Netanyahu divides Israelis and allies with plan to occupy Gaza

Watch: MSF doctor Caroline Willeman speaks about worsening situation in Gaza

He did not give details about possible arrangements or which countries could be involved; still, this was a rare indication of what he might be envisioning for a post-war Gaza.

"We don't want to govern it," Netanyahu said, in English. "We don't want to be there as a governing body. We want to hand it over to Arab forces."

But he suggested that Israel did not want to keep the territory.

As the security cabinet prepared to meet to discuss the proposals, Netanyahu gave an interview to Fox News in which he said Israel intended to take full control of Gaza to assure Israel's security, remove Hamas from power and enable the transfer of civilian governance to another party, without giving details.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plans for a new military push in the Gaza Strip have raised warnings from the army leadership, opposition from hostage families and concerns that more Palestinians will be killed. They also risk isolating isolating his country even further.

A Palestinian woman looks at destroyed tents for displaced people in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, following an Israeli strike

For now, however, Netanyahu wants an expanded offensive that is likely to see the Israeli military, which says it controls about 75% of the territory, operating in Gaza City and the camps in the central part of the strip, where around one million Palestinians live and the hostages are thought to be held.

The potential operations, which could take months, would mean the mass displacement of people with the potential to worsen the humanitarian crisis there.

This could spark fresh condemnation from countries that have expressed anger over the situation in Gaza and urged Israel to end the nearly two-year war, which started as a response to the Hamas attacks on Israel on 7 October 2023.

In a sign of major divergencies between the political and military leadership, the Israeli army's chief of staff, Lt Gen Eyal Zamir, told Netanyahu that the full occupation of Gaza was "tantamount to walking into a trap", according to reports in Israeli media.

Zamir, the reports said, warned that the offensive would endanger the lives of the 20 hostages who are believed to be alive and soldiers, who are exhausted.

Many of the hostage families share those concerns, and say the only way to guarantee the release of the hostages is through a negotiated deal with Hamas.

According to the Maariv newspaper, the "prevailing assessment is that most and possibly all of the living hostages [will] die" during an expanded offensive, either killed by their captors or accidentally by Israeli soldiers.

Speculation over an expanded offensive have also exposed divergences between some of Israel's international allies.

The British ambassador to Israel, Simon Walter, said the full occupation of Gaza would be a "huge mistake", while also pushing back against US and Israeli allegations that a possible recognition of Palestinian statehood by the UK was a reward for Hamas.

Meanwhile, the US envoy, Mike Huckabee, a staunch supporter of Israel, said it was up to the Israeli government to decide whether to fully take over the Strip. "It's not our job to tell them what they should or should not do," he told CBS News, the BBC's news partner in the US.

Netanyahu has, so far, failed to offer a vision for Gaza after the war apart from refusing to accept a governing role for the Palestinian Authority, the body that governs the occupied West Bank and recognises Israel.

Polls suggest most of the Israeli public favours a deal with Hamas for the release of the hostages and the end of the war.

Israeli leaders say Hamas, for now, is not interested in negotiating as, in their view, the group is feeling emboldened by the international pressure on Israel.

The threat of a full occupation could be part of a strategy to try to force the group into making concessions in stalled talks.

But many here believe that Netanyahu is prolonging the conflict to guarantee the survival of his coalition, which relies on the support of ultranationalist ministers who have threatened to quit the government if there is any deal with Hamas.

Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich have also publicly defended expelling Palestinians from Gaza - which could amount to the forced displacement of civilians, a war crime - and resettling it with Jews.

Israel's war in Gaza has killed more than 61,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health ministry, which is run by Hamas.

The Hamas 7 October attacks on Israel killed about 1,200 people, while 251 were taken to Gaza as hostages.

Homelessness Minister Rushanara Ali quits over rent hike claims

55 minutes ago Share Save Jennifer McKiernan • @_JennyMcKiernan BBC political reporter Nick Eardley • @nickeardleybbc Political correspondent Share Save

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Rushanara Ali has resigned as homelessness minister, Downing Street has confirmed. The move comes after she was accused of hypocrisy over the way she handled rent increases on a house she owns in east London. There were calls for her to step down from homelessness charities and opposition politicians. In a letter to the prime minister she said "at all times I have followed all relevant legal requirements" but that remaining in the role would be "a distraction from the ambitious work of this government".

The row was sparked after Ali ended her tenants' fixed term contract in order to sell up, but then re-listed the house for rent at a higher price within six months, which is something she is currently trying to outlaw under the Renters' Rights Bill. In a story first broken by the the i Paper, a former tenant said she was sent an email in November giving four months' notice the lease would not be renewed. She said shortly after she and the three other tenants moved out, the house in east London was re-listed at a rent £700 a month higher. In a letter to the prime minister, Ali wrote: "It is with a heavy heart that I offer you my resignation as a minister." Insisting that "at all times I have followed all relevant legal requirements" she added: "I believe I took my responsibilities and duties seriously, and the facts demonstrate this. "However, it is clear that continuing in my role will be a distraction from the ambitious work of the government. "I have therefore decided to resign from my ministerial position." Responding to her resignation, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer thanked her for her work, which he called "diligent". The PM praised her work to repeal the Vagrancy Act and added: "I know you will continue to support the government from the backbenches and represent the best interests of your constituents in Bethnal Green and Stepney."

