Israel to open Gaza humanitarian corridors as aid drops begin

Israel denied what it called "the false claim of deliberate starvation in the Gaza Strip".

The announcement came amid calls for Israel to let more aid into Gaza and amid warnings of mass starvation following months of limited supply to the territory's two million people.

In a statement on Saturday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it had allowed air drops of humanitarian aid to resume, the first of which consisted of seven pallets of flour, sugar and canned food provided by international organisations.

Israel has said it is prepared to open humanitarian corridors to allow UN convoys into Gaza, following weeks of international pressure and a growing hunger crisis.

The IDF said it had "begun a series of actions aimed at improving the humanitarian response in the Gaza Strip", and was "prepared to implement humanitarian pauses in densely populated areas".

It also stated that it had resumed supplying power to a desalination plant in Gaza, which it said would "serve about 900,000 residents".

Reuters late on Saturday reported Palestinian sources as confirming air drops had resumed in northern Gaza.

Israel cut off all supplies to Gaza from the start of March, and resumed with new restrictions in May.

Along with the US, it backed the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) and allowed it to operate in Gaza.

There have been almost daily reports of Palestinians being killed while seeking aid since the GHF began operations in late May. Witnesses have told the BBC most have been shot by Israeli forces. Israel has said that its troops fire warning shots and has disputed reported death tolls. It accuses Hamas of instigating chaos near the aid points.

The UN, aid groups and some of Israel's allies have blamed the country for a growing food crisis in Gaza, and called for the unrestricted entry and delivery of aid as the Hamas-run health ministry said dozens of people were dying from malnutrition. On Saturday it put the toll from the last few days at 125, including 85 children.

The World Health Organization (WHO) chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, described the crisis as "man-made mass starvation".

The IDF said in its statement that responsibility for food distribution to the population in Gaza "lies with the UN and international aid organisations" and added they must "ensure that the aid does not reach Hamas".

Israel's apparent concessions on Saturday followed its acceptance of a Jordanian and UAE plan, backed by the UK, to air drop aid into Gaza. Aid agencies however said such would do little to mitigate the hunger of Gazans.

The head of the UN's Palestinian refugee agency Unrwa, Philippe Lazzarini, said air drops were "expensive, inefficient, and can even kill starving civilians" if they did not go according to plan.

Lazzarini said his organisation had "the equivalent of 6,000 trucks" in Jordan and Egypt waiting to enter Gaza, and urged Israel "lift the siege, open the gates and guarantee safe movements and dignified access to people in need".

The BBC spoke to several Gazans on Saturday who worried air drops could cause "serious harm".

One man living in the north of the strip told BBC Arabic's Middle East Daily that the process was "unsafe" and "caused numerous tragedies" when similar relief efforts were attempted last year.

"When aid is dropped from the air, it risks landing directly on tents, potentially causing serious harm, including injury or even death," he said.

Meanwhile, Palestinians are battling dehydration along with starvation. One mother told the BBC she was "living with no food or drink, no food, no bread, not even water."

Israel launched a war 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.

More than 59,000 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

Gaza aid site offered a 'women only' day. It didn't stop the killing

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

BBC Mary Sheikh al-Eid’s family arrived at Nasser hospital in Khan Younis after learning she had been killed

The food distribution was announced in advance, like many before it, in a post on social media carrying an illustration of smiling Palestinians receiving boxes of aid. This time, however, the invitation shared by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) was different, featuring illustrations of only women. "Tomorrow at our morning distribution at our location in the Saudi district, only women are welcome to come and receive a food box," the GHF post said. "Men should avoid the site during this distribution." Mary Sheikh al-Eid wanted to feed her seven children. Her husband had been killed earlier in the war and the family had been surviving on lentil soup for three weeks, said Mary's sister Khawla, but the last week had been a struggle. "Her children and mine told us not to go," Khawla told the BBC. "Mary told me she wanted to because it was a day for women and the numbers wouldn't be big."

