Almost exactly a year ago I interviewed the Hamas leader and chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya in Doha. I met him in a house not far from the building that Israel attacked on Tuesday afternoon.

From the beginning of the war in Gaza, al-Hayya had been the chief Hamas negotiator, sending and receiving messages to the Israelis and Americans via Qatari and Egyptian intermediaries.

At moments where ceasefires were thought likely, al-Hayya, along with the men who were also targeted this afternoon, were only a short distance from the Israeli and American delegations. When they were attacked, al-Hayya and the other top Hamas leaders were discussing the latest American diplomatic proposals to end the war in Gaza and free the remaining Israeli hostages.

Israel's swift declaration of what it had done immediately fuelled speculation on social media that the latest American proposals were simply a ruse to get the Hamas leadership in one place where they could be targeted.

• Follow live: Israel strikes Qatar's capital
• What do we know about Israel's attack in Doha?

On 3rd October last year, as Khalil al-Hayya walked into the venue for our meeting in a modest, low-rise villa, I was surprised that he had so little security. We had to give up our phones, and a couple of bodyguards came with him into the house.

Outside plain clothes Qatari police sat smoking in an SUV. That was it. A hundred bodyguards could not have stopped an air strike, but al-Hayya and his people were relaxed and confident.

The point was that Qatar was supposed to be safe, and they felt secure enough to move around relatively openly.

A few months earlier, on 31 July 2024, Israel had assassinated Ismail Haniyeh, the Hamas political leader in Tehran, where he was attending the inauguration of President Masoud Pezeshkian.

With the war in Gaza raging, I had wondered whether it might be dangerous to sit in the same room as Khalil al-Hayya. But like him, I thought Qatar was off limits.

In the last few decades Qatar has tried to carve itself a position as the Switzerland of the Middle East, a place where even enemies could make deals.

The Americans negotiated with the Afghan Taliban in Doha. And in the almost two years since the attacks on 7th October 2023, Qatar has been the centre of the diplomatic efforts to negotiate ceasefires and perhaps even an end to the war.

The peace efforts, driven by President Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff, were faltering badly. But now they are in ruins. In the words of one senior western diplomat "there is no diplomacy."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told Israelis that their enemies will never be able to sleep easy and are paying the price for ordering the 7th October attacks.

The Israeli offensive in Gaza is gathering pace. A few hours before the attack on Doha, the Israeli military, the IDF, told all Palestinians in Gaza City to leave and move south. It's thought something like one million civilians could be affected.

In his televised comments Netanyahu told Palestinians in Gaza "don't be derailed by these killers. Stand up for your rights and your future. Make peace with us. Accept President Trump's proposal. Don't worry, you can do it, and we can promise you a different future, but you've got to take these people out of the way. If you do, there is no limit to our common future."

If Palestinians in Gaza are able to hear his words, they will ring very hollow. Israel has destroyed the homes of hundreds of thousands of them, as well as hospitals, universities and schools.

With Gaza already gripped by starvation, famine in Gaza City itself and a humanitarian catastrophe across the territory the forced movement of many more people will only increase Israel's lethal pressure on civilians.

Israel has already killed more than 60,000 Palestinians in Gaza, the majority of whom were civilians. Netanyahu himself faces an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court for war crimes, and Israel is being investigated by the International Court of Justice for genocide.

The attack in Doha is a sign that Netanyahu and his government will press forward as hard as they can all fronts, not just Gaza. They are confident that with American support, their military can enforce their will.

The Doha attack earned a rare rebuke from the White House. Qatar is a valuable ally, that hosts a huge US military base and is a major investor in the US.

But Netanyahu appears to be calculating that Donald Trump, the only leader he feels he must listen to, will content himself with the diplomatic equivalent of a rap over the knuckles.

Israel's offensive in Gaza continues. And as the planned recognition of Palestinian independence at the UN later this month by the UK, France, Canada, Australia and other western countries approaches, Netanyahu's ultra nationalist cabinet allies will redouble calls to respond with the annexation of occupied Palestinian territory in the West Bank.

The US has said Israel's strike on Hamas targets in Qatar "does not advance Israel or America's goals", adding that President Donald Trump "feels very badly" about the attack.

