07:00 BST in a dispute over pay.

Writing in the Times , Sir Keir said this would cause "huge loss for the NHS and the country," as he criticised the British Medical Association (BMA) for "rushing" into strikes.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has urged resident doctors not to follow their union down the "damaging road" of strike action, which is due to begin on Friday.

Sir Keir said the walkouts threatened "to turn back the clock on progress we have made in rebuilding the NHS over the last year".

From August this year, resident doctors will get pay rise of 5.4%, following a 22% increase over the previous two years.

But the BMA said wages were still around 20% lower in real terms than in 2008, even after an increase in August.

The BMA wants pay to be brought back in line with the level it was 17 years ago, when they say their pay started to be eroded.

The prime minister's comments come after Health Secretary Wes Streeting said he deeply regretted the "position we now find ourselves in" in a letter to resident doctors on Thursday.

He said the government could not afford to go further on pay, but he was "prepared to negotiate on areas related to your conditions at work and career progression".

Streeting said the pay deal was "the highest pay award of the entire public sector for resident doctors".

He said that during a series of talks with BMA representatives this month he had outlined three areas he believed "we could work together to make real improvements".

This included tackling the "arduous" training, with him making clear he was prepared to agree actions to reduce costs.

He said improvement was needed on the cost of equipment, food and drink, and he "was prepared to explore how many further training posts could be created".

The strike is going ahead after talks between the government and the BMA broke down on Tuesday.

During five days of negotiations, the two sides discussed extra financial support for resident doctors to cover the cost of exam fees and equipment, as well as faster career progression.

The BMA asked for a scheme to help write off student loans, but the government rejected this.

BMA leader Dr Tom Dolphin said: "We are very sorry that strikes have become necessary and of course if people have emergencies or need urgent care they should still present to the hospital or their GP as usual, as they always would.

"Striking is something that doctors don't want to have to do," he said, adding that the walkouts could have been avoided if "a real pathway" had been made on restoring the "lost value" of pay.

He said the BMA was still open to further discussions about resolving the dispute.

One in five children in Gaza City is malnourished, UN aid agency says

6 hours ago Share Save Aoife Walsh and Paulin Kola BBC News Share Save

BBC The UN says the hunger crisis in Gaza 'has never been so dire'

One in five children in Gaza City is malnourished and cases are increasing every day, the UN's Palestinian refugee agency (Unrwa) says. In a statement issued on Thursday, Unrwa Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini cited a colleague telling him: "People in Gaza are neither dead nor alive, they are walking corpses." More than 100 international aid organisations and human rights groups have also warned of mass starvation - pressing for governments to take action. Israel, which controls the entry of all supplies into Gaza, says there is no siege and blames Hamas for any cases of malnutrition.

The UN, however, has warned that the level of aid getting into Gaza is "a trickle" and the hunger crisis in the territory "has never been so dire". In his statement on Thursday, Lazzarini said "more than 100 people, the vast majority of them children, have reportedly died of hunger". "Most children our teams are seeing are emaciated, weak and at high risk of dying if they don't get the treatment they urgently need," he added, pleading for Israel to "allow humanitarian partners to bring unrestricted and uninterrupted humanitarian assistance to Gaza". On Wednesday, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said a large proportion of the population of Gaza was "starving". "I don't know what you would call it other than mass starvation - and it's man-made," the head of the WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said.

Tahani Shehada Tahani Shehada, an aid worker, said her baby has never eaten fresh fruit

In northern Gaza, Hanaa Almadhoun, 40, said local markets are often without food and other supplies. "If they do exist then they come at exorbitant prices that no ordinary person can afford," she told the BBC over WhatsApp. She said flour was expensive and difficult to secure, and that people have sold "gold and personal belongings" to afford it. The mother-of-three said "every new day brings a new challenge" as people search for "something edible". "With my own eyes, I've seen children rummaging through the garbage in search of food scraps," she added. During a visit to Israeli troops in Gaza on Wednesday, Israel's President Isaac Herzog insisted his country was providing humanitarian aid "according to international law". But Tahani Shehada, an aid worker in Gaza, said people "are just trying to survive hour-by-hour". "Even simple things like cooking [and] taking a shower have become luxuries," she said. "I have a baby. He's eight months old. He doesn't know what fresh fruit tastes like," she added.

Israel stopped aid deliveries to Gaza in early March following a two-month ceasefire. The blockade was partially eased after nearly two months, but food, fuel and medicine shortages worsened. Israel, with the US, established a new aid system run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). According to the UN human rights office, more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli military while trying to get food aid over the past two months. It says at least 766 of them have been killed in the vicinity of one of the GHF's four distribution centres, which are operated by US private security contractors and are located inside Israeli military zones. Another 288 people have been reported killed near UN and other aid convoys. Israel has accused Hamas of instigating the chaos near the aid sites. It says its troops have only fired warning shots and that they do not intentionally shoot civilians. The GHF says the UN is using "false" figures from Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry.

Najah, a 19-year-old who is sheltering in a hospital in Gaza, said she fears travelling to an aid distribution site

A photographer in Gaza has told the story of how he captured a series of harrowing photographs, showing an emaciated child.

Ahmed al-Arini told BBC Newshour that he wanted to "show the rest of the world extreme hunger" that babies and children are experiencing in the Gaza Strip.

Global food security experts have not yet classified the situation in Gaza as a famine, but UN agencies have warned of man-made, mass starvation taking hold.

They have blamed Israel, which controls all supplies entering the Palestinian territory, but it has denied responsibility.

Israel, which controls the entry of all supplies into Gaza, says there is no siege and blames Hamas for any cases of malnutrition.

Read more here.

Five ice hockey players found not guilty in Canada sexual assault case

47 minutes ago Share Save Nadine Yousif BBC News, London, Ontario Share Save

Reuters From left to right: Michael McLeod, Alex Formenton, Carter Hart, Dillon Dube, Cal Foote

Five Canadian ice hockey players accused of sexually assaulting a woman have all been acquitted by an Ontario judge in a case that has been closely watched in Canada. In a packed courtroom on Thursday, Justice Maria Carroccia reviewed testimony and evidence from the eight-week trial over several hours before declaring the men not guilty. The former players for Canada's world junior hockey team were accused of assaulting the woman, known as EM, in a hotel room in 2018 in London, Ontario, where they had been attending a Hockey Canada gala. Justice Carroccia said she did not find EM's evidence "credible or reliable", and that "the Crown cannot meet its onus on any of the counts".

The players were Michael McLeod, Dillon Dube, Cal Foote, Alex Formenton and Carter Hart, and all were with the National Hockey League when the allegations surfaced, although one was playing in Europe. They declined to speak to the media afterwards and their lawyers each offered statements on their behalf. Lawyer David Humphrey, who represented Mr McLeod, said that his client is relieved. "For years, public perception was shaped by a one-sided narrative", Mr Humphrey said, adding that the damage to Mr McLeod's career and reputation "has been significant". Lawyer Karen Bellehumeur, speaking on EM's behalf, said the woman had tuned in to Thursday's hearing virtually and was "very disappointed" with the judge's assessment of her credibility. "When a person summons the courage to disclose their story, the worst possible outcome is to feel disbelieved," said Ms Bellehumeur. The central issue of the trial was whether EM, who was 20 at the time of the incident, had consented to every sexual act in the hotel room that night. Court heard that the woman had met the players at a bar and later went back to the hotel room to have consensual sex with Mr McLeod. Other players then entered the room and engaged in further sexual acts with her. Lawyers for the players contended that she asked the men to have sex with her and they believed she gave consent. EM, however, testified that she was intoxicated and felt fearful of the men. While she had initially agreed to have sex with Mr McLeod, she testified that she did not agree to what unfolded afterwards. Only one player, Mr Hart, testified in his own defence. The trial attracted significant attention in Canada. Many people had attended court to hear the ruling on Thursday, forcing clerks to open two additional overflow rooms. Some of the players appeared visibly relieved in Thursday's hearing after Justice Carroccia revealed that she was not convinced with EM's testimony.

Reuters

In explaining her ruling, Justice Carroccia pointed to irregularities in EM's testimony, including about who had bought drinks that night, and said her statements reflected an "uncertain memory" that did not line up with evidence presented in the trial. The judge added that there were differences in what the woman told police investigators and those for Hockey Canada, which settled a C$3.5m ($2.5m; £1.9m) lawsuit with her for an undisclosed sum in 2022. Two videos from the incident were shared in the trial, where EM was recorded giving her consent to the activities. The first was taken without her knowledge. While under Canadian law the videos did not establish consent, the judge said they did show EM "speaking normally, smiling", and that she "did not appear to be in distress". That undercut the Crown's argument that EM did not leave the room out of fear, she said. It is unclear if the Crown will appeal. Prosecutor Meaghan Cunningham said her team will carefully review the decision. She added they had received "dozens of messages from people across Canada and abroad" expressing support for EM. "A successful prosecution is not measured solely by whether there are guilty verdicts at the end," she said. "The Crown's goal throughout this proceeding has been to see a fair trial, a trial that is fair to the men charged, and one that is also fair to EM." Throughout the trial, the Crown argued the woman's testimony was credible, that "intoxication does not equal unreliability" and that any inconsistencies in her testimony were minor. They also argued the woman did not have a motive to fabricate a story and that she had initially reported the alleged assault to police in 2018, four years before filing the lawsuit against Hockey Canada. They added that text messages between the players allegedly showed it was Mr McLeod's idea to invite his teammates to the room and that the players allegedly engaged in "getting their story straight" by drafting a narrative that EM had consented to all sexual activity. Justice Carroccia dismissed that argument, saying the players were "recounting their recollections" of what unfolded.

Reuters

Corbyn launches new party to 'take on rich and powerful'

1 hour ago Share Save Jennifer McKiernan • @_JennyMcKiernan Political reporter, BBC News Henry Zeffman Chief political correspondent Share Save

Getty Images

Former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn is launching a new political party to "take on the rich and powerful" and campaign for the redistribution of wealth. The independent MP for Islington North said the party - which does not yet have a name - would offer an alternative to the "control freaks" of Labour and the "dangerously divisive" politics of Reform UK. Earlier, Corbyn issued a joint statement with Zarah Sultana, who recently quit Labour to become an independent MP, saying: "It's time for a new kind of political party - one that belongs to you." Responding to the launch, a Labour Party source said: "The electorate has twice given its verdict on a Jeremy Corbyn led party."