GHF The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) announced the women-only aid distribution day on social media

GHF's food aid distribution system has been marred by near-daily scenes of chaos and killing since it was implemented in May with Israeli and US support. Huge crowds are forced to walk long distances into Israeli military zones, entering fenced sites that are surrounded by private security contractors and Israeli troops. Palestinian men mostly take on the risk, jostling to secure a box of food for their family. For Gaza's two million people, there are just four GHF distribution sites but typically no more than two open on any given day. On Thursday, the sisters Mary and Khawla set off early for the aid point in the southern Rafah area. By the time they arrived, the scene was already chaos. "There was a huge crowd of women and the place seemed out of control, they couldn't offload and distribute the aid," Khawla said. "They started spraying the women with pepper spray, then they brought stun grenades and started throwing them on the women to force them backwards." The sisters got split up in the mayhem. Khawla's clothes were full of pepper spray and so she called her sister, agreeing to meet at their brother's house. Shortly after she called again, feeling something wasn't right. "This time a stranger picked up, he told me the owner of the phone was shot and was being taken to the Red Cross [field hospital]," said Khawla. "I called again and this time I was told she was shot in the head. I ran like crazy and called again, but this time I was told the owner of this phone had been killed."

Khawla Sheikh al-Eid (R) said her sister was shot after they had become separated at the aid site

Since the GHF aid system was established in late May, the UN says over 1,000 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli military while trying to get aid mostly near GHF distribution sites, as well as near UN and other aid convoys. On Friday, one former US soldier who worked with the GHF said he had witnessed Israeli troops and security contractors firing on crowds. Anthony Aguilar told the BBC he had never seen such a level of "brutality and use of indiscriminate and unnecessary force against a civilian population, an unarmed, starving population". Israel has previously said that its troops have fired "warning shots", and that it was implementing "lessons learned". It accuses Hamas of instigating chaos near the aid points and disputes the number of deaths reported.

Mary Sheikh al-Eid's daughter, Warshazat (R), was comforted at Nasser hospital

Medics at Nasser hospital in Khan Younis said Mary Sheikh al-Eid died from a bullet injury to the neck. She is one of two women known to have been killed on Thursday's "women's day". The BBC also spoke to the family of the second woman who was killed, Khadija Abu Anza. One sister, Samah, who was with her said that they were travelling to a GHF aid site when an Israeli tank and troops arrived. From a distance of just metres, the troops first fired warning shots as they told them to move back, Samah said on Friday. "We started walking back and then she was hit by the bullet," Samah said. "They shot her in the neck and she died immediately." "I tried to carry her and her blood fell on me, a man helped me carry her to Nasser hospital. The aid point was opened right after they shot her and they let people go in." In response to the BBC, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it had "identified suspects who approached them, posing a threat to the troops" and "fired warning shots" early on Thursday, but added that it was unaware of casualties. It said the shots were fired 'hundreds of meters away' from the distribution site, before its opening hours. A spokesperson for the GHF said there were no incidents or fatalities near its site on Thursday. "Overall, the day was very successful, with a lot of mothers and daughters participating," they added.

Reuters

Until May, UN agencies, other international organisations and charities provided most of the aid to Gaza's population at 400 distribution sites throughout the territory. The introduction of the GHF has been criticised by many in the aid community as an attempt to undermine the previous humanitarian system and increase Israeli control over the distribution of food in Gaza, forcing people into dangerous military locations. The UN refuses to cooperate with the GHF system calling it unethical. In recent days, Israel's control over food deliveries to Gaza has been widely condemned by many European governments and the aid groups. Israel says that it introduced the GHF system because Hamas was previously diverting and profiting from aid under the United Nations-led system, though it hasn't provided evidence to show this happening on a systematic basis.

The UN says it has recorded the killing of more than 1,000 Palestinians seeking aid since late May

England will be seeking redemption in Sunday's Euro 2025 final when they take on Spain in a repeat of the World Cup final two years ago.

Sarina Wiegman's side are in their third successive major final after winning Euro 2022 before Spain beat them to become world champions in 2023.

It is the first time Spain's women - who were knocked out in the quarter-finals in 2022 by England - have reached a European Championship final.

England captain Leah Williamson says they are aware of "what it means to the nation" and they will do everything they can to bring home the trophy.

The Lionesses are hoping to become the first team in the history of English football to win a major trophy on foreign soil when they line up in the final in Basel, Switzerland at 17:00 BST.

"The opportunity [on Sunday] and what's on offer is the best thing in football," said Williamson.

"We wanted to be here until the end and have a chance to win the trophy. We don't carry the weight of it - but we're aware of it because it means the same to us.

"We recognise the opportunity and we'll do everything we can to do it."

