Normal view

There are new articles available, click to refresh the page.
Today — 12 July 2025News

'All my savings are going': Pub landlords fear closure as costs rise

12 July 2025 at 00:00
BBC A blonde women with a black shirt on, sitting in front of a bar.BBC
Emma says pubs landlords need to come together to voice their struggles.

Behind the bar at The King's Head in Pollington, east Yorkshire, Emma Baxter has a problem. She runs the pub in her evenings - but it makes no money.

It is the last remaining pub in the village after another shut down, along with a greengrocer and the post office. She says she can't take a salary from the business.

"I run the pub for the love of it and for the fact I'm a village girl," she says.

"I'm a strong believer in the fact that it's the centre of the community and I said when I bought it I would keep it going.

"But my electricity bill has doubled in the last six months – where is that money going to come from?"

Emma felt so strongly about the tough financial situation facing many pubs that she contacted Your Voice, Your BBC News - an initiative to share the stories that matter to you.

According to the British Beer and Pub Association, the number of pubs in the UK has steadily decreased every year since 2000. Some 15,000 pubs have closed in that time, including 289 last year - the equivalent of six a week.

The average price of a pint is set to increase from £4.80 to £5.01. Budget measures mean that pubs face a loss of 9p on each pint if they continue to charge the same pre-budget prices. This means the price of a pint will need to rise by 21p to £5.01 for pubs to maintain current 12p profit.

The industry faced particular struggles during the Covid pandemic, but Emma believes things have deteriorated in the last two years - and it's left some pubs struggling to stay afloat.

"We saw maybe one price increase a year if we were lucky [during Covid] - sometimes we didn't even see that," she says.

"Now we're seeing three for a year and we've got another one coming. That will be the second one in the last two months. So how much more is this going to happen?"

At the same time as battling rising costs, she is attempting to entice customers in.

"I think everybody's trying their best - but you can't compromise the service and the quality that you give and the environment that you give.

"So you can't turn around at 9pm, turn all the lights off and make people sit around one bulb, you know. That's not what people come out for."

A man with his arms folded in front of a bar.
Maurice says he is being charged 'ridiculous' prices for beer and spirits

Pubs operate under various business models. There are free houses, which are not owned by a brewery or landlord stipulating where landlords buy their beer from. These are often run by owner-occupiers.

Then there are brewery-owned pubs, which generally only sell beers from that brewery.

And there are firms that own thousands of pubs and are occupied by tenants - often referred to as a "pub co".

Some tenants are also obliged to buy the drinks they sell from the same company. In some cases they are responsible for the upkeep of the building too.

Maurice, a tenant for one such company in Sheffield, tells the BBC he is trying to renegotiate his deal to run the pub. He says he will have to close the establishment if he can't get better terms.

"The prices that we are charged for spirits, beer, is ridiculous. I could actually go to a supermarket and buy about two bottles for what they're charging me for one. But I'm not allowed to because I'm tied," he says.

He also wants to see "pub co" breweries offered more help with the maintenance of their pubs, rather than leaving tenants to chase money for repairs.

Having been in the trade all his working life, he says he got involved with running a pub because of his love for community, but he's struggling to see a bright future.

"At the end of the day, you've got to make money. Financially, we're losing about £1,000 a week at a minimum here. And that's been for about the last couple of months.

"I can't afford to carry that anymore. All my savings are going."

A bearded white man with glasses sits in front of a window.
Paul is calling for a VAT cut for pubs

For its part, the UK government says the pub is a central part of Britain's national identity and it is working hard to support the industry.

"We are a pro-business government and we know the vital importance of pubs to local communities and the economy, which is why we are supporting them with business rates relief and a 1p cut to alcohol duty on draught pints."

However, campaigners say that's not enough.

"Bringing down the VAT rate for hospitality would be a massive win," says Paul Crossman, landlord of The Swan, in York.

Paul, who is also chair of the pressure group the Campaign for Pubs, says: "I know the Chancellor of the Exchequer won't like that because there will be a cost attached to it, but surely getting 10% VAT from businesses that are still open is better than asking 20% from businesses that can't sustain that and will close."

There are some positive stories, too. Meg and Patrick have recently taken over the oldest pub in Chesterfield, south Yorkshire, and say their re-opening "couldn't have gone better".

Both former teachers, the couple had a shared dream of running their own pub, eventually saving enough to buy the Ye Royal Oak in the town centre.

A man and woman stand smiling with their arms around each other in front of a sign for an old pub.
Meg and Patrick said reopening Chesterfield's oldest pub was "really special"

They say being a free house pub has been helpful, as they are in control of what they do.

Patrick that the support he's witnessed in the community has given him hope.

"Beer and pubs are such a massive part of the fabric of British life that we think that that's not something that's ever going to go away," he says.

National Trust blames tax rises as it cuts 550 jobs

11 July 2025 at 21:02
BBC Two women putting up National Trust bunting on the outside of a houseBBC

The National Trust has announced plans to cut 6% of its current workforce, about 550 jobs, blaming an inflated pay bill and tax rises introduced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves.

The heritage and conservation charity said it was under "sustained cost pressures beyond our control".

These include the increase in employers' National Insurance contributions and the National Living Wage rise from April, which the National Trust said had driven up annual wage costs by more than £10m.

The cost-cutting measures are part of a plan to find £26m worth of savings.

A 45-day consultation period with staff began on Thursday and the Trust said they were working with the union Prospect "to minimise compulsory redundancies".

The charity is running a voluntary redundancy scheme, and is expecting that to significantly reduce compulsory redundancies, a spokeswoman said.

The job cuts will affect all staff from management down, and everyone whose job is at risk will be offered a suitable alternative where available, the spokeswoman added.

Following consultations, which will finish in mid-to-late August, the cuts will be made in the autumn.

The Trust currently has about 9,500 employees.

Oasis sweep UK charts after reunion frenzy

12 July 2025 at 00:02
Reuters Liam Gallagher shaking a tambourine and looking impassively into the crowd on stage at the Cardiff Principality Stadium on 4 July 2025Reuters
Liam Gallagher has buried the hatched with brother Noel (for now)

Oasis fans have gone mad for their music again following their reunion, sending the band to number one in the UK album chart.

After the group kicked off their comeback tour last week, their greatest hits compilation Time Flies has gone back to the top spot, followed by 1995 album (What's the Story) Morning Glory? at number two.

Debut album Definitely Maybe, from 1994, is at number four - with only Sabrina Carpenter preventing them from completing a clean sweep of the top three.

News of the chart revival comes as the Britpop heroes prepare for their homecoming with the first of five sold-out nights in Manchester.

Oasis have had eight number one albums in total, and last topped the chart when Definitely Maybe went back to the summit last September after the reunion was announced. Time Flies and Morning Glory also went back into the top five at that time.

Three of their songs have also gone into the top 20 singles chart this week, led by Acquiesce, which was originally only a B-side, at number 17. That's followed by Don't Look Back in Anger at 18, and Live Forever at 19.

Noel and Liam Gallagher buried the hatchet to get back on stage for the first time in 16 years in Cardiff a week ago, and received enthusiastic reviews from ticket-holders and critics.

They have now moved on to Manchester's Heaton Park, where about 80,000 people will watch them every night.

They will also play seven nights at Wembley Stadium in London as well as shows in Edinburgh and Dublin, and a world tour.

The success of the brotherly reconciliation has gone some way to eclipsing bad memories of the scramble for tickets, when some fans found that prices more than doubled while they spent hours in a virtual queue.

'I was lucky to survive a one-punch attack'

11 July 2025 at 18:24
BBC Man - Ross McConnell - looking at camera, in a living room.BBC
Ross McConnell was badly injured in the attack

An attack victim has said he is lucky to be alive after being knocked out by a single punch from a stranger who has now been jailed.