In a statement announcing plans to form a new party, Corbyn and Sultana vowed to fight injustices such as child poverty, giant corporations making "a fortune from rising bills" and the government saying "there is no money for the poor, but billions for war". Asked whether his party would be a re-hash of Labour under his leadership, Corbyn said: "The Labour Party is a very top-down, highly centralised party that is full of control freaks who want to control whatever goes on within the party... "This is going to be community-led, community-based, grassroot-led, this is going to be very different, and you know what? It's going to be fun." Speaking to the BBC on Thursday evening ahead of a local community event in his Islington constituency, he added the party structure would be "quite federal". He added there would be a "core set of values and beliefs" but also a "lot of local autonomy". Your Party is the name of the sign-up website, but Sultana posted on X to correct some early reports suggesting this was the new party's name, saying: "It's not called Your Party!" Corbyn rejected suggestions the new venture had been haphazardly launched, telling reporters: "It's not messy at all, it's a totally coherent approach." Asked when they would choose a name for the party, he said: "We're going to decide when we've had all the responses, and so far the response rate has been massive. "They've been coming in at 500 a minute wanting to support and join the new party." He also insisted relations with Sultana were "all fine", saying "we're working absolutely together on this" although his co-leader was in her Coventry constituency.

Watch: Jeremy Corbyn asks for naming ideas for new party

The new co-leaders come from very different political generations - Corbyn's been an MP for almost half a century, Sultana for only six years. But they share a conviction that there is an energy on the left of British politics on which they can capitalise. The pair are encouraging people to sign up to get involved in building "a real, democratic alternative rooted in communities up and down the country". In their statement they say that the inaugural conference, expected in autumn, will determine the party's policies. But their placement on the political spectrum is clear: to the left of the Labour Party on tax, nationalisation and immigration; and significantly more anti-Israel. Their declared ambition is to "take on the rich and powerful – and win". But at a general election even a fairly modest share of the vote could leave Labour at risk of losing quite a few seats, even if not directly to the new party. Their first test may come sooner. The party now seems likely to be up and running in time for the local elections in May 2026, which include council elections in London and other cities which are likely to prove the most fertile territory for this party of anywhere. Labour's internal vulnerability to its left flank was shown most recently by the prime minister's last minute U-turn on his welfare plans, eventually pushing through a gutted bill by just 75 votes, despite having a working majority of 165 MPs. Rumours of a Corbyn-led party have been rumbling for months but Sultana appeared to have jumped the gun when she quit the Labour Party at the start of this month and announced she would be co-founding a new party with him. Sultana was suspended from the Parliamentary Labour Party last year, along with six other MPs, when she voted against the government to back scrapping the two-child benefit cap. Although four of those Labour MPs returned to the party, former shadow chancellor John McDonnell did not, although he has so far ruled out joining his former leadership partner. The pair stood down following the 2019 general election defeat, and Corbyn was later suspended from the party he joined as a teenager by his successor Sir Keir Starmer. However, Corbyn successfully stood as an independent candidate in the 2024 general election, and has since been coordinating a small group of four pro-Gaza independent MPs, who are expected to form the core of any new party.

England manager Sarina Wiegman is "not for sale at any price", says Football Association chief executive Mark Bullingham.

Wiegman is the only manager in the men's or women's game to have reached the final at all five major tournaments she has coached in.

She led the Netherlands to the Euro 2017 title and the World Cup final in 2019, before doing the same with England at Euro 2022, and the 2023 World Cup.

The 55-year-old is seeking to become the third manager to win three consecutive women's Euros titles after Germany duo Gero Bisanz (1989, 1991, 1995) and Tina Theune (1997, 2001, 2005).

"I want to pay tribute to Sarina. I think her record individually is phenomenal," said Bullingham, speaking before Sunday's Euro 2025 final against Spain (17:00 BST).

"When I spoke to [the media] before the tournament I said we were lucky to have her and I still feel that way. I think she has been incredible.

"Her record of managing in five tournaments and reaching five finals is phenomenal. I don't believe anyone has been anywhere near that in the past and it will be really hard to do that in the future.

"She's a really special coach and we're delighted to have her with us."

Asked if the FA are concerned that Wiegman might look elsewhere if she was to be successful again on Sunday, and if it would be hard to persuade her to stay, Bullingham said: "Not hard at all. We are committed to her until 2027 and she is committed to us. We have a new [coaching] team coming in for her.

"We haven't quite started working on the plans for [the 2027 World Cup] but I know her focus, hopefully after success on Sunday, will shift quite quickly to that."

Dad guilty of murdering premature baby in hospital

8 hours ago Share Save Tess De La Mare & Sarah Turnnidge BBC News, Bristol Share Save

WATCH: Moment Daniel Gunter is arrested for murdering his baby son

Warning: This article contains details that some may find distressing, including details of severe injuries.

A father has been found guilty of murdering his two-week old baby on a neonatal ward. Brendon Staddon, who was born prematurely at 33 weeks, suffered multiple injuries including a fractured skull, a broken neck, a broken jaw and broken legs in Yeovil District Hospital's special care baby unit on 5 March 2024. His father Daniel Gunter, 27, of no fixed address, denied harming him, but was convicted of murder at Bristol Crown Court earlier. He will be sentenced on 3 October. Brendon's mother, Sophie Staddon, was acquitted of a lesser charge of causing or allowing the death of a child and was told by the judge she "was free to go".

A female juror was visibly upset as the foreman returned the verdicts and as she wiped tears away, she was comforted by two fellow jury members. The defendants showed no emotion as the verdicts were returned.

Avon and Somerset Police Brendon suffered multiple fractures, including a fatal head injury

Following the verdict, Brendon's grandfather Simon Gunter said his grandson - who the court was told weighed "less than a couple of bags of sugar" - had been "so tiny, but so beautiful". "As a family, we were so happy and excited," he said, explaining that the family had bought toys and clothes in their excitement for his arrival. "But, we have been robbed of a life of memories of Brendon," he added. "We won't get to see his first steps, hear his first words, take him on his first holiday and see him grow into a young boy then a man. We will never have those memories. They have been taken from us and he will never be replaced. "I hope Daniel gets what he deserves for what he did to Brendon but, whatever the outcome, it will never bring him back."

'Evil'

During his short life, nursing staff at the Somerset hospital said they had many concerns about Brendon's parents' behaviour, particularly Gunter's repeated rough handling of him, Bristol Crown Court was told. The jury was told that while in hospital, Gunter repeatedly ignored the advice of nurses, taking Brendon out of the incubator without asking, overstimulating the child to the point of causing him distress, and removing his nasal gastric tube. A medical expert told the trial that Brendon's injuries were consistent with his head being swung against a hard surface "more than once" while he was held by his ankles. Ch Insp Nadine Partridge, of the major crime investigations team at Avon and Somerset Police, said the case was one of the most challenging of her 22-year career as a detective and described Gunter's actions as "evil". She said having to view the post-mortem injuries had been very distressing for investigators. "The extent of the injuries are nothing I've ever seen before. Brendon's little tiny precious body at just two weeks old, there wasn't any part of him that wasn't harmed," she said.

Avon and Somerset Police Gunter had denied harming his son, but was found guilty by a jury

The jury heard Gunter was seen getting angry with Brendon while changing his nappy and threatened to make formal complaints about nursing staff when they tried to intervene. Nurses also feared Ms Staddon was being controlled by Gunter because he would speak for her and order her meals, jurors were told. Brendon was born on 20 February 2024. The couple then left him at the hospital on 29 February and did not return until the afternoon of 4 March. At about 04:00 GMT the following morning, Ms Staddon told nurses she had awoken to find Brendon "cold". Doctors think he would have been dead for at least 30 minutes before the alarm was raised. While doctors tried to resuscitate him, Gunter said he and Ms Staddon were going outside "for air" and they both went to smoke, the court heard.

'No remorse'

Neither Gunter or Ms Staddon gave evidence during the trial. Ch Insp Partridge said Gunter had been more concerned about his phone and vape being taken when he was arrested, and had never asked after Brendon. "Daniel's not shown any remorse whatsoever on his arrest or during his police interviews," she said. Following the verdict she added: "Brendon was failed in life. In death, justice is the only protection we can still offer him. "Cases where both the victim and the defendant are related in some way are among the most challenging for us as police. "I would like to firstly give my condolences to Brendon's grandparents and their wider family, who we have supported through specialist family liaison officers."

Following the verdict a spokesperson for Somerset NHS Foundation Trust said it has been an "incredibly distressing" case in which its colleagues gave evidence about their interactions with Gunter and Ms Staddon. "We are part of the Child Safeguarding Practice Review, along with other agencies, that will thoroughly examine the circumstances around baby Brendon's death," they added. "It is well underway and will be published in the autumn."

Follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.

Female exec captured in viral Coldplay concert clip resigns

49 minutes ago Share Save Christal Hayes BBC News, Los Angeles Share Save

Awkward moment for couple on screen at Coldplay gig

A US tech company's chief people officer who was apparently caught on a big screen at a Coldplay concert embracing the company's CEO has resigned. Kristin Cabot, Astronomer's chief people officer, is no longer with the company and has resigned, the firm told the BBC in a statement. Her departure follows that of Andy Byron, the company's former CEO, who left last week after the company announced he would be placed on leave and investigated. The BBC has been unable to independently confirm the identities of either person in the clip. It shows a man and a woman, who were identified by US media as the co-workers, embracing on a jumbo screen at the arena before they abruptly ducked and hid.

Jay Slater 'did not seem threatened', inquest told

7 hours ago Share Save Lynette Horsburgh & Press Association BBC News, Lancashire Share Save

Family handout Jay Slater's mum Debbie Duncan asked for her son's inquest to be resumed after a number of witnesses did not attend the last hearing in May

One of the last people to speak to Jay Slater said the 19-year-old did not seem threatened as he made his way home from an Airbnb he had gone to with two men he had met in a nightclub in Tenerife, an inquest has heard. Mr Slater, of Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, went missing on the Spanish island on 17 June 2024, shortly after speaking to his friend Bradley Geoghegan on the phone. Asked by coroner Dr James Adeley if Mr Slater "seemed fearful or under duress", Mr Geoghehan said: "No," adding he had "probably... sobered up and decided to come back". A huge search was launched, and his body was found in a ravine near the village of Masca on 15 July.