Bend It Like Beckham sequel in the works, director tells BBC

4 hours ago Share Save Emma Vardy, in Basel, & Emily Atkinson BBC News Share Save

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Bend It Like Beckham is set for a sequel more than 20 years after its release, its director has confirmed to the BBC. Gurinder Chadha teased the revival in Basel on Saturday, where England's Lionesses are preparing to face world champions Spain in Sunday's Euro 2025 final. The 2002 film, which starred Keira Knightley and Parminder Nagra, is credited with inspiring a generation of women to take up football. "We've been part of changing the game for women, so it felt like this was a good time for me to go back and investigate the characters," she said. Chadha has earmarked 2027 for the next instalment, to mark both the film's 25th anniversary and the Fifa Women's World Cup in Brazil.

People are still "a bit iffy" about women's football, Bend It Like Beckham director says

She said she was still unsure what form the sequel might take, but suggested it could either be another film or a television series. The director told the BBC she had been asked almost twice a week since the original film was released to come up with a sequel. "A lot has changed since the original movie, but I think that people still don't think that women should play football," she said. "There are people who still don't take it seriously, although the Lionesses are riding high." "I've left it a while, but I thought: look at the Euros, look at the Lionesses." Chadha said she hoped not only to reunite the original cast, but that members of the current England squad would be "queuing up" to take on cameo roles.

Pubs and venues to be protected from noise complaints

While the government said the changes would bring "vibrancy" to struggling town centres, the Conservatives said Labour's tax policy was responsible for "crippling the hospitality industry" in the first place.

The government hopes the changes will also make it easier to open new bars in disused shops, as well as promote outdoor drinking, al fresco dining and live performances.

Under the reforms, developers seeking to build near venues would be told to soundproof buildings, while permissions would be fast-tracked for new businesses or expanded outdoor areas in designated locations.

Pubs and music venues will be given protection from noise complaints under planned changes to licensing rules.

It comes after several well-loved pubs and music venue were left facing possible closure over noise complaints, leading to campaigns in some cities.

Last December, Moth Club, an independent music and comedy venue in east London, launched a petition challenging plans to build a new block of flats next door, over fears it could be shut down.

"Without being able to make noise, we can't make money," its manager told the BBC at the time.

In Manchester, venue Night and Day Cafe was subject to a three-year legal battle with the council over noise complaints lodged by a neighbour in 2021.

It was eventually permitted to continue operating as a nightclub with noise-limiting restrictions in place.

The government also hopes a planned reform of nationwide licensing regulations will help to reverse the decline in the pub industry by making it easier to open new ones.

The British Beer and Pub Association says the number of pubs in the UK has steadily decreased every year since 2000, and estimated that 378 pubs would close in 2025 across England, Wales and Scotland, amounting to more than 5,600 direct job losses.

On Tuesday, pub chain Brewdog was the latest to announce cuts, with 10 bars across the UK closing due to "rising costs, increased regulation, and economic pressures".

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said "pubs and bars are at the heart of British life" as the government launched a consultation on the changes.

She added: "For too long, they've been stifled by clunky, outdated rules. We're binning them, to protect pavement pints, al fresco dining and street parties - not just for the summer, but all year round."

Andrew Griffith, the shadow business secretary, said: "Though any cutting of red tape for hospitality businesses is welcome, this is pure hypocrisy and inconsistency from Labour."

He accused Labour of "crippling the hospitality industry by doubling business rates, imposing a Jobs Tax and a full-on strangulation of employment red tape".

Ozzy Osbourne: From Prince of Darkness to reality TV's favourite dad

18 minutes ago Share Save Caitlin Wilson BBC News Share Save

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Fans around the world have been mourning Black Sabbath lead singer Ozzy Osbourne as a musical legend - but for many, the 76-year-old's passing also marked the loss of an early 2000s reality television icon. Decades after his rise to heavy metal fame, the self-styled Prince of Darkness, his wife Sharon and their two then-teenage children Kelly and Jack starred in MTV's The Osbournes, pioneering what the show's producers describe as a "reality sitcom". Before the Kardashians and the Real Housewives, there was Ozzy - battling with the TV remote in his Beverly Hills mansion. Somehow, the blend of ultra-mundane life and spectacular fame worked - the show went on to win an Emmy and run for four seasons, from 2002 to 2005. "The Osbournes kicked off a wave of celebrity-driven reality TV," Andy Dehnart, president of the Television Critics Association and editor of the Reality Blurred website, told the BBC. According to The Osbournes executive producer Greg Johnston, the creators didn't know exactly what they were aiming for when they began filming. When The Osbournes premiered, most reality TV was based on competition formats populated with casts of everyday people, such as Survivor, the Bachelor and the Real World. And though a programme centred on celebrities could have focused on the excesses of a rock-star's life, The Osbournes instead followed a family as they loaded the dishwasher or exercised in the home gym. "It was going to be a bit of an experiment," Mr Johnston told the BBC.