Airline pilot Ross McConnell, 35, was assaulted following a Busted concert at Aberdeen's P&J Live in 2023, leaving him unable to work for several months and with permanent scarring.

He has now spoken out to warn of the dangers of a single punch, saying the "split-second action" can have "absolutely devastating consequences".

Ben Corfield, 40, admitted the assault, and was jailed for a year at Aberdeen Sheriff Court.

Speaking after the sentencing, Mr McConnell said: "Justice has been done today, that guy very nearly killed me.

"I understand that he has had time to reflect on it. I accept his remorse, but ultimately he did what he did.

"Every day I'm reminded that the situation could be much more different."

Mr McConnell and his wife Lisa were both assaulted in the incident on 19 September 2023.

Corfield, from Doncaster in South Yorkshire, admitted punching the pilot to his severe injury and permanent disfigurement.

He also admitted assaulting another man on the same night.

Claire Maclagan, 36, from Dundee, admitted assaulting Lisa McConnell and was sentenced to carry out 187 hours of unpaid work.

Sheriff Morag McLaughlin said she had "wrestled" with her decision, but she had no choice but to impose a custodial sentence on the first-time offender.

She described it as an "extremely serious assault" which could have turned out "significantly worse".

The sheriff told the court "everyone wishes Mr Corfield had just walked away".

Ross McConnell Stitches to an injury in a man's head.Ross McConnell
Ross McConnell needed stitches to the wound in his head

Mr McConnell said events on the night unfolded very quickly.

"Out of nowhere this guy comes up to me," he said.

"He just punched me to the left-hand side of my jaw. It caused me to fall backwards. The next thing I remember was waking up in the recovery position on the floor.

"I don't recall saying anything to him, it all happened in the space of seconds. I just thought, what did I do to deserve this? If someone else had been in my position it looks like they would have got the same treatment."

How bad were the injuries?

Mr McConnell was taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary where he received stitches to his serious head wound.

He said: "My daughter nearly lost her father, my wife nearly lost her husband, my mother nearly lost her son - all because one guy had a bad night and decided to punch me.

"Just about 30cm from where my head struck was uneven granite cobble. If my head had hit that, I shudder to think. The situation could have been a lot worse. I might not even be here today at worse case."

He was unable to properly return to his job as an airline pilot for nearly four months.

"That really gets you down," he said. "You know I thought 'why me?' A single punch has caused all of this impact for me, the physical impact as well as the financial loss and the mental impact too.

"I sat for days wondering, had I done anything? Was this my fault?"

A woman with short grey hair and glasses. She is wearing a black dress with multi-coloured flowers on it
Maxine Thompson-Curl lost her son after a single-punch attack

Maxine Thompson-Curl set up the charity One Punch UK after her 18-year-old son Kristian's death in 2010.

He was punched by a man in a nightclub.

"He had a fractured skull and a catastrophic brain injury," she said. "My life from that moment has never been the same.

"He was in a coma for five days. And then for many months he was trying to get over having a brain injury. But he died nine months later. It was absolutely horrific."

She added: "We know these one-punch assaults happen, but the difficult thing statistically is that it isn't recorded by the police as a one-punch attack it is recorded as an assault.

"I have contact with people from across the country - Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland - and I would say at least twice a week I am hearing from people who are going through this, they get in touch looking for help.

"We know that one punch can ruin two lives. What I would say is - stop, think and walk away. Don't use those fists as weapons. They weren't given to punch, they were given to us to care, to hold each other, not to kill."

Why has Ross told his story?

Assistant Chief Constable Mark Sutherland of Police Scotland said violence of any kind was entirely unacceptable.

"A split-second, ill-informed decision can end someone's life, and leave the perpetrator facing a long jail sentence," he said.

Mr McConnell hopes sharing his story might also make others think twice before lashing out.

"I am one of the lucky ones who survived a one-punch attack," he said.

"There are many other accounts out there where people have lost their lives, become disabled from it.

"If you are really having a bad day, taking a swing at somebody Is not going to make it any better."

Netanyahu Ends Washington Trip Without a Gaza Truce

12 July 2025 at 01:02
Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, met several times with President Trump, amid rising hopes of a cease-fire in Gaza, but there are still obstacles to a truce with Hamas.

© Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel on Capitol Hill on Wednesday.

Trump’s Purge of Foreign Workers Arrives at Amazon’s Warehouses

The tech giant has quietly shed warehouse employees whose work authorizations were revoked after the Trump administration ended a Biden-era immigration program.

© Maddie McGarvey for The New York Times

Amazon’s warehouse in West Jefferson, Ohio, where hundreds of workers were recently dismissed.

Earth Is Spinning Faster, Making Some Summer Days Shorter

12 July 2025 at 00:18
The planet’s rotation fluctuates as it travels around the sun, and measurements suggest we’re losing more than a millisecond during the long days of summer.

© JPL/NASA

The Earth and the moon in conjunction, captured by the Galileo spacecraft in 1996. The moon’s gravitational tug is responsible for tidal changes on Earth, which affect the speed of its spin and the length of its days.

S.E.C. Accuses Prominent Georgia Republican of Running Ponzi Scheme

12 July 2025 at 00:18
Edwin Brant Frost IV, a well-known Republican, is accused of defrauding 300 investors of $140 million, and using some funds for political donations. He said he took “full responsibility.”

© First Liberty Building and Loan

Edwin Brant Frost IV, in a promo video released by First Liberty Building and Loan.

Dozens taken to hospital after suspected mass overdose in Baltimore

12 July 2025 at 00:04
Baltimore Police A landscape image of a road crossing with multiple emergency service workers standing around. The front of a red fire truck can be seen on the left hand side.Baltimore Police
The incident happened around a road intersection in West Baltimore close to a subway station.

At least 25 people have been taken to hospital in West Baltimore following suspected drug overdoses.

Citing officials from the region's fire department, the BBC's US partner CBS News said five people were admitted in a critical condition with others in a serious condition.

The incident, which took place near a road intersection in the Penn North area of the city on Thursday morning, led to the Maryland Department of Transportation closing a nearby subway station while roads were also blocked.

Fire Chief James Wallace told reporters that emergency services on the scene were directed to multiple people suspected of overdosing by members of the public.

He said people were found along two intersecting avenues as well as on the subway platforms and along alleyways following the initial response at around 09:20 local time (14:20 BST), according to CBS.

Officials have not named any substance they believe to have been involved.

Baltimore Police posted on X on Thursday that they, and fire services, were at the road intersection "in reference to multiple individuals experiencing overdose symptoms".

The police service asked people to avoid the area as multiple streets had been blocked off and buses rerouted.

The city's state attorney, Ivan Bates, said the incident "serves as a powerful reminder of our city's ongoing battle against the opioid epidemic".

He added that his office will support emergency services and the health department in their work to find out what happened.

Maryland Governor Wes Moore also said on Thursday his team were coordinating with state agencies, city officials and first responders.

"I'm grateful to those who quickly alerted us about this situation, and those who are providing support to the community," Mr Moore said.

Separately, an update from the city's mayor, Brandon Scott, issued advice for residents who use drugs; including to never use alone and to carry Naloxone or Narcan - both of which can be collected for free from the city's health department.

Kurdish PKK burns guns in cauldron in big step towards ending Turkey conflict

11 July 2025 at 22:27
DELIL SOULEIMAN/AFP A supporter holds a flag with the face of Abdullah Ocalan, with his face also on the backdrop behind herDELIL SOULEIMAN/AFP
Imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan still commands support among many Kurds

After 40 years of armed struggle against the Turkish state, the outlawed Kurdish PKK will hold a ceremony on Friday to mark a symbolic first step in laying down its arms.

The disarmament process will start under tight security in Iraqi Kurdistan and is expected to take all summer.

Turkey's president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has hailed the move as "totally ripping off and throwing away the bloody shackles that were put on our country's legs".