The inquest heard he had taken drugs and alcohol on a night out and had a 14-hour walk home. Mr Geoghegan, who had gone on holiday with Mr Slater, said his friend had taken ecstasy pills, and possibly ketamine, along with cocaine and alcohol, on the night out before he disappeared.

Family handout Jay Slater was found dead at the bottom of a Tenerife ravine last summer

The court heard Mr Slater had been forced to leave a nightclub because he was so drunk and instead of going back to the apartment he shared with Mr Geoghegan, he went to an Airbnb, miles away, with two men they had met on the holiday. The next morning Mr Geoghegan said he got a video call from Mr Slater, who was walking along a road and was still "under the influence", the inquest heard. Mr Geoghegan said: "I said put your maps on to see how far you were. It was like a 14-hour walk or an hour drive. "I said, 'Get a taxi back', then he just goes, 'I will ring you back'." The witness said he did not think his friend had any money on him, and taxis in Tenerife insisted on payment up front before carrying a fare. Coroner Dr James Adeley asked the witness: "Did you get the impression he was in any way threatened or fearful, or under duress in a difficult situation?" Mr Geoghegan replied: "No. I think he probably got there and thought, 'Why am I here?', sobered up and decided to come back."

'Last phone call'

The inquest also heard from Lucy Law who travelled to Tenerife with Mr Slater. She recounted a phone call she received from a friend on the morning of 17 June 2024. She said she was told Mr Slater was in the mountains and did not have much phone battery left. Ms Law then described a subsequent phone call with Mr Slater - the last known outgoing communication from his phone - in which she asked him where he was and what he was doing. "He was like 'I'm in the middle of the mountains'." She said Mr Slater told her there was "literally nothing" around. She added she was panicking because his battery was low, and asked him to go back to where he came from.

Reuters Jay Slater's body was found in a ravine near the village of Masca on 15 July after a huge search

Mr Slater, had been to the NRG music festival with friends at the Papagayo nightclub in the resort of Playa de las Americas, on 16 June last year. Mr Slater vanished the morning after going to the Airbnb and was reported missing to Spanish police on 18 June. Evidence heard during the inquest suggested he had left the holiday let, and after failing to get a bus or taxi, attempted to walk back to his own apartment and had fallen from a height into a ravine. A huge search was launched before his body was found by a mountain rescue team almost a month later.

'No evidence of assault'

Mr Slater's mother, Debbie Duncan, had asked for the inquest into the death to be resumed on Thursday after a number of witnesses did not attend the last hearing in May. Dr Adeley agreed to adjourn the inquest to trace the witnesses, those who had been with him in the hours before he vanished. The hearing in May heard from a number of witnesses, including toxicology expert Dr Stephanie Martin. The court heard analysis showed traces of drugs, including cocaine, ketamine and ecstasy, along with alcohol, were found in Mr Slater's body. Home Office pathologist Dr Richard Shepherd said his post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as head injuries, and Mr Slater's body showed no evidence of restraint or assault, with the pattern of injuries consistent with a fall from a height.

'Off his head'

Det Ch Insp Rachel Higson, from Lancashire Constabulary, said police had analysed Mr Slater's phone data. On the night out he had received phone messages from friends telling him to go home as he was "off his head". Phone location data suggested Mr Slater had travelled to the Airbnb and the next morning and left the property at about 07.45. Statements from Spanish witnesses said they were approached and asked by Mr Slater about buses or taxis to take him home. More messages from friends warned him about the "boiling" heat of the day, but activity data on his phone stopped at 08:51, suggesting his phone battery had died.

Reuters Mr Slater went missing in the early hours of 17 June 2024 and his body was found after a huge search lasting almost a month

The next witness, Ayub Qassim, said he and a friend, Steven Roccas, met Mr Slater and his friends out in Tenerife. He said he had been in a different venue then later met Mr Slater and Mr Geoghegan getting something to eat after the clubs closed. He said Mr Slater asked if he could come back to his and Mr Roccas' apartment. Mr Qassim, giving evidence via videolink, told the hearing: "I did say, 'Bro, oh mate, it's so far away from the strip'. "There's nothing happening there other than scenery. I said I would drop him off in the morning. He rolled with us."

'Did not steal'

The coroner then asked the witness about messages Mr Slater had sent about a watch possibly being stolen. The inquest was shown a Snapchat video featuring a short clip of a car dashboard with a caption referring to taking a "12k rolly" and being off to "get 10 quid for it". He added: "Jay did not steal no watch. I can say one hundred per cent." Asked to explain the social media post by Mr Slater, the witness said: "He could be boasting to his friends. He's on a buzz, so maybe it could be that. Sometimes people do exaggerate." The coroner said: "But so far as you are concerned, none of that is true?" Mr Qassim said: "No. One hundred per cent. I didn't see a watch. At this point he's just firing off messages." He said when they got to his Airbnb he gave Mr Slater a blanket and pillow and told him he could sleep on the sofa before going off to his own bed.

Warned him

Mr Qassim said he was woken a short time later by a couple pressing the buzzer because they wanted him to move his car. When he got out his car Mr Slater came towards him and said he was leaving and to "catch a bus" to go back to his apartment, Mr Qassim told the court. He said he told Mr Slater there were no buses and warned him against it. Mr Qassim said he told Mr Slater to wait and he would drive him back later but he replied his friends were waiting for him. Mr Qassim said he went back to sleep, presuming Mr Slater was waiting at the bus stop. The coroner asked him if there was any altercation between them to which Mr Qassim replied: "No." The inquest resumes on Friday.

Justice department official meets Epstein accomplice Maxwell

Maxwell's attorneys have said the meeting would help inform whether she would testify before Congress

"She answered every one of them," he said. "She never did say I'm not going to answer, never declined."

An attorney for Maxwell, David Markus, told the BBC's US partner CBS News that he would not comment on the "substance" of the discussions but said "there were a lot of questions and we went all day".

The meeting took place in Tallahassee, Florida, where Maxwell is serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking.

A senior justice department official met Jeffrey Epstein's long-time associate Ghislaine Maxwell on Thursday as pressure grows on the Trump administration to release files linked to the disgraced financier's sex trafficking network.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche had said earlier this week that he planned to speak to Maxwell about any information she had on other people whom Epstein may have helped sexually abuse girls.

Mr Markus told reporters he was "thankful" that Blanche had come to ask Maxwell questions.

"It's the first time the government did it. So it was a good day," he said.

The latest developments come as interest has switched back to Ghislaine Maxwell, 63, a convicted sex-trafficker in prison for helping Epstein abuse young girls.

Calls have grown from the public - including President Donald Trump's loyal supporters - and lawmakers for the justice department to release files related to the Epstein case.

On Wednesday, The Wall Street Journal reported that Attorney General Pam Bondi informed Trump during a May briefing that his name appeared in DOJ documents related to the Epstein case.

The White House has pushed back dismissing the story as "fake news".

Being named in the documents is not evidence of any criminal activity, nor has Trump ever been accused of wrongdoing in connection with the Epstein case.

While campaigning for the presidency last year, Trump had promised to release such files about the well-connected sex offender.

But his supporters have since grown frustrated with the administration's handling of the issue, including its failure to deliver a rumoured "client list" of Epstein. In a memo earlier this month, the justice department and FBI said there was no such list.

Epstein died in a New York prison cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, following an earlier conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor. His death was ruled a suicide.

In the years since, conspiracy theories about the nature of his crimes and his death itself have proliferated.

On Wednesday, a sub-committee of the US House of Representatives voted to subpoena the justice department for the files, which must be signed off by the committee chairman.

Republicans on the House Oversight Committee have also subpoenaed Maxwell to testify before the panel remotely from prison on 11 August.

House Speaker Mike Johnson has warned that Maxwell - who for years helped Epstein groom and sexually abuse girls - cannot be trusted to provide accurate testimony.

Her attorney, David Oscar Markus, told the BBC the concerns were "unfounded" and that if she chose to testify, rather than invoke her constitutional right to remain silent, "she would testify truthfully, as she always has said she would".

Last week, the justice department asked a federal judge to release years-old grand jury testimony related to a 2006 Florida investigation into Epstein, but a federal judge in the state on Wednesday declined to make the documents public.

EE and BT network outage resolved, firm says

2 hours ago Share Save Imran Rahman-Jones Technology reporter Share Save

Getty Images

A network outage affecting thousands of EE and BT customers has been resolved, a spokesperson has said. Customers reported they were unable to make or receive calls as the mobile phone and landline networks faced an outage. Some customers reported issues with making 999 calls, but the government said these had "now been restored". A spokesperson from BT, which owns EE, apologised for the outage and said it has "resolved the problem and the service is running as normal".

The spokesperson said late on Thursday the issue happened "following a technical fault impacting voice services on our network earlier today". Outages tracker Downdetector, which relies on self-reported user data, showed over 2,500 EE customers experiencing outages at 14:00 BST, with many also reporting issues with other networks. Vodafone and Three confirmed to the BBC that they did not have network issues. Other networks had seen spikes in reports of outages on Downdetector - but these were likely to be customers from networks unable to connect to EE or BT phone numbers. Social media users had been posting about a loss of services of both EE and BT mobile and landline services.

999 calls

BT said customers should use 999 as normal. However, on Thursday afternoon, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Services posted on social media to say there was "a fault with the mobile phone network, including 999 calls". But they posted an update at 15:01 BST on X to say 999 calls had returned to normal. South Western Ambulance Service then posted on X to confirm there was an issue. The Department of Science, Innovation and Technology said the outage had "impacted some customers' ability to make and receive calls between EE and other networks. "EE and BT digital voice calls to 999 have now been restored." A spokesperson added: "Communications providers have statutory obligations to ensure their networks and services are appropriately resilient."

Customer impact

'I can barely do one story. I just feel dizzy' - BBC's Gaza freelance journalists tell of struggle for food

6 hours ago Share Save Yolande Knell Middle East correspondent, Jerusalem Share Save

Anadolu via Getty Images Journalists are facing the same dire circumstances as those they are covering

Three trusted freelance Palestinian journalists whom the BBC relies on for its Gaza coverage have shared how they are now struggling to feed their families and often go two days or more without eating. All of the men have kept their cameras running, sending us vital footage, even on days when their close relatives have been killed, they have lost their homes, or have been fleeing from Israeli military advances with their families. One was previously badly wounded by shrapnel from an Israeli bombing while on assignment. But he says the current time is "the hardest time I have lived through since I was born. It's a huge crisis of suffering and deprivation." Global food security experts have not yet classified the situation in Gaza as a famine, but UN agencies have warned of man-made, mass starvation taking hold. They have blamed Israel, which controls all supplies entering the Palestinian territory, but it has denied responsibility.

