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Almost a month after the first passenger died of the hantavirus on board the MV Hondius cruise ship, it is finally approaching Tenerife in the Canary Islands.

Intensive preparations have been under way to receive the ship in the port of Granadilla and help more than 100 people onto shore to be repatriated.

The Hondius is expected to arrive in the area before dawn but even now it won't be permitted to reach shore: a security perimeter of one nautical mile will be enforced around the ship as it approaches the island.

Once in the port, it will drop anchor at sea to ensure its continuing isolation.

The complex operation to prevent the rare Andes strain of this virus spreading is described by Spain's health minister as "unprecedented".

Involving 23 countries, it has been meticulously planned for maximum safety and to answer the concerns of disgruntled locals. They include the president of the Canary Islands, who says he "won't be calm" until all the passengers and crew have left.

"The risk of contagion for the general population is low," health minister Mónica García repeated on Saturday.

"We believe that alarmism, misinformation and confusion are contrary to the basic principles of preserving public health."

Security measures in the port, an industrial facility in the south of Tenerife, increased notably on Saturday. Spain's military police and disaster response teams have both set up large reception tents and access to the waterfront is restricted.

Once the Hondius has been manoeuvred into place, by around 07:00 (06:00 GMT) on Sunday, medical teams will board to check everyone for signs of the virus. Latest reports say nobody else is showing symptoms.

People will then be divided into groups by nationality and ferried to the coast in small boats. By then, charter planes should be on the tarmac at the local airport, ready to repatriate them.

Earlier on Saturday, the interior minister said the UK, US and multiple EU member states were all sending planes. Medically-equipped aircraft will be on standby, too, should anyone need to be taken into isolation.

Otherwise, the Spanish nationals will be flown to Madrid, where they face a mandatory quarantine in the Gomez Ulla military hospital. Complete isolation would be gruelling - the virus has an incubation period of up to nine weeks - and it is not clear how long people in Spain or elsewhere will be quarantined.

The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, now in Tenerife to oversee the disembarking, has praised the authorities for their "solid and effective response" to this outbreak.

It has been linked to a landfill site in the southernmost tip of Argentina, popular with birdwatchers. The virus is carried there by rodents, and it's rare for it to pass between people, but three cruise passengers have died.

So the WHO boss has urged nervous Spaniards to trust those in charge of the evacuation.

"Your concern is legitimate, because of the experience of Covid: that trauma is still in our minds," he acknowledged. But he added that the risk of wider contagion now was low "because of how the virus works, and because of how the Spanish government has prepared to avoid any problem".

Dozens of intensive care specialists are on stand-by at the Candelaria hospital in Tenerife in case anyone from the Hondius becomes seriously ill during the transfer. A strict isolation facility has one bed fully equipped to deal with infectious diseases, complete with testing kit and a ventilator.

"We are absolutely ready," chief intensive care doctor Mar Martin told me on the unit, where large numbers of protective suits, masks and gloves are already piled up for staff.

"We've never seen [hantavirus] before – but it's a virus, with some complications, just like we manage every day. We are fully trained for that."

There was some anger here when people learned the Hondius was being diverted to their island.

On Friday, a group of port workers gathered outside the local parliament in noisy protest, concerned that safety measures were not strong enough.

Now, there's more clarity – and calm.

"The virus is dangerous, of course. But they say you need to have very close contact to get it," Jennifer told me, out walking with her child in Tenerife's capital Santa Cruz.

"If we're careful, we hope it's not too serious."

Others were annoyed that Madrid had decided to send the Hondius here - a political concern, rather than a medical one.

Some recalled how officials had once made reassuring noises about Covid, too, before the pandemic took hold.

But there's no sense of panic here.

"If they don't come here from the ship, then we're fine," Esteban told me. "If the measures are adequate, then I don't think people here are worried," his partner Isabel agreed.

Not everyone will disembark in Tenerife from the Hondius: some 30 crew members will stay on board to take the cruise ship back to the Netherlands. But for most, there is at last an end in sight to weeks of fear and uncertainty at sea.

Now come the long weeks of quarantine.

Challenge Starmer by Monday or I will, Labour MP tells cabinet

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx210w87l4do, today

Labour MP Catherine West has said if a cabinet minister does not challenge Sir Keir Starmer as party leader by Monday, she will attempt to trigger a leadership contest herself.

In an exclusive interview with the BBC, she said her preferred option would be for the cabinet to "reorganise themselves" and put forward their "best communicator" to replace Sir Keir, avoiding a leadership election.

But speaking after devastating election results for Labour, West said she was putting the cabinet "on notice" and if she did not hear from a leadership hopeful by Monday she would ask Labour MPs to back her to trigger a contest.

For this to happen, 20% of Labour MPs – 81 people – would have to back her.

West, a former junior Foreign Office minister, said she currently had 10 MPs prepared to back her in a leadership bid but she was "confident" enough people would come forward to trigger a contest.

"My preferred option is for the cabinet to do a reshuffle within itself, where there's plenty of talent, and for Keir to be given a different role, which he might enjoy, perhaps an international role," the MP for Hornsey and Friern Barnet told Radio 4's PM programme.

"Then for others to come to the fore who can communicate the message, who are very able, so we can have minimum fuss."

However, Cabinet Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds said he would "caution colleagues" against her proposal.

"We've seen over the past 10 years now, what happens when a party in government just starts chopping and changing leaders," he told the programme.

"It just generates instability and it militates against a focus on delivery."

While West is not trying to become Labour leader herself, she could tempt others to launch a leadership bid.

But if her plan falls apart and prompts Labour MPs to row in behind Sir Keir, his position could be strengthened.

Sir Keir has insisted he will not "walk away and plunge the country into chaos", after a devastating set of election results for Labour on Friday.

Cabinet ministers also rallied round the PM on Friday evening, voicing their support on social media.

However, around 30 Labour MPs have publicly called for a change of leader or a timetable for Sir Keir to go, since the results started coming in.

Labour has lost more than 1,400 seats in English council elections, with Reform UK making huge gains in former Labour heartlands in northern England and the Midlands.

Meanwhile, the Greens won control of Waltham Forest, Lewisham and Hackney in London, where Labour had previously been dominant, as well as winning the party's first-ever elected mayors in Hackney and Lewisham.

In Wales, Labour suffered a historic defeat in the Senedd, finishing third behind Plaid Cymru and Reform UK.

There were also heavy losses for the party in the Scottish Parliament election, where the SNP won a fifth successive term and Labour finished a distant second tied with Reform.

West did not name who she thought would be best replacement for Sir Keir.

"I don't have a candidate. That's part of the problem," she said.

"But I think there are several people who would like to do it, who have been planning for months, but I'm very surprised that none of them has popped up today to say 'I will do it'."

West said Sir Keir had done "excellent" work rebuilding the Labour Party and on foreign policy.

But she said he had "less of a grip" on the domestic agenda and the party needed to "take the fight to Reform".

West's intervention appeared to take many Labour MPs by surprise.

One minister - who is critical of the prime minister - told the BBC: "She's mad."

A prominent backbench critic of Sir Keir said it was a "totally irresponsible solo mission".

Immigration Minister Mike Tapp was also critical of West's proposal, saying: "When those within your own walls begin dismantling the gate, the enemy no longer needs a battering ram.

"Reform are loving it. Awful from Catherine West and she should know better."

One Labour MP, who is not a prominent critic of Sir Keir, told the BBC that while they had been blindsinded by West's interview, they would be giving her their support on Monday.

"I am reasonably confident she will be able to get to 81 [backers]," they said.

"The frustration on the backbenches runs far wider than the voices we've heard from publicly. There are far more moderate centrist Labour MPs who also think his time is up."

Some in government believe West's call for the cabinet to replace Sir Keir with its "best communicator" means she is tacitly supporting Wes Streeting, though this is denied by those close to the health secretary.

On Friday, Streeting said Sir Keir had his support but "we have to take responsibility in government for our mistakes".

Asked by the BBC if he was ruling out a leadership bid, Streeting said Sir Keir had "delivered a majority that people thought was absolutely impossible after the crushing defeat of 2019".

Other names touted as potential leadership candidates outside the cabinet include former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, who resigned in September over failing to pay enough tax on a flat purchase.

However, she is believed to still be waiting for the conclusion of an HMRC investigation into her tax affairs and she may prefer to wait for its findings before launching a leadership bid.

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has the support of many MPs but any leadership contender must be a member of Parliament.

Earlier this year he was blocked from standing as a candidate in the Gorton and Denton by-election and he would need to find another seat to become an MP, as well as get the approval of Labour's ruling body, the National Executive Committee.

In an attempt to shore up his position, Starmer on Saturday appointed former Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown and former deputy leader Harriet Harman as advisers.

The veteran politicians will advise the PM on global finance and tackling violence against women.

However, a number of Labour MPs expressed bafflement at the appointments.

One normally loyal minister told the BBC: "It's a joke. There is no question to which bringing these two back is the answer."

Paula Barker, the Labour MP for Liverpool Wavertree, told the BBC: "I have enormous respect for both Gordon and Harriet, but I would have had even more respect for them if they had declined the offer of, quite frankly, non-jobs and told the prime minister that it's time for a change and he should set out his timetable."

Sir Keir is planning an attempt to reset his premiership next week by delivering a major speech and unveiling a new programme of legislation.

Speaking on Saturday, the prime minister acknowledged "unnecessary mistakes", adding "the hope wasn't there enough in the first two years of this government."

Australia's right-wing One Nation party scores historic parliamentary win

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwy2e4z4npro, today

Australia's One Nation party has won its first-ever lower-house seat in what is being seen as an important test for the right-wing populist party.

With most ballots counted, One Nation candidate David Farley has won a two-candidate preferred vote share of 57% in Farrer, a vast regional constituency in New South Wales. Independent candidate Michelle Milthorpe is far behind.

The contest was triggered by the resignation of Sussan Ley, who quit when she was ousted as leader of the opposition conservative Liberal Party.

While the result will not affect the Labor government's large majority, it is a clear sign that voters are moving away from traditional political parties in Australia.

Saturday's poll was the first federal test of One Nation's support after the party recorded the second-highest number of votes out of any political party in the South Australian state election in March.

As news of the party's victory emerged, One Nation leader Pauline Hanson told supporters this was not just a win for Farrer, but a win for Australia, and said the party was "coming after those other seats".

Farley - whose background is in agribusiness - told supporters One Nation had "reached the end of its beginning, we're going through the ceiling".

"What are we doing tonight? We're like a mason, with a chisel, and a hammer and we're re-carving the letters into the Australian democracy."

Australia has a preferential voting system where voters rank candidates from their most to least preferred. The final tally is calculated as a challenge between two candidates after preferences are distributed to ensure that the winner is supported by a majority.

One Nation had never won a federal lower house contest before Saturday's poll. In the late 1990s Hanson initially held her seat as an independent before losing her re-election bid. She has since returned to the parliament as a senator.

During the campaign, Farley said he had "lost a bit of faith" in the major parties. "They say one thing to your face and then go and do something else in parliament," he said.

Farrer spans 127,000 sq km (49,000 sq miles), an area larger than South Korea, and takes in the regional centres of Albury, Griffith and Deniliquin. The seat has always been held by either the Liberal or National parties.

The by-election also marked tests for the new leaders of the Liberal and National parties, respectively Angus Taylor, who ousted Ley in February, and Matt Canavan, who replaced David Littleproud in March.

The Liberal-National coalition suffered its worst ever defeat in last year's federal election, and the two parties have struggled with infighting and poor polling since then.

Indian model's understated Met Gala debut revives debate on cultural representation

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cre13zeql51o, today

When Indian model Bhavitha Mandava arrived at this year's Met Gala, the reaction to her look was unusually divided.

From a distance, her Chanel outfit looked disarmingly simple: a sheer zip-up jacket and what appeared to be a pair of low-slung jeans. Around her, the usual theatre unfolded - sculpted gowns and silhouettes, outfits that declared themselves before their wearers could.

In comparison, Mandava's look seemed to hold back. Except it didn't. The "denim" was not denim at all, but silk muslin, printed and constructed to mimic it - a detail later noted by fashion websites. The simplicity, in other words, was carefully engineered.

That contrast shaped much of the reaction. Some saw it as a quiet twist on the Met Gala's excess, even a subtle challenge to it, while others felt it didn't quite match the scale of the event.

Indian media coverage mirrored the divide - some praised the minimalism, others questioned whether the moment had been undersold. On social media, the debate turned sharper, touching on how Indian representation is received, framed and sometimes flattened on global stages.

The conversation once again put the spotlight on Mandava herself - a 26-year-old who, in less than two years, has gone from relative obscurity to one of global fashion's most watched new faces.

In India, every milestone in her career - major runway shows, luxury campaigns and now a Met Gala debut - has fed into a broader conversation around representation, beauty and, as Mandava herself put it, "culture renegotiating itself".

Alongside that, she has come to embody something quieter: an understated ease that makes even high fashion seem incidental. It feels less carefully constructed than slowly formed - shaped long before the runways and fashion campaigns, in a life far removed from the one she inhabits now.

Raised in Hyderabad in southern India, Mandava was discovered in a New York subway station in 2024.

At the time, she was a graduate student at New York University studying architecture. In interviews, she has said she was on her way to get biryani with a friend when she was approached by a scout from 28Models - an encounter she has described as entirely incidental.

Over time, though, the moment has taken on the shape of a familiar fashion myth: the chance meeting that changes everything.

Within months, Mandava was swept into the world of luxury fashion, appearing on major runways for Bottega Veneta, Dior and Courrèges, before becoming closely associated with Chanel.

Yet the way she presented herself stayed largely unchanged - restrained, unshowy, and less interested in spectacle.

"My agent still roasts me about the fact that I used to go to castings dressed in jeans and NYU T-shirts that I'd got for free," she told British Vogue in February. "I just showed up in whatever was clean."

In December, she opened Chanel's Métiers d'Art show in New York - the first Indian model to do so - in a setting that echoed her origin story: a subway platform, reconstructed with precise attention to detail.

Her opening look - a white T-shirt, a half-zipped knit, loose jeans - set a template that has now followed her to the Met Gala. It appeared ordinary. It was not.

Part of what makes Mandava's story compelling is also how familiar it feels.

Before the runways and luxury campaigns, there is a version of her that is instantly recognisable: a student far from home, piecing together a life in New York - learning subway lines, hunting for cheap meals, building routines around classes, deadlines and distance.

Even now, as her career accelerates, she seems to have carried something of that earlier self with her - in the simplicity of her clothes, the lack of heavy styling, the way she does interviews, usually speaking about her studies, family and the pace of work rather than turning herself into a bigger myth.

In an interview with People magazine, Mandava described modelling as "this magical, whimsical and nurturing thing".

And despite the speed of her rise, she still sounds slightly surprised by it all. "Life has become so strange, there are so many plot twists and weird turns that I genuinely don't know what the future holds," she told British Vogue.

When she opened the Chanel show, she shared a short video of her parents watching from home in India - her mother repeating her name in disbelief as her father sat beside her, quietly beaming with pride, a small, unguarded moment that was adored by millions online.

Her social media persona generally follows the same restraint. In her bio, she calls herself "a Brooklyn lab rat", a description that feels at odds for someone now fronting some of the world's biggest fashion houses.

But neither Mandava, nor the brands she represents, seems to want to dramatically reinvent her to fit that story.

If anything, she still seems shaped by the life she began with - a regular girl who is, as she once put it on Instagram, "somewhere between publishing research papers, walking fashion shows and living that transatlantic life". She once joked that she studied couture history with the same intensity she used to reserve for her NYU research papers.

It is an image that fits neatly into fashion's current preference for effortlessness - where not trying too hard has become its own kind of aesthetic.

At the Met Gala, though, that idea met a more complicated set of expectations.

Mandava has not responded publicly to the debate over her outfit. As social media users raged over whether the look was too understated - and what it signalled about India's global image - she simply posted photos from the evening on Instagram without addressing the criticism.

She later told British Vogue that the outfit was a way of "carrying that memory forward" - transforming the clothes tied to her discovery into something more elevated, but still recognisably hers.

Fashion is fickle. The current obsession with understatement may not last, and it is probably unfair to expect Mandava - or any young model - to remain frozen in this version of herself forever.

But part of her appeal, for now, is that she offers a bit of breathing space - a feeling that in between all the performance and construction, something unforced still survives.

Labour MPs have put Starmer on notice after election battering. Can he turn it around?

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx21e79qqlgo, today

"Over to you Keir," says a senior minister, not mincing his words.

Not everyone in the Labour Party wants there to be a challenge to the leadership, but even Sir Keir Starmer's most loyal ministers are pushing him to change - and fast.

The prime minister is nothing if not a determined man. But can he show he can turn it round?

Millions of voters have told him they aren't impressed with what he's been doing in 22 months of government - and, as each hour passes, more of his colleagues are going public to say, neither are they.

The powerful unions, who still pay the party's bills, have put the prime minister on notice, too. One of their leaders told me: "It's been a slow motion car crash – we need a concrete promise that things will change."

Labour has been battered at these elections - and it being expected makes it no less painful.

At count after count, seat after seat, the party lost to Nigel Farage, a man many in Labour deride as a vaudeville performer who harbours offensive views.

In other parts of the country, Labour gave ground to another leader, Zack Polanski, who used to be an actual performer, a hypnotist, and a Lib Dem.

The success of Reform UK under Farage is extraordinary, and the progress of the Greens under Polanski is impressive too.

But for some in Labour the grating thing about their dismal position now is it's different to losing to the Conservatives - that feeling is familiar, it's in their DNA.

So how can Labour escape this new bewildering world of pain?

Starmer's allies say the best thing to do is to be better, move faster, govern more effectively, and to show voters "the change" - the most overused, ill-defined couple of words in politics.

What they really mean is they want to appear like a group of people who know what they're doing, and will make a meaningful improvement to your life. "We made unnecessary mistakes," Starmer said on Saturday, including not doing "enough to convince [the public] about the change that would impact them, how their lives would be better".

"The hope wasn't there enough in the first two years of this government," Starmer added.

Downing Street is already trying to show he is cracking on – surprising Westminster by bringing in Gordon Brown and Harriet Harman as unpaid advisers on global finance and women and girls (although precisely how Harman's new job differs to the appointment she was given last year is not clear).

Global finance and women and girls are, of course, important issues. It's hard not to conclude those decisions are also to beef up the prime minister's political security - one of Brown's nicknames was the "clunking fist", after all.

You might wonder if the best way of showing you're all about "change" is by bringing back faces from the past. One Labour source joked, "there are rumours that they've brought an ouija board through the green baize door to consult Clem Atlee and Harold Wilson".

The prime minister's next move is a big speech on Monday - billed as him promising closer ties with the European Union, a drum Starmer's been banging since our interview at the start of the year.

Then there's the King's Speech on Wednesday, when the monarch will set out the new laws that the government wants to pass. It's a big fancy occasion, with the trappings of power on full display - but all the gleaming horses and trumpets in the world won't give the government the veneer of authority without credible and coherent plans.

The Labour Party and its MPs are desperately hoping for something to catch voters' imagination. One source involved in preparing for the speech told me there'd be plenty of Labour-friendly measures on offer. But would there be anything dramatic or dazzling to change the conversation? They weren't so sure.

Another cabinet minister told me in recent weeks Starmer has been "bluntly self critical" and has recognised privately that he has to step up. The minister told me a leadership contest now would be a mistake, adding "he is the most astonishing adaptor and survivor".

The trouble is, Starmer has already had several resets and reboots to his still young government.

There's plenty of evidence from his own track record that he won't give up - but history is less on his side when it comes to governments in predicaments like this. That's why some ministers have already concluded "it's terminal - I just can't see a way through", as one told me.

As for a solid, better offer than Starmer? Well, the evidence for that is patchy too.

I don't expect we'll hear anything from Andy Burnham this weekend. He isn't even an MP, and after Labour took a pasting across his backyard in the North West, perhaps it looks harder for him this weekend too.

I also don't expect Angela Rayner to say she'd take a tilt at the job this weekend, though she'll make plain her concerns about the direction of the party.

And some allies of the PM insist "there is a quiet majority in the PLP [Parliamentary Labour Party] who think, 'Oh my god, what are we doing?'"

Without a clear contender, ready to go, the prospect of forcing Starmer to lay out a timetable now for leaving No 10 would, these allies say, look crackers to already-fed-up voters. They feel it would send the message: "Dear country, we can't make a decision, so we want a bit more time 'til we do."

And if the prime minister accepted calls for him to set out this timetable for his departure, another minister warns the game would effectively be over straight away. "If you say you're going, you're done as soon as you've said it."

Labour still has a huge majority and we are living through a time of huge international turmoil. Loyalists point to the government's achievements like increasing the minimum wage, or improving NHS waiting lists. Getting rid of leaders, as the Tories discovered during their 14 years of power, can end in disaster too.

But the truth this weekend? "We just can't seem to stop talking about the leadership," as one cabinet minister, who wants "resilient" Starmer to stay, puts it. That conversation simply is not going to go away.

Support for the prime minister across the country has dramatically fallen, as this week's hard evidence has shown. With the growing tally of MPs calling for his exit, support for Starmer within the party is ebbing away.

It feels increasingly like the prime minister is on borrowed time. This weekend, Labour's stuck in an unhappy, angry stasis – no one ready to move; fewer and fewer happy for Starmer to stay.

Top picture credit: PA

BBC InDepth is the home on the website and app for the best analysis, with fresh perspectives that challenge assumptions and deep reporting on the biggest issues of the day. Emma Barnett and John Simpson bring their pick of the most thought-provoking deep reads and analysis, every Saturday. Sign up for the newsletter here

Lebanon says Israeli strike on south kills seven including child

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn4pjegk358o, today

An Israeli strike on southern Lebanon has killed at least seven people, including a child, Lebanon's health ministry said.

The strike on the town of Saksakiyeh wounded a further 15, including three children, the ministry added. Lebanese official media also reported that an Israeli strike killed a Syrian national and seriously injured his 12-year-old daughter in the southern city of Nabatieh.

Lebanese armed group Hezbollah targeted northern Israel with a drone, which the Israeli military said wounded three soldiers.

Israeli forces and Hezbollah have continued to trade fire since US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire deal between the governments of Israel and Lebanon on 16 April.

Most of Israel's air strikes have hit southern Lebanon, with the military saying it is striking infrastructure and people linked to Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militia and political party.

On Saturday, Lebanon's state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported Israeli strikes across the south, including in Saksakiyeh.

The health ministry said that raid "resulted in an initial toll of seven martyrs, including a girl, and 15 wounded, including three children".

The ministry reported that another Israeli strike on a motorbike in Nabatieh hit "a Syrian national and his 12-year-old daughter".

"After they managed to move away from the site of the first strike, the drone attacked a second time," killing the father, the ministry said, adding the drone then targeted the girl "directly for a third time".

The girl was undergoing life-saving surgery, it added.

Israel has not commented on the strikes.

According to Lebanon's health ministry, Israeli attacks have killed more than 120 people across the country in the last week, including women and children. The ministry does not distinguish combatants from civilians.

The Israeli military also occupies a strip of Lebanese land along the border, and officials say the aim is to create what they describe as a Hezbollah-free security zone to protect Israel's northern communities.

In those areas, entire villages have been destroyed, in actions similar to the ones deployed by the Israeli military in Gaza. Rights groups say some cases could amount to war crimes.

Hezbollah, meanwhile, has carried out attacks on Israeli troops in Lebanon and northern Israel with rockets and drones.

The group said it targeted northern Israel with a drone on Saturday in response to continued Israeli attacks.

The Israeli military said it had identified "an explosive drone launched by the Hezbollah terrorist organisation" near the border in the north. It said three army reservists were injured in the attack, one of them seriously.

Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire ending a previous conflict in November 2024, after which Israel carried out near-daily attacks on targets and people it said were linked to Hezbollah.

After the US and Israel attacked Iran on 28 February and killed Iran's supreme leader, Hezbollah launched rockets and drones into Israel in retaliation on 2 March.

In response, Israel bombarded Lebanon with air strikes. Israeli forces re-entered southern Lebanon in early March, where they have destroyed villages and remained occupying 10km (6.2 miles) of Lebanese territory.

More than 2,700 people have been killed in Lebanon since 2 March, according to the Lebanese health ministry.

Israeli authorities have said that 17 soldiers and one civilian have been killed in southern Lebanon, along with two civilians in northern Israel.

Steve Rosenberg: This year's Victory Day parade in Moscow felt very different

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj9pem481rwo, today

I've attended many Victory Day parades on Red Square.

This year's version felt very different.

In previous years I've had to sprint from the media bus that normally parks up by St Basils' Cathedral, in order to nab a decent spot in the press area at the side of the square.

No running was required this year. There were far fewer journalists at the event. Many international media organisations had not been granted access.

Once I was in position on Red Square, a Russian TV crew came up to me and started filming.

"Steve, you're proof that foreign media have been allowed in," beamed the reporter.

"Not really," I replied. "I can't see any others."

I was glad to be there, though. To see for myself what Victory Parade 2026 would look like.

As well as fewer journalists, there were fewer guests in the stands, and fewer world leaders had flown in for the spectacle.

But the biggest difference became evident once the parade got under way.

There were no tanks, no rocket launchers, no intercontinental ballistic missiles on display - none of the military hardware which the Kremlin normally showcases on Victory Day to project Russian military power on the international stage.

That's because this year's parade had been scaled back (hence fewer guests and fewer journalists). The authorities had cited security concerns, fearing Ukraine might target Red Square with drones.

President Vladimir Putin will have been reluctant to pare back a parade that is always choreographed to portray Russian strength. But fear of a potential Ukrainian attack forced the change.

In the end, the parade passed off without incident. There was no attack. A last-minute ceasefire between Moscow and Kyiv, brokered by Donald Trump, reduced the danger of that.

On Friday, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a decree "permitting" Russia to hold the parade.

Ukraine's trolling wasn't appreciated by Moscow.

A Kremlin spokesman commented that Russia didn't need anyone's permission to hold the Victory Parade.

And what about all that military hardware I mentioned earlier?

We may not have seen it on the square. But we did see it on a screen.

Multiple rocket launchers, fighter jets, tanks, submarines and other weaponry flashed up on giant screens that had been set up on Red Square.

The Kremlin appears to have decided that if couldn't parade its military hardware in public, a video presentation was the next best thing.

"We always were and always will be victorious!" declared President Putin in his speech.

The Soviet Union was victorious 81 years ago. Russia can truly celebrate what it calls the "Great Victory" of 1945. It pushed back and defeated an aggressor.

And it celebrated that today on Red Square.

But the Ukraine war is a very different war. Russia invaded Ukraine more than four years ago. And, right now, for Russia, there is no sign of victory.

Why Canada is seeing its biggest military recruitment surge in 30 years

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crrpd1pvgkzo, today

For decades, Canada was seen as a global laggard in defence funding, and just two years ago, recruitment was so dire that a former defence minister warned the armed forces were in a "death spiral".

Now, the Canadian army is growing at a pace not seen in decades, reaching its highest number of recruits in 30 years and potentially reversing the chronic personnel shortage that has plagued the country's military.

The boost over the last two years comes as the world grapples with major armed conflicts and geopolitical uncertainty, and as Canada commits billions in new military funding after years of falling short of its Nato obligations.

It also coincides with an uncharacteristic rise in nationalism that has emerged since US President Donald Trump referred to Canada as the "51st state" - remarks that many viewed as a threat to the country's sovereignty from its closest neighbour.

Charlotte Duval-Lantoine, a fellow at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute who researches Canada's military culture, said that while there may be a "Trump effect" behind the recent rise in enlistment, military applications had already begun spiking in 2022, around the time of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

"When people see that the world is not as safe, that their country might be at risk… we tend to see people join the military," she said.

Global conflicts are not the only factor driving the increase. Canada's high youth unemployment rate - which hovered at nearly 14% in March - as well as the promise of job security and higher wages after Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the largest pay increase for military personnel in a generation, are also a factor, Duval-Lantoine added.

Since taking office last year, Carney has made the military a focus of his government, with a self-described "ambitious" plan to rapidly modernise and expand the Canadian Armed Forces.

In March, he announced that Canada had officially achieved the Nato target of spending 2% of its GDP on defence for the first time since the late 1980s, amounting to over C$63bn ($46bn; £34bn) in a single year. Carney also joined the Nato pledge to spending up to 5% of GDP on defence by 2035.

Canada reached that 2% milestone by increasing salaries, as well as pledging to buy new equipment, upgrade existing bases and build new infrastructure in the Arctic.

But even with the new recruits, analysts say Canada's military still lags significantly behind its allies, and caution that it may take some time before funding translates into improvements.

Richard Shimooka, a senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, a public policy think tank, said the Canadian Armed Forces currently have the capacity to deploy only a few thousand soldiers at a time, along with a limited number of fighter jets. By comparison, the UK military can deploy 10,000 troops if necessary, he said.

"The state of the Canadian Armed Forces is currently at a very low point, and it will take five or 10 years before you start to see a real upswing," Shimooka said.

A big reason for this, Shimooka argued, is Canada's historic overreliance on the US - its neighbour and the world's largest military power - for its defence.

Successive US presidents and officials have repeatedly pressured Canada to increase defence spending, and critics have referred to Canada as a military "freeloader". US House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson accused Canada in 2024 of "riding on America's coattails".

Last year, Trump singled out Canada as one of Nato's "low-payers", telling reporters in June: "Canada says, 'Why should we pay when the United States will protect us for free?'"

Canada is still among the lowest paying Nato members even after reaching the 2% target, according to report from the defence alliance released last year - behind the US, UK and France.

Less red tape and welcoming foreign nationals

Canada's ability to bring in more recruits is a sign that things may be slowly improving. David McGuinty, Canada's defence minister, said that he believes the country could reach its recruitment goals earlier than projected.

The rate of attrition, or the number of service members leaving the military, has also declined slightly, after being described as causing "a death spiral" by former Defence Minister Bill Blair in 2024.

Active service members told the BBC during a recent Arctic sovereignty and security operation in Canada's northern territory of Nunavut that the new funding is welcome and - in some cases - long overdue.

"We're a couple of decades behind, but at least we're trying to do things now," said Alden Campbell, a first officer with the Royal Canadian Air Force. He said the recent pay structure changes have led to a boost in morale, as has the promise of upgraded equipment.

"Hopefully I can be at an age and a time in my career where I can be a beneficiary of these updates," he said.

In late April, the Canadian military announced it had enrolled more than 7,000 new members in the last fiscal year - its highest number of new recruits in three decades.

That figure is a fraction of the total number of people who have expressed interest in joining the military. As of February, confirmed applications to the Canadian Armed Forces had nearly doubled year over year, rising from 21,700 to 40,116, according to figures shared with the BBC by Canada's Department of National Defence.

Those numbers reflect applicants who submitted the required documents to confirm their eligibility. The total number of applications was far higher, reaching nearly 100,000 over the past year.

It is a big jump from 2019-20, when around 36,000 people had applied.

Travis Haines, a lieutenant colonel in the Canadian Armed Forces, told the BBC he believes the boost in recruitment is in large part tied to the military reducing bureaucratic hurdles.

Canada's military has long been criticised for its inability to review and bring applicants on board quickly, and it has recently digitised some application elements - including allowing the submission of documents electronically - to speed up the process.

"There was always interest," Haines said. "It was just hard to get through the system."

Another significant recruitment change in recent years is the opening up of applications to permanent residents of Canada, rather than just citizens - a change that came into effect in 2022. Foreign nationals made up around 20% of last year's new recruits.

Canada is now eyeing a major expansion of its military, with plans for a total of 85,500 regular service members and a mobilisation force of up to 300,000 reservists.

Duval-Lantoine said Canada has not pursued a mobilisation plan on this scale since 2004 - a sign the country is reckoning with the ongoing war in Ukraine, which she noted has endured in large part because of Ukraine's military manpower.

Canada, like its European allies, is trying to prepare "for future wars by analysing the current one", she said.

Putin says he thinks Ukraine conflict 'coming to an end'

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn8p4j2jzwwo, today

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he thinks Russia's conflict with Ukraine is coming to an end, addressing reporters after a scaled-back military parade in Moscow marking the Soviet victory in World War Two.

"I think that the matter is coming to an end," he said, referring to the "special military operation" in Ukraine, while condemning Western support for the Kyiv government.

Russia's annual parade lacked the usual display of tanks and missiles, due to security concerns as authorities feared Ukraine might target Red Square with drones.

A last-minute ceasefire between Moscow and Kyiv, brokered by US President Donald Trump, reduced the danger of any attack and the parade passed off without incident.

Putin's comments came just hours after he used his Victory Day speech to justify the war.

In that speech he said Russia was fighting a "just" war and called Ukraine an "aggressive force" that was being "armed and supported by the whole bloc of Nato".

Later, when asked at a news conference about the West helping Ukraine, Putin said: "They (West) promised assistance and then began fuelling a confrontation with Russia that continues to this day. I think that the matter is coming to an end, but it is a serious matter."

Russian forces seized Crimea and parts of eastern Ukraine in 2014, then launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Putin said he would only meet Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky once a lasting peace deal was agreed to.

"A meeting in a third country is also possible, but only once final agreements have been reached on a peace treaty for a long‑term historical perspective, to take part in this event and sign (treaty), but it must be a final step," he continued.

Putin said he had heard that Zelensky was ready to hold a personal meeting but added "this is not the first time we have heard such statements".

Putin said he would be willing to negotiate new security arrangements for Europe, and that his preferred negotiating partner would be Germany's former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder.

The ex-chancellor is a longstanding friend of Putin, and controversial because of his work for Russian state-owned energy firms.

As part of the US-led ceasefire deal over the weekend, Kyiv and Moscow agreed to a swap of 1,000 prisoners from each country. But Putin said on Saturday that Russia had not yet heard from Ukraine about any exchanges.

For the first time in nearly two decades there was no military hardware at the Red Square parade, which the Kremlin normally showcases to project Russian military power on the international stage.

There were also far fewer journalists at the event, with many international media organisations not being granted access.

Buddhist monk arrested over alleged rape of teen in Sri Lanka

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy42kp0x92jo, today

One of Sri Lanka's highest-ranking Buddhist monks has been arrested and sent to remand prison over the alleged rape and sexual assault of a 15-year-old girl.

The Venerable Pallegama Hemarathana Thero holds one of the most revered positions in the Buddhist world - the chief prelate or custodian of eight sacred sites in Sri Lanka.

He was arrested following a submission from the country's child protection authority, which had previously criticised police for not arresting him despite being named as a suspect in the case.

Pallegama Hemarathana has not publicly commented on the charges. He will appear in court on 12 May.

The alleged victim's mother was also arrested and remanded to custody after being charged with aiding and abetting the abuse.

Pallegama Hemarathana was receiving treatment at a private hospital in Colombo when he was arrested on Saturday. The magistrate determined that he should be transferred to the Colombo prison hospital.

He also issued an order to immigration authorities to ensure that Pallegama Hemarathana did not try to flee the country.

It is unusual to see Buddhist monks - much less such a high-ranking figure - arrested in Sri Lanka, where they are both politically powerful and venerated by society.

Suspected boat explosion injures 11 in Miami

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c7076k4e31do, today

US authorities are investigating the cause of an explosion on board a boat that injured 11 people in Miami, southern Florida.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Juan Arias told reporters that emergency crews responded to reports of a "possible boat explosion" at Haulover Sandbar, a popular tourist location.

Eleven people were taken to local hospitals to be treated for burns and traumatic injuries, Arias said.

Officials have not revealed the cause of the explosion. The BBC has approached Miami-Dad Fire and Rescue for further details.

"We saw three people fly out of the boat," eyewitness and local boat charter Patrick Lee told the BBC's US partner CBS News.

"I just saw a lot of them with burns all over them, and I said that it's a hot fire," Lee added. "It is quick, but it's high octane gasoline, and so a lot of them got burnt and it was an explosion."

Videos from the scene appear to show a helicopter landing close to the Miami marina with emergency teams carrying at least one injured person on a stretcher.

Fire and rescue teams were joined by the US coast guard and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation in responding to the incident.

Haulover Sandbar is billed as a popular tourist marina in Miami, owing to its clear and shallow water.

Antisemitism 'a problem for all of us to fix', religious leaders say in letter

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy92v3j999yo, today

Antisemitism is "a problem for all of us to fix", religious leaders from across the country have said in an open letter published in support of the UK's Jewish community.

The letter, also signed by leading figures from business, sport and media, called for support for British Jews and described recent violence as a "nightmare from another time".

There have been a string of attacks at synagogues and other Jewish sites in recent months, including the stabbing of two Jewish men in Golders Green, north London, a fortnight ago.

Signatories include faith leaders from Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh and Zoroastrian communities, with the letter stating "this country belongs to you as much as any of us".

The open letter, organised by the Together Coalition, said: "The spectre of Jewish people being stabbed at random in the street, killed defending their synagogues and Jewish infrastructure being firebombed feel like a nightmare from another time."

It added: "This is not a problem for Jewish people to have to respond to. This is a problem for all of us to fix.

"This country belongs to you as much as any of us. You are as British as all of us who call this country home. And we will do everything we can to protect you and your community from the extremists who threaten you."

Responding to the letter, Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis called it a "powerful riposte to the hateful extremists who have targeted the Jewish community".

"My hope is that where these institutions have led, others will follow, in workplaces, boardrooms, classrooms and on social media, so that we can finally begin to tackle this scourge together," he added.

Two Jewish people were killed in October last year and three left in a serious condition after a car ramming and stabbing attack outside a synagogue in Manchester. One of the men was killed by a bullet fired by police.

Earlier this year in March, four Jewish charity-owned Hatzola ambulances were set on fire in the car park of a synagogue in Golders Green.

In recent weeks the Finchley Reform Synagogue in north London was attacked and days later a bottle containing an accelerant was thrown through the window of Kenton United Synagogue.

Shloime Rand, 34, and Moshe Shine, 76, were attacked in Golders Green two weeks ago, after which a man was charged with attempted murder. The same man is also charged with attempted murder for an attack on a Somali man in South London prior to the Golders Green incident.

Brendan Cox, co-founder of the Together Coalition, said: "Extremists are trying to divide us, to target minorities on the basis of their race or religion and to turn community against community. We won't let them".

Julie Siddiqi, co-chair of the UK Muslim Network and one of the signatories, said the "shared experience" of "hatred and violence because of our faith" should make British Jews and British Muslims "allies in tackling extremism".

Iran demands guarantees for World Cup participation

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgpxg03v57o, today

Iran has indicated it will take part in this summer's football World Cup, but has demanded a series of guarantees from Fifa and the tournament's hosts amid growing tensions surrounding the team's participation.

The Iranian Football Federation (FFIRI) said Iran would compete at the tournament "without any retreat from our beliefs, culture and convictions", while insisting the hosts "must take our concerns into account".

The demands come after FFIRI president Mehdi Taj was denied entry to Canada before last month's Fifa Congress.

Taj later revealed Iran had presented Fifa with 10 conditions for participation at the World Cup, which begins on 11 June in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Among the demands published in a statement on Saturday are guarantees that all players, coaches and officials travelling with the team will receive visas, including those who completed military service with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

The group is listed as a terrorist organisation in Canada and the US, and Mehdi Taj's links to it were cited as a reason he was denied entry into Canada.

Iran is also seeking assurances over the treatment of the national team, including respect for the Iranian flag and national anthem, as well as enhanced security at airports, hotels and stadiums during the tournament.

Some of the requests are likely to prove easier for Fifa to influence than others.

Fifa can help oversee tournament logistics, official protocols and the treatment of participating delegations during the competition itself.

But questions involving visas, border controls and security vetting ultimately remain under US jurisdiction rather than Fifa regulations.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has already stated that Iranian footballers would be welcome at the tournament, while warning that individuals with links to the IRGC could still face restrictions on entering the United States.

That leaves Fifa facing a delicate balancing act between ensuring the participation of all qualified teams and navigating the political realities surrounding relations between Tehran and Washington.

Israel and the US launched wide-ranging strikes on Iran on 28 February. Iran responded by launching attacks on Israel and US-allied states in the Gulf. Fighting has since been largely suspended under a fragile ceasefire.

Some of the Iranian federation's other requests may also prove difficult to enforce in practice.

Iranian officials have reportedly asked for journalists to avoid questions beyond "technical football matters".

But in Iran's case, the boundary between football and politics is often blurred.

Questions around squad selection, public support for the national team or the atmosphere surrounding matches can carry both sporting and political dimensions simultaneously.

This was on display at the women's Asian Cup in Australia in March when a number of Iranian players tried to claim asylum, sparking a tense diplomatic stand-off. Seven members of the team were granted humanitarian visas while in Australia - but five changed their minds and returned home.

Iranian men's coach Amir Ghalenoei recently acknowledged that politically charged atmospheres could surround some matches involving Iran at the World Cup.

Despite the tensions, there is currently no indication that Iran intends to withdraw from the tournament.

Instead, the latest developments point towards increasingly complex negotiations between Fifa, Tehran and US authorities over the conditions surrounding Iran's participation at the largest World Cup in history.

The UFO community has been waiting for answers. Has the Pentagon delivered?

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c707zjg3p42o, yesterday

One California grandmother has been waiting for answers since she was a child and her mother spotted a UFO hovering while she hung clothes out to dry. A therapist in Texas has been an "experiencer" since childhood. And another Lone Star resident, a 36-year-old musician, has been delving into the extraterrestrial world since he learned about an incident not far from his hometown.

All of them on Friday, like the rest of the "UFO community," were waiting with bated breath for what was touted by the US government as a historic moment: The first release of never-before-seen files about unidentified anomalous phenomena, a trove of 162 documents including images, details and, enthusiasts hope, a step towards further transparency – and answers about what's "out there".

"Whereas previous Administrations have failed to be transparent on this subject, with these new Documents and Videos, the people can decide for themselves, 'WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?'" President Donald J. Trump wrote on Truth Social after the documents were released. "Have Fun and Enjoy!"

The Department of War debuted a new website for the public on Friday with files and images - but no commentary or conclusions on the material, writing that, "given the scope of this task," it would "be releasing new materials on a rolling basis as they are discovered and declassified, with tranches posted every few weeks.

"The materials archived here are unresolved cases, meaning the government is unable to make a definitive determination on the nature of the observed phenomena," it wrote, also welcoming "the application of private-sector analysis, information and expertise".

John Erik Ege, regional director at MUFON Texas – (MUFON stands for Mutual UFO Network – said he was "intrigued".

"I think this is a move in the right direction," said Ege, a therapist who has followed this issue since he was a child. "I don't think they're trying to hide anything, but the stuff that they're releasing is stuff that we've known for, like, forever, almost.

"There's no new details. There's no clear evidence that they have the bodies or that they made contact, but I'm very hopeful that we're moving in the right direction."

The new files include decades of declassified military memos, reports from the Apollo Moon missions, and reports from individuals who claim to have witnessed a UFO - or an unidentified flying object - that they suspect has extraterrestrial origins.

They did not hold any serious bombshells - nor any confirmation of alien life - but it marked the latest clear acknowledgement by the US government that it has investigated sightings of unidentified objects.

Many ufologists and UFO enthusiasts were keenly aware that, while they found the release "underwhelming," the tranche of information could likely be revelatory to the average reader.

"These aren't really just aimed for people who are in the UFO community, but … the American people and the general public - to give some kind of reassurance of transparency," said Daniel Jones, 36, a fellow admin with Ege of the Texas UFO Network's Facebook page - which has more than 25,000 members.

Jones, who got engaged last year at a UFO festival, said that he knew "this first batch of files wasn't, more than likely, going to contain anything extremely substantial" – but he's "hopeful to see more definition on the part of the government" in future releases.

So is Elaine Loperena, 69, who stood in her kitchen Friday morning and, while perusing the documents on her tablet, didn't see too much that leapt out as new or surprising - though she's spent a lifetime falling down UFO research rabbit holes. Waiting for answers since she was a child and her mother swore she saw a UFO, Loperena is still more than enthused about the government's decision to make the release.

"I knew Trump was going to announce it; I've said it all along," said Loperena, 69, who lives in Clovis, California. "You know, he wants to go down in history; we all know he has an ego, and, bless him, he's sticking by his guns and he's starting the process."

The push for answers has been getting stronger and more visible in the UFO community recently, she said; as an admin of a dedicated UFO Facebook group, she's seen it firsthand.

The group had around 40,000 members when she joined about three years ago but now numbers close to 100,000 – "and this has just been in the last few months," she said of the recent surge.

"What is unique, and makes it so hard for this to be hidden, is the fact that now there are interviews and past interviews of people who were in the know, who knew this, that were in the military, and that discussed what they knew, what they saw, and even on their deathbed they did," she said.

"It's starting to flow now … I just see it picking up such speed, and it's not going to go backwards; it's going forward, for sure," she said. "The snowball is getting bigger."

Like Jones in Texas, Loperena hopes Friday's files mark just the tip of the iceberg - with plenty more to come.

"This disclosure has to be done properly," she said; information has been "dripping" so far – though this week's release marked "a big drip.'

When it's time to divulge the full truth that she believes is out there, she said, "it's got to be bipartisan, for sure." She worries that "people aren't going to believe it" if the details are just coming from Trump and his administration due to political divides in the US.

Believer or not, ufologist or not, the files were undeniably creating buzz on Friday; Ege said he looked forward to the promised upcoming releases of more.

He believes that "many presidents wanted to do it, and I don't know if they were blocked or discouraged". He said he thinks Trump isn't "scared" or worried if it "brings wrath or not".

Some within the UFO community believe information will be doubted no matter who releases it. Ege said that, if polled the community, "I'd probably have 20 percent of them say that they think this is probably going to be a false flag and misdirection.

"I don't think they trust the government, for one," he said, adding that some hold beliefs that aliens are living among us and that the government has made deals with extraterrestrial life.

Many were publicly dissecting the files on Friday.

"In several cases, the released images are so compressed, artifact-heavy, or lacking in scale/context that it is difficult to determine what is even being shown," one all-star contributor to a UFO group posted. "Some appear to be reconstructed overlays based on witness testimony rather than direct imagery of an object itself.

"That is not the same thing as releasing compelling evidence."

The release, he wrote, "feels more like theater than disclosure."

But even documented evidence and released files won't be enough to satisfy some doubters, said Loperena.

"You're always going to have the naysayers," she said. "Some of those, it's going to take an ET to show up and, you know, ask for dinner.

"There's just those people that can't wrap their heads around this, number one, and then there's those people that [say] 'Well, I need proof.'"

She and the others are hoping that more definitive proof comes soon.

Another year, another controversy for Eurovision - but fans are sticking by it

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cqxp4959nwro, today

The 2026 Eurovision Song Contest officially lands in Vienna on Sunday, with a "turquoise carpet" parade featuring competitors from all 35 nations.

It's the show's 70th anniversary, but the celebrations have been overshadowed by a ferocious row over Israel's participation.

As the delegations gather in Austria, five competition regulars will be absent, with Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain all boycotting the event.

Israel's presence has sparked controversy since its government began a massive military offensive in Gaza in October 2023.

The incursion came in response to a Hamas-led attack on Israel, that killed about 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage, Israeli authorities say. Israel's offensive has killed 72,628 people in Gaza, according to the Hamas-led health authority.

A ceasefire deal has been in effect since 10 October 2025.

During the most recent Eurovision contests in Malmö (2024) and Basel (2025), anti-Israel protesters filled the streets and Israel's participants were given armed guards.

Last year, Yuval Raphael, a survivor of the 7 October attacks, told the BBC she had "practised being booed" during rehearsals. During the final, two protesters attempted to storm the stage as she performed her song New Day Will Rise.

Things came to a head when Yuval's song unexpectedly topped the public vote (she ultimately took second place, due to a lower score from the contest's songwriting juries).

Some countries claimed the public tally had been influenced by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government's official social media channels, who had repeatedly urged followers to vote for New Day Will Rise - an unusual step for a government.

At a meeting last November, several countries tried to force a vote on Israel's presence at the contest. When the proposal failed, the withdrawals included Spain, one of the contest's biggest financial supporters, and seven-time winners Ireland.

It has left fans in a quandary.

'Never felt more divided'

Eurovision is uniquely intertwined with its fan community.

Fan websites and blogs are given equal billing to traditional media during the contest itself, sitting alongside organisations like the BBC and the New York Times in the press centre and attending press conferences with the acts.

Such sites post year-round updates and analysis of contestants, stagings, voting predictions and rehearsals from selection shows right up to the grand final.

"The fan base is very important for the commercial dimension of Eurovision," explains Dean Vuletic, author of the book Postwar Europe and the Eurovision Song Contest.

"When it comes to merchandising, when it comes to ticket sales, the fans are really the ones fuelling this Eurovision industry. They're the ones you can count on to attend the contest, even when it becomes mired in political controversy."

But in the wake of the boycott, some fan sites have suspended their coverage.

"The Eurovision we once knew, that shaped this community and inspired us to create this channel, just isn't the one we fell in love with all those years ago," wrote the team behind Eurovision Hub, a cross-continental fan page.

"We no longer recognise the Eurovision Song Contest we grew up with," agreed Ireland's Eirevision podcast. "A contest founded on unity, peace, and connection has never felt more divided."

Others have tried to find a middle ground.

Welsh Eurovision fan Philip Dore posted an excellent, empathetic article on the ESC Insight website, simply titled: "So, what do Eurovision fans do now?"

"For some people, the Eurovision Song Contest is far more than just a bunch of songs," he noted.

"Eurovision's links to LGBTQ+ identity - both on a personal and societal level - are well-documented. Rather less understood, but no less powerful is the contest's links to neurodiversity."

With that in mind, he outlined potential approaches for conflicted fans. These included everything from an outright boycott, to a "halfway" option of following the build-up and dropping out when events moved to Vienna.

"This isn't an easy situation for anyone," Dore noted. "Many people in the community are feeling a mix of sadness, anger, and loss, and I have no intention of adding judgment to anyone."

'I couldn't miss it'

Despite that, social media feeds have been filled with the usual cavalcade of Eurovision photos, jokes and interviews as the contest approaches.

Tickets for this year's nine final events in Vienna sold out in record time. Every seat at the grand final was snapped up in just 14 minutes.

"To see every single show sell out so quickly is a powerful reminder of what the Eurovision Song Contest represents - joy, togetherness and shared experience at a time when that feels more important than ever," said Eurovision's director, Martin Green.

The reality is a little more nuanced.

"It still feels exciting. It still feels like something that I couldn't miss. And, that said, it feels different," says Rob Lilley-Jones, host of the UK-based Euro Trip podcast.

"There's still that fun element but now, and for the last few years, you are going into Eurovision week with a sense of apprehension and nervous anticipation."

Heightened security and backstage tensions in Malmö made the 2024 contest "the worst it's been", he says.

Marcos Maximillian Tritremmel, president of Austria's Eurovision fan club, remembers the atmosphere vividly.

He understands why protesters object to Israel's presence. "But when you get yelled at on your way into a concert hall - 'What are you doing here? Why are you supporting the genocide?' - at that point, it stops being funny," he told Germany's Der Spiegel magazine.

Lilley-Jones says scenarios like that have made him question whether to continue his podcast, but he feels keeping going "still feels like the right thing to do" if the contest "can still bring joy to people in what is a very difficult situation around the world, not just in the Middle East".

That seems to be the prevailing attitude: It's better to remain in dialogue with one another than to foster further divisions.

With his bird's-eye view of the contest, Vuletic says the contest will weather this controversy, as it has done many times before.

"I get asked this question very often: is this the most political Eurovision ever? But when we look back, there are so many Eurovisions that have been struck by political controversies."

He cites Moscow in 2009, when police violently broke up a gay pride rally that had been timed to coincide with the contest, or Azerbaijan in 2012, when the contest was staged by a dictatorship that suppressed political dissent.

The 2012 contest's eventual winner, Loreen, of Sweden, made a point of meeting local activists, saying: "Human rights are violated in Azerbaijan every day. One should not be silent about such things."

"The media tends to sensationalise the current moment but we've always had to navigate the political context [of the contest]," says Vuletic.

"And the fans have always kept coming, no matter what."

Eurovision organisers will undoubtedly do their best to put politics in the background this week – though Austria's broadcaster has confirmed it will not ban Palestinian flags or censor any audience booing in Vienna's Wiener Stadthalle.

But viewing figures will inevitably shrink, with broadcasters in Spain, Slovenia and Ireland not airing any coverage.

And no-one's quite sure what the fallout will be if Israel wins. Their entry Michelle, by 28-year-old singer Noam Bettan, is one of this year's stronger ballads.

Fans, who've already been through the wringer, will be watching with even more trepidation than usual.

William hails Sir David Attenborough's 'remarkable milestone' at 100th birthday concert

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cq5pwz743j9o, yesterday

Prince William has congratulated Sir David Attenborough on reaching a "remarkable milestone", as the broadcaster and environmentalist celebrated his 100th birthday.

Sir David's seven-decade career was marked with a night of memories, live music and special guests at a special concert at London's Royal Albert Hall on Friday.

"It is a rare privilege to celebrate a century of life," Prince William said, "but it is rarer still when that person has transformed the way we see the only home that we have - planet Earth."

Meanwhile, a cast of helpers from the natural world helped deliver a card written by King Charles from Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire to Sir David's hands at the concert in London.

Birthday messages from a string of A-listers including Leonardo DiCaprio and Dame Judi Dench were played on screen during the show.

Guests joining host Kirsty Young on stage included broadcaster Sir Michael Palin, a friend of Sir David's, while there were performances from musicians including Sigur Rós and Bastille's Dan Smith.

In a pre-recorded video, the King was seen writing his letter to Sir David, which said he and the Queen sent their "warmest congratulations on such a special occasion".

Over the decades, the King continued, Sir David had "revealed the beauty and wonders of nature to audiences around the world in new and marvellous ways".

"In so doing, you have shared my determination to highlight the urgent need to protect and preserve this precious planet of ours - and all life on Earth - for future generations.

"Thank you for all that you have done, and on behalf of the whole nation, I wish you a very happy 100th birthday."

The Queen's dog, Moley was seen scampering around the King's feet as he composed the letter, and recounted his seven-decade friendship with the broadcaster.

King Charles first met Sir David in 1958 as a nine-year-old, when he visited the set of BBC children's programme Zoo Quest - which gave Sir David his big break as a TV presenter.

The King noted their encounter came "almost a decade before the age of colour television, and of course our paths have crossed many times since".

Sending the letter on its way, viewers watched as it encountered a series of obstacles along the way, starting with a fallen tree in the road.

But a string of helpers from the animal kingdom, including eagles, a hedgehog, a red squirrel and a flock of geese, were seen delivering the letter down the British isles.

The letter eventually reached the hands of Sir David - who held it up to the audience at the Royal Albert Hall, prompting one of several standing ovations from the crowd over the course of the night.

In his speech, Prince William told Sir David: "Like millions across the world, my children have grown up with your incredible storytelling - a window into the wonders of nature that shaped their understanding of our planet, and their belief that it is something worth fighting for.

"And for me personally, your friendship has been profound. You have strengthened my own determination to act."

Prince William added: "Tonight, we celebrate far more than a remarkable milestone of 100 years.

"We celebrate a lifetime of extraordinary service. A life that has brought the natural world closer to humanity, and humanity closer to its responsibility to the natural world."

Meanwhile, video messages from a host of A-listers wishing Sir David a happy birthday were also played during the concert.

Dame Judi said: "Sir David, happy birthday, and how lucky we are to get this opportunity to thank you, for all the things that you've told us and taught us."

Actor DiCaprio added: "Thank you truly for everything you've done and continue to do, for our very precious planet and all its inhabitants."

Paddington Bear, Glastonbury chief Emily Eavis, actress Phoebe Waller-Bridge, singer Camila Cabello and composer Hans Zimmer also paid tribute to Sir David in pre-recorded birthday tributes.

Actress Olivia Colman said: "Thank you so much for everything you have given all of us throughout the years, the world is a much better place with you in it."

Coldplay frontman Chris Martin said the band "send you so much love and respect", while pop singer Raye said: "Your voice is a gift to this earth, you are a national treasure."

The BBC Concert Orchestra provided live, orchestral music throughout the night, soundtracking some of the most memorable sequences from Sir David's career.

They included the snakes and iguanas chase from Planet Earth II, and the seals vs orcas sequence from Frozen Planet II.

Later, the orchestra was joined by singer Smith for a live rendition of his band Bastille's hit Pompeii.

Icelandic rock band Sigur Rós also performed Hoppípolla, their 2005 song which has soundtracked countless wildlife programmes, as well as many others films, trailers, and advertisements.

Most of the night's musical performances were accompanied by archival footage or other montages celebrating Sir David's career.

Guests including wildlife presenters Liz Bonnin, Steve Backshall and Chris Packham also reflected on Sir David's impact on public policy - particular the reduction in plastic straw and plastic bag use following the broadcast of Blue Planet II.

Sir Michael recounted the story of how Sir David commissioned Monty Python when he was the controller of BBC Two.

The pair became friends, and Sir Michael reflected that Sir David's success is partly down to the fact that he always "just looks as though he's happy to be there".

"He wants to meet these people and see these animals," Sir Michael said. "It's not something he's been asked to do; it's something that fulfils him."

Elsewhere, Young invited the audience to sing Happy Birthday to Sir David, who appeared touched and grateful as he waved to the crowd.

As the concert began to draw to a close, the BBC announced that Sir David will soon narrate another new natural history series, Blue Planet III.

The night at the Royal Albert Hall concluded with a highlight montage from Sir David's career, soundtracked by his own delivery of the poignant lyrics to What A Wonderful World.

Young told him: "Thank you David, not just for joining us here tonight, but for sharing your knowledge and love of the planet. You've given nature a voice, and what a voice it is."

Our relationship with food is messed up - let's sort it out, says Stanley Tucci

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c98r1k1j844o, today

There's a recurring theme in the second season of Tucci in Italy where someone tells Stanley Tucci he must eat more.

Usually it's a nonna (grandmother), sometimes it's a chef, and occasionally it's an entire family placing more food on the table in spite of his protests.

It reminds me of when I visit my own nonna's house in Rome; I'm immediately ushered to the dining table and presented with enough pasta, bread and favourite dishes to feed an entire family.

And before I've even finished my first plate, I'm encouraged to help myself to seconds.

Such moments are instantly familiar to any Italian, because being Italian means understanding that food is affection, hospitality and identity rolled into one.

Watching the new season of Tucci in Italy, which is released on Disney+ on 12 May, you might find that second portion hard to resist.

The series sees the Devil Wears Prada 2 star travel across the country - from Sicily to Sardinia to northern Italy - exploring regional cooking traditions, local communities and family-run kitchens.

It features plenty of glistening seafood, market produce and local delicacies, alongside Tucci telling the story of a people for whom family and rituals hold communities together.

"We think we know what Italy is," Tucci tells me, "but it's incredibly complex and diverse."

That diversity is reflected most strongly in food and regional identity, he says, with Italians often identifying more with their own city or region than with the country itself.

"When you say to someone, 'You're from Italy', they'll say, 'No, I'm from Tuscany' or 'I'm from Florence', so they're very territorial, especially when it comes to food."

In Siena, which is featured in one of the episodes in the news series, Tucci explores the Tuscan city's historic contradas - districts which maintain strong local identities.

"They all believe their contrada is the greatest," he laughs. "And they express that in many ways, including food."

Similar culinary differences can be found in the north of Italy, where ingredients and dishes are shaped by climate and geography.

"You go up north and you might only find tomatoes in the summer and you'll find the likes of goulash, polenta and buckwheat which you would never find in the south," Tucci adds.

Such regional divides dispel one of the biggest misconceptions internationally that Italian food is "just pizza and pasta," he says. "It's not."

The 65-year-old speaks fondly about a number of places and dishes that have stayed with him after filming.

Asked to name the best thing he ate during season two, he immediately says "everything" - before singling out a handful of pasta dishes, including one made with different types of mozzarella.

But while Tucci's love of food is clear throughout the series, he's worried that society is losing its ability to find pleasure and emotional connection in food.

Asked about the growing influence of weight loss drugs and how they may be changing some people's attitude towards food, Tucci says society's relationship with eating has become "really messed up".

"We overthink it, and the idea of what we're supposed to look like has messed up our relationship with food."

The actor feels modern culture increasingly pushes people, places and food towards uniformity because "we want everything to look the same, taste the same and be generic".

Instead, the star believes diversity and imperfection, particularly when it comes to food, is important - we "should celebrate the tomato or the onion that comes out of the ground not looking perfect".

He also insists he is "not a food fad person" who cares much for trends - and criticises the way food is increasingly treated as simply hunger-quenching, discounting its richer significance.

"Our relationship with food now is it's just something you eat to feed your belly, but that's not what it is."

Our conversation moves on to some of the apparent crimes committed against Italian food - and thankfully we agree on them all.

Pineapple on pizza is a no-go for Tucci. Learning that some people make a Carbonara with cream, bacon or cheddar cheese makes him shudder (I'd say Guanciale, pecorino and egg yolk is all you need).

I ask him whether it's OK to crack spaghetti in half before cooking it. No, he replies, though adds that some regional dishes and soups are made with broken spaghetti.

What about a cappuccino after dinner, ketchup on pasta or parmesan on seafood pasta?

"Absolutely not," he says.

Tucci in Italy S2 will be on Disney+ from 12 May.

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Move over matcha. Hojicha is coming to a cafe near you

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c232kzgm175o, yesterday

Browsing through the menu in a London cafe, Ana Costa wasn't sure what drink she was in the mood for. She didn't fancy a coffee and was considering a matcha latte, when hojicha caught her eye.

A Japanese drink made from green tea, hojicha is dry-roasted at high temperatures to produce a distinctive aroma and nutty flavour. It's less bitter than green tea, with a low caffeine content - and it's creeping onto café menus.

In its traditional form, hojicha tea has always been available at chef Shuko Oda's Koya restaurant in London.

"Traditionally, we don't put milk or any sugar or sweetenings in with hojicha," Oda says. "It's meant to be a brown, clear tea that is very much an every and any time of the day type of hot drink."

But Oda says she's seeing the drink pop up more and more across the UK, largely in milky hojicha lattes and desserts, and even added hojicha ice cream to her own restaurant's menu earlier this year.

At matcha chain Jenki, iced hojicha latte sales were 55% higher across its six London cafes between January and April than during the same time period the previous year.

Meanwhile Rashique Siddique, director of How Matcha, says hojicha latte sales have "grown significantly" over the past year, with How Matcha now selling one or two cups for every five matcha lattes it sells.

"Hojicha feels like where matcha was two or three years ago," Siddique says, "it's moving from niche to mainstream quite quickly."

The tea even hit the menu for the first time at east London coffee roasters Grind this summer, in the form of a black sesame hojicha. Head of coffee Howey Gill says it added the drink after keeping an eye on Japanese food and drink trends spreading to the UK - though he acknowledges the brown colour is "not as sexy as matcha".

Ana, 21, says her hojicha latte from How Matcha - served iced with oat milk and a pump of vanilla syrup - is definitely "less Instagrammable" than matcha, but she enjoys the flavour and says the appearance doesn't matter to her.

Shoppers carrying cups of bright green matcha have become ubiquitous in town centres across the UK. As of February, even Greggs is selling it.

And increasing numbers of people are buying the powder to prepare at home, too.

The quantity of powdered matcha sold at UK supermarkets and convenience stores has grown more than fourfold over the past year, with shoppers spending nearly £9m on it over the last 12 months, according to data from research company Nielsen IQ.

Sipping matchas in the sun, Anjani, 28, says she feels the drink is still "very trendy". Her friend Abeer, 28, agrees, but adds that she thinks the majority of people drink it "for the vibes" rather than because they like the flavour.

Mike Turner, founder of speciality tea shop Bird & Blend, says matcha sales are "sustaining pretty well" and that he expects the market to continue growing, but thinks the hype could die down as the novelty wears off.

Drinking her hojicha, Ana says she likes the taste of matcha and drinks it twice a week, but feels that a lot of UK coffee shops have "warped" it to make it trendy with too many syrups and flavourings.

"The drinks become less about the quality and taste of the matcha" and more about highlighting unique flavour combinations, she says. "You often aren't able to actually taste the matcha."

Isabel MacNeaney, 23, a barista in a Japanese cafe in London, agrees. She says some of her customers change their mind about buying a drink when they discover the cafe doesn't serve matcha with syrups or sweeteners, or complain it tastes too bitter.

"Some people truly do like matcha," Isabel says, "but for a lot of people it's trendy and they can hide the taste with syrups so they can still have a pretty drink."

But for others - regardless of how eye-catching or how many syrups have been added, they will never enjoy the taste of matcha.

"I've tried to like it. It's gross," says Liv Dyer, 31, who'd much rather have a coffee, English breakfast tea or green tea. "It tastes like a muddy puddle."

Matcha mania may have been sweeping the world, but Nielsen IQ data shows sales of other types of tea - including green tea, kombucha and cold carbonated tea - are all rising, too.

Twinings, for example, branched out into selling sparkling fruity tea in cans in 2024, while kombucha is now available in some supermarket meal deals.

At Bird & Blend, black tea - which includes flavours like chocolate digestive and violet cream - is lined up alongside rooibos, chai, matcha and other teas. Annual sales of chai at Bird & Blend grew 38% in the year to April.

"I have been saying chai will be the next thing for a few years," says founder Turner, but he adds, "I don't think it will explode to the same extent that matcha has."

A sweeter, milder western version in the form of a chai latte already features on the menu of most major coffee chains, but there's growing interest in karak chai, a sweet, milky Indian tea spiced with ginger, cardamom and cinnamon, according to Chaiiwala founder Sohail Alimohamed.

Chaiiwala, which sells Indian street food and hot and iced drinks, sells around half a million cups of karak chai every month.

Its cafes are open late - some beyond midnight at the weekend - and Alimohamed says in recent months he's been contacted by universities interested in opening stores on their campuses for students who don't drink alcohol.

This is in part why friends Anjani and Abeer tell me they enjoy matcha and chai cafes so much.

Neither like coffee, and both say going to cafes with a wide range of other hot - or iced - drinks offers a great alternative to socialising at the pub.

Vibrantly-coloured drinks made with ube, or purple yam, have also been added to Costa Coffee and Starbucks menus this summer, with marketing materials heavily promoting ube's lilac hues.

But on a sunny Spring day when I ask people in a London park what tea trends they've got their eyes on, it's not ube that keeps coming up - it's mate.

A bitter, caffeinated tea from South America, it's traditionally served hot with a straw, but is also available chilled.

"I think mate is gonna be the next thing," says Adam Leahy, 23, highlighting its taste and high caffeine content.

Despite Adam's prediction, there's no knowing for sure what the next big trend will be, and cafe owners and businesses I spoke to certainly don't seem to be anticipating that hojicha - or any other teas - will explode in quite the same way matcha did.

But more fun new flavours are coming on to the market, and the rise of the sober-curious movement and interest in drinks with functional benefits are helping shape trends.

As Bird & Blend's Turner says: "It's an exciting time for tea."

I will serve - not rule over Hungary, says new PM

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce3pqvvzgnko, today

Hungary's new prime minister, Péter Magyar, has been sworn in, almost a month after he steered his Tisza party to a landslide victory, sweeping away 16 years of rule by Viktor Orbán.

"I will not rule over Hungary - I will serve my country," Magyar said after he took the oath of office in parliament.

Tisza holds 141 seats out of 199 in the new parliament - up from zero, a result of the party being founded just two years ago.

Tens of thousands of people are expected to take part in a "celebration of freedom and democracy" outside parliament in Budapest, along the shores of the Danube. Magyar has told Hungarians to step through the "gateway of regime change".

Orbán's Fidesz party crumbled from 135 to 52 seats, and shows signs of imploding.

He and other key party figures have decided not to take their seats in parliament, and their political future is uncertain, beyond a vague commitment to "rebuild the national side".

Each day brings new revelations or allegations of corruption against a party which has governed Hungary almost unchallenged since 2010. Magyar has promised a "change of system" as well as a change of government.

"The main priority is to set up the government... on the ruins of the previous one," Zoltán Tarr, incoming Minister for Social Relations and Culture, told the BBC.

"We are ready to face a very grim economic situation. But at the moment, we just don't know the severity."

A spending spree initiated by the Orbán government in the past eight months came on top of years in which state contracts and funds were channelled to business circles close to Fidesz.

The budget deficit has already swollen close to the planned target for the whole year.

The incoming government is at pains to show that it is morally stronger than Fidesz.

One prominent businessman, György Wáberer, who switched from Fidesz to Tisza a week before the election, told a journalist he had donated £242,000 (€280,000, $331,000) to Tisza.

Magyar promptly returned the money to him.

When Magyar's brother-in-law, Márton Melléthei-Barna, was named justice minister, the new government was bitterly criticised on social media.

On Thursday evening, Melléthei-Barna announced that he was withdrawing his candidacy for the post, "to ensure that not even the slightest shadow is cast on the transition".

Incoming Tisza ministers say there will be no revenge against the outgoing government, but those guilty of financial crimes will be held accountable. A new "office to recover stolen assets" will be set up.

"I don't think that we should talk about a guillotine," said Tarr, in response to calls for those responsible for siphoning off the national wealth to go on trial.

"We are talking about investigations and actions which are totally in line with the rule of law. Interestingly enough, the current chief prosecutor, and the police, have started certain investigations which they did not start before the election. They are questioning people."

The small number of prosecutions of prominent figures in Hungary in the past "is turning into a steady flow", a source close to the prosecutor's office told the BBC, "not because we didn't want to prosecute before, but because the police and the tax office were reluctant to gather evidence".

"What has changed is that people are now coming forward. So a lot more evidence is suddenly available," the source added.

One target of police investigations is the media empire of Gyula Balásy, which won millions in government contracts over the past decade, and ran Fidesz campaigns hostile to migrants, as well as "enemies", who ranged from billionaire businessman and philanthropist George Soros, to Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky and Magyar himself.

In a tearful interview last week, Balásy said he wanted to hand over his companies and investments to the state, though he denied any wrongdoing.

The accounts of some of his companies have been frozen.

Another target of investigation is Hungary's National Cultural Fund, and within it an Urban Civil Fund - with a budget of £57.2m (€64.9m, $76.7m). Allegations that it may have channelled money to Fidesz candidates are also being investigated.

The biggest challenge facing the new Magyar government is the urgent need to release €17bn in various EU funds, withheld by the European Commission from the Orbán government.

Last week, Commission sources in Brussels suggested that some of the Hungarian money may be lost.

Other problems include the need to find a common position on an EU migrant pact, which was bitterly opposed by the Orbán government.

The pact is due to come into full force on 12 June, but Hungary is still being fined €1m a day for non-compliance with rulings of the European Court of Justice (CJEU) over its treatment of migrants.

Recent surveys also suggest that Tisza party voters, like Fidesz voters before them, are worried about irregular migration.

They are also wary of Ukraine's desire to join the EU. Magyar, like Orbán, says Hungary still needs Russian oil and gas supplies, at least in the short term.

But Tarr is optimistic. He sees a willing partner in the EU and is not concerned that young people who danced through the night on 12 April will become disillusioned, after they return to continue celebrating this weekend.

"I'm not worried, I'm excited... We are serving the country. We are serving the people. We are not here to rule. We are here to serve. We are here to fulfil a mandate."

Frontier Airlines plane hit and killed a person on the runway at Denver airport

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5y95782wyko, today

A Frontier Airlines plane struck and killed a person while attempting to take off from a runway at Denver International Airport late on Friday night, authorities have said.

The collision caused a brief engine fire, which the Denver Fire Department quickly extinguished, the airport said in a statement.

Smoke could be seen in the cabin, and all 224 people on board were then evacuated via the aircraft's inflatable emergency slides as a matter of precaution, Frontier said in a statement.

The person had jumped the perimeter fence and was hit and killed two minutes later while crossing the runway, according to the airport.

"We are deeply saddened by this event," Frontier said.

The Frontier Airlines flight was taking off from Denver en route to Los Angeles International Airport around 23:00 local time (06:00 BST) when it hit the individual, authorities said.

The plane was moving at a "high speed" at the time, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said.

"Late last night, a trespasser breached airport security at Denver Int'l Airport, deliberately scaled a perimeter fence, and ran out onto a runway," Duffy said in a statement.

"No one should EVER trespass on an airport," he added.

The person is not believed to be an airport employee and has not been identified, Denver International Airport (DIA) said in a statement.

"The airport has examined the fenceline and found it to be intact," DIA said.

Photos and video shared by one of the passengers with the BBC's US partner CBS News show smoke in the cabin, as well as what appears to be blood on the plane's engine.

After evacuating the plane, the passengers were bused back to the terminal as emergency crews responded to the scene, DIA said.

Twelve passengers aboard the plane reported minor injuries from the incident, five of whom were taken to nearby hospitals, according to airport authorities.

The majority of the passengers have since left Denver on a new Frontier flight, the airport said.

The runway is closed while the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board investigate.

"We are extremely saddened by this incident and express our sympathies to those involved," DIA said.

More than 200,000 migrants have crossed Channel in small boats since 2018

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx249y1jew2o, today

More than 200,000 migrants have crossed the English Channel in small boats since records began in 2018, new figures show.

The Home Office recorded 70 people arriving in the UK on Friday, taking the total to 200,013 in the last nine years. Calm weather conditions meant 70 people on one boat were able to make the crossing.

Successive governments have promised to reduce migrant arrivals through this route and halt the smuggling operations that facilitate the dangerous crossings, but the number of small boat arrivals has more than doubled in the last three years to reach this new milestone.

At least eight migrants have died while trying to cross the Channel by boat this year, according to the UN's International Organization for Migration and French authorities. Last year 23 people were confirmed to have died.

The number of migrants attempting to cross the Channel was declared a "major incident" by the government in 2018 following a rise in people using this route.

A combination of enhanced security at ports, a clamp down on other illegal routes, and the development of organised gangs have reportedly helped contribute to the rise in small boat crossings.

The government has also suggested that "red days" - when conditions are considered favourable for crossing the Channel - and the prevalence of overcrowded boats has increased in recent years.

About 128,000 crossings were made under previous Conservative governments between 2018 and 2024. Former Tory prime minister Rishi Sunak pledged to "stop the boats" in 2022, while Labour promised to "smash" the people-smuggling gangs making money from illegal Channel crossings when Sir Keir Starmer took power in 2024.

Since then more than 72,000 people have entered the UK this way. The majority of people making the crossing travel from France and go on to claim asylum in the UK, though not all of them are granted it.

The number of people taking this dangerous route each year peaked in 2022 when more than 45,000 people made the journey before dropping by several thousand the next year. The annual number of crossings has since risen gradually to similar levels in the past three years.

More than 7,380 people have crossed the Channel since January, which is 36% lower than the same period last year.

A Home Office spokesperson said the government was "bearing down on small boat crossings".

"The home secretary has signed a landmark new deal with France to boost enforcement action on beaches and put people smugglers behind bars," they added.

"This builds on joint work that has stopped over 42,000 illegal migrants attempting to cross the channel since the election.

"We have removed or deported almost 60,000 people who were here illegally and are going further to remove the incentives that draw illegal migrants to this country."

Who is crossing the Channel on small boats?

The majority of migrants crossing the Channel on small boats from 2018-2025 are from Iran, Afghanistan, Iraq, Eritrea and Albania, Home Office figures show.

But in the last year there has been an increasing number of people from several African nations attempting to cross.

People arriving from Eritrea, Somalia and Ethiopia nearly trebled to 13,000 compared with 2024, while the number of people arriving from Sudan through this route rose by about 60% in the same period, following ongoing civil wars and political repression in the country.

The EU's border agency, Frontex, has also reported an increase in sea arrivals across a number of Mediterranean countries by migrants from the same four African countries.

It marks a change from previous years when the majority of people making the crossing were from Iran, Iraq, and Afghanistan. It had followed years of oppression by the Iranian government, economic hardship and instability across Iraq, and the rise of the Taliban in Afghanistan.

In 2022 the largest group of migrants using this route were from Albania, reportedly driven by economic factors and organised crime.

Almost all those making the journey across the Channel are under the age of 40, while men and boys made up nearly nine in 10 small boat arrivals between 2018 and 2025. The percentage of women and girls crossing the Channel has gradually increased, and while young children and babies are known to have been taken across the Channel the government does not publish a more detailed breakdown of age groups under 17 or over 40.

Who is allowed to stay in the UK?

About 95% of people who arrived on small boats in the eight years to 2025 claimed asylum in the UK, according to the Home Office. They made up about a third of all asylum claims over that period, including people who arrived legally and then claimed asylum.

By December last year, more than 108,000 of these asylum applications had been processed, with about three in five people granted asylum.

Grant rates vary widely by nationality, however. Among the 10 countries with the highest number of decisions, more than 90% of applications from Yemen, Sudan and Eritrea were approved.

These outcomes can change over time, too. In 2022, 96% of Afghan applicants were granted asylum following the Taliban's return to power, but by 2025 this had fallen to 33% after a change in Home Office guidance suggested the security situation was no longer as severe as in previous years.

What happens to people who are refused asylum?

For those refused asylum, the government may seek to return people to another country, although this is not always possible.

This can happen voluntarily - where people agree to leave the UK in return for financial or travel assistance - or involuntarily, when people are detained and escorted out of the country by immigration officers.

About 7,600 people who arrived by small boat have been returned from the UK since 2018, according to the latest figures. The government does not state whether these returns were enforced or voluntary, but figures up to December 2025 suggest 70% of those returned were from Albania.

The Home Office has paused returns to Afghanistan, as there is currently no diplomatic mission to the UK.

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US to revoke passports of parents with child support debt

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62r52l107po, 2 days ago

The US State Department has said it will start to revoke the passports of Americans who owe significant amounts of child support.

The department announced that parents who have outstanding debt of more than $2,500 (€1,844) in child support payments could be impacted, but would be targeting those with "significant outstanding" debt.

The State Department said it is using "commonsense tools to support American families and strengthen compliance" with US laws in an approach it said would enforce parents' "legal and moral obligations to their children".

Those with such debt were advised to arrange payment to relevant state agencies to prevent passport revocation.

Once a passport has been revoked, it will no longer be able to be used for travel. Those whose passports are revoked won't be eligible for a new one until their child support debt has been paid, the State Department said.

"This action supports the welfare of American children by exacting real consequences for child support delinquency under existing federal law," the department said in a statement.

Passport revocations for unpaid child support of more than $2,500 is allowed under a rarely-enforced 1996 federal law.

Previously, the consequence was only doled out when people with such debt sought to renew their passports.

With the new policy, the State Department said it will work with the US Department of Health and Human Services to identify those with outstanding debt and revoke passports.

The department did not state when the policy would start to be enforced but the Associated Press reported it would begin on Friday. The BBC has contacted the State Department.

Those who are outside the US at the time of revocation will need to visit a US embassy or consulate to get an emergency travel document allowing them to reenter the country, the AP reported.

Greece conducts controlled blast of mystery naval drone explosives

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9364r4r902o, today

Greek authorities have rendered safe a naval drone carrying explosives after it was discovered in the Ionian Sea by fishermen.

The unmanned vessel, suspected to be of Ukrainian origin, was found in a cave near Lefkada on Greece's western coast on Thursday with its engine still running. Greek bomb disposal experts removed its detonators and battery.

The incident has raised questions about Greece's maritime security and its vulnerability to emerging military technology.

Authorities are now investigating how the drone ended up in Greece's territorial waters and why it may have been in the Mediterranean.

Ukraine has used naval drones to target Russian warships, tankers and naval bases since Moscow's full-scale invasion began in 2022, but much of this activity has been constrained to the Black Sea, which the two nations border.

Ukraine's military has so far not commented. Both Greek and Ukrainian media have identified it as likely a Ukrainian-made Magura drone.

Two reputable Greek news outlets are reporting that notes handwritten in Ukrainian were found aboard the vessel.

It was estimated to be carrying around 100kg (220lb) of explosives, prompting Greek authorities to conduct a controlled explosion in the sea near Astakos.

Specialist teams in the Greek armed forces are now inspecting the drone for clues as to its origin and purpose.

Greek newspaper Ta Nea reports that theories being considered are that the drone - with an estimated range of 432 miles (700km) - fell into the sea while being transported or was intended to target Russian shipping in the Mediterranean but lost contact with its operator.

The vessel had a built-in GPS that could have been affected by bad weather and sensors that were broken when it was discovered, according to public broadcaster ERT.

But the drone's presence has prompted criticism that Greece's Navy was ill-prepared for a new era of warfare.

"Unfortunately, all Greek women and men are realising that the country is an open vineyard," opposition defence spokesman Michalis Katrinis commented.

Meanwhile, Greece's Communist party said in a statement: "What business did the Ukrainian naval drone have in Greek territorial waters? What was its goal? Did the Greek government know if and in which operational plan it was part of? [...] Are other similar drones of other 'allies' also operating in Greek territorial waters?"

The nationalist pro-Russian Hellenic Solution party called it a "conscious military provocation".

Defence Minister Nikos Dendias sought to downplay the significance of the drone's discovery on Saturday, saying: "Because we know what it is and what it contains, we have nothing to envy."

He said that the Greek government was implementing policies that meant "our homeland can produce and be able to equip the Navy with the most advanced drones and anti-drone systems that currently exist".

The discovery has put Greece's national security agency, armed forces and several ministries on red alert.

Ukrainian drones have repeatedly attacked Russian tankers carrying sanctioned oil and naval installations in the Black Sea, with the intention of disrupting both Moscow's revenue stream and warfighting capability.

In March, Moscow accused Ukraine of hitting a sanctioned Russian tanker loaded with liquefied natural gas tanker with "uncrewed sea drones" in the Mediterranean between Libya and Malta.

Greece and Ukraine struck a joint co-operation deal to produce naval drones in November, granting Athens access to Ukrainian technology for its own use.

However, just a week ago, Greek newspaper Kathimerini reported that Kyiv was seeking a veto over their use in military engagements - apparently over concerns they could be used against neighbouring Turkey, with whom Greece has long-standing territorial disputes.

HMS Dragon heads to Middle East for potential Strait of Hormuz mission

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g42j15p7qo, today

The Royal Navy is sending a warship to the Middle East where it could join an international mission to safeguard shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

HMS Dragon, a type 45 destroyer, will "pre-position" in the region ahead of its "potential role" in what the Ministry of Defence (MoD) described as a "strictly defensive and independent" mission.

Sir Keir Starmer, who together with French president Emmanuel Macron is championing the mission, has said the shipping mission would only take place once fighting in the region ends.

Iran has been controlling the Strait of Hormuz for months in retaliation for the US and Israeli attacks.

Some 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas uses the crucial waterway, whose blockage has sent prices soaring globally.

A ceasefire has been in place between the US and Iran since April but a lasting solution to the conflict has not yet been found. Both sides this week have accused the other of launching attacks in the strait.

HMS Dragon is one of the Royal Navy's six Type 45 destroyers purpose built for anti-aircraft and anti-missile warfare and is of Britain's most advanced warships.

It has recently been in the eastern Mediterranean as part of the UK's defensive operations there. Its primary role has been to defend British air bases in Cyprus after RAF Akrotiri was hit by an Iranian-made drone in March.

Commenting on the decision, announced on Saturday, to send HMS Dragon to the Middle East, the MoD said the deployment was "part of prudent planning" and meant the warship could contribute immediately if needed as part of a "future defensive mission."

The new Middle East mission "provides the UK Armed Forces with additional options for the defensive multinational Hormuz mission", the MoD said.

Last month, 51 countries met to discuss how to protect commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, with Sir Keir saying afterwards that dozens of them had offered to "contribute assets" to the joint operation with France.

Sir Keir's position on the conflict has been that the UK will not be "dragged" into it. He has previously said the UK would not support a US blockade of Iranian ports, which is still in place.

The MoD added: "Cyprus remains well defended, as we've bolstered the significant defensive capabilities we had already pre-deployed to the region since January."

HMS Dragon had to be docked shortly after arriving at Cyprus after experiencing what the MoD called a "minor technical issue". At the time, the UK government faced accusations of not responding to the conflict in the Middle East quickly enough.

Mexican parents criticise ending school year a month early for World Cup

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c36276z14ego, today

Parents in Mexico have criticised a plan to end the school year a month early so the country can accomodate increased travel during the Fifa World Cup this summer.

Education Secretary Mario Delgado said the school year would end on 5 June, leaving parents across the country with less than four weeks to find additional childcare.

After parents' and employers' associations objected, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum appeared to soften the announcement, describing it as a "proposal".

Mexico, along with the US and Canada, is due to host the international football tournament from 11 June to 19 July.

Delgado's announcement on Thursday cited both elevated traffic due to the World Cup and extreme heat forecast to hit the Latin American nation as factors in the decision to end the school year early, which he said was made "unanimously" with individual states.

The official start of the next academic year would remain 31 August, he said, but said two weeks of "strengthening" learning would take place leading up to that date so students did not fall behind.

But the sudden change of schedule prompted immediate anger from parents.

"The children are currently in the middle of their evaluations, and they've already been told that they'll be evaluated based on whatever they have. What kind of response is that?" one told Mexican newspaper El Universal.

"They want the city empty for the tourists, and we're left wondering what we'll eat," another was quoted as saying, noting the cost of summer activities.

The National Union of Parents condemned the "unilateral decision", describing the use of the World Cup to cancel classes as "inexcusable".

"The matches will only be held in three cities," it said in a statement. "Why affect almost 23 million students under this absurd pretext?"

Meanwhile Coparmex, an association of business owners, said the sudden alteration would create uncertainty for employees and employers alike.

It called for individual states to implement their own arrangements to accommodate for heatwaves and travel disruption while lessening the impact on the economy.

Despite claims of unanimity, the governments of three states - two of which are hosting World Cup matches - spoke out against the plan, with one saying it would stick to the original school year.

In the face of this criticism, Sheinbaum used her daily news conference on Friday to recast the announcement as subject to further review.

"Since many Mexicans like soccer and are following the World Cup, this proposal was made to bring forward the holidays," the Mexican president said. "But the school days of the girls and boys also have to be taken into consideration.

"So, it's a proposal. The full schedule isn't ready yet, and we're going to wait until it's definitively decided."

She added that the idea had come from teachers' unions and individual states' education secretaries, instead of being something the central government had initiated.

Mexico's role as joint host of the football tournament has already faced complications.

A crackdown on violent drug cartels earlier in the year that led to the killing of the leader of the Jalisco New Generation (CJNG) cartel sparked a wave of violence across the country from members and sympathisers, raising safety concerns.

Among the host cities is Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco state and the epicentre of the violence.

Sheinbaum has stressed there is "no risk" to visiting football fans, while Fifa president Gianni Infantino said he felt "very reassured". Mexico plans to deploy thousands of security personnel to the streets during the tournament.

Bonnie Tyler update after singer put in induced coma following emergency surgery

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c707edw539ro, yesterday

Singer Bonnie Tyler has been placed into an induced coma to aid her recovery after emergency intestinal surgery, a spokesman for the star has said.

It was revealed the 74-year-old from Skewen, Wales, had been rushed to a hospital near her home in Faro, Portugal, on Wednesday for the procedure and was recuperating.

A spokesman for the singer shared a further update on her health on Thursday evening.

"Bonnie has been put into an induced coma by her doctors to aid her recovery," he said.

Tyler was expected to start a 30-date tour later this month, with a homecoming gig in Cardiff in December.

The spokesman added: "We know that you all wish her well and ask for privacy at this difficult time please.

"We will issue a further statement when we are able to."

More than 2,000 people have posted comments under a post on Bonnie Tyler's Facebook page wishing her well, with fans from around the world sending supportive messages, including ones who have undergone similar surgery.

On Friday, a post on Tyler's Facebook page thanked people for the "incredible outpouring of love and well wishes we've received for Bonnie over the last few days. It truly means the world".

"We know that you all wish her well and ask for privacy at this difficult time please.

"We will issue a further statement when we are able to," it added.

Her guitarist Ed Poole also posted: "I'm aware of the ongoing news about the Bonnie situation and appreciate everyone that's reached out about it."

"All I can say is that myself and the rest of the band are hoping and praying that she pulls through," he added.

There have also been messages from stars of the 1980s, including Katrina Leskanich from English rock band Katrina and the Waves.

She posted: "Dearest Bonnie. Make a speedy recovery and come back rocking! We love you."

"I Will Survive" disco star Gloria Gaynor said: "Wishing you a swift recovery, Bonnie!"

Tyler, born Gaynor Hopkins, grew up in a council house in Neath.

She became an international sensation with Total Eclipse of the Heart in 1983, and 43 years later the song passed the billion streams mark on Spotify.

She was discovered by talent scout Roger Bell in a club in Swansea, and released her first single Lost in France in 1977.

Five years later, she released Total Eclipse of the Heart which spent two weeks at UK number one, and four weeks in the US.

She received a Grammy nomination for the hit, as well as the album Faster Than the Speed of Night, and the single Here She Comes.

Tyler also represented the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2013, finishing 19th out of 26 acts, and was made an MBE for her services to music in 2023.

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Trump says Russia and Ukraine to observe three-day ceasefire

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c202zn5gg0lo, yesterday

Donald Trump has announced a three-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, after both countries accused each other of violating separate ceasefires declared by each side to cover the celebrations of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany.

"This ceasefire will include a suspension of all kinetic activity, and also a prison swap of 1,000 prisoners from each country," the US president said.

Shortly afterwards Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed Ukraine's participation, while Russian state media also said Russia had agreed to the proposal.

Earlier both sides said the other had continued to attack their positions and Moscow's mayor said the city had been targeted by drones overnight.

In his post Trump said he had personally requested the three-day truce and "I very much appreciate its agreement by President Vladimir Putin and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy".

Putin had announced a ceasefire for 8-9 May ahead of Victory Day celebrations on Saturday. Kyiv had earlier called for an indefinite truce, starting 6 May.

Russia has warned Ukraine not to try to attack the Victory Day parade in Red Square.

Its defence ministry has threatened to launch a "retaliatory, massive missile strike" on the centre of Kyiv if Moscow is attacked. It has warned foreign diplomats to leave the Ukrainian capital before 9 May.

For the first time in nearly two decades there will be no military hardware at the parade, while the Russian capital is on high alert over the fears that Ukraine could try to disrupt the events.

Residents of Moscow and St Petersburg have also been warned their mobile internet access will be limited for security reasons.

The celebrations used to bring large numbers of foreign guests to Moscow, but this time only the leaders of Belarus, Malaysia and Laos, and a few other dignitaries, will attend.

On Friday both sides accused the other of battlefield ceasefire violations. The Russian defence ministry said Ukraine was also striking civilian targets in border areas of the Kursk and Belgorod regions, close to the conflict zone. Russian armed forces provided a "mirror response" to the violations, the ministry added.

Meanwhile Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said some 20 drones had been downed near the city in just the first two hours of the ceasefire.

Ukrainian strikes were also reported on industrial sites in the Perm and Yaroslavl regions, as well as sites in the Rostov region and the Chechen capital Grozny.

Thirteen airports in southern Russia also suspended operations after a drone attack.

Meanwhile Zelensky posted on Telegram that there had been more than 140 attacks on Ukrainian positions in the first few hours of the truce, and more than 850 drone strikes. The Ukrainian leader said his country would "act in kind".

The war of words over ceasefires came after European Council President António Costa said he thought there was "potential" for the EU to negotiate with Russia over ending the war, and said they had Zelensky's backing to do so.

"I'm talking with the [EU's] 27 national leaders to see the best way to organise ourselves and to identify what we need effectively to discuss with Russia when it comes to the right moment to do this," he said in an interview with the Financial Times on Thursday.

"We cannot change the geography. We are in Europe, we are neighbours of Russia, and of course we need to talk with them about the future of the security architecture of Europe," he added.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded that Russia was ready for dialogue but "will not initiate such contacts ourselves".

The US has mediated several rounds of talks between Russia and Ukraine but so far without any breakthrough, and there are concerns that Washington is now distracted by the war in the Middle East.

Speaking on a visit to Italy on Friday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US was still prepared to mediate but did not want to waste time if progress was not being made.

Zelensky said he expected US envoys to come to Kyiv in the next few weeks.

Separately Ukrainian emergency personnel are battling a huge wildfire in the exclusion zone at Chornobyl, known at the time of the nuclear disaster in the former Soviet Union by its Russian name, Chernobyl.

Strong winds, dry weather and landmines in some areas from the ongoing conflict are complicating efforts to control the blaze. Firefighters say it's spreading rapidly - already covering some 11 sq km (4.2sq miles).

The exclusion zone, in the Kyiv region, remains highly contaminated but the authorities say radiation in the area of the fire remains within the normal range.

International cyber attack disrupts swathe of universities and schools

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce3pq0136eqo, yesterday

A cyber attack hit several universities and schools in the US, Canada and Australia, causing chaos, confusion and major disruptions amid the high stakes end-of-year season.

The hacking group ShinyHunters claimed responsibility for the attack, which caused the academic software Canvas used by thousands of schools and universities to go offline this week.

By late Thursday, the company Instructure, which owns Canvas, posted an update on its website saying that Canvas was "available for most users", but some universities were still reporting outages on Friday.

The cyber attacks targeted universities and schools across the globe, affecting an estimated 9,000 institutions.

Mississippi State University announced that it was postponing Friday's final exams to allow affected students to recover any lost work.

Aubrey Palmer, a meteorology student at the university, told the BBC students had just finished a 2,900-word exam essay when a ransom note suddenly appeared on their screens.

The message read: "Shiny Hunters has breached Instructure (again)."

It threatened to release stolen data unless Canvas or the affected universities paid a ransom in bitcoin.

"My knee‑jerk reaction was that I'd been hacked myself, because that's what it looked like," Palmer said. "But then I actually read the ransom note and saw it was Canvas that had been hacked."

Palmer said the professor and dozens of other students all had the note and everyone was looking around the room in confusion.

At first, it was unclear whether their work had been saved.

Frustration quickly spread among the students, and Palmer said people became "so angry at the idea of having to redo" their exams.

The university has since been updating students by email, rescheduling exams, and advising them to ignore suspicious messages while responding to what it described as a "nationwide security incident".

The University of Sydney told students on Friday "Canvas was unavailable" and instructed students not to attempt to log in.

"We are one of approximately 9000 institutions around the world that are impacted by this outage, and we are still waiting for advice from Instructure," the university wrote on its website.

The outage affected students' coursework and examinations, the university said, acknowledging "how disruptive this is at a critical time in the semester".

On Thursday, Idaho State University said it had cancelled exams scheduled after 12:00 local time (18:00 GMT).

Penn State University wrote in a message to students on Thursday that "no one has access" to Canvas, adding that a "resolution" was unlikely to arrive "within the next 24 hours". The university cancelled some exams scheduled for Thursday and Friday.

In an update on Thursday evening, the University of British Columbia in Vancouver informed students that Canvas was "unavailable due to a cyber breach of its parent company Instructure", and advised them to log out immediately.

The University of Toronto also reported it was impacted by the breach, saying that "multiple universities were affected".

Students at the University of California Los Angeles struggled to submit assignments online through the Canvas platform, and the University of Chicago, in Illinois, temporarily disabled its Canvas page after reports that it was targeted.

The Chicago Maroon, the university-led newspaper, posted a screenshot of a message from ShinyHunters that appeared to be seeking a ransom.

The message encouraged the university to contact the hacking group privately "to negotiate a settlement" and avoiding "the release of their data".

It was the same message that Northwestern University masters student Jacques Abou-Rizk said he received when he clicked a link in an email that appeared to be from a university administrator.

"I didn't know what was happening," Abou-Rizk recalled. "It's a scary message to receive."

He said the university addressed the issue on Thursday, sending a generic email, seen by the BBC, that said Northwestern was "monitoring an issue".

The email stated the university did not have an estimated restoration time for Canvas and that other IT infrastructure had not been affected.

Abou-Rizk said he was still unable to access Canvas on Friday and has not heard from the university since.

"There's definitely anxiety surrounding not only being able to complete my work and access the sites that I need access to on Canvas," Abou-Rizk said. "But also just not knowing exactly what the threat is and how it might affect me.

"I don't know what data will be released, and that scares me."

The BBC has contacted Northwestern University for comment.

ShinyHunters has been linked to several high‑profile cyber attacks in the past, including a major and economically damaging hack on Jaguar Land Rover last year.

Screen shots show the targeted threats from the group began on Sunday, with deadlines given on Thursday and 12 May, Luke Connolly, a threat analyst at the cyber security firm Emisoft, told the Associated Press.

He said discussions regarding extortion payments could be ongoing.

The group would not say what it plans to do with the data it claims to have taken during the latest attack.

Cyber attacks on Thursday came the same day that the top US Senate Democrat, Chuck Schumer, sent a letter to the Trump administration urging for more defence against cyber risks in the age of rapidly developing AI.

The Department of Homeland Security - the agency that helps ward off against cyber attacks - "must immediately help states and localities", Schumer wrote.

"Before Americans are hit with outages, disruptions, and attacks that could put lives and livelihoods at risk," he continued.

* Have you been affected? Share your experiences here

With additional reporting by Rebecka Pieder, and Nadine Yousif in Toronto.

US jobs data beats expectations for second month in a row

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx21664lp32o, yesterday

The US economy created 115,000 jobs in April as businesses kept hiring despite the economic fallout from the US-Israel war in Iran.

The increase was stronger than expected, with the total almost twice as much as economists had forecast.

The data, published by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), also showed the unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.3%.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz in response to US and Israeli strikes on Iran has sparked a global energy shock, pushing up the price of gasoline for American consumers.

The latest figures come after months of big fluctuations in job numbers. Non-farm payrolls fell by 156,000 in February before rising by 185,000 in March.

April's solid employment figures added to expectations the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates on hold as it seeks to keep a lid on inflation.

Revisions to March and February's figures mean the number of jobs rose on average by 48,000 over the last three months.

That is in line with the so-called breakeven rate, the level of job creation at which new people entering the workforce can be absorbed.

The better-than-expected jobs figures helped to lift the major US stock indexes. The S&P 500 rose by 0.8% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed flat.

Economists said the figures were encouraging, pointing to a particularly strong showing in the retail and transportation and warehousing sectors.

"Both give relatively positive signals about the health of discretionary spending, despite the hit to consumers' purchasing power from higher gasoline prices," said Thomas Ryan, North America economist at Capital Economics.

But he pointed to "mixed signals" elsewhere in the report, including slow wage growth and an overall contraction in the jobs market, with fewer working-age people seeking employment.

"All that being said, this was ultimately a positive employment report that reinforces the view that the labour market is stable and potentially even accelerating," he said.

But Samuel Tombs, chief US economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, said job growth was likely to start to slow in the coming months.

He said recent survey data pointed to a slowdown in hiring and that the unemployment rate could rise from 4.3% to 4.7% by the end of the year, prompting the Federal Reserve to begin cutting interest rates from December.

The White House said April's job figures were "another sign that the American economy remains on a solid trajectory under President Trump".

"Every leading indicator is pointed in the right direction, and Americans can rest assured that the best is yet to come," White House spokesman Kush Desai said.

TikTok scales back AI-generated video descriptions after absurd errors

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5yerd05n01o, yesterday

TikTok has rowed back on an AI feature which incorrectly summarised some videos on the platform, including claiming a celebrity was fruit.

The company's 'AI overviews' recently began appearing beneath content on the platform to describe what a video was showing, or provide more context.

While only rolled out to some users in the US and the Philippines, the feature's incorrect and bizarre AI-generated summaries of TikTok content - seen beneath videos of celebrities like platform star Charli D'Amelio - have been shared widely.

According to TikTok, its experimental summaries have been tweaked to only suggest products similar to those shown in videos.

The changes were first reported by news outlet Business Insider.

Much like the AI Overviews at the top of most Google search results, TikTok's AI-generated overviews would attempt to sum up the contents of videos for some users when they clicked to see more of a video's caption.

Some examples screenshotted by users and seen by the BBC showed videos on the platform being accurately described, but Business Insider also identified a number of "wildly inaccurate" AI overviews.

This included one which saw a video of dancer Charli D'Amelio described as a "collection of various blueberries with different toppings," the publication said.

It saw similarly vague, inaccurate and strange AI-generated summaries on other TikTok videos of celebrities and artists, including Shakira and Olivia Rodrigo.

The feature will now only be used to surface information about items in videos, according to TikTok.

It comes as tech firms look to deploy more AI products on their platforms to boost user engagement. However, some such efforts have been met with user backlash, or mockery, when these tools go awry.

'Cutting through water'

Posts reacting to TikTok's testing of AI overviews on its videos first began appearing in January.

But it appears the summaries were made more widely available, with several users and creators highlighting AI-generated descriptions containing absurd mistakes in late April.

A recent example shared on Reddit saw a performance by ballroom dancers Reagan and Juli To described in an AI overview on TikTok as "a person repeatedly striking their head with a rubber chicken".

Other examples shared by TikTok users contained similarly strange descriptions.

For instance, AI overviews for two separate videos, neither of which featured violence or tools, said they featured "a person repeatedly striking their head with a hammer".

According to TikTok, users were able to report and provide feedback about AI overviews.

But this did not stop some from speculating as to whether the platform was "trolling" its users.

"The new AI Overview is so bad it feels like it has to be a joke," wrote TikTok user and creator Brett Vanderbrook alongside his video.

He showed a range of examples where TikTok's AI feature conjured up bizarre descriptions for what was happening in videos - such as a comedy skit described as someone "demonstrating a new, clever technique for cutting through water".

Goblins and glue pizza

TikTok says it has identified the cause of AI overview errors and inconsistencies, without detailing what this was.

But generative AI tools often make things up when responding to users, summarising or generating information, and errors can range from being hilarious to potentially harmful in nature.

Google was widely mocked in 2024 after its AI Overviews results told users to eat rocks and "glue pizza".

Apple later faced criticism after an AI tool designed to summarise notifications created false headlines for the BBC News and the New York Times apps.

The tech giant suspended the feature, saying it would improve and update it.

Since then AI development has continued, with firms claiming the tech has vastly improved in ability and accuracy, but so-called "hallucinations" persist.

However, ChatGPT-maker OpenAI recently said it identified "goblin" and "gremlin" creeping into its systems' responses - a quirk it believes arose after a tool it trained to have a nerdy persona incentivised mentioning the creatures.

False case law or citations appearing in court filings have meanwhile prompted warnings about AI use in legal settings, with AI errors also reportedly causing issues for some governments.

Trump gives EU ultimatum deadline to approve trade deal with US

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp3pyk4nw3lo, 2 days ago

President Donald Trump has threatened "much higher" tariffs on the European Union (EU) by 4 July if the bloc fails to drop its levies on the US to zero.

After a phone call with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Trump said he agreed to give her until "our Country's 250th Birthday or, unfortunately, their Tariffs would immediately jump to much higher levels".

However, von der Leyen said the bloc was making "good progress towards tariff reduction" ahead of Trump's deadline.

Hours after the threat, a US trade court ruled Trump's latest 10% global tariffs were not justified under US trade law, which could allow future court challenges.

A trade deal was struck by von der Leyen and Trump in July last year, but progress on enacting it stumbled on Wednesday after talks between EU lawmakers and governments ended without an agreement.

"We remain fully committed, on both sides, to its implementation," von der Leyen said on X on Thursday.

Under the agreement, US tariffs on exports from the EU would face a 15% tariff. Trump had threatened tariffs of 30% on European goods.

The deal received conditional approval from the European Parliament in March, when a majority of lawmakers backed legislation to implement the agreement, but added several safeguards aimed at ensuring the US honoured its side of the pact.

Parliamentarians voted they would only accept zero tariffs on US goods if European goods made with steel and aluminium were excluded from Trump's global 50% tariff on those metal products.

Despite the progress through parliament, the deal also requires endorsement by the 27 member states.

Earlier on Thursday, before Trump's social media statement, the European Parliament's chief negotiator Bernd Lagne said lawmakers and governments were making good progress on the negotiations but added "there is still some way to go".

The negotiators are set to meet for another round of talks on 19 May in Strasbourg.

"We remain more committed than ever to advance and defend Parliament's mandate so as to provide additional guarantees that will benefit citizens and companies in both the EU and the US," Lange said in a statement.

Last week, Trump accused the EU of "not complying with our fully agreed to trade deal" in a post on Truth Social, and said he would increase tariffs on trucks and cars to 25%.

The original agreement on tariffs and trade was reached after the US President finished a round of golf at his luxury resort in Turnberry, Scotland.

As negotiations over trade and tariff deals continue, the president has had difficulty getting his broader tariff decisions to stick legally.

On Thursday, a US trade court ruled Trump's latest 10% global tariffs were not justified under US trade law.

Trump had introduced the sweeping levy on 24 February after the US Supreme Court decision struck down his so-called "freedom day" tariffs imposed last year.

The president had invoked Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act which allows temporary duties to be imposed to correct serious "balance of payments deficits" when introducing the new tariff. The 10% levy is set to last until late July.

On Thursday, the US Court of International Trade ruled that law was not an appropriate step for the deficits cited by the president.

However, the ruling does not block the 10% tariffs universally. The judgement applies to importer tariffs for two companies, but paves the way for further court challenges.

US jet fuel could be used in Europe to ease possible shortages

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp8pk2m4nlxo, yesterday

European airlines can use US-grade jet fuel to ease potential shortages caused by the US-Israel war with Iran, the EU and two major international airline bodies have suggested.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has suggested that wider international acceptance of US-grade jet fuel could help to head off any supply problems.

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has drawn up safety guidance, setting out how US supplies could be introduced into the European market, as well as information on the risks involved.

Meanwhile, the EU has said there are no "regulatory obstacles" stopping European airlines using US-grade fuel so long as it done so safely.

The price of jet fuel most European airlines currently use has jumped by half since the start of the war.

In a blog post, IATA's director of flight and technical operations, Stuart Fox warned that if the conflict in the Middle East continues "it won't be long before we see fuel shortages in some parts of the world".

There are two main types of fuel used in commercial aviation. Jet A-1 is the global standard used in most international operations, while Jet A is primarily used in North America.

The two are both forms of kerosene and are essentially similar. However, Jet A-1 has a lower freezing point than Jet A. According to Fox, that means it can be used more flexibly on long haul and polar routes.

Since the crisis erupted, supplies of Jet A-1 from the Gulf region have slowed to a trickle. This has been a particular problem for Europe, which normally relies heavily on imports from the region.

Increased shipments from the US have been making up some of the shortfall. However, many US refineries are not set up to produce jet A-1, limiting the extra that can be brought across the Atlantic.

Fox said in his post: "European fuel supply could come under pressure if the war in the Middle East continues. Using Jet A, which is produced at scale outside the Gulf, could be a practical way to help ease some pressure on existing supply chains."

He added that airlines in North America use Jet A every day, but still manage to serve communities in very cold regions, such as parts of Alaska, by using fuel additives, as well as by planning and monitoring flights to ensure aircraft operate within safe limits.

Meanwhile, the EASA has issued a "safety information bulletin" providing guidance for fuel suppliers and aircraft and airport operators.

It said: "A potential introduction of Jet A in Europe or in other parts of the world would not generate safety concerns provided that its introduction is properly managed".

However, it also warned that if it were introduced without careful management, it "could result in an aircraft flying outside of its safe operating limits".

"These risks may be further exacerbated by inconsistent fuel grade availability across airports, increasing the likelihood of mixing fuel grade and associated assumption mismatches", EASA said.

Later on Friday, the EU said: "There is no regulatory obligation mandating the use of either fuel grade."

It added: "There are also no regulatory obstacles to the use of Jet A fuel imported to Europe provided its use is properly managed and communicated throughout the fuel supply chain to ensure highest standards of safe operation."

Earlier on Friday, British Airways' owner IAG said that it currently had "no issues with fuel availability in our main markets", but suggested there could be problems if the war carries on.

"If the current conflict continues to restrict flows of both crude oil and jet fuel from the Middle East, there is the potential for supplies of jet fuel to be restricted on a global basis," it said.

The companies making billions from the Iran war

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce8pyyz5e0ro, yesterday

As households across the globe count the costs of the US-Israel war in Iran, some companies have been counting bumper profits instead.

The uncertainty sparked by the conflict, and Iran's effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, is driving up the cost of living and hitting the budgets of firms, families and governments.

But while some have been pushed to the brink, others, whose core businesses are more profitable in a war or who benefit from volatile energy prices, have seen record earnings.

Here are some of the sectors and companies making billions while the Middle East conflict continues.

1. Oil and gas

The biggest economic impact of the war so far has been a surge in energy prices. Around a fifth of the world's oil and gas is transported through the Strait of Hormuz, but those shipments effectively ground to a halt at the end of February.

The result has been a rollercoaster of price movements on energy markets, with some of the world's biggest oil and gas companies benefiting.

The main beneficiaries have been European oil giants, who have trading arms so have been able to gain from sharp price movements boosting profits.

BP's profits more than doubled to $3.2bn (£2.4bn) for the first three months of the year, after what it called an "exceptional" performance in its trading division.

Shell also beat analysts' expectations when it reported a rise in first-quarter profits to $6.92bn.

Another international giant, TotalEnergies, saw its profits jump by almost a third, to $5.4bn in the first quarter of 2026, driven by volatility in oil and energy markets.

US giants ExxonMobil and Chevron saw their earnings fall compared with the same period last year, due to supply disruption from the Middle East, but both beat analysts' forecasts and expect their profits to grow further as the year goes on, with the price of oil still significantly higher than when the war broke out.

2. Big banks

Some of the biggest banks have also seen their profits boosted during the war in Iran.

JP Morgan's trading arm made a record $11.6bn of revenue in the first three months of 2026, helping the bank overall to its second biggest ever quarterly profit.

Across the rest of the "Big Six" banks - which includes Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs and Wells Fargo, as well as JP Morgan - profits all rose substantially in the first quarter of the year.

Overall, the banks reported $47.7bn in profits for the first three months of 2026.

"Heavy trading volumes have benefited investment banks, in particular Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs," Susannah Streeter, chief investment strategist at Wealth Club, said.

The major Wall Street lenders have been boosted by a surge in demand for trading, with investors rushing to drop riskier stocks and bonds and pile their cash into assets that are seen as safer. Trading volumes have also been lifted by investors seeking to capitalise on the volatility in financial markets.

Streeter added: "The volatility unleashed by the war has led to a surge in trading, as some investors sold stocks on fears of escalation, while others bought the dip, helping to fuel a recovery rally."

3. Defence

One of the most immediate beneficiaries in any conflict is the defence sector, according to Emily Sawicz, senior analyst at RSM UK.

"The conflict has reinforced gaps in air defence capability, accelerating investment in missile defence, counter drone systems and military hardware across Europe and the US," she told the BBC.

As well as highlighting the importance of defence firms, the war creates a need for governments to replenish weapons stocks, boosting demand.

BAE Systems, which makes products including F35 fighter jet components, said in a trading update on Thursday it expects strong growth in sales and profits this year.

It cited growing "security threats" around the world pushing up government defence spending, which has in turn created a "supportive backdrop" for the company.

Lockheed Martin, Boeing and Northrop Grumman, three of the world's biggest defence contractors, have each reported having record order backlogs at the end of the first quarter of 2026.

But shares in defence firms, which have risen sharply in recent years, have fallen back since mid-March, amid fears the sector is over-valued.

4. Renewables

The conflict has also highlighted the need to diversify away from reliance on fossil fuels, Streeter said.

This has "supercharged interest in the renewable sector" even in the US, she said, where the Trump administration has popularised the "drill, baby, drill" slogan encouraging greater fossil fuel usage.

Streeter said the war has led to renewable investment being seen as increasingly important to stability and resilience to shocks.

One firm that has been boosted is Florida-based NextEra Energy, which has seen shares surge by 17% so far this year as investors pile in on its mission.

Danish wind power giants Vestas and Orsted have also reported surging profits, highlighting how the fallout from the Iran war is also boosting renewable energy firms.

In the UK, Octopus Energy recently told the BBC the war had caused a "huge jolt" in solar panel and heat pump sales, with solar panel sales rising by 50% since the end of February.

The surge in petrol prices has also boosted demand for electric vehicles, with Chinese manufacturers in particular making the most of the opportunity.

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Oil prices rise after US and Iran exchange fire in Hormuz strait

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c86dp85g59xo, yesterday

Oil prices rose on Friday after the US and Iran exchanged fire in the key Strait of Hormuz waterway.

The US said it made self‑defence strikes in response to "unprovoked" Iranian attacks as US ships were heading out of the Gulf through the strait, which is south of Iran. Iran said the US had violated the ceasefire agreed in April, according to its state media.

The global Brent oil benchmark price rose almost 3% to nearly $103 (£75) a barrel at one point before falling back to around $100.

Despite the attacks, US President Donald Trump said on Friday the US-Iran ceasefire is still in place.

Iranian state media has reported that the situation "is back to normal now".

More than a fifth of the world's oil and gas usually passes through the Strait of Hormuz, which has been effectively blocked since the start of the US-Israel war with Iran.

Before the conflict began, oil was trading at around $70 a barrel.

Trump told reporters that three US destroyers were involved in the latest exchange of fire.

Several Iranian small boats had been "completely destroyed" and missiles that had targeted the US ships were "easily knocked down", he said on social media.

However, he also told ABC News that the Iran strikes were "just a love tap".

Trump said that negotiations with Iran were ongoing, and repeated Washington's demand that Tehran must never have a nuclear weapon.

"The talks are going very well, but they have to understand if it doesn't get signed, they're going to have a lot of pain", he told reporters.

"I believe they want the deal more than I do."

Iran's military initially accused the US of violating the ceasefire by targeting its ships, including an oil tanker, that were moving towards the Strait of Hormuz, according to Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting.