A source close to Ali said the previous fixed-term contract had been ended because the house was being put up for sale and the tenants had been told they could stay on a rolling basis while the house was on the market, but they had chosen to go. The house was put on the market in November 2024 with an asking price of £914,995 but was reduced in February by £20,000 and the i Paper said it was only re-listed as a rental because it had not sold. Ali's resignation is particularly awkward because of the subject matter, as Labour went into the election promising to strengthen the rights of private tenants. The very rules they are going through Parliament at the moment would have stopped what Ali has been accused off. The government's Renters' Rights Bill is in its final stages in Parliament, and will ban landlords re-listing a property for rent, if they have ended a tenancy in order to sell, for six months. Landlords must also give four months' notice to tenants when the legislation is passed, which is not expected to be until at least next year. The law has not changed yet – but it is possible the homelessness minister's actions would have been contrary to the very rules her department was trying to introduce. London Renters Union spokesperson Siân Smith said Ali's actions were "indefensible" and she "must step down" due to a "clear conflict of interest" with the Bill in its final stages. The Renters' Reform Coalition, which represents private renters, said her resignation was "the right decision". "Her position was completely untenable," said director Tom Darling. "The government must get on now and end no-fault evictions urgently so that no more tenants are subject to the kind of behaviour Rushanara Ali engaged in" Tory Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake was among other opposition politicians accusing Ali of "staggering hypocrisy" over the handling of the property. After she quit, he added: "It is right that Rushanara Ali has now quit the government following our calls for her to go. "Keir Starmer promised a government of integrity but has instead presided over a government of hypocrisy and self-service." Also welcoming her resignation, a Liberal Democrat spokesperson said: "Rushanara Ali fundamentally misunderstood her role." They said her actions"only added insult to injury after years of delay for renters' rights reform under the Conservatives".

Since Ali has quit quickly, the story is unlikely to drag on, but it marks another embarrassing departure for the government. Ali is the sixth MP who has quit Starmer's government over policy or because of allegations made against them. That is not the sort of number that threatens the government. But it is embarrassing for a government that had a long time in opposition to get its house in order. This was also not the first time Ali has been criticised. She had to give up part of her ministerial portfolio last year, when she attended a conference linked to the parent company of one of the firms heavily criticised in the recent Grenfell inquiry. Giving up her duties managing building safety and the government's response to the Grenfell Tower fire, she said she was relinquishing her building safety brief because "perception matters".

Interest rates cut to lowest level in more than two years

7 hours ago Share Save Dearbail Jordan Business reporter, BBC News Share Save

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The Bank of England has cut interest rates to 4%, taking the cost of borrowing to the lowest level for more than two years. The cut, from the previous rate of 4.25%, is the fifth since August last year, but was only narrowly backed by the Bank's policymakers who took two votes to reach a decision. Lower rates will reduce monthly mortgage costs for some homeowners but it could also mean smaller returns for savers. The unprecedented second vote by policymakers suggests further interest rate cuts will be finely balanced amid concerns over rising prices, although the Bank's governor told the BBC the path for rates continues to be "downwards".

Inflation is now expected to peak at 4% in September, the Bank said in its Monetary Policy Report. That is twice the Bank's target rate and above the 3.8% rate it predicted in its May report. However, while inflation is higher than the Bank would like - which would not normally lead to a rate cut - the economy has been struggling to grow and there are fears about the jobs market. Andrew Bailey, governor of the Bank of England, said the decision to cut interest rates was "finely balanced". "Interest rates are still on a downward path," he said. "But any future rate cuts will need to be made gradually and carefully." Speaking to the BBC he said the course of future rate cuts "is a bit more uncertain frankly".

Faisal Islam questions the Governor of the Bank of England on interest rates

Businesses told the Bank that "material increases" in National Insurance Contributions and the national living wage since April have added up to 2% to food prices. The Bank said global adverse weather conditions had also lifted the cost of goods such as beef, coffee beans and cocoa. But companies told the Bank that they expected UK labour costs "to continue to push up food prices in the second half of the year", and in order to mitigate costs, they were having to cut staff. They also reported shoppers were "trading down" by purchasing own-label items as opposed to branded products, and buying "cheaper cuts of meat". Mr Bailey told the BBC the Bank did not expect higher inflation to persist, "but we have to watch this very carefully". On the other hand, UK employment is "softening" he said, with data showing job vacancies are continuing to fall and wage growth is slowing. Mr Bailey said he is "very conscious" that inflation affects the cost of living. "Food is a particularly important issue here because for those on the lowest incomes, food [is] a larger share of their consumption because it is the essential of life so we have to be very focused on this," he said.

At 4%, interest rates are now at their lowest level since March 2023. This will boost some mortgage-holders and borrowers, but it is likely to mean smaller returns for savers. People with tracker mortgages, which are loans that track the Bank's base rate, should see an immediate reduction in monthly repayments. There about 600,000 people who have one. The latest cut in rates means repayments on an average standard variable rate mortgage of £250,000 over 25 years will fall by £40 per month, according to financial information company Moneyfacts.

'We are still a little bit anxious about the future'

Adam Christie has just had to re-fix his mortgage rate

However, there are many homeowners who are having to remortgage this year at rates higher than deals they struck several years ago. Adam Christie has just had to re-fix his mortgage rate - moving from a five-year fixed term with a 1.8% interest rate, to a two-year term with a rate of 3.8%. "It was quite a significant jump, but not as much as we were fearing," he tells the BBC. He had been prepared for a £200-300 per month increase - but instead his repayments have risen by about £100. While he describes this as "the best of a bad situation", he adds there is still uncertainty about the future. "We are still a little bit anxious about the future and what it might hold. They might go up again... but I suppose only time can tell," he says.

The Bank's nine member Monetary Policy Committee was split on the decision to cut rates. Four members wanted to cut rates, four wanted to hold and one - Alan Taylor - wanted a steeper reduction in borrowing costs. Some economists had been expecting a further interest rate cut at the Bank's meeting in November, but the tightness of the latest vote has led some analysts to cast doubt on whether this will happen. "Bank of England policymakers are still playing a highly cautious hand," said Susannah Streeter, head of money and markets at Hargreaves Lansdown. "Although the Bank has opted for a cut, the chances of another reduction by the end of the year have receded sharply," she added. Ruth Gregory, deputy chief executive at Capital Economics, said the Bank "appears in no rush to cut again". She said the policymakers' analysis of risks to the economy "raises the chances that the Bank will skip a cut later this year".

