Hamas has released an Israeli-American hostage held captive for 19 months to Israeli forces as part of efforts to reach a new ceasefire deal, the group said.

Edan Alexander, 21, had been serving in the Israeli army on the border of Gaza when he was captured by Hamas militants on 7 October 2023.

On Monday, Israel paused its military operations in Gaza for a few hours to facilitate the transfer. A senior Hamas official told the BBC the release was intended as a goodwill gesture ahead of US President Donald Trump's visit to the Middle East on Tuesday.

Mr Alexander is believed to have been the last US national alive held by Hamas. Trump offered "congratulations" to his family after his release.

In a statement, his family thanked the US president but also urged the Israeli government and negotiators to continue working to free the 58 remaining hostages.

Mr Alexander is the first to be freed by Hamas since Israel restarted its military offensive on 18 March, after a two-month ceasefire came to an end.

On Monday, he was seen with masked Hamas fighters as they handed him over to Red Cross workers in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis.

He was then transferred to Israeli authorities in Gaza before being reunited with his family in southern Israel. The Israeli military said it provided a "safe corridor" for Mr Alexander's release.

A video shared on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's X account showed Yael Alexander speaking to her son over the phone.

"You are strong. You are protected. You are home," she said in the video.

Netanyahu called Mr Alexander's return a "very moving moment" - and thanked President Trump for his support.

The release had been made possible because of military pressure on Hamas and "the political pressure exerted by President Trump", Netanyahu said.

He added that Israel intended to continue with plans to intensify its military actions in Gaza and that there would be no ceasefire.

Hamas had earlier said Mr Alexander's release was intended to facilitate a deal for the entry of humanitarian aid into the enclave.

Israel has blocked the entry of all food, medication and other humanitarian supplies into Gaza for 70 days, which aid agencies say amounts to a policy of starvation and could be a war crime, and renewed its aerial bombardment and other military operations there in mid-March.

Hamas has previously said it will only agree to a deal that includes the end of the war. This has been repeatedly rejected by Netanyahu.

Trump is due to arrive in the Middle East on Tuesday, and Israel has vowed to expand its military offensive against Hamas if no deal is reached by the end of his visit.

Israeli officials have said the plans for their expanded offensive include seizing all of the territory indefinitely, forcibly displacing Palestinians to the south, and taking over aid distribution with private companies despite opposition from the UN and its humanitarian partners, who say they will not co-operate because it appears to "weaponise" aid.

Israel is due to send representatives to Qatar on Thursday to discuss a proposal on further hostage releases.

Qatar and Egypt said that Mr Alexander's release was an encouraging sign of potential new truce talks.

Born in Tel Aviv but raised in New Jersey, Mr Alexander had been serving in an elite infantry unit on the Gaza border when he was captured by Hamas militants during the 7 October 2003 attack.

About 1,200 people were killed and 251 hostages taken. Some 58 hostages remain, up to 24 of whom are believed to be alive.

Five of the captives held in Gaza are believed to have US citizenship. Mr Alexander is thought to be the last American still alive.

Israel's military campaign has killed 52,829 people in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, including 2,720 Palestinians killed since March.

Top military officials from India and Pakistan are due to speak later on Monday to discuss finer details of the ceasefire agreed between them on Saturday.

The US-brokered ceasefire between the nuclear-armed neighbours appears to have held overnight after nearly four days of intense shelling and aerial incursions from both sides.

On Saturday, President Donald Trump announced the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, saying "it was time to stop the current aggression that could have led to the death and destruction of so many, and so much".

Both nations have ceased hostilities since then but say they remain vigilant, warning each other of the consequences of violating the ceasefire.

The tensions were the latest in the rivalry between the neighbours who have fought two wars over Kashmir, a Himayalan region which they claim in full but administer in part.

The recent hostilities threatened to turn into a full-fledged war as both countries appeared unwilling to back down and threatened to escalate if the other didn't relent.

Both countries have said that dozens of people from both sides died over the four days of fighting last week, partly due to heavy shelling near the de facto border.

After the ceasefire, however, the both the rivals declared military victory.

On 07 May, India reported striking nine targets inside Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir in response to the deadly militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 26 tourists.

India blamed a Pakistan-based group for the attack but Islamabad denies any involvement.

In the days since the first strike, India and Pakistan accused each other of cross border shelling and claimed to have shot down rival drones and aircraft in their airspace.