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Many of the producers who worked on The Osbournes had come from the sitcom world, and transferred that experience to portraying this real-life family. "When you watch the intro credit sequence, it feels very like The Partridge Family or Father Knows Best," said Dr Brandy Monk-Payton, an assistant communication and media professor and television researcher at Fordham University. Ozzy played the part of the "loveable buffoon", Dr Monk-Payton said, with The Osbournes segment producer Henriette Mantel describing the middle-age rocker as "Ward Cleaver from Leave It To Beaver on acid". The approximately 20-minute episodes captured silly antics, like the time Sharon threw a baked ham over the fence to retaliate against a loud neighbour; their rock-and-roll lifestyle, like Ozzy rehearsing for a world tour; as well as slapstick family frustrations, like Ozzy's repeated struggles with tripping over the dog bowl. "It was a normal family, but it was wild and it was just crazy," Ms Mantel told the BBC. And what came through on screen is that "they truly loved each other". In that sitcom set-up, Kelly and Jack fulfilled the roles of a squabbling brother and sister, executive producer Jeff Stilson told the BBC, while Sharon was "the mom trying to hold it all together". In many ways a typical dad, Ms Mantel recalled that "Ozzy just wanted to... lay on the sofa and watch the History Channel". That tension between the familiar and the unfamiliar is exactly what draws in reality TV viewers, according to Dr Danielle Lindemann, a professor of sociology at Lehigh University and the author of True Story: What Reality TV Says About Us. "We want to see the outrageous, the zany, but at the same time, we don't want it to be so removed from our lives that we can't relate at all," she said. According to MTV, The Osbournes was its highest-rated show when it aired. The second season's premier in late 2002 drew 6.6 million viewers – up 84% from the first season, Billboard reported at the time, citing the network. The success of this new format paved the way for shows like Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica, which premiered in 2003, Keeping Up With the Kardashians in 2007 and Bravo's many Real Housewives properties.

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The real in reality

In today's TV landscape, "reality" is often presented with a wink. But on the set of The Osbournes, the idea of capturing regular life was so new, it didn't yet occur to producers how far they could push the narrative. Producers say the stories they captured were real, at least in the beginning, and usually based on about three weeks of footage per episode. These days, reality TV usually takes just four days to shoot a single episode. According to Mr Johnston and Mr Stilson, filming went on constantly each day until the family went to sleep. "They forgot the cameras were there," Mr Stilson said. TV critic Mr Dehnart cautioned: "There's still obviously layers of production and construction there that we're not seeing." That hands-off approach changed, as more viewers tuned in. For example, Kelly and Jack later revealed that one plot line involving a dog therapist was set up for the show. According to editor and producer Charles Kramer, working on The Osbournes meant creating a new reality TV genre in real time. Tropes such as the editing of raw footage to create a narrative and the use of the "Frankenquote" - editing a character's lines from one scene into another - were all honed on The Osbournes, he told the BBC. "Now everybody uses those terms," he said. Mr Kramer took what he learned on The Osbournes to go on to work on another celebrity-driven programme, The Girls Next Door, though other creators such as Mr Stilson said they no longer wanted to be a part of what the reality-TV universe was becoming. As Dr Lindemann points out, it can feel normal for fans to access celebrities' personal worlds today, often through social media. But in the early 2000s, the inner machinations of celebrity life portrayed in The Osbournes, such as appearances on the Tonight Show and Sharon's management of the business-side of Ozzy's music, were much more mysterious to the average person.