White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt read a statement from Trump at a briefing on Tuesday. It said the US was notified of Israel's attack on Hamas, with a strike "very unfortunately" taking place in the capital Doha.

It described Qatar as "a sovereign nation and close ally of the United States that is working very hard and bravely taking risks with us to broker peace".

Six people were killed in the strike, Hamas said, including one member of the Qatari security forces, but the group said its leadership team survived.

The Israeli military said it conducted a "precise strike" targeted at Hamas senior leaders using "precise munitions". Israeli media reported the operation involved 15 Israeli fighter jets, which fired 10 munitions against a single target.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he authorised the strike and there would be "no immunity" for Hamas leaders.

At the White House briefing on Tuesday, Leavitt said: "President Trump immediately directed Special Envoy [Steve] Witkoff to inform the Qataris of the impending attack, which he did. The president views Qatar as a strong ally and friend of the United States."

"The president also spoke to the emir and prime minister of Qatar and thanked them for their support and friendship to our country. He assured them that such a thing will not happen again on their soil," she added.

Leavitt said "eliminating Hamas, who have profited off the misery of those living in Gaza, is a worthy goal" and reiterated that Trump "wants all of the hostages in Gaza and the bodies of the dead released in this war to end now".

The attack took place on early Tuesday afternoon, with footage showing a badly damaged building in Doha.

Qatar's foreign ministry condemned the strike "in the strongest possible terms," and said the attack was a "blatant violation" of international law.

It later said that Qatari officials were not notified of the Israeli strike ahead of time, contradicting the US statement.

"The communication received from one of the US officials came during the sound of explosions," said Qatar's foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari in a post on X.

Leavitt did not specify when the US notified the Qataris of the attack.

Qatar has hosted Hamas's political bureau since 2012 and played a key role in facilitating indirect negotiations between the group and Israel since the 7 October attacks.

It has also been a close ally of the US. Around 10,000 American troops are stationed at a US airbase in al-Udeid, just outside Doha. In May, Trump announced a "historic" economic agreement signed between the two countries that he said is valued at least $1.2 trillion (£890bn).

Qatar has also recently gifted Trump a plane - valued at $400m - as an "unconditional gift" to be used as the new Air Force One, the official aircraft of the US president.

Hamas said their negotiating team in Doha survived Tuesday's attack, adding that the action "confirms beyond doubt that Netanyahu and his government do not want to reach any agreement" for peace.

It said it holds the US administration "jointly responsible" due to its ongoing support of Israel.

The office for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu put out a statement shortly after the strike, which said the attack was "a wholly independent Israeli operation".

"Israel initiated it, Israel conducted it, and Israel takes full responsibility," the statement said.

A few days prior to the attack, Hamas said it welcomed "some ideas" from the US on how to reach a Gaza ceasefire, and that it was discussing how to turn them "into a comprehensive agreement".

In its statement, the White House said Trump believes the "unfortunate" attack "could serve as an opportunity for peace," and that Netanyahu had expressed to him after the attack that "he wants to make peace and quickly".

Israel carried out a strike on senior Hamas leaders in Qatar's capital, Doha, on Tuesday afternoon.

Qatar quickly accused Israel of "reckless" behaviour and breaking international law after the attack on a residential premises in the city.

The Israel Defense Forces claimed to have targeted those "directly responsible for the brutal October 7 massacre".

Here is what we know so far.

• Latest updates on Doha strike

How and where was attack carried out?

Explosions were heard and smoke was seen rising above the Qatari capital Doha early on Tuesday afternoon.

Verified footage showed smoke rising from a heavily damaged section of a complex next to Woqod petrol station on Wadi Rawdan Street, close to the West Bay Lagoon district north of central Doha.

According to the Israeli military, it conducted a "precise strike" targeted at Hamas senior leaders in Qatar using "precise munitions".

Israeli media says the operation involved 15 Israeli fighter jets, firing 10 munitions against a single target.

Qatar has hosted Hamas's political bureau since 2012 and played a key role in facilitating indirect negotiations between the group and Israel since the 7 October attacks.

Who was hit in the attack?

According to a Hamas official, members of the Hamas negotiating delegation were targeted during a meeting.