As the conflict escalated, both nations said they have struck the rival's military bases.

Indian officials reported striking 11 Pakistan Air Force bases, including one in Rawalpindi, near the capital Islamabad. India also claimed Pakistan lost 35-40 men at the Line of Control during the conflict and the neighbour's air force lost a few aircraft.

Pakistan has accepted some Indian projectiles landed up at its air force bases.

Indian defence forces have also said that it struck nine armed group training facilities in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, killing more than 100 militants.

Pakistan military, in turn, claims it targeted about 26 military facilities in India and its drones hovered over Delhi.

India has also accepted some Pakistani projectiles landed up at its air force bases.

Pakistan also claims to have shot down five Indian aircraft, including three French Rafales - which India has not acknowledged, though it said that "losses are a part of combat".

Pakistan denied the claims that an Indian pilot was in its custody after she ejected following an Indian aircraft crash. India has also said that "all our pilots are back home".

Follow BBC News India on Instagram, YouTube, X and Facebook

Hamas has released an Israeli-American hostage held captive for 19 months to Israeli forces as part of efforts to reach a new ceasefire deal, the group said.

Edan Alexander, 21, had been serving in the Israeli army on the border of Gaza when he was captured by Hamas militants on 7 October 2023.

On Monday, Israel paused its military operations in Gaza for a few hours to facilitate the transfer. A senior Hamas official told the BBC the release was intended as a goodwill gesture ahead of US President Donald Trump's visit to the Middle East on Tuesday.

Mr Alexander is believed to have been the last US national alive held by Hamas. Trump offered "congratulations" to his family after his release.

In a statement, his family thanked the US president but also urged the Israeli government and negotiators to continue working to free the 58 remaining hostages.

Mr Alexander is the first to be freed by Hamas since Israel restarted its military offensive on 18 March, after a two-month ceasefire came to an end.

On Monday, he was seen with masked Hamas fighters as they handed him over to Red Cross workers in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis.

He was then transferred to Israeli authorities in Gaza before being reunited with his family in southern Israel. The Israeli military said it provided a "safe corridor" for Mr Alexander's release.

A video shared on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's X account showed Yael Alexander speaking to her son over the phone.

"You are strong. You are protected. You are home," she said in the video.

Netanyahu called Mr Alexander's return a "very moving moment" - and thanked President Trump for his support.

The release had been made possible because of military pressure on Hamas and "the political pressure exerted by President Trump", Netanyahu said.

He added that Israel intended to continue with plans to intensify its military actions in Gaza and that there would be no ceasefire.

Hamas had earlier said Mr Alexander's release was intended to facilitate a deal for the entry of humanitarian aid into the enclave.

Israel has blocked the entry of all food, medication and other humanitarian supplies into Gaza for 70 days, which aid agencies say amounts to a policy of starvation and could be a war crime, and renewed its aerial bombardment and other military operations there in mid-March.

Hamas has previously said it will only agree to a deal that includes the end of the war. This has been repeatedly rejected by Netanyahu.

Trump is due to arrive in the Middle East on Tuesday, and Israel has vowed to expand its military offensive against Hamas if no deal is reached by the end of his visit.

Israeli officials have said the plans for their expanded offensive include seizing all of the territory indefinitely, forcibly displacing Palestinians to the south, and taking over aid distribution with private companies despite opposition from the UN and its humanitarian partners, who say they will not co-operate because it appears to "weaponise" aid.

Israel is due to send representatives to Qatar on Thursday to discuss a proposal on further hostage releases.

Qatar and Egypt said that Mr Alexander's release was an encouraging sign of potential new truce talks.

Born in Tel Aviv but raised in New Jersey, Mr Alexander had been serving in an elite infantry unit on the Gaza border when he was captured by Hamas militants during the 7 October 2003 attack.

About 1,200 people were killed and 251 hostages taken. Some 58 hostages remain, up to 24 of whom are believed to be alive.

Five of the captives held in Gaza are believed to have US citizenship. Mr Alexander is thought to be the last American still alive.

Israel's military campaign has killed 52,829 people in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, including 2,720 Palestinians killed since March.

Top military officials from India and Pakistan are due to speak later on Monday to discuss finer details of the ceasefire agreed between them on Saturday.