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the drop was "welcome news, helping bring down the cost of mortgages and loans for families and businesses". However, shadow chancellor Mel Stride said interest rates "should be falling faster", adding: "Rates are only coming down now to support the weak economy Rachel Reeves has created." Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesperson Daisy Cooper said the cut "would have happened months ago if the government was not acting as a roadblock to growth".

The Bank now forecasts that GDP figures for the April-to-June quarter, due to be published next week, will show a sharp slowdown to just 0.1% growth. That compares to 0.7% expansion in the first three months of this year. It also said the impact of US tariffs on the UK is not expected to be as much as it thought back in May. However, tariffs are expected to dent economic growth to the tune of 0.2%.

Daily weight loss pill could help patients lose 12% of body weight

7 hours ago Share Save Fergus Walsh Medical Editor Share Save

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Trials of a daily obesity pill have shown it can help patients lose around 12% of their body weight over 72 weeks. The manufacturer, Eli Lilly, says the drug, which is not yet licensed, could be available next year. The daily pill, called orforglipron, works by suppressing appetite and making you feel more full. Preliminary results of a major trial show those on the highest dose lost an average of 12 kilos (nearly two stone) over 16 months but about one in 10 stopped taking the pills due to side effects, including nausea and vomiting.

In addition to weight loss, participants also benefited from reductions in cholesterol, blood fats and blood pressure. Dr Kenneth Custer of Eli Lilly said the company was planning to submit the drug for licensing before the end of the year and preparing for a "global launch to address this urgent public health need". So where might this weight loss pill fit in to the blockbuster multi-billion pound market dominated by injectable drugs like Mounjaro, Wegovy and Ozempic? The pill is much less effective than injectables. The 12% weight loss achieved by those taking orforglipron compares to 22% weight loss for patients on Mounjaro, given by weekly injection. Both drugs are made by Eli Lilly. Despite being less effective, there is likely to be a significant market for weight loss pills, as a needle-free means of cutting obesity levels. Obesity experts hope the oral drug will be far cheaper than current injectables which would make it available to many more patients.

The BBC's Damian Grammaticas explains the controversy surrounding China's mega-embassy plan.

Beijing's plans for the sprawling new embassy have sparked fears its location - near London's financial district - could pose an espionage risk.

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has now given China two weeks to explain certain aspects of their plans.

Trump opens door for crypto in retirement accounts

But critics say it could increase risks for savers.

The move is intended to eventually give everyday workers new access to investments formerly reserved for wealthy individuals and institutions, while opening up previously untouched pools of funding for firms in those fields.

On Thursday, he ordered regulators to look for ways to change rules that might discourage employers from including such offerings in workplace retirement accounts, known in the US as 401ks.

US President Donald Trump is pushing to make it easier for Americans to use retirement savings to invest in cryptocurrencies, private equity, property, gold and other kinds of non-traditional assets.

Most employers in the US do not offer traditional pensions, which come with a guaranteed payout after retirement.

Instead, employees are given the option of contributing part of their pay cheque to investment accounts, with employers typically bolstering with additional contributions.

Government rules have historically held the firms offering the accounts responsible for considering factors such as risk and expense.

In the past, employers have shied away from offering investments like private equity, which often have higher fees and face fewer disclosure requirements than public companies and can be less easy to convert to cash.

The order gives the Department of Labor 180 days to review rules and experts said any change was unlikely to be felt immediately.

But investment management giants such as State Street and Vanguard, known for their retirement accounts, have already announced partnerships with the likes of alternative asset managers Apollo Global and Blackstone to start offering private-equity focused retirement funds.

Trump's personal business interests include firms involved with crypto and investment accounts.

The Department of Labor in May rescinded guidance from 2022 that urged firms to exercise "extreme care" before adding crypto to investment menus in retirement accounts.

During Trump's first term, the Department of Labor issued guidance aimed at encouraging retirement plans to invest in private equity funds, but concerns about litigation limited take-up and former President Joe Biden later revoked it.

Dozens of migrants detained under 'one in, one out' deal with France

5 hours ago Share Save Nick Eardley Political correspondent Paul Gribben BBC News Share Save

Getty Images A UK Border Force vessel brought migrants into Dover port on Wednesday after intercepting a crossing in the channel

Several dozen migrants have been detained and could be returned to France within weeks, a government source has told the BBC. Earlier Home Secretary Yvette Cooper declined to say how many migrants were being detained under the UK's new "one in, one out" deportation deal with France after crossing the English Channel. The source said more than five nationalities are represented in the dozens held so far, but did not give a specific number. Pictures showed the migrants wearing life jackets disembarking from Border Force boats in Dover on Wednesday, the first day the pilot scheme came into force.

The Home Office also released edited footage which they say shows Border Force and Immigration Enforcement teams enacting the new scheme. It says the footage shows some of those detained going through the first stages of the pilot process in the last 24 hours, including their initial processing, their biometric and security checks and their relocation to an immigration removal centre to await their return to France. Independent journalists were not invited to be present for the filming.

Watch: Home Office release video of Border Force enacting the new migrant returns deal

In an interview on Thursday about the detentions, Cooper said: "The transfers to immigration removal centres are under way as we speak, so we won't provide operational details at this point that criminal gangs can simply use and exploit. "But no-one should be in any doubt: anyone who arrives from now on is eligible for immediate detention and return." She said the first migrants could be sent back within weeks and that she was prepared to resist any legal challenges aimed at preventing their removal to France. Cooper added: "It's the beginning of the pilot and it will build as well over time, but we're also clear that France is a safe country, so we will robustly defend against any legal challenge that people try."

Home Office figures reveal 155 migrants arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel on Wednesday, the day the pilot scheme came into force. The government earlier said those detained will be held in immigration removal centres until they are returned to France. The BBC has also seen a copy of a poster being distributed in France on Wednesday, warning would-be migrants of the new removals deal. It shows a man being led onto a plane and reads in English and French: "YOU NOW FACE BEING DETAINED AND RETURNED TO FRANCE IF YOU ARRIVE IN THE UK ON A SMALL BOAT."