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"Being able to see someone who's a superstar... in this somewhat relatable context was new and refreshing, because it's not like people were following Ozzy on Twitter," Dr Lindemann said. That kind of real-life access took its toll, as Ozzy told Metal Hammer in 2022 that he felt like a "laboratory rat" after spending three years with cameras following him around, though he said he was "not ashamed" of the programme. "It got to the point where I was falling apart emotionally," he told the magazine, "because you can't... relax". Spending their teenage years in the spotlight also wasn't without difficulty for Jack and Kelly, who wrote about her struggles with drug use in books released in 2009 and 2017. "I don't think either one of us was really prepared for" the fame, Kelly told ABC's Good Morning America in 2017. "That's a difficult situation to put teenagers in. But they handled it as well as anybody could," Mr Stilson said.

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Lucky shirts and match day rituals: England fans dream of Euros glory

England fans have been asked to wear as much white - one of the national colours - as possible for Sunday's match

"We're in another final, am I dreaming?"

This, one England fan tells me, will probably be his first thought when he wakes up on Sunday – the day England take on Spain in a bid to retain their title as Euro 2025 champions.

Alex, from London, is one of many enthusiastic supporters of the Lionesses that will be at the match, which is taking place at St Jakob-Park in the Swiss city of Basel.

Just one match stands in the way of England lifting the trophy and Alex is one of many fans planning how to spend the day so he can handle his nerves.

Echoing the team's focus on wellness he says "I'll try and go for a walk before the game, because it's a really nice, calming atmosphere when it's just myself".

His is the voice of experience - the first final of a major women's tournament that Alex attended was the World Cup final in 2011, which was held in Germany.

"Women's football is a really amazing environment. You can talk to so many people," he says, adding that he used to be "quite insecure" but has been able to gain confidence in the inclusive atmospheres of tournaments like this one.

Like any seasoned football fan, Alex has, over the years, developed a few superstitions that will be in play on Sunday ahead of the match.

These involve getting up at 09:00 on the dot and drinking from the same coffee mug.

"I find mugs give me good luck," he laughs before adding that he tries to stay off social media because it can make him anxious.

Nervous about the Euro 2025 final? Here's your survival guide for the big match

27 minutes ago Share Save Kathryn Armstrong BBC News in Geneva Share Save

PA

If you're a fan of the England women's football team, chances are you've been on a bit of an emotional rollercoaster. An agonisingly close quarter-final against Sweden ended with a tense penalty shootout, while an equalising semi-final goal from Michelle Agyemang only happened in the 96th minute. "I feel like I'm going to have to go to the doctors when I get home," says Jenny, from Kent, who watched it all from the stands. "They are putting us through the ringer." "I basically bit all my nails off," says Sophie, who is in Switzerland with her sister, Charlotte. Meanwhile, Nicola, from Basingstoke, describes feeling shaky. "I had to take some time to decompress." Even if you weren't watching the action with thousands of other jittery fans in the stadium, chances are you've felt some of the same effects. But whether you're in the stands or on the sofa, why do football matches produce such intense physical reactions?

'Stress reponse'

The answer lies in our hormones says Dr Martha Newson, Associate Professor in Psychology at the University of Greenwich. Testosterone, she explains, goes up on match days, as does adrenaline and the stress hormone cortisol. The most loyal fans have the biggest stress response, she says, and that's the same for men and women. During peaks in the game - like a nail-biting penalty shootout - the adrenaline rush, or fight or flight response, prepares the body for action, says Dr David Crepaz-Keay, Head of Research and Applied Learning at the Mental Health Foundation. While it can feel scary, there's nothing to be alarmed about - it's a sign that you care. "You are just completely there with them and it's like you're walking up to the spot, ready to take that penalty… your senses are just going into overdrive." The heart rate rises as it rushes to send more oxygen around the body. And if you feel buzzy, he says, that's because the effects can act as stimulant. They can last for hours, affecting our sleep as we come down from our excitement and can even influence our behaviour the following day. Don't be surprised if you feel like eating more after the match or getting out the credit card. "Fans consume more calories after a loss," says Dr Newson, explaining that they're responding to a psychological need to replenish their reserves after a time of hardship. On the flip side, fans might feel an urge to splurge after a win. "We can see the evolutionary mind working like, okay, I've won so I can spend money, I can accumulate resources," she says. All this for a sport that's supposed to be about fun and bonding. So what can fans do to manage these very real side-effects?