The US-brokered ceasefire between the nuclear-armed neighbours appears to have held overnight after nearly four days of intense shelling and aerial incursions from both sides.

On Saturday, President Donald Trump announced the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, saying "it was time to stop the current aggression that could have led to the death and destruction of so many, and so much".

Both nations have ceased hostilities since then but say they remain vigilant, warning each other of the consequences of violating the ceasefire.

The tensions were the latest in the rivalry between the neighbours who have fought two wars over Kashmir, a Himayalan region which they claim in full but administer in part.

The recent hostilities threatened to turn into a full-fledged war as both countries appeared unwilling to back down and threatened to escalate if the other didn't relent.

Both countries have said that dozens of people from both sides died over the four days of fighting last week, partly due to heavy shelling near the de facto border.

After the ceasefire, however, the both the rivals declared military victory.

On 07 May, India reported striking nine targets inside Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir in response to the deadly militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 26 tourists.

India blamed a Pakistan-based group for the attack but Islamabad denies any involvement.

In the days since the first strike, India and Pakistan accused each other of cross border shelling and claimed to have shot down rival drones and aircraft in their airspace.

As the conflict escalated, both nations said they have struck the rival's military bases.

Indian officials reported striking 11 Pakistan Air Force bases, including one in Rawalpindi, near the capital Islamabad. India also claimed Pakistan lost 35-40 men at the Line of Control during the conflict and the neighbour's air force lost a few aircraft.

Pakistan has accepted some Indian projectiles landed up at its air force bases.

Indian defence forces have also said that it struck nine armed group training facilities in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, killing more than 100 militants.

Pakistan military, in turn, claims it targeted about 26 military facilities in India and its drones hovered over Delhi.

India has also accepted some Pakistani projectiles landed up at its air force bases.

Pakistan also claims to have shot down five Indian aircraft, including three French Rafales - which India has not acknowledged, though it said that "losses are a part of combat".

Pakistan denied the claims that an Indian pilot was in its custody after she ejected following an Indian aircraft crash. India has also said that "all our pilots are back home".

Follow BBC News India on Instagram, YouTube, X and Facebook

The first set of 49 white South Africans to be granted refugee status by President Donald Trump's administration are on their way to the US.

On Sunday they boarded a flight from Johannesburg which is due to land in Washington DC later on Monday.

This comes after a weekend of speculation about when the Afrikaners would leave for America, amid criticism from the South African government who described the US resettlement scheme as "politically motivated".

Relations between South Africa and the US have been tense for months, after an executive order in February in which President Trump stated that Afrikaners were victims of "racial discrimination".

The US has criticised domestic South African policy, accusing the government of seizing land from white farmers without any compensation - something which the southern African nation says has not happened.

Bilateral tensions have been strained for months as President Trump tasked his administration with formulating plans to potentially resettle Afrikaners in the US.

In March, South Africa's ambassador to the US, Ebrahim Rasool, was expelled after accusing President Trump of using "white victimhood as a dog whistle", leading to the US accusing Mr Rasool of "race-baiting".

The current group of refugees comprises 49 people, who are expected to land in Washington DC later on Monday, before continuing to Texas.

President Trump's openness to accepting Afrikaner refugees comes as the US has engaged in a wider crackdown on migrants and asylum seekers from other countries.

More BBC stories about South Africa:

• Almost 70,000 South Africans interested in US asylum
• What's really driving Trump's fury with South Africa?
• Is it checkmate for South Africa after Trump threats?

Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.

Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica

After 40 years, with 40,000 people killed, and without securing a Kurdish homeland, the banned Kurdistan Workers Party, the PKK, is ending its war against the Turkish state.

This signals the end of one of the longest conflicts in the world - a historic moment for Turkey, its Kurdish minority, and neighbouring countries into which the conflict has spilled over.

A spokesman for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling party said it was an important step towards a country free of terror.

But what will the PKK get for disarming and disbanding? So far the government has made no promises – publicly at least.

Sheltering inside a tea shop from a sudden violent hail storm that battered the ancient city of Diyabakir, Necmettin Bilmez, 65, a driver, was sceptical about what might follow.

"They [the government] have been tricking us for thousands of years," he said.

"When I get an ID card in my pocket saying I am Kurdish, I will believe everything will be solved. Otherwise, I don't believe in this."

Sitting nearby on a small woven stool, Mehmet, Ek, 80, had a different view.