UK Government

The pilot scheme was set up as part of a deal announced by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron during his state visit to the UK in July. Speaking about the first detentions, Sir Keir said: "If you break the law to enter this country, you will face being sent back. When I say I will stop at nothing to secure our borders, I mean it." The pilot is set to last 11 months and will see the UK accepting an equal number of asylum seekers who have not tried to cross and can pass security and eligibility checks. UK officials aim to make referrals for returns to France within three days of a migrant's arrival by small boat, with French authorities responding within 14 days. This is in exchange for an approved asylum seeker in France to be brought to the UK under a safe route. Adults and families in France are able to express an interest in coming to the UK through an online platform set up by the Home Office. They must meet suitability criteria, go through a standard visa application process and pass security checks. If accepted, they would be given three months in the UK to claim asylum or apply for a visa, and would be subject to the same rules for all asylum seekers not allowed to work, study or have access to benefits. As of 30 July, more than 25,000 people had crossed the Channel in small boats in 2025 - about 49% higher than at the same point in 2024.

Pair arrested after water sprayed at Orthodox Jews

The footage, shared widely on social media, showed traditionally-dressed Jews being targeted

Two men have been arrested after a video was shared online of men driving around a community filming themselves spraying a water gun at Orthodox Jews.

The footage, which was later deleted from YouTube and Instagram, showed the men laughing and smiling as they squirted water at traditionally-dressed pedestrians, including children, in Greater Manchester.

It was soundtracked with Hava Nagila, a folk song traditionally sung at Jewish celebrations.

The men, aged 26 and 36, were arrested in Bolton and are being questioned on suspicion of racially aggravated common assault, Greater Manchester Police said.

Waterstones apologises after readers brand event 'utter chaos'

1 hour ago Share Save Maia Davies BBC News Share Save

Amy White

Waterstones has apologised after booklovers complained of "utter chaos" and overcrowding at an event at its flagship shop on Wednesday. Attendees said the bookseller's annual BookFest was disorganised and potentially unsafe, with some social media users joking they had "survived" the event while one deemed it "hell on earth". Videos posted online showed large crowds throughout the shop in Piccadilly, central London, with long queues winding up the stairs and out onto the street. The bookselling chain posted on X that it was "truly sorry to hear about any negative experiences," and told the BBC that the safety of attendees was "never at risk".

Kellie Greenhalgh said it was "extremely busy" when she arrived at the shop for the annual event, where readers meet authors, access early copies of books, and attend panels and workshops. But she said that while there were hundreds of attendees, there were no staff present to give directions or assistance. "I did not see a single member of Waterstones or event staff the whole time," she told the BBC. "The queues were all on the stairs, all in front of the lifts." The 33-year-old said she queued for an hour and a half to reach one stall: "I was shaking and did not feel well from the heat and stress". "One author had a panic attack and had to leave," she added. Another attendee, who uses crutches, says she was left "standing shoulder to shoulder with hundreds of other people" trying to hand an author a book to sign, and that she was twice knocked over due to overcrowding.

Kellie Greenhalgh Attendees said there was serious overcrowding at Wednesday's event

Hanna, 35, who only wanted to use her first name, said she was frustrated because such events were a "lifeline for connecting with others," particularly for disabled booklovers, and said the event should have been fully ticketed. While some talks were ticketed, entry to the shop was free - and attendees said access was left open to the general public. "There was still shoppers trying to browse the shelves pushing through the queues, some with children or more elderly people who had no idea about the event," Amy White said. It was "impossible to move" through the shop, she added, and the heat was "unbearable due to the amount of people". Another person who attended, Chloe from London, told the BBC "there was no crowd control in place" and criticised Waterstones for "lazy" planning. "No-one checked the number of people in or out of the building - tell me how they can say that is 'safe'?"

Cacio e pepe: Good Food pasta recipe sparks fury in Italy

3 hours ago Share Save Sofia Bettiza BBC News, Rome Share Save

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Italians have reacted with fury after the popular UK Good Food website published a recipe for a traditional Roman dish that did not include the correct original ingredients and appeared to belittle it as a quick eat. Pasta cacio e pepe is a beloved Roman dish, renowned for being simple yet surprisingly challenging to make - so Good Food's description of it as something that can be quickly whipped up for "a speedy lunch" irritated many. The recipe also listed four ingredients - spaghetti, black pepper, parmesan and butter and suggested double cream as an option - when there should only be three: spaghetti, black pepper and pecorino cheese.

Such was the outrage that an association representing restaurants in Italy took the issue up with the British embassy in Rome. Fiepet Confesercenti said it was "astonished" to see the recipe on such an esteemed British food site, which was owned by the BBC until 2024. Its president Claudio Pica said letters had been sent to Immediate Media, the site's owner, and UK ambassador Edward Llewellyn. Mr Pica said: "This iconic dish, traditionally from Rome and the Lazio region, has been a staple of Italian cuisine for years, so much so it has been replicated even beyond Italy's borders." He regretted contradicting the British site, but clarified that "the original recipe for cacio e pepe excludes parmesan and butter. There are not four ingredients, but three: pasta, pepper and pecorino". The furore has been widely covered in Italian media, with a journalist at public broadcaster RAI saying: "We are always told, you are not as good as the BBC… and then they go and do this. Such a grave mistake. The suggestion of adding some cream gave me goosebumps." The Good Food food brand was owned by BBC Studios (the BBC's commercial wing) until 2018, when it was sold to Immediate Media Co - with the BBC prefix being dropped from its name last year.

