The brother of an Israeli hostage held in the Gaza Strip has told the BBC that a Hamas video showing him emaciated and weak is a "new form of cruelty" that has left his parents shattered.

Hamas released the footage of Evyatar David, 24, on Saturday, drawing strong condemnation from Israel and Western leaders.

"He's a human skeleton. He was being starved to the point where he can be dead at any moment, and he suffers a great deal. He barely can't speak, he barely can move," David's brother Ilay said in an interview on Monday.

In the video, Evyatar says: "I haven't eaten for days... I barely got drinking water." He is seen digging what he says will be his own grave.

Hostages' families have urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to prioritise their release as reports suggest he might be planning to expand the military campaign.

The footage of Evyatar was released after Palestinian Islamic Jihad published video of another hostage, Rom Braslavski, thin and crying.

Both men were abducted from the Nova music festival during the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023.

Ilay David said his father had barely recognised his son Evyatar's voice on the video and had not been able to sleep. He said his mother cried all day.

"Seeing those images of my brother as a human skeleton, we understood it's, it's, it's a new kind of cruelty," Mr David said. "It's the lowest you can get."

He called on world leaders to unite to save him and other hostages "from the cruel, twisted hands of Hamas".

"So we have to be so focused on delivering the message, which is, Evyatar is dying, we need to give him medicine, to give him food, proper food, and you need to get this treatment now, or else will die."

Hamas's armed wing has denied it intentionally starves prisoners, saying hostages eat what their fighters and people in Gaza eat.

After the hostages' videos were released, Netanyahu spoke with their families, telling them that efforts to return all the hostages "will continue constantly and relentlessly".

But an Israeli official - widely quoted by local media - said Netanyahu was working to free the hostages through "the military defeat of Hamas".

The possibility of a new escalation in Gaza may further anger Israel's allies who have been pushing for an immediate ceasefire as reports of Palestinians dying from starvation or malnutrition cause shock around the world.

The main group supporting hostages' families condemned the idea of a new military offensive saying: "Netanyahu is leading Israel and the hostages to doom."

That view was pointedly made in a letter by some 600 retired Israeli security officials sent to US President Donald Trump urging him to pressure Israel to immediately end the war in Gaza.

"Your credibility with the vast majority of Israelis augments your ability to steer Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu and his government in the right direction: End the war, return the hostages, stop the suffering," they wrote.

The group included former Mossad chief Tamir Pardo, Ami Ayalon, former chief of Shin Bet - Israel's domestic secret service agency - former Prime Minister Ehud Barak, and former Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon among others.

"It is our professional judgement that Hamas no longer poses a strategic threat to Israel," they said.

"At first this war was a just war, a defensive war, but when we achieved all military objectives, this war ceased to be a just war," said Ayalon.

The former top leaders head the Commanders for Israel's Security (CIS) group, which has urged the government in the past to focus on securing the return of the hostages.

"Stop the Gaza War! On behalf of CIS, Israel's largest group of former IDF generals and Mossad, Shin Bet, Police, and Diplomatic Corps equivalents, we urge you to end the Gaza war. You did it in Lebanon. Time to do it in Gaza as well," they wrote to the US president.

Israel launched a devastating war in Gaza following Hamas's 7 October attack in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken into Gaza as hostages.

More than 60,000 people have been killed as a result of Israel's military campaign in Gaza since 7 October, the Hamas-run health ministry says.

On Monday, the ministry reported that at least 94 people had been killed in Gaza in the past day, including dozens it said had died in Israeli strikes.

The territory is also experiencing mass deprivation as a result of heavy restrictions imposed by Israel on what is allowed into Gaza. The ministry says 180 people, including 93 children, have died from malnutrition since the start of the war.

Such reports have become almost daily in recent months but are hard to verify as international journalists, including the BBC, are blocked by Israel from entering Gaza.

UN-backed agencies have said the "worst-case scenario of famine is currently playing out" in Gaza.

The territory is also experiencing mass deprivation as a result of heavy restrictions imposed by Israel on what is allowed into Gaza. The ministry says 180 people, including 93 children, have died from malnutrition since the start of the war.

Passengers on several Eurostar trains are facing delays and cancellations after a power supply issue on a rail line in northern France led to its closure.

The Eurostar website shows at least nine services on Monday between London and Paris have been cancelled, while a further 15 services have been delayed.

The problem started at about 08:30 local time (06:30 GMT) on Monday and disruptions are expected to continue until the end of the day, with trains being diverted to run on slower lines.

Eurostar has advised passengers to postpone their journeys if possible.

Some services between Brussels and Paris and between Amsterdam and Paris have also been cancelled, delayed or faced other disruptions due to the rail closure, which happened on the high-speed line between Moussy and Longueil in the Hauts-de-France region.

SNCF, which operates the line, said on its website that the "severely disrupted" services were due to a power supply issue which required "major repairs".

It predicted delays of between one and five hours on the Eurostar, as well as its other services TGV inOui and Ouigo.

Trains between London-Amsterdam, Brussels-Amsterdam, Brussels-London and Brussels-Cologne have not been impacted.

August is a peak period for cross-Channel travel due to school holidays, meaning services are often busier than normal.

Monday's disruptions come nearly a month after a Eurostar train travelling between Brussels and London had to be evacuated in northern France due to a power failure.

And in June, there were two days of major disruptions after separate fatal incidents on France's LGV Nord line, which was followed by cable theft.

A 17-year-old boy has been detained for the torture and killing of two kittens that were found cut open in a wooded area in west London.

He was given a 12-month detention and training order by District Judge Hina Rai, who said that the killings near Ruislip Golf Course were "without a doubt the most awful offences against animals I have seen in this court".

The boy, who cannot be named because of his age, had also dreamed of killing a human and "getting away with murder". His accomplice in the animal abuse, a 17-year-old girl, will be sentenced later.

A passerby saw the boy holding a black bag, which was "moving slightly as if something live was inside it", Highbury Corner Magistrates' heard.

Warning: This article contains details some readers may find distressing

'Horrific'

The boy was given a lifetime ban on keeping or owning animals.

Along with the girl, who also cannot be named because of her age, the teenager had previously pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to the animals by mutilating and killing them.

A member of the public who found the kittens warned another passerby not to go down the footpath because "there is something horrific down there".

The black kittens were found with ropes attached to them and had been cut open. Also discovered at the scene were blowtorches, three knives and a pair of scissors.

One kitten was found hanging from a rope and was completely ripped open, with its eyes bulging, the court heard.

Alongside the tools, a significant amount of blood and fur were found.

The teenagers also admitted one count of unlawful possession of a knife.

Sentencing the boy, Judge Rai told him his actions had been "extensively planned" and were "clearly premeditated".

She told him: "You said sorry in your [police] interview but reports also show that you struggle to show empathy and realise that the kittens would suffer."

She added: "It seems you chose the kittens because they have emotion and you would have power over them."

Notes on the boy's phone detailed his desire to kill another person.

They read: "I really wanted to murder someone.

"Every day I was researching how to get away with murder. I have come close. I have killed cats to reduce my urges. I have skinned, strangled and stabbed cats."

The boy, who may have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and autism which has yet to be diagnosed, had no previous convictions.

Additional reporting by PA Media

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Broadcaster and radio personality James Whale has died aged 74 following a cancer diagnosis, his agent confirmed on Monday.

His career spanned six decades, including stints on the BBC airwaves as well as stations such as LBC and TalkSport.

Whale's TalkTV colleague and friend Mike Graham read an obituary on air and paid tribute to Whale, who had stage four kidney cancer.

Known for being outspoken and often controversial, more recently Whale went on to front his own podcast and night-time weekly radio show on TalkRadio.

Fame - and infamy

Whale was first diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2000 and then, in 2020, he revealed it had returned.

In recent months, he had documented his deteriorating health on social media, his Talk TV programme and his podcast Tales of the Whales.

He first gained prominence in the 1980s as the host of The James Whale Radio Show on Radio Aire in Leeds, before hosting a night-time radio show on TalkSport in the late mid-late 90s.

When TV stations first started airing programmes after midnight in the late 1980s, one presenter seized the opportunity to gain fame - and infamy - with a type of live late-night show that hadn't been seen on British screens before.

On the James Whale Radio Show, the presenter was a cross between a shock jock, talk show host, gonzo roving reporter and working men's club MC.

Launched in 1988, Whale's live, often chaotic programme was like a daytime TV format gone rogue: one which had lost its inhibitions and any qualms about upholding the usual standards of taste and decency.

Some said it had completely lost its morals. But many viewers loved it.

Whale took calls from - and unceremoniously cut off - callers. He sparred with celebrities and expert guests, dallied with scantily-clad "bimbos", and offered combative, sardonic or flippant takes on topical issues, from immigration to teenage gambling to sex therapy.

In short, it entertained and offended in equal measure.

The James Whale Radio Show had "Radio" in its title because it went out live from Leeds on both Radio Aire and ITV simultaneously at 1am on a Friday night, as people sat at home after coming back from the pub.

'Mighty Mouth'

At first, it only went out in Yorkshire and the north-west, but was soon picked up elsewhere as ratings went up and other ITV regional counterparts floundered.

When it arrived on London Weekend Television in April 1989, the press started to take notice.

A review in The Stage newspaper noted how "Mighty Mouth" Whale had taken a "critical hammering" since transferring across the ITV network.

But it added that, because it was broadcast so long after any family audience had gone to bed, it was pointless to complain about the show's "crudities, ruderies, or the occasional swear word".

In fact, the reviewer found Whale "the liveliest natural new personality to turn up on TV for ages", saying he possessed "a surfeit of punch and charisma".

The smooth-voiced Whale, from Surrey, had been presenting on Radio Aire since 1982, after cutting his teeth on stations in Middlesbrough, Derby and Newcastle.

On Newcastle's Metro Radio from 1973-80, he set the template for phone-ins that gave callers short shrift.

Before that, Whale's first proper job in broadcasting had been to found a radio station inside Top Shop at London's Oxford Circus in 1970 - the country's first in-store station.

The 70s and 80s were the ages of larger-than-life radio DJs, and Whale's stint at Radio Aire saw him named local DJ of the year at the Sony Radio Awards in 1988.

Moving to the small screen that year, he gained a national reputation, for better or for worse.