The IDF has said the strike was carried out on the group's "senior leadership", although it is not yet clear exactly which individuals were targeted.

What did the US know and did Trump give a 'green light'?

The office for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu put out a statement shortly after the strike, claiming the attack was "a wholly independent Israeli operation".

"Israel initiated it, Israel conducted it, and Israel takes full responsibility," it said in a statement.

The White House also quickly confirmed it was informed of the operation, almost certainly because of the proximity of the huge US airbase at al-Udeid, just outside Doha.

This means that Donald Trump had a chance to say no to Israel but chose to give a green light instead.

Given this was an attack on sovereign Qatari territory, questions remain over how this will affect the massive US airbase at al-Udeid and how it will affect US relations with all its Gulf Arab allies.

What were Hamas leaders doing in Qatar?

Qatar has acted as a mediator between Israel and Hamas and has hosted negotiations between them since October 2023.

A couple of days ago, Hamas said it welcomed "some ideas" from the US about how to reach a Gaza ceasefire agreement that it received through mediators. It said it was in discussion about how to turn them "into a comprehensive agreement that meets the needs of our people".

It's thought likely the targeted Hamas leaders were in the middle of discussing their formal response to the US ideas.

A Palestinian official earlier told the BBC the US plan would see the 48 remaining hostages in Gaza freed in the first 48 hours of a 60-day truce in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails and good-faith negotiations on a permanent ceasefire.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has entered the contest to be Labour's deputy leader, becoming the most senior figure to put her name forward so far.

Bell Ribeiro-Addy, MP for Clapham and Brixton Hill, is so far the only other declared candidate in the race to replace Angela Rayner in the deputy leader role.

Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee Emily Thornberry has said she is considering entering, while Tooting MP, and former deputy leader candidate, Rosena Allin-Khan has ruled herself out.

Candidates have until Thursday evening to get nominations from at least 80 Labour MPs in order to take part in the contest.

They will also need the backing of either 5% of local parties, or three Labour-affiliated groups, including two unions.

Those who clear the bar face a vote by party members, with the winner announced on 25 October.

Former MasterChef presenter Gregg Wallace is launching legal action against the BBC over a data protection claim, according to court documents.

The case has been filed at the High Court, but no further details have yet been made public.

Wallace was sacked in July after a report upheld more than 40 allegations about his conduct on MasterChef.

A BBC spokesperson said: "We have not been formally notified of any legal proceedings so at this stage we are unable to comment."

Wallace's representatives have been approached for a comment.

BBC News is editorially independent from the wider corporation.

• Gregg Wallace 'sorry' after 45 claims against him upheld

Wallace had hosted MasterChef for 20 years, but stepped away from presenting the cooking show last year after facing a string of misconduct claims.

The show's production company Banijay ordered an immediate inquiry into the allegations, which was conducted by an independent law firm.

This summer, the report revealed that 45 claims against Wallace had been substantiated, including one of unwelcome physical contact and three of being in a state of undress.

In total, the report said 83 allegations were made against the TV presenter, with the majority of the upheld claims relating to inappropriate sexual language and humour, but also culturally insensitive or racist comments.

Following that report, Wallace issued a statement to the PA news agency, saying that "none of the serious allegations against me were upheld".

"I challenged the remaining issue of unwanted touching but have had to accept a difference in perception, and I am deeply sorry for any distress caused. It was never intended."

A separate claim that his co-host John Torode had used a severely offensive racist term was also substantiated. Torode has said he has "no recollection" of the incident.

Both presenters were sacked, but the BBC decided to still broadcast this year's amateurs series of MasterChef - with both Wallace and Torode in it - for the sake of the chefs who had taken part in it.

On Tuesday, the BBC's director general Tim Davie defended that decision, saying the "vast majority" of chefs on the show wanted it to air.

But he added: "I think the consequences for the individuals who presented MasterChef have been very significant, they're no longer working with the BBC, so there are those consequences."

Speaking to MPs, he also said he was "not letting anything lie" when it came to rooting out abuses of power within the corporation.

Earlier this week, it was revealed that food critic Grace Dent and chef Anna Haugh are the new hosts of MasterChef.

Why the change in weather?

What is the longer range forecast?

Will the rain help relieve the drought?