"It's terrible!" says pasta restaurant owner Giorgio Erami

While some chefs may experiment with the dish, the main concern is that the website misled readers by presenting its version as the original. Italians often mock foreigners for their interpretation of their recipes, but the indignation in this case is about something deeper: tampering with tradition. Maurizio and Loredana run a hotel in central Rome - it's been in their family for four generations. "You can do all the variations in the world – but you cannot use the original Italian name for them, said Maurizio. "You cannot say it is cacio e pepe if you put butter, oil and cream in it. Then it becomes something else." He added: "You have to yield to Caesar that which is Caesar's!" Giorgio Eramo runs a fresh pasta restaurant near St Peter's square - serving up cacio e pepe and other traditional pasta dishes. "It's terrible. It's not cacio e pepe... What Good Food published, with butter and parmesan, is called 'pasta Alfredo'. It's another kind of pasta," he said. On his restaurant's board of pastas, he offers cacio e pepe with lime - a variation. But he says that's ok. "It's different, it's for the summer, to make the pasta more fresh. But it doesn't impact the tradition. It's not like cream or butter. Lime is just a small change."

Eleonora says Italians are upset because much of the country's tradition is based on food

David Lammy to host JD Vance at country residence

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

Reuters David Lammy (left) meets Vance regularly in his role as foreign secretary

Foreign secretary David Lammy is to host US Vice President JD Vance at his official country residence Chevening House, in Kent, on Friday. "The vice president and foreign secretary will discuss a variety of topics pertaining to the US-UK relationship," the White House said in a statement. Vance and his family are in the UK on a private family holiday. They are expected to spend most of their break in the Cotswolds and are also reported to be planning a visit to Hampton Court Palace. UK foreign secretaries have traditionally had the use of Chevening, a Grade 1 listed mansion, with gardens that include a lake and a maze.

Getty Images Chevening House dates back nearly 400 years and is set in its own grounds

Lammy and Vance have been meeting regularly on official trips since the foreign secretary started in his role last year, and they are reported to have bonded over their shared Christian faith. The foreign secretary attended mass at Vance's Washington residence on an official visit in March and is now reported to be repaying the favour by allowing his family to stay at his grace and favour mansion. Speaking to BBC Breakfast last summer, Lammy said: "Let me just say on JD Vance that I've met him now on several occasions, we share a similar working-class backgrounds with addiction issues in our family. "We've written books on that, we've talked about that, and we're both Christians. So I think I can find common ground with JD Vance." The two are expected to hold a bilateral meeting before being joined by their families at Chevening. The vice president's UK visit comes a few weeks after Donald Trump travelled to Scotland, on a private visit to his golf courses. Trump met Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer as well as EU chief Ursula von der Leyen, agreeing a trade deal with the bloc, and will return for a full state visit in September.

Nearly a million more deaths than births in Japan last year

New data released on Wednesday by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications showed the number of Japanese nationals fell by 908,574 in 2024.

But efforts to reverse the perennially low birth rates among Japanese women have so far made little impact.

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has described the demographic crisis of Japan's ageing population as a "quiet emergency", pledging family-friendly policies such as free childcare and more flexible work hours.

Almost a million more deaths than births were recorded in Japan last year, representing the steepest annual population decline since government surveys began in 1968.

Japan recorded 686,061 births - the lowest number since records began in 1899 - while nearly 1.6 million people died, meaning for every baby born, more than two people died.

It marks the 16th consecutive year of population decline with the squeeze being felt by the nation's pension and healthcare systems.

The number of foreign residents reached a record high of 3.6 million people as of 1 January 2025, however, representing nearly 3% of Japan's population.

The government has tentatively embraced foreign labour by launching a digital nomad visa and upskilling initiatives, but immigration remains politically fraught in the largely conservative country.

The overall population of the country declined by 0.44 percent from 2023 to about 124.3 million at the start of the year.

Elderly people aged 65 and over now make up nearly 30% of the population - the second-highest proportion in the world after Monaco, according to the World Bank. The working-age population, defined as those between 15 and 64, has dropped to about 60%.

A growing number of towns and villages are hollowing out, with nearly four million homes abandoned over the past two decades, government data released last year showed.

The government has spent years trying to increase birth rates with incentives ranging from housing subsidies to paid parental leave. But deep-rooted cultural and economic barriers remain.

High living costs, stagnant wages and a rigid work culture deter many young people from starting families. Women, in particular, face entrenched gender roles that often leave them with limited support as primary caregivers.

Japan's fertility rate - the average number of children born to a woman over her lifetime - has been low since the 1970s, so experts warn even dramatic improvements now would take decades to bear fruit.

British dad 'killed by drone fighting in Ukraine'

4 hours ago Share Save Louisa King BBC News, Liverpool Share Save

Stephanie Boyce-Williams Stephanie Boyce-Williams said she pleaded with her husband not to go to Ukraine

A British father who volunteered to fight for Ukraine in the war against Russia has been killed by a drone strike, his wife has said. Alan Robert Williams, 35, from Moreton in Wirral went to the country after losing his job despite having no military experience and his family's pleas not to go, Stephanie Boyce-Williams said. She said fellow fighters contacted her to say he had been killed in a Russian drone attack in the Kharkiv region by adding "it doesn't feel real" and she was "in limbo" waiting for official confirmation of his death. A Foreign Office spokesman said it was "supporting the family of a British man who is missing in Ukraine, and are in contact with the local authorities".

Stephanie Boyce-Williams said her husband's death "doesn't seem real"

Mr Williams left his wife and their 12-year-old daughter in the UK on 7 May to travel Ukraine. The family said they lost contact with him on 2 July after he set off on a mission, and were later told on 14 July he was listed as missing action, and two weeks later a member of his unit confirmed he had died. Ms Boyce-Williams told BBC Radio Merseyside: "I was sitting at home with my oldest son when I got the text through to say they had important information and could they call me so I knew instantly." She said she and others in the family had tried to convince her husband not to go to fight but he was determined. "We were all absolutely devastated when he told us [he was going to fight]," she said. "We spent time trying to convince him not to go, telling him how it would affect us and how it would impact our daughter, and everything else back home. "But he was such a strong-willed man that once he got something in his mind there was no way you were changing it." "He wanted to help civilians, especially the children," she said.