Some 40,000 people have been killed since the conflict began, and the PKK is listed as a terror group in Turkey, the US, EU and UK. Its disarmament will be felt not just in Turkey but in Iraq, Syria and Iran.

How and where will the PKK disarm?

A small group of PKK members will symbolically lay down their weapons in a ceremony near Suleymaniyah in Iraqi Kurdistan, before going back to their bases.

For security reasons, the exact location is not being revealed, although it's thought members of Turkey's pro-Kurdish opposition Dem party will be there, even if other major Turkish political parties will not.

Disarmament will then continue over the coming months at points set up with the involvement of the Turkish, Iraqi and Kurdistan regional governments, BBC Turkish has been told.

In a video, the PKK's long-imprisoned leader, Abdullah Ocalan, said it was "a voluntary transition from the phase of armed conflict to the phase of democratic politics and law". He has been in solitary confinement on the small prison island of Imrali, south-west of Istanbul, since he was captured in 1999.

Who are the PKK and why has the conflict lasted so long?

Getty Images PKK fighters training in Iraqi KurdistanGetty Images
A fragile ceasefire with the PKK broke down in 2015

This is not the first attempt at peace involving Turkey and the PKK, but this is the best hope so far that the armed struggle that began in 1984 will come to an end.

Originally a Marxist group, the Kurdistan Workers' Party took up arms calling for an independent state inside Turkey.

In the 1990s, they called instead for greater autonomy for Kurds, who make up about 20% of the population.

Ocalan announced a ceasefire in 2013, and urged PKK forces to withdraw from Turkey. The 2015 Dolmabahce Agreement was supposed to bring democratic and language rights for Kurds, but the fragile truce collapsed amid devastating violence, especially in the Kurdish-dominated cities of the south-east, including Diyarbakir.

Turkey's air force targeted PKK bases in the mountains of northern Iraq. Several military campaigns have also targeted Kurdish-led forces in Syria.

The government in Ankara ruled out further talks until the PKK laid down its arms. That is now on the verge of happening.

Why has the PKK decided to disband?

In October 2024, a prominent nationalist leader and key Erdogan ally called Devlet Bahceli began a process described by the government as "terror-free Turkey". He urged the PKK's imprisoned leader to call for the dissolution of the outlawed group. It could pave the way for his possible release from Imrali island, he suggested.

The Turkish government launched talks with Ocalan via the pro-Kurdish Dem party, and then in February came his historic appeal for the PKK to disband, read out by two Dem MPs who had just returned from a visit to the prison island.

"All groups must lay their arms and the PKK must dissolve itself," read Ocalan's letter.

The PKK had been formed primarily because "the channels of democratic politics were closed", he said, but Devlet Bahceli and Erdogan's own positive signals had created the right environment.

The PKK followed Ocalan's lead and declared a ceasefire and later declared that it had "completed its historical mission": the Kurdish issue could now "be resolved through democratic politics".

President Erdogan said it was an "opportunity to take a historic step toward tearing down the wall of terror" and met pro-Kurdish politicians in April.

Why is Ocalan so important?

ANF Seven men - three sitting and four standing - are in front of a camera looking solemn.ANF
Ocalan, in the centre at the front, released a video on Wednesday ahead of Friday's ceremony

As founder of the PKK, Ocalan continues to be reviled by many Turks, even after 26 years in solitary confinement.

And yet he still plays an important role in the eyes of Kurds.

"I think he really has this authority; he is a main symbol for many Kurds, not all," says Joost Jongerden, a specialist on the 41-year conflict at Wageningen University in the Netherlands.

Two days before the PKK were due to begin disarmament, Ocalan appeared on video for the first time since he was put on trial more than 20 years ago.

Speaking for seven minutes, he addressed the outlawed group: "I believe in the power of politics and social peace, not weapons. And I call on you to put this principle into practice."

Ocalan was wearing a branded Lacoste polo shirt, and in an indication of his enduring relevance, the shirt quickly went viral and websites ran out of stock.

What happens next?

Reuters Turkey's President Erdogan looks at the camera Reuters
Turkey's President Erdogan has denied wanting to continue in office when his term runs out

After Friday's ceremony, the scene switches to Turkey's parliament in Ankara where a commission will be set up to make decisions on the next steps for the government.

As the summer recess is around the corner, no concrete decisions are expected for several months, when MPs vote on the commission's recommendations and President Erdogan has the final say.

What happens to Abdullah Ocalan is not yet clear. The government says his conditions in jail could be reviewed as the process unfolds, but any chance of release will be left to the latter stages.

What's in this process for Erdogan?

Erdogan's AK Party has begun work on changing the constitution, and there has been speculation that this would mean Erdogan would be able to run for the presidency again when his final term runs out in 2028.

The AKP and pro-Kurdish Dem party deny there is any link between the peace process and reshaping the constitution, but if Erdogan secures Dem support he would have a far greater chance of pushing through changes.

Erdogan is behind in the polls, but his main opposition rival, Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, is in jail accused of corruption, which he denies, and more opposition mayors have been arrested as part of a crackdown in the past week.

More than 150 arrests in global human trafficking crackdown

11 July 2025 at 21:41
Europol A woman is pictured standing in between two police officers with her back turned. The officers are also facing away. A male officer's face has been blurred.Europol

An international human trafficking crackdown has led to more than 150 arrests and the identification of more than 1,000 victims.

The six-day operation, which took place at the start of June, involved nearly 15,000 officers from 43 countries across Europe, Asia, Africa and South America, according to Interpol.

It targeted organised criminal gangs involved in trafficking people - who are typically underage - for the purpose of sexual exploitation, forced criminality and begging, Europol said.

Many sexual exploitation trafficking victims are women, who are typically recruited from abroad and taken to massage parlours where they are pressured into prostitution.

"Human trafficking is a brutal and devastating crime that strips people of their dignity, freedom, and humanity, preying on the most vulnerable, including children," said David Caunter, director of organised and emerging crime at Interpol.

The operation - dubbed "Global Chain" - made 158 arrests in total and identified a further 205 suspects, while 1,194 potential victims were discovered.

It was led by Austrian and Romanian authorities, and focused primarily on Europe - but also saw suspects arrested in Thailand, Nigeria and Vietnam.

Police in Malta freed three Colombian women - two sisters and their aunt - who were originally offered employment as cleaners there by an Italian national, Europol said.

Upon arrival, their passports were confiscated by the suspect under the guise of arranging work permits, the witholding of which was then used to coerce them into prostitution, the agency added.

In Austria, officers made seven arrests in connection with a Romanian family-based gang that allegedly used the "lover-boy" method to lure women into sexual exploitation and forced criminality under the pretence of a romantic relationship.

And in Italy, police raided several massage parlours with suspected links to sexual exploitation, identifying 75 potential trafficking victims, according to Interpol.

Potential trafficking victims originated from 64 countries around the globe, but the majority came from Romania, Ukraine, Colombia, China and Hungary, officials said.

The operation also saw €277,669 (£240,351) in cash seized, as well as 30 guns, 65 fraudulent documents and a tonne of cannabis.

A similar operation took place around the same time last year, resulting in the arrest of 200 suspects and the identification of more than 1,300 victims.

Outrage builds over plan to force all Gazans to southern city

11 July 2025 at 19:55
Reuters Palestinians walk among rubble in Rafah, with a tent and a bombed out building in the background (March 2025)Reuters
Rafah in southern Gaza has suffered large-scale destruction of buildings and infrastructure

For Gazans, a 60-day ceasefire being negotiated between Israel and Hamas would be a lifeline.

A window to bring in large quantities of desperately needed food, water and medicine after severe – and at times total - Israeli restrictions on aid deliveries.

But for Israel's defence minister Israel Katz a two-month pause in military operations would create an opportunity to build what he has called a "humanitarian city" in the ruins of the southern city of Rafah to contain almost every single Gazan except those belonging to armed groups.

According to the plan, Palestinians would be security screened before being allowed in and not permitted to leave.