'Filth and degradation'

As one sketch duo who appeared on The James Whale Radio Show half-joked, the programme was known for its "controversy, filth and degradation - and that's just behind the scenes".

It featured regular appearances from comics like Bernard Manning, Steve Coogan and Charlie Chuck, while Whale threw singers Wayne Hussey and Lemmy off for turning up drunk.

The host even stormed off his own show once, frustrated with things going wrong behind the scenes. But he also revelled in the chaos, and (usually) steered the show through it with some aplomb.

The James Whale Radio Show lasted until 1992, with the host keeping much of its flavour for another late-night format, Whale On, from 1993 to 1995.

But it was up against other, hipper shows like The Word, and a balding, middle-aged, middle-class man being risqué suddenly seemed less cutting-edge.

In 1995, Whale went back to radio with an opinionated late-night phone-in on Talk Radio.

He hit the headlines two years later when it was revealed that a female listener who appeared on air to invite him to "pop round for a coffee" was in fact his lover. Whale's wife of almost 30 years, Melinda, stuck with him.

The presenter was one of the few non-sport presenters to survive when the station rebranded as TalkSport in 2000, but was sacked eight years later after calling on his listeners to vote for Boris Johnson in the London mayoral election.

Regulator Ofcom ruled it was a serious breach of impartiality rules, and fined the station £20,000.

Whale pitched for a job with Johnson, saying: "Ken Livingstone had 70 media advisers. Boris Johnson only needs me. I'm ideal. I know what the ordinary man or woman on the street thinks."

The future prime minister didn't take him up on the offer.

Having hosted an afternoon weekend show at LBC in the 90s, Whale returned to the station as drivetime host the same year (despite having called the station's programme director a "pillock prize-prat and a half" not long before).

'Hedonistic years'

Also in 2000, Whale was first diagnosed with cancer when a large tumour (he said it was "the size of a football") was found in his kidney.

The kidney and tumour were successfully removed. For the next few years, he and Melinda decided to live life to the full.

"Those were my hedonistic years - I ate as much steak as I wanted and drank copious amounts of wine," he said. "Every weekend, we flew off to a destination we'd never seen. We ran up huge bills. I didn't care."

He also wanted to raise awareness about the disease, so set up the James Whale Fund for Kidney Cancer in 2006. It merged with Kidney Cancer UK nine years later.

Whale stayed at LBC for five years before hosting the BBC Essex breakfast show for three and launching an online version of The James Whale Radio Show.

In 2016, he took part in the 18th series of Celebrity Big Brother - becoming the sixth housemate to be voted out.

Three months later, he went back to TalkRadio, but was suspended in 2018 after an interview with author and journalist Nichi Hodgson about her being raped.

In a video clip, the presenter could be seen mouthing the words "orally raped", shaking his head and laughing when Ms Hodgson gave details about what had happened to her.

"What began as a typically strident exchange between me and a journalist known for his belligerent presenting style became a merciless exercise in how not to interview someone who has experienced a sexual assault," Ms Hodgson wrote in The Guardian.

TalkRadio admitted the interview "completely lacked sensitivity", but Whale eventually kept his job.

In 2018, his wife Melinda died of lung cancer. Two years later, he was forced to take a break from broadcasting because his disease had spread to his remaining kidney, spine, brain and lungs.

He recovered enough to walk down the aisle with Nadine Lamont-Brown in 2021. They had got chatting in their local pub in Kent when they found out their spouses were both being treated by the same doctor.

In 2024, Whale was awarded an MBE for his services to broadcasting and charity, and he continued hosting a weekly radio and TV show on Talk.

He lost none of his fiery opinions or ability to outrage, causing controversy by saying the "Navy should be out there pointing weaponry" at migrants in small boats, and clashing with pro-Palestinian guests over the Israel-Gaza conflict.

He carried out his final interview, with his "good friend and political hero", Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, in his garden in mid-July.

Whale also wrote a weekly column for the Daily Express, which on 27 July included a series of tributes from friends and former colleagues.

Dragon's Den businessman Theo Paphitis hailed his charity work for Kidney Cancer UK, adding: "They broke the mould when they made James, and there's a good reason that he has lasted decades as a broadcaster on the airwaves."

Actor Shane Richie said: "Love him or loathe him there's been no denying that the Whale was and will always be regarded as a one-off unique broadcaster.

"In the eighties, James moved the goalposts when it came to live TV... his late-night Friday talk show was the stuff of legend and is still regarded as a show that moved the parameters of British television."

Broadcaster Eamonn Holmes said: "He made direct speech entertaining. With that he was ahead of his time. I'm just sorry he hasn't had more time."

Whale kept broadcasting for as long as he could as the cancer tightened its grip.

"I've spent much of my professional life winding people up about their stupidity, taking the wind out of their sails, and I can't tell you how much I'm going to miss that," he wrote in one of his last weekly columns for the Daily Express.

"It wasn't always presidents and prime ministers and celebrities and leaders of industry – though they often got their comeuppances – sometimes, it was just normal folk who needed taking down a peg or two.

"But boy have I had some fun, and hopefully created some entertaining, engaging radio that has made people think a bit harder."

The police and crime commissioner for Leicestershire and Rutland has defected from the Conservatives to Reform UK.

Rupert Matthews has held the position since 2021 and served as an MEP for the East Midlands for the Tories between 2017 and 2019.

Speaking at a press conference alongside Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, he said the "dark heart of wokeness" needed to be cut out of the criminal justice system.

"The self-serving, self-entitled liberal elite who have let our country down time after time are now on notice their day is almost done," he said.

"Be they Conservative or Labour governments, everyone knows our politicians have failed us all. They have let this country down. They have let the British people down. Enough. Now is the time for Reform."

Matthews was re-elected as PCC in May 2024, beating Labour's Rory Palmer by 860 votes.

Announcing the defection on Monday, Farage told the conference: "He's twice been elected as a Conservative but today he comes across to us as our first police and crime commissioner."

He added: "Welcome on board."

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Tesla has granted its chief executive Elon Musk $29bn (£21.7bn) worth of its shares, in an attempt to keep the billionaire at the firm.

The move comes after a US court struck down his 2018 pay package, worth more than $50bn, ruling that it was "unfair to shareholders".

Musk has been appealing the decision made by the Delaware court in 2024 and on Monday Tesla told shareholders it was "confident" that the $29bn of shares "will incentivize Elon to remain at Tesla" especially as "the war for AI talent is intensifying".

The award should boost Musk's voting power on the electric car company's board.

"It is imperative to retain and motivate our extraordinary talent, beginning with Elon", Tesla's board wrote on X, a platform owned by Musk, adding that "no one matches Elon's remarkable combination of leadership experience, technical expertise".

The company said the billionaire had a "proven track record" in building "revolutionary and profitable businesses".

Tech firms trying to assert themselves in the AI sector have been offering huge sums to workers at rivals in an effort to persuade them to join them and boost their development.

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg was said to have recently tried to lure top developers from ChatGPT-creator OpenAI with million-dollar pay deals.

Meanwhile Microsoft's AI division, headed up by former Google DeepMind co-founder Mustafa Suleyman, recently gained several new hires from Google's ranks.

Tesla the company was at an "inflection point" and needed Musk's prowess as it pivots from being an electric vehicle firm to an AI and robotics focussed company.

The company added that the share award would be attractive for Musk "with other "demands on his time and attention".

Musk's other roles include executive positions at xAI, Neuralink, and The Boring Company, which makes tunnels and other infrastructure in the US.

He recently announced that he was stepping back from politics, after a stint as US President Donald Trump's advisor.

Additional reporting by Liv McMahon.

Two men have appeared in court, charged in connection with the rape of a 12-year-old girl in Nuneaton.

Ahmad Mulakhil is accused of rape, while Mohammad Kabir is accused of kidnap, strangulation and aiding and abetting the rape of a girl aged under 13.

Warwickshire County Council leader George Finch has alleged the two men were asylum seekers, which the BBC has been unable to verify independently, and accused Warwickshire Police and the Home Office of covering up their immigration status.

Police refused to disclose further details, saying: "Once someone is charged with an offence, we follow national guidance. This guidance does not include sharing ethnicity or immigration status."

In a statement to the BBC the Home Office said: "Foreign nationals who commit crimes should be in no doubt that the law will be enforced and justice delivered."

Mr Kabir and Mr Mulakhil, both 23 and from the Warwickshire town, have appeared before magistrates in Coventry and will both appear at Warwick Crown Court on 26 August.

Mr Mulakhil is also facing an additional charge of rape relating to a different case.

Anyone who was in the Cheverel Street area of Nuneaton between 20:30 and 21:45 BST on 22 July and saw anything of interest is urged to come forward by Warwickshire Police.

'Risk to public order'

Finch, who at 19 became the youngest council leader in the UK and represents Reform UK, published a letter on his social media accounts on Sunday, addressed to the Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, the Chief Constable of Warwickshire Police, Alex Franklin-Smith, and the chief executive of the council, Monica Fogarty.

He said Ms Fogarty had told him that Mr Kabir was an asylum seeker living in a house of multiple occupancy.

Residents had "very easily been able to join the dots together" and conclude that the men were asylum seekers, he said.

"Residents of Warwickshire can see they have not been told the full story," he said.

"I am disgusted that one year on from the social unrest that we saw in parts of the UK in 2024, the Home Office and the police have clearly not learned any lessons from the handling of similar incidents last year."

He added: "I strongly believe that the only risk to public order from this case in Warwickshire comes from the cover-up itself."

In a statement, Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Seccombe said: "It is essential to state that policing decisions—such as whether to release details about a suspect—must follow national guidance and legal requirements."

He added that he would not speculate on the personal circumstances of those involved while court proceedings were active.

The BBC has contacted Warwickshire County Council for comment.

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Lion-hearted Woakes cannot deny superb Siraj

Epic series plays out final act

The Kremlin has played down Donald Trump's orders to move two nuclear submarines closer to Russia, saying Moscow did not want to be involved in polemics.

In the first official reaction since the US president's comments last Friday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said American submarines were on combat duty anyway and dismissed the idea that there had been an escalation.

"Very complex, very sensitive issues are being discussed, which, of course, many perceive very emotionally," Peskov said - though he added that everyone should be "very cautious" with nuclear rhetoric.