'Dangerous'

She said she had been in touch with him every day but when she last spoke to him, she knew something was different. "I could tell by the tone of his voice when he phoned me to ask permission for me to put my mum down as an emergency contact that there was a bit more to it," she said. She said he explained to her in his last text that: "I want to be straight with you this is dangerous". "Once it passed the three-day mark, which is what he originally said he was going to be out for, I was literally checking my phone every single day," Ms Boyce-Williams said. "I said to one of my friends I want my phone to ring and for it to be his ringtone, I do not want a Ukrainian phone number coming up on my phone."

Burglars steal £500k of jewellery from London home

The Met Police described the theft of the gold jewellery as "enormous"

Half a million pounds worth of distinctive gold jewellery has been stolen from a south-east London home, the Metropolitan Police has said.

The force has released images of the pieces, which were taken from a house in Bickley Road, Bromley, on 30 December 2024, in the hope they will be recognised by the public.

Det Con Jamie White said the monetary value of the theft was "enormous" but "the sentimental value was priceless" as some of the accessories were treasured family heirlooms.

Police are looking for three men who forced their way in through a bathroom window while the owners were home.

OpenAI claims GPT-5 model boosts ChatGPT to 'PhD level'

GPT-5's release and claims of its "PhD-level" abilities in areas such as coding and writing come as tech firms continue to compete to have the most advanced AI chatbot.

"I think having something like GPT-5 would be pretty much unimaginable at any previous time in human history," he said ahead of Thursday's launch.

Billed as "smarter, faster, and more useful," OpenAI co-founder and chief executive Sam Altman lauded the company's new model as ushering in a new era of ChatGPT.

ChatGPT-maker OpenAI has unveiled the long-awaited latest version of its artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot, GPT-5, saying it can provide PhD-level expertise.

OpenAI is also pitching GPT-5 to coders as a proficient assistant, following a trend among major American AI developers, including Anthropic whose Claude Code targets the same market.

Meanwhile, Altman said OpenAI's new model would suffer from fewer hallucinations - the phenomenon whereby large language models make up answers- and be less deceptive.

During the launch of Grok's latest iteration last month, Musk said it was "better than PhD level in everything" and called it the world's "smartest AI".

Elon Musk recently made similar claims of his own AI chatbot, Grok, which has been plugged into X (formerly Twitter).

What can GPT-5 do?

OpenAI has highlighted GPT-5's ability to create software in its entirety and demonstrate better reasoning capabilities - with answers that show workings, logic and inference.

The company claims it has been trained to be more honest, provide users with more accurate responses and says that, overall, it feels more human.

According to Altman, the model is "significantly better" than its predecessors.

"GPT-3 sort of felt to me like talking to a high school student... 4 felt like you're kind of talking to a college student," he said in a briefing ahead of Thursday's launch.

"GPT-5 is the first time that it really feels like talking to an expert in any topic, like a PhD-level expert."

For Prof Carissa Véliz of the Institute for Ethics in AI, however, GPT-5's launch may not be as significant as its marketing may suggest.

"These systems, as impressive as they are, haven't been able to be really profitable," she said, also noting that they can only mimic - rather than truly emulate - human reasoning abilities.

"There is a fear that we need to keep up the hype, or else the bubble might burst, and so it might be that it's mostly marketing."

One ethics expert said the launch of GPT-5 reinforced the growing gap between AI's capabilities and our ability to govern it in the way the public expects.

"As these models become more capable, the need for comprehensive regulation becomes even more urgent," said Gaia Marcus, Director of the Ada Lovelace Institute.

The BBC's AI Correspondent Marc Cieslak gained exclusive access to GPT-5 before it's official launch.

"Apart from minor cosmetic differences the experience was similar to using the older chatbot: give it tasks or ask it questions by typing a text prompt.

It's now powered by what's called a reasoning model which essentially means it thinks harder about solving problems, but this seems more like an evolution than revolution for the tech."

GPT-5's rollout also has implications for commercial enterprises concerned about the use of their content.

"As AI content becomes more convincing, we need to ask ourselves – are we protecting the people and creativity behind what we see every day?", said Grant Farhall, chief product officer at Getty Images. "Authenticity matters – but it doesn't come for free."

Farhall said it was important to scrutinize exactly how AI models are being trained, and ensure that creators are being compensated if their work is being used.

The company will roll out the model to all users from Thursday.

In the coming days it will become a lot clearer whether it really is as good as Sam Altman claims it is.

A walk-in fishermen's clinic saved me from sepsis - and could transform the NHS

33 minutes ago Share Save Jim Reed • jim_reed Health reporter Share Save

BBC Tom Parker, 37, broke his leg in a fishing accident three miles off the Devon coast

Tom Parker was working alone three miles (4.8km) off the Devon coast when his fishing boat hit a wave and lurched to one side. "I was pulling one of the ropes and I slipped and fell," he says. "I had this really, really bad pain in my ankle. So much so, I couldn't get up off the floor." He didn't know it at the time, but Tom, 37, had broken his fibula and badly damaged his ankle ligaments. He somehow hauled in his fishing gear and made it to hospital to get patched up, but months after the accident his wound just wouldn't heal properly. It was only after he turned up at an innovative clinic on the quayside in Brixham that he was put on strong antibiotics and told he needed a second operation. "Without that service, I would have probably ended up with my leg turning septic and I'm not too sure what would have happened after that," he says. Under a 10-year plan, published last month, health officials said the NHS in England needed to undergo a radical shift, away from hospitals to community care, and away from treating sickness to preventing it in the first place. There are already small-scale examples of that approach in action across the country. So what can we learn from the Brixham model and how can the idea of targeted, local care be extended to treat millions more NHS patients?