"This has come late," he said.

"I wish it had happened ten years ago. But still anyone from any side who will stop this bloodshed, I salute them," he said, tipping the top of his flat cap.

"This conflict is brother on brother. The one who dies in the mountains [PKK] is ours and the soldier [from the government] is ours.

"We are all losing, Turks and Kurds."

He wants an amnesty for PKK fighters – like many here - and the release of jailed Kurdish politicians.

"If all that happens it will be a beautiful peace," he said.

In this majority Kurdish city in south-eastern Turkey - the de facto Kurdish capital - we found a muted response to PKK's announcement.

The city has been scarred and reshaped by the conflict.

Turkish forces and the PKK battled in the heart of Diyarbakir in 2015. You can still see the rubble of buildings flattened by the Turkish army.

Many local people told us they welcomed peace, or the idea of it, and wanted no more deaths - Turkish or Kurdish.

"No one has achieved anything," said Ibrahim Nazlican, 63, drinking tea in the shade of the towering city walls, which have guarded Diyarbakir since Roman times.

"There is nothing but harm and loss, on this side and on that side. There are no winners."

The conflict has ranged from the mountains of northern Iraq – which became PKK headquarters in recent years - to Turkey's biggest cities.

Outside an Istanbul football stadium in 2016, a PKK affiliate carried out a double bombing killing 38 police officers and 8 civilians. Many Kurds and Turks are hoping this is the end of a dark chapter, which has claimed 40,000 lives

The PKK decision lay down its arms followed a call in February by its jailed leader, Abdullah Ocalan, who said there was "no alternative to democracy".

For now, the 76-year-old remains in his cell in an island prison off of Istanbul, where he has been held since 1999.

To his supporters, he remains a heroic figure who has put their cause on a global agenda. They want him released.

Menice, 47, is among them. She insisted his release was the key to a new dawn for the Kurds, who account for up to 20% of the Turkish population.

"We want peace, but if our leader is not free, we will never be free," she said.

"If he is free, we will all be free and the Kurdish problem will be solved."

She is surrounded by family photos of loved ones who have died fighting for the PKK - which is classed as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the UK, the US and the EU.

She has lost five relatives including her brother and her oldest son Zindan.

He joined the PKK at 17, and was dead at 25, killed in a Turkish airstrike three years ago.

Menice's eyes fill with tears as she tells us how he used to help her with the housework.

His path may have been mapped out from birth.

"We named him Zindan [meaning cell] because his father was in prison when he was born," she told us.

One large photograph hangs on the wall shows Zindan alongside his brother, Berxwendan, who followed his footsteps "up the mountain" to the PKK, when he reached the age of 17.

Berxwenden is now 23. His mother did not know if he was alive or dead until he sent his family a photo of himself during Ramadan in March.

Menice is hoping her surviving son may now come back.

"I hope Berxwendan and his friends will come home. As a mother, I want peace. Let there be no killings. Hasn't there been enough suffering for everyone?"

But does she believe that there can be peace between Turkey and the Kurds?

"I believe in us, in Ocalan, and our nation [the Kurds]," she said firmly.

"The enemy [the Turkish authorities] has forced us not to believe in them."

However, pro-Kurdish political parties have some leverage.

Erdogan needs their support to enable him to run for a third term as president in elections due in 2028.

For its part, the PKK has been hit hard by the Turkish military in recent years with leaders and fighters hunted down in drone warfare.

And regional change, in Iran and Syria, means the militant group and its affiliates have less freedom to operate.

Both sides have their reasons for doing a deal now. That may be grounds for hope.

Top military officials from India and Pakistan are due to speak later on Monday to discuss finer details of the ceasefire agreed between them on Saturday.

The US-brokered ceasefire between the nuclear-armed neighbours appears to have held overnight after nearly four days of intense shelling and aerial incursions from both sides.

On Saturday, President Donald Trump announced the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, saying "it was time to stop the current aggression that could have led to the death and destruction of so many, and so much".

Both nations have ceased hostilities since then but say they remain vigilant, warning each other of the consequences of violating the ceasefire.

The tensions were the latest in the rivalry between the neighbours who have fought two wars over Kashmir, a Himayalan region which they claim in full but administer in part.

The recent hostilities threatened to turn into a full-fledged war as both countries appeared unwilling to back down and threatened to escalate if the other didn't relent.