US envoy Steve Witkoff is due to visit Russia on Wednesday, according to Russian media.

Last week President Trump ordered two nuclear submarines to "be positioned in the appropriate regions" in response to what he called "highly provocative" comments by former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

Trump did not say whether they were nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed submarines.

Medvedev - who in recent years has espoused increasingly extreme rhetoric online - had accused Trump of "playing the ultimatum game" with Russia after the US president set a new deadline for Vladimir Putin to end the war with Ukraine.

Without referencing the Medvedev spat directly, Peskov said on Monday that while "in every country members of the leadership... have different points of view", Russian foreign policy was dictated by Putin alone.

Medvedev did not react to Trump's response and has not been active on X since sending the offending post.

Relations between the US and Russia improved significantly after Trump took office in January - although in recent months the US president has signalled he suspects Putin may not be truly committed to ending the war in Ukraine, which began when Moscow launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Now Trump has brought forward a deadline for Russia to reach a peace deal, threatening Moscow with severe tariffs targeting its oil and other exports if a ceasefire is not agreed by Friday 8 August.

Still, Washington and Moscow remain in contact and Peskov welcomed Witkoff's trip later this week.

"We are always happy to see Mr Witkoff in Moscow... We consider such contact important, meaningful and useful," he said, adding that Witkoff and Putin may meet.

Should a ceasefire not be reached by Friday, Trump has said he would impose sanctions and secondary tariffs on Moscow to discourage other countries from trading with it.

But he has also admitted Russia - now the most sanctioned country in the world - was "pretty good at avoiding sanctions".

Three rounds of talks between Russian and Ukraine since the spring have failed to bring an end to the conflict any closer.

Only last week Putin reiterated that Russia's main goal in the war was to "eradicate the reasons for the crisis in Ukraine and ensure Russia's security".

Moscow's maximalist military and political preconditions for peace - including Ukraine becoming a neutral state, dramatically reducing its military and abandoning its Nato aspirations - remain unacceptable to Kyiv and to its Western partners.

If you used car finance to buy a vehicle any time in the last 18 years, you could be in line for compensation.

It follows a recent court ruling on hidden commissions made by lenders to dealers, which opens the door for potential payouts to millions, if they are found to have been mis-sold finance.

If you are eligible, you are still in for a bit of a wait, and for now the advice is not to sign up with a claims company promising to help you get redress, because it won't speed things up and they will charge a fee.

But there are a few other things to bear in mind, if you are trying to work out whether you are likely to get compensation.

Am I eligible?

Most car buyers use motor finance where they borrow money and pay in instalments over time. In some cases, drivers pay monthly fees before paying a so-called "balloon payment" at the end.

Car dealers almost always receive a payment for their part in arranging the loan - a commission.

But a Supreme Court ruling on Friday has established that some dealers charged too much, or didn't explain the charges well enough to customers, and that those buyers should be compensated.

The key is whether customers were treated "fairly" although the regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority, is still working on exactly what that will mean.

One specific group of buyers who are likely to be eligible are people who took out car loans that included discretionary commission arrangements (DCAs). They were banned in 2021 but prior to that lenders gave car dealers leeway to charge higher interest and earn a percentage of that as commission.

If you still have your contract you can check the terms and conditions.

How much is too much?

The Supreme Court ruled in a test case that Marcus Johnson should be entitled to compensation, setting one reference point for future cases.

Mr Johnson told the court he was presented with "an enormous amount of paperwork". He didn't read it all and signed, trusting the sales representative to talk him through the deal.

But 55% of what he was paying for the car was commission.

Anyone paying commission at that level is likely to be eligible for compensation, but it remains to seen how much lower rates would have to be, to count as fair, ruling a customer out of the right to compensation.

If I think I am eligible, what do I do?

The FCA is setting up a compensation scheme. In October it will launch a six week consultation over how it should work, with the first payments expected to come in 2026.

So you can just wait until the scheme is available.

Alternatively, the charity Consumer Voice suggests writing now to your lender to establish the facts of your own case.

Lenders must acknowledge your complaint within eight weeks, and by submitting a complaint at this stage you may get an indication of how likely you are to receive any redress, says co-founder Alex Neill.

If you cannot remember the name of the lender involved the car dealership should be able to help you.

Consumer groups and the FCA advise against signing up with a claims company. Many are advertising their services online, but they cannot proceed with a claim until the FCA scheme has been set up and if they do manage your case they will take a cut of any compensation.

How much will I get?

It is not clear yet how much individual customers will be entitled to as compensation, although it is likely to be related to how much they were charged.

A lot will likely depend on individual deals, including the type of car purchased.

Most claims are likely to be under £950, according to the FCA, including around 3% in annual interest.

Of course anyone who has taken out several car finance deals in the last couple of decades could be entitled to more than one payout.

The Met Office has issued warnings of unseasonably strong winds as Storm Floris hits parts of the UK.

An amber severe weather warning covering much of Scotland is in force until 23:00 BST on Monday.

A yellow warning is in place for the northern half of the UK, including north Wales, northern England and Northern Ireland.

• Live: Events called off as Storm Floris brings wind and rain

How can you prepare and protect your home before a storm hits?

There are a number of steps you can take:

• secure any loose objects outside your property such as bins, ladders, trampolines and outdoor games, garden furniture and tools
• check fences and roof tiles are secure
• clear guttering of debris such as moss and leaves
• if possible, remove any loose or overhanging branches
• close and fasten external doors and windows
• secure storm shutters, if they are fitted to your home or business
• park vehicles in a garage, if you have one; otherwise ensure they are as far away as possible from buildings, trees and fences
• close and secure loft trapdoors
• make sure you know how to turn off your gas, electricity and water in case you have to leave your home, for example because of flooding
• charge mobile phones and any other critical devices including battery packs
• gather essential documents such as passports and driving licences, and make sure you have contact and policy details for your insurance company
• if you take medication, make sure you have a few days' supply

If you are in a flood-risk area, try to move valuable or essential items upstairs or store them as high as you can on the ground floor.

• Check the UK weather warnings in place

What should you do during a storm?

Strong winds can cause damage to buildings, such as tiles coming off roofs, and heavy rain can lead to flooding. Public transport may be disrupted.

People are advised to stay inside as much as possible and keep internal doors closed.

Unplug any non-essential electrical items in case of power surges.

If you do have to go out, you should avoid walking next to buildings, trees and the sheltered side of walls or fences, in case of collapse.

You should not attempt to repair any damage to your property or possessions while a storm is in progress.

The RSPCA advises bringing all animals inside and ensuring you have sufficient food, bedding and fresh water.

Listen out for bad weather warnings on local radio and TV, and check government and news websites for the latest updates.

In you become trapped by floodwater, you should go to the highest level of the building you are in.

Avoid attic spaces due to the risk of being trapped by rising water, and only go onto the roof if absolutely necessary. Call 999 and wait for help.

• Met Office: Stay safe in a storm
• What are my rights if my home, travel and work are affected by storms?

What should you do if there is a power cut?

If you lose electricity you make sure all non-essential appliances are switched off, but leave a light on so you know when the supply returns.

You can report a power cut online or by calling 105, which is a free service in England, Scotland and Wales.

Alternatively, you can find the details of your energy network operator by using this postcode search tool.

It may put you on a priority list for assistance if you have medical equipment in your home that needs electricity.

If you can smell gas and suspect there is a leak in your home, you can report it by ringing 0800 111 999.

Can you drive during weather warnings?

Do not drive unless your journey is unavoidable.

You should steer clear of flooded or exposed routes such as bridges or high open roads.

If you do have to drive, make sure you have essential supplies such as warm clothing, food, drink, blankets and a torch, and carry a fully-charged phone.

Drive slowly, and be especially cautious around high-sided vehicles and when overtaking. Give other vehicles extra room.

Turn on your headlights or use fog lights if visibility is especially poor.

• AA: How to drive through deep water, heavy rain and floods

Driving during a weather warning - including the most serious category, red - does not automatically invalidate your car insurance but it may make a claim more difficult.

An insurer might try to prove negligence, such as driving on a road when advised not to, and refuse the claim.

What should you do after a storm?

Most home building, contents and commercial business policies cover storm damage.

If you have suffered damage to your property or possessions you should:

• not do anything that puts you or your household at risk
• be especially careful around any exposed electrical or telephone cables
• only return to your home or business after a storm when it is safe to do so
• contact your insurance company as soon as possible: most have 24-hour emergency helplines, which can advise on next steps and arrange repairs
• if necessary, arrange temporary emergency repairs to stop any damage getting worse. Tell your insurer and keep receipts, as this will form part of your claim
• unless they are dangerous, don't throw away damaged items without discussing it with your insurer, in case they can be repaired

There is a common misconception that homeowners are responsible for the fences on the left of their property.

In fact there is no general rule about which fence belongs to whom, so homeowners should check their title deeds to see which boundaries they own.

It can take weeks or even months for a property to fully dry out after storm damage, so you may need to wait some time before redecorating.

A group of some 600 retired Israeli security officials, including former heads of intelligence agencies, have written to US President Donald Trump to pressure Israel to immediately end the war in Gaza.

"It is our professional judgement that Hamas no longer poses a strategic threat to Israel," the officials said.

"Your credibility with the vast majority of Israelis augments your ability to steer Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu and his government in the right direction: End the war, return the hostages, stop the suffering," they wrote.

Their appeal comes amid reports that Netanyahu is pushing to expand military operations in Gaza as indirect ceasefire talks with Hamas have stalled.

Israel launched a devastating war in Gaza following Hamas's attack in southern Israel on 7 October 2023 in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken into Gaza as hostages.

More than 60,000 people have been killed as a result of Israel's military campaign in Gaza since then, the Hamas-run health ministry says.

The territory is also experiencing mass deprivation as a result of heavy restrictions imposed by Israel on what is allowed into Gaza. The ministry says 180 people, including 93 children, have died from malnutrition since the start of the war.

UN-backed agencies have said the "worst-case scenario of famine is currently playing out" in Gaza.

The latest intervention by the top former Israeli officials came after videos of two emaciated Israeli hostages were released by Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants.

The videos were widely condemned by Israeli and Western leaders.