Critics, both domestically and internationally, have condemned the proposal, with human rights groups, academics and lawyers calling it a blueprint for a "concentration camp".

It's unclear to what extent it represents a concrete plan of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government or whether it is a negotiating tactic to put more pressure on Hamas in the talks on a ceasefire and hostage release deal.

In the notable absence of any Israeli plan for Gaza after the war ends, this idea is filling the strategic vacuum.

Katz briefed a group of Israeli reporters that the new camp would initially house about 600,000 Palestinians - and eventually the whole 2.1 million population.

His plan would see the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) securing the site from a distance while international bodies managed the area. Four aid distribution sites would be established in the area, he said.

Map showing evacuation areas in Gaza

Katz also restated his desire to encourage Palestinians to "voluntarily emigrate" from the Gaza to other countries.

But it has not gained traction or support among other senior figures in Israel, and according to reports the proposal even triggered a clash between the prime minister and the head of the IDF.

Israeli media say the office of the chief of the general staff, Lt Gen Eyal Zamir, made clear the army was not obligated to forcibly transfer civilians, as the plan would require.

It's claimed Gen Zamir and Netanyahu were involved in an angry exchange during a recent war cabinet meeting.

Tal Schneider, a political correspondent at the centrist Times of Israel, said Zamir would be in a strong position to push back because the government "practically begged him to take the job" six months ago – and Netanyahu strongly endorsed his appointment.

It's not only the top military brass that is opposed to the idea. There is also consternation among rank and file too.

"Any transfer of a civil population is a form of war crime, that's a form of ethnic cleansing, which is also a form of genocide," IDF reservist Yotam Vilk told the BBC at his home in Tel Aviv.

John Landy Yotam VilkJohn Landy
Yotam Vilk says he will refuse any further reserve duty in Gaza

The 28-year-old former officer in the Armored Corps is refusing to serve any longer in the army following 270 days of active combat in Gaza.

He describes himself as a patriot and argues Israel must defend itself but that the current war has no strategy nor end in sight.

Vilk is also part of Soldiers for the Hostages, a group calling for an end of the war to secure the release of the 50 Israelis still being held captive by Hamas in Gaza, up to 20 of whom are believed to be alive.

Meanwhile 16 Israeli experts in international law issued a joint letter on Friday denouncing the plan, which they said would constitute a war crime. The letter urged "all relevant parties to publicly withdraw from the plan, renounce it and refrain from carrying it out".

The plan has unsurprisingly dismayed Palestinians in Gaza.

"We completely reject this proposal, and we reject the displacement of any Palestinian from their land," Sabreen, who had been forced to leave Khan Younis, told the BBC. "We are steadfast and will remain here until our last breath."

Ahmad Al Mghayar from Rafah said: "Freedom is above everything. This is our land, we should be free to move wherever we want. Why are we being pressured like this?"

It's not clear how much support Katz's plan has among the general public, but recent surveys have indicated the majority of Jews in Israel favour the expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza.

One poll published in the left-wing daily newspaper Haaretz claimed as many as 82 per cent of Jewish Israelis supported such a move.

But there has been curious lack of public support for the proposal among the far-right, including prominent ministers in the coalition Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.

Both have been vocal proponents of Palestinians leaving Gaza and Jewish settlers returning.

Tal Schneider said both ministers may still be weighing up giving their backing to the proposal for a mass camp.

"Maybe they're waiting to see where the wind blows to see if it's serious. Both Smotrich and Ben-Gvir are cabinet members and have more access to internal discussions. Maybe they think this is just to put political pressure on Hamas to come to the table."

Outside Israel, the proposal for a new camp for all Gazans has attracted widespread criticism.

In the UK, minister for the Middle East Hamish Falconer posted on social media that he was "appalled" by the plan.

"Palestinian territory must not be reduced," he wrote. "Civilians must be able to return to their communities. We need to move towards a ceasefire deal and open a pathway to lasting peace."

British human rights lawyer Baroness Helena Kennedy KC told the BBC the project would force Palestinians into a "concentration camp".

The description, which other critics including academics, NGOs and senior UN officials have used, holds considerable resonance in light of the role of concentration camps in the Holocaust.

Baroness Kennedy said the plan - as well as the latest actions of Israel - has led her to conclude Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.

"I was very reluctant to go there, because the threshold has to be very high. There has to be specific intent for genocide. But what we're now seeing is genocidal behaviour," she said.

Israel has vehemently rejected the charge of genocide and says it does not target civilians.

The Israeli foreign ministry also told the BBC that "the notion that Israel is creating concentration camps is deeply offensive and draws parallels with the Nazis". Israel "adheres to the Geneva Convention", it added, referring to the international regulations governing the treatment of civilians in occupied territories.

Aside from grim warnings about what might happen, the prospect of a new camp is having an impact on efforts to end the Gaza war.

Palestinian sources at the ceasefire talks grinding on in the Qatari capital Doha have told the BBC the plan has alarmed the Hamas delegation and has created a new obstacle to a deal.

Additional reporting by Joyce Liu and John Landy

Asia is reeling from Trump's tariff salvo – is anyone winning?

11 July 2025 at 08:45
Getty Images US President Donald Trump during a dinner with Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's prime minister, not pictured, in the Blue Room of the White House in Washington, DC, US, on Monday, 7 July, 2025.Getty Images
President Trump has extended the deadline for tariff negotiations - again

"Deeply regrettable" is how Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has described US President Donald Trump's latest tariff threat - a 25% levy on Japanese goods.

Tokyo, a long-time US ally, has been trying hard to avoid exactly this. It has been seeking concessions for its beleaguered car makers, while resisting pressure to open its markets to American rice.

There have been many rounds of negotiations. Japan's trade minister has visited Washington DC at least seven times since April, when Trump announced sweeping tariffs against friends and foes.

And yet, those trips seem to have borne little fruit. Trump's label for Tokyo moved from "tough" to "spoiled" as talks dragged on.

And then this week, Japan joined a list of 22 nations that were sent tariff letters - 14 of those are in Asia. From South Korea to Sri Lanka, many are export-driven manufacturing hubs.

They have until 1 August to strike a deal with the US. But they are likely wondering about their chances given that Japan, a staunch ally that has been openly pursuing a deal, is still facing a steep levy.

Trump has reset the tariffs clock - again. So who is winning, and who is losing?

Winner: Negotiators who want more time

In one sense, almost all of the countries targeted by Trump earlier this year benefit from the deadline extension - they now have more than three weeks more to strike deals.

"The optimistic case is that there is pressure now to engage in further negotiations before the 1 August deadline," said Suan Teck Kin, head of research at United Overseas Bank.

Growing economies like Thailand and Malaysia, which received tariff letters this week, will be especially eager to seek a solution. They are also caught in the middle of US-China tensions as Washington targets Chinese exports rerouted through third countries, what are known as transhipped goods.

Economists have told the BBC that further extensions are likely, given the complexity of trade agreements.

Countries will need time to implement Trump's demands, which, going by the letters, are not entirely clear, said business lecturer Alex Capri from the National University of Singapore.

For instance, transhipped goods have been specifically levied as part of Vietnam's trade deal with the US. But it is unclear whether that applies to finished goods, or to all imported components.

Either way, it will involve far more sophisticated technology to keep track of supply chains, Mr Capri said.

"It's going to be a slow, long-term and evolving process involving many third parties, tech companies and logistic partners."

Loser: Asian manufacturers

It seems clear that tariffs are here to stay, which makes global trade the loser.

Companies from the US, Europe and China with global businesses remain at risk, Mr Capri said. This hurts not just exporters, but also US importers and consumers.

And it is a blow for the economic ambitions of large parts of Asia, whose rise has been fuelled by manufacturing, from electronics to textiles.