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Dr Joseph Barker, a clinical psychologist for the NHS and Lecturer in Clinical Psychology at Norwich Medical School, advises getting a good rest the night before. Having a clear match day plan of where you are going, what you are doing and what you are likely to do afterwards will also help alleviate stress. "As we've got no control during the game, if we can find things to control before and after the game that can build our emotional resilience to cope." It's important to eat well, he says, and as much as it might be tempting, he advises against drinking alcohol, because it gives us less ability to regulate our emotions. If things get too tense, he says fans can always take a break and rejoin the match a bit later. Dr Crepaz-Keay says movement is key to help manage that adrenaline surge - when your body is geared up for action, there's nowhere for that energy to go if you stay on the sofa. But just remember to keep anything breakable out of arm and leg reach.

Be part of something bigger

Most of all, the experts advise trying to reframe the nerves and jitters as an enjoyable experience. "In England particularly, we are not necessarily brought up to express our emotions. And sport gives us the excuse to do that. Sport gives us licence to shout, to scream, to dance, to cheer, to sing," says Dr Crepaz-Keay. "Even if we don't win, you're still part of something bigger... that's something that we can all take pride and joy in." It's a view shared by Jenny and Charlotte in Geneva. Charlotte advises embracing the stress and having patience as "anything can happen in the last second". "You're going to get overwhelmed and your heart rate will go up… but this is really exciting."

Where can I watch Sunday's Euro 2025 final?

12 hours ago Share Save Share Save

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After a nail-biting quarter-final and semi-final, defending champions England will battle it out against Spain on Sunday to see who will lift the trophy. Even if you can't get to Switzerland, there are lots of ways you can soak up the match-day atmosphere in your local area or even from the comfort of your own home. Here's our guide to watching the game.

Where to watch in England?

Kick-off is at 17:00 BST on Sunday 27 July. Check out big-screen venues across the country, like Corner Corner in Canada Water, London, BoxPark in Croydon, Wembley, Shoreditch, Camden and Liverpool, TOCA Social in Birmingham's Bullring, London's O2 and White City as well as Manchester's Freight Island and AO Arena. You may want to check your local BBC Weather forecast to see if you should bring a raincoat or pack your suncream. Football clubs, pubs, bars, beer halls, yards and other local venues will be showing the match, so check social media to find out what might be going on in your area. Pubs are allowed to stay open an extra two hours on the day of the final - meaning they can keep serving until 01:00 on Monday. For something family-friendly, check out things like the National Football Museum's free watch party in Manchester, which has crafts and activities for children on the night. Of course, there's always the option to grab some flags and snacks and throw your own party at home.

Fans watching at Boxpark Wembley went wild for Michelle Agyemang's equaliser during the semi-final

How can I watch the match at home?

The final will be shown on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and ITV on Sunday 27 July, with the BBC coverage starting at 15:40. Gabby Logan will be presenting live from Basel with former Lionesses Alex Scott and Jill Scott pitchside. On radio, you can listen to BBC Radio 5 Live with Katie Smith from 16:00. Follow every minute on the BBC Sport website and app, with live match reports, key moment clips, highlights, interviews and analysis. And don't forget podcasts on BBC Sounds to help get your football fix, including Football Daily and Feast of Football.

Can I still get match tickets?

EE says latest outage fixed after 'technical fault'

EE says it carried out further work overnight to fix a technical problem which left some customers unable to make or receive calls.

In the last 24 hours, hundreds of people who use the mobile provider have told the BBC they have experienced service issues.

It comes after thousands were left unable to make or receive calls earlier this week due to a technical issue which impacted both mobile and landline phones.

On Saturday, a spokesperson for BT - which owns EE - said the network was "running as normal" after maintenance was carried out last night, but that it was "monitoring" the situation.

Insurance giant says most US customer data stolen in cyber-attack

Hackers have stolen personal information of a majority of insurance firm Allianz Life's 1.4 million customers in North America, its parent company said.

"On July 16, 2025, a malicious threat actor gained access to a third-party, cloud-based CRM system used by Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America (Allianz Life)," Allianz said in a statement to the BBC.

The German parent company added that the hackers were "able to obtain personally identifiable data related to the majority of Allianz Life's customers, financial professionals, and select Allianz Life employees, using a social engineering technique".

The data breach was only related to Allianz Life, according to the company.

Rugby league great Ray French, who commentated on the sport for the BBC over four decades, has died at the age of 85.