Both countries have said that dozens of people from both sides died over the four days of fighting last week, partly due to heavy shelling near the de facto border.

After the ceasefire, however, the both the rivals declared military victory.

On 07 May, India reported striking nine targets inside Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir in response to the deadly militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 26 tourists.

India blamed a Pakistan-based group for the attack but Islamabad denies any involvement.

In the days since the first strike, India and Pakistan accused each other of cross border shelling and claimed to have shot down rival drones and aircraft in their airspace.

As the conflict escalated, both nations said they have struck the rival's military bases.

Indian officials reported striking 11 Pakistan Air Force bases, including one in Rawalpindi, near the capital Islamabad. India also claimed Pakistan lost 35-40 men at the Line of Control during the conflict and the neighbour's air force lost a few aircraft.

Pakistan has accepted some Indian projectiles landed up at its air force bases.

Indian defence forces have also said that it struck nine armed group training facilities in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, killing more than 100 militants.

Pakistan military, in turn, claims it targeted about 26 military facilities in India and its drones hovered over Delhi.

India has also accepted some Pakistani projectiles landed up at its air force bases.

Pakistan also claims to have shot down five Indian aircraft, including three French Rafales - which India has not acknowledged, though it said that "losses are a part of combat".

Pakistan denied the claims that an Indian pilot was in its custody after she ejected following an Indian aircraft crash. India has also said that "all our pilots are back home".

Follow BBC News India on Instagram, YouTube, X and Facebook

Police say they are investigating after a fire at UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's house in north London in the early hours of the morning.

A cordon was put in place outside the Kentish Town property, with firefighters and police officers present.

The London Fire Brigade said it had been called to a "small fire" at 01:11 BST and it was under control 20 minutes later.

Sir Keir - who now lives at his official residence in Downing Street - is understood to still own the property.

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version.

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Six Bulgarians have been jailed for spying on the enemies of Russia's Vladimir Putin in the UK and beyond.

During a lengthy trial, the Old Bailey heard the ring was paid handsomely for their services, including spying on two journalists who had exposed nerve agent attacks on the Russian dissidents Alexei Navalny and Sergei Skripal.

On Monday, the ringleader Orlin Roussev was jailed for 10 years and eight months for the charge of conspiracy to spy. His second-in-command, Biser Dzhambazov, was sentenced to 10 years and two months.

Katrin Ivanova, Dzhambazov's partner, was jailed for nine years and eight months by Judge Justice Hilliard. Three others were jailed for between eight and six years.

• Watch live: Judge hands down sentences to six Bulgarians convicted of spying for Russia

Their names are Tihomir Ivanchev, Ivan Stoyanov and Vanya Gaberova.

The trial heard that the gang had conducted operations in the UK, Austria, Spain, Germany and Montenegro.

They targeted investigative journalists Christo Grozev and Roman Dobrokhotov, as well as Russian dissidents and political figures.

The case against them, which has been described as "one of the largest" foreign intelligence operations in the UK, focused on six of their assignments.

For the first time in a UK criminal court, the inner workings of a Russian operational spy cell were exposed in thousands of messages organising surveillance, photos and videos of their targets, and talk of plans to kidnap and kill.

Evidence placed before the court this week revealed new details about Jan Marsalek, the ring's controller for Russian intelligence services.

Marsalek, an Austrian, is currently on the run and is wanted in Germany for alleged fraud linked to the financial services company Wirecard.

The spy ring referred to themselves as the "minions", inspired by the yellow sidekicks of the villain Gru in the Despicable Me children's film franchise.

The group also frequently referred to the Russian GRU agency - its military intelligence service - in Telegram messages.

Police raided the Norfolk guesthouse housing the operation in 2023 and found a "treasure trove" of gadgets, including a Minion cuddly toy containing a camera.

Ivanova, Gaberova and Ivanchev were convicted of conspiracy to spy for Russia on 7 March. Roussev, Dzhambazov and Stoyanov had previously pleaded guilty.

In sentencing, Mr Justice Hilliard singled out Dzhambazov as the boss but said all were "motivated by money" - "substantial" sums of up to €1m (£840,000) were discussed by the gang, demonstrating the "value" of their covert activities to Russia.

Mr Justice Hilliard said using the UK as a base to plan spy operations was a "very serious offence" which "undermines this country's standing with allies".