Sir Keir Starmer is to hold talks with Israeli President Isaac Herzog in Downing Street on Wednesday.

No 10 said Sir Keir will raise the "intolerable situation in Gaza" and the "action Israel must take to end the horrific suffering we're witnessing" with the Israeli president.

It comes after Israel carried out a strike on senior Hamas leaders in Qatar's capital Doha, and warned all residents of Gaza City to leave immediately in anticipation of a huge ground offensive.

Sixty MPs and peers, including members of Labour, the Greens and the SNP, are calling on the government to deny Herzog entry to the UK to avoid the risk of being complicit in genocide, under the terms of a UN treaty.

Israel says it is working to destroy the Palestinian armed group Hamas and get back hostages they have taken. It has strongly denied allegations of genocide, claims which are also being examined by the International Court of Justice.

Isaac Herzog's office has said he is visiting the UK "to show solidarity with the Jewish community, which is under severe attack and facing a wave of antisemitism".

But Health Secretary Wes Streeting has said he must answer allegations being levelled at the Israeli government over its actions in Gaza.

"I think he needs to answer the allegations of war crimes, of ethnic cleansing and of genocide that are being levelled at the government of Israel," he told Times Radio.

"I think he needs to explain how, when we have seen so much evidence of the atrocities being perpetrated by the Israeli army, how he can possibly claim that the IDF (Israel Defence Forces) is the most moral army in the world.

"I think he should explain that, if it is not the intent of the government of Israel to perpetrate genocide or ethnic cleansing, how on earth does he think his Israeli government is going to achieve its stated aim of clearing Palestinians out of Gaza without the war crimes, without ethnic cleansing, or even without genocide?"

Downing Street underlined Sir Keir's "revulsion" at the suffering in Gaza, but stopped short of repeating Streeting's calls for Herzog to answer for alleged Israeli war crimes and ethnic cleansing.

Lammy letter

In a letter to a select committee published last week, sent when he was foreign secretary, David Lammy said the UK had not concluded that Israel is committing genocide, as set out in a United Nations treaty.

But Downing Street insisted on Tuesday this did not represent a shift in the UK's position, which was still that it is for international courts to determine whether Israel "has or has not" committed genocide in Gaza.

In the letter, sent before he was replaced as foreign secretary in Friday's cabinet reshuffle, Lammy said: "As per the Genocide Convention, the crime of genocide occurs only where there is specific 'intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group'.

"The government has not concluded that Israel is acting with that intent," it added.

The prime minister's official spokesman said Lammy's letter "reflects the UK's position that we've not come to any conclusion as to whether genocide has or has not been committed in Gaza".

The spokesman said the government was clear that it was for "international courts to make these determinations".

Foreign Office sources said the government had merely considered whether there was a "serious risk of genocide" - as it was obliged to do as a signatory of the Genocide Convention.

That assessment, the sources said, was required under its arms exports licensing criteria and reflected a one-off judgement based on the information at the time. And it was then that the government did not conclude that Israel was acting with genocidal intent.

Lammy, who was made justice secretary and deputy prime minister in the reshuffle, had been responding to a letter from the Labour chair of the development committee, Sarah Champion.

In her letter to Lammy, dated 12 August, Champion raised concerns that the UK's decision to exempt F-35 fighter jet components from suspended arms exports to Israel breached its duty to prevent genocide under the UN treaty.

In a statement, campaign group Amnesty International said Sir Keir Starmer "must not provide diplomatic cover for a state committing genocide," when he meets Herzog.

"This visit is a test of leadership and principle: polite handshakes and warm words will demonstrate neither."

On Monday night, Sir Keir hosted Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas in Downing Street.

Abbas welcomed Sir Keir's pledge to recognise a Palestinian state ahead of the UN General Assembly meeting in New York later this month if Israel does not change course.

Both leaders agreed there will be "absolutely no role" for Hamas in the future governance of Palestine, a Downing Street spokesman said.

"They discussed the intolerable situation in Gaza, and the prime minister reiterated the need for an urgent solution to end the horrific suffering and famine - starting with an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages and a huge surge in humanitarian aid."

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

At least 64,605 people have been killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza since then, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has resigned amid Nepal's worst unrest in decades, as public anger mounts over the deaths of 19 anti-corruption protesters in clashes with police on Monday.