French, a dual code rugby international as a player, commentated on every Challenge Cup final for BBC TV from 1982 to 2008.

He earned four rugby union caps as a second-row forward for England in 1961, before switching to league, playing four times for Great Britain in 1968.

At club level, he played league for St Helens from 1961 to 1967, making more than 200 appearances, before joining Widnes.

The Rugby Football League, the English game's governing body, said: "The Rugby Football League sends condolences to the family, former team-mates, media colleagues and many friends of Ray French.

"Ray made an immense and unique contribution to the sport of rugby league."

French, who had a long career as an English teacher as well as being a commentator, started out as a rugby union player for St Helens RUFC.

After switching codes in 1961, he was quickly named captain of the town's rugby league side, where he won the Championship and Challenge Cup.

He was part of the Great Britain squad who travelled to Australia and New Zealand in 1968, for a tour that included that year's World Cup.

After retiring from playing, he started a job at BBC Radio Merseyside in 1975 and later became a BBC TV summariser in 1979. In 1981, he replaced Eddie Waring as the BBC's lead rugby league commentator.

French went on to become one of the most recognisable voices in rugby league before retiring from commentary in 2019.

"Ray French was a true giant in the sport of Rugby League," said Philip Bernie, head of BBC Sport Events.

"Following his remarkable playing career - an international in both rugby codes - he became the voice of the sport. For nearly 40 years, his distinctive, warm, energetic and enthusiastic commentary magnificently embellished the BBC's coverage of the game.

"He was such a likeable and engaging broadcaster, and, for those lucky enough to know him, a really wonderful, loveable man. We are so saddened by the news today and send all our thoughts and sympathies to Ray's family."

French was given a place on the Rugby Football League's Roll of Honour in 2008.

In the 2011 New Year Honours, French was made an MBE for his services to rugby league.

St Helens said the club were "deeply saddened" by his death, and added: "His legacy as a Saint will see him long remembered by both our club and town, but his voice will be forever connected to countless memories for supporters of so many clubs across the country.

"Succeeding the great Eddie Waring as the BBC's rugby league commentator, French was the voice of almost 30 Challenge Cup finals, as well as thousands more matches for BBC Radio."

Hundreds of protesters gather at asylum hotel

6 hours ago Share Save Shivani Chaudhari BBC News, Norfolk Share Save

Alex Dunlop/BBC Hundreds of people attended the protests against the use of a hotel to house asylum seekers

Hundreds of people gathered to protest outside a hotel housing asylum seekers. Many arrived at the hotel in the Norwich area with St George's flags, placards and banners, some reading "Stop the invasion". BBC journalist Alex Dunlop estimated there were about 350 to 400 anti-immigration protesters and roughly 150 counter-protesters at the scene. He said it was largely peaceful but noisy, with a "strong police presence".

Alex Dunlop/BBC About 60 police officers were at the scene of the protest

Richard Knights/BBC

About 60 police officers attended while protesters, some standing in the road, listened and cheered a number of speeches delivered from the back of a parked lorry. Anti-immigration demonstrators were heard chanting "We want our country back" and "Stop the invasion". Protesters began gathering before the event started at 14:00 BST. Speeches ended at about 15:30 and the crowd began to disperse. Norfolk Police said the event concluded peacefully with no arrests made. Glen Saffer, one of the organisers, said: "It's what we wanted - a peaceful demonstration. "We are here as a community to shut this place down." He said he was not against all immigration, and that the protesters were not racist. "I agree we 100% want legal people in this country. If they wanted to be doctors and nurses, we welcome them in," he said. Protester Josh Ampleford, 21, who lives in the area, said the turnout had been "very good" and "impressive." Cindy Wilson, who also lives nearby, said she regularly attended protests in London and came "to save our children." Pro-immigration counter-protesters approached by the BBC declined to speak.

Richard Knights/BBC Speakers addressed the crowd from a lorry parked at the scene

Richard Knights/BBC An estimated 350-400 protesters gathered outside the hotel

A police spokesman said that evidence gatherers were deployed as part of the policing operation and that all footage would be reviewed. Supt Wes Hornigold said: "We would like to thank the public for their understanding today, particularly during some short periods of disruption whilst groups were exercising their rights to peaceful protest. "We had a number of officers on duty to ensure the safety of everyone involved and to facilitate the protest."