"Targeting journalists… undermines freedom of the press, one of our core democratic values," he added.

Roussev was ordered to pay a confiscation order of £180,768 in ill-gotten gains by August 2025.

Gaberova's sentenced was reduced to six years, eight months and three weeks following mitigation.

Her defence barrister Anthony Metzer KC said Gaberova, 30, was "controlled, coerced into this conspiracy by Mr Dzhambazov," who was her lover while also being involved with Ivanova.

The court was told Gaberova had been diagnosed with depression, panic disorder, claustrophobia and anxiety.

Conspiracy to spy carries a maximum sentence of 14 years, but Roussev, Dzhambazov and Stoyanov were afforded some credit for their guilty pleas.

Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met's Counter Terrorism Command, said the case was "a clear example" of the increasing threat of state espionage.

He added that it also "highlights a relatively new phenomenon whereby espionage is being 'outsourced' by certain states".

US and China have agreed a temporary cut to the tariffs they impose on each other's imports.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said both countries would lower their reciprocal tariffs by 115% for 90 days.

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version.

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The first set of 49 white South Africans to be granted refugee status by President Donald Trump's administration are on their way to the US.

On Sunday they boarded a flight from Johannesburg which is due to land in Washington DC later on Monday.

This comes after a weekend of speculation about when the Afrikaners would leave for America, amid criticism from the South African government who described the US resettlement scheme as "politically motivated".

Relations between South Africa and the US have been tense for months, after an executive order in February in which President Trump stated that Afrikaners were victims of "racial discrimination".

The US has criticised domestic South African policy, accusing the government of seizing land from white farmers without any compensation - something which the southern African nation says has not happened.

Bilateral tensions have been strained for months as President Trump tasked his administration with formulating plans to potentially resettle Afrikaners in the US.

In March, South Africa's ambassador to the US, Ebrahim Rasool, was expelled after accusing President Trump of using "white victimhood as a dog whistle", leading to the US accusing Mr Rasool of "race-baiting".

The current group of refugees comprises 49 people, who are expected to land in Washington DC later on Monday, before continuing to Texas.

President Trump's openness to accepting Afrikaner refugees comes as the US has engaged in a wider crackdown on migrants and asylum seekers from other countries.

More BBC stories about South Africa:

• Almost 70,000 South Africans interested in US asylum
• What's really driving Trump's fury with South Africa?
• Is it checkmate for South Africa after Trump threats?

Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent.

Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica

Father Ted co-creator Graham Linehan has pleaded not guilty to harassment and criminal damage against a transgender woman.

The Irish comedy writer, who also created The IT Crowd and Black Books, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London on Monday.

The 56-year-old denied two charges including one of harassing Sophia Brooks, 18, a transgender activist, on social media in October.

He is also accused of damaging her phone during the "Battle of Ideas" conference in London in the same month, at which he was a speaker. The case will go to trial in September.

Mr Linehan spoke to confirm his name, date of birth and his plea.

He said outside court afterwards that he had for six years defended "the rights of women and children" and had faced abuse and threats.

Mr Linehan must return to the court for trial on 4 September.

He is accused of harassment by posting abusive comments on social media between 11 and 27 of October, and of damage to a phone to the value of £369.

He was granted bail on condition he did not to contact the complainant directly or indirectly.

When it comes to reducing UK immigration, there have been plenty of promises and targets from successive governments over the last 15 years, but the numbers remain high.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer is now pledging to "take back control of our borders", promising tighter rules to bring down the numbers "significantly".

BBC Verify examines the measures set out by the government and the challenges ahead.

What's happened to the numbers?

Migration levels have hit "unprecedented levels" in recent years, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Net migration to the UK - total permanent arrivals minus total permanent departures - reached a record 906,000 in the year ending in June 2023 and then fell to 728,000 in the year ending in June 2024.

The continued high levels persist, despite previous government efforts to bring the numbers down. For example, in 2010 the Conservatives pledged to reduce net migration to the "tens of thousands".

Annual net migration is expected to come down to about 315,000 by the end of the Parliament.

That's according to the central forecast from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) - the independent body that scrutinises the public finances.

That estimate, however, would still be higher than most years in the past decade.

What's been driving immigration?

The vast majority of migrants come to the UK for study or work.