Reuters For many months, local journalists have been the world's eyes and ears on the ground in Gaza

We have agreed not to identify our colleagues by name out of consideration for their security. They tell us that not being able to provide for the youngest and most vulnerable of their loved ones is most difficult of all. "My son who has autism is unaware of what is going on around him. He doesn't know that we are in a war and he doesn't speak," says one of our cameramen in Gaza City, who is a father of four. "In recent days, he's so hungry that he's started hitting his stomach with his hand to signal to us that he wants food." Our youngest colleague, who is in southern Gaza, is the main breadwinner for his parents and siblings. "I am constantly wondering how to get food for my family," he tells us. "My little sister, who's 13, keeps on asking for food and water and we can't get any for her. Any water we find will be contaminated."

Reuters BBC News and the AFP, AP and Reuters news agencies are urging the Israeli authorities to allow journalists in and out of Gaza

The BBC has released a joint statement with other media organisations saying it is "desperately concerned" about the wellbeing of local freelance journalists that it works with in Gaza. "For many months, these independent journalists have been the world's eyes and ears on the ground in Gaza. They are now facing the same dire circumstances as those they are covering," says the statement by the BBC and AFP, AP and Reuters news agencies. The current conditions make telling the story of what is happening even more challenging.

"I feel tired and exhausted all the time, to the point of dizziness and falling to the ground," says a veteran journalist who now works with us in Gaza City and is looking after his mother, sisters, and five children aged two to 16. He says he has lost 30kg (4st 7lbs) in 21 months of war. "I used to complete most news reports with great speed, but now I am slow in finishing them due to my poor health and psychological state," he tells us. "Delirium and fatigue accompanies me." "I can't describe the feeling," says our southern Gaza cameraman. "My stomach twists in knots, and I have a headache, add to that being emaciated and weak. I used to work from 07:00 until 22:00 but now I can barely do one story. I just feel dizzy." Recently, he collapsed during filming but later resumed his work.

Reuters Almost 200 Palestinian journalists have been killed by Israeli forces during the war

While food shortages have been a constant issue during the war, previously those receiving salaries from outside could still buy basic supplies albeit at exorbitant prices on local markets. Now even those markets are largely empty. "I've reached the point of taking food from the charity kitchen. In recent days, this has meant my kids have been eating one meal a day - just limited foodstuffs like lentils, rice and pasta," says the Gaza City journalist with four small children. Two of the men say they have taken to drinking water with a little salt to try to suppress their hunger. One says he can sometimes buy a 50g biscuit for his daily meal but this costs 30 shekels ($9; £6.60). Getting hold of money is an ordeal in itself. It now involves using money merchants. "If I need cash, it's mostly not available, but when it is, it's accompanied by a withdrawal fee of 45%," explains one Gaza City cameraman. "That means that if I go to withdraw $1,000, I will get only $550. The whole process is exhausting and any vendors nowadays demand cash." "The difficulty is because of the closure of the banks. These money transfers are another form of suffering after our hunger," our colleague in southern Gaza adds.

Reuters BBC News, AFP, AP and Reuters say it is essential that adequate food supplies reach the people of Gaza

France will recognise Palestinian state, Macron says

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas (left) and French President Emmanuel Macron during talks in Paris in July 2022

Palestinian officials welcomed Macron's decision, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the move "rewards terror" following Hamas's 7 October 2023 attack in Israel.

"The urgent need today is for the war in Gaza to end and for the civilian population to be rescued. Peace is possible. We need an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and massive humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza," he wrote.

In a post on X, Macron said the formal announcement would be made at a session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

France will officially recognise a Palestinian state in September, President Emmanuel Macron has said.

In his Thursday's post on X, Macron wrote: "True to its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognise the State of Palestine.

"We must also guarantee the demilitarisation of Hamas, and secure and rebuild Gaza.

"Finally, we must build the State of Palestine, ensure its viability, and ensure that by accepting its demilitarisation and fully recognising Israel, it contributes to the security of all in the Middle East. There is no alternative."

Macron also attached a letter to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas confirming his decision.

Reacting to Macron's announcement, Abbas' deputy Hussein al-Sheikh said "this position reflects France's commitment to international law and its support for the Palestinian people's rights to self-determination and the establishment of our independent state", according to the AFP news agency.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu wrote in a post on X: "We strongly condemn President Macron's decision to recognise a Palestinian state next to Tel Aviv in the wake of the 7 October massacre.

"A Palestinian state in these conditions would be a launch pad to annihilate Israel - not to live in peace beside it. Let's be clear: the Palestinians do not seek a state alongside Israel; they seek a state instead of Israel," Netanyahu added.

Currently, the State of Palestine is recognised by more than 140 of the 193 member states of the UN.

A few European Union countries, including Spain, are among them.

But Israel's main supporter, the US, and its allies including the UK have not recognised a Palestinian state.

The Israeli military launched a campaign in Gaza in response to the attack on southern Israel, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.

At least 59,106 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the territory's health ministry.

Much of Gaza has been reduced to rubble since then.

Earlier on Thursday, the UN's Palestinian refugee agency (Unrwa) said that one in five children in Gaza City was now malnourished and cases were increasing every day.

More than 100 international aid organisations and human rights groups have also warned of mass starvation in the Gaza Strip - pressing for governments to take action.

Israel, which controls the entry of all supplies into the Palestinian territory, has repeatedly said that there is no siege, blaming Hamas for any cases of malnutrition.

In a statement, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer condemned the "unspeakable and indefensible" humanitarian conditions in Gaza.

He said the situation had been "grave for some time" but it has "reached new depths".

"We are witnessing a humanitarian catastrophe," Sir Keir added.

He went to get aid and didn't come back - stories of people killed in Gaza

7 hours ago Share Save Ethar Shalaby BBC News Arabic Share Save

Family handout Abdullah Jendeia had been searching for food when he was killed

A teenager who went looking for food and a man who endured months of malnutrition are among those who have died in Gaza in the past week. On Thursday, the Hamas-run health ministry recorded two new deaths due to malnutrition in the past 24 hours, as aid agencies warned Israel's siege of Gaza was causing "mass starvation" to spread across the territory. An Israeli government spokesman denied this, saying Hamas was to blame for creating a food shortage and hijacking aid. With the UN warning that humanitarian conditions in Gaza are breaking down at an "accelerating" pace, and the World Health Organization saying that at least 10% of Gazans are acutely malnourished, the BBC has been speaking to people in the territory about loved ones they've lost in the past week.

Abdullah Jendeia, aged 19

Nineteen-year-old Abdullah Omar Jendeia was killed on Sunday, 20 July, when he went out to find food, says his sister Nadreen. They had been staying in their mother's damaged house in al-Sabra in central Gaza. "He was impatient to go and fetch some food that day," Nadreen says. "I told him, 'Just eat the few lentils we have left,' but he refused." She says that at 16:00 (13:00 GMT) Abdullah left the house to walk more than 5km (3.1 miles) north to an aid truck that comes weekly, to get a few kilogrammes of flour to feed the family. He was with two of his brothers and some in-laws. At about 23:00 that night, one of the brothers, Mahmoud, called Nadreen to tell her that while they were waiting by the aid truck Israeli soldiers had suddenly opened fire on them. They were in the Netzarim Corridor - a military zone cutting off the north of the Gaza Strip from the south. Mahmoud told Nadreen that Abdullah had been killed and he and the other brother had been injured. "He was a joy to be around, kind-hearted and fun at the same time," she says, recalling afternoon walks she and Abdullah used to take on the beach in Gaza when they were younger. "He loved football and sport." She says Abdullah used to work with local grocers, helping to carry fruit and vegetables for them and "had dreams of opening a new business after the war". In response, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it was operating to dismantle Hamas's military capabilities and took feasible precautions to mitigate civilian harm. It said that it could "better address your query if you were able to provide coordinates" for the location of the incident. Gaza's Hamas-run civil defence agency said Israeli fire had killed a total of 93 people and wounded dozens more across Gaza on that day, mainly near aid points. Speaking about one specific incident in northern Gaza, the Israeli military said troops fired warning shots at a crowd "to remove an immediate threat" but disputed the numbers killed.

Ahmed Alhasant, age 41

Family handout Ahmed had been a football fan who installed television satellites

Ahmed Alhasant, 41, died on Tuesday, 22 July. His brother, Yehia Alhasant, says "malnutrition killed him - day after day, he was getting more and more poorly". Yehia says his brother started to become unwell after Israel imposed a blockade of aid into Gaza in March. Since May, Israel has been allowing some aid into the territory, but aid groups say this is nowhere near enough. For three months, Ahmed, who was also diabetic, was not able to get enough food or drink, relying on bits of bread and occasionally canned food, says Yehia. As a result, his weight plummeted from 80kg (12 stone 8lbs ) to 35kg and his health rapidly deteriorated, Yehia says. "His speech was slurred and sometimes we could hardly understand him," Yehia says. Ahmed's cousin, Refaat Alhasant, says the family took him to hospital, but "they would tell us 'he needs food not medicines'. So we took him back home." Yehia says Ahmed, who used to install television satellites and was a football fan, "passed away peacefully" at his home in the city of Deir al-Balah in the centre of Gaza. "He had a strong personality and was one of the kindest people you could ever meet," Yehia added.

Mohamed Kullab, 29

Family handout Mohamed Kullab was described by his brother-in-law as someone who was 'full of life'

Israel and US leave Gaza ceasefire talks in Qatar

A Palestinian woman walks past damaged buildings after an Israeli strike on the Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip

Hamas has not commented on the issue. All sides involved in the talks - including mediators - admit that wide gaps remain on key issues.

The Israeli government did not say what triggered its withdrawal, but a senior Israeli official was quoted in local media as saying there was "no collapse" in the negotiations.

In a statement, US special envoy Steve Witkoff said: "We have decided to bring our team home from Doha for consultations after the latest response from Hamas, which clearly shows a lack of desire to reach a ceasefire in Gaza."

Israeli and US negotiators have decided to leave Gaza ceasefire talks in Qatar's capital Doha, with Washington accusing Hamas of not "acting in good faith".

In Thursday's statement, Witkoff said that "while the mediators have made a great effort, Hamas does not appear to be co-ordinated or acting in good faith".