The fishermen's health clinic in Brixham is one of 79 Seafit clinics set up in fishing ports across the UK since 2019

On a clear summer morning a spare room in the trawler agent's offices in Brixham harbour is quickly being converted into a temporary health clinic. Blue screens are dragged across to split up the space: a makeshift reception at the front and then just enough room to cram in two GPs, a pharmacist, a physiotherapist, two nurses and someone organising prostate cancer tests. There's a steady line of port workers coming in, from buyers in the fish market next door to crews from the trawlers in the harbour. "The skippers of the boats and the whole fishing community now know exactly where to find us," says Dr James Gunning, the local NHS GP in charge of the clinic that day. "They're a community that fits into health inequalities, where a population either can't access, or struggles to access, normal NHS services." Clinic staff start early in the morning, walking around the docks and coaxing workers off the boats with promises of free health screenings and physio. "Fishermen don't have nine-to-five jobs, they don't have lunchtime where they can just pop off their fishing boat and to the GP's office, and so it's really important that we take those services to them," says Sandra Welch, chief executive of the Seafarers Hospital Society, which runs the initiative along with another charity, the Fishermen's Mission. A pop-up Seafit clinic operates every three months in Brixham and at similar sites at ports across the UK, including Folkestone, Peterhead and Kirkeel in Northern Ireland. Some services have started to expand and now offer skin cancer checks, mobile dental services and access to mental health counselling.

Dr James Gunning, a local GP in Brixham, runs the fishermen's health clinic at the port along with a team of doctors, nurses and physiotherapists

In its 10-year plan the NHS accepts that those who live in coastal and rural areas are more likely to experience worse health outcomes and to die younger. Seaside and coastal towns often have older populations with more complex health needs, while at the same time local NHS services can suffer from recruitment problems, leaving staffing gaps where they are needed most. An analysis of hospital statistics by the BBC suggests NHS trusts in England treating coastal communities tend to have higher than average wait times for both emergency care and appointments booked in advance, like surgery.

The answer, according to NHS bosses and the Westminster government, is to shift as much treatment as possible out of those expensive hospitals. Under the 10-year plan a network of 300 neighbourhood health centres will be opened across England, starting in areas with the lowest healthy life expectancy. The sites, which should eventually be open 12 hours a day, six days a week, will be staffed by a mix of GPs, nurses, social care workers, pharmacists, mental health specialists and other medics. The big idea, as with the Brixham fishermen's clinic, is to better tailor health services to local communities, and offer people more checks and tests to stop them falling sick in the first place. Much of this might feel very familiar. Similar ambitions were set out by ministers in 2019, 2015 and even by the Blair government back in the early 2000s. "Despite being the right aim, none of those truly delivered," says Luisa Pettigrew, a GP and senior policy fellow at the Health Foundation think tank. "Moving money out of hospitals and into community services is hard to do. You need the upfront investment and the results might not be visible for five or 10 years, in some cases longer." Healthcare unions have also questioned how the new centres will be staffed, saying doctors "must not be moved around like pieces on a chess board or made to work even harder".

Rob Caunter, 66, was diagnosed with prostate cancer after being given a blood test at the fishermen's clinic in Brixham

Britons booking 'later, closer, shorter' UK breaks

33 minutes ago Share Save Elaine Doran & Colletta Smith Cost of living producer & correspondent Share Save

Getty Images

UK holidaymakers are leaving it later to book shorter stays closer to home, travel firms are reporting. The trend is down to people trying to save money while making the most of hot weather, some of the UK's biggest holiday companies have told the BBC. Booking.com says the number of people searching their site in July for a UK trip in the next six weeks was up 28% on last year, while AirBnB says more Brits are "embracing spontaneous getaways close to home". Pitchup.com, which advertises around 3,000 UK campsites, says a quarter of this year's bookings were made with just two days notice.

Sykes Holiday Cottages, with 23,000 properties across the UK, say their the gap between booking and travel has fallen by 8% this year. Airbnb added "all signs point to a summer where guests are again choosing quieter, affordable places".

'The whole industry's seeing it'

At Butlin's holiday park in Skegness people are making reservations slightly later than in previous years - with bookings up 22% in the last two weeks. "I think the whole industry is seeing it," resort director Andrew Leivers says. "The last couple of weeks we've seen a real surge," he adds. "We've got three, four and seven-night breaks... for different people's budgets." Among the 80,000 holidaymakers who will visit the resort this summer is the Harmston family from Lincoln.

From left Neil, Alyssa, Kirsty, Oliver Harmston booked to go to Butlin's two weeks before their stay

Mum Kirsty says: "We only booked it about two weeks before we came. We always try and get a last minute deal. We'd saved the money so we knew what our budget was and tried to grab a bargain." She says booking an all-inclusive stay in the UK meant she could keep costs down. "The worst thing of going on holiday is everything else is added on top so you've planned your holiday you look at the price you've paid and you've got to pay extra and extra." Kayleigh Fry is at Butlin's for four nights with her sister-in-law Kelly Towers and her children Casey and Corey and their cousin Marley.

From left Corey, Casey and Kayleigh Fry with Marley and Kelly Towers at Butlins

Kelly says short breaks can be more convenient for families. "It's easier. You can take a lot more with you when you stay in this country. There are so many pretty places out there in the UK." Nigel Dutton is the owner of Manor Wood Country Caravan Park. He's noticed people are booking later to take advantage of good weather in the UK. "Short breaks seem to be the name of the game at the moment," he says. "People can pre-pay, it's all budgeted, so they know exactly what it's going to cost them. I think we are seeing a revival of camping. It's a nice way to get outdoors, get away from the stress without spending too much." That's exactly what Chelsea and Adam Mahony from Manchester did. They booked an impromptu camping trip with their boys Gray and Rex. "We decided last week that we couldn't afford to go abroad this year so we bought a cheap tent online and thought let's just try something closer to home," says Chelsea. "They've got some fresh air and room to run around. It doesn't feel like home which is the main thing really."

From left Andy, Sam, Kate and Poppy enjoyed a camping holiday in Cheshire

Firstly, the non-negotiables.