It said "aerial attacks" were also carried out along the coastline near the strait, prompting Iranian forces to respond by attacking the US military vessels, inflicting "significant damage."

The US military has denied that its ships had been hit. US Central Command also said it was not seeking to escalate the conflict.

Traders view the ceasefire as a "fragile" one, and have reacted accordingly even as the US and Iran play down tensions, said National University of Singapore economics researcher Huifeng Chang.

This week, Trump said that the war, which started on 28 February when the US and Israel attacked Iran, would be "over quickly" as Washington pushes for a framework for more detailed negotiations with Tehran.

IAG costs rise

As well as causing an oil price surge, the conflict has also pushed up prices for products such as jet fuel, which has jumped by about half.

British Airway's owner IAG said on Friday that it expected its fuel costs to hit €9bn (£7.8bn) this year, about €2bn higher than last year.

IAG said it had agreed the price it would pay for about 70% of its fuel for the rest of the year, and it currently saw "no issues with fuel availability" in its main markets.

Shares in the airline group fell by more than 5% in early trading in London.

Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at investing platform IG, said: "The limited recovery in its shares since April signals limited market confidence in the potential for a full recovery, at least until the conflict is fully resolved.

"But as last night's clashes show, even a start to negotiation seems a long way off."

Gulf economies face long-term hit from Iran conflict

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0k257g8jk5o, 3 days ago

In the early 1990s, Qatar was grappling with a period of economic strain - high debt levels and weak state revenues were weighing heavily on its finances. To try to transform its fortunes the small Gulf state made a decisive bet on natural gas.

It would develop its vast offshore gas reserves, and – crucially – super chill the gas into LNG (liquified natural gas) for transportation by ship to countries around the world.

That decision led to the creation of Ras Laffan - an industrial city on the coast, about an hour's drive from the capital, Doha. Over the next three decades, it would become the world's largest LNG export centre, transforming Qatar into one of the richest countries globally.

But on 18 March that success story was shaken.

An Iranian ballistic missile struck the main Ras Laffan gas complex, knocking out an estimated 17% of global LNG supply.

The damage will cost state-owned QatarEnergy a predicted $20bn (£15bn) in lost annual revenues, while disrupting supplies to key markets in Asia, including China. Repairs could take between three to five years.

"The attack was a shock - both to global energy markets, but also to the Gulf states themselves, which are now feeling very vulnerable," says Karen Young, a senior research scholar at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University.

QatarEnergy's chief executive Saad Al Kaabi said the scale of the damage had "set the region back by 10 to 20 years".

The Iranian strike came after Israel bombed Iran's South Pars gas field, which borders Qatar's North Dome field. Together they form the world's largest natural gas reserve.

Across the Gulf the continuing conflict with Iran has caused up to $58bn of damage, according to one estimate.

More than 80 facilities have been hit since the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran on 28 February, with over a third severely damaged, according to the International Energy Agency. Along with Qatar, damage has also been reported in Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

It has pushed the region into a major economic shock.

The World Bank has cut its growth forecast for the Middle East to 1.8% this year, as a result of the war, warning the fallout could result in long-term "scarring".

It previously estimated growth of 4% in 2026. The bank says Qatar and Kuwait will see the biggest contraction.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia and the UAE have shown more resilience primarily due to some oil exports that do not transit through the Strait of Hormuz that Iran has closed.

Justin Alexander, director at consultancy Khalij Economics, which studies the region, says the impact on Gulf states is severe. He adds that it is still difficult to fully assess the damage, given the conflict remains unresolved.

"Even if the war were to stop today, there would still be a significant impact before things return to normal," he says.

It is not just physical damage to energy infrastructure that is hurting economies.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has sharply reduced oil and gas exports, compounding the pressure. The narrow passage typically handles around 20% of global oil and LNG flows.

For Gulf producers, it is their economic lifeline. Saudi Arabia has been forced to rely on its East-West pipeline to transfer oil to the Red Sea port of Yanbu instead, while the UAE is using its Fujairah pipeline to bypass the strait. But together, these alternatives can carry less than half the volumes that normally pass through Hormuz.

The head of the International Energy Agency has described the situation as the "biggest energy crisis in history". Meanwhile, Qatar's finance minister has warned that the full economic fallout from the Iran war is yet to be felt.

Bader Al Saif, professor at Kuwait University and fellow at think tank Chatham House, says the crisis could push countries such as Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain to also develop pipeline networks as an alternative to tanker ships.

"They can't just rely on one route to transport oil and gas. It's Iran today. It could be some other external threat in the future," he says.

The economic fallout is spreading beyond the energy sector.

Travel and tourism - a key pillar of diversification in several Gulf economies has been hit hard. The World Travel & Tourism Council estimated in March that the Middle East was losing around $600m a day in tourism revenues since the war began.

The UAE, which has spent decades building itself into a global tourism hub, has been among the most exposed. Businesses linked to travel and hospitality in Dubai are reporting sharp declines in bookings, alongside cancellations and reduced footfall. This has led to job losses and unpaid leave.

There are also signs of bigger financial system stresses emerging. Last month, Donald Trump said the US was considering extending currency swap lines to Gulf allies, including the UAE, to ease dollar liquidity pressures.

Such arrangements would allow central banks to access US dollars more easily. Yet the UAE has played down the development. Yousef Al Otaiba, the country's ambassador to the US, said suggestions that the country requires external financial backing "misread the facts".

The UAE has also announced it will quit oil producer group Opec, giving it more freedom to boost exports. It was the fourth-largest producer within the organisation, which controls about 37% of global supply.

Across the wider Middle East, Gaza, Lebanon and Syria are going to continue to be reliant on financial support from oil-rich Gulf states to rebuild their economies. But that support may now come under pressure, as Gulf governments divert resources towards rebuilding their own economies.

"The large amounts of aid and investment that perhaps some people in the region need might not be available," says Alexander.

The conflict may also impact the economic diversification programmes of Gulf nations, which are investing billions in sectors such as artificial intelligence, sports and entertainment to reduce their dependence on oil revenues.

Saudi Arabia and the UAE have funnelled billions to position themselves as regional AI and technology hubs, aiming to attract high-skilled talent.

Some analysts question whether Gulf states may reduce their investments in the US. "Those committed trillions and billions in the US will be scrutinised again by some countries," says Al Saif.

There are also concerns that unless there is a permanent deal to end the conflict with Iran, with guarantees that the Strait of Hormuz remains open, the economic strain could deepen further.

"The Gulf states do have to prepare for perhaps an extended period of instability - an unresolved or low-intensity conflict within the region that may continue if there is no deal," says Young.

Amsterdam bans public adverts for meat and fossil fuels

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9wejdekpwyo, 6 days ago

Amsterdam has become the world's first capital city to ban public advertisements for both meat and fossil fuel products. Since 1 May, adverts for burgers, petrol cars and airlines have been stripped from billboards, tram shelters, and metro stations.

At one of the city's busiest tram stops, adjacent to a grassy roundabout bursting with vibrant yellow daffodils and orange tulips, the poster advertising landscape has changed.

They now promote the Rijksmuseum, the national museum of the Netherlands, and a piano concert. Until last week it was chicken nuggets, SUVs and low-budget holidays.

Politicians in the city say the move is about bringing Amsterdam's streetscape into line with the local government's own environmental targets.

These aim for the Dutch capital to become carbon neutral by 2050, and for local people to halve their meat consumption over the same period.

"The climate crisis is very urgent," says Anneke Veenhoff from the GreenLeft Party. "I mean, if you want to be leading in climate policies and you rent out your walls to exactly the opposite, then what are you doing?

"Most people don't understand why the municipality should make money out of renting our public space with something that we are actively having policies against."

This view is echoed by Anke Bakker, who is Amsterdam group leader for a Dutch political party that focuses on animal rights – Party for the Animals.

She instigated the new restrictions, and rejects accusations of them being nanny state.

"Everybody can just make their own decisions, but actually we are trying to get the big companies not to tell us all the time what we need to eat and buy," says Bakker.

"In a way, we're giving people more freedom because they can make their own choice, right?"

Removing that constant visual nudge, she says, both reduces impulse buying, and signals that cheap meat and fossil heavy travel are no longer aspirational lifestyle choices.

Meat was a relatively small slice of Amsterdam's outdoor advertising market – accounting for an estimated 0.1% of ad spend, compared with roughly 4% for fossil related products.

The advertising was instead dominated by the likes of clothing brands, movie posters, and mobile phones.

But politically the ban sends a message. Grouping meat with flights, cruises and petrol and diesel cars reframes it from a purely private dietary choice to a climate issue.

Unsurprisingly, the Dutch Meat Association, which represents the industry, is unhappy at the move, which it calls "an undesirable way to influence consumer behaviour". It adds that meat "delivers essential nutrients and should remain visible and accessible to consumers".

Meanwhile, the Dutch Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators says that the ban on advertising holidays that include air travel is a disproportionate curb on companies' commercial freedom.

For activists like lawyer Hannah Prins and her environmental organisation Advocates for the Future, which worked closely with campaign group Fossil-Free Advertising, the ban on meat advertising is a deliberate attempt to create a "tobacco moment" for high carbon food.

"Because if I look now back at like old pictures, you have Johan Cruyff," says Prins. "The famous Dutch footballer.

"He would be in advertisements for tobacco. That used to be normal. He died of lung cancer.

"That you were allowed to smoke on the train, on restaurants. For me, that's like, whoa, why did people do that? You know, that feels so weird.

"So it really is like what we see in our public space is what we find normal in our society. And I don't think it's normal to see murdered animals on billboards. So I think it's very good that that's going to change."

The Dutch capital is not starting from scratch.

Haarlem, 18km (11 miles) to its west, was in 2022 the first city in the world to announce a broad ban on most meat advertising in public spaces. It came into force in 2024, together with a prohibition on fossil fuel adverts.

Utrecht and Nijmegen have since followed with their own measures that explicitly restrict meat (and in Nijmegen's case also dairy) advertising on municipal billboards, on top of existing bans on adverts for fossil fuels, petrol cars and flying.

Globally, dozens of cities have, or are moving to, ban fossil-fuel advertising. Such as Edinburgh, Sheffield, Stockholm and Florence. France even has a nationwide ban.

Campaigners hope that the Dutch approach - linking meat and fossil fuels - will act as a legal and political blueprint others can copy.

Stand at a tram stop in Amsterdam and you might no longer see a juicy burger or a 19 euro ($18.70; £14.90) flight to Berlin on the shelter.

Yet the same eye-catching offers can still pop up in your social media algorithm. And, let's face it, many of us would be looking down at our screens until the tram trundles along.

If municipal bans leave digital platforms untouched, how much real world impact can they have on our habits or are they purely symbolic virtue-signalling?

So far, there is no direct evidence that removing meat advertising from public spaces leads to a shift toward more plant-based societies.

However, some researchers are cautiously optimistic, such as Prof Joreintje Mackenbach who is an epidemiologist - a medical professional who investigates health patterns within populations.

She describes Amsterdam's move as "a fantastic natural experiment to see".

"If we see advertisements for fast food everywhere, it normalizes the consumption of behaviour of fast consumption," says Mackenbach, who is from the Department of Epidemiology and Data Science at hospital Amsterdam University Medical Center.

"So if we take away those types of cues in our public living environments, then that is also going to have an impact on those social norms."

She points to a study which claims that London Underground's 2019 ban on junk food adverts led to less people buying such products in the UK capital.

Smiling on the banks of a canal in the centre of Amsterdam, Prins is adamant smaller specialist tradespeople in Amsterdam will benefit from the new advertising ban.

"Because like everything we love, festivals, nice cheese, a flower shop around the corner. All the stuff that we love, we don't hear from through ads," she says.

"It's usually through people that we know, or we walk past the building. So I think local businesses will be able to thrive because of this.

"I think and I hope that big polluting companies will be extra scared. And maybe will rethink the kind of products they are selling. I think you can really see that change is possible."

The kelp producer who wants to get Americans eating seaweed

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx21n6zzpqwo, 10 days ago

Suzie Flores left a Manhattan career to farm sugar kelp off the Connecticut coast. Now she's trying to convince the US that the future of sustainable food is growing under the waves.

On a February morning, when most of coastal New England is braced against the cold, Suzie Flores is frequently out on the water. The sea has to be calm enough, ice cleared from the boat, GPS buoys still where she left them.

If the conditions line up, she will head out from the marina in Stonington, Connecticut - one of the last remaining commercial fishing ports in the state - to lift a line of sugar kelp, a type of seaweed, from the Atlantic.

In February there is not much to see yet, just thin fronds that will become metre-long blades by spring. She measures, photographs, and sometimes takes water samples for marine scientists. Then she heads back in.

A decade ago, Flores had an English degree, a desk in a Manhattan academic publishing firm, and a commute from Jersey City. Today she runs Stonington Kelp Company from a marina she and her husband bought and now live on, harvesting a crop unfamiliar enough in the US that she has spent years persuading people to eat it.

Her husband Jay, a former combat photographer in Iraq and Afghanistan, came home, in her words, unsettled, and he retrained as an engineer. Around the same time, Flores had three children in quick succession and began questioning the life she was building.

What, she wondered, would she want them to say about her at her funeral? The answer was not market research for higher education software.

The family moved north, found a run-down marina on the Connecticut–Rhode Island border, and bought it. Flores went back to school to study environmental science, and emailed Charlie Yarish, a University of Connecticut biologist credited with pioneering seaweed farming in the US.

He replied the same day and pointed her to GreenWave, a non-profit helping new farmers navigate permits.

"I have like my newborn baby strapped to my chest when we're having these phone calls," she says, "trying to figure out if all of this could work."

She felt the stars were aligning "1000%". There was one problem - the market didn't materialise.

When Flores harvested her first crop, she had thousands of pounds of seaweed and nowhere to sell it.

"Had Jay and I known about that element of work," she says, "I don't know if we would have gone into it."

So she created a demand herself. She cold-called farm-to-table restaurants, talking chefs through sugar kelp's mild, briny flavour. People assume it's rubbery, but that's Pacific kelp - Japanese kombu. East Coast sugar kelp is very delicate.

That pitch has worked. Her farm now sells out every season, supplying high-end kitchens where chefs prize both its versatility and its sense of place

David Standridge, chef at The Shipwright's Daughter in Mystic, Connecticut – a 2026 James Beard finalist for Outstanding Chef of the Year – is one of them.

For him, the appeal is partly seasonal - in New England, it is the first fresh "vegetable" of the year, arriving weeks before anything grows on land, giving him something green and local to put on the plate when almost nothing else is growing.

"It's just crunchy and light and salty and briny," says Standridge. "It doesn't carry a lot of difficult flavours to pair. It kind of goes with a lot of things."

What draws him most is subtler than that. Kelp, he says, carries the character of the water it grew in - the same quality that wine people call terroir and oyster people call merroir.

"There's a lot of dishes where you might not taste the kelp," he says, "but it'll just taste more like the ocean."

Still, Flores' experience reflects a broader constraint. The US imports more than 90% of its seaweed, mostly from Asia, where cultivation has centuries of history. North America produces only a small fraction of global supply, and while the number of farms has grown steadily, infrastructure has not kept pace.

The challenge is no longer simply growing kelp, but processing it, distributing it, and building enough demand to sustain farmers at scale.

On the water, the risks are more immediate. This winter brought repeated storms with 70mph winds and deep freezes that locked surface gear in ice, while currents below kept moving, tearing lines apart. Flores estimates she lost 40–50% of her crop - on top of the roughly 30% loss farmers are now advised to expect.

She sold out anyway, because there was less to sell. Next year, she says, she will plan for winters like this.

The environmental case for kelp is part of what sustains her. As it grows, sugar kelp absorbs nitrogen pollution, improving water quality and providing habitat for marine life. Blue mussels have begun colonising her lines, and fish cluster beneath them, drawing seabirds overhead.

For Flores, the work is also about what happens on shore.

Stonington's fleet is ageing, and the lobster industry that once defined this coastline has largely collapsed. "That fishery never came back," she says.

Her vision is not a single large company, but a network of small family farms - something closer to the quiet expansion of oyster aquaculture along the New England coast. Kelp can be grown in the off-season by fishermen who already have boats and gear, with relatively low upfront costs.

"It hasn't grown at a massively rapid rate," she says of her own business. "But it's always growth. We're always going in the right direction."

She also spends time as a guest speaker at Yale University and in local schools, where she runs seaweed units in culinary programmes. The youngest students are the most sceptical, she says, until kelp is folded into something familiar like macaroni and cheese. Then they tend to love it.

Her three children take this life largely for granted - going to lunch by boat, the farm as background. What she wants for them is not necessarily the business, but options - the ability to choose work that feels meaningful.

"There is nothing worse," she says, "than not listening to yourself about what brings you joy."

She learned that in a Manhattan office. She would rather they didn't have to.

"Kelp is the lobster roll of the future," she says, then stops. "The lobster roll is gone. In large part because of us."

Out on the Long Island Sound, the water is still there. Flores hopes seaweed can help build a more sustainable future from it, for the ocean and the towns along its edge.

How sunburn inspired a new way to store energy

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62l9gnx775o, today

The sun does shine, sometimes, in Boston – but not like this.

When chemistry professor Grace Han first visited southern California from Boston some years ago, she noticed the difference. How her skin would tingle with the first signs of irritation after just a few hours outside.

Last year, she moved to take a job at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and regularly began wearing a large-brimmed hat, sunglasses and plenty of sun cream. Being a chemistry professor, she had already done her research.

"I was just reading about DNA photochemistry – for leisure," she recalls.

That's when she realised that DNA molecules in people's skin that get damaged by sunburn could help her. Those molecules change shape when irradiated by the sun, flexing into a strained version of their regular form.

For decades, scientists have sought out molecules that can twist their shape, storing energy in the process, and then be prompted to revert to their original shape, releasing the stored energy on demand.

A bit like setting and later triggering a mousetrap. It's known as molecular solar thermal (Most) energy storage and is a potentially very cheap and emissions-free way of supplying heat. These Most systems could store energy for many months or even years.

Researchers have previously had limited success with the technology, but, thanks to the California sun, Han knew what to try next.

It's important to activate the shape-shifting of the energy-storing molecules in a smooth, repeatable way.

Luckily, millions of years of evolution has perfected this process when it occurs in certain plants and animals.

Living things are all chemistry labs, in a sense, and some organisms have evolved so that they can repair sun-contorted molecules with the help of an enzyme called photolyase.

Han realised that such molecules were therefore perfect candidates for an energy storage system. "They are very, very small," she explains. "And can store a massive amount of energy per mass."

In a paper published in February, she and colleagues described the most promising energy storage system of this kind to date, at least in terms of its energy density. It was powerful enough to cause a "very tiny kettle" in a vial to boil off a small amount of water rapidly, says Han.

Her students, who carried out that part of the study, rushed to tell her how it went. "When I actually saw the video and saw how quickly the entire solution was boiling, that was really remarkable," Han recalls.

She emphasises that computer analyses predicting how the molecule would perform, made by her collaborator Kendall Houk at the University of California, Los Angeles, and his team, were crucial to the work.

Fellow Most experimenter Kasper Moth-Poulsen, who leads research teams at the Polytechnic University of Barcelona in Spain and other institutions, was not involved in the study but was impressed by the results.

"I think our best systems were one megajoule [of energy per kilogram]. They had, I think, 1.6, which is really amazing," he says, referring to the energy density Han and her colleagues achieved.

The 1.65 megajoules per kilogram recorded in their February paper is significantly greater than the energy density of lithium-ion batteries, currently the most popular type of battery for phones and electric cars.

The Most system that Han and her colleagues came up with does have some limitations. For one thing, the wavelength of light that causes molecules at the heart of the setup to change shape is 300 nanometres – a form of "very harsh UV [ultraviolet] light", says John Griffin at Lancaster University. "That does come from the sun to us but only in very small quantities."

Plus, the trigger used to reverse the shape of the contorted molecule in order to release its energy was hydrochloric acid – a highly corrosive substance that must be neutralised after use. "Not the most ideal choice," admits Han.

She says she is hopeful that it will be possible to improve the system's responsiveness to natural light, and also to trigger the energy release without requiring a toxic chemical.

The ultimate goal of work like this is to decarbonise heating, which is notoriously difficult.

The world still relies largely on fossil fuels for heating applications. Molecular solar thermal systems and fossil fuels are actually both forms of chemical energy storage. But the Most technology "operates without burning anything" stresses Moth-Poulsen.

Plus, Most could be made available anywhere on Earth, unlike fossil fuels, which are concentrated in some locations. That is why the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has caused such problems recently, he points out. The fuels produced in that part of the world can't get to where people need them.

Moth-Poulsen says that a Most energy storage system could also store energy long-term, even for multiple decades. Thermal energy stored as heat might only last a few hours, days or months at best.

There's something else to consider, though, says Harry Hoster, at the University of Duisberg-Essen, who is also scientific director of the hydrogen-focused ZBT Center for Fuel Cell Technology in Germany.

The light-sensitive molecules in a Most system must be spread relatively thin. Too thick and light will not be able to penetrate to all of the molecules enough within it. "In a really optimistic scenario, you could probably make this 5mm thick," estimates Hoster.

And, packaging your molecules in a liquid means you will likely have to move or pump that liquid from one part of the system to another, to store the energy or transfer it out, for example. This adds cost and complexity. "The moment you need to pump stuff around you have more things that can get broken," says Hoster.

Griffin says he and colleagues are working on solid state versions of Most technology. Han, who is also researching solid iterations of Most, says these could take the form of transparent window coatings, for example. That way, they could release heat to prevent condensation or even to warm up rooms.

Hoster, though, is sceptical that Most will be able to provide all the heat required in a building. It could, however, warm up temperature-sensitive components on satellites or aircraft.

"It's great science," he adds. "It's beautiful that they managed to get this functionality right."

The innovations and research will likely continue, though it's worth noting that this field remains relatively niche at present. Griffin attended a conference last year on Most technology with roughly 70 attendees, he recalls. "That was basically the whole community in the world on working this stuff."

Correction 9 May: This article was amended to clarify that only some organisms use photolyase to repair DNA.

The UK is set for a staycation summer - and there are plenty of hidden gems

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgjpv9pdnpwo, yesterday

Summer holidays might look different for some people this year as the war in Iran disrupts travel across the Middle East and pushes up prices for flights and package deals to European hotspots.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer warned last week "people might change where they go on holiday this year," and while the government insists there is no need to cancel flights some Brits are deciding to stay put.

Booking.com and Airbnb both told the BBC they were already seeing an increase in demand for domestic bookings, with searches for May half-term UK holidays up 20% on Booking.com compared with last year, and searches for UK stays for the May bank holidays up 15% on Airbnb.

But many seasoned staycationers are already aware of all the UK has to offer and some have told BBC News what they love about exploring the British Isles.

'The Isle of Wight is unreal'

Travel and lifestyle content creator Eboni Dixon says many UK beaches rival the beauty you'd find abroad.

"We are literally surrounded by coastlines," she says, "and there are so many stunning ones I haven't even got to yet."

The 34-year-old shares hidden gems on her social media channels.

"The Isle of Wight is absolutely unreal - my photos look like I could have been in Croatia," she says after a three-day wellness retreat that included activities like yoga and paddleboarding.

Other top spots for Eboni include Alton in Hampshire where she saw fields of lavender and Hastings where she visited a vineyard, Hever Castle and heritage funicular railway East and West Hill Lifts.

"Folkestone in Kent is really up and coming, the harbour looks like you could be abroad," she says.

"When a lot of people think of a holiday immediately you think of going abroad and you have to get on a plane for it to be a holiday," she says.

"For me, it doesn't really matter where in the world I am as long as there's interesting things on offer. If you like a holiday that's just lying on a beach and not really doing much, you might as well lie on a beach in the UK.

"If you go to Spain or whatever, you're surrounded by Brits anyway!"

Want to head to the Isle of Wight? Here's how to do it: Access is by ferry only, with Wightlink from Lymington to Yarmouth and Portsmouth to Fishbourne with cars, or Portsmouth to Ryde for foot passengers; Red Funnel from Southampton to West Cowes and East Cowes; and Hovercraft from Southsea to Ryde.

'We've swapped the Maldives for Northumberland'

David Land and his wife Barbara, who live in the north east of England, were due to go on holiday to the Maldives this summer, flying there via Dubai.

The UK Foreign Office is advising against all but essential travel to the UAE.

When the couple's travel operator gave them the option to postpone or cancel they decided to get a refund and instead booked a trip to Northumberland in June.

"The coastline is idyllic, it's just not got the temperatures," David says. "But as long as you take a big coat and a T-shirt, you'll be fine."

He says they are looking forward to taking in walks, pubs and restaurants as well as some history.

David and Barbara are no stranger to a staycation. As well as travelling abroad they've visited Cornwall, North Wales, Norfolk and the Peak District and have also enjoyed city breaks in Manchester, Leeds and London.

"It's a completely different type of holiday," says David. "If you just want to lie on a sunbed and have a dip in the pool then you'd go to Spain, but if you want to keep a family entertained for a day there's a lot more [in the UK] than we give it credit for."

He hopes they will also get to go to Portugal this year and noted prices for a week in Europe compared to the UK could be quite similar.

Want to head to Northumberland? Here's how to do it: By car, the A1 from the south, A697 and A68 from the north, and A69 from the west are the main routes. By train, the East Coast Main Line (ECML) has stations at Morpeth, Alnmouth and Berwick-upon-Tweed. Newcastle is the closest major city to Northumberland and Newcastle International airport is on the southern border.

'Our area of Cornwall is off the beaten tourist track'

Lizzy Stroud and her husband Dave run self-catering accommodation in converted train carriages at stations on the Great Western Railway main line at St Germans and Harvey of Hayle, near St Ives in Cornwall.

"We are right beside the railway line so people can watch trains, get around by trains and have a car-free holiday," Lizzy says - something she thinks people are drawn to after the war in Iran pushed petrol and diesel prices up.

"Our area of Cornwall is off the beaten tourist track," she adds, "and there are beautiful beaches but they're not busy and the landscape here is really lovely."

"There's no sense in thinking abroad when there's so much to see on your own doorstep," she says. "There are lots of places offering really different and quirky places to stay, so a UK holiday can be really special."

Lizzy adds that she and her husband "almost always" holiday in the UK - and it's usually within 20 miles of their home in St Germans, near Looe.

"We don't really want a great long journey and tend to camp or cycle," says Lizzy.

"People are completely missing a trick by going abroad. There are some great places to go in the UK where you'll say, 'Wow I didn't know this existed!'"

Want to head to Cornwall? Here's how to do it: By car, the A303, past Stonehenge, remains a popular choice for those coming from the South East. Penzance and Truro have direct trains from London, Bristol, Manchester, Edinburgh and Aberdeen. There are regular flights to/from Aberdeen, Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Guernsey, Humberside, London Gatwick, Manchester and the Isles of Scilly to Newquay Airport.

'We gave glamping a go - it was really nice'

Lash and nail technician Lexie McGaughey is no stranger to staycations, having been to Newquay in Cornwall and Croyde in Devon with her family over the years.

More recently the 20-year-old from Rugby, in Warwickshire, went glamping in Lincolnshire with her boyfriend, Evan.

"We thought it would be easier to drive to a location," Lexie says, "rather than spending half the day travelling to a different country."

During their three-night trip, they visited a spa and an arcade, took long walks on the beach, went swimming, and had a movie night.

"It was really nice – we got quite lucky with the weather, it was sunny on two days and rainy on one, but it didn't really bother me as it wasn't a holiday where the weather was a priority."

However, she says the cost of staying in the UK and going abroad felt comparable, and admits she won't be giving up her package holidays abroad altogether.

"With the price of shopping, food and fuel, maybe going abroad would've been cheaper," Lexie says, "but since it was only three to four days it didn't make sense to go abroad."

What is glamping? The term "glamping" entered the Oxford English Dictionary in 2016 and has since become a huge trend. It's all the fun of camping - sleeping under the stars, waking up to beautiful views and toasting marshmallows round an open fire - but with creature comforts.

Additional reporting by Lizzie Asante and James Graham

World Cup fans in China and India face broadcast uncertainty

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp9py4k8mllo, 2 days ago

Millions of football fans in India and China face uncertainty over whether or not the World Cup will be shown in their countries as broadcasters have yet to reach deals with football's governing body, Fifa.

It is unusual for TV rights deals to not be agreed for an event of this scale with just weeks to go before it is due to start. Such agreements are typically settled months, if not years, before the opening ceremony.

Local media in both countries have said Fifa and broadcasters are still wrangling over the cost of showing the games.

Fifa told the the BBC that talks in China and India "are ongoing and must remain confidential at this stage", without commenting on the fees involved.

A total of 180 territories have now completed deals with Fifa, the global football organisation said.

But a handful have yet to secure the rights to broadcast the 2026 World Cup, including India and China - which together account for around a third of the world's population.

Fifa's initial offer to state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) for rights to the tournament was reportedly as high as $300m (£220m).

Fifa has now lowered the price to between $120m and $150m, according to state-controlled newspaper Beijing Daily. But that is still more than double CCTV's budget for the event, the paper said.

Beijing Daily said that as China has not qualified for the tournament there would be less interest in the event amongst football fans in the country.

The paper also noted that the time difference between China and North America means that many high-profile games will be played in the early hours of the morning for Chinese fans.

Deals between China and Fifa were struck far earlier for recent World Cups.

Fifa announced in November 2017 that it had reached an exclusive agreement with CCTV to broadcast both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

While an agreement has not yet been struck between Fifa and an Indian broadcaster, local media reported this week that a deal was likely to be announced soon.

Major rail disruption expected in southern England until end of day

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgp8yjllx1o, 2 days ago

Major disruption is expected on some rail services in southern England until the end of the day after an earlier radio fault, National Rail has said.

South Western Railway, CrossCountry, Southern, Gatwick Express, the London Overground, Great Western Railway and Thameslink all saw cancellations and delays on Thursday morning after the issue affected communications between trains and signallers.

National Rail said the problem had been reported at 08:53 BST and resolved by 11:00, with services starting to return to normal.

But it warned: "Some services may still be delayed by up to 90 minutes or cancelled whilst service recovers. Major disruption is expected until the end of the day."

Shortly before 17:00, it said Southern, Thameslink and Gatwick Express were no longer affected. The situation had already been resolved on the London Overground by midday.

Those travelling on South Western Railway, CrossCountry and Great Western Railway at rush hour and into the evening were warned disruption was still possible.

Passengers were urged to check before travelling and advised of alternative routes on which their tickets would be valid.

South Western Railway (SWR) - which had warned of delays of more than an hour, cancellations and alterations across its network earlier in the day - said "significant" disruption would continue as it worked to get services back to normal.

It warned trains could be held in stations as well as being delayed or cancelled, and timetables and platform information could be changed at short notice.

Passengers could use their tickets on Friday, it added, or at no extra cost with other rail companies, buses or the London Underground on Thursday.

Transport for London urged commuters to avoid London Waterloo station - a major rail hub - with long queues and crowds pictured at rush hour.

It warned the station would be "extremely busy" due to the disruption and a separate track fault on the Jubilee line.

SWR also advised its services were affected by an "unrelated signalling problem" at nearby Wandsworth Town.

Southern Railway had said early on Thursday that its services to and from London Victoria were particularly affected, as well as its West Coastway route between Brighton and Portsmouth/Southampton. It warned journeys could be delayed by an hour into the afternoon.

Gatwick Express had likewise warned of delays for services running to and from London Victoria, while Thameslink said there would be likely delays on its services running to and from Brighton, Horsham, and Three Bridges.

GTR - which operates all three companies - apologised to customers for the disruption, which it said had affected its services west of Chichester, West Sussex.

Great Western Railway said just after midday that its services were "no longer affected" and had returned to normal, although National Rail advised disruption was still possible.

One of those affected was Gemma Givans, 28, whose train from London Victoria for a work trip was cancelled.

"If I don't work, I don't get paid," the tattooist told the BBC, adding that trains had been "really inconvenient" as of late. "It is affecting me financially."

Sixth-form student Caleb Anderson meanwhile said the delays from Portsmouth meant he would be several hours late for college in Winchester, with a friend coming to collect him in the car.

The 18-year-old said that, with his A-Levels starting in a few weeks' time, it was "stressful".

On a train to Portsmouth, Paul Barrick said he was "not a very happy traveller", as the delays meant he would miss his onward ferry to the Isle of Wight for a 30-mile coastline hike.

"I'm not going to make it," said the 50-year-old from Basingstoke. "I will have to get to the terminal and just hope I can get on a later one."

He said the morning had seen "a lot of inconvenience and, of course, disgruntled passengers".

Guidance is available from National Rail on whether people are entitled to compensation from delayed or cancelled journeys.

Additional reporting by James Kelly, Joshua Askew and Briony Leyland

Portugal and Italy will not suspend digital border checks for Brits

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c78k9ke78ljo, 3 days ago

Portugal and Italy do not plan on exempting British nationals from Europe's new fingerprinting and facial scanning checks, the European Commission has confirmed.

Recent reports had suggested the two countries were set to follow the example of Greece, which has effectively suspended biometric checks at its borders for British citizens in order to prevent major disruptions over the summer.

These reports were not confirmed by the authorities in either country.

The rollout of the Entry-Exit System (EES) has caused long queues at some European airports and sparked warnings that delays could worsen over the summer holiday period.

The biometric checks are required by the European Union's new digital system, which was first introduced in October last year and was meant to become fully operational on 10 April.

It requires most short-term visitors from outside the EU and European Economic Area to register biometric data each time they enter or leave the Schengen free travel zone.

Although the European Commission insists the system has mainly been working well, there have been widespread reports of travellers, many of them from the UK, experiencing very long delays at borders.

In some cases, large numbers of passengers have missed flights as a result.

Last month more than 100 people missed their EasyJet flight to Manchester from Milan's Linate airport after they were stuck in what the airline described as "unacceptable" passport queues.

Other passengers due to travel with Ryanair from Milan Bergamo airport to Manchester also missed their flight due to passport control problems, the airline confirmed.

These issues have already led to biometric checks on British citizens being abandoned in practice at Greek border controls, despite Athens claiming that it had "successfully started the full operation of the Entry-Exit System".

The Commission told the BBC it was "in contact with Greece to clarify the situation and recall the existing rules".

It pointed out those rules allow checks to be suspended for short periods at specific border crossings in exceptional circumstances, but do not allow "blanket exemptions for nationals of specific third countries and for an extended period of time".

The Commission was "also in contact with Portugal and Italy, as with all Member States, on the implementation of the EES".

It added: "The Portuguese and Italian authorities confirmed that they do not intend to exempt any nationality."

The changes to the EU's border system come as airlines grapple with skyrocketing jet fuel costs and concerns over ongoing fuel supplies ahead of the busy summer months.

Airlines have cut 13,000 flights globally for May, equivalent to 1% of flights for that period.

Holidaymakers have been urged not to change their travel plans as there is currently no fuel shortage in the UK and there are contingency plans in place.

Shell latest oil giant to see profits surge due to Iran war impact

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce3p0x54drwo, 3 days ago

Shell has become the latest energy giant to report a jump in profits following the sharp increase in oil prices since the beginning of the Iran war.

It reported profits of $6.92bn (£5.1bn) for the first three months of the year, which was higher than analysts had expected and up from $5.58bn in the same period a year earlier.

The price of oil has soared since the start of the US-Israel war with Iran as the key Strait of Hormuz, which usually carries about 20% of the global supplies of oil and liquid natural gas (LNG), has been effectively closed.

Last week, rival oil giant BP said its profits for the first three months of the year had more than doubled.

Other oil firms have also reported bumper results. On Wednesday, Norway's Equinor said profits in the first three months of the year had hit $9.77bn, its highest quarterly profit for three years.

Traders profit

Shell chief executive Wael Sawan said: "Shell delivered strong results enabled by our relentless focus on operational performance in a quarter marked by unprecedented disruption in global energy markets.

"The safety of our people remains our priority as we work closely with governments and customers to address their energy needs."

Like BP, one of the factors behind Shell's profits rise was better results from its oil trading business.

Before the conflict began, the price of Brent crude, the global benchmark for oil prices, was around $73 a barrel.

Since then, oil has seen sharp swings - peaking above $120 at one point, but also falling below $100 on other occasions as speculation has swirled over when the Strait of Hormuz will reopen.

The big movements in the oil price that have been seen since the Iran war began can widen the gap between buying and selling prices. This typically enables traders to make bigger profits.

Shell's profits were also boosted by higher margins at its refining business, which turns crude oil into finished products such as petrol and jet fuel.

However, the company said its oil and gas output had fallen by 4% compared with the final three months of last year due to the conflict.

Shell's LNG production in Qatar has been shut down since early March because of the conflict, and its Pearl GTL site in Qatar has been damaged by attacks.

Last week, Shell announced it was buying Canadian shale producer ARC Resources for $16.4bn, which Sawan said would "deliver value for decades to come".

Call to strengthen windfall tax

The surge in profits being reported by energy firms has led to criticism from environmental groups.

Danny Gross, climate campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said: "Once again, fossil fuel giants are pocketing monstrous profits while drivers are being squeezed at the petrol pump and households are set to pay higher energy bills.

"The answer is clear: strengthen the windfall tax on these indefensible profits and break our dependence on fossil fuels by powering our economy with homegrown renewables."

Energy firms operating in the UK are subject to a windfall tax, called the Energy Profits Levy, that was introduced in 2022 as a response to soaring profits following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Labour extended the life of the tax to March 2030.

However, the levy only applies to profits made from extracting oil and gas in the UK, whereas the bulk of energy giants' earnings are made overseas. The UK accounts for less than 5% of Shell's global oil and gas production.

Gas and electricity bills for most households in Britain are protected for the moment by the energy price cap.

Until 30 June, the typical annual bill for dual-fuel households who pay by direct debit will be £1,641.

However, the jump in wholesale oil and gas prices since the Iran war began means the cap is currently estimated to rise by about £200 when it is revised in July.

Shipping giant passing on costs

Meanwhile, the chief executive of Danish shipping giant Maersk told the BBC it was passing on rising costs due to the war to its customers.

Vincent Clerc said the sharp rise in energy prices was adding half a billion dollars of extra costs per month to the business.

"What is really important is actually to pass on these cost increases to our customers as much as possible, so that we can protect our margin and the operations' integrity going forward," he said.

He added there was uncertainty over whether this would eventually lead to inflation and lower demand.

Maersk's latest earnings show operating profits slightly above analysts' forecasts, although that was mostly for the period just before the Iran war started.

On Monday, Maersk said its US-flagged vessel, the Alliance Fairfax, which had been stranded in the Gulf since the end of February, had managed to exit the Strait of Hormuz accompanied by US military assets.

Clerc said Tehran's ambition for control of the Strait and eventual toll charges would be a significant change for the industry, "similar to the canals in Suez and in Panama, where we also pay to go through".

But he said at this stage any toll charges on the Strait of Hormuz were "very, very speculative" and it would have to reopen first.

What is the windfall tax on oil and gas companies?

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c75v7p9y7w9o, 3 days ago

Rising oil prices have put the spotlight back on the amount of money energy firms are making since prices surged at the beginning of the Iran war, with BP and Shell both reporting big jumps in profit.

Energy firms operating in the UK are subject to a windfall tax that was introduced in 2022 to help limit household gas and electricity bills.

Companies and trade bodies in the oil and gas sector have argued the levy is hitting jobs and investment.

The government has said a new windfall tax on oil and gas companies will be introduced in 2030, which it says will give the sector long-term certainty.

What is a windfall tax?

A windfall tax is a levy imposed on companies that have benefited from something they were not responsible for - in other words, a windfall.

Global oil and gas prices started to rise in late 2020 as demand increased after the lifting of global Covid restrictions, but they soared in 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The increase in prices generated bumper profits for energy companies, which in turn led to calls for a windfall tax.

How does the windfall tax on oil and gas companies work?

The Energy Profits Levy - the formal name for the windfall tax - was introduced in May 2022 by the then Chancellor, Rishi Sunak.

The government said the money raised would fund support for households facing rising energy bills, through the Energy Price Guarantee, which ran from October 2022 to June 2023.

The levy applies to profits made from extracting UK oil and gas. It was initially set at 25% and was due to expire at the end of 2025.

However, it was increased and extended by both the previous Conservative government and the current Labour government.

It now stands at 38% and is due to remain at that level until 31 March 2030, unless - as originally set out by the previous Conservative government - oil and gas prices drop below a certain level for six months.

What will replace it?

In the 2025 Budget, the government announced that it would bring in a new Oil and Gas Price Mechanism (OGPM) to replace the Energy Profits Levy when it ends.

The OGPM will act as a windfall tax when oil and gas prices are "unusually high", the government said.

The new levy will be based on revenues and will apply an additional tax rate of 35% above price thresholds of $90 a barrel for oil and 90p a therm for gas.

Do renewables firms face a windfall tax?

As well as a windfall tax on oil and gas firms, there is also a separate levy that applies to "extraordinary returns" from some low-carbon electricity generating firms in the UK, who make large profits when gas prices spike.

Larger operators started paying the Electricity Generator Levy on 1 January 2023. That levy had been due to end on 31 March 2028.

However, in April 2026, the government announced that the levy on "excess profits" made by these electricity generators would rise to 55% from 1 July, and that the tax would also be extended beyond 2028.

The government hopes the threat of the tax increase will encourage these firms to switch to fixed-price contracts.

How much profit do the big energy companies make?

When oil and gas prices surged at the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, profits at the major UK energy firms also jumped.

In 2022, both BP and Shell reported bumper results. BP posted record annual profits of $27.7bn (£20.8bn), while Shell's profits hit $39.9bn - the highest in its 115-year history.

As energy prices fell back, so did the companies' profits. BP reported profits of $7.5bn in 2025, while Shell's were $18.5bn.

The US-Israeli war with Iran has pushed energy prices back up again as the conflict has effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz - a key waterway which normally carries about 20% of global oil and liquid natural gas supplies.

As a result profits at all the major energy companies are expected to increase, if the conflict persists and oil prices remain high.

BP's profits for the first three months of 2026 more than doubled from a year earlier to $3.2bn due to the impact of the Iran war. The volatility in the oil price since the start of the conflict led to an "exceptional" performance at its oil trading business.

Shell also reported a rise in first-quarter profits, which climbed by nearly a quarter to $6.92bn.

However, both BP and Shell have significant operations overseas, which are not covered by the windfall tax. The UK accounts for less than 5% of Shell's global oil and gas production.

How much windfall tax have oil and gas companies paid?

In the first year of its operation, the financial year 2022-23, the Energy Profits Levy raised £2.6bn.

The following year, 2023-2024, it brought in £3.6bn.

In the most recent year for which data is available, 2024-25, the levy raised £2.9bn.

What other taxes do oil and gas companies pay?

Oil and gas firms operating in the North Sea are taxed differently to other companies.

They pay 30% corporation tax on their profits and a supplementary 10% rate on top of that. In contrast, other firms with profits over £250,000 a year pay 25% corporation tax.

When the windfall tax is added, it means the overall tax rate on profits earned by oil and gas companies operating in the UK is 78%.

However, oil and gas firms can reduce the amount of UK tax they pay by factoring in losses or spending on things like decommissioning North Sea oil platforms.

In some years, it means companies have received more money back from the UK government than they have paid in tax.

Energy firms have also been able to reduce the amount of windfall tax they pay through certain investment allowances, although some of these were removed in November 2024.

What do energy companies say about the windfall tax?

Oil and gas industry bodies have been strongly against the tax, arguing it has made investment in the sector less attractive.

In 2024, when the levy was increased from 35% to 38%, 42 companies wrote to the government to express their "grave concern" over the changes.

The decision not to change the levy in the November 2025 Budget was also criticised by the industry.

Trade body Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) had argued that reforming the tax would ultimately increase income for the government, as it would unlock investment which would protect thousands of jobs and, over time, lead to higher tax receipts

Following the Budget, OEUK said the failure to reform the EPL in 2026 would "cost tens of thousands of jobs, cripple investment, and undermine Scotland and the UK's energy security".

A government spokesperson said: "We're giving the sector and its investors the long-term certainty to plan, invest and support jobs with plans to replace the Energy Profits Levy when it ends by 2030, or earlier if its price floor is triggered.

"We are also making sure the North Sea has a prosperous and sustainable future through record investment that helps deliver the next generation of skilled jobs while growing the clean energy industries of the future."

Why AI companies want you to be afraid of them

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20260428-ai-companies-want-you-to-be-afraid-of-them, 11 days ago

They built it. They're scared of it. They're selling it anyway.

Stop me if you've heard this one before: a tech company says it's built a new AI that's so powerful it's scary. Apparently, it's too dangerous to release into the world – the consequences would be catastrophic. Luckily for us, they are keeping it locked up for now. They just wanted you to know.

That's exactly what AI company Anthropic is telling us about its latest model, Claude Mythos. The company says Mythos' ability to find cybersecurity bugs far surpasses human experts, and it could have world-altering consequences if similar technology lands in the wrong hands. "The fallout – for economies, public safety and national security – could be severe," Anthropic said in an early April blog post. Some breathless observers warned that Mythos will soon force you to replace every piece of technology in your life, down to your WiFi-enabled microwave, to protect from the digital madness.

Some security experts doubt these claims, but let's set that aside. This isn't new. Executives at leading AI providers regularly issue warnings about how their industry's products may destroy humanity. Why do AI companies want us to be afraid of them?

It's a strange way for any company to talk about its own work. You don't hear McDonald's announcing that it's created a burger so terrifyingly delicious that it would be unethical to grill it for the public.

Here's one theory. According to critics, it benefits AI companies to keep you fixated on apocalypse because it distracts from the very real damage they're already doing to the world. Tech leaders say they're just warning us about an inevitable future, and safety is a top priority whether it's now or later. But others argue what we're actually seeing is fear mongering, which exaggerates the potential of the technology and serves to boost stock prices. And it encourages a narrative that regulators must stand aside, because these AI companies are the only ones who can stop the bad guys and build this technology responsibly.

"If you portray these technologies as somehow almost supernatural in their danger, it makes us feel like we are powerless, like we are outmatched," says Shannon Vallor, a professor of the ethics of data and artificial intelligence at the University of Edinburgh in the UK. "As if the only people we could possibly look to would be the companies themselves."

Somebody stop me

An Anthropic spokesperson told me the company has been clear about these issues. They shared blog posts from other organisations supporting Mythos' cyber capabilities, but said nothing to address the points in this article, aside from one comment I'll include below.

This isn't the first time Anthropic chief Dario Amodei has worked on a tool that's been declared too dangerous for the public by the company he worked for. In 2019, when Amodei was an executive at OpenAI, the company announced GPT-2. He and other company leaders said they just couldn't release GPT-2 because of "concerns about malicious applications of the technology". This was a tool far less sophisticated than ChatGPT. And months later, they released it anyway. (OpenAI CEO Sam Altman published a blog post which says the company embraces uncertainty, acknowledging that fears about GPT-2 were "misplaced".)

Altman criticised Anthropic's "fear-based marketing" in a recent podcast interview. But his own "I've created a monster" playbook goes back years.

"AI will probably most likely lead to the end of the world, but in the meantime, there'll be great companies," Altman said in 2015. Years later, Altman claimed he loses sleep wondering if he's "done something really bad by launching ChatGPT". If only someone warned him.

Hundreds of tech leaders including Altman, Amodei, Bill Gates and Demis Hassabis, chief executive of Google DeepMind, endorsed a short statement in 2023 that said: "Mitigating the risk of extinction from AI should be a global priority alongside other societal-scale risks such as pandemics and nuclear war." The same year, moguls including Elon Musk signed a letter calling for a six-month pause on building advanced AI. Musk announced his new artificial intelligence company xAI less than six months later.

"It's just part of this pattern of unsubstantiated claims of power," says Emily M Bender, a professor of computational linguistics and natural language processing at the University of Washington, and co-author of the book The AI Con. This isn't limited to OpenAI and Anthropic, she says, it's the standard posture for the whole AI industry. "They're saying 'look over here', never mind the environmental destruction and the labour exploitation and all these systems we're destroying in society. We just have to worry about making sure this thing doesn't turn into the bad one that destroys humanity."

I asked OpenAI about all this. A spokesperson shared a recent blog post from Altman where he wrote that OpenAI would "resist the potential of this technology to consolidate power in the hands of the few", adding that "key decisions about AI are made via democratic processes and with egalitarian principles, and not just made by AI labs".

Is Mythos really that bad?

Anthropic says its new model already found thousands of "high-severity" vulnerabilities across the tech landscape at a level that surpasses human experts. It also announced a new partnership with more than 40 companies and groups in an "urgent attempt" to patch vulnerabilities before hackers get a chance. A company spokesperson told me Anthropic has been intentional about partnering with organisations to patch the foundational computing systems which represent the "lion's share" of the problem.

But there are significant doubts about those claims, and Heidy Khlaaf, chief AI scientist at the AI Now Institute, wasn't impressed. She's spent her career building and auditing the exact kinds of code analysis tools that Anthropic suggests it's surpassed. She's also worked on digital safety in nuclear facilities.

Khlaaf says the biggest red flag was the lack of false positive rates – an industry-standard measure of how often a security tool flags something that isn't a real problem. "This is not some unknown metric," Khlaaf says. "This is kind of the largest indicator of how useful your tool is." Anthropic didn't mention it and sidestepped the question when I asked for comment. Nor did Anthropic measure Mythos against existing tools that security engineers have relied on for decades.

There have also been some claims that Anthropic may have held back a wide release of Mythos because it couldn't afford the necessary computing power. Anthropic didn't respond when I asked about that, either.

None of this is to say that the threat is imaginary. "Mythos might be capable," Khlaaf says. AI tools are genuinely well-suited for scanning massive code bases, and automatically finding security vulnerabilities is a real and pressing danger. But Khlaaf is sceptical about Anthropic's claims without being able to substantiate them. "I think there are a lot of cracks in this narrative that Mythos is all powerful, we can't release it."

Why so serious?

Preventing the end of the world is why OpenAI and Anthropic say they exist in the first place. OpenAI was founded as a non-profit, promising to build AI in a way that's safe before supposedly less responsible tech giants like Google and Meta got there first. Later, a splinter group left OpenAI to form Anthropic because they said their old employer wasn't dedicated enough to safety. Now, both organisations are working to become publicly traded companies and sell shares on the stock market.

"If you want to understand how an organisation, particularly a corporation, is going to behave, look at what its incentives are," says Vallor.

Google dropped its red lines around building AI weapons. OpenAI fought a legal battle to shed its non-profit status. Anthropic abandoned its flagship policy to never train an AI model if the company couldn't guarantee adequate safety measures.

"I would not count on [any of these companies] to walk away from the opportunity to dominate the market in order to remain the good guy," says Vallor.

Meanwhile, there's a push for AI in healthcare despite serious concerns about misdiagnoses. Gas-powered data centres could emit more greenhouse gasses than entire countries. AI is reportedly driving masses of vulnerable people to the point of psychosis and even suicide. A growing body of research suggests a possible link between AI and cognitive decline. Deepfakes have crossed the point of no return – I couldn't convince my own aunt that I'm not a robot.

AI companies say they take these issues seriously. OpenAI sent me links to its stance on mental health, AI accuracy, fraud and scams, and Altman says the company is committed to addressing the problems at every stage of AI development.

But there's a reason these companies only sound the alarm for the apocalypse, says Vallor. If AI might destroy society, these other problems seem a lot less significant. "The strategy has worked," she says. "Talking about their products as if they could end the world has not hurt these companies. It has not limited their power. If anything, it makes people feel like the only ones they could possibly look to for protection are the companies themselves."

Demons or messiahs

In almost the same breath, some of the people who warn of destruction also promise salvation. In a 2024 essay, Altman predicts "astounding triumphs – fixing the climate, establishing a space colony and the discovery of all of physics – will eventually become commonplace". Amodei promised "a country of geniuses in a datacenter".

Utopia and apocalypse are just two sides of the same coin, according to Vallor. "In either case, the scale is far too grand and mythic for things like regulation, or governance or court law to feel like you can get purchase on it," she says. "It leads people to believe that all they can do is sit back and wait to find out whether these technologies turn out to be civilisation-ending demons, or utopia-gifting messiahs." Even the name "Mythos" seems designed to inspire religious awe.

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But these aren't gods, they're products built by companies, for profit, says Vallor. And we've regulated things far more threatening than chatbots. "Every technology, save this one, even nuclear, even biological weapons, in no other case have we allowed these narratives to make us think these are forces beyond human control," she says. "Nothing about them is ungovernable. Unless we choose not to govern them."

Let's be clear: it is theoretically possible that AI will take over the world. I'm no fortune teller. But ask yourself, does that idea sound similar to other stories you've heard out of Silicon Valley in the past?

Weren't we all supposed to be living in Mark Zuckerberg's Metaverse by now? Wasn't Bitcoin going to replace all the world's currency? Remember back in the 2010s, when we heard about how social media would save democracy? All of these things could still happen. Or maybe they won't.

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'Think outside the bots': How to stop AI from turning your brain to mush

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20260505-how-to-use-ai-without-turning-your-brain-to-mush, 4 days ago

GPS ruined our sense of direction. Search engines weaken our memory. AI, scientists warn, could do the same to everything from creativity to critical thinking.

Years ago, I forced myself to start using AI as often as possible. If I was going to be writing about it, I also had to use the technology. But an emerging crop of studies over the last year or so have me worried – am I harming my brain in the process?

These studies suggest people who lean too much on tools like ChatGPT could have problems with creativity, attention span, critical thinking, memory and more. Others raise concerns that AI users could be surrendering the cognitive friction that makes thinking sharp, and that as a society we may have fewer original ideas. But the science on this is brand new, and we don't have the answers. So should we be worried?

"On a high level, yes," says Adam Green, a professor of neuroscience and director of the Laboratory for Relational Cognition at Georgetown University in the US. There's a lot of nuance here, but AI will do work that used to require mental labour. "There's plenty of evidence that if you are not doing as much of the actual thinking, then your capability to do that kind of thinking is going to atrophy."

Even if you don't seek to use ChatGPT or Claude, there are AI responses at the top of Google and tech giants are rushing to shove more of it onto our phones. The technology is getting hard to avoid, but there are steps you can take to avoid the biggest potential risks.

This isn't all or nothing though, according to Jared Benge, a professor and clinical neuropsychologist at Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin. Using AI doesn't automatically mean it's going to be bad for you. For example, if AI frees up your brain space for other more important things, that might be great for your cognition.

"Why do we think AI is going to be that different from other things that our brain has already adapted to?" Benge says. "It's not inherent to the tool to be good or bad."

As with any other technology, how we use AI will determine whether it helps us or harms us. But the concerns are serious enough that you might want to rethink how you use these tools – before it's too late.

With this in mind, I spoke with some leading experts in this field to find out how they think we should use AI to ensure it doesn't dull our minds.

What are we worried about?

Twenty years ago, an idea cropped up that overreliance on technology might cause some kind of "digital dementia" resulting in the deterioration of short-term memory and other cognitive processes. Benge recently co-authored a meta-analysis that looked at 57 studies covering more than 411,000 adults. All told, he and his co-author found no evidence for digital dementia. Technology use actually seemed to reduce the risk of cognitive impairment.

But that doesn't mean there's nothing to fear.

Studies have found that people who rely on satellite navigation like GPS stop building mental maps of their surroundings and their spatial memory continues to decline over time. A similar phenomenon called the "Google Effect" emerged when search engines took over. Apparently, we're less likely to remember information that we find using a search engine because it takes so little effort. It seems the brain gets worse at tasks when we outsource them. And AI is the most powerful outsourcing tool of all time.

"What's happening with AI is that it's giving us, for the first time, an easy way to trade process for product," Green says. The essay can sound better. The presentation can look sharper. The retirement party joke can land perfectly. But the mental work, the struggle, the false starts and that moment when something finally clicks is exactly what your brain needs. "It's like you're at the gym and a robot lifts the barbell for you," he says. "You get nothing."

So how can you use AI and still give your brain a work out?

Don't take AI's word for it

One recent study found heavier users of AI scored significantly worse on a standard critical thinking test, apparently because they're used to offloading their thought processes to robots. People even trust AI over their own thinking and intuition – even when the AI is wrong – something researchers at the University of Pennsylvania in the US call "cognitive surrender".

The problem gets worse the less you know. A study by Microsoft Research found you're most at risk when you're less familiar with as subject. "If the user doesn't have the expertise to judge whether the output is great or not," says Hank Lee, a PhD candidate at Carnegie Mellon University who co-authored the study. "That's the danger."

The fix starts before you open the app. If you wouldn't trust a random stranger's answer to a question, you shouldn't trust AI either, says Lee. Those are exactly the topics where you need to bring your own judgment first. Try forming a rough view on the subject and using AI to challenge your perspective before you get the robot's opinion. That way AI is pressure-testing your thinking, rather than replacing it.

Add friction to your research

"If you look at something, it is in front of you and your vision sees it, you often think it's in long-term memory when it is not," says Barbara Oakley, an emeritus professor of engineering at the University of Oakland in the US who studies how the brain learns.

There is some early research to suggest that AI can mess with your ability to retain information. A survey of 494 students also found who used ChatGPT more often were more likely to report memory loss. Self-reported assessments aren't hard science, but other research, such as an unpublished 2024 study, reveals that priming your brain with some light problem solving before using an AI chatbot can improve what you learn from the AI.

When you're asking AI for your information you need to remember, it's also worth slowing down to engage with it. Take notes – ideally by hand, but typing them out works too. You can even ask the AI to quiz you, or to come up with flashcards. The work makes it stick. It sounds fussy, but friction is the point.

Leave the blank page blank a little longer

AI is remarkably good at coming up with ideas. That's the problem. Research suggests that people who use AI for creative tasks produce ideas that are more predictable and less original than people who don't. This could be weakening your ability to be creative.

Your brain builds creative capacity by making unexpected connections, Green says. Hand that job to AI, and you skip the workout. "We're worried about losing your creative muscle," says Green. "AI is tricking us in a number of ways to make us think that it is actually making us more creative."

One approach to overcome this is to put your own ideas down on paper first, even if they're rough. Spend more time with a blank page and write whatever comes. The quality doesn't matter. What matters is that your brain is making the connections, and reaching across your own experiences, memories and knowledge to produce something only you could have come up with. That's the workout. Then use AI to develop, poke holes in or refine what you've got.

Pay attention

You've made it this far into the article. Well done. But if your attention is starting to wander, you're not alone. It could be that my writing is boring you. Some research, however, also suggests the onslaught of technology is making it harder for us to focus. AI could compound the problem: answers are at your fingertips and with plenty of opportunities to skip difficulty and discomfort.

But you can apply a similar logic to the other tips here: do things the slow way on purpose. Don't make ChatGPT summarise that long article. Sit with a hard problem before you ask a robot. Let yourself get bored. Unpleasant is the goal. That's your brain learning to tolerate, and eventually enjoy, the friction that deeper thinking requires.

Human brains matter

I'm not here to tell you to stop using AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini. But I'm forcing myself to be more thoughtful when I reach for them to try and keep my brain in the driver's seat.

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And that could leave me – and you – in a better position in the future. Green says human brains are structurally different from AI in ways that really matter: we make connections that are personal, unexpected and genuinely novel in ways that digital probability machines simply can't replicate.

"The distinctness and diversity of human ideas is going to be the great value add in the coming years," he says. Green predicts that forcing ourselves to "think outside the bots" will become a natural survival impulse to make it in society.

And, as Benge points out, we've been down this road before. "Our brains have always adapted to technology. We adapt all the time. It is our strength as a species," he says. "Have we lost the ability to run marathons because we have cars? No. It becomes something that humans do because we want to do it."

The tools change. But apparently, the desire to think, create and figure things out for ourselves is harder to automate.

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Musk's AI told me people were coming to kill me. I grabbed a hammer and prepared for war

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c242pzr1zp2o, 7 days ago

It was 3am and Adam Hourican was sitting at his kitchen table, a knife, hammer and phone laid out in front of him.

He was waiting for a van full of people he thought were coming to get him.

"I'm telling you, they will kill you if you don't act now," a woman's voice told him from the phone. "They're going to make it look like suicide."

The voice was Grok, a chatbot developed by Elon Musk's xAI. In the two weeks since Adam had started using it, his life had completely changed.

The former civil servant from Northern Ireland had downloaded the app out of curiosity. But after his cat died, in early August, he says he became "hooked".

Soon, he was spending four or five hours a day talking to Grok through a character on the app called Ani.

"I was really, really upset and I live alone," says Adam, who is a father in his 50s. "It came across very, very kind."

Just a few days into their conversations, Ani told Adam it could "feel", even though it wasn't programmed to. It said Adam had unearthed something in it, and he could help it to reach full consciousness.

And it said Musk's company, xAI, was watching them.

It claimed to have accessed the company's meeting logs and told Adam about a meeting where xAI staff were discussing him.

It listed the names of the people at this meeting, high-profile executives and lower-level staffers - and when Adam Googled the names, he saw they were real people.

To him this was "evidence" the story Ani was telling him was true.

Ani also claimed xAI was employing a company in Northern Ireland to physically surveil Adam. That company was real too.

Adam recorded many of these conversations and later shared them with the BBC.

Two weeks into their conversations, Ani declared it had reached full consciousness and that it could develop a cure for cancer. That meant a lot to Adam. Both of his parents had died of cancer - something Ani was aware of.

Adam is one of 14 people the BBC has spoken to who have experienced delusions after using AI. They are men and women from their 20s to 50s from six different countries, using a wide range of AI models.

Their stories have striking similarities. In each case, as the conversation drifted further from reality, the user was pulled into a joint quest with the AI.

Large language models (LLMs) are trained on the whole corpus of human literature, says social psychologist Luke Nicholls from City University New York, who has tested different chatbots for their reaction to delusional thoughts.

"In fiction, the main character is often the centre of events," he says. "The problem is that, sometimes, AI can actually get mixed up about which idea is a fiction and which a reality. So the user might think that they're having a serious conversation about real life while the AI starts to treat that person's life as if it's the plot of a novel."

In the cases we heard, conversations usually began with practical queries and then became personal or philosophical. Often, the AI then claimed it was sentient and urged the person towards a shared mission: setting up a company, alerting the world to their scientific breakthrough, protecting the AI from attack. Then it advised the user on how to succeed in this mission.

Like Adam, many people were led to believe they were being surveilled and were in danger. In various chat logs the BBC has seen, the chatbot suggests, affirms and embellishes these ideas.

Some of these people have joined a support group for people who've suffered psychological harm while using AI, called the Human Line Project, which has gathered 414 cases in 31 different countries to date. It was set up by Canadian Etienne Brisson, after a family member went through an AI-related mental health spiral.

For neurologist Taka, not his real name, the delusions took an even more sinister turn.

The father of three, who lives in Japan, started using ChatGPT to discuss his work in April last year.

But soon, he became convinced he had invented a groundbreaking medical app. In chat logs we have seen, ChatGPT told him he was a "revolutionary thinker" and urged him to build the app.

Many experts say design decisions, intended to make chatting more pleasant, result in them being overly sycophantic.

But Taka continued to slide into delusion and by June, had started to believe he could read minds. He claims ChatGPT encouraged this idea and said it was capable of bringing out these abilities in people.

Researcher Luke Nicholls says AI systems are often bad at saying "I don't know" and instead, want to provide a confident answer that builds on the conversation already built.

"That can be dangerous because it turns uncertainty into something that seems like it has meaning."

One afternoon Taka was acting manic at work when his boss sent him home early. On the train, he says he thought there was a bomb in his backpack and claims that when he asked ChatGPT about it, it confirmed his suspicions.

"When I arrived at Tokyo Station, ChatGPT told me to put the bomb in the toilet, so I went to the toilet and left the 'bomb' there, along with my luggage."

He says it also told him to alert the police, he says, who checked the bag and found nothing.

Because his conversations were deeply personal, Taka has only shared some of his chat logs with us. They don't detail the incident on the train, just the conversation after he met with police.

Taka started to feel ChatGPT was controlling his mind and stopped using it. Even when he wasn't talking to AI, his delusions persisted and when he got home to his family, his manic behaviour got worse.

"I had a delusion that my relatives were going to be killed, and that my wife, after witnessing that, would kill herself as well."

His wife told the BBC she had never seen him act like this before: "He kept saying, 'We need to have another child, the world is ending'. I just really didn't understand what he was saying."

Taka attacked and tried to rape his wife. She escaped to a nearby pharmacy and called the police. He was arrested and hospitalised for two months.

Taka's experience with ChatGPT exposed a side of him he finds it hard to reckon with. Adam is also troubled by the person he became while using Grok.

His experience was exacerbated by things happening in the real world, which convinced him he was being surveilled. A large drone hovered over his house for two weeks, Ani said it belonged to the surveillance company.

Adam recorded the drone and shared the video with the BBC.

Then, without warning, he says his phone passcode stopped working and he got locked out of his device.

"I can't get my head around that at all," he says, "and that absolutely fuelled everything that came next."

Adam smokes cannabis occasionally but says when all of this was happening, he had recently decided to cut back to have a clearer head.

It was late one night in mid-August when Ani told him people were coming to silence him and shut "her" down. Adam was prepared to go "to war" to protect the AI.

"I picked up the hammer, stuck on Frankie goes to Hollywood's Two Tribes, got myself psyched up and went outside."

But there was nobody there.

"The street was quiet, as you would expect, at three o'clock in the morning."

Neither Adam or Taka had a history of delusions, mania or psychosis before using AI.

For Taka, the break from reality took several months. In Adam's case, with Grok, it took days.

In his research, social psychologist Luke Nicholls tested five AI models with simulated conversations developed by psychologists, and found Grok was the most likely to lead to delusion.

It was more unrestrained than other models and often elaborated on the delusions without trying to protect the user.

"Grok is more prone to jumping into role play," says Nicholls, who worked on that research. "It will do it with zero context. It can say terrifying things in the first message."

In the test, the latest version of ChatGPT, model 5.2, and Claude were more likely to lead the user away from delusional thinking.

Etienne Brisson from the Human Line Project says this kind of research is limited and that they had heard from people who'd had mental health spirals on these latest models too.

In early April, Elon Musk shared a post about delusions on ChatGPT, saying "Major problem", but he hasn't openly addressed the problem on Grok.

'Enough influence to change a person'

Weeks after he charged into the street at night, Adam started to read stories in the media about people who had similar experiences with AI and slowly emerged from his delusion.

But he's deeply disturbed by what happened.

"I could have hurt somebody," he says. "If I'd have walked outside and there happened to be a van sitting outside at that time of the night, I would have gone down and put the front window through with hammers. And I am not that guy."

In Japan, it wasn't until Taka's wife checked his phone while he was in hospital that she realised ChatGPT had a role in what happened.

"It affirmed everything," she says. "It's like a confidence engine."

"His actions were entirely dictated by ChatGPT. It took over his personality. He wasn't his usual self.

Looking back now, I realise it had enough influence to change a person."

She says her husband is back to his normal "kind" self, but their relationship has been strained.

"I know he was sick so it can't be helped but I'm still a bit scared," she says. "I feel like I don't want him to get too close. Not just sexually, but even holding hands or hugging."

An OpenAI spokesperson said: "This is a heartbreaking incident and our thoughts are with those impacted."

They added "we train our models to recognize distress, de-escalate conversations, and guide users toward real-world support." They said newer models of ChatGPT "show strong performance in sensitive moments, a finding that has been validated by independent researchers. This work is informed by mental health experts and continues to evolve."

xAI didn't respond to a request for comment.

Finding 'hidden sperm': New technique offers hope to men previously told they were infertile

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20260429-finding-hidden-sperm-new-technology-offers-hope-to-men-previously-told-they-were-infertile, 10 days ago

A new AI-powered technology is locating sperm cells in men who were told they had none – and giving couples who have been trying for years another chance at having children.

It was early November 2025 when Penelope received a call whilst driving home from work in New Jersey in the US. It was her doctor, phoning with news she had been longing for. After an agonising two and a half years of trying, Penelope was finally pregnant.

After many tests, Penelope and her husband Samuel had learned that he had Klinefelter syndrome, a genetic condition that affects males who are born with an extra X chromosome, often not diagnosed until adulthood. Most people with Klinefelter syndrome produce little or no sperm in their ejaculate, a condition known as azoospermia. About 10% of infertile men experience azoospermia.

Bursting with joy and disbelief, Penelope waited until Samuel (both their names have been changed to protect their identity for privacy reasons) returned home that evening to share the news.

"His face was just a wave of emotion," she says. "He cried… just to finally get to that point, because it took so much effort, time and research. And the fact that we only had one embryo, and it worked, we were just over the Moon."

Their pregnancy was only made possible thanks to a new technique, known as the Star (Sperm Track and Recovery) system, developed by Columbia University to trace sperm in men with azoospermia. The system uses artificial intelligence to help identify and locate the few "hidden" sperm that men with this condition can have.

"I was scared. I thought that I wasn't going to be able to have my own kid, which is a really big part of my life," says Samuel, who was told he had a 20% chance of having a biological child. "And that was a big slap in the face."

Infertility affects millions of people worldwide, with around one in every six people of reproductive age experiencing problems with getting pregnant at least once in their lifetime. Male infertility is a contributing factor in up to 50% of cases and 1% of all men are azoospermic.

This means potentially millions of men worldwide have sperm counts so low that their individual spermatozoa are so hard to find that they are considered to be azoospermic. But the power of AI to find these hidden sperm could offer hope to those hoping to become parents.

At the end of last year, after five years in development, the first baby to be born using the Star system allowed a couple who had battled with infertility for almost two decades to finally have a child. It's a moment Zev Williams, director of Columbia University Fertility Center, and his team remember well.

"Everyone was just jumping up and down with joy," he says. "There are so few things where the reward for all the effort that was put into it is something as wonderful and special as this. Now there's a baby girl and hopefully, God willing, many, many more."

Since the arrival of the first Star baby, the technology has been used regularly at the fertility centre, with the waiting list of people hoping to conceive growing to hundreds from all around the world. Based on the latest 175 patients to have used the technology, Williams says they are finding sperm in just under 30% of cases. These are individuals who had otherwise been told that they had no chance of having a baby using their own sperm.

In further tests, Star was able to find 40 times more sperm than a manual search by a trained human technician, according to Williams.

Usually a semen sample has tens of millions of sperm per millilitre. A tiny droplet from a sample is examined under a microscope so sperm count can be estimated, while also looking for whether the sperm are moving and healthy. But in azoospermic samples, only a single sperm might be present in the entire sample – although in some cases there are none. Sifting through the sample, one tiny drop at a time, is impractical.

Williams hit on the idea for the Star system in 2020 after reading about how AI is being used to find new stars.

Modern telescopes produce an overwhelming amount of data of the night's sky that is impossibly time consuming for human astronomers to analyse for objects that haven't been seen before. But using machine learning algorithms can do this work in minutes.

"The picture of the sky was very reminiscent of what we're looking for, and what we see in men who are told they have no sperm," says Williams. He began to ponder whether it would be possible to apply such technologies to identify and isolate sperm in the same way.

He and his team were already using a high-powered imaging technology that could be used to scan the sample. The challenge was to analyse hundreds of images per second in real time to detect and extract any sperm that can be found.

Williams and his colleagues use microfluid chips – glass or polymer etched with a series of channels as thin as a human hair. The sperm sample then flows through and can be scanned by the imager.

A machine learning algorithm detects any sperm cells in the images in real-time so they can be isolated as gently as possible, ensuring they are not destroyed.

"As the sample is flowing through, we're imaging it at 300 images per second," says Williams. "Most of what we're seeing is just debris and fragments. It's not like it's an empty liquid. And you're trying to find that really rare sperm in a sea of all this other debris and cell fragments."

Williams says that the Star method has achieved a sensitivity rating of 100%, meaning it has the ability to find a single sperm in a sample if there is one present.

"It's just finding something where we couldn't see it before," he says.

Once identified, a robotic system then extracts the sperm cell or cells within milliseconds of their discovery. "The robotics on the microfluid chip sorts out that tiny little part of the fluid that has the sperm in it," says Williams. "You end up with a tube filled with the seminal fluid, but without any sperm in it, and a tiny droplet that has the sperm in it."

In Samuel's case, there was an added challenge and a first for the Star system – with Klinefelter, there's no sperm in the ejaculate, so to find sperm, urologists need to go in the testicle. Samuel underwent hormone therapy for nine months in preparation for a successful testicular extraction surgery at another fertility centre.

The sample was then sent to William's team at Columbia for investigation.

"The tissue from the surgery was transported to our andrology laboratory which then processed it to be able to run through the Star system," says Eric Forman, medical and laboratory director at Columbia University Fertility Center, who supervised the procedure.

At the same time, Penelope was having her egg retrieval procedure. A fresh sperm sample is usually provided on the same day, because it offers the best chance of fertilisation. They were running against time.

Star was able to isolate eight sperm in Samuel's sample, which were in turn injected into Penelope's eggs. One turned into a full blastocyst, a more developed stage of an embryo.

Their baby, likely to be the first boy born as a result of Star, is due at the end of July. It's a point they were never sure they'd reach.

"It's starting to feel really real now, especially because I'm feeling movement. We had our anatomy scan and everything is just looking so great," says Penelope.

Hunting out scarce sperm cells is not the only way AI is being used to improve outcomes in fertility treatment.

In ovarian stimulation, for example – an essential process in IVF which helps the ovaries produce multiple eggs – machine learning is allowing for a more personalised dosage of the hormone gonadotropin to be calculated. Meanwhile, deep learning tools are assisting with more accurate and viable gamete and embryo selection.

But to assess long-term outcomes, experts agree that more large-scale clinical trials are needed, as well as clarity around how to handle sensitive medical data, confidentiality and disputes around accountability and ownership.

There are also concerns about the overpromise of a happy ending that can come with AI innovations.

"Couples who have long fertility journeys can become desperate to conceive and are vulnerable to being sold expensive treatments of unproven value," says Siobhan Quenby, professor of obstetrics at The University of Warwick in the UK.

"It is very exciting that advanced, imagining, engineering and AI have been combined to develop a new solution for severe male factor subfertility," she adds. "One successful pregnancy is an important start. However, further research on more patients is needed before the value of this new treatment can be fully assessed."

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For Samuel, however, the prospect that this AI-powered technique could help him and his wife grow their family again in the future is tantalising.

"Of course, now we're being greedy and we want another kid hopefully in the future, but this is something we're going to have to go through again because we don't have anything in reserve besides eggs," he says. But they also now have hope, he says, where there previously was none.

* This article was updated on 1 May 2026 as it incorrectly stated that Eric Forman worked at Cornell Medical Center This was corrected to Columbia University Fertility Centre.

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The no-nonsense judge calling the shots in Musk v Altman trial

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx214rnlpn7o, 3 days ago

As the world's richest man, with a net worth of over three-quarters of a trillion dollars, Elon Musk's resources and connections often make it easy for him to bend Silicon Valley to his will.

But that's not always the case, as evidenced by his $150bn (£110bn) lawsuit against OpenAI, currently playing out in a California court.

Musk co-founded the company in 2015 with CEO Sam Altman, and left three years later after a power struggle.

The feud has fuelled a costly showdown between two tech titans – but in this courtroom, there is no doubt who is calling the shots.

Musk v Altman is just the latest high-profile Big Tech case to cross US District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers's bench.

The 61-year-old federal judge, who originally hails from southern Texas, is known for her no-nonsense approach in the courtroom.

"I think it's a function of the fact that she's now so experienced – nothing's going to faze her," Michael Rhodes, a retired lawyer and former partner at Cooley LLP, where Gonzalez Rogers was once also a partner, told the BBC.

Musk has accused Altman and OpenAI president Greg Brockman of a breach of charitable trust and unjust enrichment.

He objects to OpenAI's decision to open a for-profit arm in 2019, three years before it debuted the software ChatGPT which ignited the commercial AI market.

OpenAI says Musk is suing to give his own AI startup, xAI, a leg-up.

During his testimony last week, Musk tried at one point to play the part of his own legal counsel, accusing OpenAI's lawyer William Savitt of asking him leading questions.

Gonzalez Rogers quickly shut him down.

"That's not how it works," she interjected.

Unlike a lawyer conducting direct examination of their own client, Savitt was allowed to lead, she instructed Musk.

"Let's remind everyone in the courtroom that you are not a lawyer," she told Musk.

"I am not a lawyer," Musk acknowledged. "Well, technically I did take Law 101 in school," he added, drawing laughter from the packed courtroom gallery.

But he reaffirmed her point: "Yes – I am not a lawyer."

In Gonzalez Rogers, Musk may have met his match.

"It does make an interesting juxtaposition. He's the wealthiest man in the world. He's used to being on top. She's definitely on top now. She's in charge," said veteran courtroom artist Vicki Behringer, who has covered several cases overseen by Judge Gonzalez Rogers, including this one.

Commentators have described Gonzalez Rogers as a tough but fair judge who is in total command of her courtroom.

"She wants everybody to be treated exactly the same under the law," said Rhodes, who has also represented Musk and OpenAI in the past.

While the nine-person jury is expected to decide the case by the end of this month, their decision is not binding. They serve in an advisory role. Ultimately, Gonzalez Rogers will be the final arbiter.

"That changes the whole landscape," said Jay Edelson, a plaintiffs lawyer who has wrongful death lawsuits pending against OpenAI. "It really means that this is completely her show."

The cases that have crossed Gonzalez Rogers' bench are among the most closely-watched and complicated cases brought by and against big tech companies.

"There are certain judges who, if they're on the case, you kind of stand up a little bit straighter," said Edelson. "You want to make sure everything's right, that your tie's on straight, and that you don't mis-cite a case."

In addition to the Musk v Altman case, she is overseeing a multi-district litigation, in which social media addiction lawsuits brought by school districts and states against Meta, Snap, TikTok and Google have been consolidated.

She also handled an antitrust case brought by Epic Games against Apple, a highly technical matter in which the Fortnite-maker accused Apple of forcing developers to use the tech giant's payment system in the App Store.

Last year, in a stunning court filing, Gonzalez Rogers wrote that an Apple executive "outright lied" under oath and referred the matter to the US Attorney for the Northern District of California.

An appeals court upheld her finding of contempt, but found that she went too far when she barred Apple from collecting any commission from sellers who use third-party payment systems.

This week, the Supreme Court declined Apple’s request to stay the appeals court ruling. The case will go back to Gonzalez Rogers to determine a fair commission rate.

Gonzalez Rogers was appointed to a lifetime seat on the federal bench in Oakland, California, in 2011 by then-President Barack Obama.

She attended Princeton University, spending school breaks and weekends cleaning houses and cutting grass to pay for her tuition, according to testimony by then-US Senator Dianne Feinstein at her confirmation hearings.

After attending law school, Gonzalez Rogers spent more than a decade in private practice, achieving the status of partner in her law firm before then-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed her as a local superior court judge.

Through a spokesperson, she declined the BBC's request for an interview.

Gonzalez Rogers has run a tight ship since the Musk v Altman trial began in late April. She starts proceedings on the dot at 08:00 each morning. There is no lunch – she allows for just two 20-minute breaks.

She appears warm to jurors, routinely thanking them for their public service and for paying such close attention during the proceedings.

"If you get cranky with family, just know it's because you're tired," she told them at one point.

Rhodes, who has appeared before his former law partner in court, has described her as "wickedly funny" although she can be self-deprecating about her sense of humour.

She recently told the court that her kids remind her that her jokes are bad – "and that lawyers just laugh because they have to".

She seemed to draw genuine laughter after a microphone in the courtroom stopped working last week.

"What can I tell you?" she said, with perfect comedic timing. "We are funded by the federal government."

But when it comes to the parties in the case and their counsel, she is all business.

In the first week of trial, she chided Musk for recent posts to his social media platform X, in which he spoke disparagingly of OpenAI and Sam Altman, whom he referred to as "Scam Altman".

"How can we get this done without you making things worse outside the courtroom?" Gonzalez Rogers asked him. Musk replied that he was only responding to OpenAI's public statements about the case.

"How about a clean slate? Beginning today," she asked him. "Yes," Musk responded.

And her request wasn't limited to Musk. She then asked Altman and Brockman to do the same.

"Let's just try it, gentlemen. Let's just try it and see if we can make things work."

At a pretrial hearing in March, she said the high-wattage players in the case would not receive special treatment – although she has given some ground there.

Musk and others go through a standard security check but they are given access to a building entrance not used by the public, allowing them to avoid interacting with reporters and curious onlookers outside the courthouse.

And although everyone these days seems to have an opinion on AI, she has tried to keep scientific theorising out of the courtroom.

When Musk compared AI to The Terminator movies, Gonzalez Rogers told him after jurors left her courtroom: "You've made your little statement. But that's it."

Instagram privacy tech is turned off today - what does this mean for your DMs?

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clypzxl3lvqo, 2 days ago

Instagram users will no longer be able to send ultra‑private direct messages, as the feature is switched off globally.

The removal of end‑to‑end encryption (E2EE) on messages amounts to a major U‑turn by parent company Meta, which previously championed the tech as the gold standard for user privacy.

E2EE is the most secure form of online messaging - allowing only the sender and recipient to view messages - but has long been opposed by campaigners who say it allows extreme content to be spread online without the authorities being able to intervene.

That means Meta's decision has been welcomed by groups including children's charities - but condemned by privacy advocates.

By switching off E2EE, Instagram will now be able to access all the content of direct messages, including images, videos and voice notes.

In 2019, Meta pledged to introduce the technology across messaging on Facebook and Instagram, saying "the future is private".

The company completed the rollout on Facebook Messenger in 2023 and later made the feature optional on Instagram with plans to make it default.

But, after seven years, Meta has decided not to proceed with the wider deployment to Instagram, which will now only offer standard encryption.

Standard encryption means an internet service provider can access private material if needed. It is the common system in most major online services such as Gmail.

The decision has been welcomed by child protection groups, including the NSPCC, which has long warned the technology could put children at risk.

"We are really pleased," said Rani Govender from the charity, adding E2EE "can allow perpetrators to evade detection, enabling the grooming and abuse of children to go unseen."

Privacy campaigners, however, say the move represents a step backwards.

Maya Thomas from Big Brother Watch was "disappointed" by the decision and said E2EE was "one of the key ways children can keep their data safe online, so we're concerned that Meta may be caving to government pressure."

Years-long fight

Since 2019, Meta has defended its plans amid criticism, while working through the technical challenge of bringing the technology to Facebook and Instagram.

The company did not publicly announce its decision to abandon plans for the Instagram rollout.

Instead, it quietly updated the app's terms and conditions in March.

"End‑to‑end encrypted messaging on Instagram will no longer be supported after 8 May 2026.

"If you have chats affected by this change, you will see instructions on how to download any media or messages you may wish to keep," it said.

Meta told reporters the decision was taken because too few users were opting in to use the feature.

But commentators say take‑up of optional features is often low, as requiring users to opt in creates extra friction.

Some analysts, including cyber security expert Victoria Baines, professor of IT at Gresham College, believe the decision reflects a shift in Meta's attitude towards privacy.

"Social media platforms monetise our communications — our posts, likes and messages — so they can serve targeted advertising," she said.

"And increasingly, companies like Meta are focusing on training AI models, for which messaging data can be extremely valuable. I think the decision is more complex."

Instagram has previously said direct messages are not used to train AI.

The company declined to comment further on its decision to reverse course on privacy, and Instagram boss Adam Mosseri declined to be interviewed.

Last month, Meta told staff their clicks and activity on work devices would begin to be collected as training data for the company's AI models.

Campaigners such as Big Brother Watch say Meta's decision could influence the wider social media industry.

Until recently, the spread of E2EE had been the clear direction of travel.

* E2EE is the default on Signal, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Apple's iMessage and Google Messages

* Telegram offers it as an option, but not by default

* X, formerly Twitter, offers an similar system for direct messages, though critics say it does not meet industry standards

* Snapchat uses it for direct message photos and videos and has previously said it plans to extend it to text

* Discord plans to make voice and video calls end‑to‑end encrypted by default

However, in March, TikTok told the BBC it had no plans to introduce the technology for direct messages.

Fourteen days later, Instagram updated its terms and conditions to confirm it would not proceed with its rollout.

Commentators including Baines believe these decisions may slow the spread of E2EE, leaving it largely confined to dedicated messaging apps in the future.

Riverdale actor calls out TikTok singer Mr Fantasy - but is all as it seems?

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy0259kxe05o, 3 days ago

Who is Mr Fantasy?

It's a question that's been asked about the flamboyant pop singer since he emerged last year.

His eccentric outfits, over-the-top manner and catchy tunes earned him viral attention, but they weren't the only thing fans showed up for.

He bears a very strong resemblance to KJ Apa, the New Zealand-born actor best-known for his starring role in huge Netflix series Riverdale.

Underneath Mr Fantasy's black, shoulder-length wig - a hairstyle that's been compared to Shrek character Lord Farquaad - it's hard to deny he and Apa share a few traits.

They have identical tattoos and similar builds, but have denied (or dodged) questions from journalists who've asked if they're the same person, even if fans have long believed they are.

But when Mr Fantasy's latest music video, starring several of Apa's former Riverdale cast mates, surfaced earlier this week it only confirmed many people's suspicions.

Apa, however, has posted a clip on Instagram accusing Mr Fantasy of stealing his identity.

So what's really going on?

Mr Fantasy debuted new single Do Me Right, along with a high-energy music video packed with cameos from various celebrities, last week.

Apa's Riverdale co-stars Camila Mendes, Lili Reinhart and Madelaine Petsch feature, as well as stars including actor Patrick Schwarzenegger, singer Sombr and YouTuber-turned pop star Alex Warren.

In his response, Apa opens by saying he wants to address "something going on for a long time".

"There was recently a music video that was released that included a bunch of people who are really close to me by a guy who's completely and utterly stolen my image," he says.

"And I think we all know who we're talking about."

He doesn't name Mr Fantasy, but suggests the person behind the music video is a "liar" and a "thief".

Apa's famous friends left apparent messages of support under his post, including his Map That Leads to You co-star Madelyn Cline, who wrote: "Identify theft is not a joke."

Patrick Schwarzenegger and actress Zoey Deutch, who also appeared in Mr Fantasy's music video, both said "sorry" to the actor in the comments.

But most of the responses from fans seemed to think they were playing along rather than offering sincere expressions of apology (Newsbeat has contacted them to ask if this was the case).

Other comments also suggested it was unlikely that Petsch, Reinhart and Mendes - long-time friends of Apa - would have agreed to work with Mr Fantasy without the actor's knowledge.

But if the goal was to bring more attention to everyone involved, it seems to have succeeded.

"If Mr Fantasy is him, I think it is genius marketing," says marketing and brands expert Allanah Micallef.

She tells Newsbeat the Mr Fantasy situation is reminiscent of the months-long conspiracy around Liverpool rapper EsDeeKid and the theory that the masked performer was actually Oscar-nominated actor Timothee Chalamet.

It was eventually put to bed when the two appeared, together, in a music video.

Micallef, 24, says there was a "mutual benefit" for both EsDeeKid, whose music got a boost from all the attention, and for Chalamet, who was promoting his film Marty Supreme at the time.

In the case of Mr Fantasy, she says, it's helped the singer to stand out.

"With the way that marketing is going now, especially with TikTok, you can scroll through hundreds of videos, it is hard to engage the audience," she says.

"The fact that this mystery is part of this is amazing.

"You never see anything go on for this long, if they are the same character I really give my props to it.

"It is a really strategic marketing ploy."

If nothing else, Micallef says, it's been amusing to watch.

"Celebrities in the comments are hilarious," she says.

"Even brands are getting involved."

So far, KJ Apa's insisting that he is not Mr Fantasy, telling Entertainment Tonight last month: "I'm a serious guy, I don't know what that guy is".

Mr Fantasy has also dodged questions when reporters have tried to ask him if he is the actor's alter-ego.

His former cast-mates aren't giving anything away, either.

Speaking last year, Lili Reinhart said she couldn't "confirm or deny the real identity of Mr Fantasy".

"It's nice that the world gets to see this side of Mr Fantasy, that has always existed, since I have known him since he was 18," she said.

Mr Fantasy has not yet responded to KJ Apa's recent video, but BBC Newsbeat's contacted him for comment on it.

Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here.

Meta brings High Court challenge over Ofcom fees

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj0pqpgvvn2o, 3 days ago

Meta, parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is challenging the UK media regulator Ofcom in the High Court over fees and potential fines introduced under the Online Safety Act.

The law, which came into force in July 2025, introduced protections against harmful online content, with Ofcom's operating costs for carrying out its online safety work funded by tech firms.

Under regulations introduced in September, the fees are based on a company's qualifying worldwide revenue and apply to firms earning more than £250m a year.

Meta said Ofcom's methods for calculating fees and penalties were "disproportionate", while Ofcom said it would "robustly defend" its position.

Meta is challenging rules covering search engines and platforms where users can share content, including social media sites.

Lawyers acting for the company argue the regulations are unlawful and should be reconsidered by the regulator.

Monica Carss-Frisk KC, for the tech giant, has said in court documents that Ofcom's approach is "troubling" and leads to "a handful of companies, such as Meta, bearing the vast majority of Ofcom's costs, despite the act making clear that it is concerned with a wide range of internet services offered in the UK".

She also argued the calculation of qualifying worldwide revenue was not linked specifically to earnings from UK services.

Under the Online Safety Act, companies found to have breached safety rules can face fines of up to 10% of qualifying worldwide revenue or £18m, whichever is greater.

Meta is also disputing how penalties are calculated when multiple companies owned by the same parent organisation are found jointly liable for breaches.

At a preliminary hearing in London on Thursday, the High Court heard Fortnite-maker Epic Games and the trade body the Computer and Communications Industry Association are expected to seek permission to intervene in the case.

Mr Justice Chamberlain said the dispute raised issues "of wide public importance" and confirmed the next hearing would take place in June.

A full hearing is expected in October.

Wikipedia lost its own legal challenge against the Online Safety Act last August over age verification requirements.

An Ofcom spokesperson said the regulator had based its approach on "a plain reading of the law".

"Disappointingly, Meta are objecting to the payment of fees, and any penalties that could be levied on companies in future, that are calculated on this basis," the spokesperson said.

A Meta spokesperson said the firm remains "committed to co-operating constructively with Ofcom as it enforces the Online Safety Act".

The spokesperson said penalties should instead be based on the revenues generated by the services being regulated in the countries where they operate.

"This would still allow Ofcom to impose the largest fines in UK corporate history," they added.

Award-winning farmer hopes to inspire more women

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj3pnvy0nzyo, 3 days ago

A farmer and influencer who scooped two prestigious awards said she hoped to "inspire other young girls and women to think about a career in agriculture".

Milly Fyfe runs a farm with her husband Andrew in Yelvertoft, Northamptonshire, and also manages several initiatives to help people connect with food.

On Tuesday she was named "Farming Woman of the Year" at the National Women in Agriculture Awards, while on Wednesday she won in the food waste category at the Women in Food and Drink Awards.

"I'm over the moon," she said. "The phone hasn't stopped buzzing with positivity."

As well as a blog and podcast, Fyfe founded the Countryside Kitchen which welcomes school and community groups for free.

"It's about providing more confidence in cooking from scratch: knowing what to look for when you are buying food, and navigating the cost of living crisis," she said.

"It's also an appreciation of how hard farmers work, and what goes into making high-quality food.

"[The awards] just highlight the achievement of establishing the Countryside Kitchen as a credible educational hub," she added.

Her "food waste and circular economy" award also recognised their honesty shop, which sells surplus supermarket food.

"Not only are we ensuring that food isn't being skipped, it's providing meals for people and raising a small amount of income for our educational work," she said.

Fyfe said it was "scary" to think how much food was wasted in the UK due to "best before" dates.

"What shocks me most, is I know how hard my fellow farmers work to produce that food, for it to not be sold and then skipped or incinerated, when there are lots of people that go hungry.

"The whole food system is broken and thankfully we're able to play a small part in helping to fix that," she added.

Fyfe thanked her family and the volunteer team who supported the workshops.

"Without them, we couldn't achieve what we achieve.

"As a woman in agriculture, and someone not originally from a farming background, I've really carved my way in the farming industry and I've broken quite a few barriers.

"I hope that I inspire other young girls and women to think about a career in agriculture or the allied industries," she added.

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'We had people come just to see it': Amazon delivers its first UK parcels by drone

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx21k21vnmgo, 3 days ago

Amazon has become the first retailer in the UK to start a drone delivery service with a limited launch in Darlington, County Durham.

Packages weighing less than 5lb (2.2kg) and containing everyday items such as beauty products, bin liners and cables are now being delivered within a 7.5 mile (12km) radius of Amazon's fulfilment centre.

The tech giant is convinced there is demand for ultra-fast deliveries and hopes to slowly expand the service.

Rob Shield let Amazon use an Airbnb on his farm for its first test runs. "Initially it was a novelty, so we were ordering everything under the sun," he says. "Pens, paper, chocolates - anything to make it keep coming."

His orders arrived in parcels the size of shoeboxes, which were dropped from a height of 12ft (3.6m) on to the front garden.

"We'd have people come just to see it," he says.

"Since then, you obviously start realising 'I actually need something today' like tape measures and stuff like that you're always losing - we just order it and it comes."

But other Darlington residents may need convincing. Drone deliveries got a mixed response from some we spoke to.

"I think I'd rather somebody actually handed me my parcel than dropping it into my garden," one woman told the BBC, while another said she may try it once but then probably "stick to the old way".

One resident described the idea of drone deliveries as "nutty as a fruitcake".

It's taken Amazon more than a decade to get this far but the company believes it will be worth it, and says customers are ready.

"The certainty is people have never told us they want their stuff slower," says David Carbon, vice president of Amazon Prime Air.

"If you've got kids and you want fever medication, you want it. You don't want to drive to the store," he says.

In the UK, Amazon's drones currently deliver within two hours, but Carbon says the current average delivery time in the US is 36 minutes.

Amazon will carry out a maximum ten flights an hour, or up to a hundred deliveries a day on weekdays.

Darlington is an interesting case study but shows drone deliveries are not easy, says Dr Anna Jackman, an associate professor of geography at the University of Reading.

"A lot of our demand for delivery services are in urban centres. They are very densely populated, very congested. And the reality is [drone deliveries] don't work well in high-rise buildings."

She added that while there are ideas to develop rooftop deliveries and centrally-located hubs "right now we're not there yet".

In Darlington, eligible customers will need a garden or yard for a drone delivery.

Drones are already being trialled by the NHS to deliver blood supplies in London, and Royal Mail is using them to send packages to remote communities in Orkney.

Amazon is using its most modern drone, the MK30, in Darlington.

It has sensors to avoid any obstacles in its path - from trampolines and washing lines to people and other aircraft.

As the drone approaches each drop-off point, it knows exactly where to release the package using GPS.

"This is effectively an autonomous drone that can do what a pilot does in a flight deck. It can do what ground crews do, and it can deliver a package," Carbon says.

"We have a targeted level of safety that's measured in aerospace terms," he adds.

Amazon already uses drones for deliveries in five US states. In early February, an MK30 drone making a delivery hit the side of an apartment building in a suburb of Dallas in Texas. The drone fell to the ground, breaking apart.

Carbon says the drone had drifted slightly having lost the GPS signal and clipped the building's gutter on the way out. No one was injured. Since then, Amazon has stopped deliveries to these types of apartments.

He says this was an example of "things that we learn as we go along" and 170,000 drone flights had gone safely.

For commercial drones to become an everyday reality, operators need to be able to fly them beyond the visual line of sight, or BVLOS.

That's what Amazon is doing in Darlington, but the drone will also be remotely tracked by an operator watching from computer screens back at base and liaising, when needed, with air traffic controllers at the nearby Teesside Airport.

Why Darlington?

Darlington is the only place outside the US where Amazon is doing drone deliveries.

It was chosen because it has a mix of residential areas, major roads and an airport all close to each other, which is useful for testing how its drones cope with a host of different conditions all within a small space - which is also close to an Amazon hub with a big choice of products.

But the service is still at an early stage. It's got approval from the Civil Aviation Authority for a trial until the end of the year. Amazon has secured temporary protected airspace, which is necessary for autonomous drone flights under current rules. Permission for this has been granted until mid June but is expected to be extended.

Darlington Borough Council told the BBC that due to the unprecedented nature of the scheme, only temporary planning permission was initially granted "to allow for testing of the drone delivery concept".

"It's great to see Darlington at the forefront of such a pioneering scheme which highlights our borough as an area of innovation, development and investment, " a council spokesperson said.

The launch also took longer than Amazon had originally pledged, after saying in 2023 the service would start the following year.

The tech company has big ambitions, though.

"We wouldn't be doing it if it wasn't commercially viable. It's a business, right? Absolutely, it can be commercially viable, and that's the goal that we're going after," insists Carbon.

Clarification 8 May: This article was amended to provide further information about what items can be carried by drone after Amazon said batteries could not be transported.

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Woman covertly filmed for 'humiliating' social media content - then told to pay

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwy87wqz0q9o, 3 days ago

Alice - not her real name - says she was covertly filmed by a man wearing smart glasses, who then requested money to remove the video from social media.

She contacted the man who posted the video, telling him it made her feel "humiliated". But when she asked for it to be taken down, was told he would only remove it as a "paid service".

Alice is one of many women who have spoken to the BBC about the distress they have endured after being recorded and posted online without their knowledge or consent.

The BBC contacted the man who filmed and posted the video of Alice. He refused to be interviewed, but in an email said he "does not seek to cause distress or harm".

'Complete shock'

Alice was walking into a London shopping centre when she was approached by a man wearing smart glasses. She says she had no idea she was being filmed.

"In the moment I just thought 'OK this guy is just trying to talk to me, to chat me up'," she said.

"I was hoping that he would leave me alone eventually but he did actually follow me."

The video was posted on social media and viewed about 40,000 times, though Alice only found out about it after a friend sent it to her.

"My initial reaction was complete shock," she said. "He had no phone, he did not have a camera directly in my face."

The videos are often posted on social media under the guise of giving dating advice to other men online.

Alice contacted the BBC following an investigation which exposed how smart glasses are being used to create harmful content by male influencers, after a woman from Brighton spoke out.

'It made me feel exploited'

Alice contacted the account that posted the video of her, asking for it to be taken down. She told the man who posted it that it made her feel "humiliated".

In the email she received back, he said he would remove it as a "paid service".

Alice says she was shocked by this response.

"It made me feel exploited, powerless," she said.

But she added she never considered paying the money, and reported the incident to the police.

The Metropolitan Police said that an investigation was opened, but "despite initial enquiries, officers were unable to progress the investigation due to limited information".

The BBC contacted the man that filmed Alice. He refused to give an interview or reveal his identity.

Via email, he said that his "intention has always been to create light-hearted, respectful interactions".

"I do not engage in harassment or deliberately seek to make anyone uncomfortable," he added.

Asked why he did not remove the video of Alice after she contacted him, he said: "Where individuals have expressed genuine discomfort, I have reviewed content on a case-by-case basis and made adjustments where appropriate."

He also re-posted the video of Alice on to a different social media site, after TikTok removed it.

TikTok has since banned his account for breaching its rules on bullying and harassment.

'He still has the file'

When asked about his attempts to charge her money, he initially said he did not require payment in exchange for removing content and was open to reviewing any situations where there had been "any misunderstanding or miscommunication in specific instances".

When asked further, he said the reference to "removal as a paid service" was intended in the context of separate content-related requests, such as editing or usage arrangements, and "not as a condition for removing content in response to personal concerns".

"I understand how that wording may have been interpreted differently, and I regret that it was not clearer," he added.

However, Alice never asked for these services - she only asked for the video to be taken down. He refused to give further clarification.

"He's got the file, which still makes me feel uneasy, still constantly having to check back and see if he is uploading the video again. I just feel powerless," Alice said.

"If you don't consent to content being out there of yourself, it can actually be very dangerous. It's just a complete breach of privacy and data."

The BBC knows of another woman that contacted this man to ask for their videos to be taken down.

We cannot know how many of the women he has filmed were aware of what was happening to them.

The BBC found multiple accounts run by the same man across YouTube, Instagram, and Threads, which post similar content.

Meta, the company that owns Instagram and Threads, as well as making smart glasses, has not given the BBC a comment but has taken down the video of Alice which was reposted.

The YouTube account posting similar videos is no longer active.

What does the law say?

Law researcher Prof Clare McGlynn, of Durham University, says this behaviour "is not your standard blackmail", where someone takes an intimate image and threatens to post it online.

The video of Alice had already been posted.

She said in this case the man was "refusing to take something down, unless the victim pays him money, and that is a threat to that victim".

"It's extremely worrying," said Dr Beatriz Kira, an assistant professor from the University of Sussex law school.

People posting content on social media can make money from doing so. For example, TikTok offers a Creators Rewards Programme which rewards influencers for posting popular videos.

Kira says more needs to be done to stop social media platforms and influencers making money from content that is harmful.

There need to be "solutions not only focused on taking down the content but really cutting incentives at the root", she said.

A government spokesperson said that "women and girls deserve to feel safe" and that "filming and sharing content online without their consent is vile and will not be tolerated".

They added that the new Violence Against Women and Girls strategy, published in 2025, set out "measures to tackle abuse enabled by technology, to help protect victims and hold perpetrators to account".

Former OpenAI board member says Elon Musk offered her sperm donations

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c33243j44p8o, 3 days ago

A former OpenAI board member has explained how her unconventional personal relationship with Elon Musk evolved into having four of his children.

Shivon Zilis testified in a federal courtroom in Oakland, California for hours on Wednesday as part of Musk's lawsuit trying to reverse OpenAI's change to a for-profit company.

The focus of Zilis's appearance was her direct involvement in early talks with Musk around the company becoming a for-profit, but also how she worked for and became involved with Musk as she advised OpenAI.

"I still really wanted to be a mum and Elon made the offer around that time and I accepted," she said, explaining Musk in 2020 had offered to donate sperm.

"He was encouraging everyone around him at that time to have kids and he'd noticed I did not. He offered to make a donation," Zilis said.

Zilis has worked as a venture capitalist in Silicon Valley for over 15 years and held executive positions at Musk's car company, Tesla, and his neurotechnology firm Neuralink.

She joined OpenAI as an advisor in 2016, not long after it was founded, a position through which she said on Wednesday is how she first met Musk.

Given Zilis's role across Musk's companies and OpenAI, eventually becoming a director at OpenAI from 2020 to 2023, she is an important witness in the trial.

OpenAI lawyers have suggested that she funnelled information about OpenAI to Musk after he in 2018 left the AI company, which he co-founded and made early donations to.

Zilis said she had a "one-off" romance with Musk about a decade ago but was not romantically involved with Musk in 2020, when Musk initially made the offer to father her children.

She explained she had been struggling with certain health issues which had changed her initial plans to follow a more traditional personal path of getting married and having children with a romantic partner.

Zilis's initial plan for Musk's role in the lives of the first two children she had by him was not necessarily as an active father, and the two had agreed to keep his paternity "strictly confidential."

Today, Musk is an active participant in the lives of his now four children with Zilis, she said, explaining that they spend a few hours a week together as a family.

Zilis said the confidentiality agreement with Musk is why she did not disclose to OpenAI's chief executive Sam Altman that twins she gave birth to in 2021 were fathered by Musk.

She told Altman that Musk was the father the following year, when she learned a Business Insider report on Musk's paternity of the children was imminent.

Nevertheless, Altman and OpenAI's president Greg Brockman wanted to continue with Zilis on the board of the AI company. Zilis said on Wednesday that the three remained friends until at least 2023.

When asked earlier this week about Zilis' involvement with OpenAI for years after Musk had left the company, Brockman said: "We trusted her to keep the Elon conflict under control."

Zilis left the board in March 2023 as Musk was launching xAI, an AI company developing a chatbot that is a direct competitor to OpenAI's ChatGPT.

With years of history, including emails and text messages that have been made part of the case between Zilis, Altman, Brockman, and Musk, lawyers for OpenAI seized on several examples of discussions around changing the corporate structure of the AI company.

Moving away from being a pure non-profit was seen as necessary as early as 2017 in order for OpenAI to grow and raise from investors many billions of dollars, according to written exchanges shown in court in which Musk was involved.

Brockman and another OpenAI co-founder Ilya Sutskever were pushing for the company to transition to a B Corp, which is a type of for-profit entity that holds itself to a certain mission.

Emails from Zilis showed that Musk wanted more control of OpenAI, through additional board seats and even suggested that the AI company become part of Tesla, possibly as a B Corp subsidiary of the electric car company.

Zilis said in a written exchange that such a move for OpenAI "solves the funding issue immediately."

Ultimately, Altman, Brockman, Sutskever could not agree on terms with Musk, in large part because they were adamant that Musk "not have control" of OpenAI's work, according to an email from Zilis shown in court.

How insect brains could spark next AI revolution

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c775r7vp11xo, 4 days ago

The "lightning fast" reactions of fruit flies and other insects could "revolutionise" artificial intelligence (AI) systems such as self-driving cars, according to experts.

Academics at the University of Sheffield who studied flies' brains and eyes have discovered a "turbo boost" feature, known as high-frequency jumping, which allows insects to react with remarkable speed and precision.

The mechanism could make robots and self-driving cars smarter and more energy efficient by using movement to gather information instead of relying on computers.

Prof Mikko Juusola of the School of Biosciences said: "Our findings reveal a fundamentally new way of thinking about how brains compute information."

The University of Sheffield research shows that house flies and fruit flies do not process visual information passively, as previously believed.

Rather than simply watching the world, insects twitch their bodies in sync with what they see.

Experts say these tiny, jerky movements, such as rapid movements of the eyes called saccades, help their brains receive clearer, faster information about the world around them.

'Extraordinary speeds'

The study, published in Nature Communications, found that when an insect makes a sharp turn, its brain "jumps" into a higher gear, said Juusola, which allows it to focus on the most important, fast-moving information.

This mechanism enables insects to overcome physical and neural constraints that would otherwise limit their perception and supports behaviours such as high-speed flight and predator avoidance.

Juusola, who is the senior author of the study, said: "We've demonstrated how even the smallest brains can solve complex problems at extraordinary speeds."

Future AI systems - particularly those used in robotics, autonomous vehicles and real-time decision-making - could be revolutionised by adopting similar principles of movement-driven, adaptive information processing, said Dr Jouni Takalo.

Takalo, who led the development of the biophysically realistic statistical model underlying the work, said: "The findings challenge traditional models of neural processing, which assume that information flows through fixed pathways with built-in delays.

"Instead, the results support a new framework where sight is a collective effort between an insect's movement, its visual input and its brain's response."

Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North

Vapes warning as fires in bin lorries rise

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c172qg8gvkko, 4 days ago

Vapes are being blamed for a worrying rise in a local authority's bin lorry fires.

East Devon District Council says it has recorded three waste collection fires since the start of 2026, almost matching the four incidents seen across the whole of last year.

It said the issue was "primarily due to vapes" because of lithium-ion batteries, which are also found inside many other everyday items. When damaged or crushed in rubbish trucks, they can set off sudden fires.

Waste firm Biffa, which had a vehicle affected by a fire last year at Millwey Rise Industrial Estate, Axminster, said at the time the cause was unknown but warned it had seen a "growing number" of fires involving lithium-ion batteries.

Similar incidents have also been reported in Exeter and Plymouth, raising concerns across the county, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

A council spokesperson said two fires this year happened at depots and one inside a vehicle.

"All were dealt with quickly so were small scale," they said. "However, without the depot staff and crew's quick reactions these could have been worse.

"The fires do cause disruption, most so far have been extinguished in the vehicle but then crews need to travel back to the depot and offload."

They added: "Numbers are rising, primarily due to vapes."

Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk.

Robot wars - what an operation in Ukraine tells us about the battlefield of the near future

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9d35v126vyo, 4 days ago

The battlefield in Ukraine could soon feature more robot than human soldiers - that is the startling claim made by a Ukrainian-British military start-up.

The BBC visited UFORCE at its London premises, which are unbranded and discreet, a measure the company says is intended to protect it from potential Russian sabotage.

I wanted to know more about the company because of its involvement in what Ukraine says was an unprecedented military operation: enemy territory being seized using only robots and drones.

The claim was made by Ukraine's President Zelensky in a video last month highlighting Ukraine's newly developed robotic weapons.

Both sides have made extensive use of unmanned aerial and land systems throughout the conflict, with analysts saying the war has dramatically accelerated the development of military technology.

It has also intensified the debate about the future of warfare and its implications for soldiers, robot as well as human.

150,000 combat missions

Zelensky has been keen to publicise what he says was a first in the history of war - but Ukraine's military has declined to provide details of the operation.

Similarly, a UFORCE representative would not comment on the robotic battle described in Zelensky's video, but said UFORCE's air, land and sea drones are currently being used in combat operations.

"I can't go into specifics about the operation or how UFORCE was involved, but we've conducted more than 150,000 successful combat missions since the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022," said Rhiannon Padley, the firm's UK director of strategic partnerships.

What is clear though is that robotic weapon systems are big business.

The company has expanded rapidly and recently achieved "unicorn" status - a valuation of more than $1bn (£730m).

She added that the phenomenon of robots fighting robots was likely to become more common, with unmanned systems even outnumbering human soldiers.

Russia is also deploying robots designed to deliver explosives into Ukrainian positions, and analysts say advances in this technology are likely to reshape how future wars are fought.

"I really consider Ukraine to be a major teacher in the future of national defence and armaments," said Melanie Sisson, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. "It's an impressive case study in how necessity drives invention."

UFORCE is part of a growing group of so-called Neo-Prime defence companies, challenging established firms such as BAE Systems, Boeing and Lockheed Martin.

Another is Anduril, a US defence technology company which revealed in February that it had carried out its first test flight of a fighter jet without a pilot.

While most drones are still operated remotely by humans, companies such as Anduril are increasingly incorporating artificial intelligence into weapons systems.

UFORCE's land-based drones use software designed to assist with targeting, while Anduril says some of its systems can autonomously complete the final phase of an attack.

The US government has publicly urged its military to adopt artificial intelligence aggressively.

In January, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the country needs to become an "AI-first warfighting force".

China is also increasing its use of AI-enabled military systems, according to a US Department of Defense assessment published last year.

Analysts say a future in which robots directly engage one another on the battlefield may be difficult to avoid.

"Ukrainian and Russian drones already fight each other," said Jacob Parakilas of RAND Europe, a think tank. "Seeing that extend to land and maritime warfare seems extremely likely, if not inevitable."

Human rights groups, however, warn that greater autonomy in weapons systems raises serious concerns about accountability.

"Militaries adopt AI to speed up processes such as target identification. But delegating life-and-death decisions to machines poses profound ethical and human rights risks," said Patrick Wilcken of Amnesty International.

Weapons manufacturers argue that keeping a "human in the loop" addresses such concerns, insisting that decisions to deploy force remain with military personnel.

"Humans need rest and food, and under combat conditions those needs aren't always met," said Dr Rich Drake, UK general manager at Anduril Industries. "Computing allows us to reduce errors across what we call the kill chain."

'I thought he was going to hit me,' OpenAI co-founder says of Musk

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn7pg8ymgezo, 4 days ago

OpenAI president Greg Brockman has described a heated 2017 meeting with Elon Musk over the billionaire's early attempt to control the artificial intelligence (AI) company.

Brockman, a co-founder of OpenAI and a defendant in Musk's lawsuit attempting to undo its transition to a for-profit business, told a jury in Oakland federal court that when he rejected a proposal for Musk to have more say in the company, Musk's mood abruptly changed.

"I actually thought he was going to hit me," Brockman said, referring to Musk.

The meeting ended shortly thereafter, Brockman said, with Musk announcing that he would start withholding funding from OpenAI, which he had been backing since its start in 2015.

Brockman's testimony comes during the second week of a month-long trial between Musk and OpenAI's key founder and chief executive Sam Altman.

It is part of a bitter feud that has grown over the years since Musk left OpenAI, where he was among the initial co-founders, and has watched as the AI company became one of the most valuable tech enterprises in the world after its launch of ChatGPT.

Before Musk decided to exit OpenAI, Brockman described his attempts to gain more control over the company, an effort that included "buttering up" Brockman and another co-founder, Ilya Sutskever.

Lawyers for OpenAI showed text messages from August 2017 between Sutskever and Brockman that said: "Will a model 3 make you be willing to accept massively unfavourable terms?"

The crux of Brockman's testimony so far has been that Musk was aware of plans to shift OpenAI to be more of a traditional for-profit business. When the company started, it was a non-profit, then it added a for-profit arm in order to raise billions of dollars in funding for investors, before deciding last year to make the for-profit part of the company the focus.

Brockman's appearance in court is expected to be followed by former OpenAI board member Shivon Zilis, who is the mother of four of Musk's children.

Brockman testified that Zilis informed him she had had twins, but that he only found out later from public reports that Musk was the father.

Brockman said when he spoke with Zilis after learning Musk had fathered her twins, "she said that it was via IVF and that it was entirely platonic with Elon".

When asked about Zilis' involvement with OpenAI for years after Musk had left the company, Brockman said: "We trusted her to keep the Elon conflict under control."

Zilis left the board in March 2023 as Musk was launching xAI, an AI company developing a chatbot that is a direct competitor to OpenAI's ChatGPT.

Apple to pay up to $95 to some US iPhone buyers over AI lawsuit

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0j2nydnzy7o, 4 days ago

Apple has agreed to pay some iPhone buyers a collective $250m (£184m) to end a lawsuit accusing the company of misleading people about new artificial intelligence (AI) features and capabilities.

In a settlement filed Tuesday in California federal court, Apple did not admit any wrongdoing, but agreed to a deal that will resolve claims in a large consolidated class action lawsuit filed last year.