After the videos were released, Netanyahu spoke with the two hostage families, telling them that efforts to return all the hostages "will continue constantly and relentlessly".

But an Israeli official - widely quoted by local media - said Netanyahu was working to free the hostages through "the military defeat of Hamas".

The possibility of a new escalation in Gaza may further anger Israel's allies which have been pushing for an immediate ceasefire as reports of Palestinians dying from starvation or malnutrition cause shock around the world.

The main group supporting hostages' families condemned the idea of a new military offensive saying: "Netanyahu is leading Israel and the hostages to doom."

That view was pointedly made in the letter to Trump by former Mossad chief Tamir Pardo, former Shin Bet chief Ami Ayalon, former Prime Minister Ehud Barak, and former Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon among others.

"At first this war was a just war, a defensive war, but when we achieved all military objectives, this war ceased to be a just war," said Ayalon.

The former top leaders head the Commanders for Israel's Security (CIS) group, which has urged the government in the past to focus on securing the return of the hostages.

"Stop the Gaza War! On behalf of CIS, Israel's largest group of former IDF generals and Mossad, Shin Bet, Police, and Diplomatic Corps equivalents, we urge you to end the Gaza war. You did it in Lebanon. Time to do it in Gaza as well," they wrote to the US president.

Israel has faced growing international isolation, as the widespread destruction in Gaza and the suffering of Palestinians spark outrage.

Polls around the world suggest that public opinion is increasingly negative about Israel, which is putting pressure on Western leaders to act.

But it is not clear what pressure, if any, Trump will choose to exert on the Israeli prime minister.

The US president has consistently backed his ally, even though he publicly acknowledged last week that there was "real starvation" in Gaza after Netanyahu insisted there was no such thing.

Two men have appeared in court, charged in connection with the rape of a 12-year-old girl in Nuneaton.

Ahmad Mulakhil is accused of rape, while Mohammad Kabir is accused of kidnap, strangulation and aiding and abetting the rape of a girl aged under 13.

Warwickshire County Council leader George Finch has alleged the two men were asylum seekers, which the BBC has been unable to verify independently, and accused Warwickshire Police and the Home Office of covering up their immigration status.

Police refused to disclose further details, saying: "Once someone is charged with an offence, we follow national guidance. This guidance does not include sharing ethnicity or immigration status."

In a statement to the BBC the Home Office said: "Foreign nationals who commit crimes should be in no doubt that the law will be enforced and justice delivered."

Mr Kabir and Mr Mulakhil, both 23 and from the Warwickshire town, have appeared before magistrates in Coventry and will both appear at Warwick Crown Court on 26 August.

Mr Mulakhil is also facing an additional charge of rape relating to a different case.

Anyone who was in the Cheverel Street area of Nuneaton between 20:30 and 21:45 BST on 22 July and saw anything of interest is urged to come forward by Warwickshire Police.

'Risk to public order'

Finch, who at 19 became the youngest council leader in the UK and represents Reform UK, published a letter on his social media accounts on Sunday, addressed to the Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, the Chief Constable of Warwickshire Police, Alex Franklin-Smith, and the chief executive of the council, Monica Fogarty.

He said Ms Fogarty had told him that Mr Kabir was an asylum seeker living in a house of multiple occupancy.

Residents had "very easily been able to join the dots together" and conclude that the men were asylum seekers, he said.

"Residents of Warwickshire can see they have not been told the full story," he said.

"I am disgusted that one year on from the social unrest that we saw in parts of the UK in 2024, the Home Office and the police have clearly not learned any lessons from the handling of similar incidents last year."

He added: "I strongly believe that the only risk to public order from this case in Warwickshire comes from the cover-up itself."

In a statement, Warwickshire Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Seccombe said: "It is essential to state that policing decisions—such as whether to release details about a suspect—must follow national guidance and legal requirements."

He added that he would not speculate on the personal circumstances of those involved while court proceedings were active.

The BBC has contacted Warwickshire County Council for comment.

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Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes will stand down at next year's Holyrood election.

The Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch MSP said she did not want to "seek re-election and miss any more of the precious early years of family life".

She will continue as an MSP for another nine months, with the Holyrood election scheduled for May 2026.

First Minister John Swinney thanked Forbes for her "invaluable contribution to public life over the last 10 years".

First elected in 2016, Forbes enjoyed a rapid rise to become Scotland's first female finance secretary in 2020, but was narrowly defeated in the 2023 SNP leadership contest by Humza Yousaf.

'Total dedication'

In a letter to Swinney, the Highlands MSP said: "I am in no doubt about the scale of my duties as a local representative, an activist and campaigner, and a government minister.

"Quite rightly this job entails long days far from home, constant attention and total dedication.

"As I consider the upcoming election and the prospects of another term, I have concluded that I do not wish to seek re-election and miss any more of the precious early years of family life."

She said she remained "wholly supportive" of the first minister and would continue to serve her constituents "with diligence".

The deputy first minister added: "I look forward to campaigning for the SNP at the next election, to return you as first minister for another term and lead Scotland to independence."

NHS patients from Wales who need knee and hip operations in England face lengthy delays after a health board asked English hospitals to copy Wales' longer waiting times.

Powys health board announced the change as it could not afford the cost of how quickly operations over the border were being carried out, but patients have said they were not informed.

Mel Wallace, 59, from Howey, Powys, was initially told she would have a 12-month wait for her hip replacement, but now faces another 45-week wait after already waiting 59 weeks.

Health board chief executive Hayley Thomas said people in the area "should be treated in the same timeframe as residents of anywhere else in Wales".

Previously there was no difference in how patients were treated but, since 1 July, the health board has asked that any planned treatment for its patients at hospitals in Hereford, Shrewsbury, Telford and Oswestry are based on average NHS Wales waiting times.

Almost 40% of Powys Teaching Health Board's (PTHB) budget is spent on services outside its own borders - it does not have its own district general hospital.

Latest figures show there were 10,254 waits of two years or more for planned treatments in Wales, compared to just 158 in England.

The Welsh government said it remained "committed to reducing waiting times and ensuring everyone in Wales - including those in Powys - has equitable and timely access to treatment".

With shorter waiting times in England, the Powys health board could not afford to pay the bills due to the speed the operations and other planned care like cataract surgery and diagnostic tests were being carried out.

According to its annual plan, applying NHS Wales waiting times would save £16.4m - the Welsh government has said it must save at least £26m and has intervened in the health board's finances, strategy and planning to address serious concerns.

This means people from Powys face two-year waits for some procedures, but it does exclude various high-risk patients including children and those with cancer.

Ms Wallace used to enjoy walking her dogs, gardening, going to the gym and riding her motorbike but now struggles to get out of the car or put her socks on.

She moved to her home near Llandrindod Wells from Herefordshire in 2021 for the scenery and lifestyle, but her experience with the Welsh NHS has made her "wish I hadn't moved here".

Despite her wait for an operation starting before the rule change, Ms Wallace said "they can't even be bothered to send a letter to let people know that this is going to affect them".

She wants the policy overturned but, in the meantime, said waiting times given to those already on the list should be honoured.

Stephen Evans, 66, a local government officer from Builth Wells, was scheduled for a double knee replacement and told in May that his first operation would be "within the next few weeks" in Hereford.

When he called the hospital to follow up, he was told his wait would be at least another year and said he had not had any contact from the health board or Welsh NHS.

"When your life is put on hold because of a decision like this, you deserve the truth, not some excuse," he said.

"I choose to live here, but I'm still entitled to the same sort of medical treatments as a person who lives across the border in England."

John Silk, 92, from Talgarth, was a regular golfer and went to the gym until his osteoarthritis got too bad.

"I have a stick to walk down the path from the front door now and driving in the car is a nightmare," he said.

He was due to have an operation in Hereford in June and had been to the hospital twice in preparation.

When he phoned to ask why his knee replacement had been delayed, he was told by an "apologetic" secretary that he would have to wait another year due to budget cuts.

Like others, he has not heard anything from NHS Wales. "I want them confronted with what they're doing.

"They're causing unnecessary pain and suffering. I don't think that's the idea of politics, do you?"

Health board chief executive Ms Thomas said: "We understand that the changes we have made to the way we commission planned care services will be frustrating and disappointing for patients and their families.

"It is vital that we live within our means. We cannot continue to spend money we do not have to offer faster access care to some parts of the county.

"Instead, we need to take a fairer approach that protects essential services for everyone."

Liberal Democrat MP for Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe, David Chadwick, said he could not understand the decision given reducing waiting lists and getting people back into work were priorities of Labour governments in Cardiff and Westminster.

"It's not good enough and that's why the Welsh government has to make sure that it gives Powys Teaching Health Board enough funding to process those people faster," he said.

The Wye Valley NHS Trust has also raised concerns, with managing director Jane Ives telling a board meeting that 10,000 appointments or elective procedures would be affected there due to the knock-on effects.

"This is a very poor value for money proposition and has real impacts on patients," she said.

Meanwhile a PTHB meeting last week also heard Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust had not yet implemented the policy as negotiations continue "with an increasing risk of escalation".

Shropshire and Community NHS Trust said they would "continue to prioritise patient care on the basis of clinical need".

The sheet of paper says "Wanted Person" at the top. Below is a photo of a young woman, a headshot that might have been taken in a studio. She looks directly at the camera, smiling with her teeth showing, and her dark, shoulder-length hair is neatly brushed.

At the bottom, in red, are the words: "A reward of one million Hong Kong dollars," together with a UK phone number.

To earn the money, about £95,000, there is a simple instruction: "Provide information on this wanted person and the related crime or take her to Chinese embassy".

The woman from the photo is standing in front of me. She shudders when she looks at the building.

We are outside an imposing structure that was once home to the Royal Mint and which China hopes it can develop into a new mega-embassy in London, replacing the far smaller premises it has occupied since 1877.

The new premises, opposite the Tower of London, is already being patrolled by Chinese security guards. The building is ringed with CCTV cameras too.

"I've never been this close," admits Carmen Lau.

Carmen, who is 30, fled Hong Kong in 2021 as pro-democracy activists in the territory were being arrested.

She argues that the UK should not allow China's "authoritarian regime" to have its new embassy in such a symbolic location. One of her fears is that China, with such a huge embassy, could harass political opponents and could even hold them in the building.