Getty Images Garment workers, men and women, walk out in a large group from their factory during their lunch break in Phnom Penh on July 8, 2025.Getty Images
Cambodia's garment workers rely on an export-driven industry for their livelihood

It is unwise to make zero-sum observations on which countries are winning and losing, Mr Capri added, because international trade, especially between US and China is so deeply inter-linked.

Some countries, however, could lose more than others.

Vietnam was the first in Asia to strike a deal, but it has little leverage against Washington, and is now facing levies up to 40%. The same goes for Cambodia. A poor country heavily reliant on exports, it has been negotiating a deal as Trump threatens 35% tariffs.

South Korea and Japan, on the other hand, may be able to hold out longer, because they are richer and have stronger geo-political levers.

India, which too has leverage of its own, has not been issued a letter yet. A deal has seemed imminent but appears to be delayed by key sticking points, including access to the Indian agricultural market and the country's import rules.

Loser: US-Japan alliance

"Despite its close economic and military relationship with the US, Japan is being treated the same as other Asian trade partners," said economist Jesper Koll.

And that could transform the relationship, especially as Tokyo, with its large financial reserves, appears to be ready for the long game.

"Japan has proven to be a tough negotiator and I think that has annoyed Trump," Mr Koll said.

Despite a rice shortage that has sent prices soaring, PM Ishiba has refused to buy US rice, choosing instead to protect domestic farmers. His government has also refused to give in to US demands to increase its military spending.

Getty Images This photo taken on April 8, 2025 shows a man in a cap walking past the logo of Samsung Electronics on a billboard in Vietnam's Bac Ninh province.Getty Images
Global businesses like Samsung are in limbo because of Trump's tariffs

"They are well prepared," Mr Koll argued. He said the day after Trump announced tariffs in April, Tokyo declared an economic emergency and set up hundreds of consultation centres to assist affected companies.

"Japan will be seeking a deal that is credible," he said, because what's the guarantee Trump won't change his mind again?

With Japan's upper-house election due this month, it would be surprising if a deal is agreed by August, Mr Koll said.

"No-one is happy. But is this something that is going to force a recession in Japan? No."

Winner: US or China?

Asia has long been seen as a key battleground between Washington and Beijing, and analysts say, because of tariffs, Trump may be ceding ground.

For one, given how complex these deals can be, Trump may be overplaying his hand by extending the deadline again, according to some observers.

"The bargaining position of the US has actually been diminished as they have revealed that their hand isn't actually as strong as they would like," said NUS economics professor David Jacks.

And the deals that are made could come at the cost of reshaping trade and ties built over decades.

Trump's choice of posting the letters online, rather than through traditional diplomatic channels, could backfire, said Mr Capri, who described it as "political theatre".

The confusion caused is a "great gift" to China, which is trying to portray itself as a stable alternative to Trump's unpredictability, he added.

But the US market is not easy to replace - and Beijing has its fair share of tensions with countries in this part of the world, from Vietnam to Japan.

China is in the middle of its own trade negotiations the US, although it has longer to strike a full agreement - until 13 August.

So who will win more friends in this trade war is hard to say, but the race is still on.

“Both parties see the need for a divorce," Prof Jacks said, "but getting there will be tough and involve proceedings which will span years, if not decades."

Yesterday — 11 July 2025News

Ukraine to receive US air defence systems, says Trump

11 July 2025 at 20:43
Reuters Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stands, visible above the shoulders dressed in a black shirt, his dark hair and beard short and face serious. Behind him is a camouflage-painted missile defence system.Reuters
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pictured in a file photo with a US Patriot defence system

US President Donald Trump has said he will send weapons, including Patriot air defence systems, for Ukraine via Nato.

Trump told NBC News that in a new deal, "we're going to be sending Patriots to Nato, and then Nato will distribute that", adding that Nato would pay for the weapons.

His announcement came after Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke of having a "positive dialogue" with Trump on ensuring that arms arrived on time, particularly air defence systems.

Zelensky said he had asked for 10 Patriot systems, after a surge in Russian drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian cities in the past week.

Speaking in Rome on Thursday, the Ukrainian leader said Germany was ready to pay for two of the Patriots and Norway for one, while other European partners were also prepared to help.

After a phone-call with Russia's Vladimir Putin last week, Trump said he was "not happy" that progress had not been made towards ending the war, and he has since complained that Putin's "very nice" attitude turned out to be meaningless.

During his interview with NBC News, Trump said he would make a "major statement" on Russia on Monday, but did not say what it would be about.

He said "Nato is going to reimburse the full cost" for the weapons sent on to Ukraine. Nato is funded through the contributions of its members, including the US.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters on Friday that he had urged countries including Germany and Spain to hand over some of their existing Patriot batteries, as they could reach Ukraine faster.

"We have continued to encourage our Nato allies to provide those weapons... since they have them in their stocks, then we can enter into financial agreements... where they can purchase the replacements."

The US defence department halted some shipments of critical weapons last week, raising concerns in Kyiv that its air defences could run low in a matter of months.

Among the armaments reported to have been placed on pause were Patriot interceptor missiles and precision artillery shells.

Then, as Ukraine was pounded by record numbers of drone attacks this week, Trump said more weapons would be sent: "We have to... They're getting hit very hard now."

Zelensky had appealed for the shipments to resume, describing the Patriot systems as "real protectors of life".

On Tuesday night, Ukraine was hit by a record 728 drones, and the Ukrainian president warned that Russia wanted to increase that to 1,000.

Heat map showing attacks on Ukraine

June saw the highest monthly civilian casualties in Ukraine in three years, with 232 people killed and more than 1,300 injured, according to the UN.

Since re-entering the White House in January, Trump has pushed to scale back US support for Ukraine.

The US was the biggest source of military aid to Ukraine between the start of 2022 and the end of 2024, giving $69bn (£54.6bn) in that time period, according to German think tank the Kiel Institute.

Trump has also pressed Nato allies to pledge more of their GDP to the security alliance. Last year, all European Nato members pledged to spend 2% of GDP on defence.

Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The US has been urging the two countries to reach an agreement to end the war.

Rubio told reporters that he and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had a "frank" conversation on the sidelines of a meeting in Malaysia on Thursday.

Rubio echoed Trump's "frustration at the lack of progress at peace talks", including "disappointment that there has not been more flexibility on the Russian side to bring about an end to this conflict".

He said the two had shared some new ideas about how the conflict could conclude, which he would take back to Trump.

Rubio declined to elaborate on what Trump said would be a "major" announcement about Russia on Monday.

Two residents die after car crashes into care home following police chase

11 July 2025 at 21:01
BBC Breaking NewsBBC

Two care home residents have died after a car crashed into the building following a police chase in Sunderland, Northumbria Police has said.

The crash happened at about 21:40 BST on Wednesday when a blue BMW hit Highcliffe Care Home in Witherwack, causing structural damage.

The vehicle had been reported stolen from the Fenham area of Newcastle earlier that evening, police said.

A woman in her 90s and another in her 80s died on Thursday, and eight other residents were taken to hospital with injuries. Two people have been arrested.

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

You can receive Breaking News on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App. You can also follow @BBCBreaking on X to get the latest alerts.

Unite union votes to suspend Rayner's membership over Birmingham bin strikes

11 July 2025 at 20:53
BBC 'Breaking' graphicBBC

Unite says it has suspended Angela Rayner from her membership of the union, amid a deepening row over the long-running bin strikes in Birmingham.

The deputy prime minister has been urging striking bin workers to accept a deal to end the dispute, which has seen mountains of rubbish pile up in the city.

The union said it would also re-examine its relationship with Labour after an emergency motion at its conference in Brighton.

Bin collection workers walked out in January, with an all-out strike going on since March. Unite is a major donor to the Labour Party, and has previously donated to Rayner herself.

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

You can receive Breaking News on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App. You can also follow @BBCBreaking on X to get the latest alerts.