"We will now consider alternative options to bring the hostages home and try to create a more stable environment for the people of Gaza.

"It is a shame that Hamas has acted in this selfish way. We are resolute in seeking an end to this conflict and a permanent peace in Gaza."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is yet to publicly comment on why the Israeli negotiators were leaving Doha.

But the senior Israeli official - speaking on the condition of anonymity - insisted there was "no collapse" in the talks, the Times of Israel reported.

The official criticised Hamas's "rejectionist and unfortunate approach", adding that "we reached the stage where we actually need to return, and we will return here as soon as the right way is found to reduce the gaps and reach the closing stage".

The latest round of talks in Doha - with Qatari and Egyptian mediators - has been going on for more than two weeks.

Earlier on Thursday, the UN's Palestinian refugee agency (Unrwa) said that one in five children in Gaza City was now malnourished and cases were increasing every day.

More than 100 international aid organisations and human rights groups have also warned of mass starvation - pressing for governments to take action.

Israel, which controls the entry of all supplies into Gaza, has repeatedly said that there is no siege, blaming Hamas for any cases of malnutrition.

Israel stopped aid deliveries to the Gaza Strip in early March following a two-month ceasefire. The blockade was partially eased after nearly two months, but food, fuel and medicine shortages worsened.

According to the UN human rights office, more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli military while trying to get food aid over the past two months.

It says at least 766 of them have been killed in the vicinity of one of the GHF's four distribution centres, which are operated by US private security contractors and are located inside Israeli military zones.

Another 288 people have been reported killed near UN and other aid convoys.

Israel has accused Hamas of instigating the chaos near the aid sites. It says its troops have only fired warning shots and that they do not intentionally shoot civilians.

The Israeli military launched a campaign in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.

At least 59,106 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.

US wrestling legend Hulk Hogan dies aged 71

3 hours ago Share Save Steven McIntosh Entertainment reporter Share Save

Watch: Hulk Hogan at the 2024 Republican National Convention

Hulk Hogan, one of America's best-known wrestling stars, has died at the age of 71. The star, born Terry Gene Bollea and known for his flowing blond hair and iconic handlebar moustache, died at his home in Florida on Thursday. Hogan began his professional wrestling career in 1977, but shot to fame after signing for the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), as it was known before it became World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), in 1983. He was one of the most prominent characters as the popularity of wrestling exploded, and later became well-known for his reality show, Hogan Knows Best, which aired on VH1 from 2005 to 2007.

Follow updates: Reaction and tributes to Hulk Hogan

Blood, sweat and tears: Look back at the highs and lows of Hulk Hogan Hogan's manager Chris Volo said the wrestler suffered a cardiac arrest at his home in Clearwater, Florida, and died surrounded by his family. More recently, Hogan had been a vocal a supporter of US president Donald Trump. In a post on his social media site Truth Social, Trump wrote that he had "lost a great friend today", the "Hulkster". "Hulk Hogan was MAGA all the way — Strong, tough, smart, but with the biggest heart. He gave an absolutely electric speech at the Republican National Convention, that was one of the highlights of the entire week," Trump wrote in the post, referencing his slogan, Make America Great Again. The WWE star had neck surgery in May and heart surgery in June. In a post on Instagram, his family wrote that they had "lost a legend". "May we all take solace in the wonderful memories he left behind for the millions of fans worldwide whose lives he touched for more than four decades," they wrote. "He will be missed, but never forgotten." Police officials said on Thursday that emergency services responded to a medical call at 10:00 EST (15:00 BST), where they found Hogan experiencing a serious medical issue. He was taken to a hospital where he died at 11:17. There will be an investigation, they said, but there is no suspicious activity surrounding his death.

Getty Images Hogan, pictured at a Trump rally in October 2024, was a vocal supporter of the US president

In a statement, WWE said it was "saddened to learn WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan has passed away". "One of pop culture's most recognisable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s. "WWE extends its condolences to Hogan's family, friends, and fans." Hogan's larger-than-life personality and talent in the ring helped make professional wrestling more accessible to the mainstream public. He won six WWE championships and headlined WrestleMania, WWE's signature event, eight times. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005. Hogan's opponents included Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson, 'Macho Man' Randy Savage and Andre The Giant. Wrestling legend Ric Flair said he was "absolutely shocked" to hear about Hogan's death. "An incredible athlete, talent, friend and father," he said in a post on X. "Our friendship has meant the world to me. He was always there for me even when I didn't ask for him to be." Fellow legend in the ring the Undertaker also paid tribute: "The wrestling world has lost a true legend. His contributions to our business are immeasurable and for that I am appreciative." Donald Trump Jr, the son of the US president, posted a selfie with Hogan from 2024, writing: "RIP to a legend." Mike Johnson, the Republican speaker of the House of Representatives, wrote on X: "We all have fond memories of Hulk Hogan. From my childhood in the '80s, to campaigning with him last year, I always saw him as a giant in stature and in life." Carlos Silva, president of wrestling brand Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, said: "Hogan's name was synonymous with professional wrestling, transcending the industry to become an American pop culture fixture."

Getty Images Hulk Hogan pictured holding Tony Atlas in a headlock in 1981

Born in the US state of Georgia in 1953, Hogan was one of the most famous names in professional wrestling history. His "Hulk" nickname came from comparisons to the comic-book hero portrayed on TV at the time, while "Hogan" was the invention of promoter Vince McMahon, who was keen for Irish representation in the WWF. He first competed in the WWF in 1979, but became a mainstay and fan favourite in the mid-1980s alongside Andre the Giant and 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper. Hogan headlined the first WrestleMania in New York in 1985, where he and Mr T defeated Piper and Paul Orndorff. In the ring, Hogan's character was an all-American hero, and his magnetic personality helped attract millions of viewers and turn wrestling into a revenue juggernaut. His brand of "Hulkamania" transferred to the small and big screens, with roles in films such as Rocky III, No Holds Barred, Suburban Commando, Mr Nanny, Santa With Muscles, and a 1996 episode of Baywatch. Rocky actor Sylvester Stallone said on Instagram that Hogan was "absolutely wonderful and his amazing skill made Rocky III incredibly special". Hogan also appeared as himself in the A-Team, Gremlins 2: The New Batch, Spy Hard and Muppets From Space, and lent his voice to episodes of Robot Chicken and American Dad! In 1985, Hogan became the star of his own cartoon series on CBS, Hulk Hogan's Rock 'n' Wrestling.

Getty Images Hogan pictured with John Cena at the Teen Choice Awards in 2005

Hogan was first inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005, but he was removed from the hall in 2015 when his WWE contract was terminated after a tape emerged of him using a racist slur. Three years earlier, gossip website Gawker posted a video of him having an affair. Hogan subsequently sued the website on privacy grounds, winning $140m (£103m) and forcing it out of business in 2016. In 2018, the company reinstated him, saying he deserved a second chance, but several WWE superstars, including the New Day and Titus O'Neil, said it would be "difficult to simply forget" what Hogan had said. In recent years, Hogan appeared at Trump rallies and on the US election campaign trail. He starred at the 2024 Republican National Convention, ripping off his shirt - a signature move - to reveal a Trump 2024 T-shirt.

Getty Images Hogan was known for his flowing blonde hair, handlebar moustache and bandannas

'Threat to NHS from strikes' and 'UK must do more on Gaza'

21 minutes ago Share Save Share Save

Several papers lead on the five-day strike by resident doctors starting this morning. Health Secretary Wes Streeting's "defiant" message that he "won't cave in to militant doctors" leads the Daily Mail. Streeting tells paper the walkout by around 50,000 doctors will cause "untold misery" for patients, adding that he won't let the British Medical Association "hold this country to ransom".

The strikes pose a "threat to the NHS as we know it", according to an editorial by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in the Times. In his appeal to doctors to "snub" the walkout, Starmer says the industrial action will "play into the hands" of those that "do not want our NHS to succeed in its current form". According to Starmer, the strikes could make Reform UK leader Nigel Farage's plan to change the NHS funding model look more appealing to voters.

The Daily Express leads with comments from the shadow health secretary Stuart Andrew who criticises the strikes as "irresponsible, unnecessary, wrong". The 5-day action is set to plunge the NHS "into crisis", he says.

The doctors' strikes gets a front page slot on the Guardian, but the paper leads with a plea from the head of the Palestinian refugee agency Unwra to "let aid in" to Gaza, with at least 45 people dying of hunger in the territory over four days this week. Gazans are "neither dead nor alive, they are walking corpses", according to Philippe Lazzarini, the head of Unwra.

The UK is "ready to recognise" a Palestinian state according to the i Paper, which leads on Starmer's comments that Palestinians have an "inalienable right" to statehood. The prime minister will lobby US President Donald Trump over the "humanitarian catastrophe" in Gaza during his visit to the UK this weekend, the paper reports.

The Daily Mirror features a photo of desperate people begging for food in Gaza, with the headline "Britain must do more". The accompanying story reports on a warning from MPs to the prime minister that the government "must not shrug our shoulders and say there is nothing we can do". The death of wrestling legend Hulk Hogan aged 71 features at the top of the page with a typically colourful photo of the star.

Tributes to the "incredible Hulk" front the Daily Star, following his death from cardiac arrest. The wrestler, pictured in his signature golden briefs and vest, was found dead at his Florida mansion after years of being "plagued" by health issues, the paper reports.

"RIP Hulk" appears in the Sun's top bar, but the paper leads on reports that asylum seekers have been shoplifting from famous London stores, including Liberty, Gucci, Prada and John Lewis. "Taking a Liberty" is their headline, while a security firm whistleblower tells the paper that police "rarely attend" their calls.

The Daily Telegraph also reports on immigration issues, featuring comments from the Essex Police commissioner that migrants could be moved from an Epping hotel. But the paper leads with the closure of more than 6,000 agricultural businesses this year after Labour cut the amount of inheritance tax available to farms. A net loss of more than 3,000 agricultural businesses over the first six months of 2025 indicates the number of farms is shrinking "at the fastest pace on record".

Sharp declines in Tesla shares leads the Financial Times, which reports that the tumble came following warnings from the company's chief executive Elon Musk that Trump's anti-EV agenda "will hit profit". Tesla stocks fell 8% by midday trading on Thursday, worsening a decline that has wiped more than half a trillion dollars from the company's value since December, according to the paper.