On Tuesday, crowds set fire to parliament in the capital Kathmandu, sending thick black smoke billowing into the sky. Government buildings and the houses of political leaders were attacked around the country.

Three more deaths were reported on Tuesday. Amid the chaos, jail officials said 900 inmates managed to escape from two prisons in Nepal's western districts.

The demonstrations were triggered by a ban on social media platforms. It was lifted on Monday - but by then protests had swelled into a mass movement.

Nepal's army chief issued a statement late on Tuesday accusing demonstrators of taking advantage of the current crisis by damaging, looting and setting fire to public and private property.

It said if unrest continued, "all security institutions, including the Nepal Army, are committed to taking control of the situation," effective from 22:00 local time (16:15 GMT; 17:15 BST), without detailing what this might entail.

While the prime minister has stepped down, it's not clear who will replace him - or what happens next, with seemingly no-one in charge. Some leaders, including ministers, have reportedly taken refuge with the security forces.

So far, the protesters have not spelt out their demands apart from rallying under the broader anti-corruption call. The protests appear spontaneous, with no organised leadership.

Inside parliament, there were jubilant scenes as hundreds of protesters danced and chanted slogans around a fire at the entrance to the building, many holding Nepal's flag.

Some entered inside the building, where all the windows have been smashed. Graffiti and anti-government messages have been spray painted on the exterior.

Kathmandu resident Muna Shreshta, 20, was among the large crowd outside parliament.

Corruption has been a long-term issue, she told the BBC, adding that it is "high time our nation, our prime minister, and anyone in power changes, because we need to change".

"It has happened now and we are more than happy to witness this and fight for this. I hope this change will bring something that is positive to us."

Ms Shreshta thinks taxes paid by working people need to be used in ways that will help the country grow.

Last week, Nepal's government ordered authorities to block 26 social media platforms for not complying with a deadline to register.

Platforms such as Instagram and Facebook have millions of users in Nepal, who rely on them for entertainment, news and business.

The government justified its ban in the name of tackling fake news, hate speech and online fraud.

But young people criticised the move as an attack on free speech.

Although the ban was hastily lifted on Monday night, the protests had already gained unstoppable momentum, targeting the political elite and plunging the nation into chaos.

A government minister said they lifted the ban after an emergency meeting late on Monday night to "address the demands of Gen Z".

In the weeks before the ban, a "nepo kid" campaign, spotlighting the lavish lifestyles of politicians' children and allegations of corruption, had taken off on social media.

Thousands of young people first attempted to storm the parliament building on Monday. Several districts were put under curfew. Most of the deaths occurred around parliament and government buildings on that day.

On Tuesday, protests continued unabated. A crowd in Kathmandu torched the headquarters of the Nepali Congress Party, which is part of the governing coalition, and the house of its leader, Sher Bahadur Deuba.

The house of KP Oli - a 73-year-old four-time prime minister who leads the Communist Party - was also set on fire.

He said he had resigned to pave the way for a constitutional solution to the current crisis.

"In view of the adverse situation in the country, I have resigned effective today to facilitate the solution to the problem and to help resolve it politically in accordance with the constitution," Oli wrote in his letter to President Ramchandra Paudel.

An aide to Paudel told Reuters news agency the president had accepted the resignation and begun the "process and discussions for a new leader".

A woman has died attempting to cross the English Channel in a boat carrying migrants, according to Kent Police.

The overloaded dinghy suffered what the authorities are describing as a "catastrophic deflation" 10 miles (16km) off the coast of Dover at about 12:30 BST on Tuesday.

The UK Coastguard sent a Border Force vessel, two lifeboats and a helicopter to the scene – and issued a mayday call to other shipping in the area.

The woman was airlifted to Dover, but was pronounced dead, police said.

Several other people were pulled from the water, according to HM Coastguard.

A government spokesperson said: "We are shocked and saddened by this tragic incident. Our immediate thoughts are with all of those who have been affected.

"This latest tragedy underlines the terrible dangers of small boat crossings, and we continue to do everything we can to prevent callous criminals exploiting vulnerable people."