Gaza's largest functioning hospital facing disaster, medics warn, as Israel widens offensive

11 July 2025 at 20:43
Reuters A Palestinian medic cares for injured people receiving treatment at Nasser hospital, Khan Younis, southern Gaza (9 July 2025)Reuters
A fuel shortage threatens to shut down life-saving services at Nasser hospital

Doctors have warned of an imminent disaster at Gaza's largest functioning hospital because of critical shortage of fuel and a widening Israeli ground offensive in the southern city of Khan Younis.

Nasser Medical Complex was forced to stop admitting patients on Thursday, when witnesses said Israeli troops and tanks advanced into a cemetery 200m (660ft) away and fired towards nearby camps for displaced families. The forces reportedly withdrew on Friday after digging up several areas.

Medical staff and dozens of patients in intensive care remain inside the hospital, where the fuel shortage threatens to shut down life-saving services.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military.

However, it said on Friday morning that an armoured brigade was operating in Khan Younis to dismantle "terrorist infrastructure sites" and confiscate weapons> It has previously issued evacuation orders for the areas around the hospital.

A witness told the BBC that Israeli tanks accompanied by excavators and bulldozers advanced from the south of the cemetery near Nasser hospital on Thursday.

The tanks fired shells and bullets as they moved into an area, which was previously farmland, and several tents belonging to displaced families were set on fire, the witness said. Video footage shared online showed a plume of dark smoke rising from the area.

The witness added that Israeli quadcopter drones also fired towards tents in the Namsawi Towers and al-Mawasi areas to force residents to evacuate. Another video showed dozens of people running for cover amid as gunfire rang out.

One or two civilians standing near the hospital's gates were reportedly injured by stray bullets.

Medical staff inside Nasser hospital meanwhile sent messages to local journalists expressing their fear. "We are still working in the hospital. The tanks are just metres away. We are closer to death than to life," they wrote.

On Friday morning, locals said the Israeli tanks and troops pulled out of the cemetery and other areas close to the hospital.

Pictures shared online later in the day appeared to show deep trenches dug into the sandy ground, flattened buildings, burnt tents, and crushed vehicles piled on top of each other.

Staff at Nasser hospital said they were assessing if they could resume admitting patients.

Anadolu via Getty Images People search for belongings after Israeli tanks and bulldozers operated in an area where there was a tent camp, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza (11 July 2025)Anadolu via Getty Images
Displaced people search for their belongings at the site of a camp near Nasser hospital that was destroyed by Israeli forces

On Wednesday, they warned that the hospital was very close to a complete shutdown due to a critical fuel shortage.

They said electricity generators were expected to function for one additional day despite significant efforts to reduce power consumption and restrict electricity to only the most critical departments, including the intensive care and neonatal units.

If the power went out completely, dozens of patients, particularly those dependent of ventilators, would "be in immediate danger and face certain death", the hospital added.

An Israeli military official told Reuters news agency on Thursday that around 160,000 litres of fuel destined for hospitals and other humanitarian facilities had entered Gaza since Wednesday, but that the fuel's distribution around the territory was not the responsibility of the army.

There is a shortage of critical medical supplies, especially those related to trauma care.

During a visit to Nasser hospital last week, the Gaza representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) described it as "one massive trauma ward".

Dr Rik Peeperkorn said in a video that the facility, which normally has a 350-bed capacity, was treating about 700 patients, and that exhausted staff were working 24 hours a day.

The director and doctors reported receiving hundreds of trauma cases over the past four weeks, the majority of them linked to incidents around aid distribution sites, he added.

"There's many boys, young adolescents who are dying or getting the most serious injuries because they try to get some food for their families," he said.

Among them were a 13-year-old boy who was shot in the head and is now tetraplegic, and a 21-year-old man who has a bullet lodged in his neck and is also tetraplegic.

On Friday, 10 people seeking aid were reportedly killed by Israeli military fire near an aid distribution site in the nearby southern city of Rafah. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has not commented.

Reuters Medical personnel work in an operating room at Nasser hospital, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, amid a critical fuel shortage (9 July 2025)Reuters
Nasser hospital said doctors were performing some surgeries without electricity or air conditioning

Meanwhile, in northern Gaza, a senior Hamas commander was among eight people who were killed in an Israeli air strike on a school sheltering displaced families in Jabalia, a local source told the BBC.

Iyad Nasr, who led the Jabalia al-Nazla battalion, died alongside his family, including several children, and an aide when two missiles hit a classroom at Halima al-Saadia school, according to the source.

Another Hamas commander, Hassan Marii, and his aide were reportedly killed in a separate air strike on an apartment in al-Shati refugee camp, west of Gaza City.

It comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that a new Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal could be just days away, after concluding his four-day trip to the US.

Before flying back from Washington on Thursday night, he told Newsmax that the proposal would supposedly see Hamas release half of the 20 living hostages it is still holding and just over half of the 30 dead hostages during a 60-day truce.

"So, we'll have 10 living left and about 12 deceased hostages [remaining], but I'll get them out, too. I hope we can complete it in a few days," he added.

However, a Palestinian official told the BBC that the indirect negotiations in Qatar were stalled, with sticking points including aid distribution and Israeli troop withdrawals.

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

At least 57,762 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.

Map of Israeli evacuation and "no-go" zones in Gaza (9 July 2025)

Man killed outside five-star hotel in London's Knightsbridge named

11 July 2025 at 22:27
Met Police blue stevens, man in blue t-shirt smiling at the camera. He has short brown hair and slight stubble.Met Police
A man killed in Knightsbridge has been named as Blue Stevens

A 24-year-old man who died in a stabbing outside a five-star hotel in west London has been named by police as Blue Stevens.

Emergency services were called to the Park Tower Hotel on Seville Street, Knightsbridge, just before 21:30 BST on Wednesday.

Paramedics treated Mr Stevens for knife wounds but he died at the scene, the Metropolitan Police said.

No arrests have been made but officers are working "to establish the circumstances of what happened".

The Salt Path author's next book delayed after 'distress' of newspaper investigation

11 July 2025 at 18:52
Getty Images Writer Raynor Winn during the CineMerit Award for Gillian Anderson and the premiere of the movie "The Salt Path" during the 2025 Munich Film Festival (Filmfest Muenchen) at Deutsches Theater on July 1, 2025 in Munich, Germany.Getty Images
The publisher said it had taken the decision to delay the book with Raynor Winn herself

Author Raynor Winn's new book has been delayed because questions about her bestselling work The Salt Path have caused her and her husband "considerable distress", her publisher has said.

Penguin Michael Joseph said the decision to postpone the publication of her fourth book, On Winter Hill, had been made with Winn.

It comes after an investigation by the Observer claimed the writer had misrepresented some of the events in her 2018 book. Winn has called the report "highly misleading" and refuted many of the newspaper's claims.

On Winter Hill, about a solo coast-to-coast walk Winn completed without husband Moth, had been scheduled to be published in October.

"Given recent events, in particular intrusive conjecture around Moth's health condition which has caused considerable distress to Raynor Winn and her family, it is our priority to support the author at this time," Penguin Michael Joseph said in a statement.

"With this in mind, Penguin Michael Joseph, together with the author, have made the decision to delay the publication of On Winter Hill from this October."

A new release date will be announced in due course, the publisher added.

On Sunday, the Observer reported Winn had misrepresented the events that led to the couple losing their house and setting off on the 630-mile walk that was depicted in The Salt Path.

The paper's investigation also cast doubt on the nature of her husband's illness. Winn denied the allegations and said she was taking legal advice.

On Wednesday, she posted a more extensive statement, responding in detail to each of the claims made in the Observer's article.

The newspaper said it had spoken to medical experts who were "sceptical" that Moth had corticobasal degeneration (CBD), given his lack of acute symptoms and apparent ability to reverse them via walking.

In response, Winn provided documents that appeared to confirm he had been diagnosed with CBD. One letter suggested Moth may have an "atypical form" of the condition, or perhaps "an even more unusual disorder".