And many of the work visas have been for people coming to do jobs in health and social care.

However, applications for health and social care visas have come down sharply in the past two years after the rules were tightened by the last Conservative government and this decline will ultimately feed into the official net migration statistics in the coming years.

Does immigration help economic growth?

There's been much discussion about the link between immigration and economic growth.

The White Paper - which sets out the government's plan - says the UK economy needs to wean itself off a reliance on cheap overseas labour.

While taking questions from journalists, the prime minister claimed the idea immigration leads to higher economic growth "doesn't hold".

Economists do not agree about the exact impact that simply adding more people to an economy has on growth and prosperity.

New arrivals might increase the country's overall level of economic activity - measured by GDP. But on a per-person basis, GDP could be stagnant or falling. Also a larger population puts more pressure on demand for public services and housing.

However, if immigrants are filling important gaps in the labour market which would otherwise not be filled - especially jobs that require specific skills - then economists generally think that immigrants can boost GDP per head and general prosperity.

The OBR says that increased migration generally increases economic growth but "the size of this impact and the effect on per person living standards is highly uncertain".

The OBR's point about growth per person is important because the government has made growth of this measure a key priority.

Growth per person fell in 2023 and was flat in 2024.

What about social care?

There are gaps in our labour market which have been substantially filled by migrants in recent years, most notably social care.

And there were still estimated to be 131,000 vacant posts in adult social care in England in 2023.

Care providers argue stopping them recruiting from overseas will likely make that gap bigger.

Non-immigrants could theoretically fill many of these posts and working-age people who are economically inactive could potentially be deployed in this sector if they could be encouraged and helped into work.

Yet the main barrier to recruitment in social care has been the level of pay, which is currently too low to attract sufficient numbers of British workers.

Amy Clark, commercial director of a Cornwall care home chain, told the BBC that the measures could cause challenges because "recruiting locally is very, very difficult".

The government could increase the levels of pay in social care, but that would leave them under pressure to increase grants to local authorities and potentially raise taxes to fund it.

Problems with social care recruitment were also highlighted by Madeleine Sumption, deputy chair of the Migration Advisory Committee.

"We've seen widespread reports of exploitation, people coming in who are quite vulnerable earning very low wages.

"So I am not surprised the government has chosen to close overseas recruitment because it's caused them so much difficulty," she said.

What about universities?

Overseas students have been a major contributor to levels of net migration in recent years.

But they are also a significant source of funding for UK universities.

A large reduction in overseas students numbers would undermine the finances of many universities and a number are already in severe financial difficulties.

The government wants to monitor more closely how universities recruit international students.

It is also proposing a limit on the time international students can remain in the UK after graduating. Foreign students would only have 18 months to look for a job, down from 2-3 years previously.

Universities UK - which represents 141 universities - has urged the government "to think carefully" about the impact of its measures.

If overseas student numbers did fall, the government could make up the shortfall in universities' revenue by increasing central government grants but, again, that could require an increase in taxes.

Alternatively, it could further increase domestic students' tuition fees, although that would also be contentious.

What about skilled migrants?

The government says it still wants to attract high-skilled individuals "who play by the rules and contribute to the economy".

However, the PM also stressed that some parts of the economy are "addicted" to importing cheap labour, rather than investing in training UK workers.

As an example, Sir Keir said the number of engineering apprenticeships had fallen in recent years, while visas for overseas workers in this area had gone up.

Figures in the government's new immigration plan show that the number of UK work visas issued for engineering professionals rose from 3,427 in 2021 to 5,495 in 2024.

Meanwhile, the number of new apprenticeships in engineering in England fell from 26,970 in 2021-22 to 18,520 in 2024-25.

But if the government wants many more home-trained engineers that will likely come with a cost in terms of a higher training budget.

While that investment could come partly from firms, it could also mean more public spending and possibly tax rises.

According to the Institute for Fiscal Studies, total public spending on adult education and skills has fallen by 24% in real terms since 2010.

Reacting to the government's proposals, Make UK - which represents manufacturers - said firms are being forced to recruit overseas staff because domestic skills training is "fundamentally flawed".

"Without access to skilled labour in the UK, manufacturers cannot take advantage of the opportunities presented by the recent trade agreements with India and the US and deliver the growth we all want to see and the economy needs", said CEO Stephen Phipson.

Additional reporting by Anthony Reuben

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