There are also worries, among some dissidents, that its location - very near London's financial district - could be an espionage risk. Then there is the opposition from residents who say it would pose a security risk to them.

The plans had previously been rejected by the local council, but the decision now lies with the government - and senior ministers have signalled they are in favour if minor adjustments are made to the plan.

The site is sprawling, at 20,000 square metres, and if it goes ahead it would mark the biggest embassy in Europe. But would it also really bring the dangers that its opponents fear?

The biggest embassy in Europe

China bought the old Royal Mint Court for £255m in 2018. The area has layer upon layer of history: across the road is the Tower, parts of it were built by William the Conqueror. For centuries kings and queens lived there.

The plan itself involves a cultural centre and housing for 200 staff, but in the basement, behind security doors, there are also rooms with no identified use on the plans.

"It's easy for me to imagine what would happen if I was taken to the Chinese embassy," says Carmen.

In 2022, a Hong Kong pro-democracy protester was dragged into the grounds of the Chinese consulate in Manchester and beaten. British police nearby stepped over the boundary to rescue him.

Back in 2019, mass protests had erupted in Hong Kong, triggered by the government's attempt to bring in a new law allowing for Hong Kong citizens to be extradited to China.

China's response included a law that forced all elected officials in Hong Kong, including Carmen who was then a district councillor, to take an oath of loyalty to China. Carmen resigned instead.

She claims that journalists for Chinese state-run media started following her. The Ta Kung Pao newspaper, which is controlled by China's central government in Beijing, ran a front page story alleging she and her colleagues had held parties in their council offices.

"You know the tactics of the regime," she says. "They were following you, trying to harass you. My friends and my colleagues were being arrested."

Carmen fled to London but believes that she has continued to be targeted.

Hong Kong issued two arrest warrants for her alleging "incitement to secession and collusion with a foreign country or with external elements to endanger national security".

The bounty letter sent from Hong Kong to half a dozen of her neighbours followed.

"The regime just [tries] to eliminate any possible activists overseas," she says.

Steve Tsang, a political scientist and historian who is director of the SOAS China Institute, says he can see why people from Hong Kong, or certain other backgrounds, may be uncomfortable with the new embassy.

He argues "the Chinese government since 1949 does not have a record of kidnapping people and holding them in their embassy compounds."

But he says some embassy staff would be tasked with monitoring Chinese students and dissidents in the UK and they'd also target UK citizens, such as scientists, business people, and those with influence, to advance China's interests.

The Chinese embassy told the BBC it "is committed to promoting understanding and the friendship between the Chinese and British peoples and the development of mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries. Building the new embassy would help us better perform such responsibilities".

Warnings about espionage

There is another fear, held by some opponents, that the Royal Mint Court site could allow China to infiltrate the UK's financial system by tapping into fibre optic cables carrying sensitive data for firms in the City of London.

The site once housed Barclays Bank's trading floor, so it was wired directly into the UK's financial infrastructure. Nearby, a tunnel has, since 1985, carried fibre optic cables under the Thames serving hundreds of City firms.

And in the grounds of the Court, is a five-storey brick building - the Wapping Telephone Exchange that serves the City of London.

According to Prof Periklis Petropoulos, an optoelectronics researcher at Southampton University, direct access to a working telephone exchange could allow people to glean information.

This has all prompted warnings about potential espionage - including from Conservative frontbencher Kevin Hollinrake, as well as senior Republicans in the US.

An official with security experience in former US president Joe Biden's administration told me it's perfectly possible that cables could be tapped with devices that would capture passing information - and that this would be almost impossible to detect.

"Anything up to half a mile from the embassy would be vulnerable," he says.

However, he argues that China may not be inclined to do this because it has other ways of hacking into systems.

Regarding these concerns, the Chinese embassy said: "Anti-China forces are using security risks as an excuse to interfere with the British government's consideration over this planning application.

"This is a despicable move that is unpopular and will not succeed."

What the neighbours think

At the back of the Royal Mint Court is a row of 1980s-built flats. Mark Nygate has lived here for more than 20 years. He gestures across his low garden wall. "Embassy staff will live there and overlook us," he says.

"We don't want [the embassy] there because of demonstrations, because of the security risks, because of our privacy."

Opponents of the embassy - Hong Kongers, Tibetans, Uighurs, and opposition politicians - have already staged protests involving up to 6,000 people.

Mostly, though, he fears an attack on the embassy - that could harm him and his neighbours.

But Tony Travers, a visiting professor in the LSE Department of Government, lives near the current embassy and isn't convinced that these sorts of protests will materialise for the new neighbours, if the relocation goes ahead.

"I'm not aware of any evidence that there are regular protests that block the road outside the current Chinese embassy… self-evidently, there are much larger protests outside a number of other countries' embassies and high commissions."

The Chinese embassy in London says that the proposed development would "greatly improve the surrounding environment and bring benefits to the local community and the district".

When President Xi raised the issue

China's first planning application to develop the site was rejected by Tower Hamlets council in 2022 over safety and security concerns - and fears protests and security measures could damage tourism.

Rather than amend the plan or appeal, China waited, then resubmitted an identical application in August 2024, one month after Labour came to power.

On 23 August, Sir Keir Starmer phoned Chinese President Xi Jinping for their first talks. Afterwards Sir Keir confirmed that Xi had raised the issue of the embassy.

Since then, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has exercised her power to take the matter out of the council's hands, after being urged to do so by Foreign Secretary David Lammy.

This is in the context of an attempt by the government to engage with China after previous Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak declared in 2022 that the so-called "golden era" of UK-China relations were over.

For his part, Prof Travers believes that politics is involved in planning decisions.

"The Secretary of State has to make the decision on the basis of the documentation in front of them and the law surrounding and affecting the issue," he argues.

"But it would be naïve to imagine that politics didn't play a role."

'Kissing up to China'

Lord Peter Ricketts, a former diplomat who chaired the UK's National Security Council, advising prime ministers on global threats, stresses that the country's relationship with China is complex.

A National Security Strategy published in June laid out the conflicting priorities in the government's approach, highlighting its desire to use the relationship to boost the UK economy but also likely "continued tension" over human rights and cyber security.

But is that duality of reaping the business benefits while pushing on the human rights transgressions, even possible?

"It is absolutely an adversary in some areas, which tries to steal our intellectual property, or suborn our citizens," says Lord Ricketts. "(But) it is a commercial market, a very important one for us, and it's a player in the big global issues like climate and health.

"We have to be able to treat China in all those categories at the same time."

The embassy decision, he says, cuts to the heart of this. "There are acute dilemmas, and there are choices to be made, whether to privilege the 30, 40 or 50-year relationship with China, which an embassy, I guess, would symbolise.

"Or whether to give priority to the short-term security threats, which are no doubt real as well."

The Conservative MP Sir Iain Duncan Smith is convinced giving the go-ahead for the new embassy would be a big mistake. "They think that the only way they'll get growth is by kissing up to China and getting them to invest," he tells me.

But for all the concerns around security, having one big embassy could well make it easier to keep an eye on what Chinese officials are up to in the UK, according to Prof Tsang.

"Allowing the Chinese to put their staff on one site is preferable," he argues, "because they're at the moment all over the place in London, you can't actually keep an eye on them."

He is not convinced that rejecting or approving the embassy will have an effect on business and trade.

"The Chinese are the absolute ultimate pragmatists. They are not going to suddenly say that no, we're not selling our best electric vehicles to you any longer just because you denied us the embassy," he says.

But, equally, "they are not going to substantially increase Chinese investments in the UK because they have got the new embassy compound."

If Angela Rayner thinks that too, then her decision may well come down to how seriously she takes the warnings that China could eavesdrop on the UK's banks.

If she rejects the embassy it may be because she judges the danger it poses to be very real indeed.

Top image credits: Reuters, Richard Baker via Getty Images, SOPA Images via Getty Images and EPA -EFE/REX/Shutterstock

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Western leaders have condemned videos of emaciated Israeli hostages filmed by their captors in Gaza, with the Red Cross calling for access to all remaining in captivity.

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said "images of hostages being paraded for propaganda are sickening" and they must be released "unconditionally".

The calls come after the Palestinian Islamic Jihad published video of Rom Braslavski, thin and crying, on Thursday, and Hamas released footage of an emaciated Evyatar David on Saturday.

Israeli leaders accused Hamas of starving hostages.

Hamas's armed wing denied it intentionally starves prisoners, saying hostages eat what their fighters and people eat amid a hunger crisis in Gaza.

Both Braslavski, 21, and David, 24, were taken hostage from the Nova music festival on 7 October 2023 during the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel.

They are among 49 hostages, out of 251 originally taken, who Israel says are still being held in Gaza. This includes 27 hostages who are believed to be dead.

After the videos were released, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with the two hostage families, expressing "profound shock" and telling them that efforts to return all the hostages "will continue constantly and relentlessly".

On Sunday, Netanyahu spoke to the head of the Red Cross in the region, requesting his immediate involvement in providing food and medical care to hostages.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said it was "appalled" by the videos that gave "stark evidence of the life-threatening conditions in which the hostages are being held".

The charity reiterated its call to be granted access to the hostages to assess their condition, give them medical support and facilitate contact with their families.

Hamas's armed wing Al-Qassam Brigades said it would respond positively to any Red Cross request to deliver food and medicine to prisoners if humanitarian corridors were opened into Gaza on a regular and permanent basis, and air strikes halted during the time of receiving aid.

The Red Cross has faced heavy criticism in Israel over its role in the war, with claims that it has failed to help the hostages being held in Gaza.

Earlier this year, amid anger over chaotic scenes as hostages were freed as part of a deal between Israel and Hamas, the organisation explained the limits of its role, saying it relies on the warring parties' goodwill to operate in conflict zones.

There has also been criticism from Palestinians, as the group has not been allowed to visit Palestinian prisoners being held in Israeli jails since 7 October 2023.

At the weekend in Tel Aviv, crowds of protesters and hostage families gathered once again, calling on the Israeli government to secure the release of hostages.

David and Braslavski's families said at a rally on Saturday that "everyone must get out of hell, now."

In one video, Braslavski is seen crying as he says he has run out of food and water and only ate three "crumbs of falafels" that day. He says he is unable to stand or walk, and "is at death's door".