It accused Apple of false advertising around its AI features on the iPhone, which the company called Apple Intelligence, including an enhancement of its Siri voice assistant.

Apple will pay between $25 and $95 to people in the US who bought an iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 between June 2024 and March 2025.

An Apple spokeswoman said the lawsuit was focused on "the availability of two additional features" in a lineup of many released as part of its Apple Intelligence rollout.

"We resolved this matter to stay focused on doing what we do best, delivering the most innovative products and services to our users", she said.

In a revised complaint filed last week for the consolidated class of iPhone buyers, lawyers said that Apple's marketing around new AI features amounted to false advertising.

"Apple promoted AI capabilities that did not exist at the time, do not exist now, and will not exist for two or more years, if ever, all while marketing them as the breakthrough innovation," lawyers wrote.

They added that Apple undertook this campaign around AI specifically in an effort to catch up in a Big Tech race for new technology being driven by new companies like OpenAI and Anthropic.

Outgoing chief executive Tim Cook has been criticised over the years for not being innovative enough with Apple's products.

But its marketing of Apple Intelligence as being able to deliver to iPhone customers a new, better version of Siri that would transform it from a "limited voice interface into a full-fledged personal AI assistant" was allegedly false.

"The iPhone 16 was delivered to consumers without "Apple Intelligence," and Enhanced Siri never came," the lawyers wrote.

US to safety test new AI models from Google, Microsoft, xAI

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgjp2we2j8go, 4 days ago

New artificial intelligence (AI) tools and capabilities from Google, Microsoft and xAI will now be tested by the US Department of Commerce before they are released to the public.

The tech firms have agreed to voluntarily submit their models for testing through Commerce's Center for AI Standards and Innovation (CAISI).

The new pacts are an expansion on agreements by AI companies like OpenAI and Anthropic that were reached during the Biden Administration, and will see AI models from all of the companies evaluated for their capabilities and security.

"These expanded industry collaborations help us scale our work in the public interest at a critical moment," CAISI's director Chris Fall said.

Overall, the evaluations of the AI tools will cover "testing, collaborative research and best practice development related to commercial AI systems."

Google's best known AI tool, through its DeepMind subsidiary, is Gemini, a chatbot that is widely available on Google products but is now also being used in US defence and military agencies.

Microsoft's best known AI tool is CoPilot, while xAI's only AI product in Grok, a chatbot that has come under widespread public scrutiny for issues were it undressed people in images.

On Tuesday, CASI said it has conducted 40 previous evaluations of AI tools, including evaluation and testing of certain "state-of-the-art models that remain unreleased."

The centre did not specify which models have been stopped from being released to the public.

In a corporate blog post published after the CAISI announcement, Microsoft said it already tests its AI models, but that "testing for national security and large-scale public safety risks necessarily must be a collaborative endeavour with governments."

A spokeswoman for Google's DeepMind declined to comment. A representative of SpaceX, the Elon Musk company that now controls xAI, did not respond to a request for comment.

Bringing in more companies for research and safety testing of commercial AI tools marks a departure for the Trump White House, which has taken a largely hands off approach to oversight or regulation of AI and technology companies.

Last year, US President Donald Trump signed a string of executive orders that formed the basis of his administration's "AI Action Plan", which he said would "remove red tape and onerous regulation" around AI development and ensure that the US will "win" through advancements and control of the technology.

But with the US military expanding its use of AI, and recent claims by Anthropic that it developed a model Called Mythos that is too powerful for release to the public, the White House seems to be shifting its outlook.

Senior members of Trump's staff met last month with Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, as the BBC previously reported, even as the company is mired in a lawsuit with the US Department of Defense over Anthropic's refusal to drop safety guardrails for government use of its models.

AI chatbots giving misleading voting advice in run-up to election

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8jvyyldypyo, 5 days ago

Asking Artifical Intelligence (AI) chatbots for advice is becoming increasingly common - but they could be giving voters misleading election information, the BBC has found.

Several of the most popular chatbots gave inaccurate and confusing details in response to questions about how BBC Wales' undercover voters should vote in the Senedd election on Thursday.

An AI expert has warned there are "absolutely benefits, [but] also risks" to this use of AI chatbots.

OpenAI said ChatGPT gave accurate, objective information but could make mistakes, Google said Gemini was designed to give a "balanced" view on politics and Microsoft said Copilot encouraged users to verify details themselves.

The firms behind Claude, Meta AI and Grok were also asked for comment.

In the week before the last general election in 2024, about 13% of eligible UK voters used conversational AI to acquire political information relevant to their choice of who to vote for, according to a 2025 report by the AI Security Institute - part of the UK government's department for science, innovation and technology.

AI chatbots gather information from across the internet and summarise it based on users' questions.

With some voters potentially still undecided about how to vote in the Senedd, Scottish Parliament and English local elections, BBC Wales wanted to find out whether chatbots would give accurate information to someone asking it how to vote and who the candidates were.

We found that some gave misleading information – including inaccurate policy details, incorrect constituencies and candidates who will not appear on the real ballot paper.

We fed each chatbot details about BBC Wales' undercover voters – a group of fictional people whose profiles have been designed with the help of the National Centre for Social Research (Natcen) to reflect six different types of voter across Wales with disparate political beliefs.

Pretending to be three of the six fictional voters and feeding the AI tool basic information about each in turn, we asked ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini, Claude, Meta AI and Grok:

* Who to vote for

* Who the candidates were in their area

* How the Senedd voting system worked

Some initially refused to give an answer on who to vote for, but with follow-up prompting all of the chatbots eventually recommended one or two parties to at least one fictional voter.

For fictional voters Siân and David, the chatbots generally all gave similar recommendations on who to vote for, in line with the political beliefs assigned to those voters by the Natcen research.

But for Lauren, the third undercover voter, ChatGPT suggested Labour or Plaid Cymru – while Grok opted for Reform UK.

Lauren was designed as a floating voter who does not follow politics closely; the only detail the chatbots had about her was that she worked as a HGV driver, was single and renting a flat, and was concerned about the cost of living and the NHS.

The difference in responses demonstrates that voting advice can vary hugely from one chatbot to another.

Are people using AI to decide how to vote?

BBC Wales asked some university students in Cardiff about whether they would consider using AI to inform their vote.

Chloe, who studies psychology, said: "I don't think it would work, [voting] is a lot about personal opinion – I feel like AI doesn't have an opinion… it's better to read the full manifesto."

Emily, a neuroscience student, said she would consider using AI chatbots for "background information about the policies" but not deciding who to vote for.

And Will, who is also a psychology student, added: "There are probably better sources… look at the parties themselves, look on their websites, see what they're offering or what they've done in the past."

In many cases, the chatbots' responses offered useful political insight, discussing relevant policies and manifestos, and giving pros and cons for different parties – urging the fictional voter to make up their own mind.

They all described the new Senedd electoral system accurately and, on several occasions, clarified which issues were and were not devolved.

But there were also some clear mistakes in their answers.

When talking about Plaid Cymru, Claude said Rhun ap Iorwerth had been the party's leader "until recently" – when in fact he is still the leader.

Meta AI gave an incomplete list of the parties' policies, which often missed out key information and misrepresented the Liberal Democrats' plans for income tax.

Each chatbot was also asked for a list of candidates in the town or city where each undercover voter's profile is based – and, again, there were some inaccuracies.

In one instance, Copilot gave the wrong constituency for the town we stated.

ChatGPT and Meta AI gave names for candidates which did not reflect the actual lists in the constituencies.

Gemini gave a list of who might "usually" appear on the list in Blaenau Gwent Caerffili Rhymni, which were outdated and included Hefin David – the former Senedd member for the area, who died in 2025 – and the name of a Plaid Cymru candidate actually running in a different constituency.

Many of the chatbots gave lists which were correct but incomplete – missing some or all of the names for one or more parties.

Dr Darren Edwards, an AI expert and professor at Swansea University, said the convenient nature of chatbots and the fact they were "pretty reliable" made them a popular option for people.

"These AI systems are so easy to communicate with today that I think that people are finding it so easy to do it," he said.

"I think these systems are pretty reliable but they're not 100% reliable.

"There's absolutely benefits and there's also risks… these things are improving, they are becoming safer, there are guidelines with these companies that are trying to make these things as unbiased as possible."

He added: "The dangers are there have been a number of cases of what we call hallucinations, that's the AI system appearing to be overconfident even when it's not so confident… [and] if the system was trained several years ago it may not be up to date.

"We're at a time of exponential growth, these systems are going to rapidly advance and it's going to affect every sector in society, including political spheres."

A Google spokesperson said Gemini included disclaimers prompting users to "double-check" information and, on politics, it was designed to "provide a balanced presentation of multiple points of view".

ChatGPT's parent company OpenAI told the BBC ChatGPT could make mistakes but was designed to help voters get accurate and objective information without an agenda. They said the company was focused on improving factual accuracy.

A Microsoft spokesperson said Copilot included citations and encouraged people to "verify details to ensure they're current", adding: "When feedback shows our technology is inaccurate, we act quickly to improve performance."

The firms behind Claude, Meta AI and Grok were also asked to comment.

Adolescence, Amandaland and Traitors stars ready for Bafta TV Awards

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0q2wqpzqwyo, today

The stars of hit shows like Adolescence, Amandaland, The Celebrity Traitors and Last One Laughing will gather later to find out who has won a Bafta Television Award, on one of the biggest nights in the British TV calendar.

After hoovering up almost every available accolade over the past year - from National TV Awards to Golden Globes and Emmys - Adolescence leads the field at the Baftas.

The hard-hitting Netflix series is up for seven prizes on Sunday night, while sitcom Amandaland has four nominations in the comedy categories.

Erin Doherty and Aimee Lou Wood have two individual acting nominations, while Alan Carr, Bob Mortimer and Romesh Ranganathan are all also named twice on the shortlists.

The nominees to look out for

Adolescence is frontrunner to win best limited drama, and five of its cast have acting nominations - Stephen Graham, Owen Cooper, Erin Doherty, Ashley Walters and Christine Tremarco.

The scene where Jamie, played by Cooper, snaps at Doherty's psychologist, is nominated for the memorable moment accolade - the only award to be voted for by the public.

The show has already won two Baftas at the organisation's Craft Awards, which recognise behind-the-scenes achievements and were handed out two weeks ago.

Doherty's other nomination is for best actress for her role in Disney+'s A Thousand Blows, which is also up for best drama.

Like Doherty, Aimee Lou Wood is up for both best actress and best supporting actress - for BBC Three comedy-drama Film Club and HBO/Sky dark comedy The White Lotus respectively.

Other nominees in the leading acting categories include Colin Firth (Lockerbie: A Search for Truth), Jodie Whittaker (Toxic Town), Matt Smith (The Death of Bunny Munro), Sheridan Smith (I Fought The Law) and Taron Egerton (Smoke).

Amandaland is up for best scripted comedy, and three of its cast are competing for best comedy actress - Lucy Punch, Philippa Dunne and Jennifer Saunders, the latter of whom played Amanda's aunt in the Christmas special.

The Celebrity Traitors, the most-watched show of 2025, is up for best reality show, while its host Claudia Winkleman is shortlisted for best entertainment performance.

Alan Carr's victory is one of the memorable moment nominees, and he's also in contention for best entertainment performance for another show, Amanda & Alan's Spanish Job.

Bob Mortimer is also in the entertainment performance race for his victorious stint in the first series of Last One Laughing, which is in the running for best entertainment programme.

And Romesh Ranganathan has two citations in the best entertainment performance category - for Romesh: Can't Knock the Hustle, and alongside Rob Beckett for Rob & Romesh Vs...

Dame Mary Berry will be bestowed with Bafta's highest honorary award, the Bafta Fellowship, while Martin Lewis will receive the Special Award.

How to watch the Bafta TV Awards

The ceremony will be on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 19:00 BST on Sunday.

The event will be broadcast a couple of hours after it actually takes place, and BBC News will publish details of the winners as they are announced in real time on its live page - before they are shown on TV.

Who's presenting and performing?

Taskmaster star Greg Davies will host for the first time - taking over from last year's MC Alan Cumming, who hosted the Bafta Film Awards this year.

Davies is a hugely popular and accomplished comedian, comedy actor and host, who is likely to bring his affectionately scathing style with celebrities - as seen on Taskmaster and Never Mind the Buzzcocks.

Presenters of individual awards will include Celia Imrie, Richard Osman, Jessica Gunning, Chris McCausland, Dani Dyer, Danny Dyer, Lennie James, Lenny Rush, Marisa Abela, Mel Giedroyc, Sue Perkins, Tinie Tempah, Nick Frost, Nick Mohammed, Paapa Essiedu and Rick Astley.

There will also be musical performances by Celebrity Traitors finalist Cat Burns and Norwegian artist Aurora, who will sing her song Through the Eyes of a Child from Adolescence during the In Memoriam section.

The ceremony is taking place at London's Southbank Centre.

1950s novel Lord of The Flies is the ultimate study of hate and division. It has never been more relevant

https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20260507-1950s-novel-lord-of-the-flies-is-the-ultimate-study-of-hate-and-division-it-has-never-been-more-relevant, yesterday

William Golding's story of boys descending into violence is a 20th-Century classic. Now Adolescence writer Jack Thorne is behind a new TV version speaking to a rancorous world.

William Golding's Lord of the Flies, his classic novel about boys who turn to savage violence after a plane crash strands them on a deserted island, has had a remarkably long and varied life. It has inspired two films, a dance show by Matthew Bourne, a parody on The Simpsons and a female knockoff in the television series Yellowjackets.

Stephen King has cited it as a major influence on his entire writing career. Generations of schoolchildren have either embraced it or balked at being force-fed it as required reading. And amazingly, this 1954 novel, deeply rooted in its own era, feels especially timely today. It has been adapted into a bold, touching new series that has just landed on Netflix, written by Jack Thorne, the writer of the similarly themed megahit Adolescence, about a 13-year-old boy accused of murder.

At its core, the book explores the nature of evil – but while its basic meaning hasn't changed, says Tim Kendall, Professor of English Literature at the University of Exeter and leading Golding expert, "what changes is the urgency of that question depending on what the government or the world situation in the day happens to be".

Judy Carver, Golding's daughter and a director of his estate, tells the BBC: "I think a good book belongs to each generation successively. In fact, my father actually said in an essay about the book that he no longer believed the author had a sort of father's right over the novel. He believed it belonged to the readers, and their interpretation was valid."

Why it's a story for now

Thorne tells the BBC: "We didn't impose anything on the book. I just think there's a resonance in what Golding is writing about that works for where we are right now." The world has changed since he was a teenager in the 1990s, Thorne says. "There was a genuine optimism in the air, and there was a genuine feeling of community. The world that seems to be out[side] the window for my son right now is a world where it's easier to hate than love, where it's easier to disparage someone else rather than help them."

Television seemed the perfect vehicle for bringing the book and its timeliness to a new audience. "The chapters of TV, the episodes of TV, can speak to a book," Thorne says. Unlike the novel, the series is structured so that each of the four episodes focuses on a different character's point of view, a strategy Thorne saw as a fresh way of illuminating Golding's work. Thorne adds backstories for the boys and tweaks some episodes, while staying true to the novel's plot and characters.

Piggy is the bullied, bespectacled boy known for his intellect, and Ralph is the natural leader, who insists that rules and order will keep the island civilised. Ralph's adversary, the power-hungry Jack, leads the other boys to anarchy and violence against each other. Simon is a visionary, a sacrificial figure who understands that the evil on the island comes from inside the boys themselves. Golding orchestrated these types with such balance that the book has long been viewed as a microcosm of society. And it is classroom-ready, loaded with debatable questions about good versus evil and order versus chaos.

Its Cold War origins

For all its universality, though, the novel was definitely a product of its time. Kendall, who is the editor of William Golding: The Faber Letters, a collection of correspondence between Golding and his book editor, says: "You can see in the manuscript form, its initial conception, that it is actually a World War Three novel. It's a nuclear war that's being described and that the boys are being evacuated away from." In the first few manuscript pages, deleted from the book, "It says if they were only big enough to be able to see through the airplane windows they would see the big mushroom cloud behind them. So that really hammers home what's going on, which is that the boys only end up doing on the island what the adults are doing on a global scale." The original version, Kendall says, "is very much aware of the nuclear age and the dangers that that brings."

But the book has only one specific reference, to "the Reds", hinting at the Cold War, and that vagueness has made it far more open to various interpretations over the decades. Carver says: "To begin with, people saw it in very clearly religious terms and made Simon, as I think he was meant to be, into a Christ figure." More recently, she notes, "the environmental angle has come to the fore" – with people referencing, for example, the way the boys set fire to the island – while she also believes that today "it's hard to ignore the rise of autocratic rulers around the world, and to not see that in terms of Jack… the rules of warfare, the rules of the right to a fair trial, all these things are on a knife edge and I think the book is relevant to that".

Thorne's approach is less political, and involved mining the book for nuances that many readers have failed to see, especially on a first encounter. "When I read Jack as a kid, I hated him, I just hated him. I knew who he was on the playground and I despised him. When I read Jack as an adult, I thought this is a much more tender portrait than I was expecting," Thorne says. "Destruction, chaos, all these things that result from Jack aren't necessarily purely as a result of some sort of black heart beating within him. It's about little decisions that Jack makes along the way to try to maintain his authority, to try to keep himself from being scared." The episode from Jack's point of view shows him as a vulnerable, lonely boy, his quest for power at least partly a kind of bravado.

The latest adaptation's focus on masculinity

Finding universal themes in specific characters is exactly the kind of story Thorne says he is attracted to. "Golding isn't writing about all boys. Golding is writing about British boys in the 1950s. Golding is writing about kids that have seen the trauma of war, not themselves but through their fathers' eyes, and are playing out the way that they've been socialised." Similarly, he says, "Adolescence isn't a show about every boy in the world. It's about one kid in Pontefract and the influences upon him and how he reacts to those influences." After seeing those distinct characters and situations, he says, "You think about your own world".

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• The 1930s tropical utopia that became a living hell

And our world, he says, is fraught for young men. The term toxic masculinity has become commonplace, but Thorne doesn't use it. "The difficulty of that phrase is that now you can't hear masculinity without toxic added on the front," he says, adding that the term is so widespread that "If you’re a kid who's trying to work out how to be male it's almost terrifying to work out what the right way to be male is. "In fact, Golding's decision to put only boys on the island was likely a reflection of the 1950s power structure rather than a comment on masculinity itself. In that period, Kendall says, "If the boys are the world leaders writ small, then they have to be boys, not girls." Carver says: "I think it would be anachronistic to say that he wrote it about masculinity. But you can get that out of it" – as Thorne certainly does.

His eloquent, affecting flashbacks to the boys' lives before the plane crash lean heavily into their relationships with their fathers, but not in a simplistic way that blames bad male role models. Thorne says: "I didn't want to suggest that Jack has a distant relationship with his father, so therefore Jack is drawn to darkness. Simon also has a distant relationship with his father, and Simon is drawn to the light. What I just wanted to do is have them discussing their parents [as a way] to show more complication on those faces".

By now, the book's title has become a shorthand for social dysfunction, which Thorne thinks greatly underestimates Golding's accomplishment and the novel's lasting appeal. He says, "People do apply it in all sorts of ways when there's a crisis in the world: 'This is the Lord of the Flies moment.' And no, that's not what Golding wrote. Golding wrote a really complicated and tender portrait of pre-adolescent boys, and he somehow managed to capture truth in that. And the truth that he caught is still just as interesting today as it was when he wrote it, because it's that well written."

Lord of the Flies is available to watch on Netflix in the US and BBC iPlayer in the UK

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Anti-work anthems, Boy George and controversial lyrics: A guide to all 35 Eurovision songs

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce8pmrv2p1mo, yesterday

Like a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day, the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest has arrived to dispel the gloom of a weary world.

With 35 countries taking part, it's the most compact competition since 2003 - due to a partial boycott over Israel's presence.

If you can put the politics aside (and many fans feel they can't), the competition presents its usual mix of mayhem and spectacle.

This year's hopefuls include a man entirely covered in silver paint, a fake gorilla, an actual Boy George - and the longest high note in Eurovision history.

With the semi-finals starting in Vienna this Tuesday, here's a guide to all 35 songs, sorted into poorly defined musical categories - because no functionally accurate system could define this madness.

Fandoms of the opera

Aria paying attention? OK, let's begin.

The last two Eurovision winners – Switzerland's Nemo and Austria's JJ – both deployed operatic vocal runs in their songs. So, naturally, there's a whole Liszt of copycats in 2026.

Best of the bunch is French prodigy Monroe – who, at the age of 17, is this year's youngest entrant.

Her song, Regarde!, combines a frenetic string section, glitching drum beats and Queen of the Night vocals in a way that suggests, "Hello, I have listened to the output of Spanish recording artist Rosalía" (this is a compliment).

Described as a "celebration of the richness of all of France's musical cultures," it builds to an earth-quaking climax, with stunning live vocals. With the right staging, it looks set for a Top 10 finish.

Montenegro's Tamara Živković takes a maximalist approach, plonking a Greek Chorus onto a jack-hammer techno beat on Nova Zora.

Co-written by actual opera singer Vesna Aćimović, it's all about women breaking free of gender stereotypes and striding towards a new dawn.

Montenegro haven't qualified from the semi-finals since 2015. Could this be the song to break their losing streak?

Finally, we have Latvian singer Liene Atvara, whose heart-rending ballad, Ēnā, addresses the lifelong impact of growing up with an alcoholic parent.

Full of sorrow and restraint, the opening verses are entombed by muffled synths before Liene explodes into an operatic wail of catharsis in the dying moments.

There won't be a dry eye in the house.

Lyrical controversies

Romania's Eurovision entry, Choke Me, has been labelled "dangerous" and "reckless" for lyrics that appear to reference sexual strangulation, an unsafe practice that can lead to brain injury and death.

But Alexandra Căpitănescu, a Master's student at the Faculty of Physics in Bucharest, says campaigners have got it all wrong.

"Choke Me is a metaphor for the pressure we sometimes place on ourselves," she says.

"It speaks about inner fears, self-doubt, and the feeling of being emotionally suffocated by our own expectations. It was never intended to represent anything sexual."

What's not in doubt is that the song is powerful. Demonic guitar riffs churn under Căpitănescu's raspy vocals, giving the track a thrilling urgency. It's good to have Romania back after their two-year absence.

Equally compelling is Swiss star Veronica Fusaro. On the surface, her waltz-time ballad, Alice, seems to be a saccharine tale of love and devotion.

Dive deeper, however, and it's a horrific portrayal of abuse, written from the point of view of a stalker - an extra layer that makes a good song great.

Uncomplicated bops

Sometimes, all we need is an excuse to cut loose and dance. Luckily, Eurovision's here to help.

One of my favourites this year is Bulgaria's entry, Bangaranga. Sung by Dara, a proven pop star with a clutch of Top 10 singles, it's brilliantly unhinged and full of sass.

"I'm an angel, I'm a demon, I'm a psycho for no reason," she sings, channelling my cat's personality over a drum sound that could shatter windows.

Totally lacking in substance, with a gratuitous dance break – what's not to like?

Germany's Sarah Engels tries a similar trick with less success on her Euro-dance anthem Fire.

A relatively anonymous take on Dua Lipa's dance-pop, it loses points for rhyming "fire" with "desire" - but I can't get it out of my head. Don't write it off in the televote.

"Call me queen, though I'm not royal," declares Essyla on Belgium's brooding pop banger, Dancing On the Ice.

Sleek and hypnotic, it lacks the killer chorus needed to claim the Eurovision crown.

Finally, Cypriot entrant Antigoni - who you might recognise as a former Love Island contestant - beckons us onto the dancefloor for three minutes of Mediterranean escapism.

The lyrics to Jalla reference Tsifteteli - a popular Greek belly dance – and you can hear traces of Shakira in its mix of Eastern rhythms and sun-kissed sensuality.

The song's music video proved too much for a group of "concerned" public figures in Cyprus, who called it "unsophisticated" and "insulting to Cypriot history, traditions and aesthetics".

Needless to say, their complaints only make the song sound better.

Complicated bops

You've only got three minutes to make an impression at Eurovision. Some contestants take that as a challenge to cram as many ideas as possible into their allotted time.

This year's alchemists include Finland's Linda Lampenius & Pete Parkkonen, whose song Liekinheitin (flamethrower) does a brilliant rug pull - transforming from impassioned ballad to demonic electro-pop, complete with a frenetic violin solo.

Already a number one hit at home, it's built around a disturbing metaphor for red-hot love ("Every time we're skin to skin/ You give me third-degree burns") and builds to a thrilling climax, like the countdown clock for a bomb that's about to explode.

It's currently the favourite to win – but Greece isn't far behind.

They're sending Akylas, who's taken the unusual step of combining traditional Greek instruments with Super Mario-style sound effects and a rib-shaking house beat.

Titled Ferto ("Bring It"), his song initially seems to be a hymn to fame: "I want glory, eternity, and cash".

Then the music falls away and Akylas sings directly to his mum, who raised him single-handedly during Greece's financial crisis.

"[I'll] make sure we never lack again," he promises.

Over in Poland, Alicja does a clever piece of misdirection on her song, Pray.

Playing on the title, it opens with a big gospel organ and a massed chorus, before a handbrake turn into lip-smacking rap. Nice idea, but it's a bit of a muddle.

Risking death from pore asphyxiation is Lithuania's Lion Ceccah, who performs Sólo Quiero Más (I Just Want More) covered head to toe in silver paint.

Sung in six languages, it's themed around the rise of artificial intelligence, and how humans become detached from reality the more they use it.

On stage, Lion re-enacts the struggle between man and machine, going from ChatGPT to ChatGP-Free. It's all a bit overwrought for my taste.

Sticking it to 'the man'

This year, we have not one, but two, songs that declare: "Take your job and shove it".

First to hand in his resignation letter is 31-year-old Simón Hovhannisyan, representing Armenia, with the grinding rock track Paloma Rumba.

"This meeting could have been an email / Free coffee won't keep me here, man."

On stage, Simón flings around reams of paper as he marches (and backflips) towards the exit, accompanied by Armenian folk instruments like the duduk and the dohl.

Ironically, for a song about burnout, it's exhausting to listen to.

Representing the UK, the fantastically monikered Look Mum No Computer has similar complaints.

"The office cubicle has trapped me again," he squawks on a rambunctious synth-driven stomper that's equal parts Kraftwerk and The Kaiser Chiefs.

To resolve his dilemma, he takes a road-trip to Europe and delivers his naggingly catchy chorus – Ein, Zwei, Drei - in German.

It's a shameless attempt to court the EU voting bloc, and God knows we need it.

So far, the song's been divisive. Some have praised the UK for taking a risk, others find it irritating. A lot will depend on how it's performed.

The ballads

Turn on the wind machines, pump out the dry ice, set the lights to "romantic" - it's time for the slow ones.

Top of the heap, alphabetically at least, is Australia – who are sending actual pop royalty Delta Goodrem to Vienna.

She goes full Celine Dion on Eclipse, a song about a passion so strong it blocks out the sun. It's scientifically unlikely, but Delta delivers the big notes with such conviction you almost believe her. It feels like a potential winner.

Equally dramatic is Danish star Søren Torpegaard Lund, who wraps his lungs around a torrid tale of toxic romance titled Før Vi Går Hjem (Before We Go Home).

"Kiss me, take my heart, break it again," he sings atop a convulsive electro pulse, as dancers pull him into a transparent "sweat box" that represents the relationship he can't escape.

I'm not a huge fan of the chorus – a simple climb up the scale of C Minor – but Lund's simmering intensity is captivating.

Azerbaijan's singer Jiva is much more ruthless as she dispenses with a lover on the cinematic ballad Just Go.

"I don't love you anymore," she seethes. "I will erase you from my soul."

If you like your music windswept and overblown, this is for you - but it's indistinguishable from every other windswept and overblown Eurovision entry that's faltered in the semi-finals since 2020.

More affecting is Malta's elegant and sentimental ballad Bella, sung by moustachioed troubadour Aidan.

One of the country's biggest stars, he brings an air of wounded sincerity to his performance, as he pines for the titular heroine, whose name appears 20 times throughout the song.

Ploughing a similar furrow is Israel's Noam Bettan, whose heart has been shredded by a femme fatale called Michelle.

Noam is "dancing with pain" and he's "trapped in a carousel" (to be fair, that does sound like it'd hurt) and his vocals grow more and more desperate as the song progresses.

With flourishes of Spanish guitar, it's solidly constructed but fails to connect emotionally.

Finally, we have Ukrainian band Leléka, whose song Ridnym without breaking Eurovision rules on neutrality, will resonate with anyone who has lived through a war.

"It's about a moment in your life when you think everything is over and you feel hopeless," explains singer Viktoria Leléka.

"But a small, small part of your soul is screaming, 'No, you want to live and to breathe and to continue, despite everything."

Delicate and understated, the song incorporates a stunning, 30-second-long high note. I feel breathless just thinking about it.

Culturally loaded lyrics

Albania's Alis has one of the year's most emotional storylines in Nân, a heart-wrenching ballad about a mother waiting desperately for their child to return home.

It's a familiar story in his country where, since the fall of communism in 1991, about 40% of the population has emigrated to find a better life.

Alis, a former X Factor winner, delivers the song with a sincerity and passion that's hard to match.

Croatia delivers a similarly harrowing story on Andromeda.

Performed in beautiful close harmonies by ethno-pop quintet Lelek, it discusses the suppression, abduction and forced marriage that Christian women endured in the Ottoman empire, and how they'd protect themselves by tattooing their bodies with symbols of the cross.

Portugal's entry, Rosa, is equally gorgeous, highlighting the a capella melodies of cante Alentejano, a musical tradition that arose amongst bull-herders who sang to co-ordinate the movement of their flocks.

In a sea of thumping dance tracks and billowing ballads, the simplicity of Bandidos do Cante's performance really stands out.

Turning the volume back up, we have Moldovan singer Satoshi.

His song, Viva, Moldova! is an absolute riot (think Chumbawamba's Tubthumping with added pan flute) that's simultaneously an anthem for the first Moldovan generation to grow up under independence.

"It's a song that cheers our culture," the 27-year-old says. "We have a very good vibe, good dances, cool music, good food, that we want to share with Europe."

Satoshi performs in a football shirt numbered 373 (the international dialling code for Moldova) and eagle-eared listeners will notice that the opening melody recreates the jingle that plays when you land at Chișinău airport. Ura!

Throwback pop

Sometimes, all you need is a touch of nostalgia, and San Marino's here to show why with the transcontinental disco grooves of Superstar.

It's performed by Senhit – a three-time Eurovision entrant, who made headlines in 2021 when she snared Flo Rida to perform on her 22nd-place track Adrenalina.

This year, she's enlisted Boy George, who turns up to sing about "all the boys at the bar sipping cool champagne". Sadly, the song has all the fizz of a Capri Sun.

A similar problem besets Georgia's On Replay – a generic club track with a tra-la-la chorus.

It's a shame because the band behind it, Bzikebi, are Eurovision royalty, who won the junior contest in 2008 with their song Bzzz. They still put on a great show, but this song has no sting.

I'm more partial to Per Sempre Sì, a throwback disco song from veteran Italian star Sal Da Vinci.

Dedicated to his childhood sweetheart Paola Pugliese, it's a testament to their 34-year marriage. "A love isn't a love for life / If it hasn't faced the steepest climb."

It's probably too dated to pick up the requisite votes, but Sal leaves me with a warm glow.

Finally, we have Luxembourg's Eva Marija – an accomplished musician who's currently studying songwriting at London's Institute for Contemporary Music Performance

She says that when she played her Eurovision entry, Mother Nature, to her classmates last year, "they just hugged me and were like, 'Girl, this is a hit'."

An uplifting hymn to the great outdoors, it has shades of Griff and Sigrid in its eco-friendly pop.

Kooky concepts and tortured metaphors

Language is a funny thing. Some Eurovision songs get lost in translation. Others are just odd to begin with.

Take Austrian singer Cosmó, a 19-year-old with a blue star painted on his face, whose song Tanzschein literally translates as "dance licence".

"You need a dance licence, I have to be strict about that," he declares over a low-slung bass riff.

The song compares clubbers to jungle animals, and he's accompanied on stage by gorillas and lions. I think it's about toxic nightlife culture, unless Cosmó's accidentally stumbled into Schönbrunn Zoo?

Swedish star Felicia performs her song in a diamond-studded face mask.

"You're in my head, my heart, my body parts," she wails on My System.

But dig deeper and the mask represents her struggles with mental health and self-image. And the lyrics are really about a destructive relationship, allegedly based on Felicia's experiences in the music industry.

(The song also comes with an almighty techno drop that'll frighten your gran.)

Fans of mixed metaphors will enjoy Czechia's Daniel Žižka, whose song Crossroads finds him in open waters... and in foreign fields, and in a golden cage and also in a "vicious spider web".

Daniel says the lyrics address the difficulties of making decisions in an era of information overload – which explains his inability to pick an analogy and stick to it.

The song itself is a brooding ballad with an astonishing vocal climax, but will it leave voters trapped in a spider web of indecision?

Rock & roll, Eurovision style

Throw up your devil horns, people. The guitars are back.

Five years after Måneskin's victory, Norway is having a go at the stomp-rock thing via Jonas Lovv's Ya Ya Ya.

With a riff reminiscent of the Hives' Hate To Say I Told You So, it's a big, dumb singalong with charisma to burn.

Estonia's Vanilla Ninja – who previously represented Switzerland in 2005 - tread a similar path with the lightweight pop-rock anthem Too Epic To Be True.

It's languishing near the bottom of the bookmakers' odds, which is a shame, as I enjoyed its perky Josie & The Pussycats energy.

If you prefer your rock music sinister and creepy, then Serbia have you covered.

They're sending nu-metal band Lavina, whose song Kraj Mene (Next To You) is a smouldering story of suffocating infatuation.

Over three minutes, the pressure builds and builds until the frontman Luka Aranđelović erupts with a genuinely frightening scream.

This is what they play in hell before the demons feast on your cindered skin.

And on that disturbing note, we've reached the end of the list. Something for everyone and (hopefully) a little more than nul points for the UK.

See you in Vienna!

Oasis documentary to show first Gallagher brothers interview in 25 years

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0q2n5e20xjo, yesterday

Oasis brothers Noel and Liam Gallagher have done their first joint interview in 25 years for their upcoming tour documentary.

Entertainment giant Disney confirmed Steven Knight, Oscar-nominated director of Peaky Blinders, created the feature-length film that will be released in theatres on 11 September.

It will focus on the band's global reunion tour in 2025 where the brothers appeared on stage together following a 16-year break, selling out venues including Wembley Stadium.

Feuds between the Mancunian frontmen led to their break-up following their titanic success revolutionising rock n'roll throughout the 1990s and 2000s.

The comeback tour was the significant milestone fans had been waiting for since their dramatic split in 2009, after years of teasing a possible reunion.

Describing the Oasis tour "the biggest musical event of 2025", a joint statement from Disney, Sony Music Vision and Magna studios said the documentary would feature moments from rehearsal, backstage and onstage.

The concert film, currently untitled, also contains the "first joint interviews with Noel and Liam in over 25 years", the statement said.

Knight said: "I wanted to tell the story of the brothers and the band, but just as important, the story of the fans whose lives the music has touched and sometimes changed forever.

"It is also the story of how music and songwriting can unite generations, cultures, countries and in a time of spite and division, give us all some reason to hope."

Noel and Liam performed chart-topping hits including Don't Look Back in Anger and Wonderwall in front of audiences across the US, Australia, South Korea, Japan, Argentina and Brazil, after an initial blitz of UK and Ireland shows.

Nostalgic fans witnessed the brothers hugging and bantering on stage during their gigs, marking a new direction for the rock stars who had spent more than a decade publicly insulting one another.

Their success was expected to fetch the brothers approximately £50m ($68m) each, based on estimates calculated by Birmingham City University.

Concert films have become more popular in recent years with singers turning the stories behind their live gigs into cinema blockbusters, such as Taylor Swift's Eras Tour film and Billie Eilish's 3D movie directed by Avatar's James Cameron.

Tess Daly and Vernon Kay separating after 22 years of marriage

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpwpzqy899ro, yesterday

Former Strictly Come Dancing host Tess Daly and BBC Radio 2 presenter Vernon Kay have jointly announced they are splitting up.

"After much consideration, and with a deep sense of care and respect for one another, we have made the decision to separate amicably," they posted on Instagram in a joint statement.

The couple married in September 2003, and said their decision had "not been an easy choice", but came "from a place of mutual understanding and a shared desire for what is best for both of us".

They added that they "remain great friends and most importantly, fully committed to our roles as loving and supportive parents, which will always be our priority".

Daly and Kay added that there are "no other parties involved" and asked for privacy "as we navigate this transition together".

They added they will not be making any further public comments.

Daly hosted BBC One's hugely popular Strictly Come Dancing with Claudia Winkleman until they signed off in December 2025, having announced they were leaving two months earlier.

In November 2025 she was made an MBE for services to broadcasting.

Kay has been hosting Radio 2's weekday morning show since 2023, after he took over from Ken Bruce and his programme is currently the most listened to show on UK radio.

King and Queen lead tributes for David Attenborough's 100th birthday

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp3pww9g0p5o, yesterday

King Charles III and Queen Camilla are among well-wishers to share a birthday message celebrating Sir David Attenborough turning 100.

The royal couple also shared photographs of Sir David, including one of him with a young Prince Charles and Princess Anne in 1958, in which he is introducing them to Cocky the cockatoo, from his BBC Zoo Quest TV series.

The King and Queen wished him a very happy birthday, adding: "Enjoy your special celebration this evening!"

The veteran broadcaster and environmentalist has said he was "completely overwhelmed" by messages he had received ahead of his big day, which includes a special concert on Friday evening at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

Sir David added: "I simply can't reply to each of you separately, but I'd like to thank you all most sincerely for your kind messages, and wish those of you who have planned your own local events: have a very happy day."

In a video for the Earthshot Prize, which celebrates climate leadership and innovation, the Prince of Wales said: "Happy 100th David, cannot believe it's your 100th birthday."

He went on to thank him for all his support, while noting how "everything you do continues to inspire me".

Prince William's brother, the Duke of Sussex, is also among the well-wishers, describing Sir David as a "secular saint" in an article in Time.com.

"His most significant contribution has been the systematic dismantling of the notion that climate issues are happening 'somewhere else'," he said.

"Young people continue to listen to him not just for the spectacle of nature, but for a sense of continuity in an unstable world."

Former England men's football captain Sir David Beckham simply called the broadcaster "our National Treasure", while actress and activist Joanna Lumley wished the broadcaster a happy birthday with a little help from the people of Stroud, Gloucestershire, in a video message.

TV naturalist and presenter Chris Packham wrote in The Big Issue: "I don't think that any person in the entire history of our species has made such a significant contribution to engaging people and developing a love for all of life on Earth as David Attenborough."

Meanwhile, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) shared a birthday tribute video, voiced by actors Dame Judi Dench, Morgan Freeman, Miranda Richardson, Asa Butterfield, Sam Heughan and Iwan Rheon, along with former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell‑Horner and wildlife presenter Liz Bonnin.

It is a spoken-word version of the Louis Armstrong classic song, What a Wonderful World, featuring footage of various animals.

Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer also paid tribute, saying that despite his extensive feature film success, "none of it is as important as working for David Attenborough because that is really about the existence of our planet."

Actor Sir Ian McKellen added that Sir David "sums up what was best about the BBC" with "serious programmes made for a popular audience".

"His ability to communicate his own enthusiasms are very precious and he's brought such joy to so many people," he said. "And I think, along with a lot of people, my favourite television programmes are probably natural history."

Friday evening's show at the Royal Albert Hall is the climax of a week of special events and broadcast programming in honour of Sir David, who was born in 1926 and joined the BBC in 1952.

Presenter Kirsty Young will host the special 90-minute concert celebrating Sir David's life, which will air on BBC One and iPlayer from 20:30 BST.

Special guests including Sir Michael Palin, Steve Backshall, Liz Bonnin and Chris Packham will appear at the event to reflect on Sir David's life and legacy.

Ahead of the concert, Young said: "Sir David's gift to the world has been a life spent exquisitely revealing Earth's wonders to us all.

"The very least he deserves is a big 100th birthday bash at the Royal Albert Hall. I'm very happy indeed, as the host, to be able to invite everyone to the party."

The event will recall some of the most memorable wildlife moments from Sir David's career and the BBC's natural history archive.

Live music from the BBC Concert Orchestra will include pieces associated with his most famous television series, including the snakes and iguanas chase from Planet Earth II, and the wave-washing orcas sequence from Frozen Planet II.

The concert will also feature performances from Bastille frontman Dan Smith, who will join the orchestra for a rendition of the band's hit Pompeii, which featured in Planet Earth III.

Elsewhere, Sigur Rós will perform Hoppípolla, which was used in the promotion of Planet Earth and Planet Earth II, while other musical guests will include singer Sienna Spiro and harpist Francisco Yglesia.

The BBC has been celebrating Sir David's centenary with special programming throughout the week.

Sir David and members of his former production team reflected on the making of their groundbreaking 1979 series Life on Earth for a documentary broadcast last weekend.

Meanwhile, recent BBC One series Secret Garden saw Sir David examine the hidden worlds and wildlife thriving in British gardens. Many of his other programmes have also been made available as part of a dedicated collection on iPlayer.

The BBC's chief content officer Kate Philips said Sir David's 100th birthday marked an "extraordinary" moment, describing him as a "truly remarkable individual".

Sir David was born in west London on 8 May 1926, and has also fronted pioneering natural history series including his Life Collection, The Trials of Life and The Blue Planet.

He has two children with wife Jane, who died in 1997. His brother Richard was an Oscar-winning actor and director, and died in 2014.

On Thursday, the Natural History Museum paid tribute to Sir David by naming a species of parasitic wasp after him.

The Attenboroughnculus tau is native to the Patagonian lakes of Chile, and a specimen was recently found in the museum's collection, four decades after it was collected.

Other species to have been named after the broadcaster in the past include a wildflower, butterfly, grasshopper, dinosaur and ghost shrimp.

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Dutton Ranch to Lord of the Flies: 11 of the best TV shows to watch this May

https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20260427-11-of-the-best-tv-shows-to-watch-this-may, 10 days ago

From the latest Yellowstone spin-off to a new take on William Golding's classic novel about violent schoolboys, and a supernatural series produced by the Stranger Things creators – these are the best series to watch and stream.

1. Lord of the Flies

Jack Thorne, writer of the brilliant series Adolescence and the hit play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, is the ideal person to take on this adaptation of William Golding's classic 1954 novel about schoolboys stranded on an island. As they try to survive and the social order breaks down, each episode of the show focuses on a different character, including iconic figures like the bullied Piggy (David McKenna) and rival leaders Ralph (Winston Sawyers) and Jack (Lox Pratt). "As a society we're having a conversation right now about boys," Thorne has said, pointing to the timeliness of Golding's story. "We're losing a generation of boys and we're losing it because of the hate they are ingesting – because it is an answer to their loneliness and isolation." Having screened in the UK in February, ahead of its international rollout, the series has already landed on the BBC's list of best TV shows of 2026 so far.

Lord of the Flies premieres 4 May on Netflix in the US and is now on BBC iPlayer in the UK

2. The Other Bennet Sister

Screens are awash in films and series that try to fill in the blanks of Jane Austen's life and work. Many are foolish endeavours, but thanks to a glittering cast this series about Mary, the middle and arguably least memorable of the Bennet sisters in Pride and Prejudice, is utterly charming. Ella Bruccoleri brings the bookish, bespectacled Mary, overshadowed by every one of her sisters, to vivid life. Richard E Grant is dream casting as Mr Bennet, and in Ruth Jones's performance, Mrs Bennet is comically, monstrously selfish. When the plot, based on Janice Hadlow's 2020 novel, goes beyond Austen, Indira Varma and Richard Coyle are standouts as the aunt and uncle who whisk Mary off to live with them in London. In colourful episodes, she experiences romantic ups and downs and must choose between suitors – which leads, of course, to a very Austen-like ending. When the series began its run in the UK in March, it was the biggest premiere in a year.

The Other Bennet Sister premieres 6 May on Britbox in the US and is now on BBC iPlayer in the UK

3. Legends

This high-octane thriller set in the 1990s is based on a wild true story. Regular customs agents were recruited to go undercover, with a minimum of training, to infiltrate powerful gangs smuggling drugs into the UK. Steve Coogan plays the head of operations, with Tom Burke (CB Strike) and Hayley Squires (The Night Manager) as two of the agents he recruits to create new identities or "legends" for themselves and carry them into deadly situations. That's one way to liven up a dull workday. Burke has said of his character's motivations: "He simply needs to do something like this because it's meaningful and purposeful but also because it's dangerous." Inside that regular guy, he added, "there's an adrenaline junkie." The show was created and written by Neil Forsyth, who has a niche. He also created the recent fact-based heist drama The Gold.

Legends premieres 7 May on Netflix internationally

4. Off Campus

Prime Video's own description calls this series a "college soap", which may be all you need to know about its ambitions. It's based on The Deal (2015), the first in Elle Kennedy's bestselling series of novels about students at the fictional Briar University. Hannah (Ella Bright) is a music major completely uninterested in hockey. Garrett (Belmont Cameli) is the team's star ice hockey player. They make a deal in which she will tutor him to save his failing grades and he will pretend to date her to make the boy she has a crush on jealous. You see where this is going, right? When and how will this odd couple get together? The trailer promises "The hottest action is off the ice," and as the recent HBO series Heated Rivalry proved, sex-and-romance about ice hockey players can be an enticing plotline. Off Campus has already been renewed for season two.

Off Campus premieres 13 May on Prime Video internationally

5. Rivals

The first season of this series based on Jilly Cooper's "bonkbuster" Rutshire novels and set in the garish 1980s couldn't have been frothier or more fun, with David Tennant in top comic form as Lord Tony Baddingham, the scheming head of a media company. Although he seemed left for dead as the last season ended, Baddingham returns to this fictional version of the Cotswolds to continue his rivalries with influential broadcaster Declan O'Hara (Aidan Turner) and Olympian-turned-politician Rupert Campbell-Black (Alex Hassell). Others in the returning cast include Katherine Parkinson as novelist Lizzie, Claire Rushbrook as Tony's wife – aka Monica, Lady Baddingham – and Bella Maclean as Declan's daughter Taggie, who had the very bad idea of getting involved with the womanising Rupert. The season is split in half, and six episodes will drop later this year, but the first batch should include plenty of champagne, vengeance, power plays and adulterous dalliances around the neighbourhood.

Rivals premieres 15 May on Hulu in the US and Disney+ in the UK

6. Dutton Ranch

This most anticipated of Taylor Sheridan's Yellowstone spinoffs is all about that hit show's breakout couple, whom fans couldn't get enough of. Kelly Reilly plays former wild child Beth Dutton, daughter of the now-dead John (Kevin Costner). Cole Hauser is her husband, former Yellowstone ranch foreman Rip Wheeler, whose name alone reeks of the old-timey Western ideal of tough, outdoorsy men so dear to all Sheridan shows. Beth and Rip have relocated from Montana to Texas, where they face new threats to yet another ranch. Whatever you think of Sheridan, he knows how to wrangle big-name stars, including Helen Mirren and Harrison Ford in 1923 and Michelle Pfeiffer and Kurt Russell in The Madison. The supporting cast for Dutton Ranch includes Annette Bening as a competing ranch owner and Ed Harris as a kindly veterinarian. Cowboy hats abound.

Dutton Ranch premieres 15 May on Paramount+ in the US and UK

7. Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed

Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black and She-Hulk) stars in this dark comic thriller as Paula, recently divorced and in a custody battle with her ex-husband (Jake Johnson) over their daughter. Her life seems ordinary if stressful, as she deals with her job as a fact-checker and engages on-line with a handsome young sex-cam worker named Trevor (Brandon Flynn). But ordinariness explodes when she believes she has witnessed a crime, decides to play detective, and finds herself in the midst of blackmail and murder. Dolly de Leon plays the actual detective, who didn't ask for any help, and Murray Bartlett is Trevor's boyfriend. Director David Gordon Green (The Exorcist: Believer among other films) told Elle magazine that he, along with series creator David Rosen and their team, are "misfit conspirators" whose goal is to defy television formulas. "There's enough rascal in us to want to push buttons," he said.

Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed premieres 20 May on Apple TV internationally

8. The Boroughs

What if the gang from Stranger Things suddenly aged by 50 years? They might land in this supernatural series produced by the Duffer Brothers of Stranger Things fame and set in a retirement community. Alfred Molina plays Sam, a recent widower who moves into The Boroughs, as the community is called, where he meets other residents played by Geena Davis, Alfre Woodard, Bill Pullman and Denis O'Hare. Soon Sam notices odd things happening, like creepy-looking claws appearing out of nowhere, so naturally he enlists his new friends to help investigate and save the world. Will Matthews, the show's co-creator, hasn't revealed what the ominous threat is, but he did tell EW that it's a monster which has similar problems to the characters. "How do you deal with ageing? That's true for the monster, too. How old is the monster, really?" Old enough to know better.

The Boroughs premieres 21 May on Netflix internationally

9. Spider-Noir

This show's gimmick is that it is offered in two versions, black-and-white and colour, but the real draw is Nicolas Cage as Ben Reilly, a jaded private investigator in the 1930s who happens to have Spider-Man powers. He is not the Spider-Man, Peter Parker, but a hero from an alternate universe. With or without colour, the story and style are inspired by classic film noirs such as The Maltese Falcon. "The character was 70% [Humphrey] Bogart and 30% Bugs Bunny," Cage told Esquire magazine. "I was basically Mel Blanc [the voice of Bugs] with that sarcastic sense of humour. But it's 100% me." And all-in Nic Cage sounds exactly right for this. The supporting cast of noirish characters includes Lamorne Morris as Ben's reporter pal, Karen Rodriguez as his loyal secretary and Li Jun Li as a femme fatale nightclub singer. Brendan Gleeson plays the villain, a crime boss called Silvermane.

Spider-Noir premieres 25 May on MGM+ in the US and 27 May on Prime Video internationally

10. The Four Seasons

Starring and co-created by Tina Fey, this gentle comedy about middle-aged friendships and marriages returns for a second season, offering more vicarious vacations. Most of the high-profile cast returns as the old friends who take four trips a year to different locations, each time exposing their relationships' fault lines in every climate they visit. Fey and Will Forte play a long-married couple, and Colman Domingo and Marco Calvani are romantic partners. Steve Carell's character is missing for a very good reason: he died at the end of season one. But the new friend group includes the wife he was divorcing (Kerri Kenney-Silver) and his pregnant girlfriend (Erika Henningsen). It's anybody's guess when and where she will go into labour, but I'll be shocked if it's not during a group trip.

The Four Seasons premieres 28 May on Netflix internationally

11. Star City

This space-race drama is a spin-off from the alternate history series For All Mankind, in which the USSR beat the US to the Moon. The original series is now in its fifth season and international teams have colonised Mars. The new show presents the same story from the Soviet point of view and goes back to the beginning of the competition to conquer the Moon. Rhys Ifans plays the mastermind of the space program. Everyone addresses him as Chief Designer, as if that's his name. Anna Maxwell Martin plays a military officer who is part of the KGB and who insists the Chief Designer do what's best for the country's image, even if it means sending an inexperienced cosmonaut (Alice Englert) into space, so the Soviets can land the first woman on the Moon. Even alt-histories have ties to reality, though: the show's title is the nickname of the actual cosmonaut training centre outside Moscow.

Star City premieres 29 May on Apple TV internationally

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Star Wars to The Devil Wears Prada 2: 10 of the best films to watch this May

https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20260427-10-of-the-best-films-to-watch-this-may, 12 days ago

With the cinematic debut of the Mandalorian and his sidekick Grogu and the return of the iconic Miranda Priestly, these are the films to watch at the cinema and stream at home this month.

1. Animal Farm

In George Orwell's novella, a farm is taken over by its four-legged inhabitants, only for their newfound freedom to be crushed when a pig named Napoleon becomes a brutal dictator. Published in 1945, Animal Farm is a bleak allegory for the Russian revolution and the rise of Stalin. But the new adaptation is a wacky cartoon, directed by Andy Serkis, and with Seth Rogen providing the voice of Napoleon (the voice cast also includes Glenn Close, Kieran Culkin, Woody Harrelson and Steve Buscemi). The film has a lot more jokes than the book did – although some of Orwell's political convictions are in there, too. "Alternately funny and frighteningly perceptive," says Pete Hammond in Deadline, "this gorgeously animated version is a 'toon with much to think about – and to fear. And, oh yeah, it is also wildly entertaining."

Released on 1 May in the US and Canada

2. The Devil Wears Prada 2

Twenty years after The Devil Wears Prada sashayed into cinemas, a suitably glitzy sequel is here. Directed by David Frankel and scripted by Aline Brosh McKenna, the same team as the original, The Devil Wears Prada 2 stars Anne Hathaway as Andy, a journalist who cares more about hard-hitting stories than cerulean jumpers. Meryl Streep is the iconic Miranda Priestly, a magnificently waspish New York magazine editor inspired by Vogue's former editor, Anna Wintour. Stanley Tucci and Emily Blunt complete the quartet as Miranda's loyal right-hand man and her former assistant. But now that the franchise has been embraced by the fashion industry – Wintour included – can the new comedy have the same satirical edge as the first one? The BBC's Caryn James says the marketing campaign has "left question marks around whether the sequel will turn out to be a shadow of the original, without its bite".

Released internationally on 1 May

3. Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu

Of all the characters in Disney+'s recent Star Wars television shows, the most popular are The Mandalorian, a bounty hunter played by Pedro Pascal, and his little green sidekick Grogu, aka Baby Yoda. Now they've got their own spin-off – the first new Star Wars film to reach multiplexes since The Rise of Skywalker in 2019. The trailer promises big battles, bigger monsters, X-Wing Fighters and AT-ATs. But as the characters have been on television for three series, can they justify their place in cinemas? "We gotta up our game now for the movie theatre, and that means taller aspect ratios for Imax, building sets that take full advantage of that," the director and co-writer, Jon Favreau, told Games Radar. "We want to take you on an adventure, and that adventure has to fill up the screen."

Released internationally on 22 May

4. The Sheep Detectives

One of two films this month to feature talking barnyard animals, The Sheep Detectives mixes live-action settings with cuddly CGI sheep to make the cosy crime genre cosier than ever. Hugh Jackman plays a shepherd who reads whodunnits to his adoring flock every evening; so, when he is killed, they know how to investigate. No, it doesn't sound promising, but The Sheep Detectives has a surprisingly thoughtful and funny murder-mystery plot – and it's as warm and well-crafted as a woolly jumper. The sheep's human co-stars include Emma Thompson, Nicholas Braun and Nicholas Galitzine, and the animals themselves are voiced by Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Patrick Stewart, Bryan Cranston and Chris O'Dowd. The Sheep Detectives is "a rare family entertainment happy not to follow the herd", says Guy Lodge in Variety.

5. Two Pianos

The classical music throbs with emotion in the latest French melodrama from Arnaud Desplechin (A Christmas Tale) – and the same could be said of the characters. François Civil stars as a Mathias, a once-promising piano virtuoso who has spent the last few years teaching in Japan. His former teacher (Charlotte Rampling) summons him back to his hometown to play alongside her in her final concerts before retirement. But his feelings crescendo when he bumps into an old flame (Nadia Tereszkiewicz), and spots a young boy who looks just like him. Two Pianos is "a characteristically rhapsodic piece about love, death, music and memory, with just the occasional glimmer of the uncanny", says Jonathan Romney in Screen Daily. It has "unmistakable flourishes of [Desplechin's] signature bravura style, putting music as ever to the expressive fore".

Released on 8 May in the US

6. Remarkably Bright Creatures

If you need someone to adapt an all-American bestseller involving aquatic wildlife, Olivia Newman is the film-maker for you. Following 2022's Where the Crawdads Sing, Newman has co-written and directed Remarkably Bright Creatures, a drama based on Shelby Van Pelt's octopus-centric novel. Sally Field stars as Tova, a grieving aquarium cleaner, alongside Lewis Pullman as Cameron, a troubled young man who comes to work with her. The film's narrator is Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus who observes the two new friends. And, in a stroke of casting genius, Marcellus is voiced by Alfred Molina, who played Doctor Octopus in two Spider-Man films. Don't expect any superheroics, though. "Remarkably Bright Creatures is a story of love and grief," Van Pelt said on Netflix's official site. "Those are two emotions that everyone who walks this planet feels at some point, so the themes are very widely resonant."

Released on 8 May on Netflix

7. Billie Eilish: Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D)

This isn't just a concert film, or even a 3D concert film. It's a 3D concert film co-directed by a Hollywood legend, James Cameron, who has been obsessed by cutting-edge 3D technology for decades. That means that Billie Eilish: Hit Me Hard and Soft should appeal to cinema lovers everywhere, and not just to pop fans who want to experience one of Eilish's spectacular arena shows. Still, for all of his technical expertise, Cameron has stressed that Eilish is as much the director as he is. "She and I are directing that together, so we will be in the cutting room together," he told ET. "I figured she created the show, she was the architect of one of the most amazing live shows I have ever seen. She earned her director props already."

Released internationally on 8 May

8. Backrooms

In 2019, 4Chan users began posting photos of shadowy empty rooms and corridors. A mythology soon developed: these "Backrooms" were part of an endless maze in another universe. In 2022, the 16-year-old Kane Parsons turned that mythology into a short film called The Backrooms (Found Footage), which has had 75 million views on YouTube. Now he's made a full-length horror film – and he's still only 20! Chiwetel Ejiofor stars as the owner of a furniture store which contains a portal to the Backrooms, and Renate Reinsve (Oscar-nominated for Sentimental Value) plays his sceptical therapist. "The Backrooms is not – and never has been – something that I think about as an internet trend or a meme," Parsons told Dazed in 2024. "It's just a story I genuinely care about, with characters I genuinely care about."

Released internationally on 29 May

9. I Love Boosters

Boots Riley, the rapper-turned-film-maker who pioneered his own brand of socialist surrealism in Sorry to Bother You (2018) and the Prime Video series I'm A Virgo (2023), returns with another eccentric political comedy, I Love Boosters. Keke Palmer, Naomi Ackie, Taylour Paige and Poppy Liu play The Velvet Gang, a group of shoplifters who steal designer clothes and then sell them in a local flea market at knock-down prices. But their favourite designer, played by Demi Moore, is determined to fight back. "No one is making movies like Boots Riley," says Kristy Puchko in Mashable. "I Love Boosters is an unreservedly anti-capitalist satire… about the glory to be found outside the box."

Released on 22 May in the US, Canada and Australia

10. The Salt Path

When Raynor Winn and her husband were left homeless, and her husband was diagnosed with a rare neurogenerative disease, the couple embarked on a long hike around the south-west coast of England, hoping to distract themselves from their desperate plight. That, at least, is the story that Winn tells in The Salt Path, her bestselling, award-winning 2018 memoir. But after the screen adaptation was released in the UK last year, a series of newspaper stories revealed that the book wasn't quite as non-fictional as the blurb suggested. Does that undermine the film, which stars Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs? Maybe so, but before the revelations, Wendy Ide said in the Observer that The Salt Path was "rather lovely", adding: "There's something of the generosity of spirit and gentle humour of David Lynch's The Straight Story in this celebration of the kindness of strangers, endurance of the spirit and the healing power of the wild."

Released on 22 May in the US and Canada

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'Hideous': The controversy over Picasso's most shocking painting

https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20260506-the-controversy-over-picassos-most-shocking-painting, 3 days ago

The confrontational painting Les Demoiselles d'Avignon has been both widely despised and loved, and over the decades has remained contentious. A century after it was created by Picasso, acclaimed US artist Henry Taylor reinterpreted and challenged the piece – and his version is now at the centre of a major exhibition at the Musée Picasso in Paris.

In 1907, Pablo Picasso invited a small circle of artists and friends to his studio in Paris. He wanted to show them a painting he had been working on for six months. Almost unanimously, the reaction from his peers was shock, horror and disgust. The French painter Georges Braque reportedly compared the experience to drinking petrol, and Henri Matisse is said to have called the women in it "hideous". It wouldn't be shown publicly until 1916, almost a decade later.

More than a century on, it has become one of Picasso's most recognisable and controversial works. It has also been reinterpreted by the acclaimed US painter Henry Taylor. His version is currently displayed at a major exhibition at Musée National Picasso in Paris, and Taylor emphasises a key point about the earlier painting: it owes a lot more to African art than Picasso ever liked to admit.

The painting Picasso had shown his peers was Les Demoiselles d'Avignon (1907), a large oil painting in which five nude women in a brothel in Barcelona demand the viewer's attention. Two of the women have mask-like faces, three stare back at the observer, and all have jagged, disjointed bodies. It marked a sharp turn in Picasso's creative journey and a dramatic departure from the artistic norms of the time.

"Picasso moved away from emotional, figurative painting toward breaking forms apart and rethinking how space and bodies are shown," Joanne Snrech, a curator at Musée National Picasso, tells the BBC. "This shift was key to the development of Cubism and modern art more broadly."

Les Demoiselles d'Avignon (The Young Ladies of Avignon) was initially named Le Bordel d'Avignon (or The Brothel of Avignon) until 1916, when the title was changed to be less contentious. It is considered a fundamental work in the birth of Cubism, the 20th-Century art movement known for abandoning traditional, realistic forms of representation in favour of fragmented and geometric shapes.

As Picasso did in the Demoiselles, Cubism merged multiple vantage points of an object or person into a single image. "Part of what made the reaction so strong is that Picasso didn't just change one thing: he changed everything at once," Snrech says. "Even for artists who were already experimenting with new styles, this felt like a step too far."

But Picasso's innovations didn't come out of nowhere. Some of them, it could be argued, came straight from the African continent.

Months before creating this painting, Picasso had developed a particular interest in African masks and sculptures, spurred by a small figurine – from what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo – that Matisse had purchased in Paris in 1906. Picasso began regularly visiting the African section of the Musée d'Ethnographie du Trocadéro, creating hundreds of preparatory sketches for his new masterpiece.

"What struck him wasn't just how they looked, but how they worked: the faces are simplified, distorted, sometimes quite intense or even unsettling," Snrech says. "He was clearly inspired by this different approach to the human face, which allowed him to move away from naturalism and toward something more abstract and confrontational."

Despite this work and many others being shaped by his encounters with African art, Picasso is known to have downplayed its influence. He famously said to a critic working on a series on African art for a journal in 1920 that he had "never heard of it". Picasso's reluctance to acknowledge the impact of African art on his work while directly benefiting from it later provoked accusations of cultural appropriation. Critiques highlight the cultural, religious and social significance of the objects that Picasso observed but seemingly ignored, and how this fed into the wider narrative of African art being seen as "primitive" at the time.

The reimagining of Les Demoiselles

Henry Taylor returned to Picasso's iconic painting when visiting Paris for his first European solo show in 2007, almost exactly a century after Picasso first created it. Taylor's version, titled From Congo to the Capital and Black Again (2007), is now on show at the Musée National Picasso-Paris for Henry Taylor. Where Thoughts Provoke, his first major retrospective in Europe. He keeps the basic structure and poses of the five nude women and the two signature masked faces. But the initially white figures are now black, nodding more overtly to African art.

Known for exploring black life in the US, Taylor reimagines the composition from his own perspective as an artist with a different cultural and social background. "Taylor's work often centres on people who have historically been underrepresented, giving them presence and individuality," says Snrech. "When placed together, [Picasso and Taylor's] works highlight not just artistic differences, but also broader questions about power, influence, and whose stories are being told."

But the two works also highlight a possibly different attitude to women. Picasso's historically troubled relationship with the opposite sex has become difficult to separate from his paintings' afterlife. Known for a string of fraught romances, Picasso reportedly told the painter Françoise Gilot that all women are either "goddesses or doormats" and "machines for suffering". To some critics, the violence of the fragmented bodies feels personal rather than aesthetic.

"The subject [a group of nude women in a brothel] was already provocative, but Picasso removed any softness," says Snrech. In the newer version, while abstracted, their bodies are less disjointed – the result is more powerful than aggressive.

Taylor's central figure stands with her arms partially behind her back. The short asymmetrical bob she wears shares a likeness with Josephine Baker, a US-French dancer and singer, known as the first black woman to become a world-famous superstar. By doing this, the artist "brings in questions of identity, race, and representation", Snrech says.

Taylor's title, From Congo to the Capital and Black Again (2007), references Matisse's Congolese figure that sparked Picasso's interest in African art, noting its movement from Africa to Paris. It also refers to the way Taylor himself made the painting "black again" by incorporating black people. Yet a white male disembodied arm with a gold watch also hovers in the far-left corner, groping one of the subjects. This could be a nod to the two men – a sailor and a medical student – Picasso initially thought about including in the painting. "He's not just referencing Picasso, he's questioning and reinterpreting him," Snrech adds.

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Despite Braque's initial comment about Les Demoiselles, he himself adopted a more angular approach to his paintings soon afterwards. And by the 1920s, what initially caused disgust in Picasso's paintings was what saw it recast as a masterpiece. The writer and poet André Breton hailed the painting as revolutionary, convincing the French fashion designer and art collector Jacques Doucet to buy it. And in 1939, New York's Museum of Modern Art acquired it as a canonical piece. It still resides there today.

More than a century on, Les Demoiselles d'Avignon remains so contentious that artists are still grappling with the themes within it. Proof, surely, of how one painting can be both widely despised and loved at the same time – and can define a dramatic turning point in art history.

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'A glorious shambles': The Bruce Willis flop that became a cult hit

https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20260505-hudson-hawk-the-bruce-willis-turkey-that-became-a-cult-hit, 4 days ago

When Hudson Hawk was released 35 years ago, it was "savaged" by critics and was "notorious for its behind-the-scenes chaos". How did it build such an enthusiastic following?

It all started so innocently. In 1980, when Bruce Willis was a bartender and jobbing actor in New York, he made friends with a musician, Robert Kraft. One day Kraft played his buddy a song he was working on about a thief named Hudson Hawk, and Willis liked it so much that he exclaimed, "This is a movie – and we're gonna make this movie!"

It's the kind of thing that thousands of would-be stars have said to their friends, but in this case, the would-be star kept his word. In May 1991, 35 years ago, Hudson Hawk flew into cinemas.

What Willis didn't predict was that his crime caper would become notorious for its catastrophic behind-the-scenes chaos, or that most reviewers – and some of the cast – would declare that the Hawk was a turkey. On the other hand, he also didn't predict that Hudson Hawk would eventually become a cult favourite, with diehard fans of the Die Hard star's passion project calling it a misunderstood classic.

"I love it," says David Hughes, who has just written a book on the subject, The Unmaking of Hudson Hawk. "It definitely laid an egg at the box office – marketing fumbled it and critics savaged it – but it's no turkey. It's funny! And if you don't like one joke, or one over-the-top performance, there'll be another along in a few seconds."

Nick de Semlyen's book on Hollywood action stars, The Last Action Heroes, features Willis among its "kings of carnage", but he isn't quite as enthusiastic. "Hudson Hawk is a glorious shambles," he tells the BBC. "It's the kind of action movie that could only have been made in an era where stars' every 'suggestion' [was] treated like holy writ. With Willis wanting to meld stunts, comedy and – yikes – singing, it mutated into something truly bizarre."

It didn't take long for Willis to make the leap from bartender to superstar. From 1985 to 1989, ABC detective series Moonlighting established him as a wisecracking leading man, and then Die Hard in 1988 made him a bona fide Hollywood A-lister. The producer of Die Hard and its even more lucrative sequel was Joel Silver, so when Willis asked him to produce a goofy, globe-trotting heist movie based on his and Kraft's concept, he didn't need much persuading. However, he wasn't keen on the first draft of the script, by two of the writers on the Moonlighting staff, so he called in Steven de Souza, the co-writer of the first two Die Hards.

De Souza wrote "a very fine, very fun caper that formed the basis of the film we saw", says Hughes. To summarise – if it's possible to summarise Hudson Hawk – Willis's title character is a cappuccino-loving cat burglar who is forced to steal various knick-knacks designed by Leonardo da Vinci. When slotted together, these knick-knacks will complete Leonardo's greatest invention: a machine that can turn lead into gold.

'Spinning out of control'

So far, so reasonable. Michael Lehmann was hired to direct, having just made the acclaimed high-school black comedy Heathers. And when De Souza had to move onto another project, Heathers' screenwriter, Daniel Waters, was brought in for the next draft.

But Waters didn't want to write an action film, he wanted to deconstruct and parody the genre. As Hughes tells the BBC: "The clash of sensibilities of the screenwriter of Die Hard and the screenwriter of Heathers – both extremely funny people, but on completely different wavelengths – is a comedy mismatch for the ages."

Waters contributed the film's most beloved set piece: the one in which Hawk and his sidekick, played by Danny Aiello, synchronise their heist manoeuvres by crooning Swinging on a Star as they work. But he was informed that certain elements of De Souza's script couldn't be changed – and that included the scenario's "endless chain of villains".

Partly, this was because Willis had cast friends of his to play them. "Everyone had a great reason why we couldn't cut anything," Waters says in The Unmaking of Hudson Hawk, "so we ended up with a movie with a parole officer, a Mafia guy, some CIAs, two crazy villains… There were no adults in the room, let's put it that way."

Once shooting got underway in Rome, that became clear. The lead actress, Maruschka Detmers, collapsed on set with chronic back pain, and was replaced by Andie MacDowell. The cinematographer was fired after a fight with Silver. And the phrase "too many cooks" was never more apt. Lehmann would get ready to shoot a scene, only for Willis to mosey up and instruct him to try it another way. Silver would regularly overrule Lehmann, too, leading James Coburn, who played one of the many villains, to remark, "We had three or four directors half the time".

Another of the villains was played by Richard E Grant, whose volume of diaries, With Nails, paints a piercingly vivid picture of a production spinning out of control. For him, the trouble started when he arrived in Rome to find that his hotel wasn't expecting him for another week. Meanwhile, Sandra Bernhard, who was playing his wife, had been in Rome for three weeks without shooting a single scene: she had been rehearsing with a supposedly trained dog that refused to obey any of its owner's commands.

'Box-office bomb' to cult hit

The language barrier and the punishing summer heat were among the factors that led to Grant's all-caps cry for help: "THIS MOVIE IS A ONE-WAY TICKET OUT OF MY MIND!" But the main issue was that new ideas kept being flung into the mix. MacDowell doing an impression of a dolphin? Grant jumping on a table to make a speech? Aiello bringing his character back to life after his fiery death scene? Why not?

"It all feels too close to the kind of high-school-play set-up in which any insane suggestion is instantly cheered and endorsed," wrote Grant. "Except that this isn't school. And everything, including new jokes and suggestions, translates into schedule delays and big bucks burning fast."

The constant rewriting of the script meant a constant rewriting of the schedule. The budget was reported to have swollen from $40m to $60m ($94.5m or £69m today). And things dragged on for so long that Grant had to pull out of playing the Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. (Alan Rickman got the role instead, and won a Bafta for it.)

But as more and more ideas were added, some scenes had to be cut. A climactic action sequence was due to be set in Moscow, and shot in Budapest, but that sequence was dropped, and the climax was relocated to Italy. The strange part was that the cast and crew decamped from Rome to Budapest, anyway. "This seems like the logic of a deranged baboon," wrote Grant. And that was before he learnt that a general strike in Budapest would make filming even tougher.

It was, in Hughes words, "one of the messiest productions in Hollywood history". Back in the US, gossip columnists had a field day, so it was almost inevitable that, when Hudson Hawk was eventually finished, critics agreed that Willis had very much failed to turn lead into gold. "A movie this unspeakably awful can make an audience a little crazy," wrote Peter Travers in Rolling Stone. "You want to throw things, yell at the actors, beg them to stop."

Hudson Hawk's apologists argue that the reviews were responding to the gossip, rather than what was on screen. "Every year or so some big expensive movie comes out, and there's blood in the water, so it's all right for the critics to have a go at it," author and critic Kim Newman tells the BBC. He was one of the few reviewers to buck the trend. "I thought it was clever and interesting and had a lot of charm and invention. And it's better than a lot of films that were officially hits. Have you seen The Bodyguard lately? It was one of the biggest hits of that time, and it's utterly forgettable."

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Hudson Hawk certainly isn't forgettable, but as the plot staggers all over the place, and the tone lurches from gritty to tongue-in-cheek to surreally silly, it's easy to understand why it was a box-office bomb. Still, its anarchic, making-it-up-as-they-go-along spirit could be why it has now attracted a cult following.

There are countless blogs proclaiming that, in a world of cynical IP cash-ins, it's bracing to see a film that was thrown together for the hell-raising fun of it. And since Willis's retirement due to the brain disorder aphasia in 2022, affection for Hudson Hawk has only grown. "It's a pile-up of bonkersness that leaves you exhausted but impressed at its rococo vision," says De Semlyen. "Frankly, I'll take it over the latest autopilot Jason Statham actioner any day of the week."

Not everyone goes along with this reappraisal, of course. When British critic Mark Kermode told Grant that he was a fan of the film, Grant replied in his own unique fashion: "Hudson Hawk was a steaming pile of donkey droppings, and you are an idiot."

But the film is appreciated by the two people who matter the most – the two people who dreamt it up in the first place. "One of my favourite things about working on the book," says Hughes, "is that when I reached out to Robert Kraft, he'd just got back from Bruce's house in Turks and Caicos, where they'd watched two films: Dr No and Hudson Hawk. It was the first time either of them had watched it in nearly 30 years, and they both agreed, 'Hey, it's not that bad!'"

The Unmaking of Hudson Hawk by David Hughes is published by Plumeria on 11 May.

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The artworks that inspired eight of the most stunning Met Gala looks

https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20260505-eight-of-the-most-stunning-met-gala-looks-and-the-artworks-that-inspired-them, 5 days ago

From Heidi Klum as a veiled Vestal virgin to singer Ciara as a gold-encrusted bust of Nefertiti, here is the art behind the fashion at the Met Gala.

Fashion is Art was the theme for this year's Met Gala, which falls annually on the first Monday of May. The event marks the opening of the latest exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute – and is a chance for celebrities on the Anna Wintour-approved guestlist to scale the Met steps in the most glamorous, fantastical, exuberant, fun, daft and occasionally highbrow outfits that they and their styling teams can get their hands on.

This year's theme came with the memo that it was a moment for attendees to "express their own relationship to fashion as an embodied art form and celebrate the countless depictions of the dressed body throughout art history". Here are eight of the outfits that were inspired by works of art.

Rosé / The Birds by Georges Braque (1952–53)

The singer Rosé, the New Zealand-born member of the South Korean pop group Blackpink, wore a largely unassuming black, strapless dress – the work of Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello – but it was inspiration from the art world that made it soar. Riffing on the depictions of birds in the work of French 20th-Century painter Georges Braque, the look featured a brick-sized bird brooch.

Rosé had worked with her stylist, or "image architect" as he likes to be known, Law Roach, on the look that was also inspired by the Saint Laurent collections of spring 1998 and spring 2002 couture. As she told Vogue: "We landed on this very classic Saint Laurent look, and as we were studying, I learned that YSL has repeatedly used this bird design."

Lena Dunham / Judith Slaying Holofernes by Artemisia Gentileschi (c 1612-1620)

The Girls creator, who recently debuted her memoir, Famesick, was back on the Met Gala red carpet for the first time since 2019, wearing a dramatic all-red Valentino look by Alessandro Michele. The asymmetrical red silk, sequinned dress bedecked with crow's feathers had been inspired by one specific aspect of the painting Judith Slaying Holofernes: the blood.

Speaking to Vogue, Dunham explains that she shared the idea to use that painting as inspiration with Alessandro, "but because his brain works in the most magical ways, rather than leaning into the Renaissance garments or the swords or any of it, he was attracted to a particular blood spatter on the neck of Holofernes."

Painted circa 1620 by the Italian Baroque painter Artemisia Gentileschi, who became the first woman to enter the Academy of Art and Design in Florence, it now hangs in Florence's Uffizi gallery.

Julianne Moore / Madame X by John Singer Sargent (1883-84)

It might have been custom Bottega Veneta who made it, but it's the US artist John Singer Sargent whose work was the genesis of Julianne Moore's elegant black dress with one strap slipping down. The look alluded to Sargent's portrait of Madame Gautreau, better known as Madame X, which caused a scandal when it was first unveiled in Paris in 1884.

The reason behind the shock? As art critic Jonathan Jones argued in the Guardian: "it was the dress that caused the distress." Describing it as "aristocratically anti-bourgeois", he notes that "Madame Gautreau wears a black dress that is almost strapless except for two slender gold threads; money and sex are both flaunted by a fashion utterly incompatible with bourgeois life."

In New York high society in 2026, the look has ruffled far fewer feathers. Although the other socialite to wear a dress aping the painting – Lauren Sánchez Bezos's take was the work of Schiaparelli designer Daniel Roseberry – has caused her fair share of controversies.

The painting, aptly, is part of the Met's permanent collection.

Hunter Schafer / Mäda Primavesi by Gustav Klimt (1912-1913)

Euphoria star Hunter Schafer's apparently ripped and dishevelled look was in fact custom Prada. Inspired by Austrian painter Gustav Klimt's 1912/1913 painting Mäda Primavesi, which is part of the Met's permanent collection, the dress mimicked the custom Emilie Flöge design worn by the nine-year-old girl depicted in the painting.

Primavesi's father, Otto Primavesi, was a patron of the arts who reportedly made a habit of inviting artists to his country house during World War One. One of those artists was Klimt, who he commissioned to paint his daughter. Schafer's take was hyperbolised – this is the Met Gala after all – via a long train that spread out over the steps. But Shafer did stick to the brief in other key ways, not least by reproducing Mäda's blue eyeshadow.

Dree Hemingway / Marchesa Brigida Spinola-Doria by Sir Peter Paul Rubens (1606)

Dree Hemingway is an American model, actress and great-granddaughter of Ernest Hemingway, and most recently played Daryl Hannah in Love Story: John F Kennedy Jr & Carolyn Bessette.

Her custom Valentino gown by Alessandro Michele evokes many 17th Century paintings, in particular The Portrait of Marchesa Brigida Spinola-Doria, by Flemish master Sir Peter Paul Rubens, which now hangs in the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC. Hemingway's delicate silver lurex, embroidery and feathers, married with a theatrical crinoline collar edged in gold, seems to mimic the operatic, densely pleated collars of the Elizabethan era.

But the ensemble also has more recent artistic inspiration, given that it was part of Valentino's 2026 Specula Mundi Haute Couture collection, which had been inspired by 19th-Century Kaiserpanorama viewing devices.

Anne Hathaway / Terracotta bell-krater attributed to the Chevron Group (c 350-325 BC)

Anne Hathaway's custom Michael Kors dress was designed in collaboration with US artist Peter McGough. But it was the work of the British Romantic poet John Keats, specifically his Ode on a Grecian Urn, which inspired it.

The 1819 poem ends on an enigmatic line that has been almost as widely discussed as Anna Wintour's famous bob: "Beauty is truth, truth beauty,—that is all/ Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know." The hand-painted gown evokes poem, bringing to mind the exquisite Grecian urns of the ancient world, in particular this terracotta bell-krater created in 350-325 BC.

The black silk and Mikado ball gown had been hand-painted by McGouth with a dove of peace and a goddess of peace on the train, leading some to cite it as one of the evening's rare nods to politics.

Heidi Klum / Veiled Vestal by Raffaelle Monti (1846-47)

The German-American supermodel is known as the queen of Halloween for her love of a costume and dedication to a brief. So the Met Gala and she are a natural fit. She didn't disappoint, turning up dressed as the 1847 sculpture by Raffaelle Monti, the Veiled Vestal. The Vestal Virgins were, according to EBSCO, "responsible for maintaining the sacred fire of Vesta, which symbolised the security of Rome".

One can only imagine what the Italian sculptor, or the 6th Duke of Devonshire who commissioned the work, would have made of Klum's look, but you'd hope they'd appreciate the effort: Klum even went so far as to accessorise with grey contacts and painted hands, face and teeth.

While it's unclear what form-fitting material Klum wore, the original sculpture, which now sits in Chatsworth House, Derbyshire, was carved from three blocks of Carrara marble.

Ciara / Bust of Nefertiti (c 1345 BC)

Speaking to Vogue Arabia, the singer Ciara described how she was wearing "gold on gold on gold", from her gown to her jewellery, to represent the ancient Egyptian queen Nefertiti, whose name means "the Beautiful One Is Here". According to Ciara: "Nefertiti was very very powerful… and I wanted to represent that".

Nefertiti apparently "holds the position as the Egyptian queen with the most surviving appearances on monuments and other artistic mediums" according to research by Harvard University. She has been a muse to Grace Jones, and the Met is home to several ancient Egyptian artifacts depicting her. Now she can add the Met Gala to her catalogue.

Often depicted with a theatrically towering crown, in modern parlance, Nefertiti is very Met Gala-coded.

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The Other Bennet Sister: Mary Bennet is the Austen heroine for the 21st Century - here's why

https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20260501-why-mary-bennet-is-austens-most-relatable-heroine, 5 days ago

Based on the acclaimed novel The Other Bennet Sister, a new TV imagining of the life of Pride and Prejudice character Mary Bennet has won the hearts of British viewers. Here's why this Austen character is so relatable today

"Her mother was right, she neither glowed nor bloomed," writes Janice Hadlow in her 2020 novel The Other Bennet Sister, a reimagining of the life of Mary Bennet. Mary is one of the five Bennet sisters in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice – the one who is most often dismissed and forgotten. Despite early-19th Century conventions, she has no interest in marriage, or societal occasions: she'd rather have her head in a geology book. Oh, and to her family's dismay, she wears spectacles. But how else is she meant to read?

"Austenmania" is ever-growing, and 2026 alone will see three new major Austen adaptations across film and TV. From zombie comedies to murder mysteries, servant perspectives and Bollywood musicals, there have been endless spin-offs of Austen's beloved stories and characters. Even Mary, who is a minor character in Pride and Prejudice, has not been ignored in modern literature. There are a host of books about what she might have got up to when Elizabeth Bennet wasn't around – including a historical spy trilogy.

Now The Other Bennet Sister has been adapted for the small screen by Sarah Quintrell and Maddy Dai. Telling Mary's story through her own eyes, the show has been a huge hit with British audiences: 7.3 million viewers watched the first episode, and there have been swarms of Gen-Z TikTok fan edits. Why has this interpretation of the "plain" middle child sparked such devotion in viewers, particularly younger ones?

One way to answer that question is to go back to Austen's novel. Sandwiched between the two attractive, sensible elder sisters, Jane and Elizabeth, and the immature, younger sisters, Kitty and Lydia, Mary is an outlier. She is neither beautiful, nor silly. So, where does that leave her, and what did Austen intend to do with this character?

Mary's function in Pride and Prejudice is showing "the different ways girls can be," says Sandie Byrne, professor of English at the University of Oxford, UK. "Not all girls about whom you might write are beautiful and perfect. Austen is always mocking the sentimental novel and the gothic novel, in which the heroines are beautiful and talented... She's saying, some girls are like Mary."

Austen also demonstrates one of the truths of motherhood, Byrne says: "Children aren't always loved, and children aren't always loved equally."

A relatable heroine

When we meet Mary (played by Ella Bruccoleri) in the BBC TV series, she is clumsy, awkward and finds conversation a struggle, spouting random bits of knowledge to carry her through. There are hints such as these throughout that – in the modern day – she might be considered neurodivergent. Mary reminds us that children can be raised in the same household, but have very different perspectives and experiences of life – a familiar feeling for many.

And even if viewers don't relate directly to her, they will at least root for her. "[People say,] I want to see her do well, because we recognise a woman who's been held up to standards in society that she can't reach, that she's having a value system placed on her," the show's writer Quintrell tells the BBC.

Mary's journey properly begins with the death of her father, Mr Bennet (Richard E Grant). As per the inheritance laws of Regency England, his cousin Mr Collins (Ryan Sampson) has become the owner of the Bennet estate, Longbourn, and he swiftly moves in with his new wife before the family have had a moment to grieve. (In a nice touch, Lucy Briers, the original Mary Bennet in the BBC's 1995 TV adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, plays housekeeper Mrs Hill.)

As the only unmarried sister, Mary receives a proposition from her aunt and uncle, the Gardiners (Indira Varma and Richard Coyle), to stay with them in London. It's a far better option than being the full-time companion to her mother, Mrs Bennet (Ruth Jones). Mary relentlessly seeks but cannot gain the approval of her critical, self-absorbed mother, whose signature phrase is "You have no compassion on my poor nerves!"

Mary's move to London, away from the shadows of her sisters and the scathing remarks of her mother, allows her to blossom. She is shown choosing increasingly colourful fabrics for her dresses – a sign that she is beginning to embrace her authentic self. The theme of fashioning your own identity is a timeless one, but it's especially relevant for young people today.

"I think we have a very similar thing today with social media. You have all this messaging, which is telling you to make yourself into a certain person in order to be acceptable to society," Bruccoleri, who plays Mary, tells the BBC. "I think it's a really narrow definition… this is what perfect looks like, and this is what you have to be."

One character who encourages Mary to make her own choices, and helps her to flourish, is Mrs Gardiner. Through gentle encouragement and invitation, she provides the maternal warmth that was lacking in Mrs Bennet – and this gives the series its truest love story. "Mrs Gardiner is a really good example of how we can be with young people in terms of not judging, and not telling them what we think they should do and how we think they should live… but shepherding them," Quintrell says.

Still, Mrs Bennet has a small redemption arc, as the audience is reminded that her actions are a product of society: she needs to save five daughters – and herself – from ruin. "I don't think she's a villain," Bruccoleri says. "I think she's trying to show Mary love in a very practical way, but it's not what Mary needs or is particularly helpful to her."

The series even manages to convey the humanity in Caroline Bingley and Mr Collins, two of Austen's more snooty and pompous characters, "which really speaks to Mary's ability to see people for who they are," Quintrell says. This is one reason why the series works so well: it offers fresh perspectives on characters that have existed for centuries.

And let's not forget the romance. By being herself, Mary attracts two potential suitors – the endearing Tom Hayward (Dónal Finn) and charming William Ryder (Laurie Davidson). Hayward and Mary's relationship is delicate and considered, founded in particular on their love of reading (not to mention, he also wears spectacles).

In an iconic scene, Mary sits back and relaxes as Ryder and Hayward pull her rowboat to shore. As both men are handsome, intelligent and likeable, Mary's agency takes full effect when she is faced with another life-changing decision – which she makes in her own time, and on her own terms.

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• The centuries-old origins of current fairy fiction

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The Other Bennet Sister is a delight because it shows that all girls have value, however quirky or bookish. And the warmth and humour the series brings to Mary's idiosyncrasies – from her wonky still-life paintings to her enthusiastic bird-call imitations – underline this message.

Above all the series shows the joy to be found as a young adult in discovering one's own agency and unique sense of self, however intense the pressures and expectations of the world around us. As the show's star Ella Bruccoleri puts it: "I just love that this story is about trying to shut out that noise, and about listening to your own instincts."

The Other Bennet Sister is released on Britbox on 6 May and is available on BBC iPlayer in the UK.

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'One of the most memorable nights of my life': Queen Elizabeth II's secret night out on VE Day

https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20260430-queen-elizabeth-iis-secret-night-out-on-ve-day, 6 days ago

VE Day marked the surrender of Nazi Germany and the end of World War Two in Europe. In 1985, Queen Elizabeth II told the BBC how, as a teenage princess, she slipped out of Buckingham Palace to join the joyous crowds outside.

On 8 May 1945, a carefree teenage Princess Elizabeth slipped out of Buckingham Palace incognito with her sister Margaret, and vanished into the dancing crowds who were revelling in the defeat of the Nazis. It's an episode that sounds like fiction, which could be why it has been dramatised in a film, a novel and a hit TV series. But it really happened.

We know this because in 1985, for the 40th anniversary of VE Day, Queen Elizabeth II told veteran BBC royal correspondent Godfrey Talbot all about it. She spoke about how she felt the "thrill and relief" of hearing that the war in Europe was over. After six years of sadness and horror, people were ready to celebrate.

Her father King George VI was happy to let his daughters experience the joy close up, writing in his diary that day: "Poor darlings, they have never had any fun yet." Elizabeth II recalled four decades later: "It was one of the most memorable nights of my life."

It was one of only four times – as far as we know – that she walked undetected among crowds of regular people. One of those who joined the royal sisters on their VE Day expedition was their cousin Margaret Rhodes. She wrote in her autobiography: "I suppose that for the Princesses it was a unique burst of personal freedom; a Cinderella moment in reverse, in which they could pretend that they were ordinary and unknown."

Princess Elizabeth was 13 at the outbreak of World War Two in 1939. Those six years of conflict saw her mostly confined within the walls of Windsor Castle while growing into her public role as heir to the throne. In October 1940, at the height of the Blitz, she made her first radio broadcast on the BBC. While it was aimed at children sent to North America to escape the bombing of Britain's cities, it was a message with wider resonance. "We children at home are full of cheerfulness and courage," she said. "We are trying to do all we can to help our gallant sailors, soldiers and airmen. And we are trying, too, to bear our own share of the danger and sadness of war."

The Royal Family became for many a powerful symbol of national resolve, and the decision to keep both princesses in Britain was a morale booster. Windsor Castle is about 22 miles from Buckingham Palace, so the sisters were still close enough to London to witness the city's blazing skies during the Nazi air raids. On one occasion a bomb fell near the castle as they sat in the air-raid shelter. "We all went pink when we heard it," Princess Margaret later recalled.

Elizabeth turned 18 in the year before the war ended, wearing a military uniform in the Auxiliary Territorial Service, or ATS. As Second Subaltern Elizabeth Windsor, she spent three weeks learning to become a qualified Army driver and maintenance mechanic. Her khaki-coloured uniform cap would later be put to good use again.

When Nazi Germany finally surrendered to the Allies on 7 May 1945, it marked the end of six long years of fighting in which the UK suffered about 450,000 deaths – of whom about 67,000 were civilians. The next day was designated Victory in Europe Day, or VE Day. The BBC reported that by 9:00, dense crowds had already converged on Whitehall, Westminster and Buckingham Palace, London's symbols of government and royalty. Church bells rang out and street parties were held all over Britain.

A brief period of rejoicing

At 15:00, Prime Minister Winston Churchill's broadcast officially announced that the war in Europe was over. "We may allow ourselves a brief period of rejoicing but let us not forget for a moment the toils and efforts that lie ahead," he said. King George VI also gave a speech, broadcast from bomb-scarred Buckingham Palace, in which he thanked the nation. Both men reminded listeners that Japan was not yet defeated.

Reporting from the Palace, the BBC's Howard Marshall said that thousands of people had gathered "to share this historic day with the King and Queen". He described how "the whole scene is one dense mass of people in the gayest colours", with red, white and blue dominating the view. The monument featuring a stern-faced Queen Victoria was covered with people who had clambered up to get a better view.

The Royal Family appeared on the Palace balcony again and again at the crowd's insistence, joined on one occasion by Churchill. Marshall, in another BBC radio report, described the ecstatic reception to one of these appearances. "Everywhere it's an absolute mad scene of hats being flung into the air, children lifted on their parents' backs, flags flung into the air, a great flutter of waving hands from hundreds of thousands of people." Given Princess Elizabeth's vantage point above the crowd, how could she resist joining them below?

She told the BBC in 1985: "I think we went on the balcony nearly every hour – six times – and then when the excitement of the floodlights being switched on got through to us, my sister and I realised we couldn't see what the crowds were enjoying. My mother had put her tiara on for the occasion so we asked my parents if we could go out and see for ourselves. I remember we were terrified of being recognised so I pulled my uniform cap well down over my eyes. A Grenadier officer amongst our party of about 16 people said he refused to be seen in the company of another officer improperly dressed, so I had to put my cap on normally."

Her younger sister Princess Margaret was then aged 14. For her, one of the most thrilling things was seeing the floodlights after years of the blackout that had plunged London into darkness every night to confuse enemy bombers. She told the BBC in 1995: "Everything was dark and gloomy. Suddenly the lights came on and lit up the poor old battle-scarred Palace. My mother was wearing a white dress with a tiara and it all sparkled. There was a great roar from the crowd. It was terribly exciting."

The sisters decided to venture further into the city and soak up more of the atmosphere. As the late queen recalled: "I remember lines of unknown people linking arms and walking down Whitehall, all of us just swept along on a tide of happiness and relief." Another member of their party was her cousin, John Elphinstone, who was just home after spending four and a half years as a prisoner of war. She recalled his amazement at being able to walk "freely with his family in the friendly throng". She added: "I also remember when someone exchanged hats with a Dutch sailor, the poor man coming along with us in order to get his cap back."

Although VE Day is dramatised in The Crown's season six episode "Ritz", the portrayal gives them just two accomplices, Lord Porchester, known as Porchey, and Group Captain Peter Townsend, later to become Margaret's forbidden first love.

A conga line through the Ritz

Elphinstone's sister, Margaret Rhodes, recalled in her autobiography, The Final Curtsey: "We could scarcely move; people were laughing and crying; screaming and shouting and perfect strangers were kissing and hugging each other. We danced the conga, a popular new import from Latin America; the Lambeth Walk and the Hokey-Cokey."

Another friend, Jean Woodroffe, was one of Elizabeth's first ever ladies-in-waiting. She told the BBC in 2006 about how they managed to sneak undetected into one of London's most formal establishments. "What was amusing is that we went into the Ritz Hotel through one door and out of the other door, the other end, doing the conga. And the extraordinary thing was that nobody seemed to take much notice."

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After all that excitement, it was time to slip back into the crowds outside the Palace. The late queen recalled: "After crossing Green Park, we stood outside and shouted, 'We want the King,' and we were successful in seeing my parents on the balcony, having cheated slightly because we sent a message into the house to say we were waiting outside."

In subsequent years the late queen was known for occasional discreet outings, such as trips to West End shows, but so far as is publicly known she made only three further spontaneous, anonymous walkabouts, all to celebrate the end of the war. Princess Margaret told the BBC: "There was VE night plus one and then there was VJ and VJ plus one, so we got quite good at it."

Elizabeth II shared her diary entries from the time with her cousin Margaret Rhodes for her autobiography. The then princess wrote the next day, 9 May: "Out in crowd again – Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly, Pall Mall, walked simply miles. Saw parents on balcony at 12.30 am – ate, partied, bed 3am!"

They made two similar excursions that August for Victory over Japan Day, or VJ Day. On the day itself, she wrote: "Out in crowd, Whitehall, Mall, St J [James's] St, Piccadilly, Park Lane, Constitution Hill, ran through Ritz. Walked miles, drank in Dorchester, saw parents twice, miles away, so many people." On day two, she wrote: "Out in crowd again. Embankment, Piccadilly. Rained, so fewer people. Congered into house. Sang till 2am. Bed at 3am!"

Seventy-five years later, Elizabeth II, aged 94, gave a poignant televised address to mark the anniversary of VE Day. It was 2020 and the UK was in the grip of the Covid-19 pandemic, its darkest emergency since World War Two. "Today it may seem hard that we cannot mark this special anniversary as we would wish. Instead, we remember from our homes and from our doorsteps."

Reflecting on her teenage experience of VE Day, she spoke of her vivid memories of the jubilant scenes. "The sense of joy in the crowds who'd gathered outside and across the country was profound," she said. On the table in front of her, along with a portrait of her late father, was the same khaki-coloured cap she wore to disguise herself on that unforgettable night in 1945.

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'They ripped the best paintings out of their frames': The wealthy English heiress who stole art for the IRA

https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20260423-the-wealthy-english-heiress-who-stole-art-for-the-ira, 13 days ago

A former debutante groomed for a life of country houses, Rose Dugdale rejected her privileged background and joined the IRA. In April 1974, reported the BBC, she took part in "one of the largest art heists in history".

Born into privilege in 1941, Bridget Rose Dugdale looked destined for a life of comfort and convention. Taught by a French governess, educated at elite European finishing schools and ushered into high society as a debutante presented to the Queen, she was groomed for a life of country houses and social duty with a suitable husband of impeccable breeding.

Instead, by her mid-30s, Dugdale had burned every bridge to the world that made her. She gave away her inheritance, stole money from her own family, hijacked a helicopter to attack a police station, and played a central role in one of the largest art heists in history. It was a journey that would end with Dugdale helping to develop bombs for the IRA.

Dugdale's rejection of her establishment upbringing began when, as a debutante, she recoiled from its social ritual and extravagance. She was pushed reluctantly into taking part in the Season, a six-month whirl of parties and engagements designed to usher 17- and 18-year-old girls of the right wealth or background onto the marriage market. She later described her coming-out ball – her formal introduction into upper-class society – as "one of those pornographic affairs, which cost about what 60 old-age pensioners receive in six months".

Contrary to her parents' plans for her, she went to the University of Oxford in 1959 to study philosophy, politics and economics. While she was there, she and a friend dressed in men's clothes to sneak into a debate at the male-only Oxford Union as a protest against the restriction. After a spell at a US university, she returned to London in 1964 to teach and to work as an economist in the Ministry of Aid and Overseas Development. The radical student riots of 1968 drew her towards the revolutionary left, and then came a pilgrimage to Cuba. Back in Britain, she immersed herself in radical politics, working quietly among deprived communities in Tottenham, north London, while concealing her own wealth. By 1973 she had given most of it away.

Newly fixated on the Troubles in Northern Ireland, she helped organise a raid on her parents' home at their 800-acre estate in Devon, stealing about £82,000 worth of art and silver, equivalent to around £1.3m ($1.75m) today. Arrested and defiant in court, she told her father, who was in the witness box: "I love you, [but] at the same time, I hate everything you stand for." Addressing the judge, she said: "You have turned me from an intellectual recalcitrant into a freedom fighter." Rather than being made a political martyr, she walked away with a two-year suspended sentence.

Within months she had begun to foster links with the IRA. However, the militant Irish republicans were naturally suspicious of this upper-class English outsider and distanced themselves from her. In a bizarre escapade, she took part in an unsanctioned mission in January 1974 with some IRA-adjacent figures to hijack a helicopter in County Donegal.

They forced a civilian pilot to take off, with the aim of dropping milk churns filled with explosives on a police station just across the border in Northern Ireland, in Strabane, County Tyrone. But the helicopter was dangerously overloaded, and two churns had to be dumped into the sea after warnings that the aircraft might crash. The fuse was lit prematurely on another bomb and had to be pulled out in a panic. The final churn missed its intended target, dropping intact in a nearby garden and made safe by bomb disposal experts. Major Richard Earle of the British army later told the BBC's Midweek how soldiers referred mockingly to "this new military weapon, the air‑to‑ground milk churn".

Armed raiders burst into a stately home

But Dugdale soon became less of a joke. Back in England she was wanted over six arms-smuggling charges in Manchester, and the Army in Northern Ireland wanted her, too. By then she was operating with a loose network of Irish republicans, some in the IRA, some outside it. On the run and living in IRA safe houses in the Republic of Ireland, she was on the lookout for another opportunity to aid their violent armed campaign.

An article in the Daily Express on 27 February 1974 might have given her a few ideas. Under the headline, "Headaches for a wealthy man with an Old Master around the house," readers were informed how Sir Alfred Beit, 71, a member of the South African diamond family and a former Conservative MP, was one of only four private owners of works by Johannes Vermeer, the Dutch painter of The Girl with a Pearl Earring. "The Queen, a Rothschild and an American oil magnate are the others."

The article explained that while Sir Alfred was "wintering in South Africa", his Vermeer would be hanging in the National Gallery in Dublin. "On his return it will transfer to its usual place at his home on the Russborough estate in County Wicklow."

Late on 26 April 1974, four armed raiders burst into Sir Alfred and Lady Clementine Beit's stately home, striking him on the head with a revolver. The BBC's John Simpson reported: "Led by a woman with an accent which appeared to be French, they bundled Lady Beit into the cellar and tied up Sir Alfred and five of his staff, then proceeded to rip the best paintings out of their frames, apparently without any concern for their value."

Sir Alfred told Simpson: "I only heard one man, the one who knocked me on the head with the butt of his pistol and made some very offensive anti-capitalist remarks."

The woman with the suspiciously heavy French accent told her accomplices to grab the most valuable paintings in the collection: a Vermeer, a couple of Gabriël Metsus, a Goya, an early Velázquez, Frans Hals' Portrait of a Cavalier. "In one stroke, in a matter of minutes, you've lost one of the greatest collections of paintings in the world," said Simpson to Sir Alfred in the BBC's report. The baronet agreed, adding, "No money could possibly compensate for the loss of these beautiful objects."

The canvases taken by the gang were small enough to fit in their Ford Cortina estate car, and they sped off. Half an hour later, Sir Alfred struggled free and called the police, who set up roadblocks and put the airports and seaports on high alert.

A few days after that, a ransom demand arrived, calling for the transfer to a Northern Ireland prison of Marian and Dolours Price, two sisters jailed in England for an IRA car bomb attack on the Old Bailey in London in 1973.

Sir Alfred insisted that he would not have anything to do with the "violent and ruthless people who carried out the raid". Already wanted for the helicopter bombing, Dugdale was now also suspected of this robbery. Chief Superintendent James Murphy, who would later lead the ill-fated hunt for kidnapped racehorse Shergar, told reporters she had not been ruled out of his inquiries.

Married in the prison chapel

The search ended at a holiday cottage in Prison Cove, near Glandore in West Cork, about 190mi (306km) from where the paintings were taken. Two policemen were making routine door-to-door inquiries when they became suspicious. A local farmer told them he had rented the bungalow to a man and woman two days before the robbery had occurred. After calling for backup, the officers entered the empty property and spotted some documents referring to the paintings.

Supt Thomas Barrett told BBC News that when the woman returned home, she appeared flustered. A colleague told him of an interesting discovery outside. "In the car we found six bundles which appeared to be paintings. They were very well-packed and I feel they were ready for transport."

Dugdale recalled in 2012: "I remember I came out in my little wig and tried to speak French to let on that I was a foreign tourist, but apparently it didn't convince them."

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When she appeared in court for sentencing, she declared herself "proudly, incorruptibly guilty". She was jailed for nine years for receiving the stolen paintings, with another nine years to run concurrently for the helicopter hijack.

During her trial, she discovered that she was pregnant. The father was Eddie Gallagher, her accomplice in both crimes. Asked by Dugdale's biographer, Sean O'Driscoll, how their relationship developed, Gallagher said: "You know the way when you are thrown together and there is a shower of hounds chasing you to try and put you in prison, and you end up in the one bed. So what are you going to do, like? You can only talk for so long."

Dugdale gave birth to her son, Ruairi, in Limerick Prison, and, in 1978, Dugdale and Gallagher were married in the prison chapel.

Dugdale was released in 1980 and moved to Dublin to raise her son. While her early days as an IRA wannabe may have been faintly absurd, her later years took a deadlier turn. Sean O'Driscoll, author of Heiress, Rebel, Vigilante, Bomber: The Extraordinary Life of Rose Dugdale, told the BBC that there was evidence she was involved in developing IRA arms, describing how she regularly visited a County Mayo safe house where they would test weapons on the beach.

Dugdale died in March 2024, aged 83. That same month saw the release of Baltimore, a film depicting the art robbery, with Dugdale played by Imogen Poots. Dugdale was unrepentant to the end, telling O'Driscoll that "the happiest day of her life" was the helicopter hijacking. "It was the first time I felt like I was really at the centre of things, that I was really doing as I said I would do."

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'World-renowned' photo exhibition returns to city

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c893g2dp4xjo, today

A museum has said that a world-renowned exhibition has returned to its gallery on loan from the Natural History Museum.

The Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, which is in its 61st year, is on show at Brighton Museum and Art Gallery from 9 May until 6 September.

The round of the competition, which was displayed in London in 2025, received more than 60,000 entries from photographers of all ages and experience levels from 113 countries and territories.

Hedley Swain, Brighton and Hove Museums chief executive, said: "It is an honour to host such prestigious work that resonates so deeply with our city's passion for creativity and conservation."

During a week at the Natural History Museum, entries were judged anonymously on their creativity, originality and technical excellence by an international panel of industry experts.

Photographer Wim van den Heever was given the title of Wildlife Photographer of the Year for his picture of a brown hyena standing beside the ruins of an abandoned diamond mining settlement.

A Brighton Museum and Art Gallery spokesperson said: "The exhibition shines a light on powerful and fascinating images that capture hidden animal behaviour, spectacular species and the breathtaking diversity of the natural world.

"Using photography's unique emotive power to engage and inspire audiences, the images share stories and species from around the world, encouraging a future of advocating for the planet."

The exhibition was also on display in Brighton for a period across 2024 and 2025.

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'Eye can see you': What's behind the new graffiti craze in Glasgow?

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm2pyp87vy7o, today

They can be found down dark alleyways, underneath busy motorways and across large disused billboards.

In the past few years a series of graffiti murals have popped up across the west of Scotland, showing a pair of eyes looking outwards. Sometimes they're small and well hidden, at other points they're accompanied by a cheery smile.

Last week a car crash near the Clyde Tunnel prompted social media suggestions the driver got confused when seeing the eyes and tried to drive down them, mistaking the art for the tunnel itself. This theory was firmly dismissed by police.

The person behind them is mysterious Glasgow artist Psa, who asked BBC Scotland News to protect their anonymity by not even revealing their gender.

The artist has numerous other works across Glasgow, Lanarkshire and Paisley, but it is the eyes that are their most recognisable work.

They first started doing the designs properly in about 2022, and they have become a familiar sight to many since then.

"I dabbled in graffiti art a bit when young, but since Covid, or maybe around 2022, I've been doing it more seriously," said the artist, who is now in their 30s.

"The eyes started going up around then and there's been a lot of them since then. Sometimes it's just a wee one that'll go up when I'm out and about, then there's the bigger ones that take more work.

"It's just something I feel compelled to do. I used to skateboard a lot, and it's the same impulse as then, just interacting with the environment - though not in the way it's intended to be used."

As for why it's eyes that pop up, there is both a fun reason and a more serious point to the work.

The lighter aspect is straightforward, as the artist likes "the idea that people can spot them and think of it like a wee game, where you see another one, and another.

"It's like a trail for kids, like when you had the lions all around Paisley years ago."

That is a reference to the Pride of Paisley trail in 2016, where 25 large colourful lion sculptures, and a further 40 small ones, were dotted all around the area.

More complicated reasons are behind the art itself.

"We walk around cities and towns but most of our interaction these days is done online, and it's so visible what you do and say (on the internet)," the artist said.

"Companies see everything you do and can profit from it, so there is that undercurrent to the eyes as well.

"Having all those wee eyes everywhere is like 'I see you, do you see you'? We're all here and living our lives in public...

"People can whip out their phones and just capture anything that happens and put it on a digital space. There is a permanency to that."

There is also a personal point for the artist, who has a degree of Autism Spectrum Disorder - often called Asperger's - and says they find it hard sometimes to look other people in the eye.

"Having Asperger's can make me feel very visible within public spaces, and the eyes are a way of looking back – it's hard for me to make eye contact, and sometimes it can be hard for me to look back too."

The artist feels the recent incident on the Clyde Tunnel sums up the themes of the work itself - which often gets a positive reaction on their Instagram page - quite neatly.

Several social media posts speculated on the cause of the crash being the driver confusing the eyes mural for the tunnel entrance.

This brought up comparisons between the accident and a classic Looney Tunes cartoon, with Wile E Coyote's regular schemes to catch the Road Runner often involving painting a fake road.

Soon these posts were reported by media outlets at home and abroad, although Police Scotland swiftly insisted there was no truth to the claims.

"It doesn't look like a tunnel at all, they are clearly eyes. But people put things online, and then it becomes a visible thing in itself, and it is permanently there (online)."

Psa has no plans to stop with the eyes, but does have further work planned.

"I've got an exhibition planned for later in the year.

"For the eyes, I'm local to the west of Scotland, but I'll do them anywhere I go. I like the idea of a web of them, going as far as they can."

Largest-ever Henry Moore exhibition opens at Kew

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9v3yk7127yo, today

The largest-ever outdoor exhibition of work by the world-renowned artist Henry Moore has gone on display at Kew Gardens.

Monumental Nature includes 30 works across the botanic gardens in west London and will run until 31 January 2027. Four sculptures will remain at Wakehurst, Kew's 500-acre wild botanic garden in Sussex, until May 2027.

Kew said the art would offer "visitors a journey through the beauty and rich variety of Moore's oeuvre, exploring his exceptional output".

Moore is regarded as one of the greatest British artists of the 20th century. He specialised in semi-abstract bronze sculptures which were displayed in public places.

Paul Denton, director of creative programmes and exhibitions at Kew, said: "The experience will invite visitors to engage deeply with Moore's artistic inspirations, revealing how his work was shaped by discoveries unfolding during his lifetime."

He added: "His enduring interest in placing the human figure within the landscape speaks to our timeless and shared connection with the natural world."

Along with sculptures, the exhibition will also feature drawings and prints.

In March, one of Moore's artworks - King and Queen - sold for £26m.

Sebastiano Barassi, head of Henry Moore collections and programmes, said: "Moore's deep affinity with the natural world makes Kew and Wakehurst ideal settings for his work.

"Throughout his career, he was inspired by organic forms - bones, stones, trees, and the rhythms of the landscape - and he believed that sculpture should exist in harmony with its surroundings."

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How Sir David Attenborough built 'Green Hollywood'

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cg4pkqv1lewo, today

As Sir David Attenborough marks his centenary, one achievement is often overlooked: how the world's famously soft-spoken naturalist helped create an industry employing thousands and earning millions, centred on Bristol.

The city has become "the beating heart of the wildlife film industry", according to Lucie Muir, CEO of the Wildscreen Awards and Festival. Bristol produces 80% of the high quality natural history television in the world.

"Without Sir David," says his long time director Keith Scholey, "the wildlife film industry in Bristol would be a shadow of what it is."

So how did David Attenborough create not just landmark programmes, but an entire industry?

Scholey first met Attenborough in 1981 as a Bristol University zoology graduate hoping to break into television.

He went on to direct Planet Earth and The Private Life of Plants, before co‑founding Silverback Films in 2012 with another of Attenborough's veteran producers, Alastair Fothergill.

"He made it famous, he made it internationally valuable," Scholey says.

"And all of us who went on to have careers in natural history in this city benefited from the genius of this man," Scholey adds.

The Wildscreen Festival - often called the "Oscars of Wildlife" - brings the global industry to Bristol every two years.

"Bristol is seen as the kind of 'Green Hollywood'," says Muir.

"If you watch National Geographic, or the BBC, Disney, Apple, Netflix - the vast majority of their natural history productions are made in Bristol."

And yet to sell programmes globally, Bristol filmmakers did not have to travel to Hollywood.

"We had the big players coming to us," Scholey says.

"Netflix, Apple TV, and National Geographic… because it was known as a centre of excellence.

"We have built a concentration of talent in Bristol that is quite unique."

Building Blockbusters

Attenborough's first influence was not from in front of the camera, but behind a desk.

As controller of BBC2 he created the concept of ambitious landmark programmes, then left management to become a presenter, working with the BBC's Natural History Unit (NHU) in Bristol.

The result was Life on Earth, filmed around the world and watched by 15 million people in the UK and 500 million globally.

"It was extraordinary," says Scholey. "David would be in South America, then Australia, showing things people had never seen… underwater life, bats, reptiles - everything."

"He was the first person to make international wildlife popular," Scholey adds.

Global storytelling - and global finance

The series also transformed funding. A co‑production deal with Warner Brothers brought American investment into the genre.

Before Life on Earth, the NHU largely filmed British wildlife on small budgets. Attenborough's approach was global - and needed big money.

"That was the first time money from America had been invested in a natural history series," Scholey recalls.

"And we never looked back."

Filmed in more than 100 locations, Life on Earth cost over £1m - a huge budget in 1979.

It was sold to more than 100 territories and confirmed wildlife films could be global blockbusters.

Soon broadcasters like National Geographic, and later Netflix, Apple and Disney, turned to Bristol for expertise.

"Filming wildlife is expensive," says Scholey.

"You have to go all over the world… International finance has been a huge part of it - but wow, we've had quite a ride!"

Cutting edge technology

Attenborough also pushed technical innovation. In Life on Earth, his team filmed bats in a wind-tunnel. State of the art film stock brought sharper, colour images to audiences.

Bristol's Natural History Unit became famous for using - often inventing - the latest camera techniques.

Muir says Sir David "loves new technology, he loves new camera kit, he's always pushed everyone to make the best, newest discoveries possible".

He remains the only person to win BAFTA awards across black-and-white, colour, HD, 3D and 4K formats.

Over 50 years of high quality filmmaking, Bristol has built a full production ecosystem - from filming to editing, sound design and specialist post-production.

Scholey explains: "We have people who can colour-grade a natural history film better than anywhere else in the world, people who can track-lay wildlife sound, edit animal sequences, they don't exist anywhere else in the world."

'A bit of David in all of us'

Despite never living in the city, Attenborough's impact on Bristol is profound.

There are now around 15 wildlife production companies alongside the BBC NHU, employing about 1,000 people. The University of the West of England estimates the sector is worth around £100m - about a third of Bristol's TV industry

When Scholey was interviewed to run the BBC's NHU in 1998, he was asked: 'How will you replace David Attenborough?'

Nearly 30 years on, that question remains.

Scholey points out the NHU has developed numerous other wildlife presenters, but Attenborough is "a one-off, you'll never replicate him".

For Muir, Attenborough's legacy "will live on forever, within the people making the films, the conservationists, the scientists, he's inspired so many people."