Amorim's system involves two deeper midfield players, wing-backs who push high up the pitch, two inside forwards and a striker.

It is assumed Sesko will be the striker, with Matheus Cunha playing behind him on the left and Bryan Mbeumo on the right.

That would mean skipper Bruno Fernandes taking on one of the deeper midfield roles.

Now, Fernandes is many things but a box-to-box midfielder is not one of them.

Fernandes likes to roam. He likes to get on the ball. He likes to find pockets of space to take a pass.

But the 30-year-old Portugal international is not someone you would rely on being alert to danger. He is not someone who is going to make a 10-yard run in anticipation of closing down space.

This seems to be a problem even if it was something Amorim dismissed when I asked him on the specific point about his midfield in Chicago a couple of weeks ago.

"Bruno runs a lot," he said. "Maybe in the sprint he's a different player, but he runs a lot. He has a lot of endurance. He's smart. So it's not about that. Bruno's physicality is not the concern. He's ready for the physicality, playing deep or as a midfielder."

If that was accurate, why would United be making discreet inquiries on Baleba?

After all, the Brighton player is very much a box-to-box midfielder, someone with energy and endurance, who can tackle and pass. More pertinently, he is precisely the kind of player Amorim does not have in his squad.

Zak Crawley hit a superb unbeaten 67 from 38 balls as Northern Superchargers raced to an eight-wicket win over Welsh Fire in The Hundred.

Having restricted Fire to 143-9, Superchargers got off to a blistering start as the England opener put on 91 with Dawid Malan, who hit 41 from 29, for the first wicket.

Crawley was given a life on 45 - one of three costly drops from the Fire in the innings - and made the most of his good fortune to reach his highest Hundred score, on his Superchargers debut, to get them over the line with 11 balls to spare.

The Superchargers might have expected to be chasing more on a good surface at Headingley, especially when Jonny Bairstow and Steve Smith got the Fire off to a rapid start with a 62-run stand.

But Matthew Potts removed Smith - and Luke Wells next ball - to start the fightback, with spinners Adil Rashid and Imad Wasim also taking two wickets each to keep Fire to a total that proved to insufficient to challenge the hosts.

Italian champion. Serie A player of the year. Idolised by one of football's most passionate fanbases. And now a Ballon d'Or nominee.

If the past year has been a dream for Scott McTominay he would not want to wake up.

The 28-year-old Napoli and Scotland midfielder's place on the 30-man shortlist for the world's best player was confirmed 347 days after his last game for Manchester United.

That was as a substitute. Away to Brighton. In a 2-1 defeat.

But while his boyhood club United toiled to a 15th-place finish, McTominay was living the dream in Naples, after moving for a bargain £25.7m fee on 30 August.

He finished the season with 12 league goals, Napoli won the league and McTominay was named Serie A's MVP (most valuable player).

And like something from a film script, it was McTominay's spectacular scissor kick against Cagliari on the last day of the season that sent Napoli on their way to winning the title.

A far cry from the player who would probably have been called solid but unspectacular at Manchester United.

So how has he become one of the top 30 footballers in the world?

Australia won 4-0 when England last toured the country in 2021-22 and Cummins' side have only lost two of their past 15 Tests on home soil, winning 11 and drawing two.

McGrath conceded there are "issues" with Australia's batting, particularly their unsettled top three. Usman Khawaja, Cameron Green and Marnus Labuschagne are out of form, and opener Sam Konstas is yet to nail down his spot as the retired David Warner's replacement.

But with England's bowling attack also needing "to strengthen a little bit", McGrath says the key battle will be between the tourists' top seven and Australia's bowlers, pinpointing Joe Root and Harry Brook as two players to watch.

"This series will be a big one for Root," said McGrath. "He's never really done that well in Australia, he's not even got a 100 over there, so he'll be keen to get out there. He's in fine form."

Joe Root has scored 892 Test runs in Australia, including nine fifties, but is yet to score a century.

He averages 35.68 down under, compared to his career average of 51.29, with a highest score of 89.

"Brook's the one that I've enjoyed watching," added McGrath. "He just goes out there, plays his game, and takes it on. The Australians will need to get on him pretty early.

"Ben Duckett is such an aggressive opener. Zak Crawley would be keen to score a few more runs than he has previously.

"It's the top order or top and middle order of England against the Australian fast bowlers and Lyon. That's going to be a big match-up."

England have won 25 of their 41 Tests under head coach Brendon McCullum but are yet to win a five-match Test series, most recently drawing 2-2 with India.

McGrath, 55, was full of admiration for England's style under McCullum but challenged them to be more mentally "switched on".

"I love seeing sportspeople go out there and play without fear, " he said.

"That's what Baz is looking to bring into this England team - play without fear.

"I'd like to see a bit more accountability and the mental side of the game, just them switched on a bit more. It's exciting."

Zak Crawley's unbeaten 67 runs off 38 balls, including four sixes, helps Northern Superchargers to an eight-wicket victory over Welsh Fire in their opening match of the Men's Hundred 2025 at Headingley.

MATCH REPORT: Men's Hundred 2025: Northern Superchargers v Welsh Fire

Available to UK users only.

Chelsea are in talks with Manchester United over signing Argentina winger Alejandro Garnacho.

The 21-year-old has been told to find a new club as United head coach Ruben Amorim believes he wants a new challenge.

Garnacho came close to joining Chelsea in January, with the player convinced a transfer would be agreed.

The deal was not completed but the feeling has persisted that the player would eventually end up at Stamford Bridge.

A line of communication has been left open throughout the summer but there is now more focus around the talks, although there is no agreement on a transfer just yet.

As a 'home-grown' player, the fee United could generate for Garnacho, who joined the club from Atletico Madrid as a 16-year-old, would be important from a profit and sustainability perspective.

But it remains to be seen how close United can get to the £60m they initially wanted for him at the start of the summer.