Braslavski's family in a statement said "they managed to break Rom" and pleaded to Israeli and US leaders to bring their son home.

"He has simply been forgotten there," they said.

In the second video, David said "I haven't eaten for days... I barely got drinking water" and is seen digging what he says will be his own grave.

His family said he was being "deliberately and cynically starved in Hamas's tunnels in Gaza - a living skeleton, buried alive".

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he was "appalled" by the images, adding the release of all hostages was a mandatory prerequisite for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

French President Emmanuel Macron, who said Hamas embodies "abject cruelty", added France continues to work tirelessly towards the release of hostages, to restore a ceasefire, and to enable humanitarian aid to enter Gaza.

He said this effort must be accompanied with a political solution, with a two-state solution "with Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace". France recently announced its intention to recognise a Palestinian state, along with Canada and the UK, under certain conditions. Israel has strongly condemned the moves.

The images of emaciated hostages are coming out as UN-backed agencies have said the "worst-case scenario of famine is currently playing out" in Gaza, with malnutrition deaths reported daily.

The Hamas-run health ministry said on Sunday that 175 people, including 93 children, have died of malnutrition since the start of the war.

The UN, aid agencies and some of Israel's allies blame the hunger crisis on Israeli restrictions on the entry and delivery of humanitarian aid. Israel denies the allegation and blames Hamas.

Despite the overwhelming evidence, Israeli authorities, and part of the country's press, strongly reject that there is starvation in Gaza, and say the crisis is a lie fabricated by Hamas and spread by international media.

Some pictures of emaciated children have been displayed by Israeli protesters calling for a deal with Hamas, but many in Israel seem unaware of the extent of the emergency there.

As the war continues, Israel faces growing international isolation, as the widespread destruction in Gaza and the suffering of Palestinians spark outrage.

Polls around the world suggest that public opinion is increasingly negative about Israel, which is putting pressure on leaders to act.

The financial regulator's proposed redress scheme for car finance mis-selling is "completely impractical", the trade body for the car finance industry has said.

Stephen Hadrill of the Finance and Leasing Association (FLA) told the BBC there was concern that the redress scheme would cover loans from as far back as 2007, as firms and customers may no longer have the paperwork for that time.

On Friday, the Supreme Court ruled hidden commissions from lenders to dealers on car loans were not unlawful, meaning millions of motorists will not be able to claim for mis-selling.

However, the judgement left open the possibility of compensation claims for particularly large commissions.

On Sunday, the UK's financial watchdog, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), said it would begin a consultation on who should be eligible for compensation and how much they should get in October.

It estimates the redress scheme will cost the industry between £9bn and £18bn, although individual victims of mis-selling are likely to get less than £950 per deal.

The FCA said it "anticipate[s] requiring firms as far as possible to make customers aware they may be eligible and what they may need to do" and that claims "should cover agreements dating back to 2007".

But speaking to the BBC's Today programme, Mr Hadrill said: "[There is] a major concern, really, about the redress scheme going back to 2007. I just think that's completely impractical.

"It's not just firms that don't have the details about contracts back then, the customers don't either.

"And, if we're going to have to take careful decisions about who gets compensation, who gets redress, and who doesn't – you need that information. I just think going back that far is not the right thing to do."

He also said that the cost of a redress scheme could mean that lenders offer fewer car financing plans to customers in the near future.

"That cost will have to be absorbed somewhere."

"Ultimately, the more expensive lending becomes, the more expensive borrowing becomes for the consumer."

The FCA has said it expects "a healthy finance market for new and used cars to continue notwithstanding any redress scheme we propose".

On Friday, the Supreme Court sided with finance companies in two out of three crucial test cases focusing on commission payments made by banks and other lenders to car dealers.

However, it left open the possibility of compensation claims for particularly large commissions which the court deemed unfair.

The industry is expected to cover the full costs of any potential compensation scheme, including any administrative costs.

Those who have already complained do not need to do anything, the FCA said, advising those who have yet to complain to contact their car loan provider rather than using a claims management company.

Chinese students at UK universities are being pressured to spy on their classmates in an attempt to suppress the discussion of issues that are sensitive to the Chinese government, a new report suggests.

The UK-China Transparency (UKCT) think tank says its survey of academics in China studies also highlighted reports of Chinese government officials warning lecturers to avoid discussing certain topics in their classes.

It comes days after a new law came into force placing more responsibility on universities to uphold academic freedom and free speech.

The Chinese embassy in London called the report "groundless and absurd", adding that China respects freedom of speech in the UK and elsewhere.

The regulator, the Office for Students (OfS), says freedom of speech and academic freedom are "fundamental" to higher education.

The new legislation, which came into force last week, says universities should do more to actively promote academic freedom and freedom of speech, including in cases where institutions have agreements in place with other countries.

Universities could be fined millions if they fail to do so, the OfS has said.

However, the UKCT report says some universities are reluctant to address the issue of Chinese interference because of their financial reliance on Chinese student fees.

The report alleges that some Chinese academics involved in sensitive research had been denied visas by the Chinese government, while others said family members back in China had been harassed or threatened because of their work in the UK.

Those sensitive topics can range from science and tech to politics and humanities, the report says, such as alleged ethnic cleansing in China's Xinjiang region, the outbreak of Covid or the rise of Chinese technology companies.

Some academics reported intimidation by visiting scholars or other Chinese officials, as well as by staff at Confucius Institutes.

These are partnership organisations operating at several UK universities, which bring together institutions in the UK and China, as well as a Chinese government agency which provides funding.

They promote Chinese culture and language on UK campuses, but have been criticised over alleged ties to the Chinese Communist Party.

OfS chief executive Susan Lapworth previously said she expected Confucius Institutes to be looked into under the new free speech laws, over concerns that they could present a threat to free speech on campuses.

The OfS already has powers to ensure free speech is upheld by universities, including against any threats from the influence of foreign states or institutions.

Those powers are due to be strengthened with a new complaints system, in which university staff members and visiting speakers will be able to raise issues directly with the OfS.

The regulator also said universities should amend or terminate any agreements which threatened free speech on campus, including scholarships or schemes funded by foreign countries.

The BBC understands the OfS expects universities to have "an appropriate level of curiosity" about any such arrangements, regardless of any potential loss of income for the university.

A Chinese embassy spokesperson said the country had always adhered to its policy of not interfering with other countries' internal affairs.

However, the UKCT says its survey responses from academics suggested some students from China had told their lecturers they had been asked to spy on their peers by Chinese officials.

Other students, of various nationalities, reported being uncomfortable discussing issues in class deemed sensitive to the Chinese government, and were reluctant to pursue further academic interest in these subjects, the report says.

Skills Minister Jacqui Smith said any attempt by a foreign state to intimidate, harass or harm individuals in the UK "will not be tolerated".

"We are also working directly with the Office for Students to support universities in safeguarding free speech and tackling any form of harassment on campus," she added.

She said academic freedom was "non-negotiable in our world-leading institutions", adding that the implementation of the new legislation made that "explicitly clear".

The record £585,000 fine handed down by the OfS earlier this year has "put universities on notice" that they must do their part to protect these freedoms, she added, or they will "face the consequences".

Additional reporting by Education Editor Branwen Jeffreys

Gonorrhoea vaccines will be widely available from today in sexual health clinics across the UK, in a bid to tackle record-breaking levels of infections.

The jabs will first be offered to those at highest risk - mostly gay and bisexual men who have a history of multiple sexual partners or sexually transmitted infections.

NHS England say the roll out is a world-first, and predict it could prevent as many as 100,000 cases, potentially saving the NHS almost £8m over the next decade.

The Terrence Higgins Trust, who campaigned for the vaccine to be introduced in the UK, told the BBC it was "a huge win" for sexual health.

Gonorrhoea is a bacterial infection that is transmitted through unprotected sex.

Symptoms can include pain, unusual discharge, inflammation of the genitals and infertility, but in some cases it can have no symptoms at all.

The NHS says it can be avoided by the proper use of condoms and by accepting the vaccine if offered.

Doctors are becoming increasingly worried about the number of infections, and hope the vaccine, which is 30-40% effective, will also help slow the growing number of antibiotic-resistant cases.

The vaccine, known as the 4CMenB vaccine, was designed for preventing meningitis B in babies, but the bacteria that causes the two diseases are so closely related that the jab is also effective against gonorrhoea.

There were more than 85,000 cases of gonorrhoea in 2023 - the highest since records began almost 100 years ago.

One of those diagnosed was Joey Knock, who says the infection gave him diarrhoea, made him feel "wiped out" and led to him taking time off work to recover.

He told BBC News: "I discussed it with my friends and I definitely had worse symptoms [than them] with it.

"I felt really bad, I couldn't keep food down and I just felt totally run down."

Because he has many sexual partners, the 35-year-old decided to pay a private pharmacy for a course of gonorrhoea vaccinations in February 2024 before travelling abroad to a festival.

He paid £220 and says he's glad he did it.

"It helps knowing that I'm taking control of my sexual health and doing what I can to stay safe and practise safer sex and be much less worried about the severity of the symptoms," he says.

Joey says he uses the protection the vaccine offers him alongside other methods of safer sex, including taking PrEP, a drug which helps prevent HIV, and DoxyPep - antibiotics taken after sex to prevent bacterial STIs, a treatment not widely available on the NHS.

He says he also occasionally uses condoms - but sees the vaccine as an extra tool to keep him safe in situations where he or his partner doesn't want to use them.

Since being vaccinated, Joey has been re-infected with gonorrhoea but says the symptoms were much less severe.

He told the BBC: "I've been able to get on with my day and it has just become something much more manageable, and getting tested regularly and knowing my body really helps too."

Matthew, a 63-year-old from East Scotland, was diagnosed with gonorrhoea 10 years ago and had a reaction known as reactive arthritis - extreme pain in your joints caused by your body's reaction to an infection.

He told the BBC that the experience, which has caused lasting damage to some of his fingers and toes, was so painful it's left him fearful of becoming re-infected and has impacted his mental health.

He says: "I'm constantly looking for symptoms and I'm constantly aware of it, and I feel a bit like I used to do in the 1980s when I was constantly fretting about HIV.

"I'd get some sort of cough and think 'oh my god, what's happening?'"