Richard Knights/BBC Police officers stood in front of the protesters, some of whom spilled into the road

On Monday, about 150 protesters gathered outside a hotel in Diss, Norfolk, housing asylum-seeking families in protest against Home Office plans to house single adult males there instead. Two men were arrested on Saturday morning on suspicion of affray in relation to a protest at the Diss hotel and an earlier one at the hotel in the Norwich area. Rival groups have also clashed outside The Bell Hotel in Epping, Essex, during several demonstrations since 13 July. Ten people have been charged with offences in relation to disorder there.

A Home Office spokesperson said: "Since taking office, we have taken immediate action to fix the asylum system and have started closing down hotels and removing more than 35,000 people with no right to be here. "While the public have a right to protest against the current situation, we will never tolerate unlawful or violent behaviour. "Working closely with the police, we have thorough and well-tested contingency plans in place to deal with any public disorder, which have been strengthened since last year's shameful scenes."

Alex Dunlop/BBC About 150 counter-protesters attended in support of asylum seekers

Richard Knights/BBC Protesters began to disperse at about 15:30 BST

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Goalscoring is Gyokeres' most obvious attribute, and there is no doubt he has been a goal machine in Portugal.

His 39 goals ranked as the most in Europe's top 10 leagues last season, and he scored at least eight more than any other player.

It put him in an elite group - the only other players in the past 20 years to have scored at least 39 goals in a season in one of Europe's top 10 leagues are Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Robert Lewandowski and Luis Suarez.

Twelve of Gyokeres' Primeira Liga goals were penalties, but his total of 27 non-penalty goals was still three more than anyone else. He averaged 4.5 shots per 90 minutes, while Jesus had 3.0 and Havertz 2.6 in the Premier League.

He also had a mammoth 327 touches in the opposition box and appeared to adopt a 'shoot on sight' policy with 139 efforts on goal - effectively one every 20 minutes.

His accuracy was even more impressive.

The Swede's shot-conversion rate (excluding blocked shots and penalties) of 27.3% was better than Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah (21.1%), Manchester City striker Erling Haaland (21.6%) and Newcastle centre-forward Isak (26.4%).

Indeed only Nottingham Forest's Chris Wood had a better conversion rate in the Premier League.

Gyokeres also scored nine goals in six games for his country - including four in one match against Azerbaijan - in the 2024-25 Nations League, finishing the tournament as top scorer.

The question is whether Gyokeres can be quite so prolific in a stronger league. He has now turned 27 and is still to play a single game in Europe's top five divisions.

Data analysts Opta rank the Portuguese Primeira Liga as eighth in the world's strongest leagues,, external behind the usual big five (England, Italy, Spain, Germany and France), the Belgian Jupiler Pro League and even the English Championship, where Gyokeres impressed before moving to Lisbon.

Sceptics will point to Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez struggling for consistency in England after scoring 26 goals in 28 Primeira Liga games for Benfica during the 2021-22 season.

But Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes, Manchester City's Ruben Dias and Bournemouth's Evanilson have all thrived in the Premier League after moves from Portugal.

And Gyokeres brings more than goals.

The 6ft 2in striker is known for his intelligent movement and intense work-rate, and his blend of physical strength, technical skill and tactical awareness have earned him admiring glances.

He is a creator as well as a goalscorer, with a lot of his chance creation coming from his love of running with the ball.

After failing to make the grade at Brighton, Gyokeres joined Coventry for a small fee in July 2021 after an unspectacular return of three goals in 19 Championship appearances during a loan spell with the Sky Blues.

Two years later he went to Sporting for £20.5m after scoring 38 times in 91 league games for Coventry across the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons.

In Portugal he became a scoring machine. As he returns to England, only time will tell if he can replicate that success against elite-level defences.

England will "wait and see" whether captain Ben Stokes is fit enough to bowl when they push for victory over India on the final day of the fourth Test at Old Trafford, says assistant coach Marcus Trescothick.

After taking five wickets in the first innings, Stokes did not bowl as India dug in to reach 174-2 at the end of day four, still 137 runs behind.

Trescothick said that was because Stokes, who has been dogged by injury issues in recent years and had to retire hurt while batting with cramp on day three, was "a bit stiff and sore".

"We are still hopeful he will be better tomorrow and come back out, be a bit looser and ready to go again," Trescothick told BBC Test Match Special.

"We will assess it overnight and see what happens."