An emotive "good luck" letter to Lionesses manager Sarina Wiegman is the lead for Metro, ahead of their Euro 2025 final match against Spain on Sunday. The address to Wiegman - a Dutchwoman "who has become truly dear to England - details her series of successes with the Lionesses, now reaching a third major final in four years, before declaring: "In Sarina and the Lionesses we trust".

We might get killed, but we have to get food, injured Gazan tells BBC

10 hours ago Share Save Emir Nader BBC News, Jerusalem Share Save

BBC Mohammed al-Qedra said he was shot in the hand and leg while trying to get food at a GHF aid distribution centre

"Hunger and the lack of everything makes us go there." "We know that we might get injured or killed at any time, yet we still go there to get a kilo of flour." Mohammed al-Qedra, 33, is one of the many patients brought to the field hospital run by British charity UK-Med in southern Gaza who sought food but found only violence. He said he was shot in the hand and leg while trying to get food for his family at a nearby aid distribution centre run by the Israel- and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). "I was pleading for someone to carry me and take me to hospital. A good Samaritan brought me here," he recalled in an interview with a freelance journalist working for the BBC. Mohammed said he was aware of the risk he was taking by trying to reach the GHF site, but that he had no choice. "The famine is bad for me and for everyone." "Today, I'm eating [at] the hospital. Once I get better, I will go back to these centres no matter what. I'm the sole breadwinner for the whole family."

British charity UK-Med operates two field hospitals in Gaza

According to the UN human rights office, more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli military while trying to get food aid over the past two months. It says at least 766 of them have been killed in the vicinity of one of the GHF's four distribution centres, which are operated by US private security contractors and are located inside Israeli military zones. Another 288 people have been reported killed near UN and other aid convoys. Israel has accused Hamas of instigating the chaos near the aid sites. It says its troops have only fired warning shots and that they do not intentionally shoot civilians. The GHF says the UN is using "false" figures from Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry.

British paramedic Sam Sears (2nd left) says the numbers of patients are "huge"

British paramedic Sam Sears said the UK-Med hospital in the coastal al-Mawasi was seeing approximately 2,000 patients a month in its emergency department, many of them injured while seeking aid. "We have patients that have sustained gunshot wounds, shrapnel wounds, have leg amputations, have gunshot wounds to the chest, which have caused punctured lungs, and so on," he added, as he walked through the inpatient ward. Dr Aseel Horabi, a Palestinian medic who has been working at the hospital for almost a year, has herself had to go to the deadly aid sites, calling it a "path to death". "My husband went once [or] twice and then got shot and that was it! If we are to die from hunger, let it be," she said. "I see the injured people who come to the hospital in big numbers. We sometimes receive up to 50 injured a day. During the day, we don't have any time to close our eyes and have some rest, or even drink a cup of tea."

Dr Aseel Horabi says her husband was shot while trying to collect aid

Dr Horabi, who lives in a nearby tent with her family because her home in Rafah was destroyed, said she had not eaten for a day. "I bought a kilogram of potatoes and [it] cost me 120 [shekels] ($36; £27). Prices are not normal. It's hard to secure stuff. You could spend a $100 a day for just one meal!" "Here at the hospital, currently they don't offer any meals. If they have meals, they give in small amounts to the patients," she added. "We have to deal with hungry patients and we, too, are hungry." She said she was dealing with patients who were drained both physically and psychologically. "We have come to a disastrous situation. It's not that we are close to famine, we are living it," she warned. "The world is listening and watching but silent." She added: "We don't have time to think about sadness because we are thinking about what to eat, bread, what to cook tomorrow, and how to get to the hospital."

The UN says hundreds of Palestinians have been killed and thousands wounded while seeking aid over the past two months

On Wednesday, over 100 international aid organisations and human rights groups accused Israel of imposing a "siege" on Gaza, causing mass starvation through restricting goods entering Gaza. When asked to comment, the World Health Organization's executive director Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: "Mass starvation means starvation of a large proportion of a population, and a large proportion of the population of Gaza is starving." "It's man-made. And that's very clear. This is because of the blockade." He added: "[More than 1,000] people have died while trying to feed themselves. If they're not starving, imagine [why they're] risking their lives." Israel imposed a total blockade of aid deliveries to Gaza at the start of March and resumed its military offensive against Hamas two weeks later, collapsing a two-month ceasefire. It said it wanted to put pressure on the armed group to release its remaining Israeli hostages. Although the blockade was partially eased after almost two months, amid warnings of a looming famine from global experts, the shortages of food, medicine and fuel have worsened. The WHO says a quarter of the 2.1 million population is facing famine-like conditions, and that almost 100,000 women and children are suffering from severe acute malnutrition. Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry says at least 45 people have died as a result of malnutrition since Sunday, including two who died over the last 24 hours.

Gaza's healthcare system is on the brink of collapse after 21 months of war

Blood, sweat and tears: Look back at the highs and lows of Hulk Hogan

5 hours ago Share Save Ian Youngs Culture reporter Share Save

Watch: Hulk Hogan, from wrestling icon to Trump campaigner

Hulk Hogan, who has died at the age of 71, was the all-American hero of professional wrestling, with his combination of macho athleticism and larger-than-life showmanship playing a huge part as the sport exploded in popularity in the 1980s.

Getty Images Hulk facing Andre the Giant in 1980

Born Terry Gene Bollea, he started his career in Florida in the 1970s and reputedly gained the "Hulk" nickname after towering over The Incredible Hulk actor Lou Ferrigno on a local TV show. He then became Hogan after joining the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) - whose owner Vince McMahon wanted a fighter with an Irish-sounding name.

Getty Images

Hogan is pictured with parents Peter and Ruth backstage at Madison Square Garden in New York in 1984. His rise to fame went hand-in-hand with the rise of wrestling as a TV spectacle, blending sport with the drama, characters and storylines of show business.

Getty Images

With good guys pitted against bad, he was the quintissential hero and fan favourite.

Getty Images

Hogan put his acting skills to use on screen when he played Thunderlips, Sylvester Stallone's opponent in a charity bout, in 1982 film Rocky III.

Getty Images

He also portrayed Starlight Starbright in Dolly Parton's variety show in 1987, with the country singer appearing as his superfan-turned-wife in a video for her song Headlock On My Heart.

Getty Images

When Wrestlemania V was held at Trump Plaza in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in 1989, Hogan met the event's host - and would go on to endorse Donald as president.

Getty Images

He forged a Hollywood career outside the ring in films including No Holds Barred, Suburban Commando, Mr Nanny (pictured) and Santa with Muscles.

Getty Images

Back in the ring, he faced a new generation of wrestling stars in the 2000s, including Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson in a match-up billed as "Icon vs Icon" at Wrestlemania X8. "I'm in better shape than him," Hogan told Reuters, five months before his 50th birthday - but The Rock emerged victorious.

Getty Images

John Cena felt the force of Hulk Hogan - or at least appeared to - when they presented together at the 2005 Teen Choice Awards.

Getty Images

Hogan kept fighting as his fame continued to ride high even as the years marched on - pictured taking on fellow veteran Ric Flair in 2009.

Getty Images

The storylines may often have been pre-written but the blood was real. In total, Hogan won six WWF/WWE championships, headlined WrestleMania eight times, and was inducted twice into the WWE Hall of Fame. He also enjoyed reality TV success in his own series, Hogan Knows Best, alongside his wife Linda and their two children from 2005-07.

Getty Images

His image took an unscripted knock in 2015 when he was suspended by the WWE for using a racial slur in a leaked video. "Please forgive me," he said in a tearful interview with ABC's Good Morning America. "I'm a nice guy."

Getty Images

Four things we learned about Idaho murderer Bryan Kohberger from unsealed documents

8 hours ago Share Save Ana Faguy BBC News Share Save

Watch: "Living is how I honour them" - Families address Idaho murderer

Hours after Bryan Kohberger was sentenced on Wednesday to four consecutive life sentences for the murders of four US university students, local police released a trove of documents surrounding the case. The new details shed more light into a closely followed case that has captivated Americans and shocked the small student town of Moscow, Idaho. Kohberger pleaded guilty to murdering Kaylee Goncalves, Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle and Madison Mogen in their off-campus home on 13 November 2022. In exchange for that plea, he avoided the death penalty. But no motive on the part of Kohberger is known. He also declined to speak during his sentencing hearing, meaning there is still a great deal of mystery around the case. In addition, a number of other documents relating to the case remain sealed. Warning: this story contains graphic details

Goncalves and Kernodle had gruesome wounds

The unsealed documents give a renewed sense of the brutality of the murders. Kernodle, one of the victims, was stabbed more than 50 times, they say. Police said many of the wounds were "defensive", indicating she likely tried to protect herself from the attack. One of those wounds was a gash on her left hand between her index finger and thumb. This suggested "an intense struggle had occurred," police added. The investigators also said Goncalves' face was "disfigured" from her wounds.

Investigators during Kohberger's sentencing said they found "no connection" between the attacker and his victims

Surviving roommate did not call 911

Two roommates in the house that on the night of the attack were not attacked by Kohberger. One of pair, Dylan Mortensen, told police she heard a scream on the night of the murders that she believed came from Goncalves, the documents said. Ms Mortensen said when she looked outside her room she saw a man in a black outfit leaving the house. She also said she heard someone running from one floor of the house to another. She told police she didn't call 911 after seeing a masked person in the house because "she was intoxicated and didn't want to believe what was going on". When Ms Mortensen told the other surviving roommate, Bethany Funke, about what she saw, Ms Funke reportedly thought it might have been a member of a university fraternity playing a joke on them.

Fellow inmates found Kohberger 'weird'

The newly released documents also reveal that former fellow prison inmates of Kohberger found him to be "weird". One inmate said he had unusual habits, including that he washed his hands "dozens of times each day" and spent "45 minutes to an hour in the shower". He was also said to have stayed awake most nights. "Kohberger would be awake almost all night and would only take a nap during the day," police said, noting he would video chat with his mother "for hours each day".

Kohberger was seen with injuries after murders

Council votes to urge government to shut asylum hotel

3 hours ago Share Save Danny Fullbrook BBC News, Essex Peter Walker BBC News, Essex Reporting from Epping Share Save

PA Protesters gathered near The Bell Hotel in Epping while the council met

A council has voted unanimously to urge the government to close a hotel housing asylum seekers after a series of public demonstrations. The total number of people arrested after unrest outside the Bell Hotel in Epping has risen to 17 - in the wake of several protests since 13 July. At a packed and often heated public meeting on Thursday, the Conservative leader of Epping Forest District Council, Chris Whitbread, said: "I am concerned that our residents' peaceful protests are being infiltrated on the extremes of politics." A large group of people gathered outside the council offices during the meeting - and a peaceful protest was taking place at the Bell Hotel, police said.