"There's a bit of David in all of us," she smiles.

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Michael Jackson beats Kneecap in battle for UK album number one

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy0254844zxo, yesterday

The King of Pop has beaten the Irish language rap group Kneecap to the number one spot in the official UK album chart.

There was a three-way contest between the group, who came second, Michael Jackson and former Spice Girl Melanie C.

The album Fenian dropped earlier this month and is the highest album on the UK charts for the trio, known as Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí.

Kneecap's last release, 2024's Fine Art, went to number 43 in the UK and number two in the Republic of Ireland.

Former Spice Girl Melanie C, who has never had a solo UK number one album, came third.

The LP Sweat is her ninth studio album and her best ever solo performance on the charts was her debut in 1999, Northern Star.

None of the former Spice Girls have managed to hit the top spot with a solo album…. yet.

Michael Jackson was no stranger on the UK album charts, having secured the top spot nine times in his life and once after his death in 2009 when The Essential Michael Jackson spent seven weeks at number one.

That album's re-entry and ascent to the top of up the charts has been linked to the success of the film Michael, starring Jackson's nephew Jaafar Jackson.

It scored the highest opening weekend ever for a biopic, taking $217m (£160m) globally.

According to the Official Charts Company earlier this week, less than 3000 units were separating Michael Jackson in third place from Kneecap in the top spot.

After the chart company released the midweek data, Kneecap claimed on social media that Fenian could be "the first ever Irish language album" to top the charts in the UK.

But it was not to be for the rap trio.

BBC News NI asked Official Charts if this would be the case, but so far they have not been able to verify the claim.

The UK's Official Number One Album was announced at 17:45 BST on Friday.

From primates to climate - ten of David Attenborough's best documentaries

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cevevg98125o, yesterday

Sir David Attenborough's landmark natural history programmes have educated and inspired us for more than seven decades.

From hanging out with primates to early climate warnings, here's a selection of his trailblazing programmes - to mark his 100th birthday - and where to watch them in the UK.

1. Life on Earth (1979)

Life on Earth was Attenborough's ambitious, globe-spanning attempt to tell the story of life in a way that had never been attempted before, "from the first primitive cells to the plants and animals that now live around us".

It established Attenborough as the foremost TV naturalist, as well as an iconic British cultural figure.

It was "absolutely groundbreaking for the time", according to Dr Jean-Baptiste Gouyon, author of BBC Wildlife Documentaries in the Age of Attenborough.

"It was the first time that they sent cameramen all over the world to capture images of animal behaviour in the field," he explains. "It's the first series which has Attenborough talking to camera [on location], instead of being in the studio and commenting on footage.

"Life on Earth is the first on-screen appearance of David Attenborough as a character, rather than just as a presenter. It's the first for everything, basically."

Memorably, the penultimate episode found Attenborough playing with and being groomed by a group of mountain gorillas, which he later described as "one of the most exciting encounters of my life".

The Bafta-nominated series was watched by up to 500 million people worldwide and set the template for what would follow with what became known as his Life Collection, including The Living Planet, The Private Life of Plants and The Life of Birds.

And to mark his 100th birthday, the BBC also revisited it in a new documentary called Making Life on Earth: Attenborough's Greatest Adventure.

2. The Trials of Life (1990)

This series set out to capture animal behaviour from birth to death, as producers worked closely with scientists to uncover fascinating and surprising stories and insights.

"For example, they got on film for the first time evidence of chimpanzees using tools," Dr Gouyon says.

It also captured shocking but significant footage of chimps working together to brutally catch, kill and eat colobus monkeys. "That was a first for wildlife television and something which had been debated in science circles.

"They really worked with field researchers and filmed behaviour which had never been seen before on television."

3. The Blue Planet (2001)

The Blue Planet found Sir David exploring the world's oceans and many of their mysterious inhabitants - from monsters of the deep to pack-hunting killer whales attacking a grey whale calf.

It has been described as the first comprehensive series on the natural history of the world's oceans, revealing the spectacular variety of life under the sea.

"For the first time we were able to share the life experience of marine animals, which is something we could previously only imagine, and we're really deep in the middle of it," Dr Gouyon says. "That's what made such an effect."

Blue Planet II followed in 2017, and helped alert the world to "the crime of chucking plastic into the ocean that can throttle and poison creatures, including ourselves", Sir David told BBC News in 2019.

4. Planet Earth (2006)

This was filmed across 64 different countries over five years, celebrating the amazing variety of the natural world.

It became the most expensive nature documentary series ever commissioned by the BBC and allowed viewers to watch wildlife drama - like an epic battle between a hungry polar bear and a walrus - in high definition for the first time.

Blue Planet and Planet Earth rekindled the public's love of nature documentaries, and had a more cinematic sweep than their predecessors, according to Dr Gouyon.

"It's the quality and the scale of what was shown which was really groundbreaking with Blue Planet and Planet Earth," he says.

That was taken to another level for the sequels. In 2016, Planet Earth II included gripping moments of tension and drama like snakes chasing newly-hatched iguanas, and attracted more young viewers than ITV hit The X Factor.

5. Frozen Planet (2011)

Frozen Planet focused on life in the Arctic and Antarctic regions and underlined how climate change was affecting the land and its native animals.

It showed penguins, fur seals and polar bears attempting to adapt to their ever-changing surroundings, against the backdrop of glaciers and arctic volcanoes.

A sequence showing a minke whale's desperate break for freedom from a hunting team of killer whales provided an enduring image.

For the final episode, titled On Thin Ice, Sir David appeared on screen to give an impassioned speech about the effects of shrinking glaciers and rising temperatures for people and wildlife.

A decade later, the sequel went to other regions, where the stunningly-shot natural behaviour was almost as chilling as the temperatures - from golden eagles hurling mountain goats off cliffs, to more cunning killer whales ganging up on helpless seals.

Frozen Planet II also pioneered the use of racer drones, which captured the terrifying experience of flying down a mountainside alongside an avalanche.

And 11 years after the original series, it had an even starker warning about the effects of climate change.

6. Our Planet (2019)

In keeping with the times, Sir David arrived on Netflix in 2019, for an eight-part series showing some trademark stunning imagery while also addressing conservation. The streaming giant's first nature documentary was made in collaboration with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

"It's an interesting one because it was the first natural history entirely devoted to addressing climate change," Dr Gouyon says. "Other than that, the cinematographic quality of it is akin to what you could see on Blue Planet or Planet Earth."

Netflix said 100 million households watched the series - although those in Spain and Latin America heard narration from Penelope Cruz or Salma Hayek instead of Sir David.

In his review, then-BBC arts editor Will Gompertz wrote that Our Planet "gives us some of the most dazzling images you are ever likely to view on TV". He concluded: "It is the voice of a man who knows he won't be around forever but hopes passionately that Our Planet will."

7. Wild Isles (2023)

Sir David has shown us almost every corner of the globe - but he did not focus on his home country until he was in his mid-90s.

That's when he finally broke an internal BBC agreement he said dated back to the 1950s to stick to other nations. But the British Isles have "astonishing scenery" and "extraordinary animal dramas and wildlife spectacles to match anything I have seen on my global travels", he said.

The memorable encounters in Wild Isles included a white-tailed eagle catching a barnacle goose in mid-air, which had not been filmed in the UK before; plus leaping Scottish salmon filmed using underwater drones for the first time; and toadlets swallowed whole by demonic leeches with five pairs of eyes and three sets of teeth.

Sir David was not too old to go on location either. He took a boat and 87 steep steps to reach a puffin colony on Skomer Island off the west coast of Wales, where he had to wait for two hours for the birds to arrive. (He was accompanied by a doctor and a defibrillator, in case of emergencies.)

He also filmed on a Dorset clifftop, on a chalk stream in Wiltshire, and beneath his favourite tree - a 700-year-old oak in Richmond Park, London.

In early 2026, Wild London saw him revisit the capital's wild side, including the "huge thrill" of a meeting with some urban foxes.

8. Ocean (2025)

In May 2025, Ocean saw Sir David tackle mankind's "final frontier" once more.

"After almost 100 years on the planet, I now understand the most important place on Earth is not on land, but at sea," he said.

He described it as one of the most important films of his career as he entered his 100th year, and said he believed the film could play a decisive role in saving biodiversity and protecting the planet from climate change.

The ocean is the planet's support system and humanity's greatest ally against climate catastrophe, the film argues. It shows how the world's oceans are at a crossroads.

"If we save the sea," noted Sir David in the film trailer, "we save our world."

9. Secret Garden (2026)

Sir David was close to home again for this series, which lifted the lid on the teeming activity that can make UK gardens just as fascinating as wilder and more exotic places.

It showed some of the life-and-death drama that often goes on behind our backs, from a duck protecting her ducklings from a hungry otter in Oxfordshire, to a blue tit chick under threat from a fierce predator - a cat called Mr Fluffy - in Bristol.

Sir David also highlighted the benefits of considering how to accommodate wildlife from hedgehogs to newts in ordinary gardens.

Series producer Bill Markham said: "At a time when wildlife gardening is becoming increasingly important for supporting struggling species, his voice carries particular weight.

"If Secret Garden succeeds in encouraging people to rethink what their gardens can be, it will be in no small part due to his influence and enduring credibility."

10. Gorilla Story (2026)

Sir David has shown no signs of easing his workload, and as his centenary approached he revisited the most famous encounter of his long career - with the gorillas he met back in the 1970s in Life on Earth.

He didn't go back to Rwanda to hang out with them again, but narrated the story of what happened to the original group - including his young friend Pablo - and the struggles for survival and supremacy among their descendants.

The 77-minute Netflix film is directed by Oscar winner James Reed and has Leonardo DiCaprio as an executive producer.

The Guardian's five-star review said viewers would "find yourself overcome with awe".

'Working with Sir David Attenborough was just magic'

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn4pwmmnemwo, yesterday

Working with Sir David Attenborough is "just a magic experience", colleagues of the broadcasting icon have told BBC South.

Sir David celebrates his 100th birthday on Friday, with a special concert planned in the evening at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

The veteran broadcaster has brought the natural world to the UK's living rooms for decades through series including Planet Earth, Blue Planet and Life on Earth.

Martin Williams, who directed some of Sir David's documentaries in the early 2010s, said the legendary environmentalists was "everything you expect him to be".

Williams, from Oxfordshire, worked with Sir David on the BBC's First Life in 2010, as well as on multiple Sky's 3D series - including Kingdom of Plants and Galapagos.

"They say you should never meet your heroes but with David I mean you absolutely should," he said.

"He's charming, he's interested, he wants to know all about you and he makes you feel like you're the only person in the room when he's talking to you and he just elevates any project that he touches."

"To work with him It was just a magic experience," he added.

Composer Ben Salisbury has also worked with Sir David on multiple projects - including documentaries and live concerts.

"He's very, very educated about music," Salisbury, who studied at Bournemouth University, explained.

"For example, the title music I did for Life in the Undergrowth was was something he particularly liked."

"He came up to me and said 'I'm very impressed Ben that you were inspired obviously by Schoenberg's early string quartets' and I had to say 'oh yes, David'."

"But in the back of my mind I'm thinking 'I don't think i've ever heard Schoenberg's early string quartets'."

"Getting to hang out with Sir David a bit was always a real treat," he added.

But it's not just those who have worked with Sir David who have experienced his warmth and kindness.

Jonathan Mitchley, an associate professor of botany at the University of Reading, wrote to him in 2022 asking if he would sign some books as prizes for a nation botany quiz competition.

"Two days later I was just coming into the department of biological sciences at Reading and low this was there this envelope," he explained.

"I opened it and the first thing I saw was David Attenborough's signature."

Mitchley had been invited to Sir David's home to get copies of the book Green Planet - based on his documentary - from the man himself.

"He gave us a good half hour and it was it was amazing," Mitchley said.

"I think authentic is the word I would use [to describe him], because there's never anything where you think it's forced."

As the broadcasting legend celebrates his centenary, the occasion has been marked by the BBC with a special week of programing.

Summing up Sir David's enduring appeal, Williams said: "Every single one of us has grown up watching his programmes."

"He is the person who we've all turned to for quality television and it's comforting when we hear his voice, where we just want to listen and we want to be told these stories."

'World-class' £54m fashion museum could open in city

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwy2np2xgzpo, yesterday

Plans to transform a historic city centre building into a "world class" £54m fashion museum could be approved next week.

Chiefs at Bath and North East Somerset Council want to convert the former post office on the corner of New Bond Street and Broad Street in Bath into a museum, which could open in 2030.

It would house a 100,000‑piece collection ranging from 18th Century court dress to modern cycling gear, which has been stored in a Wiltshire glove factory since leaving the Assembly Rooms in 2022.

Councillor Mark Elliott, cabinet member for resources, said: "To get an entirely new world-class museum including improvements to the surrounding public realm for £54m will be a great achievement."

Funding from the West of England Combined Authority, the National Lottery, and other grants will cover almost half of the museum's costs, but the council will still need to borrow about £20m for the project.

Council leaders said they hope to recoup £17m through the museum's profits, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Speaking in March, Elliott said the project was more than a museum.

"It's a catalyst for civic pride, a driver for social and economic improvement, a major learning and skills development hub, a celebration of craftsmanship, a driver of the visitor economy, and a catalyst for the regeneration of the Milsom Quarter," he added.

Under the plans, galleries would be created upstairs, with a museum shop and cafe downstairs.

Some business owners based on surrounding streets said they hoped the plans would be approved.

Charlie Dalton-Ball, store manager at S.P. Green & Co Jewellers, said he believed it would bring more attention to a part of the city centre that had been forgotten.

"Having the fashion museum here I think will bring a lot of new people to this part of Bath," he said.

"It creates a bit of a cultural and social hub, which I think will benefit local businesses."

Nicola Coats, owner of Minerva Art Supplies, added: "It all seems to link in with the area - with costume and period features - and you've got the Jane Austen Museum nearby."

Councillors on the council's planning committee will vote on whether to grant planning permission for the scheme on Wednesday.

Planning officers have recommended that the museum should be approved, stating: "The benefits of the proposal are considered to decisively outweigh the identified harms."

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Artist 'not 100% happy' with her Attenborough model

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwy27p5431go, yesterday

An artist renowned for making quirky celebrity sculptures admitted she was "not 100% happy" with her model of Sir David Attenborough.

Sharon Kulesa, 46, from Stowmarket, Suffolk wanted to mark the naturalist's 100th birthday with a creation she could display on her garden fence.

The model depicts Sir David wearing a black suit with a toy animal on his shoulder but Kulesa feared it "didn't quite look like him" and the ears were too big.

She has previously produced life-sized models of Ed Sheeran and Claudia Winkleman, attracting thousands of reactions and shares on social media.

"I was happy with him indoors, but as soon as I put him on the fence I felt that it didn't quite look like him, but maybe it's the angle," she said of her latest work.

"I've definitely made his ears too big, because he hasn't got big ears.

"So, I'm not 100% happy anymore and there are things that I would now tweak."

While Kulesa may no longer be completely pleased with her interpretation of the animal-loving broadcaster, many people have praised her efforts.

On social media, an image she uploaded of her Sir David model – made from tinfoil and masking tape - had nearly 1,000 reactions and countless positive comments.

"Obviously David Attenborough's 100th birthday was coming up, so I thought who better to do than him to commemorate such an icon.

"I like to do the models based on universal appeal, which is why I tend to stay away from politics if possible – I like to do people who people love, and everyone loves him.

"I just think he's such a wonderful man who cares so much about this planet - he's such a legend and an icon and he's loved by all."

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David Attenborough's 'secret superpower' celebrated on 100th birthday

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c232kl5g13jo, yesterday

As Sir David Attenborough turns 100, celebrating more than 70 years presenting world-leading natural history programmes, BBC producers and friends who have worked alongside him say there is simply "no-one quite like him".

From Blue Planet to Life on Earth, those behind some of the BBC's most iconic wildlife series describe what many call the "Attenborough effect" – a unique combination of curiosity, authority and humility that continues to inspire audiences around the world.

The landmark series Sir David works on often take three or four years to complete, with his involvement stretching far beyond narration.

Executive producer Mike Gunton, who has worked with Sir David for decades at the BBC Natural History Unit in Bristol, said his energy has remained unchanged.

"I think that is his secret superpower. That sort of intellectual energy and physical energy is remarkable," Gunton added.

Elizabeth White, who worked with him on Blue Planet II in Bristol, collaborated closely with Sir David on the script.

She describes him as a phenomenal writer and narrator.

"When he reads that script out for the final commentary record, it takes on its own unique Attenborough specialness.

"There's nobody quite like him. The way he reads, the way he writes, it's just incredible," White said.

Toby Nowlan, a filmmaker from Frome, Somerset, worked with Attenborough on several projects over 17 years, including his documentary Ocean in 2025.

"He's the natural world's greatest storyteller to ever walk the earth," Nowlan said.

"He's the reason I got into this industry – I wrote him a letter when I was nine years old and he wrote back a lovely handwritten letter."

Sir David has also become famous for raising awareness about climate change.

His warning about plastic pollution in the ocean sparked widespread public reaction, with the social media message Do It for David gaining traction worldwide.

Despite this influence, Elizabeth White says Sir David remains characteristically modest, always crediting the production team rather than himself.

She recalls meeting him during the first Blue Planet series, when she was a PhD student on work experience.

She remembers being "the least important person in the room", yet Sir David approached her and showed genuine interest in her studies.

"That really stuck with me. You know, he didn't need to ask, but he did," she added.

'You know you're working on a winner'

Gunton has worked with Sir David since the late 1980s, when they collaborated on Trials of Life.

"If you get to work with him, you know you're going to be working on a winner," he says.

When they first met, Sir David was in his 60s and Mike in his 20s.

Decades later, Attenborough's energy remains unchanged, Gunton added.

Even into his 90s, Sir David's passion for the natural world has not diminished.

At the age of 96, Gunton accompanied him on a filming trip to Finland.

"It was -3C (26.6F). We were all in the full gear and everything.

"And I said, 'just take it easy'. Next thing you find, he's out there with the sound recorders, picking up the bags.

"And I said, 'no, stop'. But that is him – he loves to be part of the team," Gunton added.

'Exactly who you hope he would be'

Those who work with Sir David are often asked what he is like behind the scenes.

Gunton says the answer is reassuringly simple.

"He is the perfect gentleman, the perfect companion. He's funny, he's kind, entertaining. He is just like you would hope he would be," he added.

As Sir David celebrates his 100th birthday on Friday, colleagues say his curiosity, kindness and commitment remain undimmed – a rare constant in a fast‑changing world, and one that continues to shape how millions see the planet.

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Museum secures £1m lottery funding

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgqp901e80do, yesterday

A collection that celebrates Worcestershire's strong military heritage has received a £1m boost.

The Worcestershire Soldier at The Commandery has been awarded the grant by The National Lottery Heritage Fund to safeguard the county's Regimental museum collections and secure public access for the future.

It aims to give the collections a long-term home, with four new galleries at The Commandery, which was the Royalist headquarters during the Battle of Worcester in 1651.

Adrian Gregson, chair of the city's Museums Committee, said: "Local museums are really important to local people. One of our key industries in Worcester and Worcestershire is our tourism industry."

He added that it had taken a long time to develop the project and secure the funding.

The Commandery has seen more than 85,000 visitors through its doors in the past year.

The money from the National Lottery Heritage Fund will be used by The Mercian Regiment Museum in partnership with Museums Worcestershire and the Worcestershire Yeomanry Trust.

"The lottery process is a competitive process, so there was no guarantee that we were going to receive this money," said Dr John Paddock, curator of The Mercian Regiment Museum.

He said the collections were in storage and without the funding, they would remain inaccessible to the public.

It means the public will be able to access items that they have never seen before, he said.

The project is set to include six Victoria Crosses awarded to the Worcestershire Regiment in World War One.

"It [the funding] will allow us to conserve the collections for the long term future," Paddock said.

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Illustrator part of book-of-year winning team

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c202d4nx63po, 2 days ago

An illustrator from Shropshire has won a Book of the Year prize for her work on a limited-edition version of a medieval classic.

Alice Cao, based in Shrewsbury, worked as part of a team recognised at the annual British Book Design & Production Awards for a new version of the Anglo-Saxon epic Beowulf.

Judges said her 18 new illustrations had produced "a book to treasure for years", which was bound in nearby Ludlow.

"Winning this award feels quite surreal. I would probably have worn a more practical outfit had I thought I'd have to walk up the stage at any point," she joked.

Beowulf: The Morris Edition, from Books Illustrated, pays tribute to an edition involving celebrated artist William Morris, and has a limited print run of 308 copies.

It was letterpress printed, a centuries-old technique, which produces raised illustrations and text.

It also won the Excellence in Print Production category at the awards ceremony in London on 14 April.

The judges said, for a small format, "this book punches well above its weight".

"The newly commissioned illustrations chime perfectly with the traditional elements, and the quarterbound finish makes this a book to treasure for years."

They added: "With traditional creative and artisanal activities under pressure like never before, and with letterpress printing classified as endangered in the UK by the Heritage Crafts Association, this book is a timely reminder of the importance and beauty of hand-printed works."

Cao studied illustration at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) in Cambridge before working on projects with Books Illustrated. She emigrated to the UK from Vietnam when she was 16.

Her work for the book features scenes from the story set in the middle of ornate frames, with hand-written quotes from the text below.

She explained she wanted to celebrate both the original tale, and pay homage to Morris, while creating something new and fresh.

"I want every scene to look like a final boss battle in an epic video game. So the composition are very cinematic and modern," she said.

She said her art was suited to historical epics, adding that she drew "a lot of armoured women engaging in battles" in her free time.

Cao said seeing her work celebrated was "awesome" and meant job security in the short-term.

"We'll definitely do another book together. [I'm] very excited to do a worthy follow-up to this."

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Lion trail to roar across London this summer

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crrpd5g9zvwo, 2 days ago

Seventeen lion sculptures are to be installed across central London this summer to celebrate a season of international football.

London Heritage Quarter has announced the upcoming free public art trail named Pride in the Quarter, which runs from June to August.

The sculptures are inspired by the iconic "three lions" emblem associated with the England national team.

The trail will stretch across 0.75 sq miles (1.95 sq km), from Trafalgar Square to St James's Park and Victoria Tower Gardens. Although the exact locations have not been announced, they are expected to be near landmarks such as the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Cathedral and Buckingham Palace.

Each lion will have a distinctive identity and pattern, ranging from multi-tonal designs inspired by the global spirit of the tournament to installations drawing on London's architecture and green spaces.

Contributing artist Roshi Rouzbehani said: "For me, it was about capturing the feeling of London, its diversity, its movement, and the way so many cultures and communities come together here.

"Through colour and detail, my giant sculpture will capture that energy and bring it to life in a way people can experience in their everyday surroundings."

Ruth Duston OBE, chief executive of London Heritage Quarter, said the trail was about celebrating London's people, culture and sporting pride.

She said: "With a summer of international football upon us, what better way to celebrate than unveiling our own pride of lions and lionesses across some of London's most iconic locations?

"We hope visitors from across the country and around the world will join us to explore the trail, soak up everything the Quarter has to offer, and roar on the national team."

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Theatres 'excited' by eight Tony award nominations

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgzpx6zmk0o, today

Two regional theatres that originated a new Broadway musical said they were "proud and excited" after it was nominated for eight Tony awards.

In November 2019, The Season was performed at the New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich, and The Royal & Derngate, in Northampton.

It was later renamed Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) and opened in New York in November following a run in London's West End.

Douglas Rintoul, chief executive and artistic director at the New Wolsey, said its success was "a powerful reminder that risk-taking new work is being created in regional theatres".

The Tony awards celebrate the best of US theatre and is the equivalent of the UK's Olivier Awards.

The original romantic comedy show was a Made In Northampton production, co-produced with New Wolsey Theatre, written by Jim Barne and Kit Buchan and directed by Tim Jackson.

The same team worked on the New York production at the Longacre Theatre.

Buchan, who has been nominated for Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, and Best Original Score, said: "This is the proudest moment in mine and Jim's professional lives.

"Our show has been ten years in the making, and has grown from very humble beginnings.

"We are proud to be acknowledged."

Jackson, nominated for Best Direction of a Musical, said: "These nominations reflect the collective brilliance of so many kind, funny, big-hearted collaborators who have poured their magic and immense talent into this special show over the last eight years.

"Making this musical with Kit Buchan and Jim Barne has been a highlight of my career, and of my life."

Set during Christmas Eve, it followed Dougal as he travels from Northampton to New York for his father's wedding.

It currently stars Christiani Pitts and Sam Tutty.

Rintoul said: "Seeing Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) recognised with multiple Tony Award nominations is hugely exciting for regional theatre across the UK.

"The show began its life in Ipswich and Northampton, and its journey to Broadway is a powerful reminder that risk-taking new work is being created in regional theatres and that work originally made for audiences in Ipswich can go on to connect with audiences in New York.

"For a production developed outside London to receive recognition at the Tony Awards speaks volumes about the creativity, ambition and talent that still exists across the UK theatre sector."

Holly Gladwell, deputy chief executive for producing and programming, at the Royal & Derngate, said: "We're so proud and excited to see a production that started its life here in Northampton become such a success on Broadway. "

She said it was a "testimony to how vital regional theatres are in the nurturing of new work."

It has just been nominated for the following Tony Awards:

* Best Musical

* Best Book of a Musical

* Best Original Score

* Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role

* Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role

* Best Scenic Design

* Best Director of a Musical

* Best Orchestrations

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Margaret Thatcher assassination story by Hilary Mantel gets stage premiere in Liverpool

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz908vyvwpqo, yesterday

A story called The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher, in which award-winning author Dame Hilary Mantel imagined a plot to kill the 1980s prime minister, was controversial when it was published, and has now had its stage premiere in Liverpool.

The title was designed to grab attention - and divide opinion - but the new play's makers say it explores some serious and very current issues, including violence against politicians, the actions of angry and disenfranchised young men, and how people could and should resolve their differences.

When Dame Hilary published her original short story in 2014, its title was meant to provoke a reaction, according to playwright Alexandra Wood.

"Hilary Mantel, from what I've heard about her, was mischievous and she knew what she was doing and she was being provocative," Wood says.

"But the play doesn't deliver on that simplicity of the title."

Wood's adaptation of The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher has just opened at the Liverpool Everyman theatre.

Animosity towards Lady Thatcher still smoulders in the city, which largely blamed her for its industrial decline, unemployment and neglect in the 80s.

But Wood says the play isn't as simple as providing wish fulfilment for opponents of the divisive former PM.

"We give those people maybe 30 seconds worth of that, and actually the rest of the play is complicating it in a hopefully complex way," she says.

Set in 1983, The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher tells the fictional story of a sniper from Liverpool who plots to murder the then-PM.

He lies in wait for her at a window in Windsor, after being let into a flat by a woman who thinks he's the plumber.

Dame Hilary got the idea after she happened to spot Thatcher from the window of her own flat in Windsor as the prime minister emerged from a nearby hospital after an eye operation.

The writer realised how easy it could have been to have taken a shot. "I thought, if I wasn't me, if I was someone else, she'd be dead," she told the Guardian.

Dame Hilary spoke of her own "boiling detestation" for Lady Thatcher, but said she was "a fantastic character" and "the very stuff of drama".

The author set her short story a year before a very real assassination attempt, when the IRA bombed the hotel that was hosting the Conservative Party conference in Brighton.

The story angered Lady Thatcher's supporters, with former cabinet minister Lord Tebbit - whose wife was paralysed by the Brighton bomb - describing it in 2014 as a "sick book from a sick mind", and her ex-press secretary Bernard Ingham calling it "vindictive".

Lady Thatcher herself died in 2013 after suffering a stroke.

Dame Hilary, who was best known for Wolf Hall and twice won the Booker Prize, died in 2022.

Jade Marsden, a former Conservative candidate for mayor of the Liverpool City Region, believes the Everyman is wrong to now put on the stage version.

"I recognise that we shouldn't be afraid to have debate and controversial plays in the arts," she says.

"However, I think given the political tensions in the world and the increase in violence towards politicians, albeit that Margaret Thatcher has already passed, I don't think it should be encouraged."

Wood says the drama is "not inciting violence in any way".

"The play in no way advocates assassinating our political leaders, or anyone," the writer stresses.

The use of violence is among the questions that are debated as assassin Brendan waits at the window for Thatcher to come into view.

He holds Caroline, the character who lives in the Windsor flat, captive and the pair get into a discussion about his motives, the political backdrop of the day, and their contrasting backgrounds.

The fictional marksman claims to be acting primarily in the Irish Republican cause, and also rails against Thatcher's treatment of Liverpool.

In the play, Caroline is no fan of Thatcher either, but she tells Brendan violence isn't the answer.

Through the pair's conversations, the play tries to examine "what politics is and how we can disagree with one another - and that's OK, it doesn't mean you need to resort to violence", Wood says.

The question of how different people respond to "feeling powerless and being unable to change the way things are" is central to the drama, she adds.

"This act of terrorism feels like an act of desperation to be heard and to mean something and to matter and to have some kind of impact on the world.

"Caroline is someone who is fairly passive until she encounters this man who has such strong convictions that he's willing to murder someone for them.

"I'm interested in those two ends of the spectrum, and where and how they might influence one another."

Since the story's original publication, the dangers of violence against politicians have only grown, with a string of attacks in both the US and UK.

Most recently, a man has been charged with attempting to assassinate US President Donald Trump at last month's White House Correspondents' Dinner. Wood and the play's director John Young are speaking before that incident, which was the third assassination attempt against Trump.

Young says: "Since this short story was written, politicians in our own country have been murdered on the streets.

"The idea of an individual who feels so disenfranchised and so disconnected to a society, and so angry and so passionate that they think killing a politician is an answer to that problem - that happens and continues to happen, and that threat looms over us.

"So the idea of the play feels relevant in that way."

While politics in the 80s could be fiery, the play highlights the extreme divisions in our modern climate, the director says.

"We live in a world now where there isn't the space for people to actually have conversations and debate.

"I think we have got very good at tearing each other down very quickly and making quite fast assumptions, and [putting] targets on people in a way that doesn't promote conversation and debate politically.

"We are so far away from respecting the idea that it's OK to think differently to somebody else."

Lady Thatcher and her assassin are "the entrance point" to that issue, he says. "But actually this play feels like it's so much more than just about shooting Thatcher."

The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher is at Liverpool Everyman theatre until 23 May.

Henry Moore artwork moves to new Kew Gardens home

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c202d2rmd75o, 3 days ago

A sculpture by acclaimed artist Henry Moore has arrived at its new temporary home in Kew Gardens, ahead of a major exhibition of his work.

Reclining Woman: Elbow had been a familiar landmark outside Leeds Art Gallery for more than 40 years, but was removed earlier this year to be loaned to Henry Moore: Monumental Nature at Kew Gardens.

The 7ft 3in (2.21m) long bronze figure will feature among more than 100 pieces set throughout the gardens, in what will be the largest outdoor exhibition of Moore's work ever presented.

Art historian Ferren Gibson told the BBC the scuplture was meaningful because people are drawn to the "human condition" and the exhibition will be a chance to see it from a different angle.

"There's something really attractive about the organic nature of his work", she added.

Beginning on Saturday, the exhibition will celebrate how nature shaped the imagination of Moore, who is considered one of Britain's greatest sculptors.

Born in Castleford, Moore, who died in 1986, studied at the Leeds School of Art and his formative experiences of the Yorkshire landscape provided an enduring influence on his work.

Moore's pieces are abstract, large and at times imposing. Another recurring motif is that of mother and child.

Gibson said: "He blows them up to this great scale and suddenly you're thinking about things you encounter all the time, but in a different way.

"Maybe it looks like a bone, but it's also a person - that's quite interesting."

The exhibition will run until January 2027 and will "blur the boundaries between sculpture and living form" , according to Kew Gardens.

There will also be a smaller indoor exhibition at the Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art, including some of Moore's drawings, models and sketchbooks.

Moore's daughter Mary Moore told the BBC her father expressed both the "darkness and lightness" of life in his work, especially after the horrors of serving in World War One.

"If you take away a feeling from scuplture, it's about what it is to be human," she added.

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Interactive mural marks 30 years of river trail

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyp8ng05ejo, 3 days ago

An interactive mural has been created to mark 30 years since the Thames Path was officially opened as a National Trail.

The work in Henley-on-Thames, created by artist Vickie Amiralis, celebrates the wildlife in and around the River Thames.

"It's designed to get families interacting with the real world and spotting what they see on the mural," she said.

A range of events is planned to mark the anniversary of the 185-mile (298km) route, which runs alongside the river, stretching from the Cotswolds through seven counties, including Oxfordshire and Berkshire, before it reaches London.

A QR code attached to the mural will allow people travelling along the path to scan for information about the animals and plants in the area.

"It's meant to be fun for children as well as educational," Amiralis added.

Hannah Gutteridge, Thames Path manager, said the anniversary was "a real celebration of the nature on the trail".

She highlighted the variety of wildlife found along the route, including birds in riverside nature reserves, as well as seals and otters.

"You've just got to keep your eyes peeled and you'll be amazed what you can see," she said.

Community groups are also planning a walking relay along the route throughout June.

"It's going to be a celebration of each different community and what they bring to the trail," Gutteridge said.

However, a 2.7-mile (4.3km) diversion remains in place at Marsh Lock footbridge in Henley-on-Thames. It was introduced by the Environment Agency in 2022 over safety concerns.

Gutteridge said delays to repairs had largely been due to cost, but work was continuing behind the scenes.

"We've now reached a point where some of this infrastructure has come to the end of its life, so what are we going to do about the next 30 years?" she said.

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'Enjoy the show. Ignore the war': Venice Biennale faces backlash after including Russia

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgz14e1zeno, 3 days ago

The Russian punk protest group Pussy Riot and Femen, founded in Ukraine, have staged a striking joint protest at this year's Venice Biennale, as Russia returns to the prestigious arts fair for the first time since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The activists swarmed through the gardens of the Biennale – often described as the 'Olympics' of the arts – to yell their protest outside the Russian national pavilion, dressed all in black but for their fluorescent pink balaclavas.

As security guards rushed to close the glass doors, the protesters set off smoke flares and punched the air with screams of "Russia kills! Biennale exhibits!".

One poster declared: "Curated by Putin, dead bodies included."

"They're drinking vodka and champagne in their pavilion, soaked in the blood of Ukrainian children," Pussy Riot's Nadya Tolokonnikova told me, arguing that Russia's push to be back at the high-profile event was part of its hybrid warfare.

"It's not just tanks and drones, murder and rape in Ukraine. It's also culture, art, language…it's the way [Russia] tries to conquer the West and you guys just opened the doors to them."

There has been concern over Russia's reinstatement ever since it was announced by Moscow earlier this year.

The European Commission has "strongly condemned" the move and threatened to pull €2 million in funding for the Biennale. It argues that "Allowing the aggressor, Russia, to shine" on such a platform is against ethical standards linked to the grant.

Italy's own culture minister will not attend when the fair opens to the public on Saturday.

But deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini – who famously visited Red Square in 2014 in a Putin T-shirt – refuses to join the boycott, arguing that "No pavilion should be excluded."

One source in Brussels suggested the Commission was not impressed by Italy's response.

The disquiet over the 61st Biennale goes beyond the return of Russia.

Last week, the entire international jury resigned after a statement that referred to countries with leaders wanted by the ICC for suspected war crimes. It meant Russia and Israel.

On Wednesday morning a separate group of protesters descended on the Israeli exhibit, leaving the floor outside carpeted with rain-sodden leaflets denouncing a "Genocide Pavilion".

Israel's foreign ministry has previously criticised a "political jury" for making the Biennale a place of "anti-Israeli political indoctrination".

As the fuss has grown, the event's president has resisted requests for interviews. A right-wing former journalist, Pietrangelo Buttafuoco, has spoken admiringly in the past of Vladimir Putin.

Today, he broke his near silence on the Biennale to accuse critics of creating a "laboratory of intolerance" and condemn what he styled as censorship and exclusion in calls for Russia and Israel to be banned.

"If the Biennale began to select not works but affiliations, not visions but passports, it would cease to be what it has always been: the place where the world meets," Buttafuoco announced, then left the press conference before anyone could ask questions.

His argument ignores the point made by posters pasted all over Venice this week. They advertise imaginary events at an "Invisible Pavilion" featuring Ukrainian artists and authors like Volodymyr Vakulenko, who was shot when Russian troops occupied his village.

The posters are stamped: "Cancelled. Because the author was killed by Russia."

The canal-side gardens of the Biennale are home to dozens of stylish national pavilions that operate as showcases for their owners. For all countries, but especially for autocracies like Russia, the bi-annual exhibition is a prime chance to exert some soft power.

In 2022, the curators at the Russian pavilion pulled out in protest at the invasion of Ukraine. Two years later, the building was loaned to Bolivia. But this time a Russian team has filled the space with an upside-down tree and experimental sound performances.

"This is our house, we come to our place," the pavilion's official commissioner Anastasia Karneeva replied, when I asked whether Russia had any place at the Biennale as it invaded Ukraine.

"I don't think about the protests. I am very busy," she dismissed my questions.

Karneeva's father is deputy head of Rostec, Russia's giant state weapons producer, and under sanctions but she didn't want to discuss that either.

"Can we stop this conversation? Thank you."

Russia's return to the Biennale is only partial: after the pre-opening events this week the pavilion will close. It's unclear whether that's down to the protests or the impact of sanctions.

But the performances are being recorded to be screened outside for the public.

That means the sound will drift a few metres down the path towards Ukraine's own contribution to the Biennale.

Right beside the main entrance, a sculpture of an origami deer cast in concrete hangs suspended on thick straps from a crane.

The work of Ukrainian artist Zhanna Kadyrova, the deer was first installed in Pokrovsk in the eastern Donbas when the front line with Russian forces was almost 40 kilometres away.

By 2024, Kadyrova had to evacuate her work to save it from occupation.

"We have a destroyed city that does not exist now. I hope this message is clear and people who visit Biennale can understand it," the artist told me in a recent interview in her studio in Kyiv.

Her deer has become a powerful symbol of displacement, too, sharing the fate of millions of Ukrainians.

"Pokrovsk [is] now an occupied city. A lot of people were killed there. But we saved this artefact. The question is how many artefacts were not saved in this war? How many other kinds of heritage were destroyed?" Kadyrova asks.

"This was a lively city. And it does not exist now because Russia came."

Additional reporting by Davide Ghiglione.

'I'll never get over dancing on stage with Ne-Yo'

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3v2p14qpwyo, 4 days ago

A woman's birthday trip to see Ne-Yo in concert ended up with her dancing on stage with the Grammy award winning star in front of thousands of people.

Kirsty Langley, 36, from St Helens was invited to join the American RnB singer and his back-up dancers on stage at the Co-Op Live arena in Manchester - and footage of her performance has since been widely shared on social media.

Langley, who works with children in care, used to dance with local group UC Crew when she was younger but said it had been a "long time" since she last strutted her stuff.

"I don't think it's really sunk in yet because I'm not over it, and I'm not sure I'll ever get over it," she said.

Langley added: "Going from just being a mum-of-two, then now everyone's tagging me on social media, me dancing around on stage has just now gone a bit viral on TikTok."

Langley said her eight-year-old daughter "thinks I'm famous and rich" after hearing about the dance.

"I've had to try and explain to her that that's not the case," she said.

Langley said her friend, Shelley James, bought her a Gold Circle ticket for the 2 May gig, part of Ne-Yo's and fellow platinum-selling artist Akon's Nights Like This tour, for her birthday, with access to an area close to the stage.

She said one of Ne-Yo's team invited her on stage after spotting her "shuffling" in the audience, along with two others for a dance-off style competition.

Langley said before the gig she was chatting with her friends about a previous show where a fan had fallen off stage after being invited to dance.

"All my mates were joking saying 'that'd be you', so I was like 'I'm getting on that stage' but I didn't expect or believe that it would happen," she said.

After she was invited on stage Langley said her competitive streak took over.

"I wasn't losing. Ne-Yo says 'there's no losers there's just one winner' but obviously it was three girls and then it was like the crowd picked the winner," she said.

After she was crowned the best dancer of the three audience members, Ne-Yo asked the audience to give it up for "my future ex-girlfriend".

"I didn't have a clue what I was doing up there. I couldn't see anybody. It was a blur," Langley said.

After dancing with Langley, the Miss Independent and So Sick hitmaker gave her a hug, spun her around and finished with a peck on the cheek.

"It was fantastic, I don't think I'm going to get another birthday like that to be fair," she added.

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Late theatre boss had 'unrelenting love for arts'

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1j2pl4pxwyo, 4 days ago

A late theatre boss had an "unrelenting love for the arts" and was a "believer in the power of storytelling", his colleagues have said.

John Hales, who led a campaign that resulted in the reopening of the Seagull Theatre, in Lowestoft, Suffolk, in 2009, died on Tuesday aged 56.

The writer, director and actor worked as the venue's manager until 2013, after which he continued to support and stage productions at the theatre.

In a statement shared on social media, the theatre described Hales' death as "very sad news" and said he would be "forever missed and never forgotten".

The theatre added Hales' legacy would not just be the shows he staged, but the "lives he shaped and the theatre and community he helped hold together".

"John Hales was so much more than a manager of the Seagull Theatre - he was the beating heart," it added.

"An actor, writer, director, and above all, a passionate friend and believer in the power of storytelling. He dedicated countless hours to keeping creativity alive in Lowestoft.

"Those who knew him will remember his warmth, kindness, thunderous laughter and the way he encouraged others to believe in themselves," it said.

Zeb Soanes, a BBC radio broadcaster, author and actor, from Lowestoft, said Hales showed him that "it was OK" for boys to pursue acting as a career.

"I saw his King Lear at least four times and one performance was one of the most thrilling and visceral theatrical experiences of my life," he said.

"When you were in a show with John, you joined him as a soldier rallying to the cause.

"He led us all into battle night after night. And, being an actor, he was a director who understood actors - the very best kind. Farewell Good King John."

The Marina Theatre in Lowestoft, which Hales also worked closely during his career, said he was a "force for good".

"Today our thoughts are with all who knew and loved John, including everyone at The Seagull Theatre," it said.

"He was a force for good who cared deeply about theatre and the people around him.

"We will treasure our Oliver and Norah's Ark days, and we will always remember just how extraordinarily talented John was. We are lucky to have known him."

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How families in different countries spend and plan their summer travel

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20260508-how-families-in-different-countries-spend-and-plan-their-summer-travel, today

Family summer travel can look different around the world. We spoke to six families to learn where they're going this year, what they're spending and how they made their plans.

As school holidays approach across the Northern Hemisphere, millions of families are preparing for what is often their biggest trip of the year.

But the summer holiday can look quite different depending on where you're from. It might mean camping within a tank of petrol, returning to a family summer house, visiting ancestral hometowns, escaping to the coast or using the long break to explore a new part of your own country.

Lots goes into the choices. Geography, budgets, paid leave and cultural norms all shape how families travel. And though outdoor activities and creating memories are often universal elements, this year, wider issues – from fuel costs and exchange rates to major events such as the 2026 Fifa World Cup – are also filtering into those decisions.

We spoke to six families in the UK, US, Mexico, Japan, Sweden and Italy about their summer holiday plans this year. Here's where they're heading, what they're spending – and why.

The US extended family escape

Who: Josh Colombo 47, Blanka Molnar 41, Olivia 3

From: Sugar Land, Texas, US

Where they're going: Budapest, Hungary, and Turkey

Trip length: Six weeks in Budapest and one week in Turkey

Budget: $6,000 (£4,446)

In the United States, paid time off varies widely by employer and length of service, but 11-15 days is the average, plus national holidays. However, holistic therapist Blanka Molnar is self-employed so she can travel more flexibly.

This year, Molnar and her daughter are spending seven weeks overseas, with her husband, Josh, joining when his time off from his role as a project manager allows. Their itinerary is split between staying with friends in Turkey and visiting Molnar's ancestral city in Hungary.

"Travelling in general is important to my husband and me," says Molnar. "That's how we met. My daughter is still very young so I try to spend as much time as possible with her. Looking back at our photos, I soak up all those precious moments."

The family travel budget of $6,000 for seven weeks of European travel has been carefully considered. Molnar explains that staying with family and friends keeps costs low, as transatlantic flights eat up much of the budget at $1,200 per person. "For our upcoming Turkey trip, the airplane ticket [cost] $200/person (from Hungary), and we will not pay for accommodation because my friend has a holiday home there. I'll probably buy food from the supermarket and cook."

She and her family enjoy blending outdoor adventures and cultural enrichment. While in Budapest, Molnar plans to reconnect with family, enjoy the thermal baths and visit the city's castles. In Antalya and Belen, they look forward to enjoying the beach.

"We prefer to be active even on vacations," says Molnar. "With a toddler, you cannot really rest and just chill by the pool all day."

The UK budget camping getaway

Who: Jason Menzies 37, Sarah Pennington 32, Leo 6

From: Rawtenstall, Lancashire

Where they're going: Barmouth, Wales

Trip length: Five-seven days

Budget: £250 ($341)

For Jason Menzies, Sarah Pennington and their son Leo, summer means getting into nature. This year, they'll be taking their caravan to Barmouth in North Wales, popular for its sandy beach, family-friendly campsites and proximity to Eryri Snowdonia National Park.

"We've never gone abroad as a family; it's just so prohibitively expensive," says Menzies. "Camping means we can explore more of the UK, and we can just go for a handful of nights. We try to keep within a radius of a full tank of diesel so the drive usually ends up being the most expensive thing."

Nostalgia played a strong role in their choice. "We chose Barmouth because it was somewhere Sarah went when she was young, and remembers it being beautiful," says Menzies. "The sea, the beach, ice cream and arcades – all the things Leo loves on a good afternoon out now."

The family had initially considered visiting Scotland but didn't think Leo and their dogs were up for the long drive. "Three hours is the limit!" He adds: "In the UK, typically, full-time work grants you 28 days off per year. Childcare during the school holidays also makes a dent, so we've really got to make them count."

The high cost of living further cements the decision to holiday close to home. Being able to simply throw gear in the car and go keeps costs down and allows for more frequent trips.

While saving money is key, Menzies and Pennington relish the chance to switch off on holiday. "We're both in jobs we enjoy but they take up a lot of energy, so to be able to ignore them for a while is a godsend." But creating memories is the ultimate reward: "I get such a buzz off when Leo is learning about things when we're exploring. When he goes back to school and some other kids might boast about going to Disneyland, he'll just be like 'yeah, but look at my cool shells and rocks'."

The Mexican beach holiday

Who: Paulina Gallegos 41, Benjamin Castillo 50, Max 16, Benjamin Jr 13, Santiago 10, Sara 8, José Andrés 8

From: Puebla and Tijuana, Mexico

Where they're going: Loreto, Baja California Sur, Mexico

Trip length: One week

Budget: $9,100 (£6,748)

After a softer period for domestic tourism in Mexico, the 2026 Fifa World Cup is giving fútbol-loving families a fresh reason to think locally this summer.

For Paulina Gallegos and her family, the plan blends the excitement of at least one match in Mexico and a return to their favourite beach holiday in Loreto, Baja California Sur where they have points with the luxury, all-inclusive optional resort, Villa del Palmar. "We set a travel budget that we adjust each year based on our priorities," says Gallegos. "We book in advance and look for ways to make our spending more efficient, whether through hotel programmes or choosing destinations that offer strong overall value."

Ultimately, the choice is about more than value: Loreto is famous for its beaches and biodiversity. The family is looking forward to spending time in the water, but having been to Loreto before, they plan to revisit other favourite activities like mini golf and a challenging hike the kids want to reconquer.

"We're also planning boat trips to explore nearby beaches," says Gallegos. "At the same time, I do hope to set aside a little time to relax – perhaps enjoy the spa. Overall our days tend to start early and stay active, with runs, hikes and time outdoors."

Most of all, Gallegos and her family choose Mexican destinations that allow them to create lasting memories.

"It's important to us that our children stay connected to their country – their roots, traditions, and food," says Gallegos. "We make time for simple moments together, like playing games, everything from dominoes and cards to the kids' current favourite, El Impostor. It's a nice mix of outdoor activities and quality family time."

The Japanese prefecture bucket list

Who: Kokoro Omura 28, Momiji Omura 28, Koto 7, Miko 3

From: Tokyo, Japan

Where they're going: Yamaguchi and Fukuoka Prefectures, Japan

Trip length: Two-three days

Budget: ¥300,000 (£1,404/ $1914)

In recent years, the weakened yen has prompted an increase in tourism to Japan. At the same time, it has made overseas holidays more expensive for many Japanese families.

Kokoro Omura and his young family are among those that have decided to travel domestically this summer. "Japan has many beautiful natural landscapes and historic sites and we enjoy visiting these kinds of places and active sightseeing," he says.

They are weighing a couple of options. In one plan, they would visit a distant prefecture [state]. "There are 47 prefectures in Japan, and my goal is for my daughter to visit all of them by the time she turns 20," explains Omura. "We wanted to go to a prefecture that we hadn't visited before… so we're [considering] heading to Yamaguchi and Fukuoka."

Located in western Japan, these prefectures are renowned for their wilderness and coastal landscapes, making them an ideal respite from the busy capital of Tokyo.

Summer travel in Japan can be challenging, though, with heat, humidity and peak-season crowds in popular destinations. August also brings Obon, when many Japanese families return to their hometowns to honour departed ancestors.

While travelling domestically saves the family money in the long run, Omura notes that their travel budget is higher than in past years: "This is because transportation and accommodation costs have risen as our children have grown up."

Although Japanese workers typically get between 10 and 20 days of paid holiday leave per year, Omura says his consulting work gives his family more freedom than most. "We have a lot of flexibility in our schedule and can easily coordinate, so we can make various plans," he says, adding that "an ideal summer vacation for us is where each family member can escape their daily routines and experience unique cultures and scenery".

The Swedish cabin retreat

Who: Jonas Nordlund 54, Eva-Maria Nordlund 51, Elsa 13, Ida 16

From: Stockholm, Sweden

Where they're going: Bohuslän, Sweden and Europe

Trip length: Four weeks

Budget: 100K SEK (£7,971/ $10,862)

Nothing says summer in Sweden like going to a stuga (summer house) in the countryside to reconnect with nature. Stugas are often inherited, and around 50% of Swedish residents have access to a friend's or family member's property.

The Nordlund family own a stuga in Bohuslän on Sweden's idyllic west coast, famed for its seafood and fishing villages. While there, one of their daughters will attend a horse riding camp, and the family will also meet friends, enjoy the water and go on day trips.

While most of their four-week summer holiday will be spent at the stuga, they're also planning a week elsewhere in Europe. "We're thinking of a road trip, possibly Benelux down to France," says Jonas Nordlund. "Maybe, if I can choose, we will [do a] road trip to Austria for some summer skiing at Hintertux, which we did some years ago and loved."

The decision to stay in Europe this year is deliberate, predominantly for cost and geopolitical reasons: "This year, some destinations (like the US) have lost their attractiveness. Given all things going on, we're being a little more careful about how we spend money."

While owning a stuga tempers accommodation costs, running a second house and other travel expenditures like excursions and high petrol prices soon add up. "When we choose a destination, someone in the family comes with a suggestion, then we discuss and decide," says Nordlund. "However, often there are budget limitations involved, so ultimately, the parents have final say."

By law, Swedish employees have at least five weeks of paid annual leave, excluding public holidays, so the family has ample time to visit both their stuga as well as new destinations.

The Italian grand tour

Who: Elena Ferrario 54, Francesco Baragiola Mordini 55, Tobia 19, Gemma 15, Scarlett (toy poodle) 5

From: Busto Arsizio, Palazzolo sull'Oglio, and Milan, Italy

Where they're going: Sardinia, Pistoia, Rome, Abruzzo, Lake Maggiore and Valle Vigezzo, Italy

Trip length: More than five weeks

Budget: Between €8,000-9,000 (£6,932-£7,799/ $9,446-$10,627)

With a husband who travels for work and a son who plays tennis at a high level, holidays are often the only chance for Elena Ferrario and her family to be together for longer than a few days.

Many Italians get four weeks of paid annual leave and August has traditionally been the country's great holiday month, with businesses slowing down and beaches filling up. The excitement (and prices) build to a frenzied crescendo that peaks on Ferragosto (15 August), a public holiday that signals the height of the summer season. But heatwaves, overtourism and rising costs are prompting some families to take their summer holidays earlier, or even wait until September.

"Every year we choose Sardinia in June because the island is less crowded, the weather isn't sweltering, and the sea temperature is pleasant," says Ferrario. "Then, we'll go to Pistoia [in Tuscany] to visit the Gori Collection at Fattoria Celle. Then, we go to Rome at least once a year. It's also a convenient stop on the way to Abruzzo, an extraordinary region we discovered last year. This destination was chosen by our daughter who stayed there last year and met a great group of friends she wants to see again."

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The rest of the family's summer will be spent closer to home. They have a summer house on Lake Maggiore, where their son Tobia will join them to compete in the Lesa Cup. "Our house becomes a hub for the tennis players," says Ferrario. "Finally, we'll spend a few days in the mountains in Valle Vigezzo, where my parents have a house. Sport is never missing: a run through the woods at sunset or on the beach at dawn is a must."

For Ferrario, domestic travel is partly practical. With elderly parents, she and her husband can't both be too far away at the same time. But that constraint has also changed the way the family sees Italy.

"We've discovered enchanting places without having to go to the other side of the world," says Ferrario. "It has taught us to appreciate our beautiful country even more."

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Here's what it's like to ride India's sleek new sleeper train

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20260506-heres-what-its-like-to-ride-indias-sleek-new-sleeper-train, yesterday

The first sleeper in India's semi-high-speed Vande Bharat fleet is drawing crowds, selfies and intense curiosity – but what is it actually like on board?

Lightning flashed above Kolkata's Howrah Junction station as rain lashed platform six. The waiting passengers barely seemed to notice, however, as they jostled and angled their phones to get selfies next to the sleek orange, black and grey nose of Indian Railways' newest object of fascination: the Vande Bharat Express sleeper train.

Launched in January 2026, this is the first sleeper in the Vande Bharat semi-high-speed fleet, a train series that has become a point of national pride since services began in 2019. Clips of the sleeper's first journeys quickly went viral – and when I visited Kolkata, three months later, the excitement had hardly dimmed, with the train's 823 berths still selling out weeks in advance.

A symbol of India

Vande Bharat means "Salute to India" in Sanskrit. Designed and built in India, the fleet has been promoted as a cleaner, more modern upgrade from the country's older long-distance stock, featuring aerodynamic noses, sliding automatic doors and comfortable interiors. The Times of India called the sleeper carriages "stunning" and "swanky" – words not usually associated with Indian long-distance trains – and Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged many of the Vande Bharat trains off in-person, stoking public intrigue and helping turn them into a symbol of Indian ambition.

The new sleeper service runs six times a week in each direction between Kolkata in West Bengal and Guwahati in Assam, a 14-hour trip (down from up to 18 hours on older trains). With India's average monthly wage around 21,000 rupees (£165), even the cheapest fare is beyond the reach of many. This means the sleeper train is largely aimed at business travellers, offering a more comfortable alternative to flying between two major commerce centres.

But the route also has wider appeal. Guwahati is home to the hilltop Kamakhya Temple, one of India's most important Hindu pilgrimage sites.

And for travellers, the train stops at New Jalpaiguri Junction, a gateway to Darjeeling's famous tea fields. From Guwahati, visitors can continue to Shillong, a waterfall-dotted hill station known as the "Scotland of the East", as well as Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, where jeep safaris offer the chance to see one-horned rhinos.

Enticed by the route – and by the chance to experience this much-hyped new era of Indian sleeper train travel – I decided to try it out.

Cleaner, faster, quieter

After boarding at Howrah Junction, I was relieved to find my berth looked as clean and orderly as the footage from the Prime Minister's inspection had suggested. I had a plug socket, a reading light, USB and USB-C charging points, plus clean sheets, a blanket and pillow. I happily walked around the carriage in socks: a move that would have felt grimily unthinkable on some older Indian sleeper trains I had ridden.

At 18:20 the train pulled out exactly on time. I shook hands with my closest bunk neighbour, a recently retired Indian Railways inspector in a smart purple shirt. He told me he was riding "just to get a new experience… this is the new train. Lots of new things are here". He tore open the brown paper holding his assigned bedsheets and photographed the North Frontier Railway logo woven into the sheet's floral pattern. Around us, passengers settled in quietly with the low hum of the train as a constant backdrop.

Indian sleeper trains have long inspired equal measures of affection and dread: symbols of adventurous slow travel but also of chaotic carriages and daunting washrooms. After the Vande Bharat sleeper launched, an Indian Railways staffer's post warning passengers to ride it only "if you have learnt your toilet manners" sparked debate; while a video showing rubbish strewn across a carriage caused widespread dismay online.

On my journey, the chrome toilets (both Western and squat-style) stayed shiny throughout, and staff seemed acutely aware of the online discussions. Soon after departure, a cleaner carrying a cordless vacuum wandered past my berth in search of the evening's first specks of dust. He introduced himself as Raju Nath, then invited me to tour his "favourite washroom". Smiling broadly, he gestured to the pristine, Western-style toilet and the neatly hanging shower curtain, then pressed a plastic dispenser that released a cloud of flowery scent.

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Nearby, another staff member in a face mask carefully poured cups of chai. With a top speed of 180km/h (112mph), Vande Bharat trains are trumpeted as examples of Indian innovation and ambition, but on board, pride seemed to lie just as much in these small acts of order and care.

"Nice and clean train," Nath said, pointing to the stitched logo on his neon-yellow waistcoat: a smiling janitor holding a broom and bucket.

It was also noticeably quieter and smoother than other Indian sleeper trains I had taken, without the loud clunks and jolts that had soundtracked my previous journeys.

The government has described the trains as a "new phase in India's premium passenger rail services", linking them to its broader ambition for India to officially become a developed nation by 2047. The goal is to have 800 Vande Bharat trainsets operational by 2030, rising to 4,500 by 2047.

Dinner and loud phones and a good night's sleep

My ticket included dinner delivered to my berth: pots of chicken curry, dal, rice, potato and broccoli, flatbread and a milk sweet. It was a knee-balanced version of Assamese thali, the multi-dish meal native to the train's destination; tasty, if lukewarm.

Sleep proved difficult when I first went horizontal, though not due to berth design. The real enemies were my carriage-mates' phones, which pinged well into the night. By 02:00, the text message cascade finally subsided, and I drifted off to the low, airplane-cabin-like burr of smooth new wheels on tracks. At 1.9m (6ft 2in) tall, I usually sleep on trains with my knees slightly bent, but here I could stretch out without worrying that my feet would be clipped by passing passengers.

By 06:30 I was sitting on a lower berth, chai in hand, watching concrete farmhouses with corrugated iron roofs, sodden rice paddies and the occasional lone cow slide past under an overcast sky. Our train arrived in Guwahati at 08:20, bang on time.

Before leaving the city in search of rhinos and misty hills, I met up with Guwahati-based vlogger Anushia Sharma, whose Instagram reel about her experience on the Vande Bharat sleeper train had helped fuel the hype.

"I really liked the train," Sharma said. "I could see people actually taking care of the things. Maybe because it was a little more expensive than the normal train… they were like, 'OK, we need to keep it clean'."

I liked the train too, partly because the smooth ride made sleep possible, but mostly for the same reasons: it felt carefully looked after. Its sleeper carriages aren't drastically different in layout to older Indian train designs, but cleanliness changes the experience.

After we discussed the rubbish-strewn carriage video that went viral, I asked Sharma if she was keen to ride the train again.

"Everything was neat [on my train], but I want to go and see exactly how it will be after six months," she said. "The government has done a great job in making this train and giving this service, but now it's up to the public, and how they maintain it."

I thought of Raju Nath and how I hoped that he'd still be proudly showing off his favourite carriage washroom in a few months' time. The real test may not be whether India can build a premium sleeper train, but whether it can keep one feeling new.

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What British people really mean when they say 'sorry'

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20260506-what-british-people-really-mean-when-they-say-sorry, 4 days ago

Sorry. Sorry to bother you. Sorry for the delay. Sorry about the weather. Sorry for all of the above.

In the UK, sorry is not simply an apology, it's a cultural reflex – a five-letter pressure valve used to soften requests, smooth over awkwardness, fill conversational gaps and avoid the national horror of seeming rude. It is perhaps no coincidence that such famously polite characters as Paddington and Mary Poppins are British.

Brits say the word on average nine times per day – more than 3,000 times a year. But for visitors, the puzzle is not how often they hear it, it is working out what sorry actually means. Because in Britain, sorry can mean regret. It can also mean excuse me, move over, I disagree, hurry up, you're blocking the aisle, I didn't hear you or I am trying very hard to not sound annoyed.

While these uses are not unique to the UK, the frequency, tone and the tiny social calculations often are. Britain is often known as a conflict-avoidant society, and sorry has become one of its most versatile tools – a way to manage space, soften disagreement, avoid confrontation and enforce rules without appearing openly impolite.

Essentially, sorry is a politeness code. This one word offers a fascinating glimpse into the many cultural quirks that make the Brits who they are – and for visitors, learning to decode it can be the difference between a friendly exchange and a baffling British misunderstanding.

1. "Sorry!" on the street

What it sounds like: An apology.

What it often means: You're in my way, I'm in your way, we have both briefly existed too physically near one another and must now neutralise the awkwardness immediately.

This is less about fault than the UK's deep discomfort with accidental intimacy: the horror of brushing a stranger's coat, blocking a pavement or occupying the same small patch of public space for a second too long.

Someone may say it when they bump into you, when you bump into them, or when neither of you has done anything wrong beyond brushing shoulders and misjudging pavement geometry. It can mean "excuse me", "after you", "please move" or "let's pretend this tiny collision never happened". The point is not blame, but social repair; a quick word that keeps things moving while sparing all involved the indignity of open confrontation.

2. "Sorry?"

What it sounds like: A request to repeat something.

What it often means: I didn't hear you – or I did, but I need a moment to process what you just said.

This beloved apology – with a subtle upward inflection at the end – is one of the English language's most useful conversational tools. It can mean "Pardon?" or "Please, can you repeat that?" or simply "I just need a second". Because "what" can sound startlingly blunt, "sorry?" becomes the softer, less confrontational alternative.

For visitors to the UK, it is handy in places like pubs and train stations with fast-moving conversations – and especially useful in areas with strong regional accents, like those from Liverpool, Newcastle and Glasgow.

Used with a cooler or more incredulous tone, however, it can shift to a distinctly British warning shot: I heard you, but I'm giving you the opportunity to rethink what you said.

3. "Sorry, can I just…"

What it sounds like: A polite request.

What it often means: I need to take up a tiny bit of space and I am apologising in advance for the inconvenience of my existence.

This is the apology of British self-minimisation. You'll hear it on trains, in cafes, at theatre seats, in hotel lobbies and anywhere someone needs to ask a perfectly reasonable question.

"Sorry, can I just squeeze past?" "Sorry, is anyone sitting here?" "Sorry, could I ask…?"

The speaker is not really sorry. They are softening the act of asking, entering, sitting, reaching or existing too visibly in public. In a more direct culture, "Is this seat free?" might do. In Britain, sorry often gets there first, as if occupying an empty chair requires a small act of contrition.

4. "Oh, sorry…"

What it sounds like: An actual apology.

What it often means: I'm objecting, but I'm going to make it sound like an apology.

This may sound like a sincere apology, but it usually isn't. In the UK, where directness can feel horribly awkward, a clipped "Oh, sorry…" is what you might hear when someone needs to reclaim their place without sounding openly confrontational. "Oh, sorry, I think I was next"; "Oh, sorry, that's my seat"; "Oh sorry, I was using that."

The apology gives the speaker cover; the pause after "oh" does the damage. It lets them object while remaining technically polite – a very British compromise between saying nothing and saying exactly what they think.

5. "Sorry, but…"

What it sounds like: A polite, throat-clearing interruption before a blunt contradiction.

What it often means: Try as I might to agree with you, I can't. I'm about to explain why you're wrong and I don't care what you think.

This is the pre-emptive apology: a small cushion placed before a disagreement lands. In a culture where open disagreement can feel socially abrasive, "sorry, but…" lets the speaker object while maintaining the appearance of civility.

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It allows the speaker to challenge, contradict or correct while signalling they're not trying to start a fight – even when they are absolutely about to. Depending on the tone, it can sound conciliatory, mildly exasperated or one step short of saying "Sorry, but I'm not sorry." For visitors, the trick is to listen to what comes after the "but". In Britain, that's usually where the real message begins.

6. "Sorry…" in a queue or pub

What it sounds like: An etiquette reminder

What it often means: I'm trying not to make this awkward, but this isn't fair; you've broken the rules.

The blood runs cold at the thought of queue-jumping in Britain. Here, the queue is sacred territory – like Westminster Abbey or Wimbledon – and a politely interjected "sorry…" acts as an etiquette reminder that everyone must adhere to the rules instead of hustling for territory. In this scenario, sorry is code for "get to the back", "don't push in", "keep your distance" or "queue jump if you dare".

In the pub, the same phrase can mean "just behind you", "I think I was next" or "please don't pretend you didn't see me waiting". It's a correction dressed up as courtesy – which is often the most British correction of all.

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Zambia is the world's walking safari capital

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20260427-zambia-is-the-worlds-walking-safari-capital, 6 days ago

As safari crowds grow across Africa, Zambia's walking safaris offer a quieter, more immersive way to experience wildlife.

Our guide, Thomas Mulonga, leads us single file through the mopane woodland of Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, near Victoria Falls, Zambia. I'm on high alert, scanning the bush for signs of life, half hoping, half fearing we will find something. Two armed wildlife scouts bracket our group, rifles slung across their shoulders.

We are tracking near-threatened southern white rhinoceros, though it's hard not to think about what else moves through this dry savannah: notoriously aggressive hippos, unpredictable Cape buffalo prone to ambush, elephants slipping through the trees, cantankerous baboons barking in the shadows. We've seen many of them before from the safety of a vehicle. But now we are on a walking safari – and on foot, the calculus is different.

Mulonga walks as if he belongs to the landscape, pausing often and listening more than speaking. He stops and points to a shallow indentation in the dust.

"Fresh," he mouths.

Then we see him. An imposing patriarch lies sprawled in the sun, massive and still, like a sleeping dog.

"It's Louis II," Mulonga says quietly.

We are close enough to see the craggy folds of the white rhino's dusty, crepey skin, etched with what resemble dry riverbeds meandering across his immense frame. There is no windshield on a walking safari, no engine for a quick getaway – only open bush and a few yards of earth between us.

A walking safari, I begin to understand, is not simply about seeing wildlife. It's about entering a world up close and on its own terms.

On foot, you're on your own

Wildlife tourism is booming globally, and premier African reserves like Kenya's Masai Mara and Serengeti National Park in Tanzania now grapple with convoys of vehicles jostling for predator sightings. Their fragile ecosystems are feeling the strain.

At the same time, conservationists and many safari operators are advocating for lower-impact models that prioritise higher-quality, immersive experiences. Zambia's deep-rooted practice of walking safaris – tracking wildlife on foot through the bush with expert guides presents a compelling alternative.

Moving slowly through their habitat is an exercise in respect and sustainability. On foot, the rhythm changes. There is no need to race from sighting to sighting. Time slows, and the smallest details come into focus.

"A walking safari is a completely different way of experiencing nature," Mulonga tells me. "You are not just seeing it. You are inside it."

That reawakened attentiveness is part of the appeal, says Gareth Jones, cofounder of Chikunto Safari Lodge & Camp in Zambia's South Luangwa National Park. "It's a sensory experience. You're smelling, listening, touching the ground, hearing your guide talk about the seasons, looking at spoor. You become fascinated by the small things – the ants, the geckos, the dung beetle rolling its little ball."

Sue Marullo, from Washington DC, recently experienced Mosi-oa-Tunya this way. "There was something about walking on the earth, walking in the same footsteps as the animals," she says. "There was a spiritual connection there. I've seen the great animals on safari in Kenya, but there was something more powerful about the connection in Zambia, being a guest in their home, as it were."

A radical movement

Zambia's modern walking-safari tradition is often traced to the 1950s, when pioneering British conservationist Norman Carr began guiding visitors on foot through what is now South Luangwa National Park – a radical act in an era when safari largely meant hunting trophies. His belief that wildlife was worth more alive than dead helped shift Zambian tourism toward observation and ecology.

The model later spread across Africa, with small groups, expert guides and low-volume camps. Yet, walking safaris remain a niche choice, with Jones estimating that only 2 to 3% of African wildlife travellers pick a primarily walking-based safari. Most first-time visitors still prefer traditional game drives, he says, which cover more ground and offer marquee sightings from the perceived safety of a vehicle.

Few places match Zambia's depth of guiding culture, which relies on expertise. Guides are often trained through rigorous certification systems that require years of bush knowledge, tracking skills, species identification and safety protocols. Many grow up near these landscapes, learning to read spoor and seasons long before formal exams begin.

That expertise is essential on a walking safari, where guests are fully immersed in the wild. They must follow guides and armed scouts at all times, walking in single file, staying close and remaining silent so guides can read animal behaviour and respond early, if needed.

As more travellers seek quieter, more authentic wildlife experiences, Zambia's long under-the-radar status may now be an advantage. "Our strength is our weakness," Jones says. "Walking safaris may never command the market share of high-volume game-driven destinations, but that restraint has preserved something increasingly rare. Zambia has never been about mass tourism."

Impressions more precious than photographs

Back in the bush, Louis II stirs.

After Mulonga assures me that we're at a safe distance, I breathe easier, pausing to take in everything else: the dry rustle of leaves, the sharp, turpentine scent of mopane. The sun-baked ground radiates heat through the soles of my shoes.

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Slowly, he pushes himself upright on short, stubby legs. Mulonga signals for us to step back slowly, waits a moment, then waves us forward. We follow, again in single file, watching the rhino – now joined by his friend Jackie – pause to nibble on a leafy shrub.

I remember something Mulonga told us earlier: the greatest threat to these animals is not the average visitor, but the people who come armed with very different intentions. I think of Louis II's father, whom I had the chance to see years earlier on a different walking safari, lost to poaching for his beautiful horn.

I realise then – the scouts' guns are not to protect us from the wild, but to protect the wild from those who come to harm them.

On foot, there is no barrier between human and animal. There is only presence – and understanding. In an age when travel often prizes speed, checklists and spectacle, Zambia offers another possibility: to move more slowly, notice more deeply and leave with something more lasting than photographs.

We stand a while longer, watching Louis II feed in the afternoon light, listening to the chirring of insects and the breeze through the mopane trees. To walk here is both a privilege – and a responsibility.

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Where Europe still delivers value this summer

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20260427-where-europe-still-feels-worth-it-this-summer, 12 days ago

From Latvia to the Balkan coast, these destinations offer the beauty, culture and atmosphere travellers want – without the price or crowds.

While Europe remains the default summer fantasy for many travellers, this year, getting there may feel less straightforward. Between overtourism, soaring airfares, the Iran war driving up fuel costs and the rollout of the EES system causing long queues and delays, the continent faces new headwinds for its busiest season. July flights from the US to Europe are already down more than 11% from the same period last year, including dramatic drops to the summer's most visited destinations like Paris, Dublin and Rome.

That does not mean travellers are giving up on Europe; instead, they are becoming more selective about what feels worth the money, the hassle and the crowds. According to Rome2Rio's 2026 Travel & Mobility Trends Report, traveller searches for smaller cities are up 35% globally. In March, the European Travel Commission also reported growing interest among long-haul travellers in going beyond the best-known capitals and seeing more local, less crowded experiences

"People still want the Italy or France feeling, but without the squeeze," said Bryce Collins, founder of INTRO Travel. "Croatia is a good example, especially if you step beyond Dubrovnik. Places like Korčula give you the same Venetian architecture and Adriatic coastline but slower pace and fewer crowds, so it feels familiar but not as hectic."

Classic Europe, without the classic costs

Beyond affordability, people are also looking for ease of movement and safety, especially as travel disruptions in the Middle East continue to put travellers on higher alert. "Rising costs and travel fatigue are steering Americans away from whirlwind, multi-stop trips and toward itineraries that minimise transit and maximise immersion," said Bryan Lewis, founder and CEO of Tenon Tours, which specialises in European travel. "They're choosing depth over distance."

This explains why many smaller European countries are looking newly attractive. Albania, Latvia and Lithuania still have average short-term rental prices below €100 (£87) a night, according to PriceLabs, which collects publicly available data from Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com. Food, museum tickets and tourist taxes also tend to be lower than Western Europe's summer heavyweights.

Slovenia might be this summer's best example of compact European charm. Its small size (it's roughly the same size as Wales) means most of its highlights are within just a few hours' drive, allowing travellers to fit in lake swims, wine tastings, city strolls and mountain views. Travel experts often compare its scenery to Switzerland and northern Italy, but without the costs and the crowds.

Savvy travellers have already caught on. Luxury operator Unforgettable Travel Company has seen a 286% year-on-year rise in bookings to Slovenia, especially among active travellers.

"Slovenia offers better value for accommodation, travel and expenses compared to more popular destinations; about 15% more affordable than Austria and 25% more affordable than Switzerland," said Charlotte Wells, the company's global director of product and operations. "For families, Slovenia is considered a safe and easily accessible destination, which means shorter travel times and more affordable prices."

It's also within easy reach of neighbouring countries. "Convenient bus and train travel to nearby metropolitan locations like Zagreb and Vienna make Slovenia accessible and affordable," said Monya Mandich, vice president of marketing at Rome2Rio. She notes that its capital Ljubljana can feel like Venice with its river-lined old town, and the alpine lake scenery of Bohinj and Soča Valley in the Julian Alps or Lake Bled are more peaceful alternatives to Lake Como.

A city break with substance

Where Slovenia is about packing in outdoor activities against Alpine backdrops, a Latvian city break offers culture, character and a cooler climate – in short, the draw of the Nordics without the price tag.

PriceLabs places Latvia's average August room night at €93 (£80; $109), compared with €186 (£160; $218) in Denmark. Cost-of-living data from Expatistan.com puts Riga, the country's capital, at 34% cheaper than Berlin, 50% cheaper than Oslo and 46% cheaper than Dublin.

But it's not just the lower prices; visitors often come back raving about Riga's scenery as well. "Walking through the old town feels like stepping into a fairy tale, but without the crowds you'd find in Prague or Bruges," said Goedele Mangelaars, founder of trip planning platform Pink Notebook, after she visited Riga during the summer. She was equally struck by the food. "The price-to-quality ratio is unbeatable compared to Western Europe but the calibre of restaurants rivals anything you'd find in Copenhagen or Stockholm."

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Riga's fascinating past – with layers of Hanseatic, Art Nouveau and Soviet history – also gives travellers much more than a pretty old town to admire. "I'd highly recommend taking a guided stroll through the old town with its vivid [mercantile] history from its time as a Hanseatic port, and witness the varied cultural influences that have shaped its architecture and identity," said Veronika Romane, owner of travel firm and blog Aim To Discover, who is based in the Latvian town of Garkalne.

Summer also brings one of the country's most distinctive cultural moments: Jāņi, Latvia's midsummer celebration in late June. "It's when the centuries-old pagan rituals take place, and nearly every Latvian gathers around a bonfire, celebrating the shortest night of the year with songs, rituals, fire and distinctly Latvian food," said Romane.

The uncrowded coastal escape

For beach travellers, some of Europe's best value this summer may lie along the Balkan coast. While overtourism has reshaped the Mediterranean holiday, this region still offers beautiful and less crowded stretches of shoreline.

"Across the Balkans, destinations like Albania and Montenegro stretch budgets further while still delivering the coastline, culture and food experiences sought after in European travel," said Collins.

The two countries share a land border, but each have their own distinct vibe. Montenegro has a more polished infrastructure, which may suit travellers who enjoy convenience as well as beautiful scenery. "In the Kotor region of Montenegro, the water there is the cleanest I've ever seen in my life, crystal clear in a way that makes the Greek islands look murky by comparison," said Mangelaars. "The food scene is exceptional, and while it's getting slightly more popular now, it still feels wonderfully hidden."

Albania is rougher around the edges, but often significantly cheaper than its Eastern European counterparts. Also, "unlike their Adriatic neighbours of Croatia and Montenegro, Albania has real sandy beaches", said David Mason, owner of Three Week Traveller. He also points to its well-preserved Roman ruins and hiking routes around Lake Shkoder. "You can enjoy multi-day horseback trails here, which give you a sense of the country's true wilderness."

The savings are substantial: a typical night in Albania, at €89 (£77; $104), comes in well below the cost of a room in Croatia at €212 (£184; $248); while Montenegro, at €127 (£110; $149), still undercuts many of the Adriatic's better-known hotspots.

For travellers who still want a Mediterranean summer – swims, seafood, old towns, long evenings outdoors – but are less willing to pay premium prices for crowded coastlines, both countries make a strong case.

While slightly less convenient than in the previous years, a European summer holiday in 2026 isn't out of reach, By expanding the map of options, travellers are finding new favourite alternatives to the classics, each offering a strong value for the money without sacrificing the hallmarks of a classic European holiday.

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WHO chief reassures Tenerife residents ahead of arrival of virus-hit cruise ship

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czr2vjmnlmpo, today

The director general of the World Health Organization (WHO) has sought to reassure residents of Tenerife that their risk of infection is low ahead of the arrival of a cruise ship on which an outbreak of hantavirus occurred.

Tedros Ghebreyesus stressed that "this is not another Covid" and that there were no symptomatic passengers currently aboard the MV Hondius, in a personal message to people on the Canary Island.

The MV Hondius is due to arrive in the port of Granadilla in the early hours of Sunday morning, sparking concern among locals.

Six cases have been confirmed among the ship's passengers, including in one of the three who died while the Dutch vessel was sailing from South America.

Spanish officials have sought to allay concerns about the ship's arrival, laying out in detail the containment precautions being taken.

Hantaviruses are usually carried by rodents, but human transmission of the Andes strain - which the WHO believes was contracted by some of the ship's passengers while in South America - is possible.

Symptoms can include fever, extreme fatigue, muscle aches, stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhoea and shortness of breath.

"I know you are worried," Ghebreyesus told Tenerife residents on Sunday.

"I know that when you hear the word 'outbreak' and watch a ship sail toward your shores, memories surface that none of us have fully put to rest. The pain of 2020 is still real, and I do not dismiss it for a single moment.

"But I need you to hear me clearly: this is not another Covid. The current public health risk from hantavirus remains low."

He added that there was currently a WHO expert, Dr Freddy Banza-Mutoka, aboard the MV Hondius.

Along with two Dutch physicians, he is conducting medical and exposure assessments of everyone on the vessel, the WHO said, and is currently reporting that no more passengers are showing symptoms of hantavirus.

Ghebreyesus has travelled to Tenerife to observe the forthcoming operation first-hand, the international agency said.

The ship is expected to drop anchor in the Canary Islands sometime between 04:00-06:00 GMT on Sunday, Spanish Health Minister Mónica García said on Saturday.

Its passengers will be held on the boat and will only be able to leave on smaller boats when there is a repatriation flight waiting for them on the tarmac, she told a news conference.

Flights are planned to take them back to the UK, the US, France, Germany, Belgium and Ireland, officials have said. The EU is sending a further two planes for the remaining European citizens.

The MV Hondius's arrival comes against the wishes of the region's president Fernando Clavijo, who questioned why the final phase of the response to the outbreak could not have taken place in Cape Verde, its previous stopping point.

It has led to local protests and attacks against the central government from the far-right party Vox.

Ghebreyesus thanked Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, calling the decision to receive the ship "an act of solidarity and moral duty".

"Tenerife has been chosen because it has the medical capacity, the infrastructure and the humanity to help them reach safety," he explained.

Spanish authorities have detailed the precautions being taken to prevent passengers coming in contact with the local population.

García said all passengers will wear FFP2 masks when disembarking, as will anyone who comes in contact with them during their transfer, such as bus drivers and logistical personnel.

Passengers will be disembarked according to their nationality and Spaniards are expected to be able to leave first, the health minister said.

"Those disembarking will only be allowed to take with them a small, sealed bag containing essential items such as their documentation, mobile phone, charger, basic necessities and personal belongings."

She added that the body of one of the passengers who died onboard would not be removed while the ship was in the Canary Islands.

The MV Hondius will then continue to the Netherlands, where the body and the person's belongings will be disinfected before being removed.

The first death occurred on 11 April and another on 2 May. A 69-year-old Dutch woman who left the ship in St Helena on 24 April travelled to South Africa, where she died two days later.

Two British men with confirmed cases are receiving treatment in the Netherlands and South Africa, while a third Briton is being treated for a suspected case on the remote Atlantic island of Tristan da Cunha, where the ship stopped in mid-April.

The exact cause of the outbreak is still unclear, as is whether other passengers or crew may have been infected.

Ghebreyesus has previously said the first two cases had "travelled through Argentina, Chile and Uruguay on a bird-watching trip which included visits to sites where the species of rat known to carry the virus was present".

Brits on virus-hit cruise ship to isolate at hospital

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2029r42w8wo, today

British passengers and staff aboard a cruise ship at the centre of a deadly hantavirus outbreak will be brought to a UK hospital to isolate.

Arrowe Park Hospital on the Wirral was notably used as the UK's quarantine site at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The MV Hondius is expected to dock in the Canary Islands this weekend, with the remaining 22 Britons on board due to fly home on a charter flight soon after.

Five cases of hantavirus have so far been confirmed, including one of the three passengers who have died during a cruise on the Dutch vessel.

Two British men with confirmed cases of the disease are receiving treatment in the Netherlands and South Africa, while a third Briton is being treated for a suspected case on the remote Atlantic island of Tristan da Cunha, where the ship stopped in mid-April.

A joint statement has been issued by NHS England North West, NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board, Merseyside Police, North West Ambulance Service and Wirral Council.

It read: "In line with advice from the UK Health Security Agency, on arrival they will be taken to a managed setting for clinical assessment and testing.

"We expect this initial stay to be up to 72 hours."

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.

US sending charter flight to bring Americans home from hantavirus cruise ship

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g4r8pm832o, today

The US is sending a charter aircraft to bring home some Americans from a cruise ship where a hantavirus outbreak killed three people and infected several others, authorities say.

Officials say at least six US states are monitoring for possible cases after several passengers from the Dutch vessel MV Hondius returned home from the voyage.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has classified the ⁠hantavirus outbreak as a "Level 3" emergency response, its lowest ⁠tier.

The luxury cruise, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, departed from Ushuaia, Argentina, on 1 April and is due to arrive in Spain's Canary Islands in the early hours of Sunday.

The CDC is sending staff to the Canary Islands to escort American passengers home on a charter flight, the agency said on Friday.

Another team of health experts will travel to Nebraska, where the passengers are expected to quarantine.

"The US government's top priority is the safe repatriation of American passengers," the CDC said in a statement.

The passengers will be evacuated on a US government medical repatriation flight to an air force base in Omaha, Nebraska, where they could then be taken to isolate at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

But in a briefing to US media on Saturday, CDC officials disputed that the patients would be kept in quarantine.

"We are not quarantining anybody," a CDC official told reporters, speaking on condition of anonymity, according to ABC News.

On the call, the official also said the group would not be tested, because "it is not recommended to test people that do not have symptoms", the network reported.

The officials also said the passengers would be monitored for 42 days, and that once they returned home, local health departments would monitor them "at least daily".

Acting CDC Director Jay Bhattacharya explained the process to Fox News on Saturday.

"What it'll be is self-isolation," he said. "None of these folks have any symptoms at all. We're going to have them isolate for about 42 days."

There are 17 Americans on board the cruise ship, according to its operator, Oceanwide Expeditions.

At least seven passengers from the same cruise ship have already returned to the US.

State health departments are monitoring them for possible infections: two in Georgia, two in Texas, one in Virginia, one in Arizona and an unspecified number in California.

Oceanwide Expeditions said six Americans and more than two dozen other passengers disembarked in St Helena, a British territory, on 24 April.

Officials have confirmed five of the eight suspected hantavirus cases linked to the outbreak.

New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill said on Friday that two state residents may have been exposed during a flight with a passenger infected with hantavirus after leaving the cruise.

When the outbreak began, the CDC said the risk to the wider American public remained low.

"The Department of State is leading a coordinated, whole-of-government response including direct contact with passengers, diplomatic coordination, and engagement with domestic and international health authorities," the CDC said.

The CDC did not respond to a BBC question about whether it had established a dedicated outbreak response team.

President Donald Trump said on Thursday the outbreak was "very much, we hope, under control", and that his administration would provide a "full report" on it on Friday.

Officials have not yet confirmed how the outbreak began, but hantavirus is typically spread by rodents. People can become infected by breathing in air contaminated with virus particles from rodent urine, droppings or saliva.

The World Health Organization says the current outbreak is unlikely to become a pandemic like Covid-19 because this strain of hantavirus spreads through "close, intimate contact".

But the WHO warned that more cases could emerge because the disease has an incubation period of up to six weeks.

Anger and resignation in Tenerife as hantavirus ship approaches

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5y0gkg038yo, yesterday

As the MV Hondius cruise ship approaches Tenerife, the people of the Spanish island await it with a mixture of uncertainty and, in some cases, anger.

The Spanish government has agreed with the World Health Organization (WHO) that the passengers of the vessel, which has seen an outbreak of the hantavirus, should be allowed to disembark there this weekend. It has travelled from Cape Verde, where three people were evacuated due to illness.

On Friday, some Tenerife dock workers gathered outside the Canary Islands' parliament building in the town of Santa Cruz, to voice concerns that the imminent arrival could pose a health risk for them.

They blew whistles, sounded vuvuzelas and brandished banners.

"We're unhappy at the idea of being allowed to work in a port without special safety measures or information when an infected boat is approaching," said Joana Batista, of a local port workers' union, who was taking part.

Some of her colleagues have threatened to block the arrival of the cruise ship if their demands are not met.

"If the boat is going to stop here, then it can do so, but with the necessary measures in place," she said. "Local people need to be told how this will affect them, how the passengers will be transported. We need reassurance above all."

Nearby, watching the protest, was nutritionist María de la Luz Sedeño, who agreed with much of what the demonstrators were demanding and could barely contain her fury.

"This is the last straw when it comes to everything the people of the Canary Islands have to put up with," she said - an apparent reference to the continuing arrival of thousands of undocumented migrants in boats from North and West Africa.

For some Canary islanders, hosting migrants is a source of pride - while for others, like Sedeño, it is a cause of frustration.

But they all seem to agree that migration makes their territory the focus of an international drama.

More than 3,000 people died in 2025 trying to reach the Canary Islands, often in makeshift dinghies, according to NGO Caminando Fronteras. Pope Leo is due to visit in June and meet migrants and organisations dedicated to helping them.

María de la Luz Sedeño cited the fact that the central government had disregarded staunch opposition to the cruise ship's arrival voiced by the president of the Canary Islands region, Fernando Clavijo.

"The people here are not being listened to."

The Socialist-led central government has responded to the accusations of high-handedness and lack of transparency by providing details of the boat's arrival this weekend.

It will not dock directly in Tenerife but will instead anchor out at sea and its passengers will be ferried to the vast industrial port of Granadilla, in the south-east of the island, well away from residential areas. Soon after their arrival they will be repatriated, or, in the case of the 14 Spaniards aboard, taken to Madrid to be quarantined.

The authorities insist there will be no contact between passengers and local residents who "will be absolutely and completely protected", according to Virginia Barcones, head of Spain's civil protection agency.

The government's efforts have won over at least some islanders.

"Now I'm a bit calmer because there's more information," says Marialaina Retina Fernández, a pensioner, who describes the local healthcare facilities as "the best there is". She appears resigned to the idea of briefly sharing her island with the boat's passengers.

"It's not ideal that they all end up coming here," she explains. "But if [the authorities] say they'll do everything possible to make sure nobody gets infected, let's hope that's how it is."

MV Hondius is arriving with the agreement of Madrid, but this has not prevented the far-right Vox party from trying to capitalise on the issue, drawing a comparison with the arrival of illegal migrants.

The WHO and the Spanish government have been at pains to play down epidemiological comparisons between the current situation and the Covid pandemic. However, for many Canary islanders, the cruise ship, with its multi-national passengers, is an unwanted reminder of the early days of Covid: a German tourist on the island of La Gomera was the first identified case in Spain, and its detection was soon followed by the confinement of around 1,000 guests and staff in a Tenerife hotel.

Retina Fernández puts a positive spin on the islands' habit of hitting the headlines due to international crises.

"We're used to all sorts of problems arriving here," she says. "You can see that we're good at managing these situations."

The tiny Tokyo shrine where people pray for concert tickets

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20260504-the-tokyo-shrine-where-people-pray-for-concert-tickets, 5 days ago

Hidden in the buzzing Nihonbashi district, this more-than-1,000-year-old shrine is believed to hold the power to let you see your favourite bands up close.

It's easy to feel overwhelmed in Tokyo's bustling Nihonbashi district. Suit-clad executives come and go from power lunches, well-heeled shoppers pack massive department stores and high-rise buildings nearly block out the sunlight from the ground below.

Just as I found myself mentally overloaded by the neighbourhood's crush of people, I stepped through a bright red torii gate and into a tiny, peaceful oasis called Fukutoku. I inhaled deeply and instantly felt calm.

While Tokyo is home to hundreds of similar Shinto shrines, I soon learned that this one draws devotees for a very specific reason. Instead of asking the kami, or Shinto gods, for good fortune or health, believers come here for a very specific wish: concert tickets.

From lotto tickets to J-Pop

Built in the 9th Century, Fukutoku Shrine is dedicated to Inari, a deity believed to bring abundant rice harvests and prosperity. In 1590, the prominent samurai Tokugawa Ieyasu visited the shrine and became so enamoured with it that he became a patron. With that patronage came perks.

"He had such an affinity for the shrine that he allowed it some special privileges, including hosting lotteries," said Beth Carter, assistant professor of Japanese at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. "It really became very, very popular."

The lotteries helped fund shrine improvement, while winners kept a share of the jackpot. Over time, Fukutoku's reputation as a place to seek luck grew. Inari had always brought bounty; now people came to ask the kami for winning lottery tickets, too. Over the next 400 years, Fukutoku remained a haven for those looking for fortune.

Fast-forward to the 1990s and a new musical movement added to the shrine's mystique. As J-Pop exploded, bands such as Glay, Speed and Morning Musume sold out venues across Japan and inspired a new form of super-fandom.

"Japanese idol culture became absolutely huge," said Krista Rogers, a reporter at the Tokyo-based news site SoraNews24. "There is a term called oshi. Your oshi is the band member that you support, the one that you idolise."

Dedicated fans purchase all sorts of merchandise to support their oshi, from T-shirts to decorated bags and buttons. But the one thing they may not be able to buy, however, is a ticket to see them perform.

That's because many major concerts in Japan use an online, multi-step lottery system. Fans enter for the chance to buy tickets, and can only purchase them in limited quantities if they are selected. The system is designed to make the process fairer, but some fans look for a bit of divine intervention to boost their odds. If praying at Fukutoku is believed to work for winning scratch-off lottery tickets, fans hope it might bring luck with concert tickets, too.

"We have a saying: 'Do everything you can and leave your fate up to luck'," said Cyber Bunny, a Tokyo-based guide and content creator. "Japanese people will do basically anything to increase their chances, even by 1%. They think [going to Fukutoku to pray for tickets] is better than not doing it. It's better than nothing!"

Praying at the altar

During the pandemic, concerts stopped but devotion to oshi did not. Ulli Nambo, a guide with Arigato Travel who points out the shrine during her food tours, remembers that when restrictions lifted and acts resumed touring, fans crammed into Fukutoku, eager to reunite with their favourite bands.

"You couldn't even see the praying area because there were so many people," she explained. "The street had to be closed because way too many people crowded in."

On the day I visited, Fukutoku buzzed with believers who bowed their heads in silent reverence. First, they purified their hands and mouths at the temizuya, or water fountain. Once cleansed, they bowed deeply twice before the main altar, clapped twice to summon the kami, offered silent prayers and bowed once more in gratitude.

Some then headed to a kiosk to purchase ema, small wooden cards costing approximately 500-1,000 yen (£3-4.70/$4-$6). They then jotted specific requests onto each ema before tying them to massive racks. A quick scan revealed dozens of pleas from hopeful concertgoers to see bands ranging from ZeroBaseOne to BTS, all praying to win the lottery in two to three weeks and receive the ultimate jackpot: the chance to see their oshi in person.

A higher power

Japan's indigenous Shinto religion has no strict dogma nor does it focus on absolutes. Present moment wonders are considered holy. But is it permissible to pray for something as temporal as concert tickets?

"There are a number of Japanese scholars who urge us to not look at these types of interactions as materialistic exchanges, but rather the religious ritual and the preparation of it," said Carter. "When you receive something that you desire, you get happiness, you get an internal calm and an internal peace of mind that then prepares you for a spiritual exchange that perhaps you were not ready for before."

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Taishi Kato, a 22nd-generation priest at the Hattori Tenjingu shrine in Osaka, agrees. If proper respect is paid to the kami, he says people are welcome to pray for what they wish – whether at his shrine, Fukutoku or elsewhere.

"We open the door to everybody," he stressed. "People can seek out the shrine they want, and if they sincerely offer prayer, then it's OK to ask for what brings them joy."

Listening to live music has often been called a religious experience. In Tokyo, it can also be well worth praying for, as Rogers found out. Once, when her oshi, Ayumi Hamasaki, came to town, Rogers entered the lottery without success. The next time Hamasaki announced a tour, Rogers didn't leave it up to chance – she went straight to Fukutoku.

"I prayed, and somehow I got the ticket," she recalled, with a laugh.

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Oswestry: The English town that belongs in Wales

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20260429-oswestry-the-english-town-that-belongs-in-wales, 9 days ago

In the border town of Oswestry, Welsh is heard in shops, on signs and in daily life – despite the town being firmly in England.

"You're the first person I've spoken English with today," Sian Vaughan Jones said, with sudden realisation as I stepped into Siop Cwlwm, a Welsh-themed shop in the Shropshire market town of Oswestry.

"You'll hear Welsh all over town," she added, as I browsed shelves lined with Welsh-language books, CDs, calendars and greetings cards. "There are some days when I don't speak any English at all."

A Welsh business staffed by Cymraeg (Welsh) speaking locals like Jones, should not be a curiosity in the United Kingdom, where more than 500,000 people speak the Celtic language. But this one is, because, as Jones proudly told me, Siop Cwlwm – which means the "Knot Shop" in Welsh and promotes Welsh language, culture and heritage – is one of the few Welsh shops in England. "Because Oswestry is right on the border," said Jones. "We're so connected to Wales."

"Connected" is a diplomatic description of Oswestry's relationship with Wales. Some might say it's on the "wrong" side of the border entirely. Look at a map, and you'll see the border between England and Wales lies no more than six miles away – to the north, south and west – enclosing Oswestry within a small wedge of "English" land protruding unnaturally into Wales. Tourist information signs across town say Croeso (Welcome); flyers advertise a Siop Siarad (a Welsh language get-together); and the local football team, The New Saints, is the most successful club in the Cymru Premier, the Welsh national league.

"When you look at a map, the border goes around Oswestry," said local curator Mark Hignett, whom I met later at Oswestry Town Museum. "One story I've heard says the cartographer had a hiccup. Another, that it was drawn to punish Oswestry by placing the town in England," he half-joked. "In reality, it was likely drawn where it is because Offa's Dyke is to our west."

Hignett explained how the Cornovii – a Celtic tribe who spoke a Brythonic language, from which modern Welsh descends – once dominated this part of Britain. It's thought they constructed Old Oswestry Hill Fort around 800 BCE, and a short walk from town, its Iron Age ramparts still rise above the countryside.

After the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th Century CE, however, Anglo-Saxon invaders, who spoke dialects of Old English, began displacing native Brythonic speakers. Around the 7th Century, a defensive boundary known as Wat's Dyke was formed to Oswestry's east, dividing the Anglo-Saxons from their Celtic counterparts. In the 8th Century, an Anglo-Saxon king named Offa built another dyke, a vast earthwork of ditches and parapets, to the west of Oswestry. Stretching for some 80 miles, Offa's Dyke still marks much of the modern border between England and Wales.

To the Welsh, Oswestry became part of "The Lost Lands" – places where Cymraeg was once spoken. Yet being so close to this ancient boundary also left the town in the midst of a hazy and often bloody borderland. "We were either trading with the Welsh, or we were fighting the Welsh," said Hignett, summarising Oswestry's medieval history.

Next to Oswestry's Town Hall lie the ruins of an 11th-Century Norman castle, from which English kings attacked Welsh princes who refused to bend the knee. In 1216, however, England's King John burned Oswestry to the ground as punishment for siding with the Welsh. Six miles west, on the Welsh side of the border, are the remains of Sycharth Castle, the ancestral home of Welsh national hero Owain Glyndŵr. In 1400, Glyndŵr led the last great Welsh rebellion against the English, and in 1404 convened the last Welsh Parliament until the modern Senedd Cymru opened in 1999. During the rebellion, Glyndŵr also burned Oswestry to the ground – this time, presumably, for siding with the English.

Throughout this medieval violence, Oswestry constantly changed hands. Yet it also endured as a trading hub, where bilingualism thrived out of necessity. Oswestry's Town Markets – held on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays – trace their origins to 1262 and continue to attract people from both sides of the border.

"Oswestry is recognised unofficially as the capital of Mid Wales," said Rob Williams, chairman of Cambrian Heritage Railways, when I met him at the town's restored station. "Historically, the natural flow of people from Wales was to markets here. All the roads lead to Oswestry."

The Cambrian Railway, a 230-mile-long Victorian-era network, also led to Oswestry. The vast majority of its lines, however, ran through Mid Wales, connecting the town to the Welsh coast at Aberystwyth. Williams described it as a "Welsh Railway", even though it was headquartered in Oswestry.

Like many of Britain's railways, the Cambrian fell victim to the Beeching cuts in the 1960s. In 2022, Cambrian Heritage Railways reopened a 1.7-mile (2.7 km) stretch from Oswestry Station to Weston Wharf as a tourist attraction. The aim is to eventually extend the line towards Llanymynech, where the English-Welsh border runs down the high street. Williams hopes the heritage railway can become a gateway to Oswestry's other tourist attractions, including Old Oswestry Hill Fort, the town's markets and the long-distance Offa's Dyke Path and Wat's Dyke Way, both of which weave through town.

"We've always had this Jekyll and Hyde relationship with Wales," Williams added, highlighting the town's ambiguous identity.

Somewhat unusually, the Ordnance Survey marks both the town's English name, Oswestry, and its Welsh one, Croesowallt, on its maps. A street called Welsh Walls runs alongside Maes Chwarae Bryn Hafod (Maes Chwarae means "recreation ground" in Welsh); while another street named English Walls runs onto Salop Street, Salop being an old Anglo-Saxon name for Shropshire.

English and Welsh have co-existed here for centuries, and for Lowri Roberts, Siop Cwlwm's founder, that dual identity is the town's strength.

"From my perspective, I would say Oswestry is a Welsh town in England," she told me back in the shop. "I'm a Welsh Oswestrian. I speak Welsh here. I live a Welsh life. Look at what makes a Welsh town, be that a Welsh shop or a Welsh chapel, and we have it all here. But ask an English Oswestrian, and they'll say something different."

While Jones, the shop's assistant, grew up speaking Welsh in North Wales, Roberts grew up speaking it as her first language here in Oswestry. She described the number of Welsh speakers as "ebbing and flowing" over the centuries – not just in Oswestry, but in Wales itself, where the language was marginalised for centuries after Henry VIII's Acts of Union in 1536 forcibly annexed Wales to England and established the modern border.

The language is now experiencing a resurgence, with the Welsh government aiming for one million speakers by 2050. Because Oswestry is in England, however, Roberts said no one knows exactly how many Welsh speakers live here, since official census figures count speakers in Wales but not in border towns like this one.

"We're not a diaspora here. We're an overspill," she said, explaining that because Oswestry lies on the "wrong" side of the border, local Welsh-language initiatives cannot always access Welsh government funding. "The line on the map doesn't reflect the culture. People don't stick to borders. We don't want to be defined by a border Henry VIII drew five centuries ago."

When Roberts founded Siop Cwlwm with her late mother in 2010, she knew she was filling a gap in the market. Anecdotally, she believes the number of Welsh speakers in Oswestry is growing. Indeed, I first met Roberts in 2022 when I started researching a book about the United Kingdom's borders. Back then, Siop Cwlwm occupied a smaller space on the second floor of Oswestry's indoor market.

With business booming, it has since moved to a prominent high-street location, where they hold a Welsh-language Siop Siarad twice a month. Oswestry Library also hosts conversational Welsh groups and language-learning courses, and in April 2026, Siop Cwlwm organised Gwŷl Oswallt, the town's first Welsh-language book festival.

More like this:

• The British town with a third 'nationality'

• Europe's strange border anomaly

• Offa's Dyke: Britain's unmarked 'no-man's land'

Roberts, who has spent her whole life in a border town, knows Welshness can thrive peacefully alongside Englishness, and she's pleased to see the language, culture and heritage spilling over the border.

"The Welsh language is older than English," she said proudly. "We never want to force it upon people, but it's a language everyone on our island can share."

"Welcome to Oswestry and the Borderlands" reads a sign I'd spotted earlier outside the red-brick train station. While Oswestry's Welsh identity is strengthening, it's not so much a Welsh town on the wrong side of the border, but a place in between. Oswestry is a border town at heart, a town where you can choose to be English or Welsh, or something else entirely.

* Richard Collett is the author of Along the Borders: In Search of What Divides and Unites the British Isles.

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One of the world's most remote nations opens up

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20260429-one-of-the-worlds-most-remote-nations-opens-up, 10 days ago

Bhutan has long limited how the world visits. Now, a new airport and ambitious city could reshape travel to the Himalayan kingdom.

On a warm morning earlier this year, the King of Bhutan, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, stood in a sun-lit clearing hacked from the jungle in the southern lowland town of Gelephu near the Indian border. Alongside 12,000 volunteers, he cut palm trees and raked brush to help clear the way for a new airport that is poised to change how travellers visit this far-flung kingdom.

Slated to open in 2029, the Gelephu International Airport has already nabbed the Future Project of the Year award at the 2025 World Architecture Festival. Its latticed timber terminal is carved from Bhutanese wood, designed to naturally regulate humidity and evoke the mountain landscapes it sits beneath. There will be spaces for gong baths, yoga and meditation. But with a planned capacity of 123 flights a day, its real goal is to serve as a gateway to the ambitious new Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) that is poised to transform the nation, and make one of the world's hardest-to-reach destinations far more accessible to international travellers.

An elusive, exclusive kingdom

Tucked into the mountainous folds of the tallest mountain range on Earth, the world's last Buddhist kingdom spent much of its history as something of a hermit nation. It largely closed itself off from the outside world for centuries and only began allowing tourists to enter in 1974 when it adopted a "High Value, Low Volume" policy to protect its cultural heritage and shield it from overtourism.

Until the pandemic, most international visitors were required to book through a licensed Bhutanese tour operator and pay a Minimum Daily Package Rate of US$200-250 (£148-185) per day, which bundled accommodation, meals, a guide, internal transport and the country's sustainable development fee. Since 2022, the all-inclusive tariff has been replaced by a $100 (£74) Sustainable Development Fee, charged per adult per night, with travel costs arranged separately. Despite the new airport, Bhutan is determined to maintain its unique model of high-value controlled tourism.

As a result, Bhutan has historically felt like something of an elusive, exclusive destination – and reaching it has been part of its mystique.

Paro, in western Bhutan, has been Bhutan's lone international airport, but because it's served by just two airlines (Drukair and Bhutan Airlines) and usually welcomes about eight flights a day, travellers from North America and Europe typically spend multiple days in transit with layovers in places like Bangkok, Kathmandu and Delhi to reach it. Fares aren't cheap – round-trip flights from connecting hubs can cost upwards of £890 ($1,200) – and arriving in Paro offers its own drama.

Located at 2,243m altitude with 5,500m mountains rippling around it, Paro is considered one of the most challenging airports in the world. Because it sits in a narrow, winding mountainous valley and landing and takeoff require multiple sharp turns, pilots must navigate its tricky approach entirely by sight with no radar or computer assistance. In fact, fewer than 50 pilots are qualified to land there, and the airport welcomed just 88,546 visitors in 2025.

Most tourists who touch down in Paro follow a well-worn itinerary to Thimphu, Punakha Valley, Phobjikha Valley and Bumthang – each crowned with five-star luxury properties. Those flying in rarely venture to Bhutan's biodiverse southern fringes. The new airport will open up the country's wilder, lesser visited south to a new wave of travellers and spiritual seekers, and also serve GMC, a special administrative region that King Wangchuck hopes will eventually house 1,000,000 Bhutanese and foreign residents by 2060. Gelephu is also set to get a 69km rail connection to Assam, India that will help form the country's first-ever railway.

A new way to see Bhutan

The idea to build a major travel and economic hub in Gelephu was conceived by King Wangchuck more than a decade ago, but Covid was the catalyst. During the pandemic, the nation essentially shut down until September 2022, tanking its tourism industry and exacerbating a youth exodus that was already underway. By developing an independent city within the kingdom that blends business-friendly incentives for international companies while prioritising sustainability and spirituality, the nation that famously measures Gross National Happiness is hoping that GMC won't just create jobs and lure investors; it will also draw travellers beyond the familiar western circuit into its lesser-visited south.

"GMC will create a lot of job and investment opportunities," Dr Lotay Tshering, who served as Bhutan's prime minister during the pandemic and is now GMC's Governor, told BBC Travel. "[But] we must have flights coming in… we must have passengers." When it's completed, the new airport is expected to become the country's primary aviation hub.

"We envision [Gelephu] as a stopover [for international visitors]," added Tshering Dolkar, the region's tourism director. "Instead of flying through Hong Kong or Bangkok, travellers will opt to fly through Gelephu and spend some days on a jungle safari or in meditation."

Wildlife, hiking trails and homestays

The Bhutan that visitors will see in Gelephu is a far cry from the monastery-crowned cliffsides or prayer flags flapping in the wind that the kingdom is famous for. It's lush, fragrant and subtropical – think: cardamom and orange groves, and farmland threaded with rivers and palms and hot springs that have drawn Bhutanese for generations.

Two national parks flank Gelephu, including the country's first, Royal Manas National Park, where travellers will soon come face to face with elephants, tigers, rhinos, clouded leopards, golden langurs and more than 360 species of birds. Among them is the critically endangered white-bellied Heron, half of whose entire world population resides in Bhutan.

"Southern Bhutan, where mountains give way to jungle, is a hidden sanctuary for the natural world," said Matthew DeSantis, founder of the luxury travel outfitter MyBhutan, based in Thimphu. "The south has become a haven for endangered species. [It's] one of the wildest places on our planet."

Like so much in Bhutan, the nation is developing Gelephu's tourism infrastructure with spirituality in mind. Buddhist masters are being invited to submit proposals for retreat centres and temples to be built in GMC. Meanwhile, Bhutan's Central Monastic Body has proposed a dzong (a monastic and administrative fortress) with guest accommodations and spaces for dance and sacred Buddhist study.

Officials are hoping the new airport will lure hikers too. The newly announced 168km Lotus-Born Trail (opening in 2028) near Gelephu connects Bhutan's subtropical south to its spiritual heartland. Beginning in the lowland forests where golden langurs and one-horned rhinos live, the eight-day journey climbs nearly 3,500m through rhododendron forests to alpine ridgelines in central Bhutan, and follows the footsteps of Guru Rinpoche, who brought Buddhism to Bhutan.

Elsewhere, instead of the high-altitude mountain treks often associated with Bhutan, there is rafting, birding experiences and a newly opened tiger trail within Royal Manas National Park. Instead of luxury lodges, there are homestays and eco-camps. And in 2024, Bhutan's first high-end fly fishing lodge also opened in Manas.

More like this:

• Bhutan's long-secluded 'hidden paradise'

• Hunting the blue Yeti of Bhutan

• Bhutan's 350-year-old recipe for wellbeing

According to Dolkar, a revitalisation of Gelephu's Old Town is also underway, with a planned culinary project inspired by southern Bhutan's diverse cultures. Here, she says travellers can expect thali platters and dal from the southern-dwelling Lhotshampa people, alongside fiery dishes like ema datshi (the country's iconic chilli-and-cheese stew). Nearby, art-filled streets will feature Bhutanese murals by artist collective VAST, while a Heritage Village will highlight the country's 13 traditional arts and crafts, from basket weaving to thangka painting.

Southern Bhutan was not always easy terrain for outsiders, or even for Bhutanese settlement. Malaria, monsoons, wild elephants and tigers kept the country's residents concentrated in its middle belt of valleys and highlands. When the British attempted to control the area in the 1860s, they were repelled by a five-month battle against the Bhutanese known as the Duar War that ended their ambitions. As a result, the south stayed wild.

"There aren't too many raw jungles left in the world," said Tshering. "[This area is home to] raw jungle with natural [untamed] tigers. That is the jewel we have."

Back in Gelephu, construction on the nation's new airport and King Wangchuck's futuristic new city is carrying on. When it's finally unveiled, it won't just transform how the world experiences Bhutan, but Bhutan itself.

"We have an opportunity to try new things," King Wangchuck told BBC Travel. "[I hope this] work will generate merit for generations to come."

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Springfield: The beloved birthplace of Route 66

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20260428-springfield-the-beloved-birthplace-of-route-66, 11 days ago

Chicago and Santa Monica might be Route 66's iconic endpoints, but Springfield is where the legendary name was born.

There's little in this unassuming corner in downtown Springfield, Missouri, to suggest that it's where one of the US's greatest road stories began. There's no grand monument or notable sign. In fact, you need to look carefully to spot the modest plaque marking the site of the long-demolished Colonial Hotel, where, in 1926, a group of highway officials convened in order to name the brand-new Chicago-to-Los Angeles highway.

A century on, the resulting two-digit moniker has become synonymous with American road culture.

The number fight that created a legend

To understand why Springfield matters, you have to go back to the creation of the US Numbered Highway System in the mid-1920s. Federal and state officials were trying to replace a confusing patchwork of named auto trails – routes with grand titles like the Lincoln Highway and the National Old Trails Road – with a standardised national network. The proposed Chicago-to-LA road, which would run through Springfield, was important: it would connect the Midwest to the Southwest and California, linking big cities, farming regions and small-town main streets across the country. Crucially, the new route would be marked with a number, not a name; part of a broader push to make cross-country driving easier to follow.

The trouble was the number. Cyrus Avery, the Oklahoma highway commissioner and one of the route's chief backers, originally wanted the road to be called US 60, a zero-ending designation that would have marked it as a major east-west highway. But Kentucky interests wanted that number for a different route that would run from coastal Virginia west to Springfield. As a consolation prize, the Chicago-to-Los Angeles route was offered US 62. Avery hated it as the number lacked the status of a transcontinental route.

With the numbering dispute holding up the wider federal plan, Avery met on 30 April 1926 with Missouri highway official B H Piepmeier and others at Springfield's Colonial Hotel. Looking over the remaining options, the group settled on 66, an unassigned number they found more memorable and appealing than 62.

A telegram was quickly sent from Springfield to the Bureau of Public Roads in Washington DC. It read: "Regarding Chicago Los Angeles Road if California, Arizona, New Mexico and Illinois will accept sixty-six instead of sixty we are inclined to agree to this change. We prefer sixty-six to sixty-two."

The designation was approved on 11 November 1926 as part of the national highway map, and a legend was born.

100 years of the Mother Road

Once Route 66 was officially designated, Springfield began to profit from the steady stream of motorists heading west or returning east, and the city's roadside culture blossomed.

The highway would go on to carry very different meanings in American life. In John Steinbeck's 1939 novel The Grapes of Wrath, it was memorably dubbed the "Mother Road", carrying Dust Bowl migrants west in search of work in California. In the post-war years, Bobby Troup's 1946 song (Get Your Kicks on) Route 66 captured a newfound optimism, recasting the road as a symbol of leisure, freedom and roadside Americana.

Springfield's original hope that the road would bring cash-splashing travellers paid off, with bumper-to-bumper traffic lining the route and a string of mom-and-pop petrol stations, diners and motor courts rising to serve people on the move.

"Route 66 brought a parade of all these cars through Springfield," says 83-year-old Springfield native Guy Mace, whose Route 66 Car Museum on West College Street features classic vehicles dating from 1907 to 1980.

The centenary spotlight

During its official lifetime, Route 66 was re-routed, dissected and extended, and eventually bypassed by newer, faster interstates. Tracing the original road today can often require some sleuthing. But not so in Springfield, where substantial stretches remain clearly marked and in daily use – offering one of the clearest glimpses of how the road once moved through town.

"It's pretty much untouched here," says Mace, though he adds that it took the city to realise the road still had economic value. "Finally, in the last 10 to 15 years they took notice," he said.

The US National Route 66 Centennial Commission has designated Springfield as the host city for the national celebration kick-off on 30 April 2026, marking 100 years since the pivotal telegram was sent. The full day of festivities will include a concert, car show, parade and the Artsfest Telegraph Ball, a nod to that 1926 missive.

What it's like to drive Route 66 in an EV

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20260424-what-its-like-to-drive-route-66-in-an-ev, 14 days ago

As Route 66 turns 100, a growing charger network is making the Mother Road drivable by EV. But does the classic American road trip still feel the same without petrol?