He is hoping to be one of the first people to get a vaccine in order to give himself and his sexual partners more protection.

"You're not just protecting yourself, you're protecting your partners.

"I think it will also relieve some of the burden on sexual health services, it's getting difficult to get appointments so if it can work to reduce the incidence of STIs I think it's really worth it."

Richard Angell, chief executive of the Terrence Higgins Trust, a leading sexual health charity, told the BBC the vaccine was a "remarkable addition to our toolkit on sexual health".

Dr Amanda Doyle, NHS national director for primary care and community services, said it was important "everyone eligible takes up the offer through sexual health services" in order to "keep each other safe".

"It's a real step forward for sexual health," she added.

People who may be eligible for the vaccine are being asked to contact their local sexual health clinic for more information.

What comes to mind when you think of a big fat Indian wedding?

Dazzling lights, glittering outfits, Bollywood hits, a lavish spread of food and an atmosphere soaked in celebration. Everything feels extravagant, emotional and larger than life.

Now imagine all of that without the bride and groom. No pheras (a Hindu marriage ritual where the couple takes seven rounds around a sacred fire), no relatives, no tearful farewells. Just the party.

Welcome to the world of fake weddings - a rising trend in Indian cities where people gather to enjoy the wedding party, minus the actual marriage.

These ticketed events, organised by hotels, clubs and companies, are designed purely for fun and promise to offer the full experience of a wedding party without any stress, rituals or responsibilities. Simply put, it's a wedding-themed party night.

Over the past few weeks, fake weddings have been making a splash in big cities such as Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru. The attendees are usually young people looking to enjoy a night out with friends, indulging in the drama and fun of a traditional Indian wedding without the attendant pressures.

Last week, we attended one such curated event in Delhi - a fake sangeet (a sangeet is a night of music and dance usually held a few days before the wedding).

At the event, held at a plush club, the vibe was electric: women twirled in sequinned saris and lehengas (long skirts and blouses), men showed up in tailored kurtas and ethnic jackets. A traditional dhol drummer led the crowd to the dance floor and tequila-filled gol gappas (a popular Indian street snack) made the rounds.

Shivangi Sareen, who attended an event like this for the first time, found it "amazing".

"At family weddings, there's so much pressure - the rules around dressing up, the judgement [from relatives]. But here, it's just fun," she said. "Especially because we got to do it all with our friends. We decided our outfits the day before and got ready together."

Ticket prices typically start at around 1,500 rupees ($17; £13) and can go up to 15,000 rupees or more, depending on the venue and facilities. Shivangi and her friends paid 10,000 rupees per couple to attend.

"I wouldn't mind spending this once a month. The whole experience was totally worth it."

Sharad Madan, owner of a restaurant which hosted the event, says the trend underscores that novelty is key in the hospitality sector.

"We have to keep doing something new for our patrons," he said.

It cost them around a million rupees to plan and organise the event, Mr Madan says, and the team expected to make double that through ticket sales. But it's not just about profits, he says.

"It's about engagement. Even if it doesn't give me the same kind of returns, I would still do it because our patrons want something different."

Kaushal Chanani, co-founder of 8Club events which hosted a fake wedding party attended by 2,000 people in Bengaluru last month, says that the inspiration for fake weddings came from young Indians living abroad.

"People from the diaspora would gather and dance to Bollywood music, dress in ethnic [traditional] clothes and enjoy the evening," he said. "This is the idea we followed as well."

The response to the Bengaluru event, held at a five-star hotel, was "overwhelming", he says. It encouraged them to plan a similar event in Delhi - which was sold out - and they started getting queries from event organisers in other cities such as Jaipur, Kolkata and Lucknow.

"We now give out our standard operating procedure (SOP) to people who are interested," he says. "It is a guide on how to create the experience, market it and make it profitable."

However, not all fake weddings follow the same script.

Third Place, an experience-based start-up, recently hosted a sober sangeet in Bengaluru - no alcohol, just a themed celebration.

"We divided attendees into groom and bride's teams and organised games like charades and guessing who the relative is from a stereotype," said CEO Anurag Pandey.

There were dhol drums, a grand welcome for all guests and even astrology-themed games. Alcohol was deliberately left out.

"Sometimes booze takes away from the experience," Mr Pandey said. "We wanted to do more than just a pub night or a regular takeover. We wanted to showcase the spirit of Indian weddings."

Commentators say the popularity of these events reflects young people's growing desire to find reasons to celebrate.

"People need a hook of some kind… an occasion to celebrate. And there's no better setting than a wedding, which brings together all the elements of fun," says writer and social commentator Santosh Desai.

"It's the pinnacle of enjoyment - especially when it's free from the stress that accompanies real weddings."

He also points out that these events give people a reason to re-wear expensive wedding outfits bought in the past.

So, are such events here to stay?

Event planner Vijay Arora, founder of Delhi-based Touchwood Events, believes fake weddings are currently a fad - but one with potential.

"Gen Z definitely wants to be part of such celebrations," he said.

"If it emerges as a new market category then it can be a major game changer since the scale will increase - which eventually amps up business opportunities for the entire industry."

India's wedding industry is estimated to be worth around $130bn, according to investment advisory firm Wright Research.

While the sector is booming, there are constraints. Most weddings take place during the cooler months - typically between November and March - and often at auspicious times, while the monsoon season (June to August) is considered off-season.

With venues free, vendors available and people constantly chasing experiences, fake weddings could step in to fill the gap if the trend holds.

Mr Arora says he was surprised by the rise of fake weddings.

"But it also helps in understanding that such events are something that we want to celebrate or be a part of. Even if we can't attend the real events our friends or family host, we still want to experience them by joining these fake ones."

However, not every guest walks away thrilled.

Srishti Sharma, a 23-year-old Bengaluru-based marketing professional, said she was underwhelmed by the only fake wedding she attended.

"I've lived away from home for a few years now and I really missed attending a wedding," she said.

"The biggest plus was not having nagging relatives telling you 'you're next in line to get married'."

Ms Sharma and her friends spent hours picking outfits, but the event fell short.

"They began with EDM and switched to Bollywood only after two hours," she said.

"We expected wedding food but got pizza and fries - no dessert, just alcohol. The decor was basic and felt lazy."

Some have criticised the events, saying they could come across as trivialising traditional Indian events and values.

But Vidhi Kapoor, who attended the fake sangeet in Delhi, disagrees.

"It might have been offensive had people been asked to dress up like a bride or groom but here it's just a party, we should take it in high spirits," she said.

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Forwards

Backs

Millions of motorists have been denied a path to claim compensation for hidden commissions paid on car loans following a Supreme Court ruling.

The UK's highest court sided with finance companies in two out of three crucial test cases focusing on commission payments made by banks and other credit providers to car dealers.

The decision reversed earlier rulings by the Court of Appeal that had opened the possibility of industry-wide claims for compensation from motorists.

Some could still be in line for payouts, but questions remain who or how many will be eligible.

What's the scandal about?

The vast majority of new cars, and many second-hand ones, are bought with finance agreements.

About two million are sold this way each year, with customers paying an initial deposit, then a monthly fee with interest for the vehicle.

In 2021, the City regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), banned deals in which the dealer received a commission from the lender, based on the interest rate charged to the customer. These were known as discretionary commission arrangements (DCAs).

The FCA said this provided an incentive for a buyer to be charged a higher-than-necessary interest rate, leaving them paying too much.

Since January, it has been considering whether compensation should be paid to people with these deals before 2021.

Any claims on this issue made to the ombudsman, which has 80,000 open cases, or the courts, were effectively on hold until a Supreme Court's ruling.

The Supreme Court considered three test cases. The cases focused on whether commission payments made by finance companies to dealers, of which the car buyers were unaware, amounted to bribery - and whether the car dealers themselves had a duty to act on behalf of their customers, rather than in their own interests.

If upheld, this could have paved the way for millions to claim compensation, but the court ruled against two of the test cases, siding with finance companies.

This has narrowed the scope of people who will be able to claim compensation.

Who could still be in line for payouts?

Potentially, millions of motorists could still receive payouts, depending on how their interest rate was set and what they knew about it. Those who had a finance deal, which had a DCA, before 28 January 2021 could receive compensation.

This would likely be done through a central scheme, organised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which wants an orderly compensation system in place.

It would be simpler for consumers than filing a legal complaint and would require firms to check if customers had lost out.

This compensation will now not be as wide as it might have been following the outcome of the Supreme Court decision.

Guidance from the FCA revealed that any compensation scheme would have to be fair to consumers but not collapse the car market.

The FCA said it would confirm on 4 August whether it would "consult on a redress scheme".

"Our aims remain to ensure that consumers are fairly compensated and that the motor finance market works well," it said.

How much could they receive?

That is far from clear yet, but lenders – including some of the UK's biggest banks – have set aside billions of pounds already.

A driver would likely receive the difference between the amount they paid at an inflated interest rate and the rate they should have been charged.

Interest of 8% on the overpayment would be added to that loss, which could significantly increase the payout.

Exact amounts would depend on individual circumstances.

Lenders including major banks and specialist motor finance firms have set aside a total of more than £2bn for potential payouts.

Lloyds Bank has put aside £1.15bn, and Santander has allocated £295m.

Financing companies have also set aside millions, including Close Brothers (£165m), Northridge Finance (£143m) and MotoNovo (through the bank FirstRand, £140m). Some of that money has been earmarked to cover legal and administrative costs.

The Financial Conduct Authority has said any redress scheme would need to balance fairness to consumers who lost out, with ensuring the motor finance market remains robust.

Is this a wider issue?

A decision by judges at the Court of Appeal at the end of last year blew open the ongoing saga into hidden commission payments, with buyers possibly in line for payouts totalling billions of pounds.

But that is not the case anymore.

While the initial investigations surrounded discretionary commission arrangements, which were banned in 2021, the initial Court of Appeal decision widened the scope to any car finance commissions.

The Supreme Court ruling means now that the scale of compensation payouts will be limited, but the fate for those who had DCA loans remains uncertain.

The decision on any payouts over the DCA loans lies with the FCA.

Martin Lewis, founder of Money Saving Expert, told the BBC he would be "gobsmacked" if there was not a scheme for DCA payments.