PA There was a large police presence in Epping on Thursday evening

Whitbread told the meeting: "I'm worried that Epping will become a focus and a battleground for the agendas of those extremist groups and they will continue to stoke tensions as part of their wider campaigns."

During the meeting, protesters wearing England flags and union jacks draped over their backs stood behind fencing erected outside the hotel. Earlier in the day the force warned that people who wore face coverings would be asked to remove them and those who refused would be arrested. Essex Police later confirmed one person was arrested for wearing a face covering at the hotel, but the protest had been peaceful. This was the 17th arrest in total. Ch Supt Simon Anslow said: "I want to thank those who are attending today and protesting peacefully. "We won't tolerate anyone thinking they can come and cause trouble or breach the orders we've put in place to keep people safe. My message is clear – we will deal with you."

Pete Walker/BBC The council voted unanimously to pass a motion urging the government to close the Bell Hotel

Action has been staged at the hotel since a man living there was charged with sexual assault, harassment and inciting a girl to engage in sexual activity. Hadush Kebatu, 41, from Ethiopia, has denied the offences and remains on remand in custody. Whitbread added: "The majority of Epping residents are peaceful while concerned that lasting harm is being done to our community. "Since it was first occupied during the pandemic this council has consistently maintained this hotel is the wrong location. "It is occupied often by vulnerable people and there are not the facilities here to support them."

PA Media The number of people arrested in connection with unrest at the Epping hotel rose from 10 on Wednesday to 17 on Thursday

During the meeting, Conservative councillor Holly Whitbread spoke critically of councillors who had encouraged or taken part in protests. While supporting the motion, she said: "I would never knowingly stand next to neo-Nazis, which is what a member in this chamber did on Sunday. "My grandad fought in a war against these people. I think quite frankly anyone who stands side by side with them should hang their head in shame." Fellow Conservative councillor Shane Yerrell urged the council not to make assumptions about protesters. "It is not fair for anyone turning up at the protest to be branded a racist or a Nazi," he said. He closed his submission by reading a statement from the father of the alleged victim of sexual assault, which received a standing ovation from the chamber and the public gallery.

Nadira Tudor/BBC Protesters gathered near to the hotel on Thursday evening

While supporting the motion, Jaymey McIvor, for Reform UK, said it was a "great shame" more councillors had not visited the protests. He said: "The people of Epping are worried, they're scared. And what they want in that scenario is to be listened to." McIvor went on to repeat claims, refuted by Essex Police, that "far left thuggery were escorted to the Bell Hotel" - to which several other members shouted responses including "fake news" and "misinformation". The rest of McIvor's statement condemned violence and called for the closure of the hotel, as he returned to his seat he was greeted with a standing ovation from people in the public gallery. Liberal Democrat councillor Janet Whitehouse, who is Epping Town mayor, provided some support and sympathy with asylum seekers, saying: "We don't know the situation of the people placed there. "It's very sad that the picture of Epping being seen nationally and internationally is one of violence."

PA Several police officers were outside the council offices while the meeting was on

Of the 17 arrested, six people have been charged with offences including violent disorder, criminal damage and refusing to remove a face covering. A dispersal order was imposed until 08:00 BST on Friday in response to further planned protests. It gave officers extra powers to direct people to leave the area or face arrest.

Nadira Tudor/BBC A dispersal order was in place on Thursday into Friday morning

Reaction from Epping residents has been divided, with some feeling the protests are justified while others told the BBC they felt uncomfortable. A 53-year-old man called Jason, who declined to share his surname, said the protests had been "a long time coming". He continued: "I don't think the violence is justified. I don't think that the police help the situation by going in mob handed but they've got to do their job. "People are angry, so they're going to react. I think the people here are justified in being angry."

Supermarket worker Tilly Nelson argued that social media had fuelled some of the protesting, helped spread misinformation and turned the protests into an event. She said: "It's like a social gathering to come together to put their mask on and have a go at the police." The 20-year-old said she had only positive interactions with some of the men who live at the hotel, who she describes as "the politest people". She shared concerns the "narrative has completely changed".

Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.

King meets Modi after India-UK trade deal signed

4 hours ago Share Save Jennifer McKiernan • @_JennyMcKiernan Political reporter, BBC News Share Save

PA Media

King Charles has held talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Sandringham, after a free trade deal was signed between the UK and India. UK cars and whisky will be cheaper to export to India and Indian textiles and jewellery cheaper to export to the UK under the multi-billion pound export boost. The deal took three years to reach and also commits to a new India-UK plan to tackle illegal migration. Modi was hosted by the King at his private estate in Norfolk after meeting Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at Chequers, where the agreement was formally signed.

Opponents had warned the deal could undercut British workers due to extended social security terms, but Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said this was "completely wrong". He added that Indian workers on temporary secondment to the UK would get the same deal already offered to many other countries. During his visit to Sandringham, Modi gifted Charles a tree to be planted in autumn. Last year, the Indian prime minister had launched an environmental initiative which encourages people to plant a tree in tribute to their mothers.

'Landmark moment': Modi and Starmer sign India UK trade deal

Sir Keir said the agreement was "the biggest and most economically significant" trade deal Britain had made since Brexit. "This deal is now signed, sealed, delivered," he said. "The UK has been negotiating a deal like this for many years, but it is this government that got it done, and with it, we're sending a very powerful message that Britain is open for business, and that is already generating huge confidence." The deal will create more than 2,200 British jobs across the country, he said, as Indian firms expand their operations in the UK and British companies secure new business opportunities in India. Sir Keir also said a trade deal was "not the extent or the limit of our collaboration with India" a country with which the UK has "unique bonds of history, of family and of culture, and we want to strengthen our relationship further". Modi hailed what he called "a blueprint for our shared prosperity". "On the one hand, Indian textiles, footwear, gems and jewellery, seafood, engineering goods will get better market access in the UK... "On the other hand, people and industries in India will be able to access products made in the UK, such as medical devices and aerospace parts, at affordable and attractive prices."

The UK government said the deal - announced in May after years of negotiations - will boost the British economy by £4.8bn a year. The agreement was approved by the Indian cabinet earlier this week but has not yet been agreed by the UK parliament and is expected to take at least a year to come into effect. The agreement includes lower tariffs on: clothing and shoes

cars

food, including frozen prawns

jewellery and gems The government also emphasised the benefit to economic growth and job creation from UK firms expanding exports to India. UK exports that will see levies fall include: gin and whisky

aerospace, electricals and medical devices

cosmetics

lamb, salmon, chocolates and biscuits

luxury cars The UK already imports £11bn in goods from India but the lower tariffs agreed will make Indian exports cheaper, including for components used in advanced manufacturing. Indian manufacturers are also expected to gain access to the UK market for electric and hybrid vehicles. Average tariffs for UK exports to India will drop from 15% to 3%, making it easier for British companies to sell goods in India. Whisky tariffs for exports to India have been slashed in half, from 150% to 75%, giving the UK an immediate advantage over international competitors in reaching the Indian market, and the tariff will drop to 40% by 2035. The two prime ministers also agreed on closer collaboration around defence, education, climate, technology and innovation. Enhanced intelligence sharing and operational collaboration will also assist in tackling corruption, serious fraud, organised crime, and irregular migration. This includes finalising a new sharing agreement for criminal records, which will assist court proceedings, help maintain accurate watchlists, and enable the enforcement of travel bans. The deal has not given the UK as much access as it would have liked to India's financial and legal services industries, and talks continue on a bilateral investment treaty aimed at protecting British investments in India and vice versa. The two nations also continue to discuss UK plans for a tax on high-carbon industries, which India believes could hit its imports unfairly. The Indian government welcomed an extended exemption on national insurance contributions, calling this "an unprecedented achievement" when the deal was agreed in May. The agreement means staff from Indian companies who are temporarily transferred to the UK, and staff from UK firms who are temporarily working in India, will only pay social security contributions in their home country, rather than in both places. However, the UK government stressed it already has similar reciprocal "double contribution convention" agreements with 17 other countries including the EU, the US and South Korea. Responding to suggestions the deal meant British workers could be undercut by cheaper Indian workers, Reynolds told BBC Breakfast: "I can categorically tell you that is not the case. "There is no tax advantage for hiring an Indian worker over a British worker."

Shooting victim was 'devoted mum to Sara and James'

5 hours ago Share Save Eimear Flanagan BBC News NI Share Save

PSNI Vanessa Whyte's colleagues said she was an "incredibly talented" vet who often spoke about her teenage children

A woman who was fatally shot alongside her two teenage children in County Fermanagh was a "devoted mum" and a "really lovely person", colleagues have said. Vanessa Whyte, who was 45, was killed in a gun attack at a house in Maguiresbridge on Wednesday morning. Her 13-year-old daughter, Sara Rutledge, and her 14-year old son, James Rutledge, also died as a result of the shooting. A man from the same household who sustained gunshot wounds at the scene remains seriously injured in hospital in Belfast.

On Wednesday, police said that a suspected triple murder and attempted suicide was "one line of inquiry" for detectives. Ms Whyte was an experienced veterinary surgeon who was originally from Barefield, County Clare, in the Republic of Ireland. At the time of her death she was employed by Stormont's Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera). But before taking that role, the mother-of-two spent about eight years working at Lakeland Vets in Derrygonnelly, County Fermanagh. "Vanessa was lovely. She was just such an enthusiastic, hard-working colleague," said its practice manager, Julie Wood. "She was a devoted mum to Sara and James. I used to love chatting her about them. "She was always full of what they were doing - they were doing so well in school. "They were so sporty and yeah, she was just devoted to them. It's just heartbreaking" Ms Wood told BBC News NI. Both children attended Enniskillen Royal Grammar School and were members of local Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) teams and Enniskillen Cricket Club.

'Full of life and full of enthusiasm'

Pacemaker The house where the shootings took place on the Drummeer Road in Maguiresbridge was cordoned off by police

Another of Ms Whyte's former colleagues at Lakeland Vets said she had a "great personality" and was "very friendly and down to earth". "Vanessa joined our practice in 2005," said principal vet Innes Redmond. "She was incredibly talented, hard-working, well respected by our local farming community and pet owners." His colleague Ms Wood added: "She just had a great vibe off her - full of life I would have said, and full of enthusiasm. "I just can't believe it [that] she's not here anymore. It's very hard to put into words, to be honest."