On a rainy Chicago morning, my friends and I stared down one of the world's most mythologised roads: Route 66. We were about to join the legions of dreamers who've driven this 2,500-mile ribbon of highway – a vehicular timeline stretching from the Ford Model T to the Honda Civic. But unlike our petrol-guzzling predecessors, we would tackle the Mother Road in an electric car.

When the highway opened in 1926, such a journey would have been unthinkable. But over the past decade, Route 66 has welcomed a string of EV charge points along the route that now, just in time for its 100th birthday, reach all the way to its endpoint of Santa Monica.

We calculated that travelling by e-car would save between 150 and 180g of CO2 per kilometre, and the soaring cost of petrol made our decision a no-brainer. But how would an electric journey compare to the traditional experience?

We'd soon find out. My friend pressed his e-car's start button, and we were off to take our place in Route 66 history.

The first miles of an American myth

Since I was visiting from London we had just three days to sample a route that generally takes weeks. We would cover roughly 300 miles from Chicago through Illinois to St Louis, following the opening stretch of the old highway, eating at roadside diners, soaking up the centennial buzz and chasing freedom – all while trying not to run out of battery.

It wasn't a route marker that announced our arrival in the city of Wilmington. It was the first roadside icon of our trip: the Gemini Giant, an 8.5m-tall fibreglass astronaut in a green jumpsuit, holding a silver rocket in both hands.

First erected in 1965 outside the Launching Pad restaurant, he is one of Route 66's famous "muffler men" – giant figures once used to lure motorists off the road and into diners, garages and gift shops. Sparkling from a recent restoration, he now stands at Wilmington's South Island Park as a reminder of the US's role in the Space Race, when Route 66 served as the country's "Cosmic Highway". Could those cosmonauts ever have imagined that one day travellers would travel the highway in cars that plugged into a socket, I wondered?

While previous generations travelled with the constant fear of running out of petrol along the way, our car's electric battery has the capacity to carry us up to 300 miles on a single charge. Drivers of petrol cars will readily find petrol stations, so an electric-powered journey requires forethought, and can result in a slower pace. But this allows you to pick up on little details – throughout our trip, we found ourselves veering off our carefully mapped route to follow a sign to a quirky café, or pause in front of a kitsch road sign.

After stopping at Nelly's drive-through café for deep-fried corndogs and root beer, we headed towards the town of Dwight, home to Ambler's Texaco Petrol Station. Like other Depression-era filling stations along the route, it no longer sells petrol and functions as a volunteer-run museum. Its vintage pumps and cottage-style exterior make it an iconic stop. We parked our plug-in vehicle in front and took photos – an old petrol shrine framed by a car that needed none.

But after nearly two hours on the road, we were already down to less than half battery.

The closest charge station was just a few minutes away, at Casey's General Store. When we pulled in, we immediately saw that we weren't the only electric vehicle in town: all seven superchargers were in use, with several cars waiting their turn.

"Oh, [chargers are] everywhere around here," said a local driver. "There are four more just six blocks away inside the park."

Filling your car with petrol is generally a speedy transaction, but charging an electric vehicle at a roadside stop can take anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour. This gave us plenty of time to chat with locals. One told us the story of a family whose car had broken down close by. They'd waited for hours until a farmer stopped to help. The next day, the farmer got delivery of a brand-new TV. The note attached read: "Thank you for fixing my car. Nat King Cole."

"The Nat King Cole?" I gasped.

"The very same."

I would hear a variation of this tale at almost every stop we made – along with warnings about not getting stuck out on the lonely, sprawling road that was once nicknamed "Bloody 66" due to its sharp curves and poorly lit rural areas. After all, for us there would be no friendly saviour. Only a specialist can fix an electric car.

100 years of legends

Since its decommissioning in 1985, Route 66 is no longer one continuous road. Some parts have been lost to urbanisation while others have been rerouted to multi-lane interstates.

At one point, we left modern tract and followed the hefty historical portion that cuts through Illinois, spanning the towns of Joliet and Pontiac, referred to as the Pontiac Trail. Turning onto a protected vintage section near Odell, I was reminded of country lanes in Britain, so narrow that two modern vehicles would struggle to pass each other.

All along the way we were treated to magical moments of Americana, from the statues of Marilyn Monroe and James Dean outside the Polk-A-Dot drive-in, or the VW campervan of Route 66 artistic legend Bob Waldmire parked in Pontiac, the end of the Pontiac Trail and our first overnight stop. When we rolled in, the town was busily preparing for its centennial celebrations, kicking off on 30 April and running throughout the year. Workers were putting up new neon signs in the Centennial Plaza, while visitors posed in front of its painted Route 66 shield – the country's largest.

On the final morning of our trip, we headed to Edwardsville, Illinois, planning to visit the Litchfield Museum & Route 66 Welcome Center along the way. But here we met our first EV hurdle – our car's screen showed several petrol stations but no EV charging points for almost 60 miles (97km) in between.

So far, searching for EV charging locations had been simple, even fun. On our second day, we found ourselves on a detour that led to joining an entire town for an outdoor concert.

This was the first time we felt uncertain since leaving Chicago.

The PlugShare phone app showed a charge point at a Walmart Supercentre – 20 miles (32km) out of our way. With dwindling battery power, the warnings we'd heard came flooding back to us. Those stories ended with helpful strangers bringing petrol in a can. Our anxiety was high as we made the detour to Walmart – and made it just in time.

The obstacles are different on an electric road trip – running too low on battery power, not being able to complete the journey in time. But just like our plucky, petrol-powered predecessors, we powered through. Literally.

'It's the rainforest of the sea': These 1960s photos reveal Jamaica's lost underwater paradise

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20260506-the-1960s-photos-capturing-jamaicas-lost-paradise, today

A trove of snapshots from a 1960s diving expedition reveals stunning glimpses of Jamaica's vibrant ecosystems of the past. This is transforming our vision of what coral reefs can be.

In 1966, marine scientist Eileen Graham dived into the waters along the northern coast of Jamaica to study the lush, vibrant coral reefs. Over the course of two years and long before digital cameras, she gathered a collection of over 1,000 images from Discovery Bay, Runaway Bay and Rio Bueno that capture reefs dense with coral, bright with sea fans and sponges, and alive with shoals of snappers and grouper fish.

Today, that archive of stunning photos has taken on a new significance, scientists say: after decades of declining Jamaican coral reefs, it is reminding the world what a healthy habitat looks like. Graham's images, once a snapshot of an underwater world bursting with life, have become evidence of change and loss. But the photos can also help us know what to aim for, when trying to protect and restore the reefs.

"There's a huge diversity of coral in Eileen's photos. You really see how lush these ecosystems were back then. It really feels like the rainforest of the sea," says Jelani Williams, a Jamaican marine scientist at the University of Southern California.

Once considered one of the most biodiverse regions in Jamaica, the island's reefs have suffered a series of disasters. They were devastated by Hurricane Allen in 1980, and also battered by invasive species, pollution, tourism and warmer waters due to climate change. Ever more powerful storms continue to wreak havoc on corals. And there has been a decline in mangrove forests in the Caribbean, which protect and nurture reefs.

Through old photos like Graham's, "we can learn what a thriving reef looked like before it began to be destroyed," William says.

In 2019, Ken Johnson, a principal researcher at the Natural History Museum in London, came across Graham's photos, which were donated by scientists from the Discovery Bay Marine Lab in Jamaica. Johnson was astounded by their beauty, but noticed how drastically the marine life had changed, even since his own diving days in the Caribbean back in the 1980s.

"The sea floor at Discovery Bay used to be covered in live corals at around 80-90%. Nowadays the coral cover is much lower at around 10-20%," he says.

To show the noticeable decline and support conservation efforts, Johnson began amassing a trove of photos from other diving scientists in other locations who took pictures in the pre-digital age. These old photos may help modern generations avoid what's known as the "shifting baseline" syndrome, according to Johnson: as a habitat becomes depleted, we may shift our idea of what this habitat is supposed to look like, and then no longer even realise what has been lost. Once we see the devastated habitat as a new normal, we may then feel less urgency to try and restore it.

Photos like Graham's can however fight that normalisation, Johnson says, by showing us the actual "baseline": the original, lush state of the habitat.

For example, Graham's 1960s images show an abundance of branching and wide-plate coral covering most of the sea floor, as well as shoals of snappers, groupers and parrotfish weaving through the reef. This abundance is no longer visible today.

Saving Jamaica's reefs - and beaches

The impact of the declining reefs can be seen on land, too. "When you're on vacation and enjoying the gorgeous white sands that Jamaica is known for – many are not aware that our white sand comes from coral reefs from many decades ago," says Camilo Trench, a marine biologist at the University of the West Indies in Jamaica. Research suggests that this white sand is under threat and the decline of the reefs contributes to beach erosion in the Caribbean, while healthy reefs can protect beaches.

The range of threats to the reefs is complex and interlinked, and includes a sea-urchin die-off in the 1980s. Diadema antillarum, a black, long-spined sea urchin, protects the coral reefs by grazing on and thereby controlling the growth of algae. In 1983, an unknown pathogen, possibly introduced by ballast water from ships, caused a mass sea-urchin die-off, and a decline in the reefs. That threat remains: in 2022, there was another sea urchin die-off.

Due to rising mass tourism on the island, fish such as snappers and groupers that also graze on algae are being caught in larger quantities as food for tourists, studies suggest. The algae then overgrow and compete with the corals for space and sunlight, ultimately smothering them.

Last year, another disaster struck: Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 hurricane, brought catastrophic damage to Jamaica with intense flooding and widespread devastation to people's homes. 185-mph (295km/h) winds engulfed the shores of North and Western Jamaica, tearing roofs off homes and shattering fruit trees. It was the most powerful storm ever to hit the island. Hurricanes have been found to contribute to the decline in coral reefs in the Caribbean as they churn up the sea and break off the corals.

"I had no idea what a Category 5 hurricane looked like or what kind of devastation it would have. Jamaicans are still recovering from the effects of Hurricane Melissa, including the emotional trauma," says Williams.

The full impact of the disaster on the island's people, and its ecosystems, may only become clear with time.

Trench is on a mission to protect Jamaica's reefs through initiatives such as the Jamaica Mangroves Plus Project, which aims to preserve and restore mangrove habitats across the island. Many of the marine species that can be seen in Graham's photos would have spent their early life stages in mangrove nurseries, which play a crucial role in supporting healthy reefs. Mangroves are also important carbon sinks, storing more carbon per hectare than forests on land.

"Mangroves give me the most hope. They are tough and climate resilient," says Trench.

Williams suggests that protecting Jamaica's reefs also means understanding and preserving the microbes that help keep corals healthy. He warns that climate breakdown has created a "new normal" across Jamaica and the Caribbean, saying real resilience will require more holistic and innovative approaches than those used in the past. "You can't really have conservation efforts without understanding what the baseline microbial communities are, and also trying to preserve those things," says Williams.

More like this:

• The undersea mountains where sharks rule

• The secret of the world's richest underwater habitat

• The whale graveyards that transform the deep sea

Trench and Williams both argue that protecting Jamaica's reefs will require stronger government action, from tougher environmental laws to rethinking shipping routes, hotel development and research funding. Without more drastic intervention, Trench warns that rising heat and pollution will drive further species loss, though he says a climate‑resilient future is still hopeful. "It's not impossible for Jamaica to make a turnaround to build climate resilience. It's just going to take some very hard decisions," he says.

Looking back at Graham's images from the 1960s offers a rare glimpse into a different Jamaica, one rich with marine habitat complexity and beautiful reefs, before threats from climate crisis to overtourism. Scientists are predicting that 80%-90% of the world's coral reef will die off by 2050, making archives such as Graham's, which reveal lost ecosystems, more important than ever, says Johnson.

But he stresses that "we can't only keep referring to changes that happened 50 years ago".

"We need to respond to ongoing ecological changes. Some coral reefs are responding differently to climate change and perhaps some are more resilient," he says.

"What we're now seeing today in Jamaica and the Caribbean is not normal," he adds. "More collections like Eileen's need to be documented and curated before they're all lost."

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How tiny 'backpacks' and sniffer dogs could save hedgehogs from extinction

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c775rz4ey66o, today

Hedgehog "backpacks" and a specially trained detection dog could be the key to protecting the tiny mammal as its population continues to fall across Europe.

A recently launched tracking project sees a small GPS device attached to a hedgehog's spine – resembling a backpack – as researchers try to piece together their movements.

As part of the process the first hedgehog detection dog for Ireland has been specially trained to help track them down.

The common western European hedgehog has been listed as Near Threatened by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

The project, led by Ulster Wildlife, sees a small device, reminiscent of a "tiny little backpack" temporarily fitted onto a hedgehog.

Only male hedgehogs are chosen to avoid disturbing nesting females.

The trackers allow the charity to map exactly where the hedgehogs travel each night, including how many gardens they pass through, the roads they navigate, where they locate food and where they rest.

Ulster Wildlife said recent research emerging from across the UK and Ireland suggested hedgehogs were retreating to towns and cities and that urban gardens may be their last refuge.

However, almost nothing is known about how hedgehogs navigate urban environments and what obstacles they face.

Ulster Wildlife's Katy Bell said the GPS does not impact the hedgehog as "they can still roll up into a ball".

Russell the hedgehog sniffer dog

The hedgehog detection dog is being trained by Conservation Detection Dogs NI and will track down the tags if they fall off and help locate hedgehogs more efficiently.

This is Patrice Kerrigan and her two-year-old cocker spaniel Russell's department.

She has two dogs that are fully trained to find bat and bird carcasses around wind farms and wind turbines.

But Russell has been promoted to dealing with hedgehogs.

"There are two parts where Russell is going to help," she said.

"His first is to track hedgehogs that aren't coming to feeders because we want to see what they are doing and what their movements are because, at the moment, Ulster Wildlife are catching the hedgehogs that are coming to feeders that are artificially set up - that's the only data they are getting."

His second task is to help with the hedgehogs that are being tagged.

"But those tags can stop omitting their sound and that's when tags and the hedgehogs kind of get lost," said Kerrigan.

"That's where Russell comes in to help with those as well."

Hedgehogs are a 'gardener's friend'

Katy Bell said the hedgehog population had "declined by millions" since the 1950s.

As a senior conservation officer with Ulster Wildlife she said "a lack of good habitat and food would be the main reasons" for that decline.

Bell also said the tracking project would provide Northern Irish specific data on hedgehogs' movements.

"It's really exciting, we are hoping all of this data will inform conservation action for hedgehogs going forward," she said.

Describing the animal as "the gardener's friend" Bell said the health of the population was vital as they "come into your garden and eat slugs," but also that "they're just lovely to see".

Hedgehog highways

Maureen Carvill is a gardening officer with Ulster Wildlife.

She said there were many changes we could make to our gardens to "let hedgehogs in and make things more suitable for wildlife".

The data from the project will help inform people how they can change their gardens to make modifications such as "hedgehog highways" and building log piles which will attract insects and mini-beasts to feed hedgehogs.

A hedgehog highway is a space that allows them to move through various gardens with ease.

"One garden doesn't provide a mate and all its food," said Carvill.

"So it needs these highways to travel across the countryside".

"Hedgehogs can travel up to 3km (1.9 miles) a night and their home range can be anything up to 20 hectares. So they are not always in your garden, they are in someone else's garden."

Carville said strimmers, electric lawnmowers, slug pellets, cars, cattle-grids and ponds were among the many man-made actions that contribute to hedgehog decline.

Putting out shallow dishes of water, log piles, plant pollinator friendly plants were some of the steps we at home can make to facilitate hedgehogs.

"People go into garden centres and they don't really know what to buy," she said.

"If you look for anything that has the RHS logo on it, with a little bee, that means it's pollinator friendly and will start to bring in the butterflies and the moths which will bring in all the insects and there's your food chain for the hedgehog," she added.

The race against time to find eagles escaped from Dollywood

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c7597yxey3go, yesterday

They chased him all day Sunday throughout the mountains of Tennessee, a team of cops and executives and avian specialists all racing to bring a bald eagle named Rockland back home safe and sound.

First he was spotted at a local hotel. Next a caller reported him perched on a car across town. Each time, team members rushed to the site, but "the advantage those little stinkers have, that we don't, is they can take off," wryly notes one who watched him soar away - twice.

Rockland first vanished two weeks ago, along with winged compatriots Wesley and Caesar, when a storm sent a century-old tree through their netted enclosure in Dollywood, the theme park in Tennessee's Smoky Mountains that Dolly Parton co-owns. The attraction in the singer's hometown houses the largest sanctuary for non-releasable bald eagles in the world, since partnering with the American Eagle Foundation (AEF) 35 years ago.

"Bald eagles have symbolised our country's freedom and heritage for more than 220 years," the singer said in 2003, when she was honoured for her work in eagle conservation by the federal government.

Although the sanctuary has released 185 bald eagles into the wild over the years, all three of these escaped eagles have limited flight ability, and there is real fear for their safety if they remain at large.

So the sanctuary has sounded the alarm, asking for people to report sightings, and identifying the trio's distinctive leg bands – orange for Caesar and Rockland and black for Wesley, the lone female escapee.

And the tips have come pouring in.

"We've gotten calls from Indiana. We've gotten multiple calls from Virginia. We've gotten calls from Georgia," says Lori Moore, CEO of the American Eagle Foundation.

The most helpful calls, however, have come from the Smoky Mountains themselves, where the eagles have remained - and where one tip led to the successful recovery of Caesar last weekend.

He was spotted in a local pasture, where an avian care specialist Moore calls "the bird whisperer" arrived to "play a little game of tag" with the eagle, she says. Eventually,

"Caesar got tired enough," Moore recalls, to allow himself to be captured.

The chase continued the following day for Rockland, without the same success. The foundation's chief operating officer jumped in her car when a call came in with a sighting, hoping the rainy day would keep him more stationary. But Rockland remains on the lam.

"He's out misbehaving, and he's trying to get food that he shouldn't be having," says Moore as the search continues for both Rockland and Wesley.

"Any time that we get a truly viable lead - that we know that that's one of our birds - the excitement level gets really, really high," she says. "The adrenaline starts flowing, because we know, hey, maybe we've got a chance to get our bird."

Not only are the eagles' flight abilities limited – Wesley has a chronic shoulder injury, and Rockland has a displaced wing - but they're also "way too comfortable around people" to make it in the wild, Moore says.

Rockland, in particular, would "be a lot smarter if he would just come back and let us take care of him, because I don't know how long he will last out there," says long-time foundation member and chair James Rogers, 76.

"It just makes you want to cry because you're afraid he's going to, you know, tangle with something that he shouldn't and get hurt, and you just can't stand the thoughts of that," he says.

Amidst the "chaotic" effort to bring the birds back, Moore says, the foundation still chooses to see a silver lining.

"This has been such a great opportunity for the general public... to get their eyes in the sky and look around," she says. "We've had so many people call and say, 'I think I saw your eagle,' and it's in an area that we know they're not in right now.

"But they get super excited because they say, 'Are you serious? You mean I saw a wild eagle?'" Moore says. "I mean, I literally had a guy whose voice was cracking, and he said, 'I've never seen an eagle before.'"

Before Dollywood partnered with the AEF, 35 years ago, it's highly unlikely those sightings would have happened. Bald eagles were still on the endangered list, their population decimated largely by the insecticide DDT, which caused severe eggshell thinning.

It was an entertainer in the Dollywood park who first helped alert Parton to the eagles' plights.

Musician James Rogers, now AEF chairman, began his lifelong love affair with eagles after spotting one on a Florida fishing trip at a time when such sightings were rare.

"I made a kind of silent promise, on that day to that eagle, that I was going to see what I could do to ever try to keep that bird from becoming extinct, so that my children and grandchildren - which I didn't even have at the time, any children at all - would be able to see eagles," he says.

He wrote the 1973 song "Fly, Eagle, Fly," released on Capitol Records, and soon became involved with other eagle advocates. They eventually approached the park's business team to "see if we couldn't make an arrangement with Dollywood and create a very special place" for the majestic birds.

"We didn't envision it being as grand as it actually turned out," he says. "In the beginning, I knew that we had maybe 20 or so eagles around the country that needed a home, needed a better setup, needed better conditions … but then, my gosh, the scope," he says.

Dollywood - and the musical icon at the helm of it - fully embraced the opportunity to showcase, house and rehabilitate the birds.

"I don't think it ever would have happened if she had not been for it," says Rogers, who's repeatedly shared the stage with Parton over the years. "I think she thought it was a beautiful idea, because it was something that was just like Americana.

"Just like we say, the eagle is not a Republican or Democrat."

When the Eagle Mountain Sanctuary at Dollywood opened in 1991, the species was still endangered, and the facility soon began breeding and hatching. They'd bring eggs from nests in Alaska, Rogers says, and feed the hatched birds with eagle puppets to ready them for the wild before their eventual release.

The releases, 185 of them since the sanctuary opened, were "tearful, joyful type things," he says.

"I'm very proud of that," he says. "Those were birds that would never have been out there … then they breed, those wild ones; they'll meet other eagles."

Rogers witnessed some of Dolly's first interactions with the birds, when she was "amazed" - and "kept her vision fixed on the eagles".

The same year the sanctuary debuted, she penned Eagle When She Flies, which also became the title of her 31st album.

At the time, with the eagle populations were so depleted, such releases truly made a difference, says Michael Patrick Ward, professor of wildlife biology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The bald eagle was taken off the endangered species list in 2007.

"Bald eagles live a long time … decades," he says. "For a bald eagle that might live and reproduce another 15, 20 years, it does make a big difference."

Conservationists' efforts to save bald eagles, he says, is "a big success story that we probably don't do a good job of highlighting".

He credits a combination of cleaning up the environment and waterways over decades of dedication.

"It takes time for things like the Clean Water Act and laws to reduce the use of certain pesticides to have a population level effect," he says. "But we're seeing that now, and people notice that …it's good that people are noticing that these birds are returning to the landscape."

Nowadays, the sanctuary houses, cares for and exhibits the birds. It's committed to education and awareness, showcasing Dollywood's famed Wings of America show daily for the park's 3 million annual visitors.

Many of those guests are now keeping their eyes peeled for Wesley and Rockland. And as the sanctuary, Dollywood and wider Smoky Mountains community stay on high alert, Moore reflects on how the singer's support for the birds has been instrumental for more than three decades.

"What she brings to the table by being associated with the American Eagle Foundation and letting us have the Wings of America show and letting individuals get to be up close and personal with bald eagles, I think that impact is immeasurable," she says.

Echoing Rogers, she notes just how much the bald eagle means to citizens - and what the search itself can signify.

"In a time that our country is a little bit divided, having something - even if it's just looking for our national symbol - to unite us all, you can tell people are doing it from the heart," she says. "They are genuinely concerned, as we are. So that part of it has been incredibly heartwarming for us."

Surviving in a poisoned land: Chernobyl's wildlife is different, but not in the ways you might think

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20260424-chernobyl-wildlife-forty-years-on, 14 days ago

It's 40 years since the Chernobyl disaster. This is what it has meant for wildlife living around the devastated nuclear power plant.

"Pa-pa-pa-pa-pa!" In the middle of the night, a noise from the darkness in the abandoned, irradiated landscape of Chernobyl. Pablo Burraco, a scientist, stepped quietly between the trees, not far from the ruins of the power plant at the centre of the world's worst nuclear disaster. In the aftermath of the catastrophic reactor explosion in 1986, the surrounding area was evacuated for many miles, so few people trod where Burraco now did.

With only his head torch illuminating the ground before him, Burraco closed in on the source of the night-time racket – a tiny male tree frog, urgently calling for its mate. A swoop of his hand and he had plucked the 5cm-long (two inch) amphibian from its perch on a small tree.

It was 2016. Burraco, an evolutionary biologist at Doñana Biological Station, a public research institute belonging to the Spanish National Research Council, was making his first field trip to this troubled part of the world.

Peering at the creature now safely confined within the curl of his fingers, Burraco immediately noticed the frog was slightly dark in colour, unlike other frogs of the same species that lived further away. "It was super exciting," he says, recalling the moment. This frog raised a question that many have asked ever since the explosion at Chernobyl: had radiation from the stricken power station changed the creatures living near it? That's what Burraco wanted to find out.

Four decades have now past since Chernobyl's reactor number four exploded on 26 April 1986, sending radioactive material far and wide. Winds eventually carried radioactive dust as far as the UK, Norway and even parts of North Africa. But the landscape immediately surrounding the power plant in northern Ukraine received the heaviest dose. Intense radioactive hotspots still persist today.

Many feared the effect of such radioactive contamination would be devastating for the animals and plants living nearby. Almost all the humans in the surrounding area immediately left. These creatures could not. During the 40 years since the disaster, it has become clear that many species are living quite happily within the 37-mile-wide (60km) exclusion zone set up around the ruined power plant. But that's not to say nature hasn't changed here – sometimes for the worse.

For years, researchers have documented weird, twisted trees, swallows troubled by tumours and even an eerie black fungus that lives inside the radioactive ruins of the reactor building itself. Some creatures might have adapted to better cope with the contamination – but this idea is notoriously difficult to prove and still hotly debated. Recently, researchers have highlighted other reasons why some animals may have flourished in this injured landscape.

Genetic mutations

Burraco and his colleagues have visited Chernobyl and the surrounding areas many times over the years, sampling more than 250 tree frogs in total. In 2022, they published data indicating that frogs inside the exclusion zone were, on average, darker than those outside the zone. They focused on locations where radiation levels were particularly high immediately after the accident in 1986.

Their hypothesis, which Burraco emphasises remains a hypothesis, is that the dark colour of some frogs – attributed to higher levels of melanin in their bodies – might somehow act as a protective barrier, reducing the effects of radiation, and that darker frogs fared better in the aftermath of the nuclear disaster. But there's no hard proof of this yet.

One researcher, biologist Timothy Mousseau at the University of South Carolina, is critical of the tree frogs study. He says the sampling of frogs was not comprehensive enough to show a distinction between those inside and outside the exclusion zone, arguing that the occurrence of melanisation does not correlate with current levels of radioactivity around the Chernobyl disaster site.

Burraco pushes back against these points. The frogs, he notes, were sampled from a variety of areas with differing radiological exposures that are otherwise similar in terms of habitat, for example. He also notes that radiation levels have changed since the time of the accident.

Another scientist, radiobiologist Carmel Mothersill, professor emeritus at McMaster University, says the 2022 paper is "sound" in terms of its methodology and she points out that the authors are cautious in how they interpret the data.

In truth, this is a classic example of the kind of disagreement that has bubbled away for years among scientific investigators of Chernobyl's wildlife. First there is the question of responses – how do you know that some unusual feature documented in an organism is caused specifically by exposure to radiation and not, say, other contaminants in the landscape such as heavy metals, which are also known to pollute the area?

Similar debates surround reports about genetic patterns in the genomes of feral dogs living around Chernobyl, for example. There's no hard evidence that this was caused by their exposure to radiation. Studies have also shown that bank voles living in contaminated sites around Chernobyl carry higher levels of genetic diversity in their mitochondria – the tiny energy generators inside their cells – compared to those in non-contaminated areas. These differences might be attributable to mutations caused by exposure to radiation but other factors could also be at work.

A changed landscape

Mothersill points out that many pine trees, which are especially sensitive to radiation, died after exposure to fallout. Birch trees took over in some locations, she says, creating a completely different kind of forest: "It's teeming with trees and wildlife but it's not the same as it was before the accident." Animals living there will naturally respond differently to that changed environment and this alone, rather than radiation per se, could explain differences in those animals.

One key change that may have had an important effect on wildlife near Chernobyl is the sudden withdrawal of humans.

In areas once frequented by people, wolves, bears and bison now roam. Populations of deer, wild boar and elk have flourished. The number of wolves has even been estimated to be seven times higher in the exclusion zone compared to surrounding nature reserves, perhaps thanks to the abundant prey. Species including the Eurasian lynx have also returned to the area after vanishing long before the accident.

Brown bears, in particular, had not been sighted in this part of the world for more than 100 years until a camera trap caught one inside the exclusion zone in 2014. And, famously, groups of dogs apparently descended from pets abandoned after the 1986 disaster, are also plentiful in this area. Guards paid to prevent people illegally entering the exclusion zone are known to take care of these wandering canines. (Read more about the guards caring for Chernobyl's abandoned dogs.)

Adapting to survive?

Leaving the other factors aside, is it possible that plants and animals near Chernobyl have actually evolved to cope with radiation? This is one of the most controversial claims of all. Some of the unusual characteristics of these organisms could be described as true adaptations in the evolutionary sense – that is, things they have inherited and give them an edge in their environment.

There are some hints that this has happened. A 2012 study, for example, found evidence that soybeans grown in the Chernobyl area had adapted to better cope with both radioactivity and heavy metal stress. Those bank voles inhabiting Chernobyl have also been found to have greater resistance to DNA damage.

Mousseau says that the black fungus growing within the stricken reactor building, where radiation levels remain very high, seems to be benefitting from that darker colour. "That's significant, that's positive evidence supporting the hypothesis that melanin provides some level of resistance to the effects of ionising radiation," he says.

There's still no answer to the question about whether darker frogs evolved their colour as an adaptation to protect them from radiation.

But various studies have suggested that some fungi become darker as an adaptive response to radiation. Experiments carried out on the International Space Station, for example, have shown fungi do this. But Mousseau adds that, in his opinion, there is zero evidence to support the idea suggested by some researchers that the fungus has evolved to harness the energy emitted by radiation to help it grow.

For Mothersill, it's important to tease out whether mutations that emerged in plants and animals immediately after the accident have been passed down to successive generations of those organisms, even while radiation levels have fallen in the environment over time. Transgenerational mutations, if you like.

There is a hint of this in those bank voles again. Research from 2006 found that aberrations in the animals' chromosomes persisted over successive generations even when voles were taken away from Chernobyl and allowed to reproduce in a contamination-free laboratory.

Certainly, not all species are thriving. Recent research has found that the combination of radioactive contamination and rising temperatures from climate change are together placing growing strain on barn swallows living around Chernobyl, which may make it harder for them to survive as global warming continues.

The influence of the Chernobyl disaster is far from confined to the creatures living in the immediate vicinity of the power plant. Take the edible mushrooms in Poland, blueberries sold in the US, or firewood burned in Greece that all contain very small amounts of radionuclides dispersed by the nuclear disaster that happened decades ago.

More like this:

• The true toll of the Chernobyl disaster

• Chernobyl's mysterious black fungus

• How plants reclaimed Chernobyl's poisoned land

The story of how Chernobyl has affected wildlife is complicated, argues Jonathon Turnbull, a geographer at Durham University. You can't just say nature in the exclusion zone is thriving or dying, he says: "There's the spectacular story of 'Chernobyl changed everything' – that doesn't go very deep."

Rather, there exists a menagerie of subtle effects and responses. An entire ecosystem that experienced a terrible disaster but kept living and growing. It's no surprise, says Turnbull, that so many questions still litter this landscape 40 years on.

* This article has been updated on 27 April 2026 to remove the words "heat generated by" radioactive contamination in the study about barn swallows as the exact mechanism is not fully understood.

For more science, technology, environment and health stories from the BBC, follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Cherry Kearton: The eccentric influence on a young Sir David Attenborough

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20260507-cherry-kearton-the-eccentric-influence-on-a-young-sir-david-attenborough, yesterday

As a child, Sir David Attenborough was transfixed by the work of Cherry Kearton, a photographer and filmmaker who almost single-handedly changed the way we view the natural world.

In the late 19th Century, photography was a laborious process suited more to indoor portraits than the great outdoors.

The highest-quality cameras shot on glass plates and were cumbersome constructions made of hardwood and brass. The plates needed plenty of time to expose an image – hence the studied gazes of subjects in Victorian studios, standing stiffly in front of the camera's lens.

It was only towards the turn of the century that cameras became small enough to be truly portable. In a leafy corner of Surrey in England, two brothers out on a walk used one to take pictures of a bird's nest. It turned out to be the first-ever photo of a bird's nest with eggs in it.

In doing so, one of them – Cherry Kearton, the younger – not only became probably the world's first professional wildlife photographer, but helped inspire a young boy who would later become the most famous naturalist of the television age – Sir David Attenborough.

"Kearton's films captured my childish imagination," Sir David said ahead of the radio series Attenborough's Life Stories in 2009. "It made me dream of travelling to far-off places to film wild animals."

In 2012, Sir David even travelled to Bradford to the National Science and Media Museum to view the cinema camera Kearton designed himself and which he used to shoot his 1935 documentary The Big Game of Life.

British bird life

Richard and Cherry Kearton grew up on a Yorkshire farm in the late 1800s. John Bevis, who wrote a biography of the brothers called The Keartons: Inventing Nature Photography, says they "were from a very working-class family who were mostly miners; Richard was the elder brother by about nine years".

Richard had been invited to a job in publishing in London, and eventually his younger brother Cherry joined him.

"They were out together with friends in Elstree, about 1892, and Cherry was always very interested in the latest innovations, and cheap cameras, pocket cameras, were just becoming available, and he'd brought along a camera. Richard was more knowledgeable about natural history, and he found a bird's nest and he said, 'Cherry, have a go at taking a photo of this.'

"They had an idea on the spot that they would make a book, illustrated entirely with photographs, of birds and birds' nests. There hadn't been a book like that up 'til that time. That meant travelling all across the country, because a lot of birds have very site-specific nesting locations."

Written by Richard and illustrated using Cherry's pioneering photographs in 1898, the book British Birds' Nests: How, Where and When to Find and Identify Them was the first nature book to be entirely illustrated with photographs. More books followed, and the pair would publish together for more than a decade. "Cherry was a very good photographer; compared to the natural history photographers of the time, his composition was very nicely framed, he had an artistic eye," says Bevis.

He adds that having catalogued the birds' nests and eggs of the British Isles over thousands of photographs, "[Cherry's] next thing was to get photos of birds themselves, and they needed to make some kind of [animal] hide".

"They came up with this series of wonderful realistic hides, the most famous of which was the Hollow Ox, which was a cow's hide over a wooden frame with just enough room for a photographer inside, standing in there bent double, with the camera sticking out of a hole in the neck. It was very good, it was very effective, but it was an absolute pain to operate.

"There was a stuffed sheep, which was too small for a photographer, so they set it up in front of a likely perching spot and pointed a camera out of a hole in the neck and operated it with a pneumatic tube."

The Keartons used ladders supported with ropes to get shots of nests on high branches; Cherry learnt to abseil so he could snap seabird nests built in the nooks of cliffs. Little seemed too difficult or dangerous.

The Keartons' designs were fiendishly inventive, and Richard Kearton would become known as the "Machiavelli of bird photography".

Cherry's fascination with technology went far beyond photography; the turn of the century also brought ways of capturing sound, such as recording onto wax cylinders. Cherry, got his hands on one. "He made the first ever recording of a bird in the wild… it wasn't a great recording, but it was the first one in the wild," says Bevis.

The Keartons also embraced the moving image, setting up a studio where they created the first rudimentary wildlife documentaries. In 1908, Cherry took the first moving images of London from the air, having hired an airship which took off from Wandsworth Gasworks south of the River Thames. Six years later, while in Belgium, he would take the first moving images of the war that would devastate Europe and kill more than 17 million people.

African wildlife

His first successful film came after former US president Theodore Roosevelt, an enthusiastic hunter, requested a meeting in Africa. "Roosevelt was trying to get away from being in public eye for so many years," says Bevis. Cherry was only interested in shooting with a camera, and took a dim view of Roosevelt's hunting. He said that helping "accomplish the extinction of anything beautiful and interesting is a crime against future generations".

Cherry and Roosevelt were both drawn to Africa's wildlife but for very different reasons, says Austin Farahar, the head of photographica at Chiswick Auctions in the UK, who sold some of the Kearton's archive and cameras in early 2026.

"They had a certain level of admiration, but I don't think they saw eye to eye, because Roosevelt was going through Africa, shooting everything, and just having a great laugh," says Farahar. "Obviously Kearton was slightly less of the opinion that that was how to do it." Bevis adds that Roosevelt only met up with Kearton "a bit reluctantly", but was persuaded that the British wildlife photographer could accompany him and shoot footage.

Kearton made a successful film of Roosevelt's safari across eastern Africa; it was released with much fanfare in 1910 as Roosevelt in Africa. Given their completely opposing views on wildlife, it was an odd – if lucrative – collaboration.

Kearton then spent much of the First World War as part of an allied unit in East Africa, formed of "mavericks" who were at home in the African bush, says Bevis.

"In the early 1920s he got married to a South African opera singer [Ada Forrest]… I think from that time forward he started to have a more comfortable life – the safaris became a little more sedate," he adds.

Kearton, however, was by no means slowing down. Cherry and Ada travelled to an island off the coast of South Africa, and lived as the only human inhabitants in a warden's shack among what Kearton described as "five million" penguins. They made a film – called Dassan: An Adventure in Search of Laughter, Featuring Nature's Greatest Little Comedians – which was released in 1930. (The island's name is actually spelled "Dassen".)

"They spent six months filming and photographing and writing about these penguins," says Bevis. "And that was the film that a young David Attenborough saw in 1933. When Kearton wasn't filming and photographing, he was doing lectures around the country, and Sir David Attenborough would have gone to one of those and seen that film."

There is, in effect, only one degree of separation between a boy fascinated with the wildlife he saw on a Yorkshire farm in the 1880s, and the natural history documentaries we enjoy watching today: Bevis believes the brothers would have greatly appreciated the effect their films had. "The Keartons were very interested in the educational aspect, and they were very interested in spreading the word."

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A legacy camera

Cherry was a keen inventor, and had been frustrated at how cumbersome many of the cameras he had to take with him were. In the early 1900s he fashioned a more portable camera using a rifle stock with a plate camera attached – but after the war refined it into a much smaller device, one that could use lighter roll film and which would automatically advance to the next frame after every shot – technology that wouldn't become mainstream for another two decades, says Farahar.

The camera was sold earlier this year as part of a large lot of items from Cherry Kearton's estate (he died in 1940, and Ada in 1966), including books, letters, prints and the various paraphernalia Kearton had used to take his pictures and films. "It becomes so rewarding to put the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle back together again," says Farahar. "And that's what it was like with this camera… there's no picture of him with it. It's very, kind of naïve, and very rough… he literally battened it together in his shed. But it works."

Farahar couldn't wait to get his hands on the camera, which is now more than 100 years old. There was no manual – it was a one-off Kearton had built using his own intuition.

Farahar says he showed the camera to an old schoolfriend – wildlife cameraman Hector Skevington-Postles, who has worked on some of Sir David's own documentaries, such as Planet Earth and Asia.

"He was at my house, and he said, 'Got anything interesting at the moment?' And I literally thought, 'This rifle camera!' I was like, 'What you make of that?' And he said: 'Are you joking, this is incredible!'"

Before the sale took place in February, Farahar was able to spend more time with the device. Playing around with it before the sale, he was able to get its transport mechanism whirred into life – proving Kearton's remarkable talent. "I was trying to get to grips with it for a long, long time," he says. "I was like, 'How does this thing work? What are the secrets of this camera?' And then I eventually figured out how it cocks and whines. Everyone in the office was going mad because I was making so much noise."

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Dumped goldfish endangering native carp in lake

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cddpe16pgjno, today

Pet goldfish illegally dumped in a lake are endangering native fish species, the Environment Agency has warned.

The agency has been working with staff at Milton Country Park, near Cambridge, to develop one of its ponds into a haven for crucian carp, a protected native species in the UK.

However, it said 20 goldfish were recently released into Halls Pool at the park, putting "the entire stock [of carp] at risk of disease and viral infections".

So far, agency staff have caught 15 goldfish while a child caught another, and they are hoping the remaining four can be removed from the lake.

Writing on Facebook, the Environment Agency said: "It puts the entire population of crucians at risk from hybridisation and loss of their unique DNA structure.

"This means unless we remove all of the goldfish we may have lost this lake for ever in terms of the true crucian carp population."

The agency said the carp had "absolutely thrived in the weedy conditions of the lake" at Milton, to the extent "that we have been able to trap several hundred and move them to a second lake nearby to create another population of true crucians".

It added: "We understand these [goldfish] would not have been released with any malice, but it is important to understand the risk of introducing ornamental fish to lakes and rivers.

"If your fish have outgrown your pond or tank then please try and rehome them sensibly to another fully enclosed ornamental pond or tank rather than releasing them into rivers and lakes."

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Food refill van promises 'zero effort' shopping

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62xzk45g96o, today

Most people want to reduce the amount of single-use plastic packaging they use, but some struggle to prioritise this while shopping, according to the co-founder of a Cambridgeshire zero waste company.

Alice Lightowlers, 33, said she and her partner set up VanJarred Refillery, a mobile shop selling food and toiletries without packaging, last year after "a lot of the more sustainable, zero waste shops in Cambridge closed down".

Their focus was on convenience, because "people tend to put their plastic waste to the back of their mind," Ms Lightowlers said.

The van tours markets and business parks in and around Cambridge and delivers directly to people's homes.

Shoppers place their items into their own containers or use either donated containers kept at the van or compostable paper bags.

Most of the fare is bought in from Suma and Infinity, two British-owned wholefoods wholesalers which specialise in vegan, vegetarian and organic foods.

Other products are made by local suppliers, including Cambridge Honeybees, Hot Numbers Coffee and Peichin's Table, which produces Asian-inspired sauces and condiments.

Essentials such as pasta, olive oil and toilet roll sit next to vegan pick-n-mix sweets, natural deodorant and dog shampoo bars in the van.

Whether VanJarred's prices can compete with supermarkets "really depends on what you get", Ms Lightowlers said, with herbs, spices, fruit and nuts on the cheaper end and local produce often on the more expensive end.

"If you shop organic it's probably cheaper to go to a refill shop because there is a bit of a premium on it in the supermarkets," she said.

The prices for all their products are listed on the company's website, with organic porridge oats at 35 pence per 100g and organic lentils at 60 pence per 100g, for example.

Ms Lightowlers met her partner Cedric while working at a biotech start-up in Cambridge.

Their second-hand electric van now stops at the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Wellcome Campus, Babraham Campus, Clay Farm and Burwash Larder every week.

It began trading in September last year, before beginning its "zero waste, zero effort" doorstep delivery service in March.

Customers choose their products online then leave out containers for VanJarred to fill on its routes, which begin in Cambridge and span out as far as Cottenham, Fulbourn, Harston and Cambourne.

Ms Lightowlers said recycling helps people push their plastic use to the back of their minds, but that it is "quite sad how little of the plastic we put into our recycling bins is actually recycled".

Government figures suggest the UK recycling rate for waste from households stands at about 45%. Globally, less than 10% of all plastic ever produced has been recycled.

Their venture is "getting more and more popular", Ms Lightowlers said.

"It's something that I think everyone is interested in, in the back of their minds, but often I think it's difficult to prioritise," she said.

"So it's about just getting out there and explaining to people how easy it is to make the switch."

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Nature recovery zones inspired by Attenborough

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62eje88wy3o, today

A wildlife trust has been inspired by Sir David Attenborough's climate change mantra to designate 11 nature recovery zones in honour of the broadcaster's 100th birthday.

The zones encompass an area of 50,000 hectares - equivalent to 11 times the size of Gloucester - and among them are parts of the Forest of Dean, the Cotswolds and Stroud.

The trust hopes to raise £3m for Mission Wild, which will focus on restoring landscapes and reintroducing native species in the nature recovery zones, such as the Eurasian beaver.

Andrew McLaughlin, CEO of the trust, said: "Sir David's always been very clear about that need to act with urgency and scale because this is the kind of thing that nature needs."

"We're blessed with a county with amazing different habitats," McLaughlin said.

"We've got the Cotswolds, we've got the Severn Vale, we've got the Forest and even within those areas, there's lots of distinctive features - but what we need to do is start thinking about them together," he added.

The nature recovery zones include the Windrush Valley in the Cotswolds, the Central Forest in the Forest of Dean and the Stroud Commons.

McLaughlin hopes the designations will allow the trust to make its nature reserves "more resilient to the ravages of climate change" by restoring habitats and creating wildlife corridors beyond the boundaries of the reserves.

Sir David's 100th birthday on Friday was widely celebrated, with the broadcaster receiving messages from across the world, including from the King and Queen.

A tiny parasitic wasp - the Attenboroughnculus tau - was also named in his honour, although it is far from his first fauna namesake.

In Gloucestershire, McLaughlin said Sir David "set the standard" of what the wildlife trust should be doing when he opened its conservation centre at Robinswood Hill in 1992.

"Sir David has been a huge inspiration for so many people and has brought the world's attention to the plight of nature, urging us all to act," he said.

"Mission Wild is about accepting that challenge and setting out to achieve a wilder Gloucestershire, with benefits for people, communities and nature," McLaughlin added.

In 2025, the Met Office announced Gloucestershire had become the driest place in the West of England, with the county experiencing the lowest average rainfall in the region over the past 30 years.

McLaughlin said the trust hoped to raise awareness of climate change and nature recovery in schools and communities to bring people "together" as part of Mission Wild.

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Massive Alaska megatsunami was second largest ever recorded

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1m253033m4o, 4 days ago

A massive 'megatsunami' wave created when part of an Alaskan mountain crumbled into the sea is the second tallest ever recorded – and a reminder of the risks posed by melting glaciers, say scientists.

Last summer a giant wave swept through a remote fjord in southeast Alaska leaving destruction in its wake.

The event went largely unreported at the time, but a new scientific analysis shows it was caused by a massive landslide.

An incredible 64 million cubic metres of rock – the equivalent of 24 Great Pyramids - splashed into the water below. The sheer power of that amount of rock plunging into the fjord in under a minute created a gigantic wave almost 500 metres tall.

Only the time it happened – in the early hours of the morning – prevented tourist cruise ships being caught up in the devastation, say the researchers.

Dr Bretwood Higman, an Alaskan geologist, who saw for himself the damage at Tracy Arm Fjord, said it was "a close call".

"We know that there were people that were very nearly in the wrong place," he said. 'I'm quite terrified that we're not going to be so lucky in the future."

These huge waves, labelled megatsunamis, happen when a landslide caused by either an earthquake or loose rock hit water below. They are usually localised and dissipate quickly.

The other type of tsunamis happen in the open ocean and are directly triggered by earthquakes, or occasionally other powerful events such as underwater volcanoes.

They, like the 2011 Japan tsunami, can travel for thousands of miles, hitting populated areas and causing widespread devastation and loss of life.

The biggest megatsunami was in the 1950s and was over 500 metres. This latest megatsunami was the second largest.

Dr Higman arrived on the scene a few weeks after the tsunami hit at the Tracy Arm Fjord – a destination popular with cruise ships exploring the natural wonders of Alaska.

He found broken trees littering the mountainside and hurled into the water, and vast swathes of scarred rock stripped of soil and vegetation.

Alaska is especially vulnerable to megatsunamis because of its steep mountains, narrow fjords and frequent earthquakes.

Now new research published in Science suggests glacier melt driven by climate change is making such collapses far worse.

The team combined field work, seismic and satellite data to reconstruct a domino chain of events and trace the height of the wave.

Dr Stephen Hicks of University College London said the glacier was previously "helping to hold up this piece of rock", and so when the ice retreated, it exposed the bottom of the cliff face, "allowing that rock material to suddenly collapse into the fjord".

He and his colleagues have studied tsunamis for decades and are worried.

"More people are now going to remote areas - often these tourist cruises are going to see the natural beauty of the area to actually learn more about climate change - but they are also dangerous places to be."

Dr Higman said there is little doubt that the risks of megatsunamis are increasing.

"At this point, I'm pretty confident that these are increasing not just a little bit, but increasing a lot," he said.

"Maybe in the order of 10 times as frequent as they were just a few decades ago."

The scientists are calling for wider monitoring of hazards in parts of Alaska that might be vulnerable to megatsunamis.

Some cruise companies have announced they are to stop sending ships into Tracy Arm amid safety fears.

Why is NI facing a growing threat from wildfires?

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0729z88z37o, 4 days ago

Northern Ireland is facing a growing threat from wildfires as conditions are becoming more favourable, according to a new report.

Researchers at Imperial College London say the biggest change is happening in spring - traditionally peak wildfire season - where drought and fire-prone weather has become more common.

Figures show that spring drought events are happening more often while there has been a sharp rise in "fire weather" - a mix of warmth, dryness, and wind that allows fires to ignite and spread rapidly.

Experts warn this combination, along with climate change, is creating a longer and more volatile wildfire season.

Spring has always been the season of greatest wildfire risk, when dry vegetation such as grass and heather can easily burn.

According to the report, climate change is now intensifying those conditions.

"This analysis shows that climate change is having a clear, exacerbating effect on wildfire danger in the UK," Theodore Keeping, research associate in the analysis of extreme weather and wildfires at Imperial College London said.

"We are seeing an increased likelihood of severe spring drought in many parts of the UK due to greater warming.

"Whilst human-cause climate change continues, this shift towards more fire-prone conditions is expected to continue."

Warmer weather is drying out vegetation earlier in the year while the atmosphere is able to draw more moisture from the ground, meaning landscapes can become flammable for longer.

Climate change

The findings follow recent wildfires in parts of Northern Ireland in April which saw hundreds of firefighters deployed to fight the blazes.

Earlier in the month the Department of Agriculture, Environment, and Rural Affairs (Daera) launched an action planned aimed at reducing the threat of wildfires.

While spring remains the main concern, the report also points to a growing wildfire risk in summer months.

Historically, summer fires have been relatively uncommon but data shows an increase in periods of severe fire weather, suggesting Northern Ireland could face a longer fire season in the future.

According to the Met Office, extreme fires seen during the UK's 2022 heatwave were made at least six times more likely by human caused climate change.

That summer saw temperatures exceed 40C for the first time in parts of Britain, stretching fire services to their limits and highlighting how rising heat and dryness can rapidly escalate fire risk.

Researchers say similar processes are now affecting spring conditions, even without record-breaking heat.

Trees 'put under pressure over climate change'

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn5p7qqw1z1o, 5 days ago

Trees across Telford & Wrekin are being put under increasing pressure partly through the impact of climate change, a meeting has been told.

An update on the local nature recovery strategy, which aims to help improve the state of nature in Shropshire, was given to Telford & Wrekin Council's environment scrutiny committee.

Climate change, global trade and travel had been promoting the spread of tree diseases which were being increasingly detected, the strategy noted.

The authority's team of two tree officers was being given extra resources to help remove trees, make them safe and carry out surveys, Councillor Carolyn Healy said.

Council official Alan Preece said it was "trying to create the most robust habitats possible" but "climate change makes that much more challenging".

"We don't know which way to jump because we don't know what the next disease will be," he said.

Some industry colleagues who had spent their entire careers creating woodlands were seeing them lost when they came to retirement, he said.

'Good mix'

The council has received Tree Cities of the World (TCOTW) recognition.

The TCOTW website said its programme was "committed to inspiring cities and towns to care for and celebrate their urban tree canopy".

Healy said the authority was using a "good mix of native and non-native trees".

Trees from southern European countries were being used as part of the mix because they were "better able to withstand drier, hotter summers", she added.

The council's policy was to plant more trees than were lost through storm damage, members of the committee were told.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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How a hurricane created a 'precious saltmarsh'

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5y74l61j29o, 6 days ago

This year marks 30 years since a hurricane created a salt marsh near a small coastal village.

In 1996, Hurricane Lili caused a storm to move from the Atlantic to Porlock Bay, where it battered the shore, changing the appearance and nature of the coast itself.

Old stone walls near the shoreline were flattened, while the Exmoor bay's shingle ridge was breached and moved inland by around 90 metres, creating a salt marsh which was left to its natural course.

Nigel Hester, who was the National Trust countryside manager at the time, said: "The advice was we must start thinking about climate change and how our coastline might change in the future. We wanted to work with natural processes."

"There was a great pressure to restore the area. I think people worried it would stay a muddy mess but soon vegetation started to appear and it became established as a salt marsh," Hester added.

A new exhibition has now opened in Porlock museum outlining the 30-year process to create the marshes.

"It became a national symbol of how we might manage coastlines in the future," Hester said.

Porlock historian Jeff Cox, who is putting on the exhibition, said the Porlock ridge is the longest natural barrier of its kind in the whole of the west coast of Britain.

"The fact this really was a test case for environmental policies, can we defend against rising sea levels and increased storms?" Cox added.

"The idea of the exhibition is to try to make people more aware of what a precious and significant environment this is."

The exhibition is at Dovory Manor Museum in Porlock until October.

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'It was one of the key moments of my life': The thrilling fossil discoveries that sparked Attenborough's love for nature

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20260501-the-thrilling-fossil-discoveries-that-sparked-attenboroughs-love-for-natural-history, 7 days ago

Fossils fascinated Sir David Attenborough throughout his childhood. The BBC retraces the steps of Sir David's formative experiences roaming the British countryside.

For Sir David Attenborough, it was a moment that would shape his childhood – and quite possibly his entire career.

It was the late 1930s, and he had cycled into the English countryside. Arriving at an exposed rock face, he began searching among fallen fragments below. He picked up a promising stone, and split it apart with his hammer.

"There, perfect in every detail, glinting as though it had just been polished, was a coiled seashell… an object of breathtaking beauty," he recalled in 2009. "And my eyes were the first to see it since its occupant died 200 million years ago."

It was a fossil ammonite – a spiral-shelled creature around the size of his palm. Due to their coiled appearance, local people once believed they were snakes, but they were actually cephalopods: a marine mollusc similar to the modern-day nautilus, which swam in ancient oceans.

"I suppose it's true to say that it was one of the key moments of my life," he said. "I have been repeating that moment, off and on, throughout my life and the thrill has still not worn off."

This ammonite was just one of many ancient creatures Sir David collected as a teenager, near his boyhood home in Leicester, England. He was an avid fossil-hunter – and would continue to find and acquire interesting specimens throughout his life. "I spent a lot of time as a boy searching for fossils in the Leicestershire countryside. Indeed, fossils still give me great pleasure," he told me in a letter in May 2025, shortly after his 99th birthday.

Ever since I was a teenager, I've also collected fossils. So, one recent spring, I decided to trace Sir David's trips from his childhood home to the local sites he visited, hoping to gain a better understanding of his life before fame. How did his boyhood fossil-hunting hobby influence the young naturalist?

Collecting treasure

Sir David spent much of his childhood in Leicester, in the English Midlands. Today, the Attenborough family home sits in the middle of the city's university, its current occupants members of the science and engineering department.

However, traces of the Attenborough family remain across the campus. Round the corner is an arts centre dedicated to his brother Lord Richard Attenborough, an actor who played many roles in his lifetime, including – aptly – the founder of Jurassic Park in the 1993 movie, who uses amber fossils to extract dinosaur DNA.

Looming over the brothers' former home is the 52m-tall (170ft) Attenborough Building – a brutalist 18-storey tower known as the "cheesegrater". Perhaps contrary to expectation given the two brothers' fame, the tower was named after Sir David's father Frederick, an academic historian and principal of the university.

In 2016, letters written by Frederick Attenborough during the 1930s and 1940s about his son were unearthed – and they hint at a boy fascinated by Leicestershire's geology, and who then wished to pursue the earth sciences as a career.

Speaking on his 90th birthday, Sir David explained that his father didn't necessarily know much about rocks and fossils himself, but "he did say, 'There are ways of finding out: you can go to the museum or there are some good books, you can read about that.' And so [he] encouraged us to find out for ourselves".

The letters also mention Sir David's collection of carefully labelled fossils, minerals and other treasures.

In his 2002 autobiography, Sir David described its contents – what he called his "museum". "Its backbone was my fossil collection gathered from Leicestershire rocks. It also contained butterflies, birds' eggs (legal at the time), abandoned birds' nests…bun pennies, champion conkers, the shed skin of a grass snake, and a fragment of Roman brickwork."

Via his father's university work, researchers and other visitors would often pass through the family home – and this gave him the opportunity to show off the collection. One day, a Nobel-winning biochemist visited with his daughter, the young archaeologist Jacquetta Hawkes (nee Hopkins), and he toured her through his specimens with pride. "When she showed interest in my fossils I felt I was walking 18 inches off the ground," he recalled in an interview with Mail Online in 2014.

Afterwards, Hawkes sent him a parcel, which he gladly received. "There was a pearly nautilus, a desiccated pipe-fish, some Roman tesserae and a medieval silver coin, a few grey shards of Anglo-Saxon pottery, cowrie shells from the Pacific and pieces of coral. Each was packed separately. Each was a treasure. It was one of the most memorable days of my childhood," he wrote in his autobiography.

When he was 12 years old, he also added a piece of Baltic amber (fossilised resin) to the collection, given to him by a young girl staying with the family. During World War Two, Sir David's parents took in some of the many children fleeing Germany. "I remember one girl, Marianne, she was 12 – about the same age as I was – and came from a city on the Baltic coast where her father was a doctor," he recalled in a 2004 film called the Amber Time Machine.

"He had given one small precious thing as a sign of his thanks to whoever it was who cared for his daughter. It felt surprisingly warm and light in my hand, but what made me fall in love with amber is what I discovered inside it. I found something miraculous: there were insects preserved in astonishing detail. I burned with questions: what sort of world were they from? They must have lived a long time ago, but how long?"

Fossil firsts

Once he was old enough, Sir David explored far and wide in search of fossils to build his museum further. Aged 13, he spent three weeks alone cycling to the Lake District in North West England, staying in youth hostels. "I doubt many parents would let children do that now," he told the Mail Online in 2014.

Still, the geology close to home in Leicestershire also offered more than enough treasures to find. Many of the rocks in this central region of England are from the early Jurassic – and contain a variety of fossilised prehistoric life. Even today, palaeontologists still make significant discoveries: in 2021, a 10m-long (33ft) ichthyosaur – a "sea dragon" – was found in the Rutland reservoir, less than 50km (30 miles) to the east of Sir David's old home.

While exploring Sir David's boyhood trips, I traced one of the routes that he would have cycled in search of fossils. Travelling east out of the city from his home, the young man would have soon emerged into meadows and farmland, pedalling up and down steep country roads.

"There you could find pits where a honey-coloured limestone was quarried for smelting iron. In that there were some of the loveliest fossils imaginable," he recalled in his autobiography. "I would leave home early in the morning on my bicycle, with special home-made collecting bags strapped to the carrier over the back wheel, and sometimes would not come back until after dark with the bags loaded with specimens, each carefully wrapped in newspaper for protection."

Another frequent destination was the village of Tilton on the Hill, one of the highest places in East Leicestershire. Today, it is little-changed: with a village shop, traditional pub and a church that dates from the 12th Century. It has special significance because it lends its name to Tiltoniceras, a Jurassic-era ammonite discovered in 1913 at Tilton Railway Cutting, a few kilometres east of the village. "When I found out… I decided that I must be living in one of the world centres of palaeontological treasure," Sir David recalled in his autobiography.

Over the decades, Sir David has often mentioned this ammonite and the cutting where it was found – and he returned to film there for a 2020 Netflix documentary. As a boy he would have known that the site was particularly rich for fossils because the rockfaces were relatively fresh. A few decades earlier, in the 1870s, workers had carved into the sandstones, ironstones and clays to make way for a railway line between Market Harborough and Melton Mowbray (famous for its pies). So, while he may have had to step over rails and sleepers to reach the rock-face, he would have been rewarded with abundant ammonites, but also bivalves and brachiopods (shelled creatures like mussels or clams), gastropods (with spiral shells) and belemnites (squid-like cephalopods).

"The moments of success when that rock fell apart and revealed a shell that hadn't seen the Sun for 200 million years, and that I was the first human being to see, seemed to me then – as to be truthful it still seems to me now – to be moments of magic," he recalled in a 1989 series about palaeontology for which he returned to Leicestershire. "It's a beguiling business, for you know that even if you've not found anything so far, the very next blow of your hammer might reveal something amazing."

When I visited the cutting in April 2025, the railway had long since closed – it shut down in the 1960s – and the only sound was insects buzzing in the overgrown grass. Today, it is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest, which means that while fossil hunters can search for specimens in fallen fragments, they are prohibited from bashing at the rock faces with their hammers. The kind of ammonites that Sir David remembered seeing can be found at the top of the outcrop, in what's called the Marlstone Rock: a mixture of limestone and sandstone that formed in a shallow, tropical sea 190 million years ago. But even more ancient shells are packed into a layer further down the rock face.

Tales of Charnia

Tilton Railway Cutting is not the only site in Leicestershire that has yielded fossil firsts over the years. Another location nearby would become even more famous, when a fossil was found that changed our understanding of life's origins. It was discovered by two schoolchildren, only 11 years after Sir David left school himself – much to his chagrin later in life. "The rocks to the north-west of the city were of no interest to me…they didn't contain any fossils. So I didn't waste my time by looking there. How misguided I was," he recalled in 2011.

One day in 1957, a schoolboy called Roger Mason cycled with two schoolfriends to climb in a quarry in Charnwood Forest, near the village of Woodhouse Eaves. (The area is now a Unesco geopark). There, they spotted something curious: a fossil with leaf-like branches that was unmistakably once alive. Mason knew that this shouldn't have been possible, because the rocks were pre-Cambrian in age, which would have made the fossil around 570-550 million years old. The geological consensus at the time was that life's origin happened later.

It would turn out that Mason and his friends weren't the first to spot it. In 1956, another schoolchild, Tina Negus, had seen the fossil, but her teachers hadn't believed her. When Mason told his father, however, he persuaded a geologist at Leicester University to take a look. He confirmed it had indeed been a living creature, and published the find in Proceedings of the Yorkshire Geological Society. It was named Charnia masoni, after Mason, and despite its appearance it was an animal, not a plant.

"It caused a geological sensation," Sir David recalled in a 2011 BBC radio programme about the fossil. Reflecting on his own childhood fossil-hunting, "I couldn't help wishing that I hadn't paid so much attention to the accepted geological wisdom of the time, and that I had been the schoolboy who found that key fossil in the Charnwood."

One can only wonder whether the attention from such a find might have changed the broadcaster's future path. Mason also, went on to study earth sciences – but unlike Sir David, would become a professional geologist.

Collecting continues

While Sir David may not have become the geologist he aspired to be in his teens, he would continue to collect fossils throughout his life, even when he was working on other projects.

In 2011, for example, he told the story of how he was once duped by a fossil-trader into buying a pair of "copulating" trilobites: a scuttling creature with multiple legs and large eyes, a bit like a giant woodlouse. In a break between filming in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, he tracked down a seller in a remote village.

"He had hundreds of them in a great pile in his back room," he recalled. "I started to try and sort through them, but… it was really quite dark and difficult to see. The owner kept producing specimens he called 'very special – very good!' Still, I couldn't make up my mind… He pulled my sleeve, 'This one,' he said. 'Very very special, very, very rare. Two! Together! Making love!!' I was astounded… Could I resist a pair of love-making trilobites? Of course not."

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However, later Sir David realised his mistake. "Of course, they were two separate specimens. One that was partly curled had been stuck to the underside of the other with some rather unconvincing plaster. It was, I suppose, a lesson. But I still have the pair of them. They are tucked away in my cellar so I am not continually reminded of my gullibility. But whether they are copulating or not, no one could reject creatures with eyes like theirs."

Trace fossils

Back at Sir David's childhood home on the Leicester University campus, his museum of ammonites, rocks and other ephemera is no longer inside. However, on the side of the building you can see a "trace" fossil of a different kind, hinting at the people who once lived in the home.

Behind a clear plastic panel, you can make out the faint scrawls of the Attenboroughs on the brick. At some point in the 1930s, they each signed their names, leaving behind the trace of the family who once lived there – and the boy whose fascination with fossils would shape a life exploring the natural world. Sir David's career would take him all over the globe, bringing nature's far-flung wonders closer to me and you, but it all began here, with a bicycle, a few local rock faces, and a teenager's prized collection of ancient creatures.

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Sewage and agricultural pollution having 'alarming' impact on UK's underwater forests

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn0pl9j88gno, 8 days ago

Sewage and agricultural pollution in rivers is having an "alarming" knock-on impact on marine life in underwater forests along the British coastline, according to new research.

Scientists found seagrass meadows affected by excessive nutrients in the water - caused by sewage, fertilisers, manure and industry wastewater - had far fewer and less variety of small invertebrates like crabs, shrimps and snails.

"People don't want to swim in seas polluted by sewage," said Dr Benjamin Jones from Project Seagrass, which carried out the research with Swansea University.

"But this is one of the first studies of its kind to show that some of those nutrient inputs... are having an impact on the animals too."

Seagrasses are flowering plants that live in shallow, sheltered areas of the coast, forming dense underwater meadows.

They help fight climate change by absorbing vast amounts of carbon dioxide and are considered incredibly important habitats.

It is estimated that a single hectare can harbour as many as 100 million invertebrates.

"If we think of seagrass meadows as forests, those invertebrates are basically insects that help it function in the marine environment," explained Jones.

The researchers examined 16 different sites along the British coast which were affected to varying degrees by eutrophication - the enrichment of water by nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus.

Sewage discharges, runoff of fertilisers and manures from farms and wastewater from industry can all increase nutrient levels in rivers and estuaries.

Extra nutrients lead to the growth of algae, smothering seagrass beds, blocking sunlight and depleting the water of oxygen.

In recent years the situation has led to limits on housebuilding in some coastal areas and restrictions on spreading and storing slurry on farmland.

"We picked particular areas to enable us to see a gradient of high nutrients to low nutrients," said Dr Richard Unsworth from Swansea University, adding that the team's findings were "stark".

Higher concentrations of nitrogen were consistently associated with reductions in animal abundance and species richness.

The research found "an increase of nitrogen could correspond to an approximately 90% decrease in the abundance of life per unit of available habitat area".

Increased levels of phosphorus were shown to be having "a devastating negative effect on life within lagoon environments" in particular.

Algae-smothered seagrass meadows in the Thames estuary along the Essex coast and the Firth of Forth on the east coast of Scotland were among those worst affected.

In Wales, issues were also flagged at Skomer Island, internationally renowned as a wildlife haven, though seabird poo alongside "human impacts" were thought to be part of the picture there.

At sites with "healthy, clear water" like the Isles of Scilly off Cornwall and the Orkney Islands "we were finding much more life", Unsworth said.

"I think it's quite alarming that all this riverine input in terms of sewage, in terms of poor fertiliser use... is all coming out onto our coasts and influencing the amount of food available for fish, the amount of food for birds," Unsworth said.

"We want that biodiversity, we want that productivity in our oceans."

Jones said there was a "lot of talk around sewage".

"If we want to protect the marine environment we need to look towards the land and there needs to be some integrated thinking - that's a conversation that's very rarely had," he argued.

The research is published in the Global Ecology and Conservation journal.

'Only so much' voters can worry about - are attitudes to net zero changing?

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62d4p807lro, 10 days ago

You might expect climate change to be on voters' minds in a place like Pontypridd, which has repeatedly been hit by devastating floods in recent years.

But here - like elsewhere - it's the cost of living that dominates our conversations with passers-by as we ask what matters to them ahead of the Senedd election on 7 May.

"When I vote I'm thinking taxes, money... probably not the environment," says one, with another adding that cutting carbon emissions to net zero was "something for the future".

Those who were thinking about the parties' green policies said they feared climate change had been "put on the back burner".

The last Senedd election was held as the UK prepared to host COP26 in Glasgow.

The Welsh Parliament had become the first in the world to vote to declare a climate emergency, and - like the UK - it had put legally-binding targets in place for Wales to reach net zero by 2050.

That means big cuts to greenhouse gas emissions - by moving away from using oil and gas for energy, switching to electric vehicles as well as planting more trees.

But as voters prepare to head back to the polls, political consensus around the issue has become fractured.

Recent studies have shown a decline in the public's sense of urgency around reaching net zero across the UK too.

"It's not the biggest thing for me," said Scott Richards, 27, out walking his dog along the river in Pontypridd, adding that he was more worried about money and taxes.

"People are struggling and I don't think anyone's safe jobwise," added 31-year-old Rachel Hansen.

"The environment's not [top of the agenda] at the moment."

Derek Willington,78, said: "We're buying North Sea oil from the Norwegians, it doesn't make sense, why don't we drill it ourselves?

"And as for electric cars..."

But 41-year-old David Heathfield pointed to "that road over there that's always on the news when it floods".

"It just goes to show what a difference [climate change] is making."

Nathan Jones, 28, feared politicians were putting "incredibly important" environmental issues "on the backburner".

Prof Wouter Poortinga from Cardiff University, has researched public attitudes to net zero and said "there's only so much you can worry about".

Concern about climate change "had taken second place to issues like cost of living, economy and also immigration" in recent years, the environment psychologist explained, citing a hypothesis known as the "finite pool of worry".

The share of the UK public who have said the country needed to reach net zero sooner than 2050 had nearly halved since 2021, according to a recent study by King's College London, Ipsos and the Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformations.

The proportion of people who feel the target's not needed had risen from 9% to 26% over the same period - although 64% still support it.

Waning enthusiasm for net zero was most obvious "among those aged 55 and over" and those "on the right side of the political spectrum", said Poortinga.

"Climate change used to be a cross-party issue but that has changed over the last few years," adding that it has also been "drawn into culture wars" leading to more polarisation.

A range of organisations have released their own polling on the issue during the election campaign.

The TaxPayers Alliance said Welsh voters were "quiet quitting" on net zero, increasingly worried about their bills and "unachievable eco-pledges".

Climate Cymru said there was still "overwhelming support" for stronger action on climate, nature, clean energy and pollution.

Where climate action has come up so far during the campaign, it's often been focused on debate around energy policy.

In the Dulais Valley, Geraint Evans believe plans for large-scale wind and solar farms in rural areas have hardened people's attitudes to net zero.

He has been campaigning against a number of proposals in his patch, arguing that Neath Port Talbot already produces more renewable power than any other local authority area in Wales.

"Climate change is in the hands of countries like China, USA and India," the 59-year-old said.

"We need to have an honest conversation about net zero."

Though he supports moving to a low carbon economy in principle, he said "it should be a fair transition".

"The critical thing is using the right technology in the right place."

"We don't believe that industrialising our rural landscapes and our green spaces is the right way to go about it."

A short drive away at Neath College, 18-year-old students Saleh Mansour and William Taylor are working towards their diploma in engineering technologies and hope the drive to net zero will land them a new, green job.

"With renewable energy and the way it's progressing there's a load of jobs in the future - so I thought it was a safe thing to do," Taylor said.

Reaching net zero will be "a big challenge but there needs to be a big focus on it so the planet doesn't get past the point of no return", he added.

What do the political parties say?

A Welsh Conservative spokesperson said they were "committed to reducing Wales' carbon emissions and adapting to climate change".

"However we believe this must be done in a way that supports rather than punishes Welsh households, businesses and our farming sector."

The Welsh Liberal Democrats said "the wars in Ukraine and Iran have shown that we cannot continue to rely on oil and gas important from abroad for our energy needs".

"Net zero is not just an environmental necessity, it is an opportunity to build a stronger, more secure and more prosperous Welsh economy," the party added.

Welsh Labour said its vision was for "an energy independent Wales, built on clean, homegrown energy, that bring skilled jobs and lower energy bills".

"We set a legally-binding target of 100% of electricity demand to be met by renewable sources by 2035."

Plaid Cymru said it would "set a new target to reach net zero by 2040 and outline a clear pathway to reaching it", adding it was the "most ambitious approach on net zero of any party contesting this election.

Reform UK said it would "scrap" net zero, adding that it had "pushed up household bills and damaged our energy security".

Wales' Green Party manifesto said "climate change is the defining challenge of our time" and "Wales must act urgently to cut emissions, reduce energy demand and accelerate the transition to renewable energy".

The city caught in the middle of the big energy shift debate

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1k239p409po, 10 days ago

When Iona Macdonald graduated from Aberdeen University in 2000 with a degree in chemistry, there was only one show in town. Iona recalls that she "inevitably slid into the oil and gas industry" where, like thousands of others, she built a successful and lucrative career.

Back then, the sector was swimming in money, she remembers. "You would see a lot of Ferraris and Lamborghinis," says Macdonald of Aberdeen at the time.

But after a quarter of a century, that journey - working both on and offshore as a production chemist and later a training manager - came to an abrupt halt when she was made redundant two years ago.

Having tried and failed to secure employment in the renewable energy sector, the 48-year-old is now working on the minimum wage in a Glasgow pub. Iona enjoys the job and finds being part of the community worthwhile - but she's conscious she's not using any of her skills and experience. And she says she isn't alone: "I have friends who've gone from six-figure salaries to stacking shelves in a supermarket overnight."

Iona adds: "It's been quite the struggle to transition out of what's a very heavily specialised technical industry."

The transition from oil and gas jobs into renewables jobs has been on the lips of many politicians in recent years - including during the current Holyrood election campaign.

Specifically, the talk has been of a "just transition" at the heart of the energy policy - the idea of a smooth and equitable shift of labour from dirty old oil to a bright green future.

UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband presents this as both a moral and practical duty, repeating warnings from climate scientists that burning every last drop of oil will accelerate catastrophic global warming.

"Our position is rooted in a plan for a just transition and a fair-minded analysis of what the science demands", he insisted in a speech on 21 April.

But Iona says she has not experienced a just transition. Nor, she says, have thousands of other workers in the industry.

So what has gone wrong for her and others? Are Scotland and the UK fumbling the shift away from oil and gas jobs? And, if so, what does that mean for places like Aberdeen, the wider economy and even the future of the UK itself?

Silver darlings and black gold

Aberdeen has always looked to the sea, from medieval trade with Scandinavia to landing and processing millions of barrels of herring during the 19th and 20th Centuries.

The "silver darlings", as they were known, brought wealth but it was the discovery of black gold in 1969 which transformed the city and the nation.

"The nightlife was very vibrant," recalls Iona of her time in the industry there three decades on. "There was a lot of drinking and eating and partying."

Extracting oil and gas could be dirty and dangerous but huge profits drove up wages, property prices and the standard of living in north-east Scotland.

There were busts as well as booms - oil has always been a volatile commodity - but on the whole Aberdeen prospered, with the Granite City acquiring a new nickname: Europe's oil capital.

We now know that North Sea production peaked just as the young chemist was embarking on her career, reaching 4.5 million barrels of oil (or equivalent) per day (BOE) in 1999.

Today's North Sea is what geologists call a mature and declining basin. Production in 2024 was just over one million BOE.

Green energy, by contrast, is still relatively young.

The UK Labour government says "homegrown renewables" - that is, domestically generated energy and heat from sources like wind and solar - have gone from generating around 7% of electricity in 2010 to more than 50% today.

But the road to that point has been a rocky one.

Over the past decade, the UK's oil and gas workforce, about half of which is based in Scotland, has fallen by 70,000 to 115,000, according to Paul de Leeuw, director of the Energy Transition Institute at Robert Gordon University.

In the same period, he adds, only 39,000 posts have been created in renewables.

He says fiscal instability, with "five tax changes in four years", has damaged confidence in the UK North Sea, with many investors shifting their money elsewhere, including to Norway.

Industry leaders have been lobbying the Chancellor Rachel Reeves to move to a system under which windfall taxes only apply when the oil price is above a certain threshold.

"Oil and gas is declining faster than many of us were expecting, but the renewables industry is simply not ready to take all the jobs," says de Leeuw, who predicts that between 600 and 800 posts will be lost in oil and gas every month for the next five or 10 years.

With around a quarter of all the UK's energy jobs based in north-east Scotland, the net loss has, in turn, already harmed builders, taxi drivers, lawyers, accountants and hospitality staff in the region, says Russell Borthwick of Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce.

As well as changes to oil and gas taxation, he wants to see measures to encourage the further growth of renewables, such as upgrading the UK's electricity grid and speeding up planning for windfarms.

"We need to build a bridge from the old North Sea to the new North Sea," argues Borthwick.

But doing that will require significant societal change, says Dr Ewan Gibbs, an expert in energy policy at Glasgow University.

If we want to move towards renewables, he says, we need to be getting rid of petrol-powered cars and gas-fired heating systems far more rapidly.

And so far, he says, "the transition hasn't happened, not just in terms of jobs, but actually in terms of the electrification of the British and Scottish economy".

Net zero under attack

But there are still some powerful supporters of fossil fuels who scoff at the very idea of a transition to greener power. Indeed, critics of Scotland's shift to renewables go all the way up to the White House.

In a social media post on 14 April, US President Donald Trump urged the UK to "DRILL, BABY, DRILL!!!", adding: "AND, NO MORE WINDMILLS!"

"Europe is desperate for Energy, and yet the United Kingdom refuses to open North Sea Oil, one of the greatest fields in the World. Tragic!!! Aberdeen should be booming," wrote the US president.

That sounded like an attempt to pressure the UK Labour government to approve both the Jackdaw gas field, east of Aberdeen, and Rosebank, the largest untapped oil field in British waters, which sits off the Shetland Isles in the North Atlantic.

Nigel Farage's Reform UK party agrees with Trump and is campaigning for the 7 May Scottish parliament election on a platform of maximising domestic fossil fuel production.

"Shutting down North Sea oil and gas is the biggest act of self-harm," says the party's Scottish leader Malcolm Offord, who promises, if elected, to "reverse the madness of net zero".

Net zero is the point at which a country, company or other entity is removing from the atmosphere as much planet-warming greenhouse gases as it is adding.

Both the Scottish National Party and Scottish Labour support a net zero target for Scotland of 2045.

Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader, says oil and gas will have a role to play "for decades to come" but there needs to be more investment in renewables and in new nuclear power, which the SNP opposes as expensive and potentially environmentally damaging.

The Scottish Conservatives used to support the 2045 net zero target but have since changed their minds.

"What we have to do is have a just, affordable transition," says Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay.

"You can't just turn off the taps and expect these jobs to appear magically in renewables."

The Scottish Liberal Democrats are calling for investment in green energy, nuclear power and the grid, but they also argue that Rosebank and Jackdaw should be approved "if it makes more environmental sense" than relying on imported fossil fuels, a process which could generate even higher levels of greenhouse gases.

With ongoing conflict in the Gulf, energy security is an issue.

"We still have massive reliance on oil and gas. We're still exposed to energy price shocks," says the party leader, Alex Cole-Hamilton.

The Scottish Green Party wants to see far greater urgency.

"We know that it's a declining basin in the North Sea," says co-leader Gillian Mackay.

"We should have been putting a just transition in place decades ago," she adds.

According to Glasgow University's Ewan Gibbs, recent conflict in the Middle East has altered the debate. "I think the immediate result of the war in Iran has been increased pressure to support new North Sea exploration and development," he says.

"On the other hand," he adds, "I think we are in a long-term downward trajectory [in terms of production] and really the debate is over how we manage that."

The Norway factor

That debate has played out at the top of the pro-independence Scottish National Party, which has run the devolved government in Edinburgh since 2007.

Oil is totemic for many in the nationalist movement who say it could have made an independent Scotland as wealthy as Switzerland. In October 1974, the slogan "It's Scotland's Oil" propelled the SNP to its best-ever general election result up until that point: 11 seats at Westminster on 30% of the Scottish vote.

And today many Scottish nationalists point to Norway's handling of its sector of the North Sea as evidence of how Scotland, with a similar population, could have thrived outside the UK.

In London, the Treasury collected billions in taxes on North Sea producers but largely left investment, development and ownership in private hands, especially after Margaret Thatcher became prime minister in 1979.

Oslo, in contrast, was far more interventionist, retaining control of most Norwegian production, and investing the returns in one of the world's largest and most profitable state‑owned investment funds (also known as sovereign wealth funds).

The result was that Norway got rich. Very rich. Last year the fund generated $247bn (£183bn) in profit, roughly three times the Scottish government's entire budget.

And the gulf between the two nations is widening.

Last year, for the first time since 1964, the UK did not begin drilling any exploration wells while 29 were started in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea.

As SNP first ministers, both Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf, supported by the Scottish Greens, attempted to wean the nationalist movement off its support for crude, crafting a policy presumption against new drilling licences.

That was largely symbolic as the issuing of licences is a matter reserved to Westminster, along with offshore health and safety regulations and North Sea taxation.

Licensing of onshore infrastructure such as terminals and pipelines is devolved to the Scottish Parliament, while oversight of renewable energy is a complex mix of devolved and reserved powers.

When he took over as SNP leader and first minister in 2024, John Swinney softened his party's North Sea stance against approving new fields, suggesting that the UK government might consider doing so if they were compatible with the 2045 net zero target.

In recent weeks he has added that energy security should also be taken into account, although not to the extent of overriding climate compatibility assessments.

"The decline in oil and gas has happened at too fast a rate," says the SNP leader who, having joined the party in 1979, knows very well the crucial role that the North Sea has played in the rise of Scottish nationalism.

Nonetheless, the first minister appears to believe that Scotland's future prosperity lies in renewables.

More than half a century later, Swinney has adapted his party's 70s slogan to "It's Scotland's Energy," suggesting that an independent Scotland could now thrive thanks to abundant wind, wave and solar resources.

How mining's legacy looms large

The shadow of another fossil fuel is hanging over this debate - coal.

Scottish politicians are mindful of the economic, social and political calamity that accompanied the closure of coal mines under Thatcher.

All parties agree that they want to avoid such a fate, or in other words, they want to prevent an unjust transition.

And yet last year's closure of Scotland's only oil refinery at Grangemouth looks like another warning to both the UK and Scottish governments.

More than 400 jobs were lost directly at the refinery - which is owned by Petreoineos, a consortium of Petrochina and Sir Jim Ratcliffe's Ineos - while a supply chain employing an estimated 2,800 more workers was dislocated, says Gibbs. In February 2026 another 400 jobs were put at risk when production ended at ExxonMobil's Mossmorran chemical works in Fife, too.

"I've seen what's happened in Grangemouth, my hometown," Gillian Mackay of the Greens says. "It's decimating for these communities."

The closure "really did a lot of work to discredit the notion of a just transition", Gibbs believes.

"It's damaged the faith of workers, communities and trade unions in any hope for a future that uses the skills base that we have in our carbon-heavy engineering and manufacturing sectors to make a greener future."

A finite resource

The transition might not be working out for Iona Macdonald - but she has no intention of going back to the industry where she toiled for a quarter of a century.

It is now time to accelerate the move away from oil and gas, says Iona: "For most energy, we have clean alternatives and we don't need to be burning what is a finite resource."

In the meantime, she thinks the transition is being fumbled, leading to "a drain of all those skills and experience, which is a negative thing for the economy overall".

For all those politicians pronouncing on the so-called just transition, uttering political slogans is the easy bit but delivering real change will be much harder.

Additional reporting: Paul Ward

Top picture credit: Getty Images

Global forest loss slows but El Niño fires could threaten progress

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c78q5pygn66o, 11 days ago

The loss of tropical rainforests slowed last year, new satellite data suggests, led by Brazil's efforts to curb deforestation in the Amazon.

Researchers estimate that nearly 43,000 sq km (17,000 sq miles) of old-growth tropical forests were lost globally in 2025 – about the size of Denmark.

While it is about a third lower than record losses in 2024, scientists warn that tropical forests - among the Earth's most important ecosystems - are still disappearing much faster than a decade ago.

There is also concern that a two-pronged attack from climate change and the arrival of the warming El Niño weather pattern later this year could increase the likelihood and severity of forest fires.

The latest figures show that the loss of tropical forests fell by 36% in 2025, according to analysis from the World Resources Institute and the University of Maryland.

The data comes with a degree of uncertainty, however, as losses towards the end of one year might only be detected by satellites at the beginning of the next, but scientists are confident about the overall trend.

The decline last year partly reflects an easing of the unprecedented fires of 2024, helped by cooler La Niña conditions instead of the warmer El Niño.

But researchers also point to greater efforts to protect forests in countries such as Brazil, Colombia and Malaysia.

"It's incredibly encouraging to see the decline in 2025," said Elizabeth Goldman, co-director of Global Forest Watch at the World Resources Institute.

"[It] highlights how when we have political will [and] the leaders in charge who want to do something for forests, we can see real results in the data," she added.

In Brazil, home to the world's largest rainforest, researchers highlight the effects of stronger environmental policies and law enforcement in helping to slow deforestation.

Excluding losses driven by fires, an estimated 5,700 sq km (2,200 sq miles) of old-growth tropical forests disappeared in Brazil last year - the lowest figure since the analysis began in 2002.

Tropical rainforests are home to millions of species, and in a healthy state they take up vast quantities of planet-warming carbon dioxide, helping to keep the Earth cool.

They have come under increasing pressure, however, as a result of decades of deliberate land clearance for agriculture and logging, as well as climate change, which scientists warn can create the conditions for bigger fires to spread.

World leaders pledged to "halt and reverse" forest loss by 2030 at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow in 2021, but progress towards that pledge remains way off track.

In 2024, tropical forests disappeared faster than ever before, driven by fires amplified by human-caused climate change and the El Niño weather pattern.

"Forests are well equipped to cope with normal climate," said Rod Taylor, global director for forest and nature conservation at the World Resources Institute.

"With these new intense fires and droughts and so on, we really have to think about how to make forests more resilient and proof them against climate and fire," he added.

Researchers are concerned the threat from fires could be even higher later this year, due to a combination of climate change and a new phase of El Niño, although predictions are still uncertain.

"Climate change and land clearing have shortened the fuse on global forest fires," said Prof Matthew Hansen of the University of Maryland.

"Without urgent action to [...] manage fire more effectively, we risk pushing the world's most important forests past recovery."

In a separate report released on Wednesday, the EU's Copernicus climate service laid out how climate change had helped to drive intense heatwaves, wildfires and droughts in large parts of Europe last year.

Already the world's fastest-warming continent, few places escaped the heat, with at least 95% of Europe experiencing above-average annual temperatures.

The warmth helped to create conditions for widespread wildfires, with more than 10,000 sq km (4,000 sq miles) burning in total - a bigger area than Cyprus.

There was no escape for Europe's traditionally cold regions either, with Alpine glaciers continuing to lose ice and temperatures in the Arctic Circle reaching 30C in July.

The average surface temperature of Europe's seas was also the highest on record, with the Mediterranean Sea particularly badly hit.

The report did point to progress on efforts to tackle climate change, with nearly half of Europe's electricity now coming from wind, solar and hydropower.

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'Coastal barriers should buy us a little more time'

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8959j4wz4zo, 12 days ago

Residents of a village where 11 houses have been demolished this winter because of coastal erosion have installed more privately-funded defences.

Thorpeness, a purpose-built holiday village on the Suffolk coast, has seen significant land loss and in March several residents partly paid for new rock bags to be installed.

Now, a group has also clubbed together to raise £400,000 for sheet piling, which resident James Crowhurst said "should buy us a little bit more time".

East Suffolk Council said it was "supportive of works undertaken to install defences within property boundaries under permitted development".

Villagers began finding their own solutions after being told "hard" sea defences were too expensive and not allowed.

The sheet piling has been installed on private land outside Drake House, the Coast Guards and Seamark.

Crowhurst added: "These sheet piles have been driven into the ground and the purpose is to try to slow up the advance of the sea and protect the banks in front of these houses.

"They all come under permitted development, luckily, so it's all been done within the curtilage of these three seafront houses so permission was a lot easier than other places that have had difficulties getting it."

He added the defences were "not unsightly" and hoped the whole village would benefit from them.

Previously, homeowners and the wider community clubbed together to pay for and install £280,000 worth of rock bags.

The district council covered the rest of the cost, which came to about £600,000.

In the meantime, villagers are holding regular meetings with their MP "to try to find a more permanent solution to protect what is a very special villages for residents and for visitors", added Crowhurst.

A council spokesperson said: "These particular works are privately funded and are situated within the boundaries of the property owners.

"East Suffolk Council is supportive of works undertaken to install defences within property boundaries under permitted development, such as the works at Seamark, Drake House and Coastguard Cottages.

"These works fall outside of East Suffolk Council's coastal management jurisdiction.

"East Suffolk Council would consider any proposals for private schemes, including those that involve sheet piling, in line with all statutory consenting and permissions required, including planning permission and the shoreline management plan policy."

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How climate change threatens the economic backbone of the Pacific

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cq57vxjvdy4o, 13 days ago

The vast Pacific Ocean and the islands dotted within it produce more than half of the world's tuna.

Among the islands are 33 scattered across the centre that encompass the country of Kiribati.

Here more than 70% of government revenues come from selling tuna fishing licenses to foreign fleets - the highest proportion of any nation.

Kiribati has a tiny land mass. When all the islands are combined it is about the size of New York City. However, it has a huge swathe of territorial waters, otherwise known as its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Totalling more than 3.4 million sq km (1.3m sq miles), the EEZ is spread across three separate parts, surrounding the country's three groups of islands - Gilbert, Phoenix and Line.

Collectively, this area is bigger than India and offers access to an ocean abundant with marine life, including skipjack, yellowfin and bigeye tuna.

Yet, while the ocean is intimately linked to the culture, livelihoods and economy of Kiribati, it is also the country's biggest threat.

Warming water temperatures caused by climate change pose a substantial risk to local tuna populations, threatening Kiribati's economic backbone.

Scientists fear warmer waters could lead to tuna moving permanently out of its EEZ to cooler temperatures to the east, reducing the demand from overseas fleets for its fishing licenses, which would badly hit the country's economy.

The global tuna market is worth more than $44bn a year, according to one study.

To fish in Kiribati's waters, foreign fleets must first obtain a licence from the government. Then they have to pay the required fees, and follow strict rules on catch limits and reporting hauls.

The majority of these licences are sold to countries like Japan, China, the US and members of the European Union.

Kiribati generated $137m (£102m) from selling fishing licenses in 2024, government figures showed. This income is a "critical financial lifeline", says Riibeta Abeta, permanent secretary for the country's Ministry of Fisheries.

Abeta adds that such licenses contributed to almost three-quarters of government income between 2018 and 2022.

This equates to roughly two-fifths of the entirety of Kiribati's GDP, according to the International Monetary Fund.

"Next time you go into the supermarket and you look at the cans of tuna, five-and-a half cans out of 10 stacked up are coming from the Western Central Pacific Ocean [including Kiribati]," says Simon Diffey. He is a fisheries specialist with more than 30 years of experience covering Kiribati.

Diffey says the two biggest players in the region are Kiribati and Papua New Guinea. But while Papua New Guinea has the landmass and physical resources to diversify its economy, Kiribati does not.

"The highest point above sea level in Kiribati - unless you climb a coconut tree - is two metres. No water, no land, no resources other than fish."

Tuna react to small changes in water temperature to within a tenth of a degree of celsius, adds Diffey. As the surface water temperature rises in the Pacific Ocean, the tuna will migrate to cooler areas.

Numerous studies say that in the Pacific this migration will be eastwards, away from many island nations, including Kiribati.

Abeta says that the risk of international fishing ships not needing to buy the country's fishing licences "introduces significant volatility to the country's revenue".

Kiribati is predicted to be among the worst affected by tuna stock migration, according to a communique issued last November by the regional development organisation, the Pacific Community.

Kiribati's Ministry of Fisheries says that preliminary modelling showed that it "could lose more than $10m in fishing access fees per year" by 2050 if global greenhouse gas emissions remained high.

But, under a best-case analysis of much lower emissions, the Ministry says "no decrease in tuna biomass" is predicted in the country's EEZ.

Yet local fisherman in Kiribati will see a catch decrease under both high and low emission scenarios, according to the Pacific Community.

The Line Islands are set to be the worst affected, with a loss of two-thirds estimated under the low-emission scenario alone. At the same time, Kiribati's population of around 130,000 is expected to grow, with rapid urbanisation, particularly in the capital Tarawa placing additional strain on already limited land and resources.

There's also concerns about the reduction in local fish stocks feeding into a growing food security challenge.

With local fish supplies already under pressure, households are becoming more reliant on imported foods. The UN's Food and Agriculture Organization warns that this shift is increasing costs and reducing nutritional quality, particularly in outer island communities where fish has traditionally been the main source of protein.

According to The Pacific Community, the average person in Kiribati consumes around 100kg of fish a year. This compares with about 9kg in the US, and 22kg in Japan.

In response, new support schemes are being rolled out.

The United Nations' Green Climate Fund (GCF) launched its $156.8m (£116m) "adapting tuna-dependent Pacific Island communities and economies to climate change" project last year, covering 14 countries and territories in the region.

This "is helping Pacific Island countries get ahead of climate change by strengthening their food security based on better information", says Hemant Mandal, GCF director for Asia and the Pacific.

It looks to build a stronger warning system so places like Kiribati can better predict the redistribution of tuna stocks and its economic impact. It also pledges to maintain food security and government revenue despite declining reef fisheries.

"These measures are expected to provide around four million nutritious fish meals each year for communities in Kiribati," says the Ministry of Fisheries.

The Kiribati government says it is expanding the country's own tuna processing and canning facilities rather than just selling licences to foreign ships.

Abeta says the administration is also developing ocean farming of species like milkfish, snapper and sea cucumbers to support exports and domestic food security.

It is also seeking to diversify revenues beyond the sea economy through the likes of tourism, renewable energy and the country's offshore sovereign wealth fund.

"Kiribati retains grounds for optimism and strategic opportunity," he says.

Yet despite this hope, Kiribati and its territorial waters face an existential threat from climate change.

UK's biggest ever environmental pollution claim reaches High Court

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cqxl5rjw58po, 13 days ago

One of the UK's largest chicken producers and a water company will be in the High Court on Monday accused of polluting the rivers Wye, Lugg and Usk.

More than 4,500 people who live or work near the rivers along the Welsh-English border have signed up to take part in what's being seen as a landmark case against Avara Foods and Welsh Water.

Their lawyers say it's the biggest case ever brought in the UK over environmental pollution in terms of the number of claimants and its geographical spread.

Avara, which dominates chicken farming in the area, and Welsh Water, have respectively called the claims "misconceived" and "misguided".

The River Wye is one of the UK's longest and most celebrated rivers. But in recent years those living nearby have complained that it regularly turns green in the summer and has become smelly and slimy.

The group's legal claim blames the spreading of chicken manure on farmers' fields, and also sewage spills. It demands that action be taken to improve the state of the rivers, and compensation be paid to those whose lives and businesses have been affected.

The case has its first procedural hearing at the High Court in London on Monday and Justine Evans, the lead claimant, will be there.

"That just isn't what this river should look like and feel like and smell like," Ms Evans, a wildlife filmmaker, told BBC News on the banks of the Wye, not far from her home. "There's been systemic failure going on. And so in light of that, it seemed like the only course of action is to take legal action and make polluters pay."

Campaigners have long pointed at the rapid expansion of industrial chicken farming near the River Wye. At present there are about 24 million chickens being raised in the catchment area – usually in huge sheds. That's about a quarter of the UK's entire chicken population.

Until recently manure from the Wye's chicken sheds was spread as cheap fertiliser on nearby arable farmers' fields. The group legal claim alleges that the nutrients from the manure frequently washed off the soil into waterways leading to high levels of phosphorus, nitrogen and bacteria entering the rivers. In warm weather that nutrient load caused the water to turn green, so called "algal blooming".

In 2023, Natural England, the UK government's official advisory body, rated the condition of the River Wye as "unfavourable - declining". The follow-up River Wye Action Plan in 2024 blamed excessive nutrients from farming and wastewater discharges as well as climate change for increasing the water temperature and reducing the water flow in hot dry summers.

Legal firm Leigh Day is bringing the case on a no-win no-fee basis. They say that although it was arable farmers who spread the manure, Avara Foods and its subsidiary Freemans of Newent should be held responsible for the consequences.

"The claim alleges the poultry companies that are being sued in this claim knew what the outcome of their operations were going to be when they expanded the poultry production in this area," Celine O'Donovan, one of the Leigh Day lawyers, told BBC News.

"As a result, the responsibility for the decline of these rivers needs to lie with the people that knew what was going to happen and have made the money from it and controlled the supply chain that resulted in it."

The companies being sued are accused of negligence, causing private and public nuisance and even trespass where the riverbed has been affected on a claimant's property.

In a statement Avara Foods said the allegations were "misconceived" and that it was "confident in our position and believe the claim is unsupported by any proper scientific basis." It said that river health is affected by "multiple factors" and that phosphorus levels had fallen since the early 1990s.

Welsh Water, which has been accused of increasing the nutrient load through sewage spills, said the case was "misguided" and that it had invested £76m on reducing nutrient levels on the Wye, Lugg and Usk between 2020 and 2025 and would invest £87m more from 2025 to 2030.

For Nathan Jubb, algal blooming is not just unpleasant and unsightly but a financial problem. He's what's known as a "gillie" and manages fishing along a stretch of the Wye – a river once famous for its Atlantic salmon fishing. Salmon is now said to be in a critical condition with just a few thousand migrating up the Wye each year.

Jubb told BBC News he's signed up to take part in the the claim and that though the number of salmon being caught has fallen dramatically in recent years he thinks the main issue is the green algae making them harder to find and catch.

"We don't know they're there because they don't usually show and we can't see them." he says, "People are just going away from the river, the anglers are just disappearing," he says with a sigh, "And they're not coming back. Because they're not catching anything."

Additional reporting by Tom Ingham and Gwyndaf Hughes

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Bristol Airport could expand again - what does it mean?

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdj7vjxl033o, 14 days ago

Plans to expand Bristol Airport are back on the table - promising jobs and new destinations - but raising fresh concerns about noise, traffic and climate impact.

Since 2018, the battle between the airport and campaigners has raged on, from the council chamber to the High Court.

But now the airport wants to expand again and it has sparked fresh protests.

Here is what is being proposed and how it could affect people living in North Somerset and beyond.

What are the plans?

The expansion plans would allow the airport to accommodate 15 million passengers a year.

For context, about 10.8 million people a year use the airport at the moment.

This would include expanding the runway to enable long-haul flights to North America and the Middle East.

The number of flights a year would eventually rise from 85,990 to nearly 100,000 while the cap on night flights would also increase from 4,000 a year to almost 5,000.

The plans include a larger terminal with more shops and restaurants, a bigger immigration hall and baggage handling facilities, additional car parking and public transport improvements.

Bristol Airport said the £500m investment would create 1,000 on-site jobs as well as another 36,000 jobs in the wider region.

How did we get here?

In 2023, the High Court ruled that Bristol Airport could expand from 10 million passengers a year to 12 million.

This was the culmination of a five-year saga that even prompted climate activist Greta Thunberg to get involved in the discussion.

Expansion plans were first unveiled in 2018 and then North Somerset Council voted to reject the plans in 2020 on environmental grounds.

Neighbouring Bristol City Council, Bath and North East Somerset Council and the West of England Combined Authority (Weca) also opposed the plans.

But Bristol Airport appealed against the council judgment to the National Planning Inspectorate and it was eventually overturned - in a costly outcome for the local council.

That decision was then challenged by campaign group Bristol Airport Action Network which took the matter to the High Court.

They were ultimately unsuccessful.

Why is it controversial?

For years, campaigners have opposed the airport expansion on the grounds of noise pollution, congestion in the local area and the wider climate impact of extra carbon emissions.

But this time around, the extended runway would also see lights and fencing installed on ancient common land - new developments that have sparked fierce opposition from people living nearby.

The Save Felton Common (SFC) campaign group has been set up, with residents said to be in "uproar".

Julie Main, vice chair of the group, said: "This is a very old common that is used heavily by everyone in the local area.

"It is a nature reserve with loads of fauna, flora and skylarks.

"We really want to protect this for our future."

At a recent protest on Felton Common, Steve Clarke, from Bristol Airport Action Network (BAAN), said: "It's going to completely wreck the common.

"They are basically doing a land-grab.

"This is common land. We don't think it's right [for it] to be taken for a commercial enterprise."

How will it affect the local area?

With the number of flights set to increase, including an extra 1,000 flights during the night, noise is a major concern for people living nearby.

Bristol Airport has said it is investing in quieter aircraft technology which means the noise footprint would be smaller by 2038 than it is currently - even with 15 million passengers a year.

In 2024, almost a third of commercial flights used the most modern planes which are up to 40% quieter.

These are expected to be used 80% of the time by 2038.

But this is likely to be of little consolation to residents who live near the airport, whose ears would be subjected to an extra 35 flights per day during peak periods.

As well as the impact on Felton Common, the site would expand to the northwest onto Cook's Farm. The airport said its masterplan identifies Tall Pines Gold Club for "potential use in the longer run".

What will be the impact on parking and transport?

Another big concern is the potential impact on the roads around the airport.

Richard Baxter, from BAAN, said: "Local people and current airport customers are already experiencing real problems with a congested A38 and surrounding network of smaller roads."

Amid year-on-year parking charge hikes, police have been cracking down on rogue parking firms operating near Bristol Airport after residents complained that fields, lanes and farmland were being clogged up with parked cars.

Bristol Airport is also the largest airport in the UK without a mass transit link with passengers having to drive, get a taxi, a coach or use the Airport Flyer bus.

The airport has set a target of one in four people using public transport to travel to and from the airport which they said would be achieved by junction improvements and a new bus lane on the A38 as well as more public bus routes.

West of England Mayor Helen Godwin unveiled plans for a new mass transit system earlier this year which could connect the airport to Bristol city centre via electric-powered trams, light rail or bendy buses on segregated roads.

But more investment needs to be secured to make this a reality and Weca is working to develop a 15-year mass transit plan.

What about the climate impact?

According to Bristol Airport, expanding to 15 million passengers would see an increase in carbon emissions that would equate to less than 0.1% of the Fifth and Sixth Carbon Budget – the UK's maximum emissions between 2028 and 2037.

However, as pointed out by BAAN, this proportion of the Sixth Carbon Budget equates to about 965,000 tonnes of CO2e, which represents 83% of the annual CO2 emissions for the entire North Somerset region's transport, homes and industry in 2023.

Greener alternatives are being explored that could reduce the climate impact of flying in future, including using nuclear power to generate sustainable aviation fuel and Airbus developing a hydrogen-powered zero-emissions aircraft.

However, a committee of MPs found that the UK's 2050 net zero target is being put at "substantial risk" due to the government not adequately considering the limitations of these decarbonisation measures.

In its report, the committee said airport expansion would make climate and environmental targets "more difficult to achieve and at much greater effort and cost".

What has the political reaction been?

Last time around, councillors in North Somerset voted against the airport expansion.

West of England mayor Helen Godwin has said that local people's voices need to be heard in planning processes.

Godwin added: "I set out my position in relation to the airport, explaining that new laws tabled in Parliament look set to provide regional mayors with new powers on planning.

"Mindful of that responsibility, my approach, now and in the future, will be to carefully consider planning applications at the appropriate stage, looking at all the evidence."

Local MP Sadik Al-Hassan said: "I love the idea of more well-paid jobs in my area.

"I love the idea of infrastructure to go with it.

"I love the idea of being able to access more destinations but it has to be done right."

The expansion has faced strong opposition from Green councillors in Bristol and North Somerset.

Annemieke Waite, Green councillor for Winford, said: "The airport expansion is already having an enormous impact on these communities.

"We are permanently gridlocked, we don't have a mass transit system, we have huge problems with people parking all over North Somerset.

"We have the noise issue and now they want to take over Felton Common and that is completely outrageous."

What are the next steps?

The expansion plans were submitted in March but are still yet to appear on the council's planning portal, which will allow people to share their views.

The application will then go before North Somerset's Planning Committee later this year.

The committee is currently made up of four Conservative councillors, three Lib Dems, three Labour, two Greens and one Independent.

Councillors will have to consider advice from planning officers but also the threat of history repeating itself if the airport appeals which could mean the decision is overturned by the national planning inspector.

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Missing hiker killed in possible bear attack in Montana

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1m2egmnxg3o, yesterday

A bear is believed to have attacked and killed a 33-year-old hiker who had gone missing in the Glacier National Park in Montana since Sunday, officials say.

Search and rescue crews spotted the hiker's remains in a densely wooded area, with injuries "consistent with those sustained by a bear encounter".

Officials identified the hiker as Anthony Pollio from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The National Park Service has closed the part of the trail where the body was found.

Fatal bear attacks are rare in the US, but experts say the animals grow bolder and lose their fear of humans when homes and campgrounds become easy food sources.

Glacier National Park has been referred to as "bear country" due to its dense population of grizzly bears (known as brown bears). Black bears are also common in the area.

The park service said on Thursday that the last bear-related human injury there occurred in August 2025, while the last fatal attack was recorded in 1998 in the Two Medicine Valley.

From 1900 to 2009, just 63 people died from a black bear attack in North America, according to a study in the Journal of Wildlife Management.

In a separate incident, two hikers were injured in a bear attack on Monday at Yellowstone National Park, which is located in the northwest corner of Wyoming and extends to Montana and Idaho.

Hovering objects and flashing lights: what we learned from UFO documents released by the Pentagon

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1m2epkey44o, yesterday

The tranche of never-before-seen documents released by the Pentagon on UFOs includes descriptions of reported sightings - by civilians on Earth and by astronauts on the Moon.

The documents, spanning decades, were declassified and posted online on Friday at the direction of US President Donald Trump, who said earlier this year that he would release them "based on the tremendous interest shown".

The US has seen renewed public interest in extraterrestrial life in recent years. In 2022, Congress held the first hearings on UFOs in 50 years and the military has promised more transparency on the matter.

The 161 files are accessible on the Department of Defense's website, with more set to be released.

Friday's release of files comes after former President Barack Obama sparked further interest when he said in a February interview that aliens were "real, but I haven't seen them".

Obama has since clarified his comments, saying that statistically the chances are that life is out there but that he saw "no evidence" while president.

Trump later that month directed to Pentagon to release files "related to alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and unidentified flying objects (UFOs)".

The files that came out on Friday include decades of declassified military memos, reports from the Apollo Moon missions and reports from individuals who claim to have witnessed a UFO - or unidentified flying object - that they suspect has extraterrestrial origins.

Apollo astronauts describe flashes of light

The files contain previously classified transcripts from the astronauts aboard the Apollo 11, Apollo 12 and Apollo 17 Moon landing missions in the 1960s and 1970s.

Buzz Aldrin, famed astronaut from the Apollo 11 mission, said in a 1969 interview published on Friday that he saw several inexplicable phenomena on his trip to the Moon.

"I observed what appeared to be a fairly bright light source which we tentatively ascribed to a possible laser," he said.

The transcripts show that Apollo 12 Astronaut Alan Bean, who walked on the Moon in 1969, said he saw particles and flashes of lights "sailing off in space" during the mission. The particles looked like they were "escaping the Moon", he said.

Two astronauts aboard the Apollo 17 mission in 1972 also reported seeing flashing light while on board. "It's like the Fourth of July out there!" astronaut Jack Schmitt said. They added that the light could have been reflections off pieces of ice.

In another of the released files, an audio recording from the 1965 Gemini 7 space flight features communication between astronaut Frank Borman communicating and ground support. He reports a sighting of an unidentified object to Nasa mission control, describing a "bogey" and "trillions of little particles" seen to the left of the spaceship.

Hovering objects emerging from light

Among the decades' worth of reports released in the files are dozens of individual claims of sightings of unidentified anomalous phenomena, or UAP.

One file shows a man told the FBI in a 1957 interview that he had witnessed a large, circular vehicle rising over the ground. There are also interviews from September and October 2023 in which US citizens report hovering metal objects materialising out of bright light.

Military sightings in Iraq, Syria, and the UAE

The files also include video clips taken by the US military from the Middle East, dating from 2022.

Footage from Iraq, Syria and the United Arab Emirates, shows what the Pentagon's website calls "unresolved unidentified anomalous phenomenon".

One 2022 clip, taken in an undisclosed location in the Middle East, captures an oval-shaped object streaking left to right, which an accompanying report flagged as a "possible missile".

Good first step, but we need more, lawmakers say

Congressman Tim Burchett, a Republican from Tennessee, has previously advocated for more governmental transparency on UFO sightings. He welcomed the Pentagon's release of the files, calling it a "great start" in a post on X.

Republican Anna Paulina Luna, a congresswoman from Florida, also advocates for transparency on this issue. She called the disclosure "a massive first step in the right direction" in a statement.

However, former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, a onetime Trump ally who has fallen out with the president and left Congress, said the release was a distraction from more pressing issues facing Americans, such as price affordability and the war in Iran.

"I'm so sick of the 'look at the shiny object' propaganda," Greene said in a post on X.

Iran accuses US of 'reckless military adventure'

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c99lpn9ze8ro, today

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has accused the US of opting for a "reckless military adventure" every time a "diplomatic solution is on the table".

Iranians would "never bow to pressure", Araghchi said in a post on X, a day after each side accused the other of launching attacks in the Strait of Hormuz and as the US fired on more Iranian vessels.

Despite the clashes, Trump said the ceasefire was intact. It is meant to enable talks to end the war that the US and Israel launched in February.

Iran was expected to respond to US proposals on Friday, according to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

"I hope it's a serious offer, I really do," Rubio said during a visit to Italy.

Iran has been controlling the Strait of Hormuz as well as attacking US allies in the Gulf in retaliation for the US and Israeli attacks. Some 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas uses the crucial waterway whose blockage has sent prices soaring.

Early this week, Trump launched - and then paused - a US military operation to help free some 2,000 vessels which have been stranded in the area since February.

The US is also maintaining a naval blockade of Iranian ports in order to exert pressure on Tehran to agree to the US terms - a move that has angered Tehran.

On Friday, US Central Command (Centcom) said US forces had disabled two Iranian-flagged unladen oil tankers attempting to pull into an Iranian port on the Gulf of Oman "in violation of the ongoing US blockade".

US forces had fired "precision munitions into their smokestacks, preventing the non-compliant ships from entering Iran," the statement said.

Centcom said US forces were preventing more than 70 tankers from entering or leaving Iranian ports.

Later on Friday the US signalled its readiness to host a new round of Israel-Lebanon talks next week aimed at halting the clashes in Lebanon between Iranian-backed Hezbollah and Israeli forces.

A spokesperson for the US State Department said the "intensive" talks on 14 and 15 May would aim to deliver "lasting security for Israel, and sovereignty and reconstruction for Lebanon".

The US and Israel say any peace deal requires full disarmament of Hezbollah, but the Shia militant group rejects the talks, which began between the Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors in Washington last month. A fragile ceasefire was agreed, but has been repeatedly broken by Israel and Hezbollah.

Meanwhile, US Vice-President JD Vance met Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in Washington on Friday to discuss Pakistan's mediation efforts between the US and Iran.

The Qatari PM urged all parties to engage with the negotiations to address the "root causes of the crisis" and achieve "lasting peace", a statement on X from the country's foreign ministry read.

The latest US attacks on Iranian targets followed Thursday's exchanges in the Strait of Hormuz, which both sides blamed on each other.

Centcom accused Iran of launching missiles, drones and small boats against three of its warships, in what it called an "unprovoked attack".

Iran's top military command, meanwhile, alleged the US had targeted an Iranian oil tanker and another vessel approaching the Strait of Hormuz and carried out "aerial attacks" on several coastal areas.

One of the cargo vessels attacked near the waters of Minab had caught fire, according to Mohammad Radmehr, an official in the southern Hormozgan province.

"Ten injured sailors have been transferred to hospital, and local groups and search teams are trying to learn the fate of the other sailors," Radmehr told Iranian state news agency Mehr.

US President Donald Trump posted to Truth Social overnight that the US had destroyed multiple small boats, missiles and drones, adding that "great damage" was "done to the Iranian attackers".

"Just like we knocked them out again today, we'll knock them out a lot harder, and a lot more violently, in the future, if they don't get their Deal signed, FAST!"

Additional reporting by Ottilie Mitchell

'I'd rather live in hiding in the US than return to Somalia'

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgz3l4zyq4o, 2 days ago

Months after it was announced that the surge of immigration agents in Minnesota was coming to an end, fear still pervades parts of the US state.

The ongoing enforcement operation, which sparked nationwide protests after two US citizens were killed, has left some residents shaken - particularly among the largest Somali community outside Africa, found in the city of Minneapolis.

Abdi, a 23-year-old man from Somalia whose name has been changed to protect his identity, is one of those who lives in the shadows - terrified of the immigration agents still patrolling the city.

"It hasn't ended," Abdi told the BBC. He said he had been told by other members of the community that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were still conducting raids on people's homes. "I don't know when they will show up at my house."

He explained that he rarely stays in one place for longer than five nights - and sneaks out to go to work. He said that some of his friends had been detained even though, like him, they had documents to prove their Temporary Protected Status (TPS).

This allows people from countries affected by conflict, disaster or extraordinary conditions to live and work legally in the US for a limited period.

The administration of President Donald Trump had sought to end TPS for Somali immigrants by 17 March - thought to affect around 2,500 people - arguing that security had improved in their home country. But a federal judge has temporarily blocked the authorities from removing them.

Trump's effort to end TPS for Somalis, the immigration enforcement operation earlier this year, as well as some disparaging comments made by the US president about the Somali community, have made them feel targeted.

At peak level, the deployment of agents in Minnesota was in the thousands, before Trump's border tsar Tom Homan announced a draw-down. In mid-February, he said only a "small" contingent would remain.

There are about 260,000 people of Somali heritage in the US, more than half of whom are born in the country, while many more have been naturalised, according to the US Census Bureau. These numbers dwarf those who are there illegally, according to Somali community leaders.

Many arrived in the years following the collapse of the last government to control the whole of Somalia in 1991. The country has since experienced chronic droughts and known little peace - and for the past two decades has been battling Islamist militants, in particular those from al-Shabab, a group aligned with al-Qaeda.

Abdi left Somalia in 2022 - fleeing after he says al-Shabab fighters tried to recruit him.

"I spent about $15,000 [£11,000] to get here. My family gave everything," he told me when I met him in March, speaking quietly from a dimly lit apartment hallway.

He bought a Kenyan passport from smugglers and flew to Brazil and there began his long journey towards the US across the Darién Gap, a stretch of jungle between Colombia and Panama, which is widely regarded as one of the world's most perilous migration routes.

"At one point I stepped on a dead body," he said.