Meanwhile, an investigation has begun into whether a migrant boat reached the Kent coast without being intercepted by the Border Force.

The thousands of people crossing the English Channel are usually brought to shore in Border Force or RNLI boats, but one is reported to have slipped through on Saturday, the first time this has happened since December 2022.

Kent Police said five people were detained near Kingsdown and passed to immigration authorities, the same day as more than 1,000 people were recorded to have arrived in the UK by small boat.

Asked about the incident, the Prime Minister's spokesperson said: "My understanding is the circumstances of their arrival are being investigated, that all five people were placed under immigration control.

"We obviously have significant arrangements and technology in place to prevent uncontrolled landings."

About 500 people are believed to have made the crossing on Tuesday.

A total of 77 people lost their lives attempting the journey in 2024, according to the French authorities.

Thousands of migrants have crossed the Channel in small boats since the new "one in, one out" agreement with France took effect in August, figures from the Home Office show.

The plan proposes that for each migrant the UK returns to France, another person with a strong case for asylum in Britain will be allowed to stay.

More than 30,000 people have reached the UK in small boats so far in 2025 and more than 50,000 have crossed since Labour came into power in July 2024.

Additional reporting from PA Media.

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President Emmanuel Macron has named close ally Sébastien Lecornu as new French prime minister, 24 hours after a vote of confidence ousted François Bayrou as head of his government.

Lecornu was among the favourites to take over the job, and in a statement the Elysée Palace said he had been given the task of consulting political parties with the aim of adopting France's next budget.

Bayrou had visited the president hours earlier to hand in his resignation, paving the way for Lecornu to become the fifth prime minister of Macron's second term as president.

Lecornu will face the same challenges as his predecessor, including getting a cost-cutting budget past parliament without a majority.

France has a spiralling public debt, which hit €3.3tn (£2.8tn) earlier this year and represents 114% of the country's economic output or GDP.

Bayrou had proposed €44bn in budget cuts, and his decision to put his plans to a vote of confidence was always going to fail. In the end France's National Assembly decided to oust his government by 364 votes to 194.

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

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The last time the BBC's director-general and chair appeared before the Culture, Media and Sport committee, the MPs spent around half an hour grilling them about how the corporation could have broadcast a documentary about Gaza without knowing its child narrator was the son of a Hamas official.

It was bruising.

The pair faced MPs again six months later, on Tuesday, and the backdrop looked even worse, after what Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has called "a series of catastrophic failures" at the corporation.

In the months since their last session, an investigation found that the Gaza documentary breached the BBC's accuracy standards - and the corporation faced criticism for dropping another Gaza documentary, containing claims that Israel was targeting medics, which was later broadcast on Channel 4.

The corporation also had to apologise for broadcasting anti-semitic comments by the punk duo Bob Vylan at Glastonbury.

And it forced out both the presenters of Masterchef after a review upheld allegations against them.

But Tim Davie and Samir Shah have spent a lot of the summer talking about - and apologising for - these errors and scandals.

By now, their responses are sure-footed.

The committee of MPs ask fairly tough questions, but they don't grandstand for the cameras in the way that some previous members used to on occasion. (Sometimes I miss those days).

But grandstanding for the committee isn't Davie or Shah's style either. The BBC chair, though, is often the one who delivers the clippable soundbites.

In March he said that the controversy around Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone was like a "dagger to the heart" of BBC impartiality.

This time, he said: "It doesn't matter how grand you are, how famous you are. If you abuse your power, we don't want you working for the BBC."

He has a memorable turn of phrase and rises to the occasion. "I am absolutely clear that no one is irreplaceable," was another pithy expression.

But the bulk of the talking this time was by Tim Davie. He doesn't deliver straight-forward soundbites, instead often embarking on a sentence but adding several clauses before he gets to the point.

But his committee performance was confident and robust.

They asked if he had considered resigning. Davie said he would be "inhuman" if he said he hadn't been feeling the pressure. But, he added, people in top jobs "should be held accountable".

Could he give a categorical assurance that the next time he meets these MPs there won't have been another scandal? He said he couldn't guarantee that the BBC would never see another person abuse their power (of course he couldn't, no boss ever could, surely?) - but the DG claimed the BBC is "resetting the industry".