The Observer also said the couple had lost their home after Winn took out a loan to cover money she had been accused of stealing from a previous employer, and not in a bad business deal as Winn described in her book.

In her statement, Winn said the two cases were separate. She stood by her description of how the couple came to lose their home and wrote in detail about an investment in a property portfolio that left the couple liable for large sums of money.

However, in relation to the Observer's accusation that she had defrauded her previous employer of £64,000, Winn acknowledged making "mistakes" earlier in her career, and said it had been a pressured time.

"Any mistakes I made during the years in that office, I deeply regret, and I am truly sorry," she said.

But she added the case had been settled between her and her ex-employer on a "non-admissions basis", and although she was questioned by police, she was not charged.

Winn also said the couple did not have any outstanding debts, and clarified that a house in France that the Observer said they also owned was "an uninhabitable ruin in a bramble patch", which an estate agent had advised was not worth selling.

The Salt Path has sold more than two million copies since its publication in March 2018, and a film adaptation starring Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs was released earlier this year.

Winn has written two sequels, The Wild Silence and Landlines, which also focus on themes of nature, wild camping, homelessness and walking.

MP Rupert Lowe investigated by standards watchdog

11 July 2025 at 21:54
PA Media Rupert Lowe stands in the House of Commons, holding a document as he speaks. He is surrounded by seated members of Parliament. The chamber features traditional green benches and ornate wooden paneling.PA Media

Parliament's standards commissioner has launched an investigation into ex-Reform MP Rupert Lowe.

The BBC understands it is for allegedly failing to register hundreds of thousands of pounds raised in donations to fund his independent "Rape Gang Inquiry".

More than £600,000 has been donated to a Crowdfunder started by Lowe in March to support a national inquiry into gang-based sexual exploitation across the UK. So far, Lowe has not declared any of the money on his MPs' register.

Lowe started the project before the PM announced a government-backed national inquiry into grooming gangs last month. He has since said his investigation will continue regardless. Lowe has been approached for comment.

The Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards has confirmed they are investigating whether Lowe breached parliamentary rules on declaring donations within the 28-days - as set out in the MPs' Code of Conduct.

Under parliamentary rules, MPs must declare any donation from a single source over £1,500 - or over £300 in earnings or gifts.

Lowe's Crowdfunder includes a statement that donors giving above the parliamentary limit will have their names published in the Commons register.

Most of the £600,000 came in small sums - but records show over a dozen donations exceeded £1,500, none of which have appeared in Lowe's register of financial interests.

Lowe was elected as a Reform UK MP for Great Yarmouth in 2024 but was suspended by the party in March, amid claims of threats towards the party's chairman, Zia Yusuf.

In May, the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to press charges over threats he was alleged to have made. Lowe claimed in a BBC Newsnight interview that he had been the victim of a "political assassination attempt".

Not long after his suspension from Reform, Lowe set up his Crowdfunder - accusing ministers of failing victims and saying: "Our gutless political class is too cowardly to even start to process what has truly happened."

Lowe's Rape Gang Inquiry has set up a board, including Conservative MP Esther McVey.

According to the inquiries social media page it has sent "hundreds and hundreds of FOI requests to every local council, police force, NHS trust and more in order to uncover vital information relating to the rape gangs".

Lowe has promised to stream hearings online and insisted his private investigation will continue to push for accountability.

Thin, red banner promoting the Politics Essential newsletter with text saying, “Top political analysis in your inbox every day”. There is also an image of the Houses of Parliament.

Sign up for our Politics Essential newsletter to keep up with the inner workings of Westminster and beyond.

Outrage builds over plan to force all Gazans to southern city

11 July 2025 at 19:55
Reuters Palestinians walk among rubble in Rafah, with a tent and a bombed out building in the background (March 2025)Reuters
Rafah in southern Gaza has suffered large-scale destruction of buildings and infrastructure

For Gazans, a 60-day ceasefire being negotiated between Israel and Hamas would be a lifeline.

A window to bring in large quantities of desperately needed food, water and medicine after severe – and at times total - Israeli restrictions on aid deliveries.

But for Israel's defence minister Israel Katz a two-month pause in military operations would create an opportunity to build what he has called a "humanitarian city" in the ruins of the southern city of Rafah to contain almost every single Gazan except those belonging to armed groups.

According to the plan, Palestinians would be security screened before being allowed in and not permitted to leave.

Critics, both domestically and internationally, have condemned the proposal, with human rights groups, academics and lawyers calling it a blueprint for a "concentration camp".

It's unclear to what extent it represents a concrete plan of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government or whether it is a negotiating tactic to put more pressure on Hamas in the talks on a ceasefire and hostage release deal.

In the notable absence of any Israeli plan for Gaza after the war ends, this idea is filling the strategic vacuum.

Katz briefed a group of Israeli reporters that the new camp would initially house about 600,000 Palestinians - and eventually the whole 2.1 million population.

His plan would see the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) securing the site from a distance while international bodies managed the area. Four aid distribution sites would be established in the area, he said.

Map showing evacuation areas in Gaza

Katz also restated his desire to encourage Palestinians to "voluntarily emigrate" from the Gaza to other countries.

But it has not gained traction or support among other senior figures in Israel, and according to reports the proposal even triggered a clash between the prime minister and the head of the IDF.

Israeli media say the office of the chief of the general staff, Lt Gen Eyal Zamir, made clear the army was not obligated to forcibly transfer civilians, as the plan would require.

It's claimed Gen Zamir and Netanyahu were involved in an angry exchange during a recent war cabinet meeting.

Tal Schneider, a political correspondent at the centrist Times of Israel, said Zamir would be in a strong position to push back because the government "practically begged him to take the job" six months ago – and Netanyahu strongly endorsed his appointment.

It's not only the top military brass that is opposed to the idea. There is also consternation among rank and file too.

"Any transfer of a civil population is a form of war crime, that's a form of ethnic cleansing, which is also a form of genocide," IDF reservist Yotam Vilk told the BBC at his home in Tel Aviv.

John Landy Yotam VilkJohn Landy
Yotam Vilk says he will refuse any further reserve duty in Gaza

The 28-year-old former officer in the Armored Corps is refusing to serve any longer in the army following 270 days of active combat in Gaza.

He describes himself as a patriot and argues Israel must defend itself but that the current war has no strategy nor end in sight.

Vilk is also part of Soldiers for the Hostages, a group calling for an end of the war to secure the release of the 50 Israelis still being held captive by Hamas in Gaza, up to 20 of whom are believed to be alive.

Meanwhile 16 Israeli experts in international law issued a joint letter on Friday denouncing the plan, which they said would constitute a war crime. The letter urged "all relevant parties to publicly withdraw from the plan, renounce it and refrain from carrying it out".

The plan has unsurprisingly dismayed Palestinians in Gaza.

"We completely reject this proposal, and we reject the displacement of any Palestinian from their land," Sabreen, who had been forced to leave Khan Younis, told the BBC. "We are steadfast and will remain here until our last breath."

Ahmad Al Mghayar from Rafah said: "Freedom is above everything. This is our land, we should be free to move wherever we want. Why are we being pressured like this?"

It's not clear how much support Katz's plan has among the general public, but recent surveys have indicated the majority of Jews in Israel favour the expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza.

One poll published in the left-wing daily newspaper Haaretz claimed as many as 82 per cent of Jewish Israelis supported such a move.

But there has been curious lack of public support for the proposal among the far-right, including prominent ministers in the coalition Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.

Both have been vocal proponents of Palestinians leaving Gaza and Jewish settlers returning.

Tal Schneider said both ministers may still be weighing up giving their backing to the proposal for a mass camp.

"Maybe they're waiting to see where the wind blows to see if it's serious. Both Smotrich and Ben-Gvir are cabinet members and have more access to internal discussions. Maybe they think this is just to put political pressure on Hamas to come to the table."