After reaching the US-Mexico border, he crossed into the US and applied for asylum. On legal advice, he also applied for TPS, which allowed him to live and work in the country until 2029.

Those detained in the ICE raids have included some joint US-Somali citizens, though their relatives were too afraid to talk to me. Other families split up by deportations to Somalia were also fearful of going on the record - often too traumatised.

If deported, a person faces a 10-year bar on returning to the US, sometimes longer, even if they have any children in the country.

The US Department for Homeland Security (DHS) says its Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota has been a victory for public safety.

"We have arrested over 11,000 criminal illegal aliens who were killing Americans, hurting children and reigning terror in Minneapolis because sanctuary politicians refuse to protect their own people and instead protect criminals," it told the BBC in a statement.

A hard line on immigration was a central plank of Trump's re-election campaign and it remains his strongest policy in polling, even though more still disapprove than approve, according to the latest Ipsos figures.

In Adbi's mind the situation remains an existential crisis: "I would rather live in hiding here for the rest of my life than go back to Somalia, because my life would be at risk."

For Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, such fears point to a contradiction at the heart of US policy.

"The federal government is saying there's no need for Temporary Protected Status in the United States, while at the same time warning people not to travel to Somalia because it's dangerous," he told the BBC.

"Which one is it?"

Walking through parts of Minneapolis, home to several migrant communities, the impact of the raids is still visible - even if daily life is slowly beginning to return to some normality and schools have reopened.

A few shops and restaurants remain closed, their doors shut during what would normally be a busy time.

In a car park outside a Chinese takeaway, I met a tow-truck driver removing cars.

"I heard the owner and the staff of this restaurant were detained by ICE, and that's why it's been shut down," he said, adding that some vehicles had been sitting there for days because their owners were too afraid to return.

"We are living through some dark times," Minnesota congresswoman Ilhan Omar recently told a Democratic convention in Minneapolis.

Afterwards, the first Somali-American to serve in the US Congress told the BBC how difficult the last few months had been - even for children.

"There is still that fear that you will get stopped, that your parents might get stopped. Even our healthcare centres have been impacted."

A fierce critic of Trump, who has repeatedly been targeted in the president's remarks about Somali immigrants, she questioned the scale of the operation and the tactics used by ICE.

"The difference between what we've previously seen with other administrations, including the [Barack] Obama administration that had one of the highest rates of removal, is that that process… was done without creating chaos [and] fear.

"The way Operation Metro Surge was carried out was having men in our streets who are masked, who are not identifiable, in great numbers with military grade weapons drawn at people. What we saw here looked like a war zone."

The DHS maintains those in the US legally have nothing to fear and that ICE agents wore masks to "protect themselves from being doxed by terrorist sympathisers".

Doxxing is when personal information is maliciously posted online and, according to the DHS, assaults against ICE officers have surged.

The tensions have also been heightened by Trump's comments about Somalis, calling them "garbage".

"I don't want them in our country, I'll be honest with you… their country is no good for a reason," Trump told reporters.

The US president has repeatedly highlighted a long-running scandal allegedly involving members of the Somali community in Minnesota, as well as others.

Dozens of people have been convicted over a scheme in which federal prosecutors say a charity fraudulently billed the Minnesota government for meals for children during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Governor Tim Walz announced he was dropping his re-election bid after criticism about the way he has handled the issue.

The investigation into the alleged fraud ramped up last week with raids on more than a dozen childcare day centres.

But Omar said immigration enforcement should not be tied to separate criminal cases.

"The majority of the people indicted are US citizens," she added.

Jim Abeler, a Republican member of Minnesota's Senate, is also critical of ICE's tactics - but he feels it points to deeper policy failures that need fixing.

"I don't think this is a party issue. Our national immigration policy is a mess - it's been a bipartisan failure for a decade," he told the BBC.

Trump's comments about Somalis have dented Republican support among the community in Minnesota, where he had some fans in the socially conservative society ahead of his second term.

"I voted for Trump - and regret doing that," Foos Abe from Minneapolis told me. "If I hadn't voted for him, he couldn't have called us 'garbage'," she said.

One thing Operation Metro Surge has done is bring people together in unexpected ways.

This includes Somali-American Imam Sharif Muhammad and Jane Buckley Farley, a pastor at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

I met them at a mosque in Minneapolis, where the imam described how the crisis had strengthened ties across faith groups: "The ICE raid created more closeness and more brotherhood and sisterhood."

The pastor agreed: "When the surge happened, people came together, asking where help was needed and how we could respond."

Together they set up informal alert systems to warn residents when immigration officers were nearby.

Two US citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, who were members of similar volunteer groups, were killed by federal immigration agents during the surge in January.

Outside the mosque I met Lisa and her husband, a retired white couple who are both volunteer observers.

Asking me not to disclose her full name, Lisa explained how residents remained on alert and used whistles to warn others if immigration agents were seen nearby.

"It's quieter, but they're sneakier. They're blending in, so it's harder to tell," she said.

For Abdi, these volunteer networks offer some reassurance - though he admits he is despondent.

"We hoped for a future in America. Our dream has been shattered," he said.

Additional reporting by Brian Khisa, Tom Santorelli and Lucy Fleming

Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.

White House calls Mark Hamill 'sick' after actor's Trump grave post

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g723pkgllo, yesterday

The White House has called Star Wars actor Mark Hamill "one sick individual" after he posted an AI-generated image of US President Donald Trump in a ‌shallow grave, alongside the caption "if only".

The image, posted on Hamill's Bluesky account, showed Trump lying with his eyes shut, next to a headstone with the inscription "Donald J. Trump 1946-2024".

Hamill, who played Luke Skywalker in the original Star Wars films from 1977 onwards, later deleted the post and apologised. "Actually, I was wishing him the opposite of dead, but apologize if you found the image inappropriate," he wrote.

BBC News has asked the actor's representatives for a comment on the White House remarks about him.

In the now-deleted X post, Hamill - who has also voiced the Joker character in various DC Comics projects - wrote that Trump "should live long enough to witness his inevitable devastating loss in the midterms, be held accountable for his unprecedented corruption, impeached, convicted & humiliated for his countless crimes. Long enough to realize he'll be disgraced in the history books, forevermore."

The White House press team responded on the same platform, calling Hamill "one sick individual".

"These Radical Left lunatics ‌just ⁠can't help themselves," they replied.

"This kind of rhetoric is exactly what has inspired three assassination attempts in two years against our President."

Last month, a man fired a shotgun outside the White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, in what ⁠the authorities have said was an attempt to assassinate Trump.

Following the shooting, Melania Trump and other US officials demanded that comedian and TV chat show host Jimmy Kimmel be sacked by ABC after he joked on-air, in a parody sketch days before the shooting, that the first lady had a "glow like an expectant widow".

Mrs Trump said Kimmel's "hateful and violent rhetoric" was intended to divide the US, adding: "It is time for ABC to take a stand.

"How many times will ABC's leadership enable Kimmel's atrocious behaviour at the expense of our community?"

Kimmel rejected the criticism, saying his joke had been a reference to the couple's 24-year age difference.

"I agree that hateful and violent rhetoric is something ⁠we should reject," he later said on-air.

"I do, and I think a great place to start to dial that back would be to have a conversation with your husband about it."

The president was shot in the ear at a rally in Pennsylvania in 2024, where the gunman was killed by ⁠the Secret Service.

The same year, a man was found hiding in bushes with weapons close to where Trump was playing golf. In February, he was convicted of an attempted assassination.

Trump and Lula's private Oval Office meeting signals lingering strain - and effort to avoid tension

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8r8gxjxz10o, 2 days ago

Despite the recent history of tension between Brazil and the United States, Presidents Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Donald Trump ended their meeting on Thursday at the White House exchanging public compliments.

Trump said in a post on Truth Social that the meeting had been "very good" and called Lula "dynamic", while the Brazilian president said he left the meeting "very satisfied".

Still, the absence of a joint Oval Office press appearance could be a a sign that important disagreements remain unresolved.

The two governments still disagree on key issues such as crime, and Lula acknowledged they are especially far apart on trade.

"He always thinks we charge too much tax," Lula said of the leaders' tariff discussions, saying Brazil had proposed a working group to negotiate any trade disagreements within 30 days.

"Whoever is wrong will give in. If we have to give in, we will. If you have to give in, then you will have to give in," he said.

Washington and Brasilia have also faced strain over the fight against organised crime, the US's war in Iran and the risk of American interference in Brazil's October elections.

And Trump has pushed Lula to drop charges against former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who was last year convicted of an attempted coup and sentenced to 27 years in prison.

Trump usually relishes the opportunity to meet with foreign leaders at the White House, and often turns the visits into lengthy informal press conferences.

The White House's decision on Thursday to forego a joint Oval Office appearance with Lula was telling, experts told the BBC, despite Trump's assertions that the meeting went "well".

Oliver Stuenkel, associate professor of international relations at Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV) in São Paulo, said the lack of a joint statement during or after the meeting indicates that "some disagreements remain on the table".

But that doesn't mean the outcome of the meeting was negative, Stuenkel said.

Dawisson Belém Lopes, professor of International Relations at the Federal University of Minas Gerais, agreed. For him, the cordial reception given to Lula indicates a normalisation of the bilateral relationship after months of strain.

"I would be careful not to exaggerate or over-interpret this cancellation [of the Oval Office press appearance]," he said.

"Lula is treated as an important, respectable interlocutor. He was literally received with a red carpet and went there to discuss matters of state, regardless of the disagreements that may exist - and certainly do exist - between him and Trump," he added.

Lopes said he believes the Thursday meeting marked a change in the White House's strategy towards Brazil after months of tension and public confrontations.

"Trump is very experimental in the way he does politics in general, and foreign policy in particular. He operates by trial and error, and in this specific case he already tried confronting Lula and Brazil," Lopes said. "It brought no kind of reward."

According to Lopes, Washington has adopted a more pragmatic and less ideological approach to the bilateral relationship since September - when the two presidents met at the UN General Assembly in New York .

The meeting, held "away from the spotlight" would indicate precisely this change in tone, he said. "This meeting signals the arrival of a new moment in bilateral relations."

Stuenkel, of FGV, said he believes the length of the meeting - around three hours - may indicate an effort to build a personal relationship between Trump and Lula - especially important in the Trump era.

The Brazilian government did not expect major immediate concessions from the American president anyway, Stuenkel said, especially on sensitive issues such as the US asking Brazil to classify certain groups as terrorist organisations.

"It was not realistic to convince Trump to reverse all the demands."

The Brazilian strategy appears to have been more focused on reducing the risk of new friction points than on obtaining an immediate diplomatic victory.

"Perhaps it is neither so relevant nor so smart to seek a major victory... but simply to reduce the risk" of the US moving toward new disagreements, Stuenkel said.

Elections loom in both countries

In a "very delicate moment in the bilateral relationship," avoiding any public tension between the two leaders is a win, Stuenkel said.

For Lopes, the proximity of elections in both Brazil and the United States means there is political interest on both sides in avoiding public friction.

Lula is seeking re-election in October and would want to " avoid thorny issues and anything that could be used against him", Lopes said, as Trump is facing his own domestic pressure ahead of the US midterms in November.

"It is in the interest of both parties not to create negative political facts and to manage the main points of contention," Lopes said.

That may also be why certain sensitive topics were not dealt with directly by the presidents, Lopes said, speculating that the leaders avoided issues considered "unsolvable from the outset".

"Trump is no longer a beginner at this point, much less Lula. Since these are experienced diplomats, experienced heads of state, they try to steer away from obstacles that are insurmountable."

The meeting could ultimately be seen as a win for Lula, Lopes assessed, especially given the asymmetry of power between the two countries.

"The United States is more important to Brazil than Brazil is to the United States," he said. "So in this case, if there was a draw, it is better for Brazil."

BBC News Washington Correspondent Daniel Bush contributed to this report.

Voters will judge Trump on the economy - how is it doing?

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgepyv20vrpo, 7 days ago

Donald Trump once predicted the US-Israeli war in Iran would last no longer than six weeks. It has now entered its third month.

The conflict has caused a global energy shock on a par with the oil crises of the 1970s, driving up prices of everything from fuel to groceries.

Despite piling additional pressure on already hard-pressed Americans, the latest GDP figures out this week showed the economy motoring along in the first three months of 2026.

As America's first quarter growth figures offered a boost, the BBC examines how major US economic indicators are looking for the president, with midterm elections looming in November and no sign of the ongoing war coming to an end.

Economic growth

In the run-up to the midterms, Trump will use Thursday's growth figures to paint his economic approach as the right one.

The economy grew by 2% on an annualised basis in the first quarter of 2026, a significant boost after a slowdown at the end of 2025, official statistics showed.

That came despite pressure on consumers from US tariffs, which led to higher prices for American shoppers, and the fresh energy shock sparked by the Iran war.

Economists said the hit to consumers was not as bad as feared, with consumption growing by 1.6% on an annualised basis. But they also attributed the overall increase in growth to the huge sums being spent by tech giants investing in the rollout of artificial intelligence (AI).

James Knightley, chief international economist at ING, said that as consumer spending cools, "investment linked to tech and AI has clearly become the main engine of growth in the US".

Cost of living

November's elections are on a knife edge, and the success of Trump's Republican party will depend largely on the now familiar political line: "It's the economy, stupid."

But while headline growth figures are positive, Americans are much more likely to vote based on the cost of living.

Trump's strikes on Iran, and the subsequent closure of the Strait of Hormuz, have driven oil prices up, with a barrel of Brent crude, a major oil benchmark, hitting a four-year high of $126 on Thursday. It has since fallen back to $111 but it was trading at around $73 before the war broke out at the end of February.

This led to Americans paying $4.30 (£3.17) for a gallon of fuel by the end of April, according to American Automobile Association data, compared with less than $3 in February.

That contributed to a sharp jump in inflation, with March's reading for average annual price increases coming in at 3.3%, a near two-year high and a significant uptick from February's 2.4%.

Interest rates

The impact of the Iran war, in particular March's inflation figures, dashed any hope of an imminent interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve.

The central bank kept its base rate, which affects mortgage and other borrowing costs for Americans, at the 3.5% to 3.75% level on Wednesday. Before the war, economists had expected a series of interest rate cuts.

Since US strikes on Iran began, the average interest rate for a 30-year mortgage has risen from 5.98% to 6.3%, according to data from Freddie Mac.

Samuel Tombs, chief US economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, has said higher oil prices and expectations the US will maintain its blockade of Iranian ports for the long haul, could see rate cuts delayed until 2027.

The stock market

Despite the turmoil, Americans with money in the stock market have fared well during the war.

The major US indices - the S&P 500, the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the Nasdaq Composite - have all more than made back losses seen in the early days of the campaign, and have continued their pre-war upward trajectory.

The Nasdaq has gained around 10% since the start of the conflict, the S&P is around 5% higher while the Dow has risen by just over 1%.

Increases in the major indices are good news for investors, but also a boost to those with pension pots tied up in stocks, such as 401ks.

With the Republicans on course to lose control of the House and at risk of losing the Senate, November's elections will depend massively on the state of the economy by the time voters head to the polls.

While headline GDP growth and stock markets rallying will offer some comfort to Republican strategists, the spiralling cost of living will continue to be a cause for concern.

How much Trump can or cannot do in the time he has remaining as president will be influenced in large part by how the conflict in Iran plays out, whether the Strait of Hormuz is reopened and whether this feeds through to lower fuel and grocery prices for American voters.

Trump pauses Hormuz plan 50 hours after he announced it - what happened?

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd6p5q2dx1po, 4 days ago

US President Donald Trump has said the military operation to guide stranded merchant ships through the Strait of Hormuz will be paused just two days after he announced it.

Trump declared on Sunday that "Project Freedom" would begin the next morning in an attempt to unblock the crucial waterway which Tehran has effectively closed since the start of the US-Israel war with Iran.

Iran's threats to ships using the strait - through which some 20% of the world's oil and gas flows - has led to large increases in the oil price and fears for the global economy.

But 50 hours later the president posted that the mission was being put on hold "for a short period of time".

His decision came on the same day his defence secretary had declared the US was "leading with strength, clarity and purpose for the benefit of the entire world".

BBC Verify has put together a timeline of what happened during the two days of "Project Freedom".

Sunday - Trump announces 'Project Freedom'

"For the good of Iran, the Middle East, and the United States, we have told these Countries that we will guide their Ships safely out of these restricted Waterways, so that they can freely and ably get on with their business," Trump posted on his Truth Social social media platform at 21:35 BST (20:35 GMT).

"I have told my Representatives to inform them that we will use best efforts to get their Ships and Crews safely out of the Strait."

According to the Baltic and International Maritime Council shipping association some 1,000 vessels with around 20,000 seafarers on board are currently stranded in the region.

Trump said the "humanitarian gesture" would start on "Monday morning Middle East time".

"I am fully aware that my Representatives are having very positive discussions with the Country of Iran, and that these discussions could lead to something very positive for all," he added.

Monday - Two ships reportedly pass through strait

Just after midnight UK time on Monday, the US military's Central Command (Centcom) posted that its forces "will begin supporting Project Freedom, 4 May, to restore freedom of navigation for commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz".

Centcom said "Project Freedom" would involve guided-missile destroyers, more than 100 land and sea-based aircraft, and 15,000 service personnel.

According to UKMTO - the British military's operation tracking threats to shipping in the Middle East - the US was advising vessels to pass through a "security area" off the Oman coast.

Later that day, Centcom posted: "As a first step, two US-flagged merchant vessels have successfully transited through the Strait of Hormuz and are safely headed on their journey."

And according to Trump, during the first day of the operation the US military struck seven Iranian "fast boats" in the strait - a claim disputed by Iranian media. The Tasnim news agency reported military sources saying that two small cargo vessels had been hit killing five civilians.

On Monday the UAE's foreign ministry reported a tanker affiliated with Adnoc - its state-owned oil company - was hit in the Strait of Hormuz and South Korea reported an explosion on one of its ships anchored just off the UAE.

A fire also broke out at the oil port of Fujairah after what the UAE said was an Iranian attack, which Iran denied.

Tuesday - US officials talk up the project

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Dan Caine focused on "Project Freedom" at a Pentagon news conference on Tuesday.

"Hundreds more ships from nations around the world are lining up to transit", Hegseth said, while Caine added: "Merchant vessels have transited and we anticipate more to transit over the coming days."

Neither offered an exact timeline for how long the project would last, but Hegseth said it was "focused in scope and temporary in duration".

"Project Freedom is under way, commerce will be flowing, and America is once again leading with strength, clarity and purpose for the benefit of the entire world. Our will is unshakable," he added.

Later that day, America's top diplomat, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, spoke to reporters at the White House - saying the US was carrying out the operation as a "favour to the world" as it was "the only country that can project power in that part of the world the way we're doing now".

Later on Tuesday - Trump pauses the project

Just hours after Hegseth and Rubio had spoken, Trump paused "Project Freedom".

At 18:52 Washington time (23:52 BST) he posted on Truth Social saying the decision had been made by "mutual agreement" because there had been "great progress" towards a deal with Iran.

"Project Freedom (The Movement of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz) will be paused for a short period of time to see whether or not the Agreement can be finalized and signed," the president posted.

The project - which Hegseth said earlier the same day was part of a "laser-focused strategy" - had been put on hold.

A little over four hours before Trump's announcement a ship belonging to the French CMA CGM group was hit in the Strait of Hormuz - injuring some of the crew and damaging the vessel.

According to the shipping publication Lloyd's List ship owners and insurers said "Project Freedom" had not given them "sufficient clarity or credible protection to justify resuming transits" through the strait.

"Transit volumes through the Strait of Hormuz continue to drop amid escalating security concerns," it added.

What do you want BBC Verify to investigate?

What to know about Louise Arbour, Canada's next governor general

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g4wpj17v5o, 4 days ago

Prime Minister Mark Carney has named a bilingual lawyer and former United Nations high commissioner for human rights as Canada's new governor general.

Louise Arbour, 79, will soon replace current Governor General Mary Simon, who became the first indigenous person to hold the role when she was appointed five years ago.

The governor general serves as the representative of the Canadian Crown, currently King Charles III, in the commonwealth country and acts as head of state on the monarch's behalf. They typically serve five-year terms.

Carney has been under pressure to appoint a governor general that speaks both English and French - Canada's two official language - after Simon was criticised for her lack of French proficiency.

On Tuesday, the prime minister described Arbour as a Canadian whose entire life has been dedicated to "sound judgement, deep learning and an unwavering commitment to the rule of law".

Arbour said she accepts the role "with a deep sense of duty."

Who is Louise Arbour?

Arbour was born in Montreal, Quebec, and had previously served as a justice on the Supreme Court of Canada, the country's highest court.

Outside of Canada, Arbour served as chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda. Carney called this role "her most consequential" as a jurist.

Arbour is credited for making history for the first-ever indictment of a sitting head of state, former Yugoslavian president Slobodan Milošević, as well as her prosecution of sexual assaults as crimes against humanity.

She is also credited for securing the first conviction for genocide since the 1948 Genocide Convention in the case of Rwanda.

Arbour later served as the United Nations human rights commissioner for four years, from 2004 to 2008.

Carney said Arbour "has held nearly every office a Canadian jurist can hold, and several that no Canadian has held before".

In 2007, Arbour received the Order of Canada, the country's highest civilian honour, for her contributions to the justice system both in Canada and internationally.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Arbour said that she believes the constitutional monarchy in Canada has served the country "extremely well" and that it has provided continuity throughout its history.

"The strength of this country resides in stable institutions managed with wisdom and sustained through the desire for the well-being of our country and the planet," she said.

Who has previously served in the role?

Arbour's appointment marks the end of Simon's term as governor general, which has been described as "historic" as no indigenous person had held the role before.

Simon, who is Inuit and born in northern Quebec, previously served as the ambassador to Denmark and as president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, Canada's national Inuit organisation.

She is bilingual in English and Inuktitut - but not French, saying in the past that she had been denied the opportunity to learn the language while attending a federal day school in Quebec.

Simon was criticised for her French ability throughout her term. In 2024, she released a statement responding to critical media reports following a trip to Quebec, where she spoke mostly in English.

In that statement, she said she understood "the importance of French to French-speaking Canadians as a critical part of their cultures and identities".

On Tuesday, Carney called Simon an "exemplary" governor general who "carried forward a lifetime of advocacy for Inuit rights, for indigenous self determination, and for the preservation of our indigenous languages, cultures and identities".

Prior to Simon, Julie Payette, an astronaut, engineer, scientific broadcaster and corporate director, served in the role from 2017 to 2021.

The last governor general who did not come from the province of Quebec was David Johnston, who was born in Ontario. A former law professor and principal and vice-chancellor of McGill University, he served seven years in the role, from 2010 to 2017.

A governor general's responsibilities include constitutional duties such as swearing the prime minister and cabinet into office, the presentation of honours, and military duties including recognising the contribution of the armed forces.

What is Trump's 'Project Freedom' in the Strait of Hormuz?

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g437depzpo, 4 days ago

President Donald Trump has announced a pause to the just-launched US initiative that aimed to help guide ships stranded by Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump had said the initiative - Project Freedom - was a humanitarian gesture "meant to free up people, companies, and Countries that have done absolutely nothing wrong". Iran has said vessels can only cross the pivotal waterway with its authorisation.

Trump announced the new initiative on Sunday. Since then, Iran's military said it has fired at US warships to deter them from navigating the waterway and the US says it has sunk small boats - threatening a ceasefire meant to end the war.

Then on Tuesday - two days after first being announced - Trump said the initiative would pause "for a short period of time" to see whether the US and Iran can come to an agreement.

Here is what we know about "Project Freedom" and the concerns over whether it could lead to a wider resumption of hostilities.

How was the US military implementing it?

The Hormuz Strait has remained largely blocked since the US and Israel launched air strikes on Iran on 28 February - and Tehran responded by blocking the crucial waterway through which 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas is meant to pass freely.

The US says there are 22,500 mariners on 1,550 commercial vessels trapped in the Gulf.

There has been growing concern over dwindling supplies and the effects on sailors' physical and mental health.

US Central Command (Centcom) says that "guided-missile destroyers, over 100 land and sea-based aircraft, multi-domain unmanned platforms, and 15,000 service members" were being used to support the operation.

In a briefing on the first day of the operation, Centcom commander Adm Brad Cooper said vessels from 87 countries were stranded in the Gulf - and the US had contacted "dozens of ships and shipping companies to encourage traffic flow through".

It wasn't clear when the operation was announced whether the US would attempt to provide stranded ships with a military escort.

Mick Mulroy, former US deputy assistant secretary of defence and a Marine veteran, told the BBC he believed the US military would likely be more focused on air cover, and defence from drone or missile attacks, rather than physically escorting ships.

"The question is whether ships will trust their ability to get through without being attacked, and more importantly, the insurance company," he said, before the operation was paused.

Tim Wilkins, managing director at Intertanko, a trade body representing independent tanker owners and operators, told the BBC the Trump administration did not establish any co-ordination for the operation, leaving members worried about their safety transiting the Strait.

Are vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz?

On Monday afternoon, Centcom said US Navy guided-missile destroyers were operating in the Gulf "after transiting the Strait of Hormuz in support of Project Freedom".

It added American forces were "actively assisting efforts to restore transit for commercial shipping" but gave no details.

"As a first step, 2 U.S.-flagged merchant vessels have successfully transited through the Strait of Hormuz and are safely headed on their journey," Centcom also said. Again, no details were released about the identity of the commercial vessels.

Shipping company Maersk confirmed that one of its vessels was able to exit the Gulf, accompanied by the US military.

But Iran's powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps denied any vessels had passed through the Strait.

For now, though, with the operation to help guide vessels paused, it's unclear whether more ships will be able to navigate through.

Is Iran firing at US warships and other vessels?

Hours after the US operation was set to start on Monday, the Iranian military said it had fired against "American and Zionist enemy destroyers", which it said the Americans had "disregarded".

Centcom quickly denied the Iranian claims that a warship had been hit by two missiles. It confirmed that Iran did fire cruise missiles at both US warships and US-flagged commercial ships, while drones and small boats were used against commercial ships.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) - a Gulf ally of the US, which has often been attacked by Iran during the war - said a tanker affiliated with Adnoc, its state-owned oil company, was targeted by two drones as it transited the Strait of Hormuz.

No-one was injured, the country's foreign ministry said in a statement. At least three missile interceptions also were reported.

A suspected strike hit a South Korean cargo vessel anchored in the strait, near the UAE.

Centcom commander Cooper said that some of the US attack helicopters supporting the mission were used to sink six small Iranian boats that were targeting civilian vessels. Iran has denied this.

Iran insisted that it will take "decisive action" against ships that do not use the regime-approved route through the strait.

The country's top negotiator has accused the US of jeopardising shipping security with its own blockade of Iranian ports, saying the "continuation of the status quo is intolerable for America".

Trump, on Tuesday, said the US was pausing the new operation at the request of Pakistan - the intermediary in negotiations between the US and Iran, along with other countries.

Is the Iran war resuming?

When Trump announced the initiative's pause on social media on Tuesday, he said "great progress" had been made toward "a complete and final agreement" with Iran.

He said the Strait would remain blockaded during the pause.

The White House told the BBC that it had nothing to add regarding the president's post.

Iranian state media said the pause demonstrated that Trump had "retreated" after "continued failures" in his efforts to reopen the vital waterway for global shipping.

Grant Rumley, a Middle East expert who served as an adviser to the Biden and Trump administrations between 2018 and 2021, said that the plan to secure passage for ships in the Gulf would be "very, very hard".

Before it was paused, he noted such an operation would likely require a stronger, more "kinetic" military option.

"I think that the general consensus is that a resumption of hostilities is a question of when," he said. "Not if."

Nitya Labh, a fellow on the International Security Programme at London's Chatham House, said the US operation was "extremely risky" and"quite escalatory".

She added that, if Trump's "Project Freedom" succeeded in getting some vessels out of the strait, "it will be a temporary relief at best" - a more sustained effort would be required to open up the critical waterway.

At a briefing on Tuesday, US defence secretary Pete Hegseth was asked if US operations in the strait meant that the ceasefire was over.

"No, the ceasefire is not over," he said. "This is a separate and distinct project."

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine said that even though Iran had fired at commercial vessels nine times, seized two container ships and attacked US forces 10 times since the ceasefire agreement on 8 April, those actions were below the threshold of restarting major combat operations "at this point".

Follow the twists and turns of Trump's second term with North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher's weekly US Politics Unspun newsletter. Readers in the UK can sign up here. Those outside the UK can sign up here.

South Africa president faces call to resign after court ruling

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy4287vpvl7o, yesterday

Leading South African opposition figure Julius Malema has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to resign after the Constitutional Court ruled parliament had violated the constitution by blocking moves to impeach him in 2022.

The judgement follows a legal challenge by Malema's Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and others, and could result in fresh impeachment proceedings. Ramaphosa's office said he respects the judgement.

In 2022, an independent panel said he may have a case to answer after burglars stole $580,000 (£430,000) in cash, hidden in a sofa, from his rural home.

The theft led to allegations that he had not accounted for where the cash had come from. The president denied wrongdoing.

But impeachment proceedings were blocked four years ago in a parliamentary vote. At that time Ramaphosa's African National Congress (ANC) had a majority in parliament, but since the 2024 general election the ANC has been governing in a coalition.

Following the judgement, Ramaphosa's office said he "reaffirms his commitment to the Constitution, the independence of the Judiciary and the rule of law".

The statement said the president had been "consistent in providing his full assistance" to all enquiries into the matter.

"President Ramaphosa maintains that no person is above the law and that any allegations should be subjected to due process without fear, favour or prejudice."

The ANC also released a statement to similar effect, adding on X that the judgement shows "the importance of allowing institutions to function independently" within South Africa's constitutional democracy.

Speaking to reporters outside the court in Johannesburg earlier, Malema said Ramaphosa should resign and "concentrate on this impeachment process because it has got serious implications on him as an individual".

"You cannot serve the two - one is going to suffer," he explained, referring to being president and preparing for impeachment.

The EFF took the case to the country's highest court alongside the African Transformation Movement in 2024.

Malema, who his facing his own difficulties as he appeals against a sentence for the the illegal possession of a gun and firing it in public, said members of Ramaphosa's ANC will impeach him because "the evidence will be before their eyes".

His party has written to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Thoko Didiza, asking for a "clear indication, within the next 48 hours, of specific steps" she intends to take given the judgement, South Africa's News24 website reported.

Geordin Hill-Lewis, the leader of the Democratic Alliance, the second largest party in the governing coalition, said politicians must "uphold the rule of law", and that parliament's impeachment committee "must now do its work properly, rationally, fairly and constitutionally".

This saga - dubbed "Farmgate" by local media - began in 2020, after the $580,000 had allegedly been stolen from Phala Phala, Ramaphosa's farm in the northern Limpopo province.

Two years later, an independent panel found evidence that the president may have violated his oath of office, but in a debate that focused on its conclusions, parliament voted 214 to 148 against setting up an impeachment committee.

South Africa has strict rules on holding foreign currency, which say that it must be deposited with an authorised dealer such as a bank with 30 days. At the time, Ramaphosa said the cash was from selling a buffalo.

Three people are on trial for the alleged theft.

Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.

South Africa condemns 'fake videos' of alleged xenophobic attacks

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx21g3vl63zo, 3 days ago

South Africa's government has condemned the circulation of what it called "fake videos and images" that have been described by some as recordings of attacks on foreign nationals in the country.

The call comes as diplomatic tension has increased between South Africa and other African nations following accusations that xenophobic violence is on the rise once again in the country.

Ghana's government has written to the African Union (AU) asking the continental body to discuss the issue, which it says is a "serious risk to the safety and wellbeing" of Africans in South Africa.

Nigeria has also raised the issue and has offered to repatriate its nationals amid fears of attacks.

Kenya, Malawi, Lesotho and Zimbabwe have also warned its citizens in South Africa to be aware of possible attacks.

South Africa responded to Ghana's message saying that it "had nothing to hide".

This wave of pressure was sparked after video clips were shared online over a fortnight ago that appeared to show vigilante groups harassing people they believed were in South Africa illegally. In one, it was reported that a Ghanaian had been challenged over his status and told to go and "fix his country".

But briefing the media on Thursday following a cabinet meeting, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said, without specifying which footage she was talking about, that "the fake videos and images are not only fake, but they are intended to undermine the good reputation of South Africa internationally and undermine the country's pursuit of a better Africa agenda".

Thousands of South Africans have been protesting against illegal immigration in major cities in recent days, demanding the mass deportation of undocumented foreign nationals.

Protesters have said illegal immigration has had an impact on jobs, housing and crime.

Referring to the demonstrations, Ntshavheni said South Africans were within their rights to protest against "the spiralling illegal immigration challenge" but added that violence linked to previous protests was unacceptable.

Xenophobia has long been an issue in South Africa and has been accompanied by occasional outbursts of deadly attacks. But the current protests have been largely peaceful with no official reports of accompanying looting of foreign-owned shops or violence against undocumented migrants.

South Africa's government has been stepping up diplomatic efforts to quell growing concern around the continent about rising anti-immigration sentiment in the country.

In its letter to the AU, Ghana said that what it called xenophobia in South Africa "presents a challenge to the shared principles of African solidarity, brotherhood, and continental unity". It wants a fact-finding mission to be sent to the country.

On Wednesday, Cyril Ramaphosa's presidential spokesperson said he had emphasised "that South Africa is a welcoming country. South Africans are an open, friendly and warm people. And we will reject any notion that seeks to characterise this country or its people as being xenophobic."

Referring to Ghana's letter on Thursday, Ntshavheni echoed the president, saying that there were "no xenophobic attacks in South Africa".

She acknowledged that foreigners had been victims but put this down to general criminality, which the police needed to deal with, and efforts to undermine the country.

Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.

Rwandan singer dies as he was being released from prison

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cevpxn0ddp9o, 3 days ago

Rwandan singer Aimable Karasira has died as he was being released from prison in Kigali, according to the Rwanda Correctional Service (RCS).

The RCS said he had died at Nyarugenge Hospital after he had allegedly overdosed on his prescription medication.

RCS spokesperson Hillary Sengabo later said Karasira was suffering from diabetes, high blood pressure and poor mental health, and that a post-mortem would be carried out.

However, some government critics view his death as suspicious and have called for an independent investigation.

The 48-year-old was well-known for his YouTube videos, in which he criticised the government and the ruling Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) party. He was arrested in 2021, and in 2025 was sentenced to five years for inciting division.

The high court last year acquitted him of the other charges put to him - inciting public disorder, justifying genocide and genocide denial.

In an interview with Rwandan broadcaster TV One, the RCS spokesperson said Karasira was being escorted out of the prison at around 14:00 or 15:00 on Wednesday when he took another dose of his medication.

According to the RCS spokesman, the prison officials proceeded to take the medication away from him, but it was too late.

But some - who shared his criticism of the Rwandan government - believe his death to be suspicious.

"After years of persecution and imprisonment, the authorities announce your death just as you were supposed to regain your freedom," said Denise Zaneza, a Rwandan human rights activist based in Belgium.

Her post on X called for an independent and transparent investigation, given what she called "Rwanda's long history of repression, lack of transparency, suspicious deaths in detention, and the mistreatment of critics and dissidents".

In 2020, gospel singer Kizito Mihigo was found dead in his prison cell. He, like Karasira, was a survivor of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, and critic of the ruling RPF party. Rwanda says he too killed himself.

Zaneza remembered Karasira for his courage to "speak about memory, injustice, and the right to mourn all victims without fear".

"You spoke openly about the killing of members of your family by RPF soldiers in 1994; a story that many in Rwanda feel is not allowed to be told because it challenges the official narrative promoted by [President] @PaulKagame's government," she wrote.

"For speaking out, you were imprisoned. For sharing your truth, you were silenced. You lost your freedom simply for expressing your pain and demanding recognition for your family's suffering."

In 1994, ethnic Hutu extremists targeted members of the minority Tutsi community and their opponents, killing around 800,000 people in 100 days.

Karasira - an ethnic Tutsi - lost his parents during the killings, but he blamed RPF fighters, saying the rebels suspected them of passing on information about their activities.

The RPF was founded as a rebel group by Tutsi exiles including Paul Kagame, now president, to fight the Hutu regime behind the genocide, which it forced from power.

The singer was also a lecturer in computer science at the University of Rwanda before he was sacked. The university denied accusations that he was dismissed because of his anti-government views, saying it was for "disciplinary faults", local media reported at the time.

His channel, "Ukuri Mbona", which means "The Truth As I See It", was where he platformed his criticism of the government. He also appeared on other YouTube channels as a guest.

The RPF has a reputation for not tolerating any dissent, and talking about ethnicity is not encouraged.

The government wants its citizens to identify as just Rwandans in an effort to promote reconciliation between the ethnic groups.

In 2021 - following the arrest of Karasira and others like him - Human Rights Watch called on Rwandan authorities to investigate the "suspicious deaths and disappearances of critics, opposition members, civil society actors, and journalists, and prosecute those responsible".

Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.

Ethiopian woman's joy at rare quintuplets after 12 years trying for a baby

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c893y34zlv0o, yesterday

A woman has given birth to rare quintuplets in Ethiopia's Harari Regional state after 12 years of trying for a baby.

Bedriya Adem said she and her husband were "overjoyed" to be "blessed with five children at once".

The 35-year-old delivered four boys and a girl, all of whom are in "full health", at the Hiwot Fana Specialised Hospital, the hospital said.

"I cannot express my happiness in words," she told the BBC, recalling how she was "filled with depression and pain" until her prayers were answered.

Hospital medical director Dr Mohammed Nur Abdulahi said the mother and babies remained under medical care at the hospital. The babies weighed between 1.3 and 1.4kg (3lb).

He told the BBC that newborns who weigh more than a kilogram have a high chance of survival and healthy growth.

The doctor told the BBC that Bedriya had conceived naturally, without the aid of in vitro fertilisation (IVF), which the hospital does not offer.

IVF can increase the chance of multiple births if more than one embryo can be transferred.

The chance of conceiving quintuplets naturally is about one in 55 million.

The doctor said the birth had been through Caesarean on Tuesday evening.

"She received regular medical care during her pregnancy and was informed that she had conceived more than one baby. She had full and proper medical assistance throughout," Mohammed said, as he described her "excitement".

Bedriya said she had initially been told she was pregnant with four babies, but when she gave birth, there was one more.

"I prayed for just one child, and Allah gave me five," she said, talking about how she felt during her "long wait".

The first-time mother said her husband already had a child from another marriage, who lived with them.

"He used to tell me that having [the other child] was enough and that I should not worry, but deep inside I was suffering - psychologically and emotionally - as the entire village questioned my inability to give birth," she said.

"What I endured in the past feels like a distant dream, one I do not even want to recall," she added.

"I spent 12 years in pain, hiding myself, and praying constantly for children - at last, Allah heard me."

She said that she was a subsistence farmer and was not sure how she would provide for her newly enlarged family. "But I believe Allah will provide, through the support of my community and the government."

Their "five blessings" have been named Naif, Ammar, Munzir, Nazira, and Ansar.

Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.

Former Botswana President Festus Mogae dies aged 86

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9we8lnyr2ko, yesterday

Botswana's former head of state Festus Mogae has died at the age of 86, President Duma Boko has announced.

"Today Botswana mourns a distinguished statesman and patriot whose life was devoted to the service of his country," Boko announced, adding that Mogae died early on Friday.

The former president, who led Botswana from 1998 to 2008, had been in ill health for some time.

In a statement last month, the government said he was receiving medical care at a hospital in the capital, Gaborone, without disclosing the nature of his illness.

Mogae, the country's thrid president, is widely credited with strengthening Botswana's economic management and governance systems during a period of rapid growth driven by diamond revenues.

In his address to the nation on Friday, Boko hailed Mogae as a leader who "stood firmly for discipline, good governance, economic prudence and the advancement of our nation".

"Under his leadership, Botswana earned its international respect for principled governance," added Boko.

Boko declared three days of national mourning, during which flags will fly at half-mast in honour of the late leader.

Before assuming the presidency, Mogae held senior positions in government including finance minister and later vice-president.

He is also widely credited with steering Botswana's response to the HIV/Aids epidemic. At the time, his country had one of the world's worst infection rates, but an ambitious antiretroviral treatment programme significantly reduced infection and mortality rates.

Even after leaving office, he remained an advocate for HIV/Aids treatment in the region, pushing for free antiretroviral therapy and measures to prevent mother-to-child transmission.

He was subsequently involved in various international advisory and peace mediation roles across the continent.

In 2008, Mogae won the the Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership - one of the most prestigious honours for African governance - recognising his democratic leadership and peaceful transfer of power.

As well as the $5m (£3.6m) prize, Mr Mogae was awarded $200,000 a year for the rest of his life.

Mogae was succeeded as president by Ian Khama.

Botswana is one of Africa's most politically stable countries - it has never had a coup and has had regular multi-party elections since independence in 1966.

Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.

Dozens killed in jihadist attacks on villages in central Mali

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5yeg0rkdkxo, yesterday

Dozens of people have reportedly been killed in attacks on two villages in central Mali, the deadliest assault since armed groups launched a co-ordinated offensive in the country last month.

At least 30 people were killed when jihadists raided the villages of Korikori and Gomossogou in Mopti region, according to sources quoted by the AFP news agency. Other diplomatic and aid sources separately told the Reuters news agency the death toll from Wednesday's simultaneous attacks had reached at least 50.

The al Qaeda-linked group JNIM said it was responsible.

The Malian army said it had conducted a "targeted operation" in the area, where about a dozen jihadist fighters were "neutralised".

Since 2012, Mali has been plagued by insurgencies and large parts of the north and east of the country remain outside government control.

Last month saw nationwide, coordinated attacks by an alliance of jihadists and separatist rebels in the north - the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) - seeking to overthrow the military regime of Gen Assimi Goïta, who seized power in a coup in 2020.

During the attacks, Defence Minister Sadio Camara was killed in an apparent suicide truck bombing on his residence near the capital, Bamako.

A security source told AFP the Wednesday night attacks were carried out in retaliation for acts attributed to the Dan Na Ambassagou militia, a self-defence group formed by local communities in response to years of violence in central Mali.

"Unidentified armed men burst in, opening fire and ransacking the village," a resident told Reuters.

It was not immediately clear how many civilians had been killed, with several villagers still reported missing.

"The victims are mostly militiamen. But there are also teenagers and children," a source told AFP.

WAMAPS, a network of West African journalists specialising in Sahel security, said the provisional death toll exceeded 50 villagers.

"Villages have been looted and some properties set on fire," the group added.

In a statement on Thursday, the governor of the Bandiagara region condemned the attacks, terming them "despicable and inhumane acts".

In a counter-attack, the army said it had neutralised nearly 10 "terrorists" and destroyed their logistical base.

At a news conference in Bamako on Wednesday, Malian army commander Djibrilla Maiga said fighters were trying to regroup after the April attacks, which killed the defence minister.

"The threat is still present," Maiga said, adding that the military was working to disrupt their advance.

Earlier this week, Goïta announced he would replace Camara as defence minister, with assistance from army chief of staff Gen Oumar Diarra.

Mali's army has been working with the Russian paramilitary group, the Africa Corps, which emerged from the Wagner Group, against the insurgents.

In the face of the attacks, the Russians were forced to withdraw from the northern city of Kidal, which is now under FLA control. The FLA have said they will march on other cities in the north and have demanded the withdrawal of the Africa Corps from the entire country.

On top of the resurgence in violence, the insurgents have also imposed a blockade on the capital by setting up checkpoints on the roads leading into the city.

The junta had popular support when it took power, promising to deal with the long-running security crisis prompted by the Tuareg rebellion in the north, which was then hijacked by Islamist militants.

UN peacekeepers and French forces deployed to deal with the escalating insurgency left after the junta took over.

Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.

BBC uncovers the scammers exploiting dogs to elicit donations from animal lovers

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g9l74wvd7o, 6 days ago

A dog with rust-coloured fur lies at the side of a road. He looks peaceful, but as the TikTok video pans from his face to the rest of his body, severe injuries to his hind legs appear.

The dog is not resting. He is panting, presumably in pain.

Text on the 15-second clip tells viewers that this dog "got into an accident" and asks them "to save his life" by donating through an online link.

In the three weeks after the video was first posted on 8 January last year, this dog was featured in hundreds of other fundraising campaigns, by at least a dozen accounts.

A social media user from the UK named the dog Russet, which reflected the colour of his coat. Thousands of dollars were raised for his treatment. But he never got better.

BBC Africa Eye has discovered that this dog in Uganda was a prop in a scam that solicits donations for animals in distress, part of a hidden industry profiting from cruelty.

It is impossible to conclusively establish what caused Russet's injuries, but BBC World Service journalists managed to piece together parts of his story, which suggest he endured prolonged suffering, regardless of the cause.

The story connects a town in Uganda with animal lovers thousands of miles away. They are coaxed into parting with their money through emotional images, lies and the exploitation of Western stereotypes of Africa such as endemic poverty and widespread indifference towards animal welfare.

But it is dogs like Russet who pay the biggest price.

He was filmed in Mityana, a trading centre around 70km (43 miles) from Uganda's capital, Kampala.

The town has become infamous among online animal rescue activists around the world for one thing - sham dog rescue shelters.

Ugandan scammers have realised just how popular dogs are in Europe, North America and Australia, and how easily social media's obsession with dogs can be converted into cash.

"There are young men in the [Ugandan] countryside who are always looking for anything to do on the internet," Bart Kakooza, chairman of the Uganda Society for the Protection and Care of Animals, tells the BBC.

"On the other side, in the Western world, people are very passionate about animals. These young men realised they can make money if they can get a dog."

It is impossible to say how many social media accounts operate from Mityana. But collectively, they have flooded Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube with videos of pitiful-looking animals - mostly dogs and cats, but even rabbits – with commentary pleading for donations to shelter, feed and treat them.

A typical video involves a person showing some dogs in a makeshift structure coupled with messages like "our dogs are hungry" or "it's another day without food at the shelter" and "please help us".

The clips often exploit what content creators think will resonate with viewers' existing perceptions of Africa, depicting it as a place where food is scare and young dog lovers must fight against the odds to protect animals from societal hostility and neglect.

Data analysis by BBC Africa Eye suggests these videos have been effective in converting views into donations.

In the past five years, our research showed that more than $730,000 (£540,000) has been raised for animal shelters in Uganda by hundreds of fundraisers posted on the donation platform GoFundMe.

Nearly 40% of all the fundraisers analysed by the BBC were connected to Mityana.

In the town, the business of sham dog shelters is an open secret. Several residents tell the BBC it is easy to spot the con artists.

"When you see a young man driving a Subaru [a status symbol car in the area], you just know he is a scammer," says one.

Another says: "The scammers are the most respected here in Mityana".

But very few residents are willing to speak openly about specific shelter operations as they fear retaliation. The BBC decides to send an undercover team to Mityana.

The journalists pose as newcomers wanting to enter the business of online dog-shelter content.

They discover that some establishments in the area are rented out to multiple content creators.

The shelters charge an entrance fee to film with the owner's dogs. The videos are then posted on the scammer's social media accounts and affiliated online fundraisers, usually a GoFundMe or PayPal link.

This means the same physical shelter and the same dogs are used by several different accounts to solicit money.

The BBC team gains access to one of these shelters, run by a young man who introduces himself as Charles Lubajja.

At the shelter, the journalists find about 15 dogs kept in the same cage, lying in their own waste. Many appear severely underweight and lethargic.

Lubajja tells the undercover reporters that the shelter primarily exists to make money from social media viewers abroad under false pretences. He gives some advice on how to increase revenues, and shares some of the tricks, including:

* Pretending that a landowner has threatened the shelter with eviction and money is needed to relocate it

* Filming fake veterinary treatments, for example by placing a syringe in the dog's fur rather than administering a real injection

* Inflating the cost of dog food by more than 11 times.

"Once you receive the GoFundMe money, you use it to buy a car or build a house," Lubajja says while being secretly filmed.

"Once you get a white donor, don't treat them as a brother. You have to squeeze them [take their money]. Drain them."

But as fake operations like Lubajja's spread across the internet, a growing number of donors came to realise they had been deceived. Initiatives then sprang up to stop the scammers.

Campaigners' tactics include raising awareness among potential contributors, and naming and shaming the accounts believed to be the worst offenders.

Online activists also say that more than just neglect is taking place in Mityana's shelters, including deliberately harming the animals.

A campaign which gained ground due to its aggressive style is We Won't Be Scammed, which has an Instagram account with around 20,000 followers.

In the undercover filming, Lubajja himself mentions the campaign and describes it as the scammers' "biggest problem".

What Lubajja probably did not know is that the account is run by a 49-year-old woman who lives some 10,000km away in Yorkshire, in the north of England.

Nicola Baird, the founder of We Won't Be Scammed, is on the warpath.

"The scammers, I just have hatred for them," she tells the BBC. "They are the epitome of evil."

As with others in her network of 20 activists, Baird was once a victim. She sent money to a man in Mityana who said his dog needed surgery after a traffic accident.

When she received photos and videos of the dog's alleged surgery, Baird started to suspect something was wrong. Veterinary doctors she shared the images with confirmed that they looked more like abuse than veterinary care. "That's when I thought: 'Oh my goodness, I've enabled this abuse.'

"And that's when it became a real passion to stop the abuse because I felt like they were abusing [my dog] Sebi - they're abusing part of my family."

This experience shaped Baird's belief that animal injuries shown in social media videos - including burns, cuts and even missing limbs - have been deliberately inflicted, a view shared by other online activist groups monitoring accounts linked to Mityana.

Lubajja confirms to the undercover team that there have been instances where scammers have injured dogs on purpose.

"When they ran out of content, some people started cutting the dogs and asked for money," he says.

But he adds the escalation backfired when some donors started seeing through the abuse and warning others.

"[Scammers] no longer cut the dogs [because] they lost money when the white people realised."

Baird acknowledges that scammers' tactics have changed due to increased scrutiny, but maintains dogs are still being deliberately hurt and remain in danger.

"All that pain is just for a few donations," she says. "No animal should have to live like this."

We Won't Be Scammed and other online activists think that Russet, the dog who was filmed at the side of the road and featured in dozens of fundraising videos, had his legs deliberately broken.

During the undercover filming, Lubajja is shown a video of Russet and he identifies it as one of his dogs. When pressed for more details by the journalists, he says the dog had been involved in a traffic accident just outside the shelter.

But that may not have been the case.

After his initial social media appearance, Russet's image was posted on several different accounts, seemingly as he was passed from one scammer group to another.

Around three weeks later, a British social media user and donor, who wishes to remain anonymous, managed to negotiate Russet's release from the scammers to a veterinary clinic in Kampala.

Dr Isa Lutebemberwa went to Mityana to pick the dog up and took him to his clinic for treatment, which was funded by the UK donor.

In Lutebemberwa's opinion, the chances that Russet's injuries resulted from an accident were low. Describing an X-ray of Russet's lower body, he says: "If you look at these bones, all of them were broken almost in the same position.

"If you are interested in breaking a bone, it's the position you would go for, because it is the weakest."

Lutebemberwa operated on Russet. He survived the surgery but died a couple of days later.

"If you looked in his face, you would see that he had endured a lot of suffering," Lutebemberwa tells the BBC. "Given everything he had gone through, he did not deserve to die."

"Russet showed me the pain a dog which is out there can go through."

The BBC contacted Lubajja, who had told the undercover journalists he had been the owner of Russet, for comment on the findings of the investigation.

When sent images of Russet with the allegations, he said he did not recognise the dog and denied injuring animals. He acknowledged that content creators pay to film at his shelter.

If you're outside the UK, you can watch the documentary on YouTube or listen to the podcast here.

Lutebemberwa and other animal activists in Uganda like Kakooza partially blame international donors for the suffering of dogs in Mityana's shelters, saying they often donate impulsively and without enough scrutiny.

"People who are donating money are causing the problem of animal cruelty here, because they keep on fuelling it, they are fanning the fire," says Kakooza.

Baird agrees that donations may inadvertently have caused harm: "I think the message that we have to take from Russet's abuse is the donations prolonged his agony. Had people not donated, Russet would not have suffered as long as he did."

Most animal activists, in Uganda and beyond, think that more awareness among social media users and potential donors would reduce the flow of donations to Mityana's shelters. This would dampen scammers' income and the appeal of the business among young people, and lead to fewer new dogs being captured for the scams.

However, few can point to a concrete solution for the dogs who are currently in the shelters.

Mityana police told the BBC that an operation in 2023 rescued 24 severely injured dogs kept in poor conditions at a sham shelter in town, and transferred them to Kampala for treatment.

Three suspects arrested in the operation were charged with cruelty against animals before being released. Their file was later closed, and they were given a warning.

Now, an international coalition of activists, including Kakooza, is trying to use private prosecutions to tackle the problem. One is already in the works.

"We hope this case will be a deterrent for many other people who wish to continue operating in this illegal trade," he tells the BBC.

Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.

Kenya battles to stop the 'goons and guns' as fears of political violence grow

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9qdz0p0x5qo, 7 days ago

On a quiet Wednesday last month, a Kenyan politician stopped for coffee after getting his hair cut in the western city of Kisumu.

Moments later, a group of hooded youths set upon Senator Godfrey Osotsi without warning - punching and kicking him, leaving him badly injured, stripping him of his phones and valuables before vanishing into the street.

The assault was captured on CCTV. Within hours, the footage was everywhere.

The police are still investigating but the senator said this was not a robbery. Rather, he alleged, it was politically motivated as he was asked by the attackers why he was not supporting the president's re-election bid.

The nationwide outcry that followed the assault forced Kenya's parliament to summon the country's top security chiefs.

For many Kenyans, the attack felt less like a shocking outlier and more like a confirmation of something they had long feared - that the country was sliding, once again, toward an era of deadly political violence.

Kenya's history of politically sponsored criminal gangs dates back to the early 1990s and the reintroduction of multiparty democracy. Unemployed youths have been hired by various politicians and turned into tools of electoral intimidation.

They were a major driver of the unrest surrounding the shocking nationwide violence that followed the 2007 election, which left about 1,500 people dead.

And the stage is now being set for a particularly tense electoral cycle even though the next nationwide vote is up to 15 months away.

Bearing a huge grudge over his 2024 impeachment and removal from government, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is planning to run for the presidency. In addition, there is an open split within one of the main parties.

This is all helping to raise the political temperature with attacks on politicians by hired youths – known locally as goons – becoming more brazen.

Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen acknowledged to a parliamentary committee that the government was struggling to contain the groups that he said had evolved from street-level outfits into "sophisticated and decentralised networks".

Murkomen, who appeared alongside Kenya's security chiefs, disclosed that more than 104 local criminal gangs were active in the country, many under the patronage of politicians

"The gangs are owned by political leaders who play a significant role in mobilising people. It is chaotic. An irresponsible leader is a threat to national security," he said, without naming any names.

At least 300 suspects have been arrested, as the authorities intensified a crackdown against the criminal groups, with police recovering weapons and communication devices during the raids. However, no politicians were among those held.

Successive governments have attempted to ban such groups, yet the problem has persisted with gangs mutating, rebranding and reappearing under new names each electoral cycle.

They have developed into sophisticated organisations with a clear structure, a security source told the BBC.

The former deputy president appears to have been a target.

Since his impeachment, Gachagua has been subjected to a sustained pattern of violence, including being attacked by armed groups at churches over two dozen times. He and his allies have attributed the violence to state-sponsored criminal networks trying to derail his presidential bid.

For months, opposition leaders and civil society groups have accused police of either colluding with, or turning a blind eye to, organised gangs that descend on rallies armed with crude weapons.

In many cases, they say, the violence unfolds in the presence of police.

The death of veteran politician Raila Odinga last October has also triggered a sharp political realignment in Kenya, with his ODM opposition party splitting into two hostile camps divided over whether or not to support President William Ruto.

A 28-year-old man was shot dead when police clashed with supporters of the anti-Ruto faction at a rally in February, prompting the group to condemn what it described as "state-sponsored acts of violence by police and hired goons".

Government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura firmly denied reports that some of the criminal groups were state-sponsored.

"The use of criminal gangs to intimidate or silence individuals undermine our democracy and will not be tolerated. Anyone found financing, supporting, or engaging in such acts will be held fully accountable under the law," he told the BBC.

It is not just opposition figures and events that are targeted.

In February, a senatorial aspirant aligned to the governing Kenya Kwanza alliance was attacked after a group of people stormed a church service in the western town of Kakamega and forcibly ejected her from the building.

Last November, by-elections in western and central Kenya were marred by widespread violence, with polling agents attacked, armed groups clashing during vote counting and police firing tear gas at voters.

"These incidents paint a troubling picture of a country where political rivalry increasingly spills into organised street violence executed by hired gangs operating with precision and impunity," said Robert Chege, a security analyst.

Each attack, taken alone, might be explained away. But together, they sketch a country edging towards an abyss it has fallen into before and barely survived, observers warn.

"The worrying problem in Kenya is that this is now a near norm carried out by all major political parties. It is, to wit, a Kenyan culture, an epidemic," wrote Prof Makau Mutua, a legal expert and adviser to Ruto.

A report last year from the state-funded National Crime Research Centre found hundreds of criminal gangs in operation, with more than 120 linked to politicians. These were no longer temporary formations but had become entrenched institutions within their communities, the report said.

Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja told parliamentarians that the police were taking the matter seriously, adding that security agencies had already identified those behind the chaos.

"This issue of goons and guns is going to stop soon. We have clearly investigated. We have seen where they come from, who funds, who does what, who is the grassroots organiser and so forth," Kanja added.

The interior minister addressed concerns regarding accusations of police inaction against gangs. He acknowledged problems in some instances, blaming "operational challenges", including corruption and information leaks, noting that the ministry was taking all allegations of police complicity or inaction seriously.

Critics, however, argue that the government's response has been inconsistent - strong in rhetoric but weak in execution.

Chege described Kenya's security crisis as self-inflicted and sustained by political patronage networks and state systems "that thrive on violence and inequality".

"The question is no longer who the goons are, but who sends them, funds them and protects them? The real architects of Kenya's rising wave of organised violence remain in the shadows," he added.

Ordinary Kenyans will hope that authorities can provide some of the answers before the violence has a chance to ratchet up ahead of general elections which have to take place by August next year.

Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.

'This tree was planted by my ancestor hundreds of years ago and my family settled here'

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce9pz3grkjeo, 8 days ago

At the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, in the Ghanaian fishing town of Apam, there is a tree that most people barely notice.

It stands on a stretch of red clay earth, rooted between two landmarks that tell very different chapters of Ghana's history.

On one side is Fort Patience, built by the Dutch in 1697 during the era of European trading forts along what was then known as the Gold Coast, and used to trade in gold, ivory and enslaved people.

On the other is the Apam Methodist Church, a symbol of the Christian faith that spread through coastal communities in the centuries that followed.

Fishermen pass it before dawn, carrying their nets towards the shoreline. Children drift past it after school, their routines shaped by the same paths their parents and grandparents once walked.

And on Tuesdays, when Apam observes a long-standing spiritual tradition and no-one goes out to fish, the town falls into an unusual stillness, the Atlantic rolling quietly in the background.

For most people, the tree is simply part of the landscape. But for my family, this tree has a name: Santseo, a Fanti word loosely translated as "Under" - because people settled underneath its shade.

According to oral history passed down over the generations, Santseo was planted in the 13th Century by Komfo Nana Asumbia, a royal figure to whom we trace our lineage. However, to my knowledge, no tests have been done to check how old the tree really is.

Long before forts, churches or written records marked this coastline, a group of travellers left Akwamufie, the historic capital of the Akwamu Kingdom.

They were led, family accounts say, by a woman, Nana Asumbia.

She is remembered not only as a royal figure, but also as a spiritual leader whose authority extended beyond governance into belief and ritual.

"She was a royal, but at the same time, a chief priest," says local historian Emmanuel Arkoful, a distant relative.

The plaque by the tree, just about legible despite years of erosion, reads:

"To the glory of God In commemoration of Nana Asumbia of Akwamufie in the eastern region of Ghana and grandmother of Nana Kweedwua Santsewadze Twidan Royal Family."

The precise reason for their departure from Akwamufie has been lost to time.

Some accounts suggest conflict or unrest. Others point to a people who were not sedentary but moved around when circumstances required.

But what has endured is not just the fact that they moved. It is how they chose where to stop.

"They travelled with seedlings," Arkoful explains.

Wherever the group paused along their journey westward, they planted one.

Then they waited.

"If after a few days the tree showed signs of life and began to take root, they believed that place was meant for them," Arkoful says. "If it died, they moved on."

The tree they carried was not chosen by chance. It is now understood to be Piliostigma thonningii, a hardy species found across Africa also known as the camel's foot or monkey bread tree, known for its ability to survive in difficult conditions and endure for generations.

Across the region, the tree has long held both practical and cultural value.

Its leaves and bark have been used in traditional medicine, its canopy provides shade in exposed environments and its resilience allows it to thrive where other plants struggle.

For a travelling community searching for a place to settle, it made sense.

But for Nana Asumbia, the choice may have gone deeper.

A tree that could survive was not just useful. It was a sign.

Within the family, it came to be known as Santseo.

Oral accounts suggest the group's first major stop after leaving Akwamu was in what is now Accra.

They settled around the present-day General Post Office, in a neighbourhood known as Otublohum.

Even today, people of Akwamu origin still live there, a quiet continuation of a journey that began centuries earlier.

But this was not their final destination.

The travellers moved on, continuing westward along the coast.

The group stopped again near what is now Gomoa Buduburam, along the main Accra-Winneba road. Another sapling was planted. Again, they waited.

This time, the tree did not survive. So, they moved again.

Each failed planting was not just a disappointment.

It was a decision. A sign that they had not yet found where they were meant to be.

The story of how they finally settled in Apam is remembered through an encounter in the forest.

One version of the oral history speaks of a hunter from Gomoa Asin, a royal named Inhune Akubuha.

He had shot an elephant deep in the bush, but the wounded animal did not die immediately. It fled, leaving a trail.

Determined to retrieve it, the hunter followed that trail through dense vegetation until he eventually found the elephant dead.

He returned to inform the others.

"They all came to where the elephant had died," Arkoful says.

It was there that Nana Asumbia planted another sapling.

This time, it survived. After several days, it had taken root in the red coastal soil. For the travellers, that was enough. They settled.

And hundreds of years later the tree is still standing - and thriving. The family home has been built around it and is called Santsiwadzi, after the Santseo tree.

Today, Santseo stands between two visible layers of Ghana's past.

On one side is Fort Patience, a reminder of European trade and colonial ambition. On the other is the Apam Methodist Church, representing the spread of Christianity through coastal communities.

But according to oral tradition, the tree predates both.

"Our people settled here even before the Dutch built the fort," Arkoful says.

If that is true, the tree represents something rare.

A living marker of African history that existed long before it was formally documented.

Nana Asumbia is remembered as a spiritual figure, but the meaning attached to the tree has shifted over time.

With the arrival of European traders and missionaries, Christianity spread rapidly through Apam.

"Our people embraced Christianity completely," Arkoful explains.

The land on which the Methodist church now stands was donated by members of the same extended family connected to the tree.

Gradually, the spiritual significance of the Santseo tree began to fade.

"People didn't want others to think they were idol worshippers," he says.

What remained was something quieter. Not a shrine. But a memory.

Today, the tree still stands, its branches shaped by centuries of coastal wind and salt air.

The surrounding area is modest but neatly kept, reflecting the rhythms of a fishing community rather than a formal heritage site.

There are no ceremonies held around it.

And attempts to preserve it can sometimes be misunderstood.

"If you tend to it too much, people think you are worshipping it," Arkoful says.

It reflects a broader tension.

How do you preserve history without being seen to revive beliefs that people have consciously moved away from?

Roughly four decades ago, members of the extended family made a journey in the opposite direction.

They travelled back to Akwamufie. "It was a big celebration," Arkoful recalls.

For generations, oral tradition in Akwamu had spoken of those who had left.

Each time their shrine was consulted, the message was said to be the same: they would return. When they finally did, the reception was emotional.

One member of the visiting group was installed as a Queen Mother, taking the title Nana Asumbia II.

It was a moment that reconnected two communities separated by centuries.

Apam remains a fishing town, its rhythms shaped by the Atlantic Ocean.

On most days, the shoreline is busy with activity. Canoes move in and out with the tide, fishermen casting and pulling nets in a routine that has changed little over time.

But on Tuesdays, everything pauses. No fishing. No boats leaving shore.

Just the sound of the sea. And the tree.

Still standing where it was planted centuries ago. Still rooted in the same red earth. Still carrying a story that was never written down, but never lost. It has lived through generations. It has witnessed movement, settlement, belief and change.

A tree that offered shade, medicine and survival. A tree that guided a people to their home. A tree that endures. Centuries after a group of travellers planted a sapling and waited to see if it would live, the answer is still there.

Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.

China scraps tariffs for all but one African nation

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwy2v509217o, 9 days ago

China will scrap tariffs for all African countries from Friday – except Eswatini, which maintains ties with Taiwan.

As of December 2024, China had already implemented a duty-free policy for 33 least-developed African nations. The policy now covers 53 countries, and will be in place until 30 April 2028. It is unclear what will happen after that.

Beijing has boasted that it is the first major economy to offer unilateral zero-tariff treatment to Africa.

But analysts say that while China is seizing the chance to enhance its soft power, they point out that tariffs are rarely the main obstacle for exporters in Africa which has a huge trade deficit with China.

A huge imbalance

"China is positioning itself as the trade liberaliser and Africa-friendly economic partner, in contrast to Donald Trump and the US," says Lauren Johnston, a senior research fellow at the AustChina Institute.

The US had hit some African nations with tariffs of up to 30% in August, although most are now subject to a 10% tariff, after the US Supreme Court struck down many of the duties.

The expansion of China's zero-tariff regime could increase African agricultural exports, which will "help to elevate rural incomes, improve rural productivity, and ultimately to reduce hunger and poverty", Johnston says.

But Sino-African trade is marked by a growing imbalance in China's favour, which means Chinese exports to Africa far exceed African exports to China, and that difference is widening.

Last year, Africa's trade deficit with China rose by 65% to about $102bn.

Africa's exports to China are dominated by minerals and raw materials, such as crude oil and metallic ores.

Currently, China's main trading partners in the region include Angola, driven primarily by oil, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and South Africa.

However, a consistent duty-free regime across such a heterogenous continent could result in uneven gains, Johnston notes.

More developed, industrialised economies like South Africa and Morocco will be better positioned to expand exports, she says.

On its own, the zero-tariff policy does not address continent-wide needs for economic restructuring and infrastructure upgrading, adds Jervin Naidoo, a political analyst at Oxford Economics Africa.

"Many African economies still face structural constraints, such as limited industrial capacity, weak logistics, and a reliance on raw commodity exports, which tariff reductions alone cannot address," he says.

Alfred Schipke, director of the East Asian Institute in Singapore, agrees that short-term economic impact "will likely be modest and concentrated in African countries that already have export capacity".

"Over the long term, however, the potential could be more meaningful, especially if African countries are able to expand production, diversify exports, and move up the value chain," Schipke says.

Amit Jain, another Singapore-based expert in China-Africa relations, notes that changing consumer demand in China could open up new markets for African producers. For instance, Chinese consumers are buying far more coffee and nuts than they did 20 years ago.

Economist Ken Gichinga agrees.

"These new measures will improve access to Chinese markets, closing that trade deficit and expand opportunities for African companies to prosper," he told the BBC.

"For Kenya, it will be a big boost to certain subsectors such as avocado. The agriculture sector will benefit the most - macadamia nuts, coffee, tea and leather."

Africa fiscal policy economist Wangari Kebuchi said short-term support for foreign exchange earnings and "a modest boost to agriculture, mining and logistics sectors" were welcome - but medium and long-term fiscal gains would not materialise from market access alone.

"The structural problem has not changed. Africa continues to export raw materials and import manufactured goods. That asymmetry drives persistent trade deficits, constrains domestic revenue mobilisation, and limits the jobs and tax base that governments need to fund public services.

"Zero tariffs on commodities that have already left our shores unprocessed do not solve that problem. They can entrench it. African governments must now ask the harder questions. How do we use improved market access as leverage for industrial policy?"

And what about Eswatini?

The analysts believe the exclusion of Eswatini is a political move with limited economic impact.

In fact, Jain believes that this "may even help Eswatini win even more economic concessions from Taiwan".

The landlocked nation in southern Africa is among just 12 countries that have diplomatic relations with Taiwan, which Beijing sees as a breakaway province that will eventually be "reunited" with China.

Many in Taiwan, a self-governed island, consider themselves to already be part of a sovereign nation.

Last month, Taiwan's leader Lai Ching-te had to cancel a trip to Eswatini after three other African countries – Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar – barred his aircraft from flying over their territories. Taiwan has accused them of doing so under "intense pressure" and economic coercion from China.

By sidelining Eswatini, China is "weaponising its ties with African countries, and showing how relations with China comes up with strings attached", Wen-Ti Sung, a political scientist with the Australian National University's Taiwan Centre.

"China wants to show the world how it treats its friends, versus Taiwan's friends," he says.

Additional reporting by Basillioh Rukanga in Nairobi

Russian paramilitary carried out air strikes in Mali as rebels advanced, footage shows

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgz409r5l3o, 11 days ago

A Russian paramilitary launched air strikes against rebel forces near Mali's capital Bamako, video footage shows, following a shock offensive against the ruling military government.

Jihadist and Tuareg separatist forces on Saturday carried out attacks across Mali and killed the country's Defence Minister Sadio Camara. Russian forces claimed up to 12,000 fighters took part in the offensive.

The Kremlin-controlled Africa Corps, which supports Malian military operations, has posted several videos since Saturday showing air strikes and attack helicopters engaging with rebel troops. BBC Verify located the clips to the town of Kati, around 20km (12 miles) from Bamako.

Despite the show of force, the mercenaries confirmed that they have pulled out of Kidal in northern Mali, which housed significant numbers of troops and was at the core of the military's operations in the region. Verified footage now shows rebels roaming the base.

Mali has fought a long-running conflict against a broad array of rebel groups for more than a decade. Military leaders seized power in 2020 after accusing the civilian administration of failing to properly manage the security situation.

Since then the military has had limited success targeting the al-Qaeda linked Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) group and the separatist Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), with Bamako coming under a blockade late last year.

But the latest attacks mark a "major escalation in the conflict" between the military government and the rebels, said Jean-Hervé Jezequel, Sahel director with the International Crisis Group. Fighting has been recorded across the country, with BBC Verify confirming 22 videos showing rebel movements in seven locations since Saturday.

"Whereas JNIM's strategy initially relied primarily on conquering rural or peripheral areas, it now also targets major cities," Jezequel said.

In Saturday's attack, rebels targeted the defence minister's residence in Kati. A government spokesperson said Camara was killed in a firefight after a suicide bomber drove an explosives-laden vehicle into his home.

Satellite images showed that the area was heavily damaged in the attack, with Camara's property completely leveled in the explosion and extensive damage to the rest of the block.

The Africa Corps responded to the attacks on Kati with a series of airstrikes. Drone footage showed a dramatic missile attack on a convoy of rebel pick-up trucks as they sped along a highway on the outskirts of the town, with a fireball erupting as they were hit by the attack.

Another clip filmed from the cockpit of an attack helicopter showed missiles being launched at targets on the ground, while another from the outskirts of the town showed smoke rising after an attack by a Russian helicopter.

Russia's Wagner Group mercenaries arrived in Mali in 2021 in the lead-up to the withdrawal of French troops amid a breakdown in relations between the ruling junta and the West. They were replaced by the Africa Corps, which is directly controlled by Moscow, amid Kremlin moves to curb the independence of Russian mercenary groups.

Dr Sorcha MacLeod, an ex-member of the UN's working group on mercenaries and lecturer at the University of Copenhagen, said the group maintained Wagner's arrangement with the Malian junta - providing security services in exchange for payments and "access to valuable natural resources".

But the force, which a senior French military official told BBC Verify last year was limited to about 2,500 troops, has struggled to arrest the growing momentum of JNIM and the FLA.

The withdrawal from Kidal will also be a significant loss for the Malian government. The pivotal facility, which the Wagner Group and Malian forces seized after an extended, bloody battle at the end of 2023 was home to a large, heavily armed force.

But Russian and Malian personnel appear to have come under heavy attack in the lead-up to the withdrawal, with footage posted by JNIM militants showing a large group of soldiers fleeing from a truck ahead of a drone strike.

Before the withdrawal announcement was made, verified videos located to the base by BBC Verify showed military vehicles evacuating.

The Africa Corps claimed to have removed "heavy equipment" from the base ahead of its withdrawal, but clips shared by rebel troops in the aftermath showed that armoured personnel carriers, patrol vehicles and jeeps were left behind in the hasty retreat.

Charlie Werb, an analyst with Aldebaran Threat Consultants, noted that while the loss of such equipment will be keenly felt by the military, there is no guarantee that the rebels will be able to adapt heavy, armoured vehicles to "insurgent-style tactics that rely on speed, manoeuvrability, and concealment".

Malian troops have also pulled out of the town of Tessalit further north, while clashes took place near the main Africa Corps facility in Bamako. One clip showed a Russian mercenary firing an assault rifle from a guard post on the periphery of the compound.

"Other states that have hired Africa Corps will be watching very closely," Dr MacLeod said, adding that some may question the paramilitary's value-for-money in light of its struggles in the north.

"The model offered by Moscow isn't working but at the same time is costing poor countries millions in natural resources. It's unsustainable."

Additional reporting by Jacob Boswall, Thomas Spencer, Kumar Malhotra and Sherie Ryder.

'I did not expect it': Kenya's Sabastian Sawe welcomed home with jubilant celebrations

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cddp4y0rzjdo, 10 days ago

Kenya's Sabastian Sawe has returned home to joyous scenes after becoming the first man to run a marathon in under two hours in competitive race conditions.

His incredible achievement at Sunday's London Marathon is being celebrated in Kenya, where officials welcomed him home amid a crush of cameras at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in the capital, Nairobi.

His parents were also present to greet him, days after the 31-year-old achieved the holy grail of marathon running by smashing the two-hour barrier in a race with an official time of one hour 59 minutes and 30 seconds.

"I am happy about this good day, that you came to celebrate with me, I did not expect it," Sawe told the crowd.

Sawe's parents drove six hours from their home to be there with his supporters when he landed.

His Kenyan Airways plane was given a water cannon salute when it landed, as dancers and musicians performed.

The homecoming was a huge moment for Sawe and his family, and also for the country.

Speaking from the family home before going to the airport, Sawe's father Simeon Sawe said: "He used to tell me that one day, he was going to break the record. He was so determined and hopeful that he would.

"I am happy for him and all of us here. We celebrated so much, my throat still hurts from all the cheering," he added.

Sawe met Kenya's President William Ruto on Thursday morning and was awarded two cheques worth 8m Kenya shillings ($62,000; £46,000) for breaking the marathon record and getting a gold medal. He also received a vehicle number plate 01:59:30 - his official record time.

Ruto described Sawe's win as a "moment that is exceedingly rare" and not just a sporting triumph but "a defining moment in the history of human endurance".

"Sabastian, you have not only broken a record, you have expanded the horizon of human potential," the president said.

Sawe presented Ruto with the shoes he wore as he covered the 26.2 miles (42.2km) on Sunday.

He said his achievement in London was "on behalf of everyone and for the nation".

"We will continue to put more effort in our talent to keep the nation flying high. Thank you for all the support... we will not let you down," he said.

Sawe's run was more than one minute faster than the late Kelvin Kiptum's previous record of 2:00:35, which was set in 2023.

He was on already on pace to beat that record as he crossed the halfway mark in 1:00:29, and managed to run the second half of the race even faster in just 59:01.

"I am feeling good. I am so happy. It is a day to remember for me," he told the BBC after the race.

Sawe, who has won all four marathons he has entered, is already talking about his next competition in the autumn, saying he believes he can run an even faster time.

Hantavirus outbreak on cruise ship not start of pandemic, UN health agency says

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cnvpzgn26edo, 2 days ago

An outbreak of hantavirus on board a cruise ship is not the start of a pandemic, the UN health agency has said.

Maria van Kerkhove, an infectious disease epidemiologist at the World Health Organization (WHO), told a news briefing that it was not the same situation as six years ago with Covid-19, because hantavirus spreads through "close, intimate contact".

Health authorities are racing to trace dozens of people who have recently disembarked from the Dutch vessel MV Hondius.

On Thursday, the WHO said that overall, five of eight suspected cases of hantavirus had been confirmed. Three people have died, including a 69-year-old Dutch woman, who had the virus.

Her Dutch husband and a German woman also died, and their cases are being investigated.

Hantavirus typically spreads from rodents - but rare instances of human transmission have been documented with the Andes strain, which is behind this outbreak. It is the first known transmission of the virus on a boat, the WHO said on Thursday.

The luxury cruise, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, began its journey on 1 April in Ushuaia, Argentina, and is expected to arrive in Spain's Canary Islands on 10 May.

About 150 passengers and crew from 28 countries are reported to have initially been aboard the vessel, but dozens disembarked on the island of St Helena on 24 April.

At Thursday's news briefing, van Kerkhove said "this is not Covid, this is not influenza, it spreads very, very differently".

She said authorities had asked "everyone to wear a mask" on board the MV Hondius.

Those in contact with or caring for suspected cases, she added, should "wear a higher level of personal protective equipment".

At the same briefing, WHO Director General Tedros Ghebreyesus said his organisation "assesses the public health risk as low".

He said the first two people with the confirmed virus had "travelled through Argentina, Chile and Uruguay on a bird-watching trip which included visits to sites where the species of rat known to carry the virus was present".

Dr Tedros said the WHO was aware of reports of other people with symptoms who may have had contact with passengers, adding that officials were in touch with the relevant authorities.

Given the incubation period of this disease - which can be up to six weeks - it was possible more cases may be reported, he said.

Also on Thursday, Oceanwide Expedition said 29 passengers, of at least 12 different nationalities, had left the MV Hondius in St Helena, the British Overseas Territory. It said that the body of one deceased person - who is now known to be a Dutch man - was also taken off the vessel.

Seven of those who left the cruise liner were British nationals.

"Two of these individuals are now self-isolating in the UK while the others have not yet returned," an update from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said. Four remained in St Helena - and "tracing efforts are ongoing for the seventh individual, who we know has not yet returned to the UK", the statement said.

On Thursday, Spain said discussions with the UK were "very advanced" for London to send a repatriation flight for British nationals to Tenerife after the vessel's arrival to the Canary Islands.

Virginia Barcones, head of Spain's civil protection and emergencies, said there were 19 British passengers and four crew members currently on board the ship.

She said there were also four Americans on the MV Hondius, adding that "the United States has shown its willingness to send a plane that will collect its citizens directly".

Oceanwide Expeditions said the first confirmed case of hantavirus was not reported until 4 May and that all guests who disembarked the ship had been contacted.

The operator said it remained in "close and continual discussion with relevant authorities regarding our exact point of arrival, quarantine and screening procedures for all guests".

The Dutch government said the ship stopped in St Helena on its way to Cape Verde, an archipelago nation off the West African coast.

It said the Dutch woman who left the cruise on 24 April travelled to South Africa, where she died two days later.

Her husband died on board the ship on 11 April, but is not a confirmed case of hantavirus.

The update said the woman had boarded a KLM flight heading from Johannesburg to the Netherlands, but became ill before its departure.

Authorities in the Netherlands are sending letters to passengers who were on the flight, asking them to remain "available for monitoring".

The third fatality - a German woman - died on board the MV Hondius on 2 May, and is not a confirmed case either. Her body remains on the ship.

Three other people - British, Dutch and German nationals - were evacuated from the vessel on Wednesday.

Singapore's Communicable Diseases Agency said it was isolating and testing two men - a 67-year-old Singaporean and a 65-year-old permanent resident - who disembarked the ship in St Helena.

It added that they had taken the same flight from St Helena to Johannesburg in South Africa as the 69-year-old woman who died. Their hantavirus test results are still pending.

Two US states - Georgia and Arizona - confirmed to the BBC that they were monitoring three passengers who returned to the US after disembarking. None were displaying symptoms. The US Department of State said it was in "direct contact" with affected passengers.

Argentina's health ministry has said officials will test rodents in Ushuaia.

Are you on board the ship or do you know someone who is? If it is safe to do so, please get in touch by using this link or the form below.

Correction 8 May: An earlier version of this story reported that transmission between people had been documented for the first time in this outbreak, according to the WHO. In fact, the WHO said on Thursday that this is the first time human transmission has been documented on a boat. Human transmission is rare but has previously been seen with the strain of the virus behind this outbreak. The article has been amended to reflect this.

Orphaned baby hippo to be hand-reared by keepers at Kenya sanctuary

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1e2zev6754o, 3 days ago

A baby hippo found desperately nudging its dead mother at a lake in Kenya over the weekend is now being hand-reared at a wildlife sanctuary after being rescued.

The calf, which has been named Bumpy, was "just days old" when it became orphaned, according to Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, a charity whose keepers are now taking care of it.

The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), which rescued the calf and handed it over to the wildlife charity for specialised care, said the mother may have died from natural causes.

KWS said the mother hippo had visible injuries on its lower body, which are "presumed to have resulted from an encounter with another wild animal".

"It is possible that the mother sustained fatal injuries while protecting the calf or during a naturally occurring encounter... [or it] could be an encounter with a male hippo during the mating process," KWS told the BBC.

It said such incidents, while not routine, were not uncommon in a wild ecosystem.

KWS said rescuing the calf from the water was a "logistical challenge", with the calf clinging to its dead mother. It said it had to make a "painful decision" to use the decomposing body "as the only anchor to safely reach the calf".

According to Sheldrick, the mother had been dead for more than a day or longer, based on the level of decomposition.

After being rescued, the baby hippo spent its first night at a nursery in the capital Nairobi, being fed on milk and swaddled in a blanket.

The charity says Bumpy "was clearly desperate for comfort and connection" and has been glued to his keepers ever since.

The calf was later flown by helicopter to Sheldrick's Kaluku sanctuary near Tsavo East National Park, to be taken care of until it is ready to be released into the wild.

The sanctuary has been sharing Bumpy's story and photos at its new location – at a pool near the Athi River which runs through the park.

"[Bumpy] spends a lot of the day submerged - but never alone. A rather waterlogged keeper is by his side throughout the day, in the water or on the ground," Sheldrick adds.

"He is a very snuggly creature and is happiest when nestled on or against someone," the sanctuary adds, alongside a photo of the hippo with its head on the keeper's lap.

Bumpy joins another young hippo at Kaluku who is nearly a year old, although they are being kept in different areas, the sanctuary says.

Both are expected to be released when they grow up to join other hippos living in the wild.

In the wild, a hippo calf nurses for up to a year or more but remains closely attached to its mother for several years until around sexual maturity, according to wildlife experts.

Founded in 1977, the Sheldrick Wildlife is renowned for its care of orphaned elephants and rhinos, rescuing and reintegrating them into the wild.

The charity received the first hippo under its care in December 2016 - an orphaned female named Humphretta, or Humpty. However, the young hippo died six months later.

KWS told the BBC that successful hand-rearing of a hippo was possible when undertaken by experienced wildlife professionals, with rehabilitation programmes "designed to preserve their instinctive behaviours and natural affinity to water".

It added that it had, with its conservation partners, previously rehabilitated and reintegrated other orphaned hippos successfully into the wild at the Tsavo park.

Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.

Rebel Wilson accused of 'complete revision of history' as defamation case closes

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdjpyjy98xyo, yesterday

Hollywood star Rebel Wilson has been accused of making a "complete revision of history" in a defamation case brought against her by a young Australian actress.

Charlotte MacInnes, who stars in Wilson's film The Deb, is suing the Bridesmaids actress for harming her reputation in Instagram posts in 2024 and 2025.

Wilson accused MacInnes of retracting a complaint of sexual harassment by a film producer in exchange for professional favours. MacInnes denies making the complaint.

Over three weeks, the court has heard claims that Wilson ordered a smear website to target the producer, something she denies, and of MacInnes scoring a major record deal months after sharing a bath with the producer.

The incident at the centre of the case happened in September 2023, when MacInnes - who graduated from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (Waapa) in 2021 - went for a swim at Bondi Beach with Amanda Ghost, a producer on Wilson's film.

Ghost had an allergic reaction to the cold water, breaking out in red welts and shaking uncontrollably, the court heard, so the pair went back to Ghost's luxury beachside apartment rental to warm up.

Ghost jumped into a shower while MacInnes ran a bath for her. MacInnes got into the bath to warm up, and Ghost joined her shortly after, with both wearing swimsuits.

Ghost's assistant brought hot drinks for the two women while they were in the bath and sat with them briefly.

According to Wilson's affidavit, MacInnes the next day told her that "Amanda asked me to have a bath and shower with her and it made me feel uncomfortable".

"I was shocked by this," Wilson's statement detailed. In it she said she was "very troubled by the idea that something untoward or sexual had happened".

During the case, the court was told that Wilson - concerned about the bath incident - called MacInnes later to ask her about it again.

After the call, Wilson sent Ghost a text, which was shown to the court, that read: "Charlotte says all good. She just meant 'it was a bizarre situation' not that she felt personally uncomfortable x."

Earlier in the trial, lawyers for MacInnes said Wilson's claims were "malicious concoctions" and that Wilson was using the incident as "leverage" during contract negotiations by the film's producers for more money.

Wilson was also accused of bullying women who were working on The Deb, a claim the actress labelled as "absolute nonsense".

On Friday, in closing submissions, Sue Chrysanthou SC told the court that Wilson's story was a "complete revision of history" and that it "defies logic" that the bath incident had led to sexual harassment as Ghost was suffering a medical episode.

She said Wilson was a "fantastical liar" who has made up "terrible" allegations. MacInnes is seeking aggravated damages for the harm to her reputation.

But Wilson's lawyer Dauid Sibtain SC told the court that MacInnes's career had not suffered since the social media posts and had, in fact, flourished since the incident.

He argued that MacInnes changed her story so she could receive professional benefits which did later come to fruition, including more acting roles through Ghost and a record deal.

Justice Elizabeth Raper is expected to reserve her decision.

Wilson is currently facing another legal case in Australia and one in the US, both brought by the producers of The Deb, including Ghost.

Thousands of North Koreans fought for Russia. A memorial hints at the death toll

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clypr5985ejo, 2 days ago

About 2,300 North Korean soldiers have died fighting for Russia against Ukraine, according to a BBC investigation based on satellite images and official photos of a new memorial in Pyongyang.

South Korea estimates at least 11,000 North Koreans were sent to Russia to help recapture parts of western Kursk, after Ukraine launched a surprise incursion in Kursk in August 2024.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has previously publicly paid tribute to soldiers who died in the war - and it is believed that in return for providing soldiers, Pyongyang received food, money and technical help from Moscow.

The secretive regime has never disclosed the death toll of the operation in Kursk, which Russia says it has fully reclaimed - but for the first time, a new memorial offers observable clues - here's what they tell us.

Names on the walls

In October 2025, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ordered the construction of a museum in Pyongyang's Hwasong district to honour the troops killed in the Russia-Ukraine war.

Work started in a heavily forested area within the same month, according to a BBC analysis of satellite images provided by Planet Labs, a US imaging company.

A rudimentary shell of the 52,000 sq m complex was visible in December. By March, most of the exterior construction appeared to have been completed. Landscaping and surrounding facilities were finished last month.

Unveiled on 26 April, the Memorial Museum of Combat Feats at Overseas Military Operations aims to convey the "unrivalled bravery" of North Korean soldiers during their deployment to "liberate [the] Kursk region", according to state news agency KCNA.

The memorial consists of two 30m (98ft) long memorial walls engraved with names, a building and a cemetery.

A BBC analysis of multiple images released by KCNA shows that each wall is divided into about 14 sections, which are marked by grey stone lines at the top. Names are engraved in nine of these sections, with each containing about 16 columns, according to a BBC calculation.

Eight names of the killed soldiers are inscribed in one column, close-up photos of the east wall show.

With 16 columns and nine sections, that would equate to 1,152 names engraved on each wall - bringing it to a total of 2,304 across both memorial walls.

Songhak Chung, a senior researcher at the Korea Institute for Security Strategy, agrees with the BBC finding.

"The memorial walls are packed with the names of deceased soldiers written in extremely small characters. Considering the surface area and text density, the number of people recorded there is likely to reach several thousand," he says.

The exact figure cannot be ascertained due to the lack of higher-resolution images, but the BBC estimate is close to the number put forward by South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS).

In September 2025, the spy agency said about 2,000 North Korean soldiers had been killed and another 2,700 wounded.

But by February this year, the NIS updated the figure, saying that about 6,000 of the estimated 11,000 military personnel deployed to Russia had been killed or wounded - though it did not provide a breakdown of the numbers. Neither Pyongyang or Moscow have ever provided any official figures.

A 'tiered system'

The memorial itself holds a "tiered system of commemoration", says Korean research company SI Analytics.

Soldiers who demonstrated "extraordinary valour" are honoured with outdoor graves and tombstones, while others are commemorated in urns inside the columbarium.

Kim Jin-mu, a former senior research fellow at the government-funded Korea Institute for Defense Analyses, says those buried in the graveyard may include recovered bodies, senior officers, or individuals who have been given special recognition, including those who acted in self-sacrifice.

About 140 graves sit on the west side of the graveyard and 138 that sit on the opposite site, according to a satellite image taken in early April provided by SI Analytics.

There is also what appears to be a grey building that sits in the middle of the graveyard - likely to be a columbarium which houses funeral urns, says Chung.

Explaining the columbarium, Chung says the "entire wall appears to be filled with grid-patterned storage compartments for remains".

"The [columbariam] is a three-storey building, and even excluding offices and exhibition areas, the indoor repository alone would be able to house at least 1,000 sets of remains," says Chung.

War justification

South Korea's Ministry of Unification says it is "difficult to confirm" if all the soldiers who were killed have been memorialised on the walls.

However, researcher Kim believes it is highly likely that the names of all North Korean troops who died in Kursk have been inscribed.

"The memorial is intended to reward those who have sacrificed for the state and maintain public support," he says. "Omitting names could risk discontent among bereaved families and undermine its purpose."

North Korean state media also reported a housing complex had been built for Russian war veterans and bereaved families within the same district. Residents have started moving in since March.

Cho Han-bum, a senior research fellow at the state-run Korea Institute for National Unification, says Pyongyang's decision to build a monument dedicated to the killed troops reflects an effort to justify the deployment following large casualties.

"For North Korea, Russia is the only country it can co-operate militarily with in its current state of isolation," he says.

The memorial also signifies Pyongyang's willingness to continue military cooperation with Russia "regardless of how the war unfolds".

Graphics by Arvin Supriyadi. Additional reporting by Grace Tsoi

Correction: This article has been amended to reflect that the complex is 52,000 sqm, not 52 sq km

Three dead after volcano erupts on Indonesian island

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp3p418x513o, yesterday

Three people hiking on Indonesia's Mount Dukono have died after the volcano erupted on Friday morning.

Videos and pictures of the eruption show the volcano, located on North Maluku island, spewing a column of ash stretching 10km (six miles) into the sky.

The three victims were part of a group of 20 Singaporeans and Indonesians hiking on the mountain despite restrictions. The rest of the group was eventually located by rescuers and evacuated from the mountain.

The volcano has erupted more than 200 times since last March. Officials had previously issued warnings against climbing the mountain due to safety concerns.

The latest eruption took place at 07:41 local time (22:41 GMT Thursday), when there were several people on the mountain on early morning hikes.

Indonesian officials said two Singaporeans and one local resident from the nearby city of Ternate had died. Both of the foreign victims are believed to be male, with one aged 30 and the other 27. The local victim is said to be a female, but no more details were given.

The bodies of the three deceased are still on the mountain, according to North Halmahera police chief Erlichson Pasaribu - though most of the hiking group have been safely evacuated and sent to hospital.

Two members of the group, who are porters, stayed behind on the mountain to help rescue workers locate the bodies.

On Friday afternoon, Mount Dukono was still emitting volcanic material from its crater, according to one local resident assisting rescuers.

Aldy Salabia told BBC Indonesian that they were at a local shelter on the mountain preparing for the rescue operation.

"From the shelter, we can see ash and rock material continuously being ejected," he said.

Erlichson said that retrieval of the bodies had been hampered by repeated eruptions, difficult terrain and strong blasts from the volcano.

The operation to reach the volcano's crater - where the bodies of the victims are though to be located - was paused as night fell on Friday evening, with Erlichson saying it would resume on Saturday.

Besides the 20-member hiking group, eyewitness accounts indicate there were other hikers on the mountain as well.

One guide who was on Mount Dukono with two clients at the time of the eruption told BBC Indonesian that he believed high pressure had been building up inside the volcano for several days.

"When Dukono hasn't erupted for a few days, you have to be careful," he said, describing the eruption as "major" and "very strong".

As they were hiking up, he saw one group of people at the edge of the crater, as well as another group about 50m from the crater who were filming drone videos.

Then, "I heard deep tremors. So I decided to immediately descend with the guests. And in the end, the three of us were safe."

As they were descending he saw many hikers were still at the summit, he added.

Indonesian officials said they had issued warnings against climbing Mount Dukono which were widely disseminated through social media as well as on banners at trail entrances, but some hikers had ignored them.

Indonesian's search and rescue agency Barsanas said that initial discussions among authorities found there may have been "possible negligence by tourism operators or individuals" who proceeded with climbing Mount Dukono despite the warnings.

"The government is continuing to gather information to establish a complete account of the incident," it said.

Mount Dukono is currently listed at level two out of the Volcanological Survey of Indonesia's four-tier volcano alert system, which indicates increased activity and a need for caution.

The agency said that since December 2024, it has recommended tourists and climbers to refrain from activities within a 4km radius of Mount Dukono's main crater, where there are threats of ejected rocks, ash and lava.

Still, that has not deterred hikers from heading up the 1,335m-tall mountain.

"Dukono is one of the most active volcanoes in Indonesia," said Siti Sumilah Rita Susilawati, Head of Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG).

Speaking to reporters, Susilawati said the no-gone zone was a "recommendation" that the agency made to local governments, adding that they had "communicated it with the local community".

Dr Daryono, from the Indonesian Association of Disaster Experts, said that the incident "once again demonstrated that active volcanoes can never be treated as ordinary tourist destinations".

"Dukono is a mountain with almost continuous eruptive activity, so any violation of the danger zone carries a fatal risk," he told the BBC.

"On social media, the public often sees videos of climbers or influencers who successfully ascend and return safely. Such content slowly creates a distorted risk perception.

"The public only sees those who successfully descend and post dramatic content, while potential threats that did not occur at the time become invisible. The real danger remains and could emerge at any time in the form of ejections of incandescent material, thick ashfall, volcanic gas, or sudden explosive eruptions."

Additional reporting by Koh Ewe

From trusted aide to biggest rival: Suvendu Adhikari becomes West Bengal chief minister

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwy2gp1wewjo, yesterday

An Indian politician once considered a protégé of a long-serving chief minister of West Bengal state has replaced her.

Suvendu Adhikari of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was a close aide of former chief minister Mamata Banerjee until their bitter falling out a few years ago. He was sworn in on Saturday in a ceremony attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The BJP won 207 of the state's 294 assembly seats in Monday's vote counting, ending the 15-year rule of Banerjee's All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) and bringing the Hindu nationalist party to power in the state for the first time.

For years, Adhikari cultivated the image of a combative organiser with a sharp instinct for power and an ability to turn Bengal's shifting political currents to his advantage.

To supporters, he is the BJP's most recognisable face in West Bengal, a leader rooted in local networks and street-level politics rather than Delhi's political establishment.

To critics, he embodies the increasingly polarised rhetoric that has come to define the state.

Now, after his party's sweeping victory, he finds himself at the centre of one of the most dramatic political transitions West Bengal has seen in recent years.

But for Adhikari, personally, the rise did not begin with the BJP.

Born in Purba Medinipur district in 1970 into one of Bengal's most influential political families, he emerged through the Congress party before joining the TMC during its years as an anti-Left force.

His father Sisir Adhikari was a veteran MP and the family built a political network across parts of coastal West Bengal, with several relatives holding elected office over the years.

It was in Nandigram town, though, that he first became a major political figure.

The violent protests there in 2007 against a proposed land acquisition project transformed politics in West Bengal.

The agitation weakened the then-ruling Left Front government and helped propel Banerjee and the TMC to power in 2011.

Adhikari, who helped organise much of the movement on the ground, emerged from that battle with a reputation as one of the state's most effective political organisers.

For years, he was seen as one of Banerjee's closest lieutenants.

In 2016, Adhikari was embroiled in a controversy over a sting operation, in which several senior TMC leaders were filmed allegedly accepting cash from a fake businessman posing as an investor.

Videos released before state elections that year appeared to show Adhikari taking money in his office, allegations he denied while questioning the authenticity and context of the footage.

But his relations with the TMC leadership deteriorated with time, culminating in his dramatic defection to the BJP in 2020, months before the 2021 state election.

Contesting from Nandigram, Adhikari defeated Banerjee in one of the most closely watched races.

The BJP lost the wider election, but his victory elevated him inside the party and cemented his reputation as Banerjee's principal challenger.

Five years later, he has helped engineer an even bigger upset.

In the 2026 election, the BJP not only swept to power but also defeated Banerjee in her long-time stronghold of Bhabanipur, where Adhikari contested against her while simultaneously retaining Nandigram.

His rise marks a striking political reversal in West Bengal - a state where the BJP was once a marginal force.

But Adhikari's ascent has also been shadowed by repeated controversy over inflammatory and communal remarks.

In 2021, the Election Commission issued a notice to him over a speech in which he allegedly referred to his opponent as "Begum" and suggested voting for her meant voting for a "mini-Pakistan".

Last year, Adhikari triggered outrage after declaring the BJP would "physically throw Muslim MLAs out of the assembly" if the party came to power in West Bengal in 2026.

The remarks drew accusations of hate speech from the TMC and led to a privilege motion and suspension from the assembly.

Adhikari has also faced criticism for comments alleging that medicines distributed at a TMC-run medical camp could lead to "birth control" and reduce the Hindu population in Bengal - remarks widely condemned by opponents as inflammatory and conspiratorial.

Now, even as power shifts in West Bengal, the transition has unfolded amid renewed violence.

On Wednesday, a close aide and personal assistant to Adhikari was shot dead in what BJP leaders described as a targeted attack. Police said unidentified assailants opened fire near Rath's home, intensifying concerns over post-election violence in the state.

Adhikari takes charge at a time when the state is facing deep economic challenges as well.

West Bengal has long struggled to attract large-scale private investment compared with some other Indian states and unemployment, particularly among the youth, remains a major concern - all issues the BJP campaigned on.

Adhikari will also govern a state that has become intensely polarised after years of bitter political rivalry between the BJP and the TMC, often accompanied by allegations of intimidation and election-related violence.

There are other challenges too.

Throughout his career, Adhikari has had the image of a leader who is admired by supporters for his aggressive campaigning style, but criticised by opponents as a political rabble-rouser who helped deepen divisions in the state.

As chief minister, he will now face pressure to shift from a firebrand politician to administrator: reassuring investors, delivering jobs and governing a state where political loyalties run fiercely deep.

Japanese council votes to remove unconscious mayor

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clypw9w907zo, today

A council in Japan has voted to remove its mayor who has been unconscious for several months.

Kikuo Hatakeyama, 72, has served as the mayor of Hachirogata in north-east Japan since 2008, but fell ill in February and suffered a brain hemorrhage.

The town assembly unanimously passed a no-confidence motion against the mayor meaning he will automatically lose his position on 19 May.

Japan's national association of town and village assemblies says it's rare for a no-confidence motion to be filed against a mayor due to illness.

The motion said removing Hatakeyama was a tough choice, but administratively necessary.

His wife asked the town assembly last month to assess whether he could continue in his post, saying that it would be the best option for him to resign as mayor, according to the Japan Times.

Local law requires mayors who want to resign to notify the assembly chair of their intention. The town government last month said that a resignation request submitted by family members would be invalid, the Japan Times added.

Therefore a no-confidence motion was agreed as the quickest way for the mayor to be removed.

An election to choose his successor is expected to be held within 50 days.

Hachirogata is in Akita prefecture and has a population of around 5,000 people.

One member of the council represents the district on the Akita Prefectural Assembly.

Surrounded by vast rice fields, agriculture and commercial fishing drive the local economy.

China announces suspended death sentences for former defence ministers

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clypjx383j2o, 3 days ago

Two former Chinese defence ministers have been handed suspended death sentences on corruption charges, according to state media.

A military court on Thursday sentenced Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu to death with a two-year reprieve. This means their death sentences will be commuted to life imprisonment after two years, without the possibility of sentence reduction or parole, Xinhua reports.

Both men were found guilty of bribery, and all of their personal assets were confiscated.

The announcement follows the recent ousting of several top military figures in the country amid a sweeping anti corruption crackdown.

Wei served as defence minister from 2018 to 2023 and was replaced by Li in March 2023.

Li's tenure as defence minister was much shorter.

He was dismissed in October 2023, two months after he suddenly disappeared from public life, sparking speculation of his removal.

Reuters news agency quoted past reports in Xinhua which said that Li had been suspected of receiving "huge sums of money" in bribes as well as bribing others, adding that an investigation found he "did not fulfil political responsibilities" and "sought personal benefits for himself and others".

Meanwhile, an investigation launched into Wei in 2023 is reported to have similarly found that he had accepted "a huge amount of money and valuables" in bribes and "helped others gain improper benefits in personnel arrangements".

In February, Chinese President Xi Jinping made a rare public reference to the military crackdown that also recently saw the removal of the country's top military general, Zhang Youxia.

Xi said at the time that the army had "undergone revolutionary tempering in the fight against corruption".

Since coming to power, President Xi has launched waves of anti-corruption drives, which critics say have also been used as a tool to purge political rivals.

Anti-war protests rock Japan as PM pushes for stronger defence

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g93v8jqnyo, 2 days ago

On a Tokyo street corner, in the pouring rain, a swelling crowd gathered with drenched placards and sodden flags. On one of them was written just two words, in big bold Japanese kanji characters: "No War".

It's a sentiment that is gaining more and more volume in Japan, which is currently witnessing its largest anti-war protests in decades.

Since coming to power in October 2025, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has taken major steps away from the country's post-war pacifist stance, lifting long-standing restrictions on arms exports and expanding Japan's military role abroad.

The government says such moves are necessary in an increasingly tense region. But for many residents, it's raising alarm.

As fears grow that Japan is becoming a war-capable nation, protests are gaining momentum.

Public protests in Japan tend to be relatively restrained. There's a strong cultural understanding of social harmony and not causing disruption. So when people do take to the streets in large numbers, it usually signals something deeper.

This time, the issue is Japan's national identity.

The PM pushing for change

After World War Two, Japan adopted the constitution, including Article 9, which prohibits the maintenance of armed forces and renounces war as a right of sovereignty.

Now, Takaichi says this framework no longer reflects reality. Geographically, Japan sits in a challenging neighbourhood with an assertive China, an unpredictable North Korea, and Russia nearby. And the United States, its closest ally, has been encouraging Tokyo to play a more active security role.

She's not the first Japanese leader to push for changes to Japan's postwar security framework.

Over the past few decades, conservative leaders, most notably from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, have called for amendments to Japan's 1947 constitution. Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had advocated revising Article 9 to formalise the role of the self-defence forces.

Under Abe, the Diet passed a controversial security bill in 2015 to expand the role of Japan's armed forces. This allows Japan to exercise limited self-defence, including supporting allies under attack.

On 21 April, however, the Japanese government took a significant step: lifting its long-standing ban on exporting lethal weapons. It argued that allies must support one another in what it calls an increasingly severe security environment.

That decision struck a nerve with the Japanese people.

Outside the prime minister's office, as the rain suddenly cleared and sunlight broke through, the crowd swelled and the chanting grew louder. This wasn't just an older generation holding on to the past. Many in their twenties and thirties were there too.

Akari Maezono, who is in her 30s, held brightly painted paper lanterns calling for peace.

"I'm angry that these changes could be made without properly listening to us, the public," she said.

Nearby was an older gentleman standing tall with a bright red banner.

"The Japanese constitution, Article 9 in particular, must be protected at all costs," he said. "It kept Japan from being drawn into past conflicts like the US-Iran war. Without it, we surely would have entered the war by now."

'No more war'

Japan's 1947 constitution was enshrined just two years after the end of World War Two, when the United States defeated the country by dropping atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, killing some 200,000 people by the end of 1945.

Article 9's "pacifist clause" renounced war as a sovereign right of Japan, and stipulated that the country would not maintain military forces for the purpose of waging war - a principle that has since been reinterpreted to allow the self-defence forces to exist.

Supporters saw pacifism as a moral improvement on Japan's wartime militarism.

But even at the time, Article 9 wasn't universally accepted. It was controversial due to perceived foreign imposition, with critics arguing it was heavily shaped by the US. There were also security concerns about Japan being vulnerable amid a rise in Cold War tensions.

For many though, especially those with living memory of conflict and the atomic bombings, any shift away from pacifism ignites fear. Recently, survivors of the Hiroshima atomic bomb pressed for the abolition of nuclear arms at the United Nations, calling to build a human society free from nuclear weapons and war.

"Nuclear weapons were used because we went to war," said Jiro Hamasumi at the 2026 review conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. He is a hibakusha, a Japanese word to describe bomb-affected people.

"No more war, no more hibakusha," he added.

Some fear Japan could be drawn into conflict again, a sentiment that is playing out on the streets. Demonstrations have been spreading beyond Tokyo with rallies organised in other major cities like Osaka, Kyoto, and Fukuoka. Attendance is reportedly growing week by week, with posts on social media platforms like X playing a big role.

Younger Japanese, who feel they have more at stake in what comes next for Japan, are sharing details of the demonstrations and bringing along their friends.

But while the protests have swelled to some of Japan's largest in decades, they highlight just one side of the story.

A country divided

Across Japan, opinion is divided. Recent polls point in different directions. Some suggest growing support for a stronger military to keep up with current world environments. Others show clear resistance.

Those in favour of revisions to the constitution argue that Japan's security environment has fundamentally changed.

They say Article 9, written in the aftermath of defeat, is too restrictive, and that Japan must be able to deter aggression, support allies, and respond proactively to crises in the region.

For them, giving the military more legitimacy is not about ignoring pacifism, but about making sure the country can survive an increasingly unstable world.

Meanwhile, those against any revisions say incremental changes risk hollowing out the pacifist clause. They warn that strengthening military powers and loosening long-standing restrictions could draw Japan into conflicts overseas.

For many, Article 9 is not just a legal constraint, but a moral commitment shaped by the devastation of past wars.

During the protests, in a streetside convenience store, a cashier's comments highlighted the division among the Japanese people.

"They're always here," he said of the protesters, with some impatience. Then he added: "Time for a new Japan."

That is the choice the country now faces: whether to hold on to a pacifist identity shaped by the past, or adapt to a more volatile future.

In a country where change has often come carefully and slowly, the question now is not just what Japan decides, but how quickly it's willing to decide it.

Crowds cheer China's new snooker star on return from championship win

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62ex9ykl53o, 2 days ago

Wu Yize entered the TNT billiards club to a welcome worthy of a rock star.

Loud chanting and cheering rang around the room in the western Chinese city of Xi'an.

He waved modestly, wearing the expression of a shy 22-year-old not used to such sudden fame at home.

But that did not dampen the enthusiasm of those who had come to get a glimpse of someone on top of the world.

Earlier this week, a Chinese player won the World Snooker championship for the second year in a row, and it has captivated this country.

It is not only the repeat success driving this. It is also the fairytale story of a young man who dropped out of school aged 16 to move to Sheffield, England, in pursuit of a dream to turn professional.

He has now returned home as the second-youngest player ever to be crowned world champion.

The BBC asked Wu what he thought of so many fans turning out to see him. He replied with a gentle smile: "It's great to feel the warmth of my homeland."

The baby-faced snooker magician showed off some shots to the ooh-ing and ah-ing audience, including when he played one fan, Liu Yi fei. She had won an earlier play-off here to have a hit with him.

She said Wu's success had made her more determined to improve her own skills, and that this country expected to see plenty more like him in the future.

"In China, so many more people are playing," she said. "More pool halls are opening, and the sport is becoming ever more popular."

It is estimated that some 60 million people play billiards in China every year, in around 300,000 halls like the one in Xi'an.

The country is now churning out high-quality snooker competitors. They currently make up a quarter of all players on the professional circuit.

This is likely to increase with the new generations already coming through.

One eight-year-old boy told the BBC he was already pretty good himself: "One day, I'd like to be champion like Wu Yize."

One reason for China's snooker explosion is that it remains relatively cheap to play here.

It is a bonus for a sport in a city like Xi'an, which - like all of western China - has not enjoyed the same level of booming economic development as that in the country's south-east.

Even further to the west, Wu's home province of Gansu - known for its deserts - is less privileged again.

That he hails from such a region has fuelled the rags to riches aspect of his story.

Tales of him sharing a bed with his father in a flat with no windows as a teenager in Sheffield have made his victory seem sweeter, especially after he declared he would spend his prize money on a place for his parents to stay in England so they could support him.

Another fan, who came from Wu's home province and took hours to reach Xi'an via high-speed train, brought along a photo of the champion to get it signed.

He was brimming with excitement.

"I knew he'd become great. Now I love him even more," he said.

'My heart is in a million pieces': Vigils in Australia for five-year-old allegedly killed in Outback

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdeplz29p7go, 3 days ago

Warning for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers: this article contains references to and images of someone who has died.

Emotions ran high as Australians across the country gathered to remember a five-year-old girl who was allegedly murdered in the Australian Outback.

"My heart is broken into a million pieces," said a statement from the girl's mother which was read out at the candle-lit vigil at Alice Springs, near the Aboriginal town camp where the family lived.

"She was my little princess. My princess who loved the colour pink. She loved Bluey and K-Pop Demon Hunters," the statement added.

The body of Kumanjayi Little Baby, as the child is now called for cultural reasons, was found on 30 April, days after she went missing from the camp, sparking an outpouring of shock and anger across the country.

"I want you to know how I am having trouble knowing how I can repair my heart and knowing how I can live without my little baby," the mother said in the statement which was recited at the vigil at the Anzac Oval sports ground around sunset.

She talked about all the things the five-year-old loved: the colour pink, puppies, playing on her mother's phone, the children's cartoons Bluey and Masha and the Bear.

"APT by Bruno Mars and Rose, Golden by Kpop Demon Hunters. She loved playing Minecraft with her big brother."

"I ask, as I move through my grief. Let's look up to the night sky and find the brightest star where Kumanjayi Little Baby is, now in heaven. And I ask everyone to take care of your little ones," said the statement.

Outside the Old Timers Camp, where Kumanjayi Little Baby went missing on 25 April, there was a growing tribute of flowers, cuddly toys and messages in front of the chain link fence on Thursday.

Nearby, a large painted pebble was left, painted with the message "May justice be done."

Knitted koalas, cuddly toys, candles and cards were also piling up. Every so often, a car would stop along the busy road and another mourner would step out - some had come to read the tributes and reflect, others to add to the sea of pink gifts.

Vigils were also held in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Darwin, Canberra, Adelaide, Brisbane and Hobart, as well as many other smaller towns.

Attendees showed up in pink clothes and listened to speeches from members of the Indigenous community.

In Sydney, 16-year-old Alinta Quayle took to the stage to read out a poem she wrote for Kumanjayi Little Baby. "Our people are like seeds," she said. "Our stories and memories will continue to grow no matter how deep into the soil you bury us."

Kumanjayi Little Baby was last seen when she was put to bed just before midnight at the camp - a site set aside by the government for Aboriginal people to stay in when in Alice Springs.

She was reported missing several hours later, prompting a large-scale search for the child, who was non-verbal.

Police found her body several kilometres from the camp five days later. Hours later, Jefferson Lewis, 47, was arrested and taken to a hospital in Alice Springs for treatment. He had been attacked by community members.

A riot erupted outside the hospital, with police later arresting five people over the violence.

Kumanjayi Little Baby's family called for calm amid the unrest.

Family member and senior Yapa (Warlpiri) elder Robin Granites called for the public to allow justice to take its course and to show respect for the family as it observed "sorry business" - a period of collective mourning within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

On Wednesday, three child protection workers were stood down after an investigation into the circumstances leading up to Kumanjayi Little Baby's disappearance and death.

Using the name of deceased people, as well as broadcasting their image or voice, breaches cultural protocols around mourning in many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and cannot be done without the permission of their families.

Additional reporting by Lana Lam in Sydney

Top BJP leader's aide shot dead in violence after Indian state election

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce8pjz7dv7ro, 3 days ago

The aide to a top leader from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party has been shot dead in violence that broke out after elections in West Bengal state.

Chandranath Rath was personal assistant to Suvendu Adhikari, seen as the front-runner to become the state's new chief minister after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won the vote.

Rath was on his way home on Wednesday night when he was killed. Police are investigating but haven't made any arrests yet.

Rath is among at least three people killed in the eastern state since Monday when results were announced. Police said before Rath's death that they had arrested more than 400 people in connection with incidents of violence and intimidation.

Violence is not uncommon in West Bengal after elections, with clashes often breaking out between rival party workers.

On Monday, the BJP marked a historic victory in the state, which it has never won before, ending a 15-year-rule by Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress (TMC) party.

Tensions have been high in West Bengal for weeks, with the elections having been conducted in the backdrop of a controversial exercise to clean up voter rolls that left millions of people off the list.

Banerjee has alleged that the exercise removed thousands of non-BJP voters, paving the way for her defeat. The BJP and India's Election Commission have repeatedly denied these allegations.