The one test case which was upheld by the Supreme Court was that of Marcus Johnson, 34, from Cwmbran, Torfaen, who bought his first car - a Suzuki Swift - in 2017.

He was not informed the car dealership was being paid 25% commission, which was added on to what he had to pay back.

"I signed a few documents and then drove away in the car," he told the BBC.

He said he had no option but to use finance when he bought the car, describing it as "heartbreaking" to find out so much extra money had been taken.

Mr Johnson said he was "pleased for myself" that his case was won, "but not for the hundreds of others" who will miss out. "It's a win, but it's a really big bag of salt to go with it."

In his case, the Supreme Court said the terms of his finance deal were unfair due of the size of the commission payment, and the fact he was appeared to have been misled over the relationship between the finance firm and the dealer.

That could provide a template for other people to put forward claims.

"We just had to leave, and we didn't know what we were going to come back to."

Speaking from his in-laws home, Ben Armstrong, 38, has recalled the moment he and his wife, Lucy, 37, rounded up their three-year-old son, their three dogs and some belongings, and fled their home.

The couple, who have lived in Souni, Limassol, Cyprus, for about four years, said they had lost everything in the fire on 24 July which spread over 100 sq km (40 sq m) and killed two people.

According to Cypriot police the blaze began in the village of Malia and more than 250 firefighters were deployed to battle the flames, which were fanned by strong winds and soaring temperatures.

"Everything is completely burnt, there is nothing left of my house at all, just the walls," said Ben, who is originally from Cardiff.

"It's unrecognisable," he added.

Ben moved to Cyprus to seek a better life, and to be with his wife, Lucy, 37, who was born in the UK but grew up in Cyprus.

The fire started off very small, Ben said, which he described as being "nothing out of the ordinary for this time of the year", but it quickly escalated.

As the flames grew closer, Ben said his "biggest nightmare" came to life as they realised they wouldn't be safe if they stayed at their home.

"The way it was moving, we had never seen a fire like this before."

In less than an hour Ben had notified as many neighbours as he could, and the family rounded up a small amount of their belongings.

There was no service, no sirens or present fire service, and Ben said one of the worst parts was feeling like they were on their own.

"We had no electricity, no water at this point. We were just rooting around in the dark with little lights to try and find bags and clothes," he said.

With a bag in his hands, Ben told his three-year-old son Ethan to "pick a few of his favourite toys" to take with them.

"Usually he's not a very compliant kid, but actually this time I think he knew in our voices and he was scared as well."

"We knew if we left it any longer, we could be trapped," he added.

As the flames closed in on either side, he said they drove away from their home not knowing what would be left when they returned.

"For me, my biggest nightmare was having a fire closing in on you, and it's on you to get everyone out safely.

"That's all I cared about, was that Lucy and Ethan were safe and we could get out in time so nothing happened," he said.

They all managed to escape, but when they returned their house was just ashes.

In Souni alone 93 homes burnt down as a result of the fire, which Ben described as being "out of control".

Lucy and Ethan are currently sick dealing with the effects of smoke inhalation, Ben said, adding "we are just trying to keep positive for Ethan".

"The house is where my son took his first few steps, it's where he learned to ride a bike.

"A lot of memories have disappeared in that fire."

Despite their hopes that some of their possessions may have been saved, most sentimental items were burnt including the rope tie from their wedding ceremony in October last year, Lucy's wedding dress and wedding jewellery.

As an owner of a children's entertainment company, Ben also said his wife Lucy lost all of her supplies and is having to start her business from scratch.

"You start looking around and realise that what you've got is the bags and the clothes in the car you're driving off with, and that's it."

Since the incident the family-of-six have been living with Lucy's parents in Ypsonas, Limassol, and say they have been taking each day as it comes.

While they await more information from the government and their insurance about what support will be available to them, Ben's brother has started a fundraising page to help the family get back on their feet.

He added the support and donations from the community around them has been "amazing".

"The emotional part was all the help people were giving to us.

"We cannot thank people enough," he said, adding: "You never expect yourself to be one of these people in need, but it's been unbelievable.

"These villages and these communities, what makes them so special is the fact that they all look after each other."

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"I have no answer for it other than I'm an idiot, stupid, got caught up in the moment," says Amy Hodgkinson-Hedgecox.

She is trying to explain how she - a mother to two children who lives in Tamworth, Staffordshire - attended a riot with her son, then aged 11.

Hodgkinson-Hedgecox is one of thousands of people to have been involved in violent protests that erupted last summer. The rioting followed the murder by a teenager of three young girls in Southport - Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, Bebe King, six, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, nine.

Eight other children and two adults were also injured.

A wave of misinformation, half-truths and lies on social media, including false claims that the killer was a Muslim asylum seeker, sparked riots in towns and cities across England and Northern Ireland. More than 1,800 people were arrested, and 698 were convicted of crimes such as violent disorder and assaulting police.

A year on, angry protesters are once again gathering at hotels where asylum seekers are housed.

BBC Panorama contacted hundreds of people who took part in riots last year to ask them how they account for their actions. Many would not speak to us, saying they did not trust mainstream media; others were too ashamed or scared.

Only a few agreed to talk. But while Hodgkinson-Hedgecox told Panorama her actions had been impulsive and she regretted them, another was unapologetic - defending his online calls to sink small boats and refusing to condemn rioters who set fire to the hotel where he was protesting.

Hodgkinson-Hedgecox, 38, is wearing an electronic tag around her ankle at the house she shares with her partner Charlotte and their two children. Sentenced to two years and three months in jail after pleading guilty to violent disorder, but now released on licence, she cannot leave the house between 19:00 and 07:00.

"It was really exciting,'' she says. "The adrenaline was just… it was crazy. It was a real eye-opener that I would never do again."

With her distinctive short cropped hair, Hodgkinson-Hedgecox is easily identifiable in the reams of footage from that evening outside the hotel. She did not throw any missiles, she had no part in setting any fires, but she was standing in front of police lines shouting abuse at them, and making obscene gestures at the asylum seekers living in the hotel.

Twelve-year-old Brady had seen the protests on TikTok and repeatedly asked Hodgkinson-Hedgecox to take him there. She agreed.

She says she went there because she believed social media posts which said asylum seekers had been filming young girls at a park close to the hotel, near the centre of Tamworth. But Hodgkinson-Hedgecox acknowledges the claims may not have been true.

"I did swear. I was just shouting to the police, like, how would you like it if your child has been videoed by them? There's a level where you should be sticking up for us as well as them," she says.

"I was frustrated, I was really frustrated. Everybody's got an opinion on what's going on right now."

The former factory worker, with Brady at her side, stayed there as the violence escalated.

"When they started smashing the windows, they were throwing fireworks through the holes and they were going bang in the building, I thought, something bad's going to happen here," she says.

"As soon as I seen the lighter go on that petrol bomb I thought, oh my God, this building's going to go down. I was really concerned for [the people inside]. I thought, wow, this is gonna go up in flames, gonna kill them all. And it's not right, it's wrong. It's so wrong."

Hodgkinson-Hedgecox has been jailed several times. Until the riots, her last conviction, for battery, was in 2009. She says she has turned her life around since and is totally focused on her family.

"I accept that I was wrong for being there. I should never have been there. And I accept I should have never took a child with me either," she says. "Massive regret, huge regret. It's bad parenting."

Patriotic Alternative, a far-right, anti-immigration group run by former BNP activist Mark Collett contacted Hodgkinson-Hedgecox's partner Charlotte after she was jailed.

It offered her £1,000, saying it was providing financial support to the families of some of those convicted for their role in the rioting, describing them as political prisoners. Charlotte, who told us she was in a bad place after her partner was convicted, says she now regrets accepting the money.

In Rotherham, Ross Hart took part in a protest outside another asylum hotel. The 30-year-old says he was angry about the number of people arriving in the UK in small boats.

"All these migrants coming over, they get the hotels, they get their food," he says. "They get everything they need to get set up. That comes out of taxpayers' money."

The protest began peacefully, but as it escalated, Hart was filmed joining men rocking a police van.

It was "adrenaline", "a heat of the moment thing", he says. "Just show them that we've had enough and you need to listen to us."

Hart was also filmed vandalising one of the hotel's air conditioning units. "At that time basically, only thing people cared about then were making sure they left that hotel. Long story short: get them out."

Just as in Tamworth, rioters set fire to the hotel. Hart was not involved in the arson but he stood by and watched. And he admits to giving little thought to the plight of those trapped inside.

"I don't think none of that came into nobody's mind because enough's enough. No, I wouldn't say I wanted them to die, I wanted them gone."

Hart was jailed for two years and 10 months after pleading guilty to violent disorder. Like Hodgkinson-Hedgecox, he had been jailed as a teenager. Two years ago, he was also convicted for assaulting a woman.

Hart, who is unemployed, has anxiety, depression and borderline personality disorder. He says he was not taking his medication in the run up to the riots, but doubts it would have made much difference to his actions.

"I do believe if I'd have had my medication, I probably would have still been there," he says. "But I don't think I have done anything at all, to be honest."

Ross Hart, like Amy Hodgkinson-Hedgecox, has been released early on licence, but his views on asylum seekers have not been affected by his jailing. We showed him a social media image which appears to show migrants on a boat heading to the UK. It features a comment he posted: "Sink the lot dirty rats".

When challenged about the offensive post, he says: "There's nowt racist about that. To me, there's nowt wrong with that, what I've put there."

The anger over the housing of asylum seekers in hotels has not gone away. At least 12 people were charged after violence broke out at a protest outside an Essex hotel last month.

"Social media has got a lot to answer for and personally, do I think it's gonna happen again? Yeah, absolutely I do," says Hodgkinson-Hedgecox. "Would I attend? No, definitely not. Do I believe everything that I read on social media now? No. I really, really don't."

"I'm a quiet person now, I've got a quiet life. I just wanna move forward from this, learn from my mistakes, and just go back to being the family person that I am."

One target of the 2024 riots - Southport Imam Ibrahim Hussein, whose mosque was attacked - says he has forgiven those rioters who have written to him to apologise. But Mr Hussein says the fear has not gone away for many Muslims like him.

"I'm afraid it's like if you crack a big piece of glass, it's very hard to put it back," he says. "It is a scary time when you are labelled for what you believe."

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