Outside Israel, the proposal for a new camp for all Gazans has attracted widespread criticism.

In the UK, minister for the Middle East Hamish Falconer posted on social media that he was "appalled" by the plan.

"Palestinian territory must not be reduced," he wrote. "Civilians must be able to return to their communities. We need to move towards a ceasefire deal and open a pathway to lasting peace."

British human rights lawyer Baroness Helena Kennedy KC told the BBC the project would force Palestinians into a "concentration camp".

The description, which other critics including academics, NGOs and senior UN officials have used, holds considerable resonance in light of the role of concentration camps in the Holocaust.

Baroness Kennedy said the plan - as well as the latest actions of Israel - has led her to conclude Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.

"I was very reluctant to go there, because the threshold has to be very high. There has to be specific intent for genocide. But what we're now seeing is genocidal behaviour," she said.

Israel has vehemently rejected the charge of genocide and says it does not target civilians.

The Israeli foreign ministry also told the BBC that "the notion that Israel is creating concentration camps is deeply offensive and draws parallels with the Nazis". Israel "adheres to the Geneva Convention", it added, referring to the international regulations governing the treatment of civilians in occupied territories.

Aside from grim warnings about what might happen, the prospect of a new camp is having an impact on efforts to end the Gaza war.

Palestinian sources at the ceasefire talks grinding on in the Qatari capital Doha have told the BBC the plan has alarmed the Hamas delegation and has created a new obstacle to a deal.

Additional reporting by Joyce Liu and John Landy

一位大学中文系老师爱看短剧

“我们并没有像我们以为的那么功利,那么‘刀枪不入’。我们其实为自己、为他人做了太多并不是那么有用的事情,也许正是这些事情,定义了我,也定义了人”

(本文首发于南方人物周刊)

南方人物周刊记者 韩茹雪 南方人物周刊实习记者 王梦源

责任编辑:周建平

(受访者提供/图)

2025年6月末,华东师范大学毕业典礼上,中文系老师汤拥华公开致辞《像我们这样想不开的人哪》。不同于传统致辞,这份致辞引入了时下流行的短剧元素,在社交媒体平台上掀起一阵讨论热潮。在致辞玩梗、诙谐的表象下,不乏关于文科的意义和困境的讨论。“我的痛苦,被听见了。”一些中文系学生在致辞下的留言成为网络时代的诉说墙。

意外出圈后,汤拥华一再强调“我只是中文系非常普通的老师”。为什么要在这样的重要场合“玩梗”?事实上,汤拥华早已在大学课堂上引入“短剧桥段”作为讲课时举例的素材,与此前以鲁迅、金庸等举例相似。私下里,他成为短剧的忠实用户已经有一两年的时间,每天都会拿出一些时间来刷短剧,其他休闲方式还包括开心消消乐。

以下是汤拥华的自述:

“我也曾经是中文系的”

大家都说这篇致辞火了,我一开始只当笑谈,现在也承认了,因为总有好多想象不到的读者冒出来。另一方面又觉得非常不真实,因为我不知道这些读者都是从哪里冒出来的?

有一些同事看到致辞后觉得有趣,但是呢,他们不知道中间的一些梗。有的老师问我:这个北镇王到底是谁?我说人家是镇北王好吧。

很多以前的朋友冒出来了。有个朋友在我的朋友圈下面评论,说自己的妈妈都看到了致辞,他母亲应该七十多岁了,这不在我预设的听众群里。最初我设想的受众主要是华师大中文系刚毕业和仍在校的学生,现在俨然出现了一个庞大的群体。他们会互相召唤,“诶,我也曾经是中文系的。”哪怕他们分布在各行各业,并不都是在从事中文相关的工作。

我感觉这份毕业致辞像把大家召集在一起开同学会,每个中文系的学生都会想起当初那四年,想起读中文系的时光。

我们中文系研究文学,经常需要去听见别人的心声,去理解其他人,尤其是理解那些想不开的人,理解那些内心有一种郁结却很难对人明言的人,同时自己也想被听见。这种“想”不是理直气壮的,不是要求别人听到,而是希望有这么一个契机被听到,这份致辞可能就是这样的契机。

我们这些学文科的人,看上去很多地方不太有用,也很难为社会做出什么惊天动地的事情,有时还有很多小脾气,被人各种诟病。但就是这样的我们,内心会有种特别的东西在,如果有一个机会,有人把它表述出来,那真是难得。在我们分享这篇致辞文章的时候,每个人都在这里互相听到,让“想不开的人”听见彼此,也是不错的事情吧。

人的心灵怎么去定义?任何数据能计算出的东西都可以被模仿替代,恰恰是这种无法定义、只能去感受的东西,反而是宝贵的吧,只是在生活中看起来好像没那么“有用”。

我在致辞中写到一个细节,最近的古装短剧虽然处处都在节约成本,但是一部部都开始造雪了。很多时候,雪下得很假,下得很浮夸,下得毫无必要。但是,一心拔刀的人为什么也喜欢下雪呢?因为人总有想不开的时候,总有出神发

登录后获取更多权限

校对:赵立宇

欢迎分享、点赞与留言。本作品的版权为南方周末或相关著作权人所有,任何第三方未经授权,不得转载,否则即为侵权。

西藏吉隆口岸泥石流致中方17人失联,均为施工人员

灾害造成中国一侧11人失联,其中项目施工点工人9人、公路养护民工2人;尼泊尔一侧有6名中方施工人员失联。

中尼两国边境,以东林藏布河的河道中心为界,吉隆口岸修建在河边,穿过口岸大楼,经过热索桥,便抵达尼泊尔的口岸。该桥受泥石流冲击垮塌中断。

南方周末记者 李在磊 南方周末实习生 刘珈宜

责任编辑:谭畅

自2025年7月8日起,救援力量不停搜救吉隆洪水失联人员,已超过60小时。(“吉隆发布”微信公众号/图)

自2025年7月8日起,救援力量不停搜救失联人员,已超过60小时。(“吉隆发布”微信公众号/图)

“还是一直联系不上,应该是出事了。”因为哥哥在西藏务工的缘故,卢蒙枝平时会主动留意当地新闻。当泥石流的消息传来,她连忙去网上查看信息,果然看到吉隆口岸矗立在山脚下那熟悉的样子,只是,前边多了肆虐的洪水。

哥哥的工作主要是在工地上盖房子,几个月前开始在吉隆干活。他喜欢拍摄所见所闻并发给家人,吉隆口岸是地标建筑,所以他拍过很多在口岸前的照片。“我哥说过了口岸就是尼泊尔。”

2025年7月8日晚,卢蒙枝加上哥哥工地老板的微信,获悉噩耗:房子被冲垮,人已经找不到了。

新华社消息,7月8日凌晨5时许,中国和尼泊尔边境的吉隆口岸一带发生泥石流灾害。其中,吉隆口岸连接中尼的热索大桥受泥石流冲击垮塌中断。经初步统计,泥石流已致中国一侧11人失联,尼泊尔一侧已知有6名中方施工人员失联。

灾害发生后,西藏自治区防汛抗旱指挥部启动防汛四级应急响应和自然灾害救助四级应急响应,日喀则市应急指挥部启动防汛抗旱三级应急响应和自然灾害救助三级应急响应,并迅速组织应急救援

登录后获取更多权限

校对:吴依兰

欢迎分享、点赞与留言。本作品的版权为南方周末或相关著作权人所有,任何第三方未经授权,不得转载,否则即为侵权。

Strava Fitness App Revealed Locations of Swedish Leaders

11 July 2025 at 22:24
Secret meetings and private holidays of the royal family and prime minister were inadvertently made public on Strava, which has raised security concerns in other instances.

© Oscar Olsson, via Tt News Agency

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson of Sweden with his wife, Birgitta Ed, in 2024. Fitness data from bodyguards gave away the location of his private residence, a newspaper report found.
❌
❌