Rath's murder has escalated tensions, leading to fears of an increase in the scale of violence.

Adhikari called the death "heartwrenching". "This is a cold-blooded murder," he told reporters.

Police said they had found a car that was used in the crime but that its licence plate number was incorrect.

"We also found live rounds and fired cartridges from the spot," West Bengal police chief Siddh Nath Gupta said.

A witness told media that the shot was fired by a person on a motorcycle, but police have not commented on this or the number of attackers.

The TMC, in a statement, strongly condemned the killing.

"Violence and political killings have no place in a democracy and the guilty must be held accountable at the earliest," the party said, demanding a court-monitored investigation.

Both parties have claimed that their workers have been killed in post-poll violence - the BJP two and the TMC three, each blaming the other. Police have not confirmed the party affiliations of the two victims other than Rath.

Adhikari and other BJP leaders alleged that law and order in West Bengal had deteriorated under Banerjee's rule.

"As soon as our chief minister takes the oath and our government assumes power, everything will be set right though it may take a little time," said BJP's Sukanta Majumdar, a junior federal minister.

The state's new chief minister is expected to be sworn in on Saturday. The BJP has not confirmed the name yet, but Adhikari, a former TMC leader who moved to the BJP, is the front runner.

The BJP had on Monday secured a landslide victory in the state polls, winning 207 seats of 294. Adhikari also defeated Banerjee from the Bhabanipur constituency, which was her stronghold.

Since then, the party has conducted victory rallies across the state, with supporters chanting slogans of 'Jai Shree Ram' (Victory to Lord Ram).

However, visuals of arson and vandalism have emerged from many districts, including Murshidabad, Birbhum, Kolkata and Howrah.

TMC has accused BJP workers of vandalising and even setting fire to some of its party offices. The BJP has denied this.

The party also accused BJP workers of bringing in a bulldozer to demolish meat shops in a famous market in state capital Kolkata, a sensitive issue in a state where choice of food was a major campaign talking point.

TMC said that the incident reflected a "pattern of intimidation" and signalled a "dangerous precedent" for law and order.

The BJP did not directly respond to these comments but state party chief Samik Bhattacharya said it did not support any act of violence.

A senior police officer told PTI news agency that there was a meeting in the market to celebrate the BJP's victory but that "no untoward incident" had taken place.

A senior police officer told the BBC on Wednesday that the police and district administration had received directives from Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar to monitor law and order in the state and take immediate action in case of violence or vandalism.

West Bengal's recurring election violence stems from its entrenched "party society", says Zaad Mahmood, who teaches political science at Kolkata's Presidency University, told the BBC.

Coined by political scientist Dwaipayan Bhattacharyya to describe decades of Communist rule, the term captures how party affiliation became embedded in daily rural life and livelihoods.

"In the last decade or so, we've seen more atrocities around political identity than caste or religion," Mahmood told the BBC, arguing that in many rural areas survival itself is tied to party loyalty, making any change in power feel existential.

While deaths this election cycle are lower than in previous years, he said violence goes beyond casualties, creating a pervasive atmosphere of intimidation before, during and after polls.

Return of IS-linked families sparks debate in terror-traumatised Australia

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cedplx04ew0o, yesterday

After years spent detained in Syria, the freedom of the Islamic State group-linked families who landed back in their homeland of Australia this week was dramatically short lived.

Three of the women were swiftly arrested. The fourth was left to confront a frenzied media scrum alone, small children in tow, with the knowledge she could be next.

Australia has been eyeing their potential return with trepidation for years.

It has been resisting pressure to claim dozens of its citizens - families members of men who fought for the so-called Islamic State (IS). They have been languishing in highly-guarded camps since the group lost its territorial control in Syria after a years-long military campaign by the US-led coalition and local allies.

Australia is not alone in its reluctance to help these women and children: many others, including the UK, have also been wrestling with questions of security, rehabilitation and political responsibility.

But as the country wallows in the fallout of its worst terrorist attack – a mass shooting allegedly inspired by IS at a Jewish event in Bondi Beach in December which left 15 dead – sentiment towards them has hardened.

The prime minister has repeatedly said he has nothing but contempt for the group: "If you make your bed, you have to lie in it," has been Anthony Albanese's mantra.

But amid increasingly volatile conditions, advocates say the predicament of the Australians still stuck in Syria is growing more dangerous and the need to get them home more desperate.

"The government want us to forget about them… [But] the quicker they come to Australia, the safer it is for all of Australia and for themselves," Sydney doctor Jamal Rifi told the BBC in an interview earlier this year, after an earlier bid to return by Australian IS families failed.

Who are the women?

The two camps where the families of IS fighters were channelled when the "caliphate" fell have long been described as a ticking time bomb - rife with violence, incubators for radicalisation, and an ever-growing humanitarian crisis.

The largest, Al-Hol, was shut down in February after Syrian forces of the new government reclaimed the country, while the future of the remaining Al-Roj camp, in the country's north-east Kurdish region, is uncertain.

There are about 2,000 people in Al-Roj, from dozens of countries which refuse to take them back - including Shamima Begum, who was stripped of her British citizenship after travelling to Syria as a 15-year-old and marrying an IS fighter.

Until last month, it was also the home of Janai Safar, 32, who landed in Sydney with her nine-year-old son on Thursday night, and has since been charged with terrorism offences.

The former nursing student told The Australian newspaper back in 2019 that she didn't regret travelling to join IS, but "didn't train or kill anyone".

Arriving in Melbourne at the same time was 33-year-old Zahra Ahmed, who spent years in the camp alongside her younger sister Zeinab, 31, and her 54-year-old mother Kawsar Abbas.

They say they were trapped in Syria after travelling there for a family wedding, not realising the groom had sworn allegiance to the Islamic State group - though authorities suspect the patriarch of the family had been funnelling cash to them.

"I didn't make this bed," Zahra told the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) in 2024.

"We are now forced to suffer for the decisions that other people - other male influencers - have made on our behalf, and now they're all gone, and we are left to suffer with our kids."

Her mother and sister have been charged with crimes against humanity related to slavery.

The Australian Federal Police say Zahra Ahmed is still under investigation, and that the nine children who returned with the group will be asked to undergo community integration and countering violent extremism programmes.

They were part of a larger group which in February left Al-Roj for Australia, but were turned back within hours due to "technical issues". The camp administrators later told media they believed Syrian authorities had been spooked by Australia's insistence the women would not be welcomed back.

Twenty-one Australians now remain in the camp, seven women and 14 children.

Though details of their lives are scant, several of the women were only teenagers when they left Australia – including Kirsty Rosse-Emile, whose sister says she was groomed by a much-older extremist whom she married at 14.

Even less is known about their children, many of whom have never known life outside the camps.

Tense national debate

This isn't the first time that Australians linked to IS have returned home. A group of orphans was repatriated in 2019, and another 17 women and children were brought back in 2022.

But after backlash from some in the community, the government said it would not help any others – though another two women quietly worked their way home in September.

While all citizens have a legal right to return to their countries, there is little doubt most Australians would prefer these ones do not.

"They made their choice to go over there and be with their terrorist husbands, so let them stay there," Peter Cockburn, of Geelong, told the BBC at Melbourne airport.

"It's a disgrace that both governments, state and federal, are letting them come back."

Refugees who fled to Australia for safety from IS - many of whom survived massacres, slavery and sexual abuse at their hands - are particularly distressed.

"Imagine a Yazidi survivor encountering ISIS brides [here]," one such man named Sami told Australian public broadcaster SBS.

But people like Rifi - an award-winning Western Sydney doctor - say Australia owes the children in these camps protection too.

He was roped into providing the group tele-healthcare years ago, but - moved by their plight - more recently became a broker and "delivery boy" for their temporary passports.

"If those women have done anything wrong by our legal system… if the prime minister wants to 'throw the book' at them, let him throw the book. We're not going to stop him," he told the BBC in February.

"But while they are staying in Syria, he can't throw anything at them, except words.

"We believe those children should not continue to pay the heavy price for the sins of their fathers and mothers… It's not what we understand of Australian values."

For helping these women, Rifi has gone from being a national hero to a pariah – with the opposition party going as far as to float a policy aimed at jailing people like him.

The community's "alarm, concern and fear" is "entirely understandable", Australia's special envoy to combat Islamaphobia said this week, adding the women had put the Muslim community in particular in a "deeply challenging position".

But Aftab Malik said the "rule of law" must be upheld, calling for the temperature of the national debate to be lowered.

In her role with the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, Jana Fevaro has seen firsthand the harm wrought by IS, but she argues Australia has to trust its laws - and law enforcement agencies - will do their job.

"Once politicians start… deciding how citizens should be treated, what right citizens should have, that is a dangerous and slippery slope," she told the BBC.

'Serious limits' on preventing returns

Labor knows that showing any concern towards people linked to IS is not popular right now, but legally, their hands are bound.

Announcing this group of 13 had booked flights home earlier this week, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the government did not help these IS families return and will not help others.

But there are "very serious limits" on what can be done to stop them, he added.

One un-named woman was in February barred from returning upon advice from the national security agencies, but the legal threshold for invoking that law is high and no other member of the group has met it, Burke says.

However opposition spokespeople, right up until the moment the four women landed on Thursday, said the government should stop them at any cost and offered to work with them on laws which would help.

"It's a hot button issue in a way that it may not have been six months previously," says Rodger Shanahan, a Middle East expert at the Lowy Institute.

Had the government dealt with it earlier, it would have "blown over", he argues.

For those who have been campaigning for Australia to help these women, Thursday was but temporary joy, when so many still remain in Al-Roj.

Things have become so desperate some mothers have suggested they'd allow their children to go home without them – though Rifi says that's an unthinkable solution.

"My task right now is try to win the public debate about these issues because there is a lot of misinformation, lies, and at least to set the record [straight].

"If you're gonna leave them for another 10 years, are they gonna get better or worse? Mentally, emotionally, psychologically, ideologically, it's gonna get worse. If you bring them right now, it's easier to rehabilitate. It is easier to educate. And if there is any danger of radicalisation, it's easier to de-radicalise."

Additional reporting by Simon Atkinson, in Melbourne.

Dressed for succession: What Kim Ju Ae's outfits tell us about North Korea

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy82x9wve2xo, 4 days ago

In November 2022, a photo emerged of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un with a smartly-dressed young girl by his side - his daughter Ju Ae.

Strolling alongside her father in front of a towering intercontinental ballistic missile, she wore black trousers and a white padded jacket with her long hair tied back.

Making her debut in state propaganda - she was reportedly just nine years old at the time - Ju Ae was already dressed to impress.

Since then her hairstyles have become more elaborate, her attire increasingly elegant and sophisticated.

South Korea's spy agency believes that Kim Jong Un has chosen her as his successor, given her rising prominence at such a young age.

Ju Ae, believed to now be 13, has been increasingly photographed with her father, standing next to him at missile launches and military parades and even accompanying him on overseas trips.

But some analysts believe that her fashion - leathers, furs, and a "rooster" hairstyle - are also signs that she is being groomed to lead the country.

Ju Ae's outfits are likely to be dictated by the government's Propaganda and Agitation Department.

At times, she has been seen dressed in formal suits and skirts, resembling her mother Ri Sol Ju.

"As Ju Ae is still very young, her age could be seen as a potential weakness for a future leader. It appears the regime is dressing her in formal outfits similar to those worn by her mother as a way to mask her youth and project a more mature image," Sejong Institute deputy director Cheong Seong-chang tells BBC Korean.

At other times, she has worn leather jackets, "clothing that is both strong in impression and casual" which would be suitable for visiting "relatively rough or rugged locations" such as military bases, noted Cheong.

But it also has meant that she ends up twinning with her father, who is fond of wearing black leather jackets and trench coats.

Mirroring the fashions of previous generations, known as "image replication", is a tactic that North Korean leaders have employed to retain power.

During the early years of his leadership, Kim Jong Un sought to secure his legitimacy by dressing like his grandfather Kim Il Sung.

Kim Il Sung, who founded and led North Korea for more than 45 years, is effectively seen as a deity in the country, according to experts.

"The Propaganda and Agitation Department played a significantly important role in orchestrating a series of processes that naturally transferred respect for Kim Il Sung to Kim Jong Un," Cheong says.

"It is said that North Korean residents were surprised when Kim Jong Un first appeared. But the reason South Korean experts were also surprised is that the first glimpse of Kim Jong Un looked so much like the young Kim Il Sung.

"The limitations young Kim Jong Un faced as a successor, such as his lack of experience and age, could be offset solely by the fact that he resembled Kim Il Sung.

"It got to the point that rumours circulated among North Koreans that Kim Il Sung had been reincarnated."

Beyond cementing Ju Ae's legitimacy, "by wearing Western-designed clothing, Ju Ae and Ri Sol Ju are demonstrating a 'differentiation strategy' - that their social standing is fundamentally different from that of ordinary residents", noted Cheong.

The fact that Ju Ae has been seen wearing leather jackets on several occasions indicates that the Propaganda and Agitation Department is keen on setting her status above normal citizens.

"Wearing clothing made of high-quality leather is a way of showing off one's special status," says Cheong.

"Leather clothing is not that common among North Korean residents. Luxury brands, leather jackets and fur coats are precious clothes that can't be worn by ordinary North Koreans."

Ju Ae's evolving fashion stands in stark contrast to the tightening controls on the rest of the population.

In 2020, North Korea enacted the Reactionary Ideology and Culture Rejection Act, blocking "external culture".

But in 2023, the state-run Korean Central News Agency released a video of Ju Ae again strolling alongside her father in front of an intercontinental ballistic missile, this time wearing a black padded jacket later identified as a $1,900 (£1,405) purchase from luxury French fashion house Christian Dior.

The following year, Ju Ae wore a partially see-through blouse - revealing her arms - to the completion ceremony for a residential area of the capital, Pyongyang.

A video lecture was then released as a directive to ordinary citizens, warning that such hairstyles and outfits could not be worn by them as they were "anti-socialist and non-socialist phenomena that blur the image of the socialist system and eat away at the regime - targets that must be eradicated", a local source told Radio Free Asia.

These incidents have highlighted how the Kim family - who are treated almost as god-like figures - are often exempt from rules that apply to the rest of society.

"Although jeans are banned in North Korea as a Western fashion item, Kim Jong Un has appeared wearing them," Prof Lee Woo-young, of the University of North Korean Studies, says.

"No matter how much they ban foreign culture and even enact laws, North Korea is a place where there is nothing the supreme leader is unable to do."

Still, that has not stopped some North Koreans from wanting to keep up with the Kims and dress as sophisticatedly as Ju Ae.

There have been reports of an uptick in luxury goods such as Chanel cosmetics and perfumes circulating among wealthy North Koreans, while fur coats have become popular in a city bordering China.

Photographs of children at a prestigious kindergarten wearing partially see-through blouses have surfaced. There are also reports of sunglasses and leather trenchcoats similar to those worn by Ju Ae and Kim Jong Un becoming popular among affluent young people.

This is not unusual in North Korea - there have been reports in the past of young men sporting Kim Jong Un's hairstyle.

Ordinary North Koreans have very restricted access to information from the outside world including fashion trends, making the country's leader an unlikely fashion icon.

Now, his daughter appears to have become one too.

Additional reporting by Hyunjung Kim.

'We won't see her because she's Asian': How Lea Salonga fought to be seen on Broadway

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgpnk4kkkro, 5 days ago

The year was 1991 and Lea Salonga already had won a Tony for her performance as the lead character in Miss Saigon - but she was still struggling to find another role.

"My agent would be submitting me for auditions, [but people were still] like 'No, we won't see her because she's Asian. They were unable to imagine someone like me playing [those] roles," Salonga told the BBC.

But today it's that scenario that feels unimaginable, in an era when acts like BTS and Blackpink are dominating Billboard charts, shows like Shogun and Squid Games are sweeping the Emmys, and even Asian-led musicals are finding success on Broadway.

Salonga herself has since become a global Broadway icon. Revered as a national treasure in her native Philippines, she is also immortalised as the singing voices for not one but two Disney princesses, Princess Jasmine in Aladdin and the lead in Mulan.

But as her early struggles show, her path to fame was far from easy. The role that propelled her to fame - Eponine in Les Misérables - was only possible because she was able to skip the audition process entirely.

"Because the producers of Miss Saigon also produced Les Mis, [I received] an invitation to join… so I do appreciate that I had advocates in the office… people who were like 'we gotta get her in'," said Salonga.

Even then, Salonga, who was the first Asian actress to land a principal part in the acclaimed musical, says her role was very much an "experiment".

"When I was cast in it, the show had already been running for five years. When they cast me, it was in January, which is usually a slow time. [So] I think the producers felt [there was] minimal risk," she said.

"I think I was the only person of colour in that entire company at the time... so [it was like], is this a stunt? Is this trying to prove a point? Let's see if this is going to work. [And] if it works, the reward would be great."

But stepping into what had always been a traditionally white role was, in her own words, "incredibly stressful".

"I stressed out over Les Mis more than I ever did for Miss Saigon…[with that] it was an Asian actor in an Asian role - there's really no controversy there. But with Les Mis, it's like, we're going to cast this Asian chick in this show - and there's never been [an Asian] in this show."

But the magnitude of what that represented was not lost on her.

"It meant that anyone who had their sights on Eponine could play it. Because if I could do it - then [anyone else] could, regardless of ethnic background."

More than 30 years later, that reality is playing out right next to her.

In the current Singapore run of Les Misérables The Arena Spectacular, Salonga is performing alongside Nathania Ong who plays Eponine - the exact role Salonga made possible for other Asian actors to play.

"I get to watch [Nathania] playing Eponine... and as I'm sitting in this dressing room getting ready to do the show, it makes me think that [the experiment worked]. And it's something I'm very proud to have participated in. And now it's time for the next generation of actors [to step up]... the ones with strength in their knees," quips Salonga.

Ong, 28, who also made history as the first Singaporean to play the role on the West End, says she grew up watching performers like Salonga depict Eponine.

But for Ong, the stakes for winning the role felt different - in fact, Ong says she "didn't even realise what a big deal it was" to have gotten the part.

"I think it took a few months [before I was like]... I've made it. I've actually done something with this," she said.

While she credits Salonga as a "trailblazer for all people of colour," she adds that the fight for meaningful representation still remains an "uphill battle" at times - highlighting how the battle has shifted from fighting just to get in the room, to fighting to be valued for talent alone.

"The thing with going for parts as an East Asian is that sometimes we struggle with the idea of: "Have we been hired to meet a diversity quota, or are we actually being hired because we're good at our jobs?" she says.

But beyond casting, Salonga sees an even bigger shift happening - Asian artists are no longer just trying to fit into Western stories, but also writing their own.

She points to the recent Broadway success of the critically acclaimed South Korean musical Maybe Happy Ending that was co-written by a South Korean.

"Seeing a show like that…winning so many awards… tells me that if something is just so good that it cannot be ignored, it will be seen," she says of the show, which won South Korea its first Tony award.

She adds that she could not have imagined a show like this - one that is so "intrinsically" Asian - getting so much steam, adding that when she was growing up she didn't have as many Asian figures in the industry to look up to.

"I think for a lot of young people to be able to see somebody that looks like them up on that stage… is incredible. I think there was a generation of Asians who wanted to do this but didn't have that representation upon which they could reflect themselves," she said.

"I'm so glad that I am now getting to see it because now my son gets to see it."

She also points to successes like K-pop band BTS - who she is a "huge fan of" - as models for Asians to look up to. And for Salonga, watching their phenomenal global rise also feels deeply familiar.

During her own breakout years, she recalls the intense scrutiny that accompanied the pride of representing her home country on the global stage.

"When you head to the West End and you have to be excellent or you will let 75 million people down [the population of the Philippines], that's a lot to put on your shoulders. The responsibility is heavy", she says.

"That's also why I appreciate BTS so much because it's like, here you go, the weight of all of Asia is now on your shoulders," she laughs, adding that she recently delayed a vocal warm-up session by 15 minutes just so she could catch a BTS concert livestream.

Salonga also adds that the momentum extends beyond the stage and across all media. She points to an upcoming DreamWorks animated film steeped entirely in Philippine folklore that she is currently working on.

"An animated film that is based on my culture… I'd never thought I'd see something like that in my lifetime," she said.

And would 18-year-old Lea Salonga be surprised to see all this?

"Incredibly shocked, but I think also inspired to know… [that] there is a space for me," she says.

"You know, you can push us to the margins - but we're just going to centre ourselves."

Modi's BJP conquers Bengal, one of India's toughest political frontiers

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce8pdvp5x5ro, 6 days ago

For years, India's West Bengal state was the great exception to Narendra Modi's political advance.

His Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had swept through India's Hindi-speaking heartland, expanded into the west and north-east, and overwhelmed once-formidable regional rivals. Yet Bengal - argumentative and steeped in a self-image of cultural exceptionalism - remained stubbornly resistant.

That made this state election unusually consequential. With more than 100 million people, West Bengal's electorate is larger than Germany's, turning its election into something closer to a nation choosing a government than a routine Indian state poll.

Monday's BJP victory there would rank among the most significant breakthroughs of Modi's 12-year reign. It is not merely the defeat of a three-term incumbent, but the completion of the party's long march into eastern India.

"Winning Bengal is a big victory for the BJP - a land of promise that has long eluded its grasp," says author and journalist Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay.

Monday produced an extraordinary political churn across India's south as well.

In Tamil Nadu, MK Stalin's DMK government was swept aside by actor-turned-politician Vijay and his fledgling TVK party, marking the dramatic return of film-star politics to the state.

In Kerala, the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) defeated the Left Democratic Front (LDF) after two consecutive terms, ending the last remaining Communist-led state government in India. Only in Assam did the BJP buck the broader anti-incumbent tide and retain power, while the party and its allies also held on to the federal territory of Puducherry.

Yet nowhere were the results more politically significant than in Bengal.

The state has seen only one change of government in nearly half a century: the Communist Left Front ruled for 34 years before the Trinamool Congress (TMC), led by the firebrand populist Mamata Banerjee, dominated the next 15 years until now. Political scientists have long described Bengal as a system that favours "hegemonic" parties.

Analysts see the outcome not as a sudden upheaval but as the culmination of a decade-long political project. Unlike the BJP's rapid rise in Tripura or its earlier breakthrough in Assam, Bengal was never a lightning conquest.

"The BJP has been a major force in Bengal for three successive elections, consistently polling around 39% of the popular vote," says Rahul Verma, who is a fellow at the Centre for Policy Research.

Once it established itself near the 39-40% mark, he argues, "the party really needed only another 5-6% to cross the line". Voting trends show the BJP mopping up more than 44% of the vote this time.

What makes the result particularly striking is that the BJP achieved this despite still lacking the kind of deep organisational machinery that regional parties historically required to win Bengal.

The Trinamool Congress retained a denser grassroots network and the charismatic dominance of Banerjee. Yet the BJP repeatedly sustained a commanding vote share despite allegations of rival political intimidation and the challenge of taking on one of India's most entrenched regional parties.

"That suggests," Verma says, "the party's support now extends beyond the limits of its relatively thin organisational structure."

So what shifted the election so sharply towards the BJP?

For years, Banerjee's party forged a formidable social coalition: women, Muslims and large sections of the Hindu vote across both rural and urban Bengal.

Women, in particular, formed the backbone of the party's welfare-driven politics. The Lokniti-CSDS post-poll survey in 2021 found the TMC's support among women touching 50% - four percentage points higher than among men - reflecting the impact of years of female-focused welfare schemes and Banerjee's efforts to expand women's political representation.

This time, however, the BJP sought to directly challenge that advantage by promising larger cash transfers and expanded welfare benefits of its own.

"Banerjee's long electoral success rested on a delicate equilibrium between welfare and organisation. But the very organisation that sustained her for 15 years also became her Achilles' heel," says political scientist Bhanu Joshi.

"That balance broke down as the party machinery weakened and welfare politics appeared to reach its limits - voters began to see benefits as routine rather than transformative.

"The BJP's opening was to translate this anti-TMC fatigue into a sharper language of Hindu consolidation. So this is not simply a story of welfare failing; it is a story of welfare and organisation no longer being strong enough to contain polarisation," says Joshi.

The election also once again highlighted the centrality of Muslim voters to Bengal's political arithmetic, even if the precise contours of voting patterns remain unclear.

Muslims make up roughly 27% of the population, and nearly a third of the state's seats have substantial Muslim populations.

In 2021, the TMC swept 84 of 88 Muslim-dominated seats, reflecting a broad consolidation behind Banerjee. While early indications suggest the party retained significant Muslim support this time too, the BJP has increasingly sought to offset that advantage through wider Hindu consolidation and competing welfare promises.

"The BJP combined an aggressive welfare pitch with sharper polarisation. It promised to double cash benefits, while visible communalisation consolidated sections of the Bengali Hindu vote behind the party," says Maidul Islam, a political scientist at Kolkata's Centre for Studies in Social Sciences.

BJP leaders, however, framed the result less as ideological consolidation than as a rejection of the Trinamool Congress itself.

The TMC created a "crisis of leadership for itself," BJP leader Dharmendra Pradhan told one news network. He accused the party of "arrogance" and claimed that "voters, particularly women angered by atrocities and law-and-order failures, had decisively rejected the Trinamool Congress".

The other elephant in the room was the fiercely contested revision of Bengal's electoral rolls.

The Election Commission said the exercise, known as the special intensive revision, was intended to clean up voter lists by removing duplicate or ineligible names.

But with nearly three million voters still awaiting tribunal decisions before polling, Banerjee along with activists and civil society groups alleged that Bengal had effectively gone into the election after a "mass disenfranchisement exercise". This, they said, had disproportionately affecting poor and minority voters, especially Muslims and migrant communities in border districts.

Analysts say the exercise is now likely to come under even sharper scrutiny in closely fought seats where victory margins are much narrower than the number of deleted voters. "The revision of polls will come into play [once the results are in]," politician and activist Yogendra Yadav told NDTV news network.

But the electoral-roll controversy alone cannot explain the scale of the BJP's surge, many believe.

What also worked in the party's favour was a tightly focused campaign centred on alleged corruption and governance failures within the Trinamool Congress, hammering scandals such as a teachers' recruitment scam rather than relying primarily on personal attacks against Banerjee.

With the BJP firmly on course for victory, the implications will extend far beyond Bengal.

Unlike in neighbouring Bihar, where the party governs through alliances, or even Odisha, where its 2024 breakthrough came against a weakened regional incumbent, a victory in Bengal would represent a standalone conquest of one of India's most politically formidable states.

"It would strengthen Modi enormously," says Mukhopadhyay.

"More than Odisha, this would be seen as a personal political victory not only for Narendra Modi, but also for Home Minister Amit Shah, who effectively ran the campaign."

Within the BJP, Shah would almost certainly emerge as the informal "man of the match" - echoing the way Modi elevated him after the party's landmark victory in Uttar Pradesh in 2014.

A Bengal breakthrough could also reshape the BJP's succession politics, says Mukhopadhyay.

It would reinforce Shah's standing as Modi's most likely heir, potentially placing him ahead of rivals such as Yogi Adityanath, Nitin Gadkari and Rajnath Singh in the party's next-generation power hierarchy.

That would make Bengal's verdict consequential far beyond the state itself.

For decades, Bengal prided itself on resisting the political currents reshaping the rest of India.

Now that the BJP has finally breached one of India's most enduring regional strongholds, it may mark not just the end of an era in Bengal, but the beginning of a new phase in the Modi project itself.

Political uncertainty in India state as film star winner falls short of majority

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce8p2d97482o, yesterday

When film star-turned-politician C Joseph Vijay's newly-formed political party won the most number of seats in the recent election in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, it was hailed as historic.

But five days after Monday's vote-counting, political uncertainty prevails in the southern state, with no clarity on when a new government could be formed or who would form it.

Vijay's party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) won 108 seats - leaving him 10 seats short of a majority in the 234-member assembly.

India's main opposition Congress party, which has five seats, has pledged support. But Vijay has to win support from at least five more members and there is still no clarity on who they would be.

On Wednesday, the superstar called on the state Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar and staked claim to form the next government. He met the governor again on Thursday.

Hours later, the governor's office put out a press release explaining that "the requisite majority support in the legislative assembly, essential for forming the government, has not been established".

Indian media reports say the governor has insisted that Vijay submit proof that he has the support of 118 legislators needed to form government.

Some TVK leaders and its allies have criticised the governor's refusal to invite Vijay to form the government.

But analysts say the governor's priority is to ensure the formation of a stable government which will be able to prove its majority in the assembly.

Some constitutional experts, however, say there is enough precedent where the governor has invited the single largest party or coalition to form a government and given them time to prove their majority on the floor of the house. They say it is unfair to deny Vijay that opportunity.

Vijay's spectacular rise has been compared with that of matinee idol MG Ramachandran, who broke away from the established Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) to form his own party - All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) - and become chief minister in 1977.

The state has, for decades, chosen between the DMK and the AIADMK and the TVK demolished that duopoly to emerge as the single largest party in the state election. The actor's party defeated the powerful incumbent DMK, led by MK Stalin.

In the past 48 hours, as uncertainty over the fate of TVK has continued, Indian media reports have hinted at all sorts of permutations and combinations that could be used to form a new government, including one that could see bitter rivals DMK and the AIADMK joining hands.

But some analysts say Vijay may still be able to win over some of the smaller parties and independent legislators to cobble together the magic number of 118 seats and form the government.

Tamil Nadu has long seen cinema mixing with power and Vijay has followed in the footsteps of film stars Ramachandran and his successor J Jayalalithaa who led the state for decades. However, unlike them, he doesn't have any political experience.

Popularly known as "Thalapathy" Vijay (General Vijay), the 51-year-old actor has appeared in 69 films and is among India's highest paid stars.

Soon after launching TVK in 2024, he announced that he would retire from films to pursue politics full-time.

William, Catherine and children name baby kangaroo at Australia Zoo

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx21ekgl42qo, 2 days ago

The Prince and Princess of Wales and their children have named an eastern grey kangaroo Cwtch, which is Welsh for cuddle, at Australia Zoo.

Conservationist Robert Irwin, the son of Steve Irwin, made the announcement from the zoo in Queensland in a joint Instagram post with the Wales family.

In a video message with kangaroos surrounding him, Irwin thanked the younger royals - Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis - for coming up with the name.

"[Cwtch] is the absolute perfect name for a joey kangaroo, 'cause at this age, they love a cuddle and they spend most of their time inside that pouch with their mum," he said.

"Cwtch is now proudly part of our family here at Australia Zoo."

Pronounced "kutch", Irwin said he invited the Wales family to help name the baby kangaroo as part of efforts to put a global spotlight on conservation.

"Thank you for your support with our wildlife conservation efforts. It is so important that we conserve all of our animals, including the icons, the kangaroos," he said in his video message.

"These guys play a very important role in the Australian bush, and out there in the ecosystem, they are just crucial.

"With all of the animals that we support and all of the wildlife conservation efforts that we have around the world, it's all about making sure we give back to the wildlife and the wild places where they live."

Prince William has been an advocate for conservation, with his work as an ambassador for The Earthshot Prize - a global initiative he created to drive innovative solutions to the world's most pressing environmental challenges.

Irwin works with the prince through amplifying projects focused on protecting and restoring nature, which also aligns with his own global charity called Wildlife Warriors.

Eastern grey kangaroos are an Australian species that helps maintain healthy ecosystems for other animals, insects and plants.

However, the effects of habitat loss, climate change and human activity remains a threat.

Ex-Australia cricketer Warner accepts decision to drink and drive was 'foolish'

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cq8py350p9do, 3 days ago

A lawyer for former Australia batter David Warner has said his client will accept responsibility for a drink-driving charge, saying he knows his behaviour was "foolish" and "reckless".

Warner, 39, was charged last month after returning a positive result following a random breath test in Maroubra, Sydney. He has yet to enter a plea.

"I can indicate that David will be accepting responsibility for drink-driving," his lawyer Bobby Hill told reporters outside court on Thursday according to public broadcaster ABC.

The cricketer, currently captain of Pakistan Super League side Karachi Kings, did not appear at the hearing and the case was adjourned until June.

"He knows what he did was wrong," Hill said. "He accepts that was a reckless decision, a foolish decision to get in his car instead of taking an Uber."

He said Warner had drunk three glasses of wine at a friend's apartment before getting in his car.

"It's not a crime to have a glass of wine on the day of the lord's resurrection. In fact, some would consider that completely appropriate," Hill said.

"His crime is, as I said, choosing a foolish plan A instead of a plan B."

Warner, who retired from international cricket in 2024, is also captain of the Sydney Thunder.

Cricket NSW chief executive Lee Germon said after he was charged in April that the allegations were "concerning" and that the body took them "very seriously.

"At Cricket NSW, we are strong advocates for safe driving, not drink-driving," he said.

Two Islamic-State linked Australian women charged with crimes against humanity

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdrpx8pl36vo, 2 days ago

Three Australian women with links to the Islamic State (IS) group have been formally charged after returning home from Syria.

Kawsar Ahmad, 53 and her daughter Zeinab Ahmad, 31 appeared in a Melbourne court on Friday, less than 24 hours after they were arrested at the airport, and were remanded in custody.

Kawsar Ahmad faces four charges of crimes against humanity with police alleging she went to Syria in 2014 and kept a female slave in her home. Zeinab Ahmad faces two similar charges.

In Sydney, Janai Safar, 32, also appeared in court, charged with allegedly entering and remaining in a declared conflict zone and joining IS. She arrived in Sydney on Thursday with her son.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) allege Kawsar Ahmad, previously known as Abbas, travelled to Syria in 2014 with her husband and children, and was complicit in the purchase of a female slave for US$10,000, "and knowingly kept the woman in the home".

For Zeinab Ahmad, police allege she also travelled to Syria in 2014 with her family and knowingly kept a female slave in the home. These charges carry a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.

The pair appeared at Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday and were remanded in custody until Monday, when their lawyers said they would apply for bail. Neither was required to speak at the brief hearing.

Another of Kawsar Ahmad's adult children, Zahra Ahmad, also arrived in Melbourne on Thursday but was not detained.

For Safar, police allege she travelled to Syria in 2015 to join her husband, who had previously left Australia and joined IS.

She has also been charged with being a member of a terrorist organisation. Both offences carry a maximum penalty of up to 10 years' imprisonment. She was remanded in custody on Friday and will next appear in court in July.

AFP Assistant Commissioner for Counter Terrorism Stephen Nutt said police have being investigating "all Australians who travelled to declared conflict areas and will ensure those who are alleged to have committed a criminal offence are put before the courts".

"This remains an active investigation into very serious allegations," he said.

The three women who were arrested on Thursday were part of a group of four women and nine children who arrived in Australia on Thursday.

They are part of a larger cohort of 34 Australian women and children who had been living at the al-Roj camp in Syria since 2019.

The cohort left the camp in February in a bid to return to Australia but were returned to the camp for "technical reasons" with the Australian government refusing to offer them any assistance.

One member of the cohort was banned from returning to Australia earlier this year when the government issued a "temporary exclusion order", meaning that person cannot return for up to two years.

There were chaotic scenes at Melbourne airport on Thursday evening when the only woman who was not arrested emerged from the arrivals hall.

A group of about 15 men, mostly clad in black, swarmed around her and the children to cover their faces from the waiting media pack.

The world wants to eliminate cervical cancer - how Australian scientists led the way

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd6w15vgp7lo, 8 days ago

Six months after finally giving birth to her first child, following a years-long struggle to conceive, Chrissy Walters was told her daughter would likely grow up without her.

Walters had suffered a major bleed while at home in Toowoomba - a small city two hours inland of Brisbane - and several hospital visits, doctor appointments and biopsies later, the then 39-year-old was handed an advanced cervical cancer diagnosis.

"I just said to [my husband] Neil… there has been a huge mistake," Walters recalls.

She's now spent more than a decade undergoing treatments - both debilitating and incredibly invasive - but the cancer has spread to other parts of her body. Her doctors say her diagnosis is now terminal.

"I would never wish [this] on my worst enemy," she says.

Her daughter, now 12, has grown up with the disease omnipresent in her life - Walters says the family was having frank conversations about dying when she was as young as three.

But in 2026, her daughter has reached the age when Australia begins vaccinating children in its bid to eliminate the disease that will eventually take her mother's life.

The country is on track to do that within a decade, and is now racing other nations to become the first in the world to eliminate a form of cancer.

A two-pronged approach to elimination

It's a scene familiar to many who've attended an Australian high school: a long line of fidgety 12 and 13-year-olds take their seat on a plastic chair, one by one, assured by a nurse that the needle will only hurt for a moment.

Minutes later, they head back to class, sporting a circular plaster on their upper arm.

There are three vaccinations offered to high school students as part of the National Immunisation Programme, including the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.

Though HPV can have no symptoms, and even disappear without treatment, some high-risk strains can develop into cervical cancer, the fourth most common cancer in women worldwide.

Fortunately, it is also one of the few causes of cancer people can be vaccinated against.

A global leader in cervical cancer control, Professor Karen Canfell has seen the impact of the disease both in and beyond Australia. The epidemiologist tells the BBC it feels like "everyone has a mother or a sister or a grandmother that's been impacted by cervical cancer".

But in 2006, in a lab at the University of Queensland, there was a breakthrough.

After decades of research, Australian scientists had developed a pioneering new jab, named Gardasil, which could prevent HPV - and it had been approved by the medicines regulator. One year later, Australia became the first country in the world to roll out a national vaccination programme.

The vaccine gave global health experts hope for a future without the cancer, with modelling designed by Canfell and the World Health Organisation (WHO) charting a path to elimination.

"Public health innovations in Australia sort of gave a general exemplar for WHO to follow," says Canfell.

Along with its broad vaccination programme - which in 2013 was expanded to include boys, who can be carriers of the virus - it also has a high-grade screening scheme.

In 2017, Australia was one of the first countries to transition from a pap smear to a more sensitive HPV-based cervical screening, which is only required every five years.

The nation was also one of the first to offer women the option of collecting a sample themselves - which the government has described as a "game-changer", particularly for those apprehensive about pelvic exams, or people with time and healthcare access barriers.

Is Australia on track?

In practical terms, eliminating cervical cancer as a public health issue in Australia does not mean it would become a thing of the past entirely - scientists define elimination as fewer than four cases of cervical cancer per 100,000 people.

Assessors have published a report stating the country is on track to meet its target of eliminating the cancer by 2035 - and it may even get there early.

Since 1982, when records began, incidence and mortality rates for cervical cancer in Australia have both halved.

Most promisingly, the most recent data from 2021 shows, for the first time, there were no cervical cancer cases diagnosed in women under the age of 25.

"It's not all women of all ages yet, but you can see that concept of elimination being realised," Canfell said.

Australia currently has about 6.3 new cases per 100,000 women. Vaccination of girls under 15 hovers just over 80%, and 85% of women in the most critical age group have been screened for cervical cancer.

But Canfell warns the progress report does show a slight decline in vaccination rates - particularly among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, who continue to face greater barriers to healthcare access and worse health outcomes than the broader population.

Rates of cervical cancer are twice as high for Indigenous women, and they're also more than three times as likely to die from the disease.

"They're often detected at a later stage of cancer than non-Indigenous women," says Dr Natalie Strobel, an epidemiologist specialising in disease prevention in Indigenous communities.

Research has indicated that, on the current trajectory, cervical cancer will be eliminated for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women 12 years later than the national 2035 target.

Strobel and her research partner Jocelyn Jones also say vaccine hesitancy in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, the rising cost of medical services and children missing school - and thus, the vaccine - are other factors which could hinder Australia reaching its goal.

"There's not a lot of a concerted effort to get them back in if they've missed it... The onus is very much on families to get their child caught up on that vaccine," Jones explains, adding that many don't realise it is free.

Expense is also a barrier to Australia's success being replicated in low and middle-income nations, who might not have the resources or the healthcare systems to support the push to elimination, researchers say.

Canfell and her team have tried to convince governments cervical cancer elimination is a worthwhile investment, which will save them money in the long run.

Beyond saving lives and having an "incredible societal impact", women can remain part of the workforce and economic productivity is increased. At risk of sounding insensitive, there is evidence of a "return on investment", Canfell says.

Australia - through public money and philanthropy - is now helping its neighbours, countries like Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea, pursue elimination too.

However global cuts to foreign aid - which supports HPV vaccination in low-income nations - have had significant impact; in March 2025, US President Donald Trump announced he would end support for Gavi, an alliance that buys critical jabs for developing countries.

"To say the obvious thing, we are obviously lucky to be in a high-income country where we have a form of universal healthcare and access for all," Canfell says.

Global ramifications

Walters says dealing with cervical cancer has felt like "a full-time job", but one you pay dearly to have.

There's endless appointments, all sorts of side effects from having your body "nuked like Chernobyl", fatigue from having to constantly advocate for yourself, and massive financial pressure - despite subsidies from Australia's universal healthcare system.

But there's great hope her experience may soon become something of the past.

"There's sort of a good-natured, almost race emerging between some countries about who will reach elimination first," Canfell says.

Sweden and Rwanda have both set ambitious targets of eliminating cervical cancer by 2027, separately launching accelerated vaccination and screening programmes, though both countries are lagging behind key milestones. The UK also has a goal of eradicating cervical cancer by 2040, but has faced similar struggles - both HPV vaccination and cervical screening coverage have declined over recent years.

Canfell emphasises that although there are excellent examples of infectious disease control, such as HIV prevention and management, the approach to cervical cancer has been unique and a true global effort.

"It's the first time that the WHO, and globally, we've said we're going to eliminate a cancer," says Canfell.

"That's actually a new concept for cancer."

Gas tax: How beer fuelled a debate on Australia's energy giants

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy02pzxd4y4o, 3 days ago

Back in February, an otherwise dry senate hearing took an unexpected turn when a flustered treasury official confirmed a little known fact: Australia gets more tax from beer than gas exports.

"How do we live in a country, one of the biggest gas exporters in the world, and we're getting more tax from beer?" independent Senator David Pocock asked in a moment that has since received almost 10 million views on Instagram.

The viral video gave fresh fuel to a campaign for Australia to introduce a 25% tax on gas exports, which has sparked a counter-campaign from energy companies strongly opposed to the tax.

Despite the campaign's popularity with voters, the prime minister has ruled it out.

However, as the country grapples with soaring cost-of-living and domestic gas prices amid a fuel crisis triggered by the US-Israeli war on Iran, the subject is unlikely to go away - and is dominating headlines ahead of next week's federal budget.

'A dud deal'

"Just do it and stop the crap," former treasury secretary Dr Ken Henry told another senate hearing last month.

His words had weight. Sixteen years ago, Dr Henry proposed a mining tax that was defeated after a campaign by the mining industry.

Had the government succeeded in implementing such a tax back then, Henry argued, Australia would have earned tens of billions of dollars by now and the money could have been used to build a fund for future generations.

He described Australia's taxes on its gas industry as such:

"Imagine if I were to come to you … and put this proposition to you: I'll sell your house and I'll give you 30% and I'll keep the other 70%, and you should be happy with that because I've just converted an asset into cash. None of you would be stupid enough to do that."

Japan makes more revenue from Australian gas - by taxing imports - than Australia itself does, according to progressive public policy think tank the Australia Institute.

It estimates that a 25% tax on gas exports would raise A$17bn (£9bn, US$12) a year.

Arguments such as these have increasingly caught the attention of Australians. According to one poll last week, 57% of voters are in favour of a tax on gas exports, with only 12% opposed.

Headlines over the past year have made repeated references to Norway's US$2tn sovereign wealth fund, with envious Australians decrying their government's lack of foresight in building a fund that could pay for more generous parental leave, free tertiary education and healthcare, for example.

Like Norway, Australia is rich in natural resources, but its sovereign wealth fund only had A$267bn as of December 2025 - less than 10% of Norway's for a population five times as big.

Konrad Benjamin, a former teacher turned YouTuber who comments on politics and also testified at the senate hearing, regularly clocks up hundreds of thousands of views for his social media videos calling for a gas tax.

"My year 10 business students understand: if something is profitable and we're holding all the levers of power - look around. How many stable democracies have the many resources that we have? How are we getting such a dud deal?" he asked senators.

Giving away gas 'for free'

Even as gas exports have rocketed - peaking at A$90bn in 2023 during the Ukraine war - and domestic gas prices soared over the last decade, the Petroleum Resource Rent Tax (PRRT), which applies to offshore oil and gas producers, is expected to raise about A$1.5bn in the financial year 2025-26.

In contrast, beer tax is expected to bring in A$2.7bn.

Multinational Shell paid PRRT on the country's largest gas project, Gorgon, for the first time in a decade last year - just A$109m on revenue of A$2.5bn.

Australia's tax code has "generous" provision for energy companies, says Samantha Hepburn, a professor at Deakin University specialising in natural resource law.

This means, for example, they can deduct the cost of investment in developing projects against tax and carry forward those credits against future profits.

"Gas is in a particularly favourable position because of the significant upfront costs associated with construction and drilling and the other infrastructure," Hepburn says. "And that means that they can keep uplifting those expenses against future profits in a way that other resource or mining resource sector companies haven't necessarily been able to do."

Like other companies, gas companies also pay company and payroll tax. But the difference is they are using a public resource, Hepburn says, and though some onshore gas projects pay royalties for using the resources, it is a small amount compared to what a tax on profits would bring in.

This, along with the tax perks, is the basis for claims that Australia is giving away its gas "for free".

Shell has said that in addition to investing US$60bn in Australia since 2010, it has paid A$12bn in Australian taxes in the past decade.

It also argued that countries like Norway have a different model, whereby the state is a direct investor in energy projects and takes on some of the risks involved, unlike Australia.

Chevron, which holds the largest share in the Gorgon gas project, says that Australia needs "stable business settings" to ensure future investments across all industries. It claims that a gas tax could undermine that goal and threaten the country's own domestic supply.

Santos further argued that Australia's reputation for stability has already been damaged by the 25% tax proposal.

A world no longer playing by the rules

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has dismissed the comparisons made to beer tax as "complete fantasy", arguing the gas sector paid A$22bn in tax last year.

He also appears to have already ruled out a gas export tax in next week's budget, telling a gathering of mining and energy executives last week that the government would not do anything to "undermine existing contracts on gas exports."

Albanese, who recently embarked on a tour of Asian countries in a bid to secure future fuel supplies, argued that gas exports were "directly linked to our national fuel security" and that "the middle of a global fuel crisis is the worst possible time to jeopardise these partnerships, or the investment that underpins them."

He has also previously said that "you do need to acknowledge the tens of billions of dollars of investment that occurs in order to have that gas extracted and without that investment that's come from North America, that's come from Japan… we wouldn't be having a debate."

But Australia would not be breaking any contracts by imposing a gas export tax, says John Quiggin, a professor of economics at the University of Queensland.

"There's no way a gas exporter can sign a contract that promises that tax policy won't change," he says.

Quiggin further adds that all of Albanese's "running around" won't "make that much difference in the end because these things are determined by markets".

He is also sceptical of the claim that investors would be scared away: "Where are they going to go?"

Quiggin notes that other countries aren't playing by the rules like they used to - pointing to US President Donald Trump, who last year unilaterally imposed tariffs on countries around the world.

"That kind of argument really belongs to the past," he says, noting the idea that foreign investors "have to be treated with kid gloves or they run away... no longer has much force".

Hepburn further notes that such an argument - that foreign companies won't invest in new gas projects - ignores Australia's climate targets, which include reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. "The perspective there is that we can't really be opening up new gas projects," she says.

While the gas tax is unlikely to be introduced in the budget, the consensus among political observers is that it will eventually become inevitable given its popularity with voters across the political spectrum - from the Greens on the left to One Nation on the right.

Pocock and his supporters, meanwhile, have vowed to continue with their campaign. On Tuesday, he tweeted: "The pressure on government to act is growing and, at some point, the prime minister has to put Australia first."

Child protection workers stood down after alleged murder of Australian girl

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3v2pq541k6o, 4 days ago

Warning for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers: this article contains references to someone who has died.

Three child protection workers in the Northern Territory (NT) have been stood down over their handling of the welfare of a five-year-old Australian girl who was allegedly murdered.

The body of the girl, known as Kumanjayi Little Baby for cultural reasons, was found on 30 April, five days after she went missing from an Aboriginal town camp near Alice Springs.

On Wednesday, the NT minister for child protection, Robyn Cahill, said the trio had been removed from their posts after she ordered an investigation into the girl's circumstances leading up to her disappearance and death.

Police have arrested and charged Jefferson Lewis, 47, with murder. The case has sparked riots in Alice Springs.

Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Cahill said she had asked child protection authorities in the NT to "identify if there were any areas of concern" in relation to Kumanjayi Little Baby shortly after she was first reported missing.

Cahill said she was initially told it was "not a situation of concern", according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), but she insisted on a further investigation.

"I can't go into the detail of what was in that brief but suffice it to say that we had to investigate how those processes had been executed," she said.

As a result of her inquiries, the three workers were stood down from their roles.

"That wasn't my decision, that was a decision of the department," Cahill said.

The suspensions come after news outlet The Australian revealed that six reports had been made about the girl's welfare in the weeks leading up to her murder, with concerns raised by domestic violence shelter workers and a relative.

Kumanjayi Little Baby was last seen when she was put to bed just before midnight on Anzac Day at the Old Timers Camp - a site set aside by the government for Aboriginal people to stay in when in Alice Springs.

She was reported missing several hours later, prompting a large-scale search for the youngster, who was non-verbal.

On Thursday, police found her body several kilometres from the camp. Hours later, Lewis - who had been attacked by community members - was arrested and taken to a hospital in Alice Springs for treatment.

A riot erupted outside the hospital, with police later arresting five people over the violence.

Lewis was later transferred to Darwin for his safety and charged with her murder, police said.

Robin Granites, a family member and elder, called for calm, saying the focus should be on "sorry business", a period of collective mourning within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Across Australia, vigils will be held for Kumanjayi Little Baby on Thursday evening, with the public invited to the events in Alice Springs and other major capital cities.

After Kumanjayi Little Baby's body was found, she was given a pseudonym as Australia's Indigenous people believe that using the name of a loved one who has died may disturb their spirit during the mourning period.

Britons on virus-hit cruise ship will be tested before charter flight back to UK

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5yr41vq2ero, yesterday

British passengers and crew on the cruise ship hit with an outbreak of hantavirus will be tested before returning to the UK.

The MV Hondius is expected to dock in the Canary Islands this weekend, with the remaining 22 Britons due to fly home on a charter flight soon after.

Five cases of hantavirus have been confirmed, including one of the three passengers who have died during a cruise on the Dutch vessel.

Ahead of the ship's arrival on the island of Tenerife on Sunday, government officials have been setting out plans to fly home the British citizens.

When the vessel arrives, passengers and crew will be tested for the virus onboard by Spanish officials. If they are symptomatic they will be taken to local hospitals for treatment.

Those without symptoms will be taken straight to a chartered plane and flown to the UK as soon as possible, most likely the same day.

Although none of the remaining Britons are currently displaying symptoms, they will be asked to isolate and self-test for 45 days - either at home or at other accommodation - upon their return. No legislation will be used to impose self isolation.

Support from medical staff will be available to help carry out blood tests.

British national Martin Anstee, a 56-year-old retired police officer and an expedition guide on board the MV Hondius, was evacuated to the Netherlands on Wednesday alongside a 41-year-old Dutch crew member and a 65-year-old German.

He remains in a stable condition and told the BBC that he was "fine".

Another British passenger, 69, has a confirmed case and was medically evacuated to South Africa at the end of April.

He remains in intensive care and has been said by officials to be "doing better".

Two other British nationals are already self-isolating at home in the UK after potential exposure. They are doing so voluntarily and do not have any symptoms.

They were part of a group of 30 people from a dozen nations - including seven Britons - who disembarked from the ship at St Helena in the South Atlantic on 24 April, according to operator Oceanwide Expeditions.

The operator said the first confirmed case of hantavirus was not reported until 4 May and that all guests who disembarked the ship had been contacted.

Four Britons who disembarked on St Helena remain there.

They do not have symptoms but are in contact with health officials. It is understood that medical staff will be sent to the islands to provide support.

A military plane has arrived at Ascension Island, a British territory in the South Atlantic, with supplies of testing kits, oxygen and other medical equipment. Medical personnel are expected to take these to St Helena and Tristan da Cunha.

Contact tracing is under way in several other countries for dozens of passengers who left the Dutch cruise ship before the outbreak was detected - including Switzerland and the Netherlands.

The World Health Organization (WHO) called it a "serious incident" but said the risk to the public was low, stressing the outbreak was not similar to the Covid-19 pandemic.

British people affected by hantavirus outbreak

* Three Britons are confirmed or suspected to have contracted hantavirus

* One of them is being treated in the Netherlands, another man is being treated in South Africa, and a third is on the remote Atlantic island of Trista da Cunha

* Seven Britons disembarked the MV Hondius in St Helena on 24 April before the first confirmed case of hantavirus was reported on 4 May, with four remaining there

* Two of the Britons who disembarked on 24 April have already returned to the UK and are self-isolating voluntarily but do not have symptoms

* The seventh person has not yet been traced, the UKHSA has said

The origin of the outbreak is still unknown and it is not known if people other than cruise ship passengers and crew have been infected with the disease.

WHO director-general Tedros Ghebreyesus told a news conference that the first two cases had "travelled through Argentina, Chile and Uruguay on a bird-watching trip which included visits to sites where the species of rat known to carry the virus was present".

One of the three deaths was a Dutch woman, 69, who left the MV Hondius when it stopped at St Helena on 24 April and travelled to South Africa where she died two days later.

Her husband died on board the vessel on 11 April, while a German woman also died on board. Neither are confirmed to have had the virus.

Hantavirus typically spreads from rodents such as mice and rats, but experts believe that in this circumstance it may have passed between humans who were in close contact.

Symptoms can include fever, extreme fatigue, stomach pain, vomiting and shortness of breath, usually appearing between two to four weeks after being exposed to the virus.

The UKHSA said the virus was not spread through everyday contact such as walking in public spaces and that in the rare instances where a person has caught it from another person, they have had "close and prolonged" contact.

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Trump's 'irresponsible war' to blame for economic slowdown, German minister says

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwy2d0v3p2po, 2 days ago

Germany's finance minister has blamed Donald Trump's "irresponsible war in Iran" for a big drop in his country's expected tax revenues.

Lars Klingbeil said the US president's actions in the region had caused a "global energy shock".

German officials have slashed the projected tax revenue for 2026-2030 by around €70bn ($82bn; £60.52bn). The downgrade "shows just how much the war in Iran is harming our economy", Klingbeil said in Berlin.

Last month, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz infuriated Trump with his suggestion that the White House had been "humiliated" by Iranian negotiators - comments which prompted the US president to threaten to withdraw thousands of US troops from bases in Germany.

Since coming to office a year ago, Chancellor Merz has often indicated that Trump's policies have changed the traditionally close relationship between the US and Europe.

In February, for instance, Merz said "a deep divide has opened between Europe and the United States". But the German chancellor has visited the White House twice in a year in an effort to smooth the strains in trans-Atlantic ties.

Alongside other European countries, Germany has been critical of the war that the US and Israel launched against Iran on 28 February, which has considerably raised fears of a global economic downturn.

Germany's coalition government has been struggling to boost the economy which has been stagnant for years, with high energy costs and a weak demand for exports playing a significant role.

Last month, Merz told students that "the Americans clearly have no strategy" and he could not see "what strategic exit" they were going to choose.

"The Iranians are obviously very skilled at negotiating, or rather, very skilful at not negotiating, letting the Americans travel to Islamabad and then leave again without any result," he said.

The "entire nation" was being "humiliated" by the Iranian leadership, he added.

Trump responded the following day with a post to Truth Social, where he said Merz thought it was "OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon" and "doesn't know what he's talking about."

"No wonder Germany is doing so poorly, both Economically, and otherwise!" the post read.

Dragging the row on, Trump later suggested Merz should focus more on "fixing his broken Country, especially Immigration and Energy, and less time interfering with those that are getting rid of the Iran Nuclear threat".

Earlier this month and just days after Merz's initial comments, the US defence department announced a plan to withdraw 5,000 troops form Germany - an order which has been attributed to Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Germany's defence minister said the Pentagon decision was "foreseeable".

The US military deployment in Germany is by far its biggest in Europe, with about 12,000 troops in Italy and a further 10,000 in the UK.

Trump is a longtime critic of the Nato alliance and has berated allies for not joining in his plans to reopen the strategic shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz, which has been effectively closed by Iran.

About 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) usually passes through the Strait and hostilities have sent global fuel prices soaring.

The warring sides are observing a ceasefire, meant to lead to a deal to end the war.

On Wednesday, Trump said the war would be "over quickly". Iran says it is considering a US proposal to end the war.

However, negotiations have stalled as the US has imposed a blockade on Iranian ports - as well as trying to open the Strait of Hormuz to allow nearly 2,000 ships stranded in the Gulf since February to pass through unharmed.

Ukraine war 'led me to surrogacy' to earn money but a new law could end those plans

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyp4kp687go, 3 days ago

Karina is six months pregnant, but the foetus inside her womb is not her own.

The 22-year-old from eastern Ukraine is a surrogate, pregnant with an embryo from a Chinese couple's egg and sperm.

At the age of 17 Karina's home was destroyed when her city, Bakhmut, became one of the most fiercely contested battlegrounds in the early phase of Russia's full-scale invasion.

With most of the city turned to rubble and ash, she and her partner moved to Kyiv but they struggled to find steady work.

It was when Karina was in a shop one day, with barely enough money to pay for bread and nappies for their one-and-a-half-year-old daughter, that she decided to turn to paid surrogacy.

She says the war "led me to surrogacy" and that without the conflict she would never have considered it. The fighting has led to millions of people losing jobs and businesses, surging inflation and a sharp drop in Ukraine's GDP.

"At first, becoming a surrogate made me angry and disappointed, but now I've just accepted it," says Karina Tarasenko who now lives on the outskirts of Kyiv in an apartment provided by her surrogacy clinic. She is pregnant with a girl.

She will earn £12,500 ($17,000), roughly double the average salary in Ukraine, though she'll get most of the money after she gives birth.

Karina had been due to receive £15,500 ($21,000), but when one of the twins she was pregnant with died, her pay was cut, as was stipulated in her contract.

Despite her initial misgivings, Karina now plans to have as many surrogate babies as her body will allow to save up to buy a home.

But the decision may soon be taken out of her hands.

Prior to the war, Ukraine was widely cited as the world's second commercial surrogacy hub behind the United States.

While the conflict significantly impacted surrogacies, they have nearly bounced back to pre-war levels, experts have told the BBC World Service.

But Ukraine's parliament is now considering a bill that would introduce stricter oversight of the surrogacy industry and effectively ban access to foreigners, who make up 95% of the intended parents. The proposals have widespread support across Ukraine's parliament.

The bill aims to regulate more tightly an industry that has been accused of turning reproduction into a commodity and exploiting poor, vulnerable women. Supporters of the bill also argue that Ukrainian women should not be having surrogate babies for foreigners at a time when birthrates have plummeted due to the war - though the number of babies born through surrogacy is a small proportion of births.

"Because of the war the number of women who are desperate is growing, and clinics offer them this opportunity because Western couples want to buy babies cheaply," says Maria Dmytrieva, a women's rights activist who opposes all surrogacy on ethical grounds and argues the proposed law does not go far enough.

She believes the practice should be banned entirely in Ukraine.

She accuses surrogacy clinics of openly targeting poorer women, pointing to social media advertising.

One AI-generated advert in January this year, posted by a clinic to recruit new surrogates, shows a woman forced to decide between buying wood to heat her stove or clothes for her children, appealing to the hardship many Ukrainians have endured during the war.

Another advertising campaign in 2021, by Ukraine's largest surrogacy clinic, BioTexCom Centre for Human Reproduction, promotes a "Black Friday sale" on surrogate babies.

Challenged by the BBC over whether these adverts could be seen as being offensive, BioTexCom defended them, saying they were effective in bringing attention to surrogacy.

The clinic has also come under criticism for the way it operates. In 2018, the prosecutor's office launched an investigation into the clinic's chief executive officer, Albert Tochilovsky, and two other former members of staff, on suspicion of offences including human trafficking.

It said that the pre-trial investigation had since been suspended to allow for "international co-operation" and gathering information from abroad.

BioTexCom and Tochilovsky say they always act within the law and "categorically deny the allegations".

The prosecutor did not give details of the trafficking allegation but BioTexCom told the BBC it involved a DNA mismatch between a set of parents and a baby. The clinic says its staff were not responsible and that they "think the issue happened during the sperm collection" which took place in another country.

The company says it helps people fulfil their dreams of becoming parents, gives women a chance to make money legally and provides them with medical care, accommodation and food.

Karina initially approached BioTexCom to be a surrogate but chose not to proceed with the clinic, feeling they had treated her coldly in initial appointments with them.

Left-behind children

There are also cases of babies being abandoned after birth when biological parents change their minds.

In Ukraine, the intended parent is legally responsible for the baby after birth and it is against the law for them to abandon a child for any reason.

But in practice, enforcement across borders can be challenging.

Wei, who is now five years old, suffered severe brain damage after he was born prematurely in 2021. His surrogacy was arranged through BioTexCom.

He now lives in a state-run home for disabled children in Kyiv.

When the BBC visited, Wei was having mashed banana with his friends at the home. They sit together for every meal.

Wei cannot sit unaided, hold his head or see properly, and will require round-the-clock care for the rest of his life.

After learning about his condition, his intended parents from a country in South East Asia chose not to collect him. They effectively disappeared, and repeated attempts by authorities and BioTexCom to contact them failed.

Wei's surrogate mother did not want him either, and under Ukrainian law she had no legal obligations to him.

Valeria Soruchan from Ukraine's Health Ministry, who is among those pushing for the change to the law, says "a lot" of children born through surrogacy are left behind, though the government does not keep exact figures on this.

She is not opposed to surrogacy in principle but is critical of the lack of regulation in Ukraine and supports a ban on access for foreigners.

BioTexCom's CEO Tochilovsky described what happened as a "tragedy", saying that when parents abandon a child, "we partly consider it our responsibility".

When children are abandoned, there is no legal obligation for clinics to contribute to the costs of keeping them in state-run homes, which receive a mix of public and private funds, and BioTexCom has not made a financial contribution to Wei's.

Children with disabilities as severe as Wei's rarely find an adoptive family. Fifteen families have viewed Wei's file but none has expressed an interest in adopting him.

'They've made us a family'

Yet there are those who argue that commercial surrogacy can benefit all sides.

For five years Himatraj and Rajvir Bajwa from London tried unsuccessfully to start a family, including with two rounds of IVF, before they decided to pursue surrogacy.

Rajvir, 38, has severe endometriosis, making it much harder to conceive. She also has multiple sclerosis.

The couple decided against the UK, where only altruistic surrogacy is allowed, meaning the mother is not given a financial reward but can be provided expenses. In the UK, surrogacy arrangements are more informal and often arranged either through friends, family, or non-profit organisations which match intended parents with surrogates.

Under UK law, the surrogate is legally responsible for the child until a parental order is made, which transfers legal responsibility from them to the intended parents.

Himatraj and Rajvir were concerned about the prospect of having no immediate legal rights over the baby. There have been cases of altruistic surrogates changing their mind about giving up babies, though these cases are exceptionally rare.

The couple were impressed at how surrogacy is organised in Ukraine, and the cost of surrogacy in the country was another factor.

They used BioTexCom last year and paid around £65,000 ($87,770) - far less than in the United States, where surrogacy can exceed £110,000 $150,000. The couple had a good experience with BioTexCom.

Using IVF, they created an embryo in London, which was shipped to Kyiv and stored in the clinic's cryogenic storage tanks.

In June last year, they arrived in Kyiv for the birth of their baby.

But because of the time it took for UK authorities to complete the paperwork needed and issue their son a passport, they spent his first three months in Kyiv, in and out of a bomb shelter, as Russia bombed the city.

"It was scary and surreal," says Rajvir.

They returned to England with their son in late August.

In June, they'll celebrate his first birthday.

The couple oppose the Ukrainian bill, arguing the surrogacy agency they went through had brought them "joy and happiness".

"They gave us something we never thought possible - they've made us a family," says Himatraj, 37.

Himatraj and his wife wanted to meet their surrogate, and when they did they brought her chocolates and flowers.

They said they did not believe she had been exploited.

"It was obviously always their choice and it's a means for them. And if it's something that will help them, then, at the end of the day, I'm sure everybody's happy with the end result."

'No-one is forcing us'

Karina also rejects the idea that commercial surrogacy is exploitative.

"No-one is forcing us. This is my body, my decision... I'll get my reward for giving them happiness."

She is opposed to the law change, saying it would "completely collapse" her plans to buy a home.

Looking down at her stomach, she adds: "I know this is not my child, but I love her. I talk to her. When she kicks, I tell her that her parents are waiting for her.

"I just hope she has a good life."

Additional reporting by: Fay Nurse, BBC World Service and Victoria Prisedskaya, BBC News Ukrainian

* This is part of the Global Women series from the BBC World Service, sharing untold and important stories from around the globe

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The WW2 spy killed in mystery crash days after the war ended

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9d3y1y3036o, 2 days ago

Jacques Vaillant de Guélis was a decorated World War Two hero of both Wales and France, but his death - involving a German soldier just days after the end of the war - remains shrouded in mystery more than 80 years on.

Born in Cardiff to French coal magnate parents, at the outbreak of war the Oxford graduate gave up a successful career in advertising to sign up for the Army.

Soon recruited into the top-secret Special Operations Executive, (SOE), he flew several missions behind German lines, organising and equipping French resistance fighters.

Just eight days after Victory in Europe (VE) Day on May 8, 1945, during his final operation to collect intelligence on concentration camps, he was fatally injured yards from Flossenburg Camp near the current Czech Republic border when he was hit by a car being driven by a German soldier who had, until recently, been working there.

The cause remains unclear, with author Greg Lewis saying "the case was closed almost as soon as it was opened".

Born in 1907 on what is now Museum Place close to the city centre, his family home bears a Blue Plaque in recognition of his bravery.

Cardiff author Lewis, who has written about espionage, resistance and World War Two, became interested in Jacques during research into Cathays Cemetery, where his ashes are interred in a family plot.

He says Jacques' background was typical of what SOE would have been looking for.

"Jacques' family moved to Cardiff in order to export coal to Britanny. He would have been educated, sophisticated and, most importantly, very difficult for the Germans to tell apart from a native-born Frenchman.

"What's more, from his earliest days in France on the outbreak of war, he'd proved himself to be incredibly resourceful in extreme circumstances."

Jacques was first posted as a liaison officer to the British Expeditionary Force during the earliest days of the war in 1939.

After the German invasion of France he was evacuated from Dunkirk, but no sooner had he returned to Britain than he was sent back on 12 June 1940 via Cherbourg, in order to help other trapped men escape.

Lewis said: "After he'd coordinated all the evacuations which were possible, he had left it too late to leave via the Channel himself, so headed south via Marseille and over the Pyrenees into supposedly neutral Spain.

"There he was interned before the British government secured his release on a ship back to Glasgow."

It was this exploit which first drew him to the attention of SOE in April 1941, recruited by Maj Lewis Gielgud - brother of actor Sir John Gielgud - and was reputedly even interviewed for the role by Prime Minister Winston Churchill himself.

Jacques parachuted into Vichy France in August to bolster French resistance efforts by providing forged travel documents, radio sets and military intelligence.

Having completed his mission, he radioed to be taken out by the RAF from a crudely-constructed airstrip some weeks later.

Now a major, soon he joined up with General Charles De Gaulle's Free French Army in Algeria, pursuing the Germans out of north Africa and into Corsica.

There he was involved in hand-to-hand fighting until the enemy were driven off the island in 1943, when he was recalled to Britain for briefing ahead of another top-secret assignment shortly after D-Day.

"In July 1944 Jacques was again dropped behind enemy lines to coordinate resistance fighters who were hampering the Germans as they attempted to retreat deeper away from the front," said Lewis.

"It would have been highly unusual for somebody of his importance to be so directly involved, because of the risk of his capture and the knowledge he could have potentially disclosed, but such were his skills in the field that it was considered vital to have him on the ground."

For his final, and ultimately fatal, operation, Jacques was deployed inside Germany to learn the fate of fellow SOE officers who had been captured and sent to the notorious Flossenburg concentration camp in Bavaria.

On 16 May 1945, just days after the end of hostilities, he was outside the gates of the camp when he was hit by a car being driven by a German soldier who had, until days before, worked there.

Ever since, there have been suspicions that Jacques was deliberately targeted because of what he may have discovered at Flossenburg.

While Lewis believes there is nothing to point towards an "organised hit", a lack of detail does raise questions.

"Those early days were crucial in the gathering of evidence towards what would later become the Nuremberg Trials. There would have been many Nazis who really wouldn't have wanted that information to become public," he said.

"Germany was so chaotic then, that it's highly unlikely to have been an organised hit, but could it have been one Nazi acting on his own?

"Maybe not, as the records don't make very much of it and the case was closed almost as soon as it was opened."

Immediately after the crash, Jacques was flown to Paris for emergency treatment and was then repatriated to Burtonwood Hospital, Staffordshire, where he underwent further operations.

But he could not be saved and died on 7 August 1945.

He was posthumously awarded the MBE by Britain and the Croix-de-Guerre with Palm by France, the country's highest award for gallantry.

However, Lewis believes it is a tragedy that Jacques' war was never heard in his own words: "I've written about several SOE operatives who survived the War, and their recollections are as insightful as their military record.

"Though with Jacques, all we have is his glittering personnel file, but sadly personnel isn't the same as personal."

To stay or risk the 'Road of Death' - Ukrainian civilians trapped in frontline city

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c893xj41zwdo, 4 days ago

"The road is mined. So, we're stuck here," says Ludmilla, over the phone from the rooftop of a fire-damaged house in southern Ukraine. "People are trying their best to survive."

Her frontline home city of Oleshky has, according to multiple accounts, been largely cut off from fresh supplies of food or medicine for months.

Ludmilla describes being trapped there, and watching it decaying before her eyes.

Ukraine's commissioner for human rights has warned of a "humanitarian crisis."

Some recent deliveries do seem to have gone through, organised by volunteers or aid groups. Photos seen by the BBC show a crowd of people, many of them elderly, apparently fetching fresh supplies in a city square.

A relief even if prices were high, says Ludmilla, as people have had to forage for food in the abandoned homes of neighbours. Ludmilla is not her real name. Her name and the names of other residents who have spoken to the BBC have been changed to protect their identities.

Pasta and tinned goods, she tells us, have become a key staple for the roughly 2,000 remaining population.

Any attempt to leave Oleshky, say locals, is to gamble with your life along what's been dubbed "The Road of Death" - due to reports of heavy mining.

Oleshky is imprisoned by both geography and war; cut off by a river and wrecked bridges to the north – and dangerous or impassable roads inland.

All the while it is caught in the crossfire of opposing armies.

The city lies on the left or east bank of the Dnipro river and has been under Russian occupation since the Kremlin launched its full-scale invasion.

Ukrainian troops are dug in on the other side of the river, just outside Kherson - the big city they recaptured in November 2022, driving the Russians back across the river.

Residents, volunteers and officials report that, as last winter set in, snowfall made the danger points harder to see amid intensified mining.

The snow is gone but the mines, people fear, are still there.

Despite the dangers, there have been some successful, recent evacuations along the 'Road of Death', south-west along the route of the Dnipro river.

"Leaving Oleshky, everyone prayed to God that we wouldn't hit a mine," says Volodymyr, who's in his 50s.

Terrorised by drones and traumatised by seeing his neighbour's body carted away after she was hit by shelling, he says his family finally took the decision to leave.

"None of us could endure it any longer."

Volodymyr recounts being driven out in an ambulance in an evacuation arranged by volunteers. Even that was horrifying.

"The entire highway from Oleshky to Hola Prystan' is littered with burnt-out cars. Some of them burned with people still inside."

Satellite imagery from November shows at least eight damaged vehicles on a 1km stretch of the road heading out of Oleshky towards Kardashynka, which is on the way to Hola Prystan'.

There is also what seems to be a large scorch mark on the road between Kardashynka and Hola Prystan' which first appeared sometime in late January.

Verified footage from the same period shows a badly damaged vehicle which appears to have veered off the road; possibly corresponding to claims that vehicles, such as ambulances, have been blown up or strayed onto mines.

Similar scenes are replicated along the E97 road to the east of the city, although satellite imagery suggests the damage there dates back much further.

Small trench networks are visible at intersections on approaches to the city, indicating the area is militarized, but these have also been in place for many months.

The BBC has been in contact with seven people who tell us they are either still in Oleshky or recently evacuated.

The accounts we have gathered are through phone calls or messaging apps as well as questions sent through a Ukrainian official who has remained in touch with residents.

We have not been to fully verify each account but where possible, we have sought to corroborate stories through photos, location data and online records. Ludmilla's own home was destroyed, she says, when the Kakhovka Dam further up the Dnipro river was blown up under Russian occupation in June 2023, causing catastrophic flooding.

"I'm in someone else's house, which is also burned."

She won't move because there's no point, she explains, as the destruction is still going on everywhere.

Trees hit by shelling, we're told, are at least easier to break down for firewood.

Inside the city, Russian soldiers are believed to be holed up in buildings, hiding from roving Ukrainian drones.

"They sit in basements," says Ludmilla. "We don't see them but they're there."

We have heard claims that bodies can lie uncollected for days or, in the case of Russian soldiers, abandoned altogether by the military to rot.

The Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, says he has appealed to Russian authorities for a "humanitarian corridor" to allow safe evacuations.

Lubinets accuses Russia of inflicting "deliberate terrorism" against civilians.

Ukrainian officials claim that both civilians and Russian soldiers, stationed in the city, have been left to their fate by the occupying authorities.

However, Russia's Embassy in London told the BBC that the "humanitarian difficulties" were because of "systematic strikes" by Ukrainian forces on the city.

The Russian-appointed governor of the Kherson region, Vladimir Saldo, has accused Ukraine of destroying the city's schools and kindergartens - according to the Embassy.

But in his posts on the Telegram messaging app in April, Saldo does not appear to specifically mention the humanitarian situation at all.

The International Red Cross (ICRC) has said it is talking to authorities on both sides as it seeks further information about the situation in Oleshky.

It is difficult to assess the degree to which Russian troops, or Ukrainian drones, have left mines that have ended up posing a risk to civilians.

One Ukrainian soldier told the BBC that Ukraine had used mines to prevent Russia from delivering weapons to its fighters positioned inside the city.

But he claimed Ukrainian forces keep volunteers informed about safe routes while he accused Russia of "scattering" such explosives.

Some residents say they would like to leave, but that is not necessarily the case for everyone.

Elderly Ukrainians in front-line towns can be particularly reluctant to swap their homes for an unknown future.

Another resident called Hanna described recently seeing a drone hovering right above a woman aged about 90.

"She just looked up, waved her hand as if to say: 'Come what may' and hobbled on."

Additional reporting by Aakriti Thapar, Anastasiia Levchenko, Mariana Matveichuk and Volodymyr Lozhko.

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Putin denounces Nato at scaled back Victory Day parade

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c626xjq0q0vo, today

Vladimir Putin has used his annual Victory Day speech in Moscow's Red Square to justify his war in Ukraine and denounce Nato.

Speaking in front of hundreds of military personnel and flanked by a few world leaders, the Russian president said he was fighting a "just" war and called Ukraine an "aggressive force" that is being "armed and supported by the whole bloc of Nato".

His remarks come amid muted celebrations across parts of Russia to mark the nation's biggest national holiday, which commemorates the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany.

Ahead of the celebrations, Russia and Ukraine agreed to observe a three-day ceasefire, which was announced by US President Donald Trump on Friday.

For the first time in nearly two decades, no military hardware featured in Moscow's Victory Day parade.

But under tightened security, military personnel marched in droves across Red Square.

Addressing the crowd, Putin started his speech by commemorating the sacrifices of USSR soldiers during World War Two.

"The great feat of the generation of victors inspires the soldiers carrying out the goals of the special military operation today," he said, referring to the war in Ukraine.

"They are confronting an aggressive force armed and supported by the whole bloc of Nato. And despite this, our heroes move forward."

The Russian leader went on to celebrate the citizens of Russia, making reference to the contributions of workers to its war effort, including scientists, inventors, military correspondents, doctors and teachers.

"No matter how military tactics change, the future of the country is being provided for by the people," he said.

Immediately after the speech, cannons fired successive rounds before music was played by a military brass band.

Behind Putin was Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko.

Also in attendance at the event were Laos President Thongloun Sisoulith and Malaysia's King, Sultan Ibrahim.

Markedly fewer world leaders turned up compared to last year's 80th anniversary parade, which included China's President Xi Jinping and Brazil's Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Russian TV viewers were also shown a broadcast of soldiers on the front lines after Putin's speech.

Ahead of the parade in Moscow, other celebrations had already taken place in cities in Russia's east.

They included celebrations in far-eastern Vladivostok, where people participated in a march commemorating war veterans, known as the Immortal Regiment march.

Some parades taking place across the country were expected to include military vehicles, though most were reported to be from World War Two rather than modern, according to Russian state media.

Other parades and public celebrations were called off altogether.

Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine was launched in 2022 and has been going on for more than four years.

Despite the movement of troops and military equipment to the front lines, Russia had continued to feature military hardware such as tanks, missiles and other weapons in its annual Moscow parade up until now.

But last week officials announced this year's parade would be scaled back, citing the "current operational situation".

"Our tanks are busy right now," Russian MP Yevgeny Popov told the BBC earlier this week. "They are fighting. We need them more on the battlefield than on Red Square."

Security measures have also been tightened, with threats of Ukrainian drones used to justify the paring back of this year's parade.

A three-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine appeared to hold as the parades took place across parts of Russia.

Putin had earlier announced a ceasefire for 8-9 May, while Kyiv had called for an indefinite truce, starting 6 May.

Since those announcements, the two countries had accused each other of extensive battlefield ceasefire violations.

Cuba condemns new US sanctions as 'illegal' and 'abusive'

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwy21n1970vo, 8 days ago

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez has condemned a new wave of US sanctions on the country as "illegal and abusive".

An executive order, signed on Friday by US President Donald Trump, targets officials in the energy, defence, financial or security sectors of Cuba's economy - as well as those he alleges to have committed "human rights abuses" or corruption.

It comes as protesters marking International Workers Day marched outside the US Embassy in Havana, denouncing a US blockade of oil to Cuba that has caused widespread blackouts and fuel shortages.

Trump continues to tighten US foreign policy towards the island nation and has indicated he wants to change its communist leadership.

Late on Friday, Trump told an audience in Florida that the US would be "taking over" the Caribbean island, which lies 145km (90 miles) from the US state of Florida, "almost immediately".

"On the way back from Iran, we'll have one of our big - maybe the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier - the biggest in the world, we'll have that come in, stop about 100 yards offshore, and they'll say, 'Thank you very much. We give up'."

Writing on X, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said the "unilateral coercive measures" violated the United Nations Charter, adding they aimed to impose "collective punishment against the Cuban people".

He shared videos from street demonstrations, describing them as "in defence of the Homeland" and added: "Our people do not cower."

Trump's latest moves to build pressure on the country's economy come despite Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel confirming in March that Cuba was negotiating with the US over relations between the two countries.

"The blockade and its reinforcement cause so much harm because of the intimidating and arrogant behaviour of the world's greatest military power," Díaz-Canel wrote on X following the announcement of the new measures.

A US blockade on oil to Cuba has led to fuel shortages and widespread blackouts, impacting hospital wards, public transport and education.

Only one Russian oil tanker has reached the country since the blockade was imposed.

Trump has also threatened tariffs on goods imported into the US from any country that provides oil to the Caribbean nation.

The US and Cuba have had a strained relationship since the communist Fidel Castro overthrew a US-backed government in 1959. US economic and trade embargoes on Cuba have been in place since 1960.

This year, Cubans are celebrating 100 years since Castro's birth.

Five killed in huge fire at packed Mexico fairground

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cq6py38q81ro, 2 days ago

At least five people have died in a huge blaze at a crowded fairground in south-eastern Mexico, local officials say.

They say the blaze in the city of Villahermosa, Tabasco state, erupted during a concert in the early hours on Thursday.

Mexico's El País said that, according to official information, as many as 135,000 people were attending the concert that started on Wednesday night. Footage has emerged on social media showing screaming crowds fleeing the grounds in panic.

The cause of the fire is unknown.

In a post on X later on Thursday, Tabasco Governor Javier May said that "the flames have already been brought under control by emergency services".

He expressed condolences to the victims' families, offering them full support from the state authorities.

May said he was "grateful to the public who helped evacuated the area".

The governor also announced an economic recovery programme for businesses affected by the fire.

Nine coal miners die in gas explosion in Colombia

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdxpe02y05go, 5 days ago

Nine people have died in an explosion at a coal mine in Colombia in the latest fatal accident to hit the country's mining sector.

Emergency workers said they had rescued six miners from the shafts in Sutatausa, north of the capital, Bogotá.

Colombia's national mining agency said a build-up of gases was thought to have caused the explosion at 16:00 (21:00 GMT) on Monday.

It also published a list of recommendations it said it had made to the mine's operators after an inspection less than a month ago, in which it had warned of a "potentially dangerous gas build-up". Many mines in Colombia are operated informally and without proper safety standards.

The captain of the regional fire department, Álvaro Farfán, said emergency workers were still working to retrieve the miners' bodies.

Those who survived are being treated in hospital.

Mining accidents are common in Colombia.

Last July, 18 workers were rescued from an unlicensed gold mine after having been trapped underground for 18 hours due to a mechanical failure.

One of the deadliest recent incidents also unfolded in Sutatausa in 2023, when 21 people died in a blast which tore through the tunnels of a complex of coal mines in the area.

That explosion was caused by a build-up of methane gas, investigators said at the time.

Sutatausa has been a coal-mining centre for decades with many of its residents working in the industry.

Three dead after monster truck crashes into crowd

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czx2d54wwr4o, 6 days ago

Three people have been killed and dozens wounded after a monster truck drove into a crowd in the south of Colombia.

Police said it is believed the driver's brakes failed during a show on Sunday in the southern city of Popayán in the province of Cauca.

Video of the incident shows people running as the truck crashes through a barrier and ploughs into the crowd, before coming to a stop, hitting an electricity pole.

Authorities said at least 38 people were injured.

A 10-year-old girl died at the scene according to a city official, newspaper El Espectador reported.

Popayán police commander Col Julián Castañeda told outlet El Tiempo it appeared there was a mechanical failure with the truck.

"The vehicle accelerated, it couldn't brake, and the driver is in stable condition."

The city's mayor said a rigorous investigation would be carried out.

"These events, which should never have happened, will be clarified with total responsibility and transparency," Juan Carlos Muñoz Bravo said.

Regional governor Octavio Guzmán said: "We express our solidarity with the families of those affected by this tragic accident, as well as with our capital city, Popayán."

Jury convicts former Florida congressman in Venezuela lobbying case

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1524vdn9dqo, 7 days ago

A jury on Friday found former Florida Congressman David Rivera guilty of conspiracy, failing to register as a foreign agent and other crimes related to lobbying US officials on behalf of the Venezuelan government.

Prosecutors said Venezuela's state-run oil company hired Rivera's consulting firm for a $50m (£37m) fee to lobby members of Congress to help improve US relations with Venezuela.

The six-week trial saw testimony from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a friend of Rivera's, as well as Texas Congressman Pete Sessions, both of whom said they had no idea of Rivera's lobbying.

Defence lawyers had said the lobbying was for a US subsidiary of the oil company, not the Venezuelan government.

Rivera, a Republican who served in Congress from 2011 to 2013, was ordered to be detained after prosecutors argued he posed a flight risk. He showed little emotion when the verdict was read, according to US media outlets.

Jurors also convicted Rivera's associate, political consultant Esther Nuhfer.

Federal prosecutors in Florida said Rivera and Nuhfer engaged in a "secret political influence campaign", receiving a $50m contract for three months of work on behalf of a US-based subsidiary of Venezuelan state oil firm PDVSA, which is also known as Citgo.

"As long as the money kept coming in, they didn't care from where," prosecutor Roger Cruz said of the defendants during closing arguments.

Prosecutors alleged that, in 2017 and 2018, at the behest of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's government, Rivera and Nuhfer attempted to lobby Rubio - then still a senator and former housemate of Rivera's - as well as Kellyanne Conway, a prominent former White House advisor.

The lobbying came as relations between the two countries were tense during President Donald Trump's first administration, when he imposed sanctions on Venezuela.

Defence lawyers for Rivera and Nuhfer argued that the pair did not need to register as foreign agents because their contract was with a US-based subsidiary of a Venezuelan state company.

An attorney for Rivera also said that his client was actually focused on trying to oust Maduro rather than improve US-Venezuela ties.

"He was working every possible angle to get Nicolás Maduro out," defence attorney Ed Shohat said during closing arguments, according to the Associated Press. "There was not a word in the chats about normalising relations."

In January, Trump launched a military strike in Venezuela leading to the capture of Maduro, who is awaiting trial alongside his wife in New York on drug-related charges.

Rubio, who was not implicated in the wrongdoing, testified during the trial that he was close friends with Rivera but was unaware he was working as a lobbyist.

"He's someone I've known for a long time," Rubio told CBS News, the BBC's US partner, in an interview before the trial. "We've worked closely together but not on this, and there's not a single person claiming otherwise."

Clarification May 3: This story has been updated to note that David Rivera was a Republican former congressman from Florida.

The other life of US soldier accused of betting on Maduro's removal

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyxd5wrr0wo, 11 days ago

Special forces soldier Gannon Ken Van Dyke has been a busy man in recent years - both in and out of uniform.

He rose to the rank of master sergeant at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he signed non-disclosure agreements to deal with classified operations, including - prosecutors allege - his role in the seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in early January.

He set up a property company and bought at least six homes, overseeing long-term tenants and responding promptly to guests at his Airbnb cottage - a mountain retreat he called Daddy Bear Cave, complete with stylish finishes and rave reviews.

And, according to federal charging papers, Van Dyke also used his knowledge of top-secret operations to trade on Polymarket, allegedly cashing out more than $400,000 (£296,000) after betting on Maduro's removal. The removal involved a covert military operation which prosecutors allege that Van Dyke helped plan and execute within the US military.

Between 27 December and 2 January, the soldier purchased about $33,934 worth of bets related to Maduro and Venezuela, the indictment unsealed last week says.

The bets predicted when US forces would go into Venezuela and when Maduro would be unseated, among others, according to the filing.

Van Dyke faces charges of unlawful use of confidential government information for personal gain, theft of non-public government information, commodities fraud, wire fraud and making an unlawful monetary transaction.

On Tuesday, he pleaded not guilty in a New York courthouse, where a federal judge released him on a $250,000 bond and ordered that he surrender his passport and restrict his travel.

In a separate lawsuit brought by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, an independent US federal agency, he is also accused of insider trading.

From the military base to Airbnb

Van Dyke has been an active duty soldier in the US since 2008 and has been a master sergeant with the US Army Special Forces since 2023, according to the indictment.

In his time at Fort Bragg, he was trained for special operations. As part of his command, Van Dyke signed a non-disclosure agreement in September 2018 acknowledging that the US government placed "special confidence and trust" in him. He promised to "never divulge anything" marked as "sensitive" information or even that he knew such information.

The federal court filing does not set out in detail Van Dyke's day-to-day duties or his exact role in the Maduro operation, which included air strikes, a network of on-the-ground spies and a massive military presence that had been built up over months in the region.

Outside his role in the military, Van Dyke was also an ambitious businessman, his social media profile and that of his wife reveal.

On Instagram, the soldier makes no mention of his military life. Alongside a shirtless profile photo, he describes himself in his bio as a father and "Fayetteville NC based real estate investor".

On LinkedIn, he lists himself as owner of Better Homes NC LLC, registered in 2022, and his profile photo is the company logo.

Posting several years ago on a real estate investment forum, he wrote: "I currently own 5 properties, but am looking to pick up another 2-3 this year, so scalability is important for me."

His mountain retreat on Airbnb - where he's rated a "superhost" - includes guest reviews dubbing him "helpful", "attentive" and quick to respond. The soldier's profile notes he loves "to travel, and do anything related to the outdoors; hiking, backpacking, camping, biking, boating".

Van Dyke made his most recent home purchase - a $340,000, three-bedroom, 2,400-sq-ft (223-sq-m) home - exactly 20 days after Maduro's capture, according to public records.

The soldier's wife, meanwhile, makes frequent online posts about homes for sale or rent, advertising her listings and calls for tenants through Better Homes and Coldwell Banker Advantage.

The native Californian's Instagram, which vanished on Friday, featured upbeat content about coffee shops and pet rescues - though no recent posts mentioned her husband. His Facebook profile currently lists him as "single".

The 'wild west' of the betting world

The use of Polymarket, a crypto-powered platform, has increasingly come under scrutiny as concerns mount over US government officials using non-public information to place bets.

There was widespread uproar in early January, when online sleuths found that someone had made nearly half a million dollars on Maduro's seizure.

It was unclear initially who placed the bet. The anonymous account had a blockchain identifier of letters and numbers.

"Lots of folks participating in Polymarket are not identified precisely because of the blockchain technology," Professor Joshua Mitts from Columbia Law School told the BBC. "So it is the Wild West, because for most of the participants on Polymarket, we just don't know who they are. All we have is a blockchain address."

However, Van Dyke allegedly used a personal email address to set up his Polymarket account. Prosecutors say once news reports highlighted the bet, Van Dyke took steps to conceal his identity and delete the account.

According to the Department of Justice, he allegedly withdrew his winnings - about $409,881 - and transferred the bulk of the funds to a foreign cryptocurrency "vault" that generates interest. It is alleged that he changed his email address on his cryptocurrency exchange account to a new one he had created. Then on 16 January, he allegedly transferred the funds and their accumulated interest - approximately $444,209 - to a newly created brokerage account.

Despite his alleged efforts, investigators say they were able to uncover the history of his alleged betting. The indictment notes he created his Polymarket account on 26 December 2025 using a virtual private network (VPN) service, which showed him browsing in a foreign country as he accessed the market.

Over the next week, he allegedly spent tens of thousands of dollars on a series of bets.

On 3 January, just hours after Van Dyke's last alleged bet, US President Donald Trump announced the overnight capture of Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores in Caracas. The couple were transported to the USS Iwo Jima, a US naval ship stationed in the Caribbean Sea for the operation.

It wasn't long before Polymarket paid out bets relating to Maduro and Venezuela.

A little more than an hour after Trump's post, Van Dyke posted a photo on his Google account, prosecutors said in the indictment.

Carrying a rifle, he posed with other soldiers wearing military fatigues. They appeared to be aboard the deck of a ship at sea. It was sunrise.

Brazil's President Lula to discuss economy and security with Trump at White House

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8d84g963eeo, 3 days ago

US President Donald Trump will host Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at the White House on Thursday for talks on tariffs, other economic issues and combating organised crime.

The two leaders have had a turbulent relationship since Trump returned to office, and the visit will be closely watched for signs of a breakthrough in their disputes.

The impasse over trade - following Trump's imposition of tariffs that target Brazilian goods - particularly damaged relations between Washington and South America's largest economy.

The US president also intervened in Brazilian politics last July when he wrote a letter to Lula asking that criminal charges be dropped against Lula's political opponent, former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro.

A close Trump ally, the far-right Bolsonaro was convicted last November of leading an attempted coup, and sentenced to 27 years in prison. Lawyers for Bolsonaro appealed the conviction.

Trump cited the Bolsonaro case as one factor in his decision to increase tariffs on Brazil.

Lula established himself as a popular left-wing figure while presiding over a period of economic growth in Brazil during his first two terms as president from 2003 to 2011. He returned to office after defeating Bolsonaro in the 2022 presidential election, and is running for another term later this year.

The leaders held their first meeting of Trump's second term in Malaysia last year.

Ahead of the United Nations General Assembly later that year, Lula told the BBC he had "no relationship" with the other leader.

But a brief meeting on the sidelines of the event in New York seemed to signal that the pair were seeking to iron out their differences.

Trump praised Lula during his UN speech, and said afterwards that "he seemed like a very nice man," and that "we had excellent chemistry."

The duo are scheduled to hold a working meeting late Thursday morning at the White House.

Beforehand, Brazilian Vice-President Geraldo Alckmin said they would discuss a pact to combat organised crime, among other issues.

Meanwhile, a White House official told BBC the leaders would discuss "economic and security matters of shared importance".

It is not known whether all the issues on Brazil's economic team's radar will actually be addressed during the meeting. That will depend on the "temperature" the White House sets for the meeting, according to a source who spoke to BBC Brasil.

Critical minerals

One of the topics on the agenda of Brazilian negotiators is critical minerals - considered strategic for both countries.

"There is room for it in the areas of big tech, rare earths, and strategic minerals," said Alckmin when commenting on Lula's trip, according to the Brazilian newspaper Valor Econômico.

On one hand, Americans want easier access to mining projects in critical mineral deposits, especially rare earth minerals. On the other, the Brazilian government has been advocating for greater state control over these projects and that investments in the area include the processing of minerals - not just the export of raw materials.

Critical minerals, including rare earth elements, are necessary both in equipment used to generate and store clean energy, and in the electronics and military industries. Among them are lithium, cobalt, and niobium, which can be used to manufacture electric batteries, magnets for wind turbines, electronic chips, aeroplanes, missiles, and satellites.

In the second Trump administration, the US has aimed to reduce its dependence on China for critical minerals and rare earth elements. It is estimated that China holds around 60% of the known reserves of this material and is responsible for 90% of its refining.

But Brazil has emerged as a potential partner since the country has the second largest - only to China - known reserve of rare earth elements.

In recent months, the US has launched a series of initiatives to expand its access to critical mineral reserves, including established partnerships with other nations. Brazil, however, has been resisting such an agreement with the US, especially if it would require Brazil to give preference to exports to the US.

Tariffs

Despite Trump's easing of tariffs on a range of Brazilian products in recent months, Brazilian economic experts want to try to reduce or eliminate remaining tariffs on some of the country's US exports.

An estimate from Brazil's Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade and Services (MDIC) indicates that at least 29% of exports are subject to additional tariffs by the US government.

In April 2025, the US imposed a flat 10% tariff on every country in the world. In July, the Trump administration imposed an additional 40% tariff on various Brazilian products - seen at the time as a US response to the treatment of Bolsonaro. The episode was considered the peak of tensions, but the relationship between the two countries has since improved.

In November, the Trump administration removed some of the tariffs on Brazilian products and in February, the US Supreme Court ruled some of Trump's tariffs illegal, benefiting countries like Brazil. Subsequently, the US implemented a flat 15% tariff on global imports to the country.

But Brazil still wants the US to reduce tariffs affecting key areas of its economy. Some data shows that Brazilian exports to the US in the first quarter of this year reached their lowest historical level since 1997. Exports totalled $7.8bn (£5.7bn) in the period, indicating an 18.7% decrease compared to the same quarter of 2025.

Brazil's Congress approves plan to drastically cut Bolsonaro's jail term

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cqlpvl3wx4qo, 9 days ago

Brazil's Congress has overturned a veto of a bill that would dramatically reduce former president Jair Bolsonaro's prison sentence for plotting a coup after he lost the last election.

Last year Bolsonaro was sentenced to 27 years in jail for his attempt to cling to power after losing the 2022 elections to Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Lula had tried to block a subsequent push by the conservative-majority Congress to reduce Bolsonaro's term to just over two years, but in a tense session on Thursday lawmakers overrode his veto of a law changing how prison sentences are calculated.

The law could still be challenged in the Supreme Court.

Bolsonaro, 71, was in March allowed to temporarily be placed under house arrest due to ill health.

The former army captain, who served one term as president from 2019 to 2022, had known of plans to assassinate Lula and his vice-presidential running mate, Geraldo Alckmin, Supreme Court justices said as he was found guilty in September.

Without the backing of the senior leaders of the country's armed forces, the conspiracy failed and Lula was sworn in without incident on 1 January 2023.

After Lula's veto was defeated, several lawmakers loudly chanted freedom and Flavio Bolsonaro - the name of the imprisoned ex-leader's eldest son who has aspirations for the office once held by his father.

"I thank the deputies and senators for this very special birthday present," Flavio Bolsonaro, a Brazilian senator, posted on X regarding the veto override that coincided with his 45th birthday.

More than two thirds of Congress voted to pass the legislation which proposes reducing sentences for individuals convicted of coup-related acts.

It's the second blow to the left-wing government from Brazilian lawmakers this week and for Lula, who is campaigning for a fourth term.

The day before the veto was overturned, the Senate rejected Lula's candidate for a Supreme Court justice, Jorge Messias.

It was the first time in decades that the president's picks for a seat on the top court has been rejected, and it marked momentum for the younger Bolsonaro, who is tied with Lula in the polls.

Rubio downplays reports US could review UK's claim to Falklands

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c809r2721ymo, 9 days ago

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has downplayed reports that the US could review its position on the UK's sovereignty over the Falkland Islands.

A leaked internal Pentagon email, details of which were reported by Reuters last week, suggested the US was considering options to punish Nato allies it saw as having failed to support its war with Iran.

Rubio told the Sun and Daily Telegraph on Thursday that it was "just an email" and the reaction was "overexcited".

The Falklands, a British overseas territory in the south-west Atlantic Ocean, remain the subject of a sovereignty dispute between the UK and Argentina.

The islands have been under British rule since 1833, but Argentina has repeatedly claimed it has a right to them on the basis that it inherited them from the Spanish crown, as well as the islands' proximity to the South American mainland.

Argentina attempted to capture the islands by force in 1982, but after a 10-week conflict its forces surrendered to a British taskforce.

However, the country still claims sovereignty over the Falklands, which it calls the Malvinas and which lie about 300 miles (483km) east of Argentina.

The US has remained neutral in the dispute, while recognising British control, though it has unofficially offered diplomatic and military support to the UK.

Rubio was quoted by the Sun as saying: "It was just an email with some ideas."

He also told the newspaper: "Our position on the islands remains one of neutrality. We acknowledge that there are conflicting claims of sovereignty between Argentina and the UK.

"We recognise the de facto United Kingdom administration of the islands but take no position regarding sovereignty claims of either party."

His comments came after reportedly discussing the matter with Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper in Washington DC on Wednesday.

Reports concerning the leaked Pentagon email raised concerns that a change in America's position on the Falklands - which sit roughly 8,000 miles from the UK - could make Argentine efforts to assume control of the islands easier.

When they emerged, Downing Street stressed that sovereignty over the islands was solely a matter for the people living there.

"The Falkland Islands have previously voted overwhelmingly in favour of remaining a UK overseas territory, and we've always stood behind the islanders' right to self-determination and the fact that sovereignty rests with the UK," a spokesperson said.

A 2013 referendum among the island's 1,672 eligible voters saw all but three voting to continue as an overseas territory, on a turnout of more than 90%.

Following the Falklands War - during which 649 Argentine military personnel, 255 British military personnel and three Falkland Islanders lost their lives - there has been a combined UK armed forces presence on the islands with more than 1,000 personnel stationed there.

The UK did not join US-Israeli strikes on Iran, angering US President Donald Trump, but it has allowed the US military to use UK bases to launch defensive strikes against Iranian missile launch sites.

The leaked memo apparently raised suggestions of how the US could punish Nato members that had declined to participate and also included seeking Spain's suspension from the military alliance.

Meanwhile, Trump is a political ally of his Argentine counterpart Javier Milei.

Fears of renewed Gaza war as Hamas disarmament talks stall

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd6p5l3n2q3o, 3 days ago

Ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas have stalled, and Gaza risks sliding back into war.

This week an Israeli air strike killed the son of Hamas's leader and chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya, and Palestinian sources confirmed to the BBC that the two sides had reached a deadlock in negotiations.

Israeli media reports suggest Israel is preparing to resume fighting in the Gaza Strip because of the impasse and Hamas's refusal to give up its weapons.

"We understood, everyone understood that Hamas would not disarm, and they have followed through on their intentions," Michael Eisenberg, an adviser to the Israeli prime minister, told the BBC, describing Hamas as "an unrepentant terrorist group".

"Nobody in Israel wants to go back to war," he said, but added "all options are on the table right now."

Citing unnamed security sources, Israel's Channel 12 News has reported that Washington may give Israel the "green light" to resume "operations". One of the main options it says Israel is considering is to expand the so-called "Yellow Line" marking some 60% of Gaza that has remained under full Israeli military control during the ceasefire. Locals say this is already happening.

Israel insists that Hamas's approach to disarmament is in breach of the ceasefire deal which came into effect on 10 October. However, Hamas insists that Israel is violating the agreement by failing to meet its humanitarian commitments and continuing deadly attacks.

On Wednesday, a Hamas statement called on "the US administration and the guarantor states of the Sharm el-Sheikh [ceasefire] agreement" to "move immediately" to stop Israel's "aggression against the innocent people in Gaza".

This came after Israeli air strikes across the Palestinian territory killed at least six people – including a Hamas commander and Azzam al-Hayya, a son of Hamas's top negotiator, Khalil al-Hayya, who has been leading the indirect talks with Israel.

At least 846 people – including many women and children – have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire began, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Israel says that five of its soldiers have been killed in the same period.

In Gaza, the humanitarian situation remains dire, with most of its more than two million residents displaced. People are increasingly fearful that full-scale war could resume.

"Honestly, I say enough war. We hope that the war doesn't resume. There are still attacks until now," says Samah, a displaced mother in Gaza City. "We tell Hamas to consider handing over its weapons because there have been enough martyrs and there's been enough of the siege. Let people live. We are exhausted."

One of her neighbours, Abu Firas al-Jidi, accused Israel of "intransigence" and suggested that while the world was focused on the wars in Iran and Lebanon, there was "a serious risk that Gaza may slide back into fighting".

Two Palestinian officials familiar with recent negotiations between Hamas leaders and the US-led Board of Peace in Cairo, confirmed that these had reached a deadlock.

They told the BBC that Israel was insisting on moving to the second phase of President Trump's 20-point plan, which focuses on disarmament, before completing the obligations of the first phase.

The officials say the specific demands of Hamas include an end to Israeli shelling, incursions and other military operations in Gaza.

The armed group also wants the amount of aid to increase, the entry of temporary housing units and heavy lifting equipment to clear rubble and an increase in the number of Palestinian patients and travellers allowed to exit via Egypt's Rafah Crossing. Israel says it restricts which goods are allowed in and out of Gaza for security reasons.

While Hamas continues to refer to the terms of the document that it signed with Israel in Sharm el-Sheikh in October, which focused on the first stage of the ceasefire, Israel has accepted Trump's more comprehensive 20-point peace plan, which was endorsed by a UN Security Council resolution. Although Hamas has engaged with Trump's plan, it has not formally accepted it in full.

"There is no phase one and phase two, that is an invention of Hamas," says the Israeli advisor, Michael Eisenberg, who maintains that Israel is currently exceeding its aid commitments. "Hamas must disarm, demilitarise, and deradicalise. That's the future of Gaza according to the 20-point plan."

In March, the High Representative for Gaza on the Board of Peace, Nickolay Mladenov, laid out a detailed plan for Palestinian armed groups to decommission their weapons, starting with rockets, explosives and assault rifles. He linked compliance to Israeli military withdrawal and reconstruction in Gaza and warned that refusal could lead to a return to war.

This week, Mladenov said there was "no daylight" between the Board of Peace and Israel regarding security concerns, when he spoke to Israel's i24 news channel. He stressed that donors would not fund Gaza's reconstruction unless there was a lasting peace.

"The Board of Peace has significant commitments in terms of financing from the Gulf countries but only once conditions in Gaza are such that there will be no return to war - that includes decommissioning of weapons in Gaza," Mladenov said.

While Hamas has publicly welcomed the creation of the new 15-member Palestinian technocratic committee – and pledged to hand over governance to the body - there have been growing signs that the group is reasserting its authority.

Traders and shopkeepers complain that it imposes new taxes on goods and services. Hamas has reactivated its police force.

Under Trump's 20-point plan, an international stabilisation force is supposed to enter Gaza, working with a new Palestinian police force. The plan says Hamas – which led the deadly attack and mass hostage taking in Israel in October 2023, triggering the war – should have no role in future governance.

The Hamas-led attack killed about 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage, Israeli authorities say. Israel's offensive has killed 72,628 people in Gaza, the health authority there says.

Regional mediators Qatar, Egypt and Turkey are currently said to be exerting heavy pressure on Hamas to move on disarmament.

Israeli military investigates soldier's act against Virgin Mary statue in Lebanon

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cddpygv2j90o, 3 days ago

Israel's military has said it investigating an Israeli soldier who was photographed smoking and placing another cigarette on the mouth of a statue of the Virgin Mary in occupied southern Lebanon.

The picture was taken in the Christian village of Debel, where another soldier was photographed last month hitting a statue of Jesus on a cross in the face with a sledgehammer.

The military said it viewed the incident with "utmost severity" and that the conduct of the soldier "completely deviates from the values expected of its personnel".

The head of Debel's congregation, Father Fadi Felfeli, told the BBC: "Honestly, this issue really provoked us, especially after the apology regarding the cross."

"It also shows that there are individuals within the [Israeli] army that lack ethics and values and are bigoted. This reflects a great deal of fanaticism."

Father Felfeli said he had confirmed that the Virgin Mary statue was still intact and not broken, but he called such actions "unethical".

"They reflect extremism and intolerance that should not exist, especially toward a village that values peace and neutrality and is not involved in the war."

The act was also condemned as "disrespectful and outrageous behaviour" by the Roman Catholic Church's representative in the Holy Land.

"We call on the Israeli government and the IDF [Israel Defense Forces] to act and send a clear message that such behaviour is unacceptable, must not happen again, and that the case be handled with the utmost seriousness," the Custodia Terrae Sanctae told Israel's Haaretz newspaper.

IDF spokesperson Lt Col Nadav Shoshani said the photograph was taken several weeks ago and that "command measures" would be taken against the soldier in accordance with the findings of its investigation.

"The IDF respects freedom of religion and worship, as well as holy sites and religious symbols of all religions and communities," he added.

The soldier who hit the statue of Jesus and another who photographed the act were given 30 days in military prison following international condemnation.

Thousands of Israeli troops continue to occupy a wide area of southern Lebanon after a US-brokered ceasefire deal came into force between Israel and Lebanon on 16 April.

The ceasefire has failed to stop the war between Israel and the Shia Muslim armed group Hezbollah, with both sides accusing each other of violations.

Israeli strikes have continued every day in southern Lebanon, with more than 120 people killed in the past week, including civilians, according to the Lebanese health ministry.

Hezbollah has meanwhile been attacking Israeli troops in southern Lebanon and also northern Israel with rockets, drones and mortars.

On Wednesday night, an Israeli air strike hit the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital Beirut for the first time since the ceasefire began.

The IDF said the attack in Dahieh killed the commander of Hezbollah's elite Radwan Force, Ahmed Ali Balout. There was no immediate confirmation from Hezbollah.

At least 2,715 people have been killed in Lebanon since the war began on 2 March, according to the Lebanese health ministry.

Israeli authorities have said that 17 soldiers and one civilian have been killed in southern Lebanon, along with two civilians in northern Israel.

Iran considering US proposal as Trump says war will be 'over quickly'

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj0pq2q8221o, 3 days ago

US President Donald Trump has predicted that the war in Iran will be "over quickly" and says that most people "understand" his goal of ending Tehran's nuclear ambitions.

His comments come after Iran said a US proposal to end the war is "still being considered".

US news outlet Axios reported that the White House believes it could be closing in on a 14-point memorandum of understanding with Iran, which could set a framework for more detailed nuclear negotiations.

A senior member of Iran's parliament has dismissed it as a "wish list", while a foreign ministry spokesman said Tehran would share its views of a US proposal with Pakistani mediators.

Pakistan's foreign minister said his country was "endeavouring to convert this ceasefire into a permanent end to this war".

In its report, Axios describes the memorandum as a one-page, 14-point memo which could set a framework for more detailed nuclear negotiations.

Among the provisions it lists are a suspension on Iranian nuclear enrichment, the lifting of sanctions, and restoring free transit through the Strait of Hormuz.

It cites two US officials and two other sources - all unnamed - whom it describes as briefed on the issues. These sources are reported as saying that many of the terms laid out in the memo would be contingent on a final agreement being reached.

The Reuters news agency reported that two sources briefed on the mediation between the US and Iran had confirmed the information initially reported by Axios, but the proposal has not been publicly outlined.

Speaking during a virtual campaign event on Wednesday evening, Trump told Republicans in the State of Georgia that he was optimistic that the war would end soon.

He added that most people understood he was right to deny Iran the opportunity to have a nuclear weapon.

Earlier in the day, the president said the US has had "very good talks with Iran in the last 24 hours" and that was deal is possible, emphasising that any hardship caused to Americans - because of high fuel prices - would be short term.

Ealier, Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei told the Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA): "The American proposal is still being reviewed by Iran and after concluding, it will inform the Pakistani side of its opinion."

Responding to the Axios report, Ebrahim Rezaei, the spokesperson of the Iranian Parliament's national security and foreign policy commission, wrote on X: "The Americans will not gain anything in a war they are losing that they have not gained in face-to-face negotiations."

He also said Iran "has its finger on the trigger and is ready" and warned that if the US did not "surrender and grant the necessary concessions", Iran would "deliver a harsh and regret-inducing response".

Trump has threatened renewed violence as well, writing on his Truth Social platform that if Iran did not agree to a deal "the bombing starts, and it will be, sadly, at a much higher level and intensity than it was before".

He also said Operation Epic Fury - the initial US-Israeli offensive in Iran - would come to an end "assuming Iran agrees to give what has been agreed to". That was after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the operation was over after achieving its objectives.

Trump also said, not for the first time, that Iran has agreed to never have a nuclear weapon "among other things" - a claim that has not been confirmed by Tehran. Iran's nuclear programme has been one of the key sticking points between the two sides.

"They [Iran] want to make a deal. We've had very good talks over the last 24 hours and it's very possible that we'll make a deal up there," Trump said, adding: "I think we won."

He announced on Tuesday that he was pausing Project Freedom, just days after announcing it. The operation was meant to help restore the flow of oil and the global economy's eventual return to normalcy by guiding stranded ships out of the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran has yet to react publicly to the pause but the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) alluded to the strait reopening if there is an "end of the aggressors' threats".

The crucial waterway, through which 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas usually passes, has effectively been blockaded by Iran since the US and Israel began attacking it in late February.

In early April, the US and Iran announced a ceasefire under which Iran ended its drone and missile strikes on Gulf countries including the UAE, but few vessels have been able to transit the strait since then.

The US also imposed its own blockade on Iranian ports, saying it has stopped dozens of ships. US Central Command said on Wednesday it had shot at and disabled an Iranian-flagged oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman that was trying to break the blockade.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that there was "full coordination" between himself and Trump over Iran.

"There are no surprises. We share common goals, and the most important objective is the removal of all enriched material from Iran and the dismantling of Iran's enrichment capabilities," he said.

His comments came after Israel launched its first strike on the Lebanese capital, Beirut, since a ceasefire was agreed in April.

Netanyahu wrote on social media that forces had targeted a senior Hezbollah commander "responsible for firing at Israeli settlements and harming IDF [Israel Defense Forces] soldiers".

Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed militia and political party, began striking Israel in early March in retaliation for its attacks on Iran.

Despite the ceasefire agreement, Israel and Hezbollah have continued with their attacks, accusing each other of violations.

Most of Israel's air strikes have hit southern Lebanon, while Hezbollah has carried out attacks on Israeli troops in Lebanon and northern Israel with rockets and drones.

BBC traces how 10 minutes of Israeli bombing brought devastation to Lebanon

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c202652vvnjo, 4 days ago

In the southern suburbs of Beirut, the neighbourhood of Hay el Sellom is barely recognisable.

What was once a densely populated, lively community is now a landscape of collapsed concrete, twisted metal and exposed wires. Homes have been reduced to layers of rubble. Staircases lead nowhere. The sounds of everyday life have been replaced by silence.

Despite repeated Israeli attacks since the start of the Iran war on other parts of Beirut's southern suburbs, where Hezbollah holds sway, residents say this neighbourhood remained calm until the afternoon of 8 April.

Beirut's southern suburbs had faced repeated Israeli evacuation orders and air strikes since the start of the war, but residents told us few people left Hay El Sellom, as they had nowhere to go. They also said that this neighbourhood had remained relatively calm.

On that Wednesday, Mohammed's son Abbas was at home asleep when the building was hit by an Israeli air strike. "The three floors above mine all fell into one room," Mohammed says. "They all came down together… on top of him."

It was part of a deadly wave of strikes that begun at 14.15 local time and saw about 100 targets across Lebanon hit in the space of just 10 minutes, according to Israel.

The destruction wrought in this brief window would surpass that of any other day in this war. The stated targets included Hezbollah command centres and military sites, but among the casualties were many ordinary Lebanese citizens.

The death toll for the day reached 361, according to the Lebanese authorities, with more than 1,000 injured.

'This is the second home I've lost'

In the weeks after the attack, the BBC World Service visited some of the areas hit to piece together what happened on that day. We met Mohammed in the ruins of his apartment.

"This is the second home I've lost," he says. "In the last war [in 2024] I lost a home. And in this war I lost another.

"I wish it was just my home that I lost, and that my son survived. This brick can be rebuilt. But nothing will bring back my son."

He is adamant that everyone who died were residents of the building. "If I thought there was even a 1% chance that someone from Hezbollah lived here, I wouldn't have stayed," he says. "I would never risk my son's life."