Grandmother 'broken hearted,' says parish priest

RTÉ County Clare priest Fr Tom Fitzpatrick said "a cloud of darkness has descended" on his parish

Ms Whyte's family in County Clare have been "shattered" by the murders, according to their local parish priest in Barefield. "It's been a terrible tragedy - a senseless tragedy," Fr Tom Fitzpatrick told Irish broadcaster RTÉ. He explained that Ms Whyte's widowed mother Mary is a Eucharistic minister in his parish and a "very devout woman" who visits Barefield's church almost every day. "When I talked to her this morning, she was broken-hearted," the priest said. He said Mary Whyte had been visiting Knock Catholic shrine in County Mayo on the day of the murders and she was given the news by her son when she returned home. "The shockwaves that have gone through the parish have been palpable and felt by everybody," he said. Fr Fitzpatrick added that, even though the sun was shining in Barefield on Thursday, "a cloud of darkness has descended upon the place here".

'Two little angels'

Local resident Josephine Faulkner laid flowers near the scene of the shootings

Shortly after responding to the shootings at a house on Drummeer Road, the PSNI began a murder investigation. A police cordon was still in place on Thursday and mourners have been leaving flowers and sympathy messages close by. Among them was Maguiresbridge resident Josephine Faulkner, who told BBC News NI the village is in "pure shock" over the killings. "This is so sad for all of the family and neighbours," she said. "She was so young, and the two little angels." The PSNI was alerted to the shootings by a phone call from inside the house on Wednesday and officers and paramedics were confronted with a "harrowing scene". "Everyone needs prayers at this time, including the police and ambulance workers." Ms Faulkner said. "I don't know how the services do it, I pray for them every night."

'Our community is devastated'

A mourner in Maguiresbridge described the murders as "absolutely heartbreaking"

Man jailed for selling fake halal meat to restaurants

6 hours ago Share Save Stephen Fairclough BBC News Share Save

BBC Hamil Miah was the owner of Universal Food Wholesale Limited

Two men have been sentenced for falsely distributing chicken as halal meat to restaurants and takeaways across south Wales. Hamil Miah, 46, of Kilcredaun House, Cardiff, who owned Universal Food Wholesale Limited, was found guilty after a trial earlier this year and sentenced to four years and eight months in prison for fraudulent trading and trading whilst bankrupt. Noaf Rahman, also 46 and from Cardiff, admitted the fraudulent trading offences before the trial started and was given a 24-month suspended sentence. The offences came to light following an investigation which led to 2,840kg of frozen meat being seized from the pair's warehouse in Cardiff.

Prosecutor Alex Greenwood told Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court that over a five-year period, consumers of restaurants and takeaways "were in fact consuming non-halal products as a result of the criminality of these two defendants". An investigation was conducted by Cardiff and the Vale Shared Regulatory Services in January 2019. It found meat was not properly traceable, sell-by dates were altered and the chicken was not properly chilled when it was transported in dirty vans across south and west Wales. The court heard that the takeaways and restaurants believed they were dealing with a number of different companies and all believed they were buying Halal chicken.

AFP Halal meat is food that adheres to Islamic law as defined in the Koran

Some of the chicken had been bought in as halal meat, but correct hygiene procedures had not been followed in the "cutting room" of the warehouse. It was also used to process non-halal meat meaning that none of it could be accurately described as halal. There were long periods of time when the warehouse did not receive halal meat from wholesalers, but continued to supply chicken to restaurants and takeaways who believed it was halal. The prosecution said the names of the the businesses affected would not be read in court because of the "highly sensitive" nature of the offences. Mr Greenwood said that the companies set up by the pair enabled them to hide "behind a corporate veil" which was deliberately created to provide a "confusing trail".

Stonehenge boulder debate settled, scientists say

11 hours ago Share Save Antonia Matthews BBC News Share Save

Getty Images Bluestones are believed to have been among the first stones erected at Stonehenge about 5,000 years ago.

Boulders at Stonehenge were taken to the monument's site by humans, rather than dragged there by glaciers, new scientific research claims. The ancient monument, near Salisbury in south-west England, was built with stones from all parts of Great Britain, including the smaller bluestone megaliths, most of which came from north Pembrokeshire, 140 miles (225km) away. While many archaeologists believe the smaller bluestones from the Preseli Hills were transported by humans, others believe they were transported by glacial ice long before Stonehenge was built. Now, a research team at Aberystwyth University says its work shows there is "no evidence" to support the ice transport theory.

The bluestones are believed to have been among the first erected at the Wiltshire site about 5,000 years ago. The team's work focused on the so-called Newall Boulder, a 22x15x10cm rock excavated at Stonehenge in 1924 orginally from Craig Rhos-y-Felin in Pembrokeshire.

Building on previous work, the researchers presented new data which shows the boulder, now in the collection of the Salisbury Museum, In an article published in the Journal for Archaeological Research, Professor Richard Bevins concludes there is "no evidence for ice extending as far south as Salisbury Plain", where the monument is located. "New evidence allows us to reiterate our earlier interpretation that the boulder is not a glacial erratic but rather is derived from a fragmented monolith at Stonehenge [...] transported from Craig Rhos-y-Felin to Stonehenge by Neolithic people," the article says The team's work challenged a competing theory that the boulder was reduced in size and heavily modified during glacial transport, and was eventually dumped at or relatively close to the Salisbury Plain.

R.E. Bevins/Journal of Archeological Science The Newall Boulder

Americast

Donald Trump’s mid-year review

Six months into his second term, how is the US president doing?

Before this series began, Stokes said the time off after his January operation had allowed him to iron out unintentional eccentricities that had crept into his bowling.

He watched videos of his match-winning spell against South Africa in Cape Town in 2020 for inspiration.

"There's so many similarities to that," said opener Zak Crawley, comparing Stokes at Old Trafford to that day at Newlands when he stood at third slip.

"He was bowling quickly back then. He's got that pace back now and the way he just gets that away movement from the right-hander, that zip, which is as much as anyone in the world really.

"He's a proper wicket-taker and he can make things happen and that's certainly the case when I first came the side back then and he seems to have got that back now, which is a phenomenal effort considering the injuries he's had."

As Crawley says, the flow is back.

Stokes has raced in, no longer looking like a man who hurts with every step.

His front-knee brace is rock solid, allowing hip and side to propel his action to find the kick and bounce from the flattest pitches.

The marathon spells were supposed to be banned but bursts of 9.2 overs and 10 overs in last week's win at Lord's, where not even his mate from Under-13s Joe Root could take the ball from his hand, were followed by another 10 on the spin here either side of lunch.

The result has not only been a flurry of wickets but a collection of crucial ones.

Akash Deep's off stump was uprooted at Lord's to set up the final-day thriller and Jasprit Bumrah bounced out the following day when he and Ravindra Jadeja threatened the improbable.

At Headingley, Stokes dismissed Karun Nair and Shardul Thakur to allow Josh Tongue to mop up the tail. And in Manchester, he saw off his opposite number Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan – the top-scorer in India's innings - and Washington Sundar, whose partnership with Rishabh Pant was pushing India towards the ascendancy.

Despite not making a fifty in any of his six innings, Stokes has fair claim to being their player of the series.

After this, England's captain will have another three-and-a-half months off – planned rather than enforced - before the Ashes in Australia, where his Test journey began.

Stokes is wiser these days.

Where team-mate Ian Bell had to pull him away from a confrontation with Brad Haddin 12 years ago - the Australia wicketkeeper took pleasure in a no-ball denying the all-rounder his first wicket - last week it was Stokes stepping in to separate his bowler Brydon Carse from confronting Ravindra Jadeja.

That level-headedness is what England fans must now cling to. They must hope that, as Joe Root suggested last week, Stokes knows his body best and will not push it beyond its limits again.

Because while the talk about England needing Stokes to fulfil his role as a fourth seamer is valid, it also does him a disservice.

The work has paid off. Stokes is no fourth seamer.

These days he is England's number one.

Britain's Emma Raducanu is through to the quarter-finals of the women's singles at the Washington Open after beating four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka in straight sets.

After previously upsetting Ukrainian seventh seed Marta Kostyuk in round one, the 22-year-old produced a dominant performance to overcome former world number one Osaka 6-4 6-2.

The 2021 US Open women's singles champion will face wildcard Maria Sakkari in the last eight after the Greek player knocked out American second seed Emma Navarro.

Raducanu, who will replace Katie Boulter as British number one when the WTA rankings are updated on Monday, is also through to the semi-finals of the women's doubles.

She and partner Elena Rybakina overcame Giuliana Olmos and Aldila Sutjiadi 7-6 (8-6) 6-4 to set up a last-four meeting with second seeds Shuai Zhang and Taylor Townsend.

However, in the men's singles, Britons Cameron Norrie and Dan Evans were eliminated in the last 16.

British number two Norrie lost to 14th seed Brandon Nakashima 7-6 (7-3) 6-3.

After a tight first set was decided by a tie-break, American Nakashima twice broke Norrie's serve in the second to reach the quarter-finals.

Evans, who won the tournament in 2023, fought back from 5-3 down and saved a match point to force a tie-break in the second set against Corentin Moutet but the Frenchman prevailed in straight sets, winning 6-2 7-6 (7-4).

Ben Stokes' first five-wicket haul in eight years and a dizzying opening partnership gave England much the better of the second day of the fourth Test against India at Old Trafford.

Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett flayed some wayward India bowling at a rate of more than five an over in their stand of 166, taking a huge chunk out of the tourists' 358.

For Crawley, 84 on the ground he made his career-highlight 189 against Australia two years ago was a welcome contribution. Duckett, the premier opener in the world, crunched 94.

Though they fell in the space of two overs, Ollie Pope and Joe Root were able to take England to 225-2, 133 behind.

Stokes claimed three of the six India wickets to fall on Thursday to end with 5-72, while Jofra Archer continued his comeback with 3-73.

England were superb with the ball, though they were partly held up by the bravery of Rishabh Pant.

Pant retired on day one with a suspected broken foot after being struck by Chris Woakes. In scenes of high drama, he hobbled down the stairs to resume his innings on 37 and nudged his way to 54 before Archer spectacularly uprooted his off stump.

Pant is not keeping wicket and India are yet to confirm his injury. It seems likely he will bat in the second innings, when the visitors look set for a battle to stay in the series.