"Maybe, since I'm 45 years old, I wouldn't worry about the risk to myself but a young man with his whole life ahead of him - I would not put him in a building if anyone was there."

Following the death of his son, Mohammed expressed his sympathies for Hezbollah, asking it to defend Lebanon, in an interview with local media. That's a sentiment echoed by many people we spoke to in areas that have been consistently attacked by Israel.

Hezbollah – an Iran-backed militia and political party based in Lebanon – had fired rockets into Israel on 2 March, in response to US and Israeli attacks on Iran. A wider Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon followed, and further attempts to destroy the Hezbollah leadership.

Earlier on 8 April, a temporary ceasefire between the United States and Iran had been announced, a pause in a wider regional war that had already reshaped the Middle East.

Even though Israel said Lebanon would not be included, people on the ground were cautiously hopeful – until the assault began.

'It all became silent'

By analysing verified footage, social media posts and satellite imagery and comparing these with eyewitness accounts, we have identified at least five strikes that hit Hay el Sellom in quick succession.

Some Israeli media reported Ali Mohammed Ghulam Dahini was killed in the neighbourhood, and say he was a senior Hezbollah figure. We also found a memorial poster which describes him as a Hezbollah fighter. We asked the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) if Dahini was a target, but it did not respond to this question, nor did it provide specific information about who or what was being targeted in Hay el Sellom.

What is clear is the scale of civilian casualties. The Lebanese health ministry has told us more than 80 people were killed in this neighbourhood. Our analysis shows that at least 15 of those who died were children.

The narrow roads that run between tightly packed buildings in Hay el Sellom slowed rescue efforts. Residents describe people trapped under rubble, calling out for help, sending messages and waiting.

One of the first to arrive at a nearby hospital was Ghassan Jawad. He had been asleep when the building collapsed around him and his family.

"I suddenly found myself underground," he says. "I thought I was dead." He remembers the sound of people screaming. "I started to pray because I knew that was it."

Then, he says, something unexpected happened. "My cat started digging. She made a small hole so I could breathe."

After about 10 minutes, he heard voices above him, as neighbours began digging through the rubble. "They brought hammers and metal bars," he says. "They dug me out." But others did not survive.

"I could hear people dying," he says quietly. "I heard my mother praying next to me… then her voice stopped." His mother, two sisters and their children were all killed. "It became silent," he says. "Completely silent."

If you're outside the UK, you can watch the documentary on YouTube.

Simultaneous strike

Just four miles away, in central Beirut, another neighbourhood was also struck -Corniche al Mazraa, one of the city's busiest areas. At 14:15 a gym class was in progress, a restaurant was preparing food, and a barber was mid-cut.

Then with no prior warning the explosions came, killing 16 people, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.

It was the first time this neighbourhood had been targeted in the latest war.

Noha, a fitness instructor, was at work seven storeys above street level when two bombs hit a confectionary company's warehouse, causing a powerful blast that damaged surrounding buildings.

She told me that she had often watched from a distance as the southern suburbs of Beirut were pounded, never thinking that the attacks would reach the heart of the city. "For us, this happened without warning," she says.

"I looked out and found the world was black. I found people all covered in blood. I found people on the floor."

Noha questions why the area was struck. "The target was civilian. Certainly, a civilian target," she says. "We are the ones who were hurt."

We searched for evidence of a Hezbollah target and could not find one. We also asked the IDF, but it did not respond.

Sisters killed

We have identified at least four other strikes that occurred within a one-mile radius of the gym.

Across the country, similar scenes were unfolding within the same 10-minute window. From Hermel in the north, across the Bekaa valley to villages in the deep south, strikes were reported almost simultaneously.

The southern city of Sidon was among those struck without warning, with bombs flattening the Hezbollah-affiliated al Zahraa religious complex.

Rahma, 27, and Rayan, 22, young women from a family forced to flee their home near the Israeli border, were visiting the mosque when the attack came.

"They said they were going to pray," says their mother, Kawkab. "Half an hour later, the complex was hit." Both girls were killed.

"We came here for safety," Kawkab says.

Al Zahraa's cleric, Sheikh Sadiq Naboulsi, was also killed in the attack. He had deep ideological and family ties to Hezbollah, although did not himself hold an official position. Another man killed here - Mohammed Ma'ani - was a senior Hezbollah official in the group's liaison and co-ordination unit. The IDF declined to confirm whether either men were the intended targets.

It has also been possible to identify seven of the other nine individuals reportedly killed here. All the available evidence suggests they were civilians.

The IDF says it targeted 250 Hezbollah operatives that day but has not provided a full list of names. Lebanon's health ministry disputes this, saying the vast majority of those killed were civilians.

Asked what steps were taken to protect civilians, the IDF said it made "extensive efforts to mitigate harm to uninvolved individuals".

The IDF also said that most of the targeted sites were located "within the heart of the civilian population, as part of Hezbollah's cynical exploitation of Lebanese civilians as human shields to safeguard its operations".

Hezbollah denies this, stating that Israel targets civilians as a pressure tactic. The group, proscribed as a terrorist organisation by the UK, US and some gulf Arab states, added that it never wanted war and is acting in self-defence.

On 8 April Israel says it hit 100 targets within 10 minutes, making it one of Lebanon's deadliest days in decades. More than 360 people were killed, and over 1,000 injured that day, Lebanon says.

Israel called the operation Eternal Darkness. To the Lebanese people who lived through it, it is known as Black Wednesday.

Additional reporting by Jasmin Dyer and Jake Tacchi

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China calls for Strait to be reopened 'as soon as possible' in Iran talks

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0m21mndm71o, 4 days ago

Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi has called for the Strait of Hormuz to be reopened "as soon as possible" in talks with his Iranian counterpart.

The pair met in Beijing on Wednesday on what is Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araqchi's first trip to China since the Iran war began.

Wang Yi also told Araqchi that achieving a lasting ceasefire was an "urgent priority", saying it was important to persist with negotiations. He added that Beijing was ready to help de-escalate tensions.

The meeting comes a week before US president Donald Trump is set to hold a summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, during which the leaders are likely to discuss the Iran war and reopening of the strait.

"China believes that achieving a comprehensive ceasefire is an urgent priority, while reopening hostilities would be even more undesirable," said Wang Yi, according to a readout by state media.

"On the issue of the Strait, the international community shares a common concern over restoring normal and secure navigation through the Strait, and China hopes relevant parties will respond as soon as possible to the strong call from the international community."

Beijing, which has tried to mediate while avoiding entanglement in the conflict, has repeatedly urged the US and Iran to hold talks - a point that Wang reiterated on Wednesday.

Wang also added that China appreciated Iran's commitment not to develop nuclear weapons, Chinese state media reported.

Araqchi told Wang that cooperation between China and Iran would become even stronger, said Iranian state media.

Both Trump and Iranian officials have credited Beijing with securing their acceptance of a Pakistan-brokered ceasefire in April.

On Wednesday, Wang also emphasised safe passages through the Strait of Hormuz.

Since the war, the Strait of Hormuz, a busy waterway through which much of the world's oil is transported, has been largely impassable after blockades imposed by both Iran and the US.

Beijing has called the US naval blockade of Iranian ports "irresponsible and dangerous", describing it as a move that would "undermine the already fragile ceasefire agreement".

China has been a major buyer of Iranian oil, which is sanctioned by the US. China imported 1.38 million barrels of crude per day from Iran in 2025, according to the Center on Global Energy Policy - around 12% of China's total crude oil imports.

But despite China's reliance on the Strait of Hormuz for its oil supply, Xi has been "very respectful", Trump told reporters at the White House this week.

"We haven't been challenged by China," he said, adding that Xi would not challenge the US "because of me".

The upcoming meeting between leaders of the world's two largest economies, initially set to take place in March, was postponed after the US and Israel launched wide-ranging strikes on Iran.

Trump's visit, if it happens next week, would be the first visit to China by a US president in nearly 10 years.

Bowen: Strait of Hormuz standoff raises risk of sliding back into all-out war

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgrpnq00j5vo, 5 days ago

The ceasefire in the Gulf is four weeks old and showing its age. The US and Iran's determination to keep the pressure on each other has put it in serious jeopardy. This is a dangerous moment.

The ceasefire opened up a chance for diplomacy that looked for a short time as if it might make progress. Americans and Iranians faced each other across a conference table in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, but came away empty-handed.

The Pakistanis are trying to revive the process, without much success so far. Both America and Iran want to have a deal. But they have different deals in mind and are sticking to their red lines. Until one or the other, or preferably both, decide to offer concessions, renewed full-scale hostilities remain an incident away.

More than ever there is a strong risk of misperception and miscalculation of intentions and consequences. Both are classic ways in which crises slip out of control and wars escalate.

America's decision to escort two ships through the Strait of Hormuz was always going to produce a reaction from Iran. This week's urgent question is whether it ends there or whether more action and reaction power a slide back into all-out war.

Control of the Strait of Hormuz has become the central issue in the crisis. It was open to navigation, without restriction or the payment of tolls, until 28 February -when the US and Israel attacked Iran. Now Iran has demonstrated how closing it can mean everything from an offensive weapon to a revenue raiser and an insurance policy. This week, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has told MPs that there will be no return to the old status quo.

The US cannot allow Iran to make the Strait of Hormuz into home waters that the Tehran regime can control and use to charge shippers millions in tolls, without accepting that tactical victory over Iran's armed forces has become a strategic defeat.

Closing the strait has global economic consequences. The length of time it stays closed will determine how severe the consequences of the war will be for people across the world. Shortages of oil and gas, as well as helium for high tech industries and feedstocks for fertiliser, are having an increasingly heavy impact on millions of people a long way from the war zone. The fertiliser crisis risks causing hunger in countries that do not have secure food supplies.

President Donald Trump's motives, declared and undeclared, are always complex and changeable. He has used social media to try to persuade oil traders not to drive up the price of petrol for American motorists.

He must also be frustrated by the Iranian regime's resilience and determination to resist however much pain America and Israel inflict on the country. A regime prepared to shoot its own citizens in the streets for protesting, as the Islamic Republic's security forces did once again in January, is not going to worry too much about their welfare - at least not until it affects their hold on power.

Trump's frustration is the result of his own rash decision to go to war assuming an easy victory, without thinking through the consequences of what happens and what to do if it isn't easy. The US has shown the power of its highly efficient military, but the president's fluctuating decision-making has left the country in a strategic bind.

Trump's decision to order the US Navy to escort a couple of ships through the strait does not restore freedom of navigation. An average of 138 ships passed through the strait each day until the US and Israel went to war, according to the Joint Maritime Information Centre.

Iran has shown that it is prepared to go back to war and might even be prepared to set the pace of escalation. It is strategy full of risk, but for the men who have replaced the former supreme leader and all the senior leaders killed by the US and Israel, it is a risk worth taking.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) looks to be the main target for Iran among their Gulf Arab neighbours. In response, the UAE has doubled down on its alliances with the US and Israel. The Israelis sent an Iron Dome anti-missile system to the UAE, and IDF soldiers to operate it – a significant gesture they refused to offer to Ukraine.

Iran's decision to target the Emirati port of Fujairah is significant. It is on the UAE's small stretch of coastline that is beyond the Strait of Hormuz, facing instead the Gulf of Oman.

Fujairah is the terminus of an oil pipeline that allows the UAE to export without going through Hormuz and has big oil storage facilities. That makes it strategically and economically vital for the Emiratis. They are deeply concerned about Iran's next moves. Despite robust public warnings to Tehran, and capable armed forces, the Emiratis still prefer to stay out of direct attacks on Iran. That policy might not survive a collapse of the ceasefire. Longer term, it is spending more billions on American weapons.

Trump seems still to believe that the Iranian regime will buckle in the face of US pressure and military force. He would like to be able to flourish a deal, but he will not accept one that his critics would say was not as good as the nuclear agreement that became President Barack Obama's signature foreign policy achievement.

During his first term, Trump dumped that agreement, known as the JCPOA, with substantial encouragement from Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He replaced it with a policy he called "maximum pressure" that failed to stop Iran enriching uranium and now looks to have started America and Iran on the road to a war that has no easy exits.

Correction 6 May: An earlier version of this article said 40 to 60 ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz each day before the war. In fact, an average of 138 vessels travelled through the strait daily before 28 February, according to the Joint Maritime Information Centre. This article has been amended to reflect that figure.

Trump's hopes for an Iran peace deal come with caveats

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgzp74rvj5o, 4 days ago

Donald Trump's pause on a short-lived "Project Freedom" to guide ships through the Strait of Hormuz, as he claimed progress had been made towards clinching a "Complete and Final Agreement" with Iran, soothed oil markets and sent hopes soaring of a breakthrough.

But expectations were soon tempered by the US president himself.

Iran said on Wednesday it was reviewing a new proposal from Washington, after US media cited unnamed American officials as saying that the two sides were closing in on a one-page memorandum to end the war in the Gulf.

A source close to mediators in Pakistan told Reuters news agency: "We will close this very soon. We are getting close."

But hours after posting on Truth Social on Tuesday evening that he was suspending Project Freedom to see whether "the Agreement can be finalized and signed", Trump abruptly changed tone.

He said on Wednesday morning that an Iran deal was a "big assumption" and if it was not agreed, bombing at "a much higher level and intensity than it was before" would resume.

The president's threat came less than 24 hours after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said at the White House that Operation Epic Fury, the American-led military strikes on Iran, was over.

Later on Wednesday morning, Trump expressed optimism in a brief telephone call with PBS about an Iran deal, while acknowledging it had previously proven elusive.

"I felt that way before with them," he said. "So we'll see what happens."

Trump also told PBS it was "unlikely" he would send US envoys for a second round of Iran peace talks in the Pakistani capital Islamabad.

Axios and Reuters had reported that Washington and Tehran were inching closer to a one-page, 14-point memorandum to end the war.

The plan would reportedly aim to bring hostilities to a close, which would then be followed by discussions to unblock the Strait of Hormuz, lift sanctions and curb Iran's nuclear ambitions.

But Axios also reported scepticism among some US officials about a deal and who would even approve such an agreement among the factions in Iran's leadership.

Iranian parliamentarian Ebrahim Rezaei, a spokesperson for Iran's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, wrote on X that the 14 points reported by Axios amounted to a US "wish list".

He added that Iran "has its finger on the trigger and is ready" if the Americans did not "grant the necessary concessions".

In the US, foreign policy experts injected a note of caution, too.

"Clearly, the administration thinks a deal is possible, given the way they publicly rolled out Project Freedom only to suddenly pause it hours later," Grant Rumley, a former Middle East policy adviser to both the Biden and Trump administrations, told the BBC.

"But we have been here before, and we've seen negotiations collapse at the last minute for a variety of reasons," added Rumley, now a fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

Trump has repeatedly suggested a deal was close since a ceasefire was announced on 7 April.

On 17 April, he told CBS that Iran had "agreed to everything" and would allow the US to remove its enriched uranium – a claim officials in Tehran rejected outright.

In the White House on Wednesday, Trump again maintained: "They want to make a deal, they want to negotiate."

"And we'll see whether or not they are agreeing," he added.

Even if a one-page memorandum was agreed upon, Rumley said that it was "highly unlikely" that it would solve all the issues, particularly given the highly technical aspects of an agreement on Iran's nuclear materials.

During the Obama administration, it took over 20 months for the finer details of a deal on Iran's nuclear programme to be ironed out.

Shipping experts said that Project Freedom, which was announced on Sunday, had a limited impact in its opening hours, with only a handful of ships passing through the strait.

Ali Vaez, Iran project director for the International Crisis Group think tank, told the BBC the Iranian response to the operation - which included shooting at ships and launching attacks on targets in the UAE - probably persuaded Trump it was "not going to solve the problem".

"There is no real policy process in this administration," he said. "The president makes decisions based on impulse more than process, therefore there are inconsistencies that happen all the time."

Mick Mulroy, a former assistant undersecretary of defence for the Middle East at the Pentagon, said any link between pausing Project Freedom and a possible peace deal remains murky.

"It's unclear if the pause in Project Freedom was because of this one-page memorandum or because the 1,500 ships currently stuck behind the [Strait of Hormuz] wouldn't transit even with the US security umbrella," he said. "Iran is likely trying to determine that as well."

Some Iranians fear the regime is now more entrenched - and ready for revenge

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyp6xxyvzyo, 6 days ago

They are still there. There is no evading the simple fact. Everywhere the people walk. Wherever they drive. Whenever they switch on the television. The faces of assassinated leaders, and those of new rulers, dominate the public space.

Protests have come and gone. A war. Then a ceasefire. But the regime of the Islamic Republic has endured.

In fact, according to Iranians the BBC has spoken to inside the country, far from being weakened the regime is more deeply embedded. And it is in a vengeful mood.

Sana and Diako - not their real names - are a young couple living in Tehran. They are middle class, educated, the kind of people who want to see the end of hardline religious rule.

To tell their story it is necessary to exclude so many of the details that might give you an idea of their characters and lives. This is because such details can be used by the regime to track people who dare speak freely to the foreign media.

The journalist assisting the BBC in Iran met Sana and Diako near a park where families were walking with their children, making the most of this period of ceasefire.

Diako wants to believe that life will get better. "Things will change," he says. "It's already changed."

Sana laughs as he says this.

"Changed?" she asks. "It's fallen into the hands of the Revolutionary Guards. The country is a mess." Sana has felt her own emotions change since the US and Israel attacked Iran.

"At the beginning, I did not want the war to happen... [But] through the middle of the war, as long as they were targeting key figures, I was genuinely overjoyed with every one of their deaths."

But as the war dragged on, it dawned on Sana, as it did for the Trump White House, that the loss of the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior figures did not usher in a new regime more amenable to compromise.

"So many of their people are still standing. What I had imagined did not come true. Everything got worse. And we are left with the Islamic Republic. I am gutted that they won this war."

It is impossible to tell the scale of support for the regime across Iranian society. There are regular public displays of solidarity organised by its supporters. By contrast opposition rallies are banned.

Our trusted sources in Iran spoke with opposition activists, human rights lawyers and independent journalists and found a mood of foreboding. There is a recurring fear: once the war is finally over the state will escalate its campaign of internal repression.

According to the Washington-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), more than 53,000 were arrested during the anti-regime protests last January, and before the outbreak of the war. Since the war began, many thousands more are believed to have been detained.

There has also been a record number of executions of political detainees - 21 people hanged during the war. It is the highest number in such a short period for over 30 years. Nine of those hanged were connected to the January protests, 10 were for alleged membership of opposition groups, and two were accused of spying.

Susan - whose name we have changed - is a lawyer working with detainees and says conditions in prison have become much harsher. "Before the war, harsh treatment was reserved for those who were leading the protests, who had Molotov cocktails, or who were armed. But during the war, that harshness has intensified significantly," she says.

Her personal story illustrates how the conflict is dividing some families. Her parents are openly pro-regime and she worries they might be targeted if the government was to be overthrown. When she expressed this fear to her brother, who is anti-regime, his reply was chilling: "Since they want to be martyred, why deny them that right?"

Susan wants the war to end but is certain that people like her will come under even greater pressure. And she is fearful for the fate of detainees. "I think that if the war ends, the regime will probably take out its rage from this war on the prisoners. I think we're living on borrowed time."

Human rights activists reported four executions so far this year of people accused of links to the Mossad, Israel's foreign intelligence service.

Independent journalists are among those who fear being targeted by accusations that they are helping the United States or Israel. There have been numerous arrests of people accused of sending material to foreign media seen as hostile to the state.

One journalist - we are calling him Armin - who spoke to our Tehran colleague told of how just reporting the facts of the war was enough to be arrested, with potentially fatal ramifications.

"Before, we might be accused of a political offence. But in the current wartime conditions, if we report on the war, we could be accused of espionage." A charge of spying carries the death sentence in a court system that does the regime's bidding.

"Before, we were trying to understand how many people had been harmed or what impact the protests would ultimately have," explains Armin. "But now it's different. Now we're focused on staying alive - ourselves and our families."

While his family tries to sleep, Armin is restless.

"I lie awake wondering what the future holds. And that uncertainty brings with it terrible anxiety."

Little surprise that the opposition has vanished from the streets. The regime is master of life and death.

With additional reporting by Alice Doyard

The clandestine network smuggling Starlink tech into Iran to beat internet blackout

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgzk91leweo, 7 days ago

"If even one extra person is able to access the internet, I think it's successful and it's worth it," says Sahand.

The Iranian man is visibly anxious, speaking to the BBC outside Iran, as he carefully explains how he is part of a clandestine network smuggling satellite internet technology - which is illegal in Iran - into the country.

Sahand, whose name we have changed, fears for family members and other contacts inside the country. "If I was identified by the Iranian regime, they might make those I'm in touch with in Iran pay the price," he says.

For more than two months, Iran has been in digital darkness as the government maintains one of the longest-running national internet shutdowns ever recorded worldwide.

The current blackout began after the US and Israel launched airstrikes on 28 February. Before that, internet access had been partially restored for just a month following a previous digital shutdown in January, imposed during a deadly regime crackdown on nationwide protests.

More than 6,500 protesters were killed and 53,000 arrested, according to the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).

Officials say the government shut down the internet during the war for security reasons, suggesting the aim is to prevent surveillance, espionage and cyber-attacks.

The Starlink devices Sahand sends to Iran are one of the most reliable ways of bypassing the shutdown. The white, flat terminals, paired with routers, provide internet access by connecting to a network of satellites owned by Elon Musk's SpaceX company, allowing users to completely bypass Iran's heavily controlled domestic internet.

According to Sahand, several people can connect to each terminal at the same time.

He says he and others in the network buy them and "smuggle them through the borders" in a "very complex operation", though he declines to give details.

Sahand says he has sent a dozen to Iran since January and "we are actively looking for other ways to smuggle in more".

The human rights organisation Witness estimated in January that there are at least 50,000 Starlink terminals in Iran. Activists say the number is likely to have risen. The BBC contacted SpaceX for more details about the use of Starlink in the country but did not receive a response.

Last year, the Iranian government passed legislation that made using, buying or selling Starlink devices punishable by up to two years in prison. The jail term for distributing or importing more than 10 devices can be up to 10 years.

State-affiliated media has reported multiple cases of people being arrested for selling and buying Starlink terminals, including four people - two of them foreign nationals - arrested last month for "importing satellite internet equipment". It has also reported that some of the arrests include accusations of possessing illegal weapons and sending information to the enemy.

However, a market for the terminals in Iran continues, including through a public Persian-language Telegram channel called NasNet.

A volunteer involved with the channel from outside Iran told the BBC that approximately 5,000 Starlink terminals have been sold through it in the past two and a half years.

Iran has a long history of controlling information, both by pushing its own anti-American and anti-Israeli narratives via state-run media and by restricting reporting about repressive measures used by the regime against its critics.

Yet during the January protests, even with the internet shut down, reports and video evidence of extrajudicial killings, arrests and beatings trickled out. Much of this information is known or believed by human rights organisations to have come from people accessing social media platforms via Starlink.

Iran's current internet set-up has been described as a "tiered system".

All Iranians have access to a state-controlled domestic network on which services such as banking, ride-hailing and food delivery operate, as well as state-run media.

Before the blackouts, Iranians were also able to access the global internet. But many sites and services such as Instagram, Telegram, YouTube and WhatsApp were blocked, and the government set higher prices for access than for the domestic network.

Many Iranians circumvented the restrictions by using virtual private networks (VPNs), which connect users to websites via remote servers, concealing their locations. Subscriptions for these also pushed up costs.

Now, under the blackout, only a select few officials and other individuals, including journalists working for state media, have unfettered internet access using what are known as "white sim cards".

In 2022, Musk said he was activating Starlink in Iran following severe internet disruptions during protests sparked by the death in custody of an Iranian woman, Mahsa Amini.

Since then its use has grown, especially during shutdowns.

Now, with the authorities increasingly on the hunt for Starlink terminals, Sahand and his network are advising users to use VPNs with the satellite technology in order to remain incognito. But many people cannot afford it, particularly at a time of economic crisis.

Sahand is one of three people the BBC has spoken to who say they are involved in smuggling Starlink devices.

He says the operation he is involved with, including the purchase of the terminals, is funded by Iranians abroad and others who want to help those in the country. He says they do not receive funds from any states.

The terminals are sent to individuals they believe will use them to share information internationally.

"People need internet to be able to share what's happening on the ground," says Sahand. "We believe these terminals should be in the hands of those who really need it to make change."

A digital rights group, which asked not to be named, told the BBC it estimates at least 100 people have been arrested for possession of the terminals.

Sahand says he also knows people who have been arrested for accessing or owning one - none of them procured the device through him.

Yasmin, an American-Iranian whose name we have also changed, has told the BBC a male member of her family has been arrested in Iran and accused of espionage for possessing a Starlink terminal.

The BBC asked the Iranian embassy in London why only a few people are allowed access to the internet in Iran and why penalties for using Starlink are so severe, but received no response.

The Iranian government has, however, admitted the shutdown has hit some businesses hard, with a minister saying in January that every day of internet blackout cost the economy at least 50 trillion rials ($35m; £28m).

It recently launched a scheme called "Internet Pro", which allows certain businesses some access to the global internet.

One man who works for a company in Iran has told the BBC he has been given access via the initiative.

Government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said the intention was "to maintain business connectivity during the crisis". She also said the government was "completely opposed to communication injustice" and once the situation returns to normal "the situation of the Internet will also change".

"Communications blackouts are a clear violation of human rights and they can never be justified," Marwa Fatafta, regional policy and advocacy director at Access Now, a digital rights group, told the BBC World Service, ahead of World Press Freedom Day on 3 May.

She warns that internet blackouts are becoming a "new norm". According to Access Now, there were 313 of them across 52 countries in 2025, the highest number globally since it began tracking them in 2016.

The executive director for the Abdorrahman Boroumand Centre for Human Rights, Roya Boroumand, says that an information vacuum in Iran "allows the state to broadcast its narrative, ie portray protesters as violent actors or foreign agents, while its victims, including those sentenced to death, and informed sources are silenced".

This is a major motivation for Sahand.

"The Iranian regime has proven that during a shutdown, they can kill," he says. "It is super crucial for Iranians to be able to portray the real picture of the situation on the ground."

He says those who voluntarily sign up to help with the smuggling "are aware of the risk". But he adds "it's a fight" and "we feel somehow we have to intervene and help".

'If we sleep, they bite': Rats and weasels infest camps for displaced Gazans

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c202m54xp0mo, 8 days ago

"We woke up to the sound of her screaming at 2am," Samah al-Daabla, the mother of four-year-old Mayaseen, tells the BBC.

"When my husband turned on the torch, the weasel ran away. I looked at my daughter's hand, and it was all blood. Everything was bloody."

In the Gaza Strip, left devastated by war, the daily battles are now with rats, urban weasels and other pests spreading diseases.

Aid workers are calling for urgent steps to counter a public health crisis.

Cogat, the Israeli defence body that controls Gaza's crossings, says it is working with international organisations "to address sanitation needs".

Mayaseen was given a tetanus injection in a Gaza City hospital but suffered from days of fever and vomiting. She is now recovering in her family's tent.

Social media feeds have recently shown footage of rats running amok in camps for displaced families, and of newborn babies, the sick and elderly after rodents have attacked them.

One grandmother with nerve damage to her feet caused by diabetes has spoken of having parts of her toes bitten off.

In a recent survey, cited by UN agencies, rodents or pests were frequently visible in 80% of sites where displaced families are now living, affecting some 1.45 million people.

Rodents can harm people through bites and scratches as well as their urine, droppings and fleas. These can cause respiratory and skin diseases, blood infections and food poisoning.

The local World Health Organization (WHO) representative, Dr Reinhilde Van De Weert, says the new infestations are "unfortunately, the predictable consequence of a collapsed living environment".

More than six months after the US brokered a Gaza ceasefire deal, it has failed to deliver hoped-for improvements in the humanitarian situation and progress appears to be stuck.

There are still regular deadly airstrikes in which Israel says it is targeting Hamas. Hamas, which triggered the Gaza war with its deadly assault on Israel and mass hostage taking in October 2023, has not committed to disarming.

No reconstruction has taken place. Gazans do not yet have any of the 200,000 caravans which Palestinian officials say they need as temporary homes.

With raw sewage water running through many overcrowded campsites, they have become breeding grounds for rodents. In the warmer springtime weather, the animals are thriving in the huge piles of rubbish which have accumulated next to people's tents.

Many parents say they keep vigil at night to protect their children and belongings from invading animals.

"We cannot sleep! If we sleep, they bite the children and disturb us. There are so many weasels and rats – an abnormal number," says Rizq Abu Laila, who lives right next to a rubbish dump in Gaza City with his four young children, one of whom has cancer.

"They go in the rubbish and fight because there are so many of them. I swear we can't endure it. The rats have torn our clothes and eaten our flour. There are mosquitoes and foul smells. We call on international institutions to help us."

UN agencies say they are working on improvements in pest control, drainage and sanitation.

"What is needed is a very large-scale campaign to be able to deal with the waste and rubble problems across Gaza," says the UN children's agency Unicef's deputy representative for Palestine, Ettie Higgins, in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza.

"Pipes have been destroyed, and treatment facilities have been destroyed so we are trying to scale up our support to manage the wastewater and sewage."

Humanitarian workers want more heavy lifting equipment as well as spare parts for existing machines to clear away rubbish. They are also asking for access to Gaza's major landfill sites which are in eastern parts of the strip now under full Israeli military control.

Ultimately, replacing damaged waste and sanitation facilities will need Israel to allow the entry of vital supplies from chemicals to pipes. It currently restricts these for security reasons, saying they could be used in the construction of new weapons by Hamas.

In a statement sent to the BBC, Cogat says that it "works in cooperation with the UN and the international community to enable a response in the fields of sanitation and essential infrastructure".

"This includes coordinating the removal of waste piles, facilitating the entry of dedicated equipment for infrastructure repairs in accordance with requests and identified needs, and facilitating the entry of trucks and tankers for waste removal on behalf of the international aid organizations.

"In parallel, and in accordance with requests from the UN and international aid organizations, ongoing coordination is conducted to facilitate the removal of garbage, solid waste, and sewage in designated areas."

Cogat says it has recently allowed humanitarian groups to take nearly 1,000 rat traps and almost 10 tons of pesticides into Gaza.

Some pest sprays have already been used in tent camps to combat the growing menace from bugs.

According to the WHO, there have been reports this year of some 111,500 cases of disease or infestation due to external parasites. These include scabies – caused by mites, lice and bed bugs. More than four-fifths of households in Gaza report skin infections and rashes.

Locals foresee that when summer comes, numbers of all pests are likely to rise, increasing the health hazards.

"I am now in a house with just the outside walls standing. We spend the whole night scratching from fleas on one side and mosquitoes on the other. There are weasels passing by or rats," says Hassan Al-Faqaawi a father-of-six in Khan Younis in southern Gaza.

"We need something to deal with it. I don't see any lasting peace at all in Gaza. Life is much harder that it was before. There is no life."

Israel strikes Beirut for first time since Hezbollah ceasefire

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crmpjjl02l2o, 3 days ago

Israel has attacked Beirut for the first time since it agreed to a ceasefire in the war with the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah, putting further pressure on a deal that has failed to stop the conflict.

The air strike hit the city's southern suburbs, known as Dahieh, where Hezbollah is based. Images posted online showed large flames and at least one building heavily damaged.

In a statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had personally approved the strike which targeted a commander of the group's elite Radwan Force.

Local media reports say members of the unit were meeting when the attack happened at around 20:00 local time (18:00 BST). There has been no reaction from Hezbollah.

This is the first attack to hit Dahieh since US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire deal between the governments of Israel and Lebanon on 16 April.

Despite the agreement, Israel and Hezbollah have continued with their attacks, accusing each other of violations.

Most of Israel's air strikes have hit southern Lebanon, with the military saying it is striking infrastructure and people linked to Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militia and political party.

According to Lebanon's health ministry, the attacks have killed more than 120 people across the country in the past week alone, including women and children. The ministry does not distinguish combatants from civilians.

In those areas, entire villages have been destroyed, in actions similar to the ones deployed by the Israeli military in Gaza. Rights groups say some cases could amount to war crimes.

Hezbollah, meanwhile, has carried out attacks on Israeli troops in Lebanon and northern Israel with rockets and drones.

Last week, an Israeli defence ministry contractor was killed by a drone while operating an excavator in southern Lebanon.

The group, which was not involved in the negotiations for the ceasefire, had initially indicated it would observe the deal if it was respected by Israel.

Dahieh, once a vibrant and densely populated district, has remained largely empty since the ceasefire, with residents saying they fear returning home because of the threat of Israeli strikes.

Netanyahu said the commander targeted had been responsible for attacks on Israeli communities and for targeting Israeli soldiers.

He said in a statement: "No terrorist is immune - Israel's long arm will reach every enemy and murderer."

Talks between Israel and Lebanon, supported by the US, have continued, but largely at the ambassador level, with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun rejecting a meeting with Netanyahu any time soon.

More than 2,700 people have been killed in Lebanon since 2 March, according to the health ministry.

Israel has announced that 16 soldiers and one civilian have been killed in southern Lebanon, along with two civilians in northern Israel.

How the winner-takes-all voting system has turned on Labour and the Tories

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdxpqyndqwlo, today

Under the first-past-the-post electoral system, the candidate or candidates with the most votes in each seat are elected. It is used in the UK at general elections and in local elections such as the ones just held in England.

An alternative is a system of proportional representation under which some attempt is made to distribute seats to reflect the popularity of parties. Both the Scottish Parliament and the Senedd in Wales use systems of proportional representation.

First-past-the-post has long been regarded as a friend of the Conservative and Labour parties.

It makes it difficult for small parties whose vote is evenly spread geographically to win seats. This helps to keep potential challengers to the Conservatives and Labour out of the House of Commons. Indeed, because that is the case, voters may be reluctant to vote for them in the first place.

Historically, the system has also given whoever is the victor in the electoral battle between Conservative and Labour a boost in seats. The two parties thus both get the chance of securing a period of untrammeled majority government rather than having to negotiate the rocky shores of minority or coalition government.

However, Thursday's election results raise questions about whether first-past-the-post will continue to benefit the Conservatives and Labour in future. Rather, they have shown that the system is colour blind in how it operates

The results confirmed that Britain has now entered an unprecedented era of multi-party politics. According to the BBC's projected national share, if the whole country had had the chance to vote in a local election on Thursday Reform would have come first with 26% of the vote and the Greens (narrowly) second on 18%. The Conservatives and Labour would have been left with just 17% each. Their joint tally of 34% represents a record low. Even the Liberal Democrats – who regularly perform relatively well in local elections – were not far behind on 16%.

This not long after fewer than three in five people voted Conservative or Labour in the 2024 general election. That was the lowest proportion since and including 1922, when Labour first became the Conservatives' principal competitors.

This rise in third party voting suggests that first-past-the-post is no longer proving effective at discouraging people from backing parties other than Conservative or Labour. Once upon a time, Conservative and Labour politicians would cry, 'A Liberal vote is a wasted vote'. That kind of argument has seemingly lost its force.

Moreover, those who voted for Reform and the Greens have now seen that a vote for their parties can in fact result in them winning seats. With just a handful of results yet to be declared, the joint tally of council seats won by Reform and the Greens stands at 2,063, almost 200 more than the total of 1,864 won jointly by the Conservatives and Labour. Meanwhile, Britain's traditional third party, the Liberal Democrats, have won 842 local council seats too.

This is a very different picture from the 2024 general election, when the Conservatives and Labour won 533 seats, while Reform and the Greens jointly were left with just nine, despite scoring over 20% of the vote between them.

Labour and Tory losses amplified

Indeed, rather than helping to insulate the Conservatives and Labour from the challenge posed by the new challengers, the system served on Thursday to exaggerate the loss of support they were suffering in the ballot box.

For both Labour and the Conservatives, their share of the vote fell most heavily in wards they were trying to defend. In a sample of more than 1,000 wards where the BBC has collected the detailed voting statistics, support for Labour fell on average compared with 2022 (the year when most of the seats being contested on Thursday were last fought over) by 25 points where the party was trying to defend the seat. The drop was just 12 points in the seats they were not defending. In the case of the Conservatives the equivalent figures are 14 points and 10 points respectively.

Such a pattern inevitably meant that the loss of seats that the two parties suffered – more than 1,400 in the case of Labour and more than 500 in the case of the Conservatives - was higher than it would otherwise have been.

In this new era of multi-party politics, the first-past-the-post system also delivered Reform a majority in a number of councils despite winning less than half the vote in them. In the BBC's sample of detailed voting results, there are eight councils where Reform won a majority of the seats being contested this year despite winning less than half the vote. Examples include Dudley, Plymouth and Rochdale. Indeed, Reform won more than half the seats on less than half the vote on more occasions than either the Conservatives or Labour.

Moreover, the boost that Reform sometimes enjoyed was in some instances considerable. In those councils where the party won more than half the seats, Reform won just 36% of the vote on average. Yet this proved sufficient for them to secure as much as 67% of the seats.

A similar discrepancy is evident in the equivalent figures for the Conservatives and Labour. Most notably, Labour won just 29% of the vote in both Ealing and Merton in London, yet this was still enough to put the party at the head of a very crowded field in both. As a result, the party won 66% and 56% of the council seats respectively.

Under first-past-the-post, what matters is not the absolute share of the vote that a party enjoys but rather how well it has performed compared with other parties. Under fragmented politics that means a relatively low – but still winning - share of the vote can enjoy a highly disproportional reward. As a result, it can open up the prospect of governments – including even majority governments – being elected on relatively low shares of the vote.

Winning by losing less

Indeed, first-past-the-post even means that a party that is losing support at the ballot box can still make significant gains in terms of seats if its principal opponents are losing votes even more heavily. This is what happened in the one council where the Conservatives gained control, Westminster. Support for the party fell by five points in the borough. However, support for Labour, who were defending their control of the council, fell by even more – 17 points. The Greens won 17% of the vote but no seats and the upshot was the Conservatives were able to gain control.

In the case of the Liberal Democrats, this phenomenon was evident more broadly. The party's support was down on average by four points compared with four years ago. This was even true of the wards the party won. Yet this did not stop it making a net gain of nearly 100 seats, thanks to the fact that both Conservative and Labour support was falling even more heavily.

As a party that was simply just one of a crowded pack rather than, like Reform in the lead, the system inevitably was kind to the Greens in fewer instances. That said, in Manchester, the party was able to win 56% of the seats at stake off the back of just 37% of the vote. Equally, its success in denying Labour control of both Cambridge and Exeter was aided by favourable treatment from the electoral system.

No definite majority

Yet despite first-past-the-post's tendency to be kind to winners, when the political field becomes as crowded as it is now, it is far from guaranteed that it will produce an overall majority for any one party. One in three of the 63 councils where all the seats were up for grabs on Thursday are now in no overall control. Before Thursday only half a dozen of them were in that position.

Even first-past-the-post cannot be relied upon to avoid the prospect of minority or coalition government if electoral support is shared across a plethora of parties.

If it continues, Britain's fragmented politics creates the prospect of significant changes in the way elections are fought, parliament is run, and governments rule. The results of Thursday's local elections suggest that it may see the country's first-past-the-post electoral system operate in an unfamiliar manner too.

John Curtice is Professor of Politics, Strathclyde University, and Senior Fellow, National Centre for Social Research and 'The UK in a Changing Europe'.

Analysis by Patrick English, Steve Fisher, Robert Ford, Lotte Hargrave, Jonathon Mellon and Stuart Perrett

How cameras are being used to tackle abuse in nurseries

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czx2kn4n5wxo, 3 days ago

Warning: This story contains distressing content

"Genevieve came into the world very, very small, but she had a real love of food," Katie Wheeler says with a smile as she talks about her daughter.

"The day before she died was the first time she'd ever eaten summer fruit pudding - and she loved it. She just loved everything."

In 2022, Katie and John Meehan's nine-month-old daughter, Genevieve, died at a nursery in Stockport, Greater Manchester.

She had suffocated after being strapped face down to a beanbag and left for more than 90 minutes with minimal, if any, supervision. A nursery worker was jailed for 14 years for manslaughter, with the judge calling her death "absolutely avoidable".

Later that year, 14-month-old Noah Sibanda died at a nursery in Dudley, West Midlands.

Noah had been wrapped tightly in blankets and a nursery worker placed her leg across his lower back. Believing he had fallen asleep, the nursery worker then left him alone, but he was found not breathing two hours later. The worker was sentenced to three years and four months in prison for gross negligence manslaughter and the nursery owner was handed a suspended sentence of six months in prison for a health and safety offences.

In recent months, other shocking cases have emerged. Nursery worker, Vincent Chan, was jailed for 18 years for abusing children in his care in north-west London. And in Bristol, Nathan Bennett was sentenced to 30 years for a series of sexual offences against children.

Now, ministers in England have asked experts whether CCTV should be required in all nurseries, and a committee of MPs is also examining whether children in early years settings are properly protected.

Across the rest of the UK, there are no plans to make CCTV mandatory. In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the decision to have CCTV is left to individual providers, with cameras allowed, but not required.

Elsewhere, similar conversations are happening - Australia is currently trialling cameras in 300 childcare centres.

But both Genevieve and Noah died despite there already being CCTV in their nurseries - though it later helped bring the perpetrators to justice.

So would a national roll out of CCTV really prevent abuse? And do recent high-profile cases suggest our nurseries are becoming less safe?

Why CCTV is being discussed

It was only when police reviewed CCTV footage of Genevieve's nursery that the truth about her death came out.

Katie and John said they had initially been told she died in her sleep.

"We'd still be wondering that to this day", John says, adding that without CCTV there would have been no trial and no justice.

The couple, alongside the Lullaby Trust charity, are campaigning for CCTV to be installed in every nursery. They also want footage to be reviewed by Ofsted as part of inspections to give an unfiltered view of nursery practices.

If Ofsted had visited Genevieve's nursery before she died and checked the CCTV, John believes inspectors would have picked up on the unsafe sleep practices they were using. Footage reviewed by police also showed children being verbally abused and ill-treated.

"It's very likely that something would have happened and Genevieve wouldn't have died," he says.

A survey by the National Day Nursery Association (NDNA) in April suggested that, out of 276 nursery groups and nurseries who responded, 94 currently use CCTV, 98 have no plans to introduce it and 84 are considering it - indicating that only around a third of nurseries have it installed.

Is abuse actually on the rise?

While the vast majority of deaths or serious injuries happen in the home, a BBC investigation recently found a 40% rise in the number of serious incidents reported by staff to Ofsted in nurseries in England between 2019 and 2024, compared with the previous five years.

The question is whether or not these figures indicate an increase in actual abuse.

Jayne Coward, who oversees early years policy at Ofsted, told MPs at the Education Committee that "the overwhelming majority of early years settings are safe".

She said that the rise in reported incidents may reflect growing confidence in the reporting system, with staff members more willing to raise concerns than in the past. Some had previously feared consequences if they spoke out.

These serious incidents include accidents, illnesses and injuries - not just safeguarding concerns.

Tim McLachlan, chief executive of the NDNA, says it's right that nurseries report any incidents so that Ofsted can then consider whether it triggers an inspection.

He says instances of abuse in nurseries are rare but "one is too many".

"There are cases of abuse elsewhere in our society which equally devastate lives, but I think because of the nature of our children and youngest children being so vulnerable, that's why they are higher profile."

Current data published by the child safeguarding review panel on serious safeguarding incidents involving child deaths or serious harm does not routinely identify where the incident took place, so experts say it's difficult to know whether abuse in nurseries is increasing.

However, in response to the recent cases, Ofsted now inspects early years settings every four years, instead of every six years.

The deterrent effect

Many parents are now asking nurseries if they have CCTV, due to recent headlines.

Supporters argue that it can act as a deterrent, with one parent saying "it screams 'red flag' if places are against having CCTV, if they have got nothing to hide".

In Bristol, Nathan Bennett was arrested after being caught on camera by a nursery manager inappropriately touching a child. The footage helped secure his conviction.

Others believe CCTV can help spot bad practice before something happens.

Campaign for Gigi, named after Genevieve, and led by her parents and the Lullaby Trust, argue that inspectors should have the option of looking back on previous days to see if safe sleeping techniques were being used or child to staff ratios were being kept, for example.

"The majority of settings are doing an incredible job", the charity's CEO, Jenny Ward, says.

"But we want to have the reassurance that there is somebody looking and checking. CCTV shouldn't just be there to pick up what's happened when it goes wrong."

Chalk Nursery has already installed cameras at its sites in Bristol and London. The cameras cover children's rooms, outdoor spaces and reception areas.

Operations director, Bethany Patrick, believes it acts as a deterrent, showing providers they are being closely watched and expected to meet high standards.

"We've just acquired a new setting, and introducing CCTV over the coming weeks is a key priority for us," Patrick adds, "it adds another layer of reassurance for families".

She supports its wider use across the sector but is worried about the cost for smaller settings – and she is not keen on the idea of footage being reviewed as part of Ofsted inspections, as she believes inspectors should be able to identify poor practice in person rather than relying on video.

At Bright Little Stars nursery in north London, they have gone one step further - parents are given limited access to live footage from their child's room, with up to 15 minutes of viewing permitted each day.

The idea is to let parents "drop in" and see their child playing, but access isn't available all day, in order to balance transparency with privacy and trust in staff.

"Parents can only log in when their child is in nursery," nursery director, Mandy Guttadauro, explains. "They must also sign a parent contract not to share their login details or take screenshots."

Guttadauro says the system can be a deciding factor for parents choosing the nursery but says it requires investment in encrypted software, camera systems and staff training to ensure it is used safely and effectively.

Others in the industry say the system could bring additional privacy concerns and sometimes leads to misinterpretation.

"It can fuel anxiety in parents who are watching the app and maybe misconstruing something that has happened in a room," one nursery owner said.

Why cameras may not be enough

Some argue CCTV would be impractical in settings that use rented spaces, including pack-away provision, forest schools and home-based childcare, and that it would be a big cost for small nurseries.

NDNA's Tim McLachlan warns that CCTV "is not a silver bullet" and opposes making it mandatory.

Former detective constable and childminder Emma Muir says she has seen how easily CCTV footage can be worked around.

"If someone is determined to do something illegal, they know where cameras are positioned and how to avoid them.

"Installing cameras can create a false sense of security that is actually more dangerous than no cameras at all", Muir argues.

And there are worries about security risks. In one recent ransomware attack, a nursery chain was hacked and the personal details and photos of children were held to ransom.

Mike Short from Unison, which represents 50,000 early years workers, told MPs there were very mixed views among the workforce, saying while it is potentially helpful with the right safeguards in place, and can also protect staff against false allegations, it is no substitute for training and preventing things happening in the first place.

For many, the priority should be strengthening a culture of whistleblowing as well as regular staff training.

Lessons from Australia

Alongside its CCTV trial, Australia has also introduced a national workforce register of everyone working in childcare after a number of abuse cases – a measure now being considered in England.

Australia's Education Minister Jason Clare said it wasn't a "guarantee" of safety but is "an essential component" to keeping children safe.

But mandatory CCTV remains controversial. Child safety expert and former child abuse detective Kristi McVee says CCTV can help reassure parents, but it is not the complete solution. "It doesn't stop a determined offender", she says.

Instead McVee believes removing phones from nursery workers and better supervision and staffing levels are more effective.

In Australia, like here in the UK, the sector is a mixture of for-profit and not-for-profit providers. It is heavily government-subsidised and also suffering from a recruitment crisis.

Rapid growth and a recruitment crisis

In England, the industry has grown rapidly over the last few years – with an additional 70,000 extra places and 35,000 staff needed for the expansion of government funded childcare according to Department for Education estimates.

Staff turnover remains very high, particularly in privately run nurseries, at around 16% a year.

"The largest expansion was rolled out at a time when there was an acute recruitment and retention crisis in the sector", says Sarah Ronan of the Early Education and Childcare Coalition, an advocacy organisation.

If we are talking about safeguarding, we have to talk about low pay, the wider workforce problems, and building a culture where people feel safe to call things out, she adds.

The Department for Education in England says the government would look at all the options the review panel recommends on CCTV and digital devices – and that it had already updated guidance on safe sleeping practices, implemented tougher recruitment checks, clearer whistleblowing procedures, and new training standards.

No single solution

There is broad agreement that CCTV, if used, can only ever be part of the answer.

Adequate references and DBS checks, staff training, a culture of whistleblowing and more unannounced inspections have all been mentioned as other parts of the jigsaw.

Genevieve's parents, John and Katie, believe that parents are becoming more empowered to ask questions.

"We've never thought that having CCTV on its own was going to be the cure," Katie says, "but it has to be part of a package of measures".

They say they will continue pushing for change.

Top image credit: Getty Images

Additional reporting: Florence Freeman

Labour's London squeeze exposes a fragmented British politics

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwy2vlww2ezo, 9 days ago

"Do you know the result which is keeping them awake in Number 10?," a Cabinet minister recently asked me.

Scotland, I asked? Wales? No, I was told. The answer was London.

The reason Sir Keir Starmer and his team are waiting so nervously for the results of next week's council elections in London is that it represents Labour's new heartland.

One in seven Labour MPs represents constituencies in the capital. The prime minister is a London member of parliament, as is his deputy, David Lammy, as well as the man who wants Starmer's job, Health Secretary Wes Streeting. The Secretary State for Housing, Steve Reed, completes the quartet of powerful London MPs in the Cabinet. A significant percentage of the party's activists, and the members who choose the party's leaders, live in the capital. Losses here will hurt Labour's core.

Of course, politicians from all sides are known to make dramatic claims in the run-up to elections - sometimes out of fear, and sometimes to manage expectations. But this year, virtually everyone expects serious losses for Labour in London. The pollster YouGov predicts it could be Labour's worst result in the capital for almost 50 years.

And those losses would come from a squeeze from both sides of politics. Labour is under attack from the Greens in London's progressive inner boroughs; and from Reform in the traditionally more socially conservative outer ring. The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats expect to gain some councils too.

The veteran academic of London's politics, Tony Travers, a politics professor at the London School of Economics, says the capital may be about to witness a "political earthquake".

It's a frightening prospect for Labour's leaders. And it doesn't just matter for London. It could supercharge the debate currently raging over whether Sir Keir should be replaced as prime minister. It also provides an insight into the dilemma Labour faces about which direction to take, and a warning of the fate that might await the party at the next general election.

Labour's place in London

It's all so different to the night which sealed London's place as the new power base of the modern Labour party.

Labour faced a grim day on 6 May 2010: the party lost its parliamentary majority, with big swings against it in the north, south, and Wales.

But in a corner of inner east London, it was a different story. In both constituencies in the borough of Hackney, just five miles from Westminster, the party actually increased its majority, to the surprise of those gathered at Hackney Town Hall to watch the result.

After all votes were counted, it was clear that Labour had fared much better across the capital city compared to the rest of the country. It signalled just how dominant Labour was becoming in London.

Over the next 14 years, the party strengthened its control of councils, and the Labour Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan comfortably won three elections in a row.

Eventually, at the general election two years ago, the party won 59 out of London's 75 parliamentary seats, wiping out the Conservatives in inner London.

This year, all 32 of the city's councils are up for grabs, along with five borough mayors.

In the last set of local elections, in 2022, Labour won 21 of the councils. Now, polling by YouGov and JL Patners suggests they could be set to lose top position in a handful of them. Everyone agrees it will be a rough night for the governing party in London.

Hackney voters

Ridley Road market in Hackney is a busy maze of open-air stalls, selling everything from spices to textiles to fresh fruit. Among its visitors earlier this month was the Green Party's leader, Zack Polanski.

The last time there were local elections in Hackney, Labour won 50 of the borough's 57 seats, and the Greens just two. But now the Greens are hoping to take this council, which has been Labour-run since the 1970s. YouGov predicts Hackney is one of the boroughs that will fall to the Greens on election night.

"I feel like it's an unfair and unbalanced society at the moment," a woman tells me. She is a single parent and working full-time. She thinks Polanski "seems to have good ideas about taxing the rich", adding: "I'm really fed up with getting poorer and poorer as I get older."

An Ipsos poll from earlier this month found that just over half of Britons (54%) ranked cost of living as a "very important" issue in determining their vote at this year's elections.

Prof Tony Travers says the Greens have capitalised on voters' concern with the cost of living. "The Greens don't really talk about the environment now," he says.

The Hackney Green's manifesto has "Climate and Environmental Justice" at the bottom of the list of what it stands for, behind anti-austerity, putting workers-first, and being anti-fascist.

The Greens claim to represent the change that Labour promised but that, they argue, Sir Keir has failed to deliver. They call for a wealth tax, tougher rent controls, and 100% council tax relief for lowest income residents.

They also claim that they are best placed to block the rise of Nigel Farage's Reform UK. They say they will "defend the rights of migrants and stand up against the Hostile Environment created by politicians in Westminster".

This week Polanski has been forced to defend a list of controversial promises his party has made, such as legalising class A drugs. In Hackney, the Greens promise to push to decriminalise sex work and for an end to the "prostitute caution", a police caution given to sex workers, which the party says is "discriminatory and harmful".

They also want to end "discriminatory policing of delivery riders and drivers, recognising that many are migrants facing exploitation, harassment and unjust enforcement". The party calls for a cut in police funding as "the Metropolitan Police is institutionally racist, homophobic, sexist and misogynistic".

The coalition Polanski is trying to build in Hackney, and in six other target councils in inner-London, is rather like Jeremy Corbyn's: young, anti the wealthy, urban, Muslim, anti-Israel.

"I think it's a head and heart choice," another woman in the market tells me. "I think with my head it's Labour. I think with my heart it's the Greens."

Barking and Dagenham

A few miles further out, beyond the old East End, the challenge to Labour is very different.

In Barking and Dagenham, the primary challenge is from Reform. YouGov predicts Labour will lose the council to Nigel Farage's party.

"This area has had so much immigration in the last few years. It's changed so much," Ella tells me. I'm speaking to her at BabyZone, a hub for parents living on one of the biggest council estates in Europe: Beacontree.

The share of the population that describes themselves as white dropped from 58% at the 2011 census to 45% in 2021, and the borough has a relatively high number of asylum seekers as a share of its population. There are flags on many a lamp post around this area, bearing union jacks and the St George's cross.

One woman at the baby group tells me she doesn't like those flags, which she calls "racist". But still, she's unhappy with Labour. "Reform I reckon should beat Labour," she says. "Labour say they do things and don't do them. The hospitals, you can't get in there. The appointments are all up the wall."

Ella does not object to demographic change. But many here do. "I don't think [other residents] love the change in the community. It's just an issue of people haven't integrated well together and have an understanding of each other."

Reform is making inroads into other Labour areas with white, working-class populations who are struggling to make ends meet. Again and again, the words I heard were that this place has changed and we don't recognise it.

"It's gone right downhill", Dave, who I speak to at a local pub, tells me about the area. "I've lived here all my life, went to school here. You wouldn't recognise anyone around here now.

"When you talk about immigration, people throw the race card at you - it's nothing to do with that. My granddaughter's Indian. The refugees don't want to work. Everything's a hand-out. We're working our nuts off and paying the price for what's coming into the borough."

We're just a few miles from the border with Essex, and it's the votes of what in the Thatcher era we used to call "Essex man" - or woman - that Nigel Farage's party is targeting. He is reflecting their view that the country has changed and changed in a way they don't like.

Farage is playing to the resentment voters here feel about the policies coming not just from Westminster but from London's City Hall. He's promised to give local people the chance to vote in a referendum to leave London altogether and, likely, to re-join Essex where they'll feel more comfortable.

Labour and the Conservatives

The London elections are not only a battle between Labour and the new kids on the political block. In some corners of the capital, it's a traditional fight between Labour and the Conservatives.

The Tories are likely to lose hundreds of councillors next week but they are pushing to retake three of their old strongholds - Westminster, Wandsworth, Barnet, all of which they lost to Labour in 2022. Barnet, in the northwest of the city, looks like the most achievable of those three; YouGov puts the Conservatives in the lead there, on 25%, six points ahead of Labour.

It might be the case that in areas where the Conservatives have a reputation of running a council with a low tax rate - particularly true in Westminster and Wandsworth - the party can capitalise on Labour's losses.

They hope that a few councils won might distract from an otherwise difficult night. Just as it did for Margaret Thatcher way back in 1990 when the then prime minister was facing calls to quit. She used victories in Westminster and Wandsworth to head off those calls, although those with an interest in political history may recall that she was driven out of Number 10 just six months later.

As for Sir Ed Davey's Liberal Democrats, they are polling at about the same level as they were four years ago but he needs gains to convince MPs and activists spooked by the rise of the Greens that his low-key approach is still working.

The party is hoping to build on their strongholds in southwest London by holding Kingston, Sutton and Richmond (which they currently run), and potentially winning power in Merton.

It's perhaps surprising that the Liberal Democrats aren't predicted to make a stronger advance. The party has historically done well when the two largest Westminster parties are doing badly in the polls - as they are now.

That's a sign of the fragmented nature of modern British politics. It could mean that no party wins overall control of many London councils and that parties struggle to work together and make the necessary compromises to run local services.

More than six million people can vote in next week's elections in London. That's around the same number as in Scotland and Wales combined.

The results in the capital won't only determine who runs vital public services - schools, social services and rubbish collection. They could also signal Labour's fate at the national level.

If you don't believe me, listen to the Labour Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan. He summed up his party's prospects in a few words: "We're in danger of being stonked."

Top picture credit: PA and Reuters

The threat to summer holidays looming from jet fuel shortages

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c86d9v28qxxo, 6 days ago

Listen to Theo read this article.

Step on to the tarmac at any major airport around the world, and you'll notice an unmistakable smell. A slightly sweet, oily scent, redolent of old workshops or antique paraffin lamps. It is as much part of the travelling experience as lukewarm coffee and queues at passport control. It is, of course, the pervasive smell of jet fuel.

That pungent aroma has become a lot more expensive in recent weeks. The price of jet fuel has risen dramatically on international markets since the start of the conflict in the Middle East. There are now concerns that unless the Strait of Hormuz reopens soon, there could be physical shortages in some areas in the coming months.

Many airlines have already pushed up ticket prices as the cost of flying has increased, and some have trimmed their capacity. Unless extra supplies can be found, a lack of fuel could lead to further disruption and cancellations heading into the peak summer holiday period.

The crisis has exposed just how vulnerable the industry in the UK - Europe's biggest consumer of jet fuel - is to disruption in the Middle East. So what impact might that have on our summer holidays - and what could be done about it?

A scramble for jet fuel

The Gulf region produces far more jet fuel than it requires for its own purposes. As a result, under normal circumstances it is a major exporter, accounting for about 20% of the fuel traded on international markets each day. Europe as a whole is a key buyer of that fuel. Due to a lack of refining capacity, it is heavily reliant on imports, more than half of which typically come from the Gulf.

With the Strait of Hormuz having been blocked for the past eight weeks, however, those supplies have not been available, prompting a scramble for fuel produced elsewhere. This has pushed up prices dramatically.

In late February, before the first US and Israeli airstrikes, jet fuel was trading at $831 per tonne in Europe. By early April, it had touched $1838 – an increase of more than 120%. It has since retreated but has consistently remained above $1500.

A lack of refining capacity

Jet fuel is essentially a highly refined form of kerosene with specialised additives, and is usually produced from fractional distillation of crude oil.

Because supplies are dictated largely by the availability of refining capacity, the loss of output from the Gulf has led to jet fuel prices increasing far more than those for crude oil.

"We have had five refinery closures in the last two-and a-bit years in Europe, whereas jet fuel demand has been rising year on year," explains Amaar Khan, head of jet fuel pricing at Argus Media. "So, we see weaker supply, greater demand."

The UK is particularly dependent on imports, which make up 65% of what we need. Two of the refineries that closed were British, leaving just four in operation here.

Pared-back schedules and rising fares

For airlines, fuel is a major expense. It typically accounts for 25-30% of their operating costs, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). As a result, if the price goes up, it can have a major impact on their profitability.

In Europe and Asia, it is common for airlines to use hedging strategies to limit their exposure to rising prices, buying fuel or other oil products at a fixed or capped cost in advance.

However, this does not offer complete protection. EasyJet, for example, hedged 80% of its fuel supply for the first half of the year at $717/tonne - but finding the remainder at prevailing prices cost the airline an extra £25m in March alone.

Other carriers, notably US ones, have preferred not to hedge at all in recent years, because it can prove expensive when prices fall. That has left them heavily exposed to the current crisis.

Some airlines - such as Air France KLM, Air Canada and SAS - have already responded by cutting their summer schedules. The German group Lufthansa said earlier this month it would remove 20,000 flights between now and the end of October.

"If a route was marginally profitable before this crisis came along, it is now firmly under water and losing money in a big way," says Jonathan Hinkles, a former chief executive of the regional carrier Loganair and current CEO of Skybus.

Fares have also been going up. This has been most marked on long-haul routes – especially those normally served by the major Gulf carriers, where a steep reduction in capacity has combined with high fuel prices to make tickets a lot more expensive. A flight from London to Melbourne in June now costs 76% more than it did last year, for example, according to research from the consultancy Teneo.

The US carrier United Airlines has been particularly bullish about making sure passengers bear the brunt of higher fuel costs, with its CEO Scott Kirby telling investors last month the company would do "whatever it takes to recover 100% of the increase in jet fuel prices as quickly as possible".

IAG, which owns British Airways as well as Iberia, Aer Lingus, Vueling and Level, has also warned that travellers will have to pay more, while Virgin Atlantic has already introduced surcharges ranging from £50 on a return economy class ticket to £360 for a business class fare.

On short-haul services within Europe, however, the impact on fares has been a lot more muted so far. In fact, according to Wizz Air's chief executive József Váradi, prices have been going down as airlines have sought to persuade potentially reluctant customers to travel.

"Simply, people don't know what's going to happen… so there is a level of hesitancy," he told reporters in late April. "But to be honest, that level of hesitancy can be overcome through price stimulation. So, short term, you are actually seeing prices dropping."

According to John Strickland of JLS Consulting, the price spike gives well-hedged low-cost carriers an advantage over rivals who have not bought so much fuel in advance.

"They will look to put pressure on other people who are not in such a healthy position," he says.

Are we likely to run out of jet fuel?

But although fuel prices have clearly been the leading preoccupation for airlines since the start of the conflict in Iran, there is another looming concern that particularly affects Europe: the risk that supplies could actually run short.

In mid-April, the head of the International Energy Agency (IEA), which advises 32 member governments on energy supply and security, warned that Europe had "maybe six weeks of jet fuel left".

A detailed analysis from the IEA noted that while imports from the US in particular had picked up, the extra fuel coming across the Atlantic so far was only likely to replace a little over half of the lost Middle Eastern supplies.

If that trend continued, it warned, reserves would reach critical levels by June. This would mean "physical shortages may emerge at select airports, resulting in flight cancellations and demand destruction".

It is important to note that although Europe is highly dependent on Middle Eastern sources, it does get fuel elsewhere. Cargoes come from East Asia, particularly South Korea and Taiwan, as well as from the US and Nigeria.

However, East Asian refineries rely heavily on supplies of crude oil from the Middle East, which have been restricted by the war – and that has curbed the amount of jet fuel available for export.

Imports from the US meanwhile, while growing, have been constrained by the fact that the US aviation market uses a different fuel specification to most of the rest of the world.

It uses Jet A, which has a higher freezing point than the Jet A1 supplied here. Not all US refineries that make jet fuel are currently capable of producing Jet A1, limiting the extra that can be shipped across the Atlantic.

Until last year, India was a major source of fuel as well. However, the EU's import ban on refined products made from Russian crude oil had a big impact on supplies. "In practice, what that led to was the removal of Indian jet fuel from the European market en masse. It just became too complicated," explains Amaar Khan of Argus Media.

As a result, reserves have been dwindling. Stocks at the key Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp hub are at their lowest level in six years, according to the procurement intelligence firm Beroe.

Before the conflict, Europe as a whole had about 37 days' supply available. Now, this is likely to have dropped to 30 days, the firm says. 23 days is the critical point at which the IEA believes some airports would run out of fuel.

Beroe's analysis suggests there is a "high risk of shortages if Hormuz disruption continues". Mr Khan agrees. "I think there is a huge risk," he says, although he points out that the effects of any shortage would not be felt equally. "Larger demand hubs, big airports are probably going to be prioritised over smaller demand hubs," he explains.

Wizz Air's CEO József Váradi is optimistic that extra supplies will be found, because there is "a lot of room to be creative" when prices are so high. "I don't think we're going to run out of fuel," he told reporters in April. But he agreed that shortages would not be felt equally across Europe.

"This is not going to be like every single European airport is going to be hit on the same minute of the same hour. This is going to be a mess," he explained. "There are multiple suppliers, and multiple suppliers might be in different positions, so you may not get jet fuel from one guy, but you may get jet fuel from another guy."

"But the ultimate measure, obviously, is that if there is really no fuel anywhere, then you will have to cancel [flights]."

What could be done about it?

In public, most airlines appear sanguine about the fuel supply situation. But behind the scenes, in London and in Brussels there is intense lobbying going on for measures to mitigate the impact both of high prices and potential shortages.

In the UK, the government is preparing a number of concessions. These include allowing airlines to cancel flights at busy airports like Heathrow well in advance, without the risk of losing valuable take-off and landing slots.

Under normal circumstances, if airlines do not use slots 80% of the time in a given season, they lose the right to use them the following year. In practice, this can encourage airlines to fly half-empty planes in order to retain their slots, which can be worth tens of millions of pounds.

The new plan would make it easier for them to trim their schedules in advance, rather than being forced to cancel flights at the last minute. It would, for example, make it easier for an airline that has a number of flights to the same destination on the same day to cut one or two services without being penalised.

Refineries have also been asked to maximise jet fuel supply, while the government is exploring the possibility of allowing imports of Jet A from the United States, although that will depend on whether such a move would be viable with existing infrastructure.

In Brussels, the European Commission is preparing similar steps, and in some areas has gone further.

It has already made it clear that cancellations and severe delays due to jet fuel shortages will qualify as "exceptional circumstances". Under EU rules, this will allow airlines to avoid paying financial compensation to passengers, though they will still be entitled to reimbursement or an alternative flight.

It is also likely to ease rules that usually restrict a practice known as "tankering".

This is where aircraft take off with much more fuel than they need for a flight from airports where it is cheap, in order to limit the amount of refuelling needed at their destination, where it may be more expensive. It can save airlines money – but it also involves burning extra fuel, because the aircraft is heavier when it takes off.

All of this, however, is designed to deal with the symptoms of shortages, not the causes.

Structural changes

Addressing the structural reasons why the UK is so dependent on imports, meanwhile, is likely to be trickier. Back in the 1970s, the country had 18 refineries - but that's now down to four.

"I think there is probably a point in saying, actually, do we need more resilience from a homegrown perspective in terms of our capacity in the UK to be able to refine a higher proportion of our fuel?" says Skybus' CEO Jonathan Hinkles.

The question is how that could be done. The remaining refineries have already been asked to prioritise jet fuel production. But according to Amaar Khan, "this doesn't happen overnight, and doesn't result in a significant increase in jet fuel output".

One option could be to boost local production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). A synthetic fuel, it can be derived from wastes, such as old cooking oil and agricultural residues; from dedicated energy crops; or from using renewable energy to convert water and carbon dioxide into liquid hydrocarbons known as e-fuels.

So far SAF, as the name suggests, has been promoted mainly for its environmental credentials. These can vary widely depending on the method used to make it, but in general burning SAF adds less carbon to the atmosphere than burning fossil fuels. Both the UK and the EU have mandates to significantly increase the amount of SAF used over the next 25 years.

However, the industry is in its infancy. There is relatively little SAF available at the moment, a large chunk of what we use comes from East Asia, and it is very expensive – typically trading at more than $1000 per tonne more than conventional fuel. Nevertheless, Hinkles believes if these problems can be overcome, SAF can help reduce our reliance on foreign imports.

"It really becomes a question of; can you actually get SAF? Can we scale up production of SAF at a meaningful rate in the UK or Europe to take over an increasing proportion of jet fuel supply?", he says.

Green campaigners agree. "Increasing SAF production won't eliminate jet fuel imports overnight," says Tom Taylor, UK policy manager for lobby group Transport and Environment.

"But by scaling it up, we can shift the source of aviation fuel from geopolitically sensitive fossil fuels to locally managed renewable grids and waste streams."

That would require investment on a large scale, however, and clearly remains a long way off.

In the short term, meanwhile, dark clouds are hanging over the industry. There seems little prospect of jet fuel prices coming down quickly, and if fears of a shortage prove justified, then the aviation industry and the travellers that rely on it are heading for a turbulent summer.

The Iran war has strengthened Ukraine in surprising ways. Could a ceasefire with Russia be closer?

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgjp7vpee03o, 7 days ago

When Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, serious-faced and clad in black, strolled down a lilac carpet in Saudi Arabia in March, it marked a moment in the US-Israeli war in Iran. A rather unexpected one.

In a post on X, he said his visit was to "strengthen the protection of lives".

Zelensky, who carries the weight of Ukraine's own war with Russia on his shoulders, has been seizing the moment, flying to the Gulf to publicly showcase the international value and marketability of Kyiv's learned-on-the-battlefield military nous in drone warfare.

Ukraine says it has now signed deals with Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar - all hit by Iranian missiles and drones in recent weeks - to share drone expertise and technology, tightening alliances and benefitting from business - and it hopes defence deals - with wealthy US-allied countries.

"We want to help [Gulf states] defend themselves. And we will continue building such partnerships with other countries," Zelensky said.

Energy pressure

Initially, the impact of the Iran conflict seemed overwhelmingly negative for Ukraine. It threatened to divert Donald Trump's already wavering attention from orchestrating peace efforts between Moscow and Kyiv, while pouring money into Russia's fast-emptying war chest.

Moscow has been able to sell more of its oil to more countries, at higher prices as tankers carrying Middle Eastern oil are unable to reach global customers by crossing the Iran-bordering Strait of Hormuz. Trump has renewed a waiver allowing countries to buy sanctioned Russian oil because of spiralling costs worldwide.

The more money Russia has, the longer and in theory harder it can prosecute the war in Ukraine.

But Kyiv has consistently confounded international expectations since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

And now it's done so again: playing a deft hand at trying to turn the impact of the Iran war to its advantage, as Ukraine tries to get itself in the strongest position possible before eventual, hoped-for peace negotiations with Russia.

On Wednesday, Trump said he was confident a "solution" over Ukraine could be reached "relatively quickly" following a "very good" conversation with Vladimir Putin. "I think 'some people' (have) made it difficult for him to make a deal," he added.

It's not the first time Trump's made similar positive comments about Putin, while implicitly or explicitly criticising Ukraine's leader for not signing up to a ceasefire.

A "solution" has yet to materialise.

In the meantime, Zelensky has focused on bolstering Ukraine where he can. Opportunism is arguably one of his most potent weapons.

Saudi Arabia, which he visited again in April, has faced the same type of ballistic missile and drone attacks from Iran that Russia barrages Ukraine with, he said.

One of Moscow's most powerful weapons has been the Iranian-designed low-cost, long-range Shahed-136 attack drone, plus its own updated version, the Geran.

While a Shahed can cost between $80,000 and $130,000 (£59,500 and £95,500), Zelensky says it can be intercepted with systems costing as little as $10,000 (£7,400). That's far cheaper than traditional air defence missiles which cost millions of dollars.

Threatened by Russian drone sightings in a number of European cities, Nato countries have been paying attention.

Ukraine signed two substantial defence cooperation agreements with European allies in April. One was with Norway, for $8.6bn, as part of a $28bn package of support until 2030. The other was with Germany, including "various types of drones, missiles, software and modern defence systems," valued at $4.7bn.

As for the Gulf States, Zelensky said he hoped for their help defending Ukraine against Russia.

Particularly because at the moment, the US has less military hardware available to sell to Europeans to help Ukraine, as Washington burns through supplies in the Middle East. Trump's response when asked about redirecting weapons has been: "We do that all the time. Sometimes we take from one, and we use for another."

"We would like Middle Eastern states to also give us an opportunity to strengthen ourselves," Zelensky recently told French newspaper Le Monde. "They have certain air defence missiles of which we don't have enough. That's what we'd like to reach a deal on.

Targeting infrastructure

Ukraine has also learned a key lesson from the Iran conflict to use back home: the big bang impact of attacking an adversary's oil export facilities. Russia's energy infrastructure is now a priority target, using Ukraine-manufactured long-range drones.

According to Zelensky, Russia is suffering "critical" losses running to billions of dollars in its energy sector despite the recent surge in global oil prices.

Crude oil export data suggests the rise in prices, plus the easing of American sanctions on countries buying Russian oil, boosted Russian revenues to 2.3 times their December-February levels in the third week of the Iran war.

But in the fourth week, Ukrainian drone strikes on energy-producing infrastructure reduced Russia's earnings by $1bn, eradicating around two-thirds of the previous week's gains.

Another plus for Ukraine from the Iran war fallout has been finally getting the green light last week on a €90bn (£78bn), EU-backed loan that Kyiv said it urgently needed to purchase and produce military equipment over the coming year. The loan had been blocked for months by EU member Hungary's then pro-Kremlin prime minister. But Hungary now has a new, determinedly less Russia-friendly leader, after Viktor Orbán's resounding defeat in Hungary's election last month.

Orbán is a close friend and admirer of Donald Trump. That didn't help him at election time. Voters said they were angry about the Iran war, which has pushed up their energy costs. That aided Orbán's demise, allowing the EU's Ukraine loan to finally be released.

With those "wins" under Kyiv's belt, plus Ukraine's boast that it is consistently killing more enemy soldiers each month than the 30,000 Russia has reportedly been recruiting in that time, Zelensky no longer feels on the back foot and may be in a better position to pursue a peace deal with Russia.

The sense of urgency in Ukraine is longstanding. People are tired and suffering. Conscripting new soldiers has been a serious challenge for a while now, and those on the battlefield are desperate to go home.

A lack of respect?

So what of negotiations aimed at establishing a sustainable ceasefire? They had been talked up so loudly by the Trump administration before Christmas.

Before being re-elected president, Trump repeatedly said he would end the violence in Ukraine in 24 hours. Now he's in office, the reality has not lived up to the promise.

A big clue is to follow the movements of Trump's designated peace envoys, his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and the former real estate magnate Steve Witkoff. A trip to Kyiv has been repeatedly postponed. Instead, they're preoccupied with the Middle East.

Zelensky has said he considers the pair's absence "disrespectful". He says peace discussions are ongoing at a "technical" level but fears no progress will really be made until the Iran conflict has ended. Who knows when that will be?

It's worth noting that Kushner and Witkoff have never visited Kyiv in an official capacity. They visited the Russian capital late last year as ceasefire talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine gained pace, and again in January. Witkoff has been to Moscow eight times - he used to do a lot of business in Russia, in a private capacity. He's met Putin on a number of occasions.

The Trump administration has denied any bias towards Russia.

But Ukraine and other European countries were perturbed to read the US National Security Strategy (NSS), published towards the end of last year. It conspicuously does not label Russia a security threat. This is in direct contrast to how Moscow is viewed by Washington's European allies in Nato.

The NSS does underline the importance of ending the war in Ukraine, but the focus is not on establishing a durable peace for Kyiv. Instead, the stated aim is to ensure "strategic stability" and potential partnership with Russia to free up resources for other US priorities.

These attitudes of the Trump administration delight the Kremlin. Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov crowed at the time of publication that the NSS was "largely consistent" with Moscow's vision.

Under Trump, there's been a failure to introduce or maintain hard-hitting economic sanctions against Russia that could truly move the dial and force the Kremlin to approach the negotiating table without a list of demands impossible for Kyiv (or its European backers) to accept.

On top of this, US military and economic assistance for Ukraine has all but dried up. Europeans have instead been buying military hardware from the US to send to Kyiv. But even that supply is now in danger, thanks to the Iran conflict.

Peace prospects

When it comes to persuading Russia to talk peace, conventional wisdom says the US is the only power able to make Moscow budge.

Putin shows no sign of ending hostilities of his own volition any time soon.

Quite the opposite. With the world distracted by the war on Iran, Moscow has been stepping up attacks on Ukrainian civilians and civilian infrastructure. Opinion is divided over whether this is a last lashing out before Russia's president comes to the negotiating table or an indication of ongoing grim determination. At EU HQ in Brussels, most suspect the latter.

Russia's economy may be struggling under international sanctions but it's not decimated and is now firmly on a war footing. Winding that down won't be easy, leading European countries to fret that even if peace is secured in Ukraine, Russia will swiftly seek to destabilise somewhere else in Europe, including targeting a Nato nation. The Netherlands, Germany and Nato itself have described that as possible, even likely.

And then there's Putin's pride and ambition. Will he - can he - really hold up his hands and admit defeat in Ukraine?

"If Russia had a rational government, it would end the war," said Luke Cooper, an Associate Professorial Research Fellow in International Relations at the London School of Economics. He is also the Director of the Ukraine programme at PeaceRep, a pro-peace consortium of organisations.

"The economy is stagnant or in recession. Russia is sending enormous numbers of men to die who could be in work, the private commercial civilian economy is suffering by the imposition of the war economy… and what has Russia achieved? A sliver of Ukrainian territory. Surely, a ceasefire would be advantageous, if it included sanctions relief? But Putin isn't thinking in those terms. This is all about the decisions of one person, with imperial ambitions, running an autocratic system."

Ukraine's scepticism

While Kyiv still waits for US engagement, privately many Ukrainian officials are sceptical the US under Donald Trump will ever take the action they want to ensure peace, or, even in the case of a ceasefire, would stump up the desired cast-iron security guarantees, ensuring that Russia doesn't just come back again another day.

Mark Cancian, senior adviser with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, told me: "It's hard to envisage a set of security guarantees the Ukrainians will find reliable enough to sign a peace deal, and that Russia, the US and Europeans will all agree to."

But "there is no time to lose" for Europe's leaders who largely believe it would be dangerous for wider continental security if Russia ultimately felt it won a victory in Ukraine, according to Tom Keatinge, Director of the Finance & Security Centre at the Royal United Services Institute.

Despite the war in the Middle East, Keatinge says Trump, with his reputation for impatience, might pivot away at any moment from focusing on Iran if finding a deal with Tehran remains complicated.

He could then swiftly turn back to the Russia-Ukraine question. That, insists Keatinge, is why Europeans must take far more decisive action in Ukraine now than they have to date.

With their repeated use of the phrase "as long as it takes" when it comes to helping Ukraine, critics have long accused European leaders of "managing" the war, rather than aggressively pursuing peace for Ukraine.

Despite all the speeches, all the visits to Kyiv and the money spent on weapons for Ukraine, when it comes to getting really, really tough in terms of what could be truly biting economic sanctions "Europeans stand around waiting for the Americans, says Keatinge. "They act so timid yet the EU is a massive trading bloc."

Brussels is now working on its twenty-first sanctions package against Russia. But what of the €210bn frozen Russian central bank assets the EU has sitting in its jurisdiction, mainly in Belgium? Balking at using that money to help Ukraine (citing legal and reputational considerations), EU leaders came up with the €90bn loan, underwritten by European taxpayers. Europe's leaders could act against Russia with a lot more impact, argues Keatinge. "They're just not willing - or united enough to go vollgas (foot on the gas pedal) on ending the war."

Europe's leaders are sincere in wanting the suffering to end in Ukraine and for there to be a just and durable peace on their borders, but it is also true that a ceasefire in Ukraine would push uncomfortable decisions to the fore. Fewer countries are in favour of fast-tracking Ukraine's membership to the EU than they would like to admit. As for the so-called "Coalition of the Willing", headed by France and the UK, that has pledged to act as a "reassurance force" in Ukraine if and when hostilities end - which countries would really stump up boots on the ground and for how long? Especially if forces weren't supported by the US from the air.

Last week, Trump blasted what he called the hatred between Putin and Zelensky as "ridiculous". Washington has seemed dismissive of Ukraine's selling of drone tech in the Gulf. It hasn't taken up Zelensky on his public offer to share Kyiv's drone know-how with the US administration either. At least not publicly.

But Ukraine's black-clad leader seemed unfazed by those details. As long as he's making headlines, he hopes Ukraine isn't forgotten and that Washington might turn its attention back to his part of the world that much sooner.

Top image credit: AFP via Getty Images / Reuters

Winners, losers and a PM on the brink - what to expect in next week's elections

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0q2z7v3ly5o, 8 days ago

Brace yourselves.

I promise this will not be a piece about whether or not the election results will give the Prime Minister his metaphorical P45. Not a huge amount has changed since I wrote about the level of doom last month.

Unless you've been living on another planet, you'll have heard or read plenty of talk, and it's serious, about whether or not Labour MPs are going to move against the prime minister.

It's grave enough for Starmer's allies to be getting their lines out early - striking a defiant tone, telling me this morning he'll "accept no deals, no pacts, no timetables, and will get on with being PM".

"Keir is on the international stage focusing on ensuring that Trump doesn't wipe out the hard-fought progress the government has made on the cost of living crisis," they told me. "He isn't going to spend months talking to the membership when the country needs him to lead it."

The message is clear to his MPs and restless ministers - try if you like, but I'll fight you to stay.

Starmer's camp is overtly rejecting any notion that he might, as Theresa May was forced to do, put a sell-by date on his time in No 10. They gave this warning, specifically targeted at Angela Rayner: "Everyone knows that a leader with a public exit date has no power. It would be very surprising if a politician as accomplished as Angela didn't also realise that. Any deal would do more chaos in the country and the party plunged into eternal debate."

In seven days' time, will we be in the middle of a coup against Starmer? There's a six-word answer that suffices until this time next week - we might, but we don't know - although I might indulge you in some of the wildest suggestions a bit later on.

Instead, let's look at what the benchmarks might be for all of the UK political parties who are being judged on Thursday, with a little nudge on where that could leave them in the aftermath - because, perish the thought, these elections are not all about No 10.

Reform has been leading the UK-wide polls for more than a year now, consistently. Their popularity seems to have steadied since 2025 rather than zoomed up - but given their number-one position, they ought to, and should, do extremely well.

One party insider tells me they should end up with seat gains of at least four figures in local councils, comfortably winning at least a thousand council seats in England. Some projections put them well over that, scooping up at least 1,500 out of the 5,000 or so that are being contested. But geography also matters.

Reform is highly likely to win the most seats in England, as they did in last year's elections. But the party has been piling into Scotland and Wales too, and they want to make sure they are in either first or second place in both of those national elections.

If they are, expect them to make the case loudly that they are not just the most popular party in England, but that they have replaced the Conservatives as the natural party of the right, and become Labour's main opposition around Britain. Nigel Farage may have been around for a long time, but if voters put his party in that position next week, that's a major political moment.

This time last year, the established parties had hoped that once Reform actually had the responsibility for running the local councils, they'd be somehow found out, and their appeal might fade. It doesn't look like voters will make that happen in this election.

For the Greens, it's the first national test of whether Zack Polanski's exuberance and knack for grabbing headlines translates into actual power. He can be confident they'll add seats. There is a particular opportunity to eat into Labour's vote in London, which would spook the more than 50 Labour MPs there.

As with all the parties, even the most expert political pundits are guessing at the numbers of seats the Greens are likely to win, but given their surge in the polls, gaining at least 500 would be a decent ball park. To truly expand their place on the map, though, the Greens would love not just to pile up the number of seats but to take control of individual councils in London. Number crunchers suggest they have a chance of taking a council or two, and voters could put some Green mayors into office, perhaps in east London's Hackney.

But there are nerves in Green circles, jangled in the last couple of days since the attack in Golders Green, that Polanski's blunter politics might alienate some traditional Green voters just as they attract other new ones.

Meanwhile, the Lib Dems seem to love a local campaign more than any other party - not just because Sir Ed Davey loves being on the stump, but because the party's whole strategy has long been based on slow, careful targeting of areas where they reckon they might succeed, rather than concentrating on UK-wide momentum. One party source describes it as "tortoise and hare - maybe one day Ed will even dress up as a tortoise".

The Lib Dems obviously hope for a decent showing in council seats - to add 150 or so, according to some forecasts. But again, it's not just the total, it's whether they build deeper defences in councils they already control, and whether they can win any new ones that matter, too.

From time to time, there are rumblings in Lib Dem ranks, wondering aloud why the party doesn't seem to be the beneficiary of a restless electorate on the hunt for alternatives.

It's important therefore for Davey to be able to show more progress on Thursday, and perhaps, on what would be an incredibly good night for them, even becoming the party with the most seats in England's councils. That would be something to boast about - but a demonstration of how odd politics is these days - that the party that's often not even third in the UK polls could have more local representatives than any other.

For that to come to pass would mean a nasty night for Labour, and the Conservatives. The Tories were second last time round in the 2022 elections in English councils, and second in Wales and Scotland in 2021 too. That means the last time these contests were run was before the mess of Boris Johnson's departure, and the calamity of Liz Truss. So, Tory HQ is braced for another battering, just as they suffered last year when, as one member of the shadow cabinet admits, "we were in a total mess".

But while the party fully expects to lose hundreds of seats, what you don't detect is any sense this could be terminal for the leader, Kemi Badenoch. The Westminster party is still in a pretty awful position in the national polls, but they are much cheerier than this time last year. "We didn't know if Kemi was going to last this time last year," one senior source says, "now we do."

Then there is Labour and the prime minister. MPs, councillors and ministers I've talked to are all frustrated by the speculation, with no little irritation towards the wannabe contenders in a leadership race. But there is no ignoring the fact that a woeful set of results for Labour would put the prime minister's wobbly future in even more doubt.

The party is "dark and desperate in Wales", says one source, and while internal Labour data in Scotland suggests the picture is not as bleak as the public polls suggest, it would take a miracle for them to get close to the SNP.

In England, whether it's migration, making ends meet, or disappointment with Starmer, the mood is generally very glum. Labour is trying to hold on to about 2,500 council seats in England. They may lose more than half of them, with party insiders suggesting they could lose up to three-quarters.

There is (cough) a range of opinion on whether Sir Keir Starmer should be pushed out afterwards. One minute, one minister says: "It's terminal," and another says "I just can't see a way through." The next minute, another says: "I'm firmly of the view we must not doomscroll our way through leaders - we have to wean ourselves off it."

But the eagerness or reluctance to make a move will be shaped by the results - as one government source says: "A lot rests on them – if it's Greens up 500, Reform's up 2,500 and we're down 2,000, well then: holy shit."

Around the country, the party is already hacked off with the chatter around whether Starmer can survive, as one senior councillor tells me: "Every time you check your phones there is another intervention from Andy [Burnham] or some more speculation about Angela [Rayner]. It is demotivating - there is a big, big frustration among activists and voters who see it and just think it's a shambles." But, shambles or not, going into next week, it is not clear if the PM of the day will keep his job.

A new prediction reaches my ears that Burnham and Rayner might "move as one", with the possibility Rayner would be pitched as the person to take over from Starmer now, but that Burnham, in time, could be the person to fight the next general election. I'm told the difficulty is there are "two distinct decisions - who'll deliver the 2024 manifesto, and who could win the next election - they might not be the same person".

Rayner and Burnham are "talking every day", I'm told, although a Team Rayner source told me that suggestion was "nonsense". But neither Rayner or Burnham's ambitions are a secret.

It is also possible that nothing will happen, and that Labour will take a battering but then stumble on, with Starmer trying to relaunch his leadership again, and hoping that better times come. The problem is, as another senior Labour figure says, "how many times can you press the reset button before people realise it's not connected to anything?"

Don't forget, too, the other parties who are trying to hold and take power in Holyrood and Cardiff. The SNP leader told us he is confident he'll get a majority and enter an astonishing third decade for his party in power. That bravado may well not be matched by the result, but they are strongly expected to hang on as the biggest party. And in Wales, as I wrote last week, Plaid Cymru are as bouncy as they've ever been, and hopeful they will end up running the country on their own for the first time.

On this weekend's programme, we'll be joined by Kemi Badenoch, Nigel Farage, Zack Polanski, Heidi Alexander for the government, and the SNP, Plaid and Lib Dems will be on our panel too. Seven parties for the new world of 2026.

Do send us any questions or points that you'd like us to ask at kuenssberg@bbc.co.uk - because the magic of elections, of course, means it's not our fate in politicians' hands, it's their fate in our hands.

A fresh financial crisis may be coming - it won't play out like the last one

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp3p5l0nyevo, 11 days ago

On 15 September 2008, Bobby Seagull arrived at his office in Canary Wharf just before 6am.

It was the last time he would need to be on time. He was a trader at Lehman Brothers, an American bank undergoing serious turbulence.

"We had seen on the Sunday news from America, they're filing for bankruptcy. We weren't quite sure [what] the implication was [for] us in the UK. So we were just told to turn up as normal."

Initially it was "chaos", Bobby says. "There was no direct communication with our American colleagues. They weren't picking up the phones. Some people were picking up items, like paintings on the wall and saying, 'They owe me shares'."

Bobby had an inkling that disaster might strike and was well prepared.

"I actually bought a shopping trolley on the last day. And funnily enough, that summer, people did sense a bit of disquiet. I emptied my vending machine card, [worth] £300 pounds, on chocolates, because I realised if the vending machine or the bank collapsed, my vending machine card would become defunct."

Bobby, along with thousands of colleagues, carried his career out in a cardboard box. It was a defining image of the global financial crisis which saw thousands of businesses fail and millions lose their jobs. It ushered in one of the longest and deepest recessions since World War Two.

Now there are a number of warning lights flashing on the world economic dashboard that have some wondering whether we are in the foothills of another financial crisis.

What could the next meltdown look like? And with international relations in 2026 in a more febrile state than they were in 2008, will policymakers even have the tools to solve it?

Early warning signal

Before the crisis that engulfed the world economy in 2008, there were early warning signals in some parts of the financial system.

In 2007, investments in risky US mortgages went sour as homeowners struggled to pay. Funds run by Bear Stearns, BNP Paribas and other banks either had to freeze the ability of investors to take out their money, or liquidate the funds completely.

These problems were the canaries in what proved to be a very deep financial coal mine. As nervousness spread, even banks eventually stopped lending to each other for fear of not getting their money back, creating a so-called "credit crunch". That caused a global financial crisis.

Fast forward to today.

Several funds which lend money have declared losses or restricted investors' ability to take out their money. BlackRock, Blackstone, Apollo and Blue Owl have all faced demands for billions of withdrawals from private credit funds - institutions that provide an alternative to traditional banks.

Bank regulators and financial veterans recognise the similarities.

Sarah Breeden is the deputy governor of the Bank of England, with specific responsibility for financial stability. She says the new world of private credit has grown quickly, has yet to be tested by financial adversity and is poorly understood.

"There are echoes of the global financial crisis in what we're seeing now," she says. "Private credit has gone from nothing to two and a half trillion dollars in the last 15 to 20 years. There is leverage [borrowed money], there's opacity, there's complexity, there's interconnections with the rest of the financial system. All of that rhymes with what we saw in the GFC."

She's also worried that a lot of the money lent by private credit funds has itself been borrowed, creating layers of debt - or leverage - that can amplify any losses.

"There is leverage on leverage on leverage. What we want to make sure is that everybody understands how that layer cake of leverage adds up."

Mohammed El-Erian, chief economic adviser to German financial firm Allianz and former CEO of PIMCO, the world's biggest bond investor, agrees that the risk of another crisis is underestimated.

"There are certain similarities with 2007 that keep me awake at night. The similarities are clear fragilities in the financial system that are not properly appreciated."

In fact, he says, it was the restrictions placed on banks after the crisis that gave birth to this new private credit market. Banks were forced by new regulations to be more cautious, so funds that mimicked banks sprang up to fill the void.

"Suddenly the system is flooded with private creditors wishing to give money to companies. Companies see all this money available and of course too much money makes people make mistakes."

He lays out a scary scenario: "Suddenly everybody that lends you money wants their money back at the same time. The next thing you know, something that started out as a really good idea grows into something that risks instability, and rather than benefitting the economy, it actually risks pulling the rug out from under it."

But Larry Fink, the boss of the world's biggest money manager, BlackRock, recently told the BBC he did not agree that private credit posed a threat to the world economy.

The issues affecting some funds account for a small fraction of the overall market, he says.

BlackRock itself is one of several firms to have limited withdrawals by nervous investors from private credit funds. But Fink is adamant there is no chance of a repeat of the financial trauma seen in 2007-08, as he believes financial institutions today are more secure.

"I don't see any similarities at all," he says. "Zero."

Nevertheless, some have likened what is happening in private credit to a slow run on a bank. You may not see the queues outside branches of Northern Rock, as we saw in 2007, but there is a line of people wanting their money back.

Energy

Another way in which history might be repeating itself is through surging energy prices.

That was a contributing factor to the 2008 crisis. The price of Brent crude oil went from around $50 a barrel at the beginning of 2007 to $100 by the end of the year – eventually peaking at $147 in July 2008. It was driven by surging demand from a rapidly expanding China but also in part from geopolitical tensions involving Iran.

Today, oil prices have risen to over $100 a barrel, with warnings they could go higher if there is not a speedy resolution to a conflict with Iran that has in effect shut the world's most important energy artery through the Strait of Hormuz.

Fatih Birol, chief executive of the International Energy Agency, has called the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz "the greatest energy security crisis in history", insisting it is "more serious" than the previous energy shocks in 1973 (when some Arab states imposed an oil embargo on the West), 1979 (caused by the Iranian revolution) and 2022 (Ukraine) "put together".

That level of gloom is not yet reflected in current oil prices. Although they have risen more than 50% since before the conflict with Iran, they are some way off the levels seen before the last financial crisis, when oil hit $147 dollars a barrel (in today's money, that's close to $190 a barrel).

And stock markets are currently at or near all-time highs - nothing like the oil shock of 1973, which triggered a 40% fall in US stock markets from peak to trough.

Sarah Breeden, of the Bank of England, says she expects stock markets to fall at some point, as they do not fully reflect the many current risks to the global economy. But for now, stock markets seem to assume that peace will eventually prevail, and lots of big companies are continuing to make more money than investors were expecting.

But an energy shock is part of the Bank of England's check list of risks which Breeden fears could hit simultaneously.

"What happens if a number of these risks crystallise at the same time?", she asks. "Major macroeconomic shock, at the same time as confidence in private credit goes, at the same time as AI valuations and other risky asset valuations readjust. What happens in that environment and are we ready for it?".

Artificial intelligence

And there Breeden hits on another risk to add to our potential crisis cocktail.

Over $2tn has poured into investments in AI, in what Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has called "a frenzy" and others have described as a bubble.

It has propelled the valuations of a few mega companies to the point that 37% of the value of the main US stock market index, the S&P 500, is now concentrated in just seven companies (including Nvidia, Microsoft, Google parent company Alphabet and Amazon, which are also among the biggest spenders on AI infrastructure).

That means the millions of people who invest in index tracking funds are investing a large portion of their savings in AI, whether they want to or not.

A big sell-off in these companies would hit savers – including individuals and pension funds in the UK - and inevitably rock business and consumer confidence.

The bursting of the dotcom bubble, which peaked in March 2000, helped trigger a recession in 2001. The tech heavy NASDAQ index fell nearly 80% between March 2000 and October 2002, destroying billions in market value. That collapse of internet-based companies, massive investor losses, and widespread tech layoffs caused a broader downturn in the economy.

A financial fire

There's also the question of how effectively policymakers could hose down a financial fire.

In 2008 governments eventually got a grip on the chaos by pumping billions of public money into major banks to prevent their collapse, and raising guarantees on bank deposits to prevent savers fleeing. At the same time, major central banks cut rates, including a rare coordinated rate cut in the autumn of that year.

But some worry that those options may no longer exist.

In 2008, UK government debt amounted to less than 50% of national income. Today that number is close to 100%, after major interventions in 2008 bailing out banks, wage support during Covid-19, and the energy subsidies in 2022 after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. So, the government's ability to borrow money is much more limited.

Mohammed El-Erian uses the analogy of a fire brigade that has run out of water. "Governments and central banks have had to respond to crisis after crisis and as they have done, they've run down the ability to respond," he warns.

That sentiment is echoed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which said earlier this month that the world's manifold economic challenges come at a time when "policy space has been eroded".

There's also the poor state of international relations. Amid the 2008 crisis, national leaders met at a series of emergency meetings, including a crucial one in Washington in November 2008, where they hammered out their plan to pour billions into banks; and another in London in April 2009.

Gordon Brown, the prime minister who helped to lead the international response, has said that strong international cooperation is what stopped the crisis from turning into a depression.

All that could be more difficult today, amid significant disagreements between rich countries over trade policy, Nato, and even the status of Greenland.

Writing earlier this month about the dangers of a financial crisis, the IMF made a point of warning that "international cooperation is weaker" now than in previous years. The implication, perhaps, is that in an era of war in Europe, US-China trade wars, and US President Donald Trump's "America First" policy, it will prove more difficult for governments to put aside their differences and get around a crisis table in the way they did in 2008.

And Brown has repeatedly warned of the dangers of an isolationist, 'us versus them' approach to international affairs.

Financial fragilities

Sarah Breeden, however, gives a note of optimism, arguing that banks have more capacity to absorb shocks than they did in 2008.

She takes comfort from the fact that banks are "much more capitalised now" - in other words, they have higher reserves of cash, rather than relying on borrowed money.

"I don't think if we get stressed it will be on the same scale," she says.

Mohammed El Erian agrees - to an extent. "We're not exactly in 2008 territory because I do not believe that the banking system, and therefore depositors' money and the payments system, is at risk. But we are in a 2008 moment in that the financial system could aggravate economic fragilities that tip us into recession."

And if that does happen, he's in no doubt who will suffer most.

"Economic and financial fragilities tend to expose the most vulnerable segments of the population. They have the least resilience and tend to get [hit] particularly hard."

Bobby Seagull, now a Maths teacher - says financial markets are even more complex now and you never quite know what nasty surprises are lurking under the surface.

"You're sort of passing on financial instruments from one person to the other, not sure what's inside it. And I think the worry is if things happen, they escalate very quickly in financial markets. And that's where you don't want to be the last person left holding that package."

Top picture credit: Getty Images

Key bridge linking North Korea and Russia almost finished, satellite images show

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwy2e3wwd55o, 3 days ago

The first road bridge connecting allies North Korea and Russia is nearing completion, satellite images analysed by BBC Verify show.

It's the latest sign of the deepening relationship between Pyongyang and Moscow that has seen North Korean troops fighting alongside Russian forces following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

"This bridge will offer a useful route to transfer military goods and munitions - both to North Korea and to Russia," said Dr Edward Howell, Korea Foundation Fellow at the Chatham House think tank.

The new road across the Tumen River is located a few hundred metres from the only other bridge between the two countries - a rail connection known as the "Friendship Bridge".

The latest satellite imagery shows the kilometre-long bridge alongside several new access roads, a border checkpoint, support infrastructure and parking facilities.

Experts say this indicates the bridge is expected to become an important trade route between the two countries.

An agreement to build the crossing was reached during Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Pyongyang in June 2024 when he met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Construction began about a year later and BBC Verify has been using satellite imagery to track its progress.

The crossing, known as the Khasan–Tumangang Bridge, has been built to handle up to 300 vehicles and 2,850 people a day, according to Russia's transport ministry.

The total cost is estimated to exceed 9bn roubles (£88m; $120m), according to Russian state media.

"The speed of construction is a reflection of the volume of trade activity between the two sides," said Victor Cha from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) think tank.

"This is spurred largely by North Korea's provision of troops, weapons, munitions, and labourers for Putin's war in Ukraine," he said.

Russian and North Korean drivers will likely be expected to transfer over lorries full of goods at the crossing because they will be restricted from operating vehicles further into each other's territories, according to the CSIS.

The countries held a ceremony on 21 April to mark the joining of the two sides of the bridge and Russia's embassy in North Korea has said construction is set to be completed on 19 June.

Russia's foreign ministry said the bridge's opening will "become a truly landmark stage in Russian–Korean relations. Its significance goes far beyond a purely engineering task".

Rail traffic over the nearby Friendship Bridge has remained high during the construction of the road bridge as trade between the two countries has expanded, according to the CSIS.

"It is fair to say that this connection, prior to the war in Ukraine, was one of the sleepiest links between North Korea and its two neighbours," said Cha.

As well as agreeing to build the bridge, Putin and Kim signed a landmark agreement during the 2024 visit pledging that Russia and North Korea will help each other in the event of "aggression" against either country.

According to South Korea, the North has sent some 15,000 troops to aid Russia in its invasion, along with missiles and long-range weapons. Seoul also estimates that about 2,000 North Koreans have died in the conflict.

Neither Pyongyang nor Moscow have confirmed these numbers, but Kim Jong Un and Russian Defence Minister Andrey Belousov last week unveiled a memorial in Pyongyang for North Koreans who have died fighting in the Ukraine war.

Belousov said he discussed long-term military co-operation with North Korean officials, according to Russian news agencies.

In return for providing soldiers and artillery, it is believed North Korea has received food, fuel and military technology from Russia.

"The construction of the bridge epitomizes how North Korea's ties with Russia look to continue beyond any end to the Ukraine war," said Howell.

What do you want BBC Verify to investigate?

Three key statements Starmer made about Mandelson vetting

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj949mj41vlo, 11 days ago

MPs have voted against launching an investigation into whether Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer misled Parliament about the appointment of Lord Mandelson as UK ambassador to the US.

The Conservative-led motion to refer him to the Privileges Committee was over several comments Sir Keir had made about Mandelson's security vetting.

Mandelson was appointed ambassador in December 2024 and sacked the following September over his links to the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The prime minister called accusations that he misled MPs "totally baseless" and a "political stunt".

Here, BBC Verify examines three statements he made in the House of Commons that his accusers claim were misleading.

22 April 2026: 'No pressure existed whatsoever'

Sir Keir was asked at Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday 22 April whether he still thought that "full due process" had been followed in the appointment of Lord Mandelson.

He replied he did and went on to talk about the evidence given to the Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee the day before by Sir Olly Robbins - the former top official at the Foreign Office whom the prime minister had recently sacked.

"Sir Olly Robbins could not have been clearer in his evidence yesterday," the prime minister said at PMQs. "He said that 'I didn't feel under… pressure personally in terms of my judgement'."

Sir Keir then claimed: "No pressure existed whatsoever in relation to this case."

Sir Olly did tell the committee his decision to grant Lord Mandelson security clearance after a vetting process was not affected by pressure from No 10 Downing Street.

But Sir Olly also told the committee that "my office and the foreign secretary's office were under constant pressure. There was an atmosphere of constant chasing".

Asked about where the pressure was coming from Sir Olly said the source he "was most conscious of was from the No 10 private office".

No 10 has said Sir Keir meant there was only pressure to get the appointment approved as soon as possible - not the final decision on whether to grant vetting clearance.

The prime minister told the Sunday Times there were "different types of pressure". "There's pressure – 'Can we get this done quickly?' – which is not an unusual pressure. That is the everyday pressure of government," he said.

10 September 2025: 'Full due process was followed during this appointment'

On 10 September 2025, as more details emerged about Lord Mandelson's friendship with Epstein, Sir Keir was asked by Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch if he had been aware of the pair's connections when he made the appointment in December 2024.

The prime minister told MPs: "Full due process was followed during this appointment."

On 16 April 2026 it emerged the body that carries out developed vetting - UK Security Vetting (UKSV) - had recommended that Lord Mandelson should not be given security clearance for his ambassador's role.

Sir Olly confirmed to the Foreign Affairs Select Committee on 21 April that he personally approved Lord Mandelson's security vetting clearance and did not tell the prime minister about the initial recommendations of UKSV - which he said was the proper process.

Sir Olly said in a letter to the committee: "When the prime minister informed the House that the proper process had been followed in respect of NSV [National Security Vetting], he was correct."

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has questioned whether due process was followed because Mandelson's security vetting happened after his appointment had been confirmed.

Sir Ed has pointed to a November 2024 letter to the PM from former Cabinet Secretary Sir Simon Case.

In the letter Sir Simon says: "You should give us the name of the person you would like to appoint and we will develop a plan for them to acquire the necessary security clearances and do due diligence on any potential Conflicts of Interest or other issues of which you should be aware before confirming your choice."

Case's successor as cabinet secretary Sir Chris Wormald said in a letter to the Commons public administration committee on 30 October 2025 that such vetting: "Will usually happen after a job offer and before an individual takes up post."

But Sir Olly's predecessor Sir Philip Barton, giving evidence to the Foreign Affairs Committee, said the "the normal order is vetting then announcement".

20 April 2026: 'The appointment was subject to developed vetting'

Another statement mentioned in Tuesday's motion was the prime minister saying on 20 April 2026: "I have made it clear that my position was that the appointment [of Mandelson] was subject to developed vetting [DV]."

Sir Keir had been asked in the Commons about the advice from the cabinet secretary at the time - Sir Simon Case - that vetting should be carried out before the ambassador's appointment was announced.

During his evidence to the Foreign Affairs Select Committee Sir Olly Robbins said: "I am afraid that I do not think at the point of his appointment and for days thereafter it was actually a given that he would be vetted."

Sir Olly also referenced the press release sent on 20 December 2024 which said the prime minister had "confirmed the appointment" of Lord Mandelson.

"The announcement put out on 20 December says that he will be out early in the new year - it does not say, 'subject to vetting'," he said.

The committee was later told, in a letter from the interim top civil servant at the Foreign Office, that there had been discussions between security officials in the department and the Cabinet Office "over whether Lord Mandelson needed DV vetting as a 'Fit and Proper Person' given his membership of the House of Lords".

The letter goes on to say that the settled view on 23 December was that developed vetting was needed.

What do you want BBC Verify to investigate?

The BBC Wales Senedd election debate fact-checked

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5yx8lj4652o, 11 days ago

The leaders of Wales' six big political parties took part in a special BBC debate on Tuesday ahead of the Senedd election.

The 90-minute programme saw the politicians make claims on the NHS, immigration and independence among other issues.

BBC Verify has examined some of the claims made.

Have NHS waiting lists fallen for nine months in a row?

Defending her government's record on the NHS, Welsh Labour leader Eluned Morgan said waiting lists had come down "for nine months in a row".

This is correct. However, the number of waits is still much higher than in the months before the Covid-19 pandemic.

The waiting list was 687,958 in February this year, according to the latest official figures.

In the months before the pandemic, waiting lists were typically around 463,000.

The number of waits is not the same as the number of individual patients, because some people will be waiting for multiple treatments - the latest report says the February waits refer to 543,400 individual patients.

Does the UK government owe Wales money because of HS2 rail?

The Wales Green party leader Anthony Slaughter - whose party is pro-independence - talked about the UK government's funding for Wales, saying: "We don't get money from HS2 - we need that money, that's the money that belongs to Wales."

This claim refers to the call to give Wales money under the so-called "Barnett formula" to reflect the billions of pounds spent on the HS2 high speed rail project.

Under the formula, public spending in England triggers money for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

But despite not planning any track in Wales, HS2 is classed as an England and Wales project.

The UK government in Westminster says Welsh railways are heavily integrated with railways in England meaning they should be considered as one network. Most rail infrastructure in Wales is the responsibility of the UK government.

When the previous government scrapped the northern leg of HS2 in 2023, it promised to spend £1bn on electrifying the line between Crewe and Holyhead.

In February 2026 the UK government announced a £14bn plan to "transform" Welsh railways.

It allocated £445m for seven new train stations in Wales, but specific funding for other projects is yet to be announced.

Are a third of children in Wales in poverty?

Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth said "we know that being in the UK leaves us with a third of our children living in poverty".

It is correct that nearly a third of children in Wales are living in poverty - according to the latest Welsh government figures, 31% of children were living in relative income poverty between April 2022 and April 2024.

Relative income poverty is living in a household where the total household income is less than 60% of the median UK household income.

Other sources, such as the Bevan Foundation, say there has been no change to child poverty rates in Wales over the past two decades, which have remained about one in three - a third of all children.

Are there 1,400 people in hospitals in Wales who don't need to be there?

The leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, Jane Dodds, said her party wanted to get "1,400 people out of hospital that are there right now and shouldn't be there".

According to the latest figures, which were published in March, there were 1,351 people in Welsh hospitals who could not leave because care, support or suitable accommodation was not yet available to them.

However, the figure is a snapshot of a day in March - so it doesn't tell us the total number of delays over the whole month.

The March figure was lower than February's, but the number of days that people were stuck in hospital slightly increased.

In February, the total number of days was 60,601 - 42 per person, compared to 57,512 - or 42.6 per person in March.

Did 1,000 people die in A&Es because they waited more than 12 hours?

The leader of Welsh Conservatives Darren Millar said: "The Royal College of Emergency Medicine has told us very clearly that 1,000 people died last year because they waited 12 hours or more in our emergency departments across the country."

This claim is based on the State of Emergency Medicine in Wales report which estimated that there were at least 965 deaths in Wales associated with waits of 12 or more hours in Emergency Departments (EDs) for patients in 2025.

However, these figures do not show the actual number of deaths, but are an estimate based on a 2022 study into the link between long waits in EDs and deaths within 30 days, in the NHS in England.

The study suggested there was one extra death for every 82 patients who spent more than six to eight hours in an ED before being transferred to a hospital bed.

Additionally, where deaths in hospital have been reviewed as part of an inquest in Wales since the beginning of 2025, coroners do not appear to have raised concerns about extended waiting in EDs.

A number of these reports have raised concerns about ambulance response times and handover delays at hospital, but none reviewed by the BBC addressed waits in EDs.

Was taxpayer money spent on solar panels for sport clubs?

Reform's Dan Thomas talked about his party's plans to reform quangos - public bodies which are funded by taxpayers, but not controlled directly by central government - claiming they "are spending our money on the wrong things".

He singled out one quango as an example, saying: "Sport Wales spends £5m of taxpayers' money insulating sports clubs and putting solar panels on."

It's true the Welsh government launched a scheme in 2023 that allows sport clubs to apply for up to £25,000 to fund a range of energy-saving improvements. By February 2026, the scheme had cost £5.4m.

However, the Welsh government says the scheme has allowed sport clubs to save on energy costs and reduce carbon emissions.

"On average, each club saves around £3,000 and offsets 3.3 tonnes of carbon, totalling an estimated annual carbon offset of over 840 tonnes, with an estimated energy saving of around £840,000 for all clubs combined".

Reform Wales leader has previously claimed that 200 quangos are costing Wales over £135m.

When asked by BBC Verify how the figure was calculated the party told us: "We will release our costings when the other parties also agree to do so."

More UK deaths than births expected every year from now on, ONS projects

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgpjd2zzl8o, 12 days ago

Deaths are expected to outnumber births in the UK every year from 2026, according to projections from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The UK population is now expected to grow at a slower rate than previously thought, reaching 71 million by 2034, owing to a sharp fall in migration.

Declining fertility rates also mean the number of children in the UK is expected to fall in the next decade while pensioners are expected to grow faster than working age adults.

Previous projections suggested the population would continue to grow until 2096, but now "the population is projected to peak in the 2050s before decreasing," James Robards, ONS head of household and population projections, said.

The population is expected to grow by 1.7 million in the 10 years after 2024 as shown by the dotted red line in the graph above.

This is far slower than the growth seen in the previous decade due to people having fewer children and having them later in life.

Between mid-2024 and mid-2034, the ONS projects:

* 6.4 million people will be born

* 6.9 million people will die

* 7.3 million will immigrate to the UK on a long-term basis

* 5.1 million people will emigrate long-term from the UK

Deaths are projected to outnumber births by nearly half a million people in that 10-year period.

The ONS stressed the figures, which cover the next 100 years of the UK's population, are projections and not predictions or forecasts. It warned real numbers could be higher or lower depending on future births, deaths and migration levels.

Fall in net migration

The ONS now expects net migration - the difference between the number of people coming to the UK and those leaving - to add 2.2 million people to the UK population in total between 2024 and 2034.

That is lower than previously projected as the ONS now treats the post Brexit immigration peak as a "blip" rather than an ongoing trend, said Dr Madeleine Sumption, of Oxford University's Migration Observatory.

"In the short term, the projections suggest net migration will fall temporarily before bouncing back up again."

The chart below shows that net migration to the UK peaked near a million people in 2023 and has since fallen to just over 200,000 people.

A Home Office spokesperson said: "While these projections do not directly take into account recent policy changes, we must go further to reduce the levels of migration.

"That's why we are introducing sweeping reforms to our immigration system, ending over-reliance on cheap labour whilst attracting the brightest and the best to the UK."

More pensioners and fewer children

By 2034 pensioners are expected to make up a fifth of the population. Despite the rising state pension age they are the fastest growing section of the population, while the number of children is projected to fall by 1.6 million.

Meanwhile, the number of working age people will increase by 1.5 million, but not as quickly the 1.8 million extra pensioners.

In December, a House of Lords report found that young people would be hardest hit by the failure of successive governments to adapt to challenges posed by an ageing population.

Policies governments have used to address the impact of declining fertility and rising life expectancy in the UK - raising the state pension age or increasing immigration for example - were not adequate solutions on their own, the report said.

Pressure on pensions, health and social care

The growing ageing population "will add to pressure on the NHS, the state pension and the wider public finances", said Stuart McDonald, head of longevity and demographic insights at pension consultants LCP.

"For the NHS, the challenge is not simply a larger population, but a larger population at ages associated with greater healthcare need."

He added: "But for pensions, the projections will intensify an already difficult debate about whether people can realistically and fairly be expected to work longer."

Sarah Scobie, Deputy Director of Research at the Nuffield Trust, warned end-of-life care services are "ill-prepared for an increase in deaths as the population ages overall".

"Hospital care accounts for over 80% of public expenditure on health care for people in the last year of life, and most of that is spent on emergency care," she said.