Davie - and Shah - have a story they want to tell and broadly stuck to it; firstly, that the BBC is leading the way in calling out bad behaviour by anyone who works for it. Some people have already lost their jobs, they told MPs.

Secondly, that the BBC is important to the nation and should be protected into the future.

Davie has survived a difficult summer in which the culture secretary attacked his leadership, before apparently rowing back after being criticised for overreach.

The next big battleground - unless the BBC is buffetted by more "events" - is the fight for a new licence fee settlement.

At one point, the MPs questioned what one called the BBC's "wall-to-wall coverage" of Nigel Farage and Reform. How can a party of only four MPs be getting so much airtime?, they wanted to know.

Tim Davie said the broadcaster was having to adapt to the fact that the political landscape "has changed fundamentally".

The irony is that Reform's leader Nigel Farage has previously said his party would abolish the licence fee, if they form a government. Which would make negotiations on reform of the BBC's funding model of the kind being suggested by BBC executives immaterial.

Several times during the course of Tuesday's session, Davie turned his answers into a defence of the BBC and its vital role in public life.

As charter renewal negotiations begin to ramp up, with plans for future funding of the BBC to be decided, expect more of these arguments in the weeks and months ahead.

A man has been arrested on suspicion of possession of CS gas and causing a public nuisance following the partial evacuation of Heathrow Airport on Monday night.

Hundreds of people were forced to leave Terminal 4 at about 17:00 BST on Monday, before being allowed back in three hours later.

No hazardous materials were found but the Metropolitan Police discovered a can of CS spray which it said "caused a reaction to those within the airport". London Ambulance Service treated and discharged 20 people for "irritation".

The incident is not being treated as terrorism related, Scotland Yard said, and the 57-year-old suspect remains in police custody.

An investigation is ongoing, police added.

On Monday, a Heathrow spokesperson said the airport reopened to passengers shortly after 20:00 and they were "very sorry for the disruption caused".

Disruption to flights landing and departing from Terminal 4 appeared minimal during the evacuation, according to flight data.

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Israel carried out a strike on senior Hamas leaders in Qatar's capital, Doha, on Tuesday afternoon.

Qatar quickly accused Israel of "reckless" behaviour and breaking international law after the attack on a residential premises in the city.

The Israel Defense Forces claimed to have targeted those "directly responsible for the brutal October 7 massacre".

Here is what we know so far.

• Latest updates on Doha strike

How and where was attack carried out?

Explosions were heard and smoke was seen rising above the Qatari capital Doha early on Tuesday afternoon.

Verified footage showed smoke rising from a heavily damaged section of a complex next to Woqod petrol station on Wadi Rawdan Street, close to the West Bay Lagoon district north of central Doha.

According to the Israeli military, it conducted a "precise strike" targeted at Hamas senior leaders in Qatar using "precise munitions".

Israeli media says the operation involved 15 Israeli fighter jets, firing 10 munitions against a single target.

Qatar has hosted Hamas's political bureau since 2012 and played a key role in facilitating indirect negotiations between the group and Israel since the 7 October attacks.

Who was hit in the attack?

According to a Hamas official, members of the Hamas negotiating delegation were targeted during a meeting.

The IDF has said the strike was carried out on the group's "senior leadership", although it is not yet clear exactly which individuals were targeted.

What did the US know and did Trump give a 'green light'?

The office for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu put out a statement shortly after the strike, claiming the attack was "a wholly independent Israeli operation".

"Israel initiated it, Israel conducted it, and Israel takes full responsibility," it said in a statement.

The White House also quickly confirmed it was informed of the operation, almost certainly because of the proximity of the huge US airbase at al-Udeid, just outside Doha.

This means that Donald Trump had a chance to say no to Israel but chose to give a green light instead.

Given this was an attack on sovereign Qatari territory, questions remain over how this will affect the massive US airbase at al-Udeid and how it will affect US relations with all its Gulf Arab allies.

What were Hamas leaders doing in Qatar?

Qatar has acted as a mediator between Israel and Hamas and has hosted negotiations between them since October 2023.

A couple of days ago, Hamas said it welcomed "some ideas" from the US about how to reach a Gaza ceasefire agreement that it received through mediators. It said it was in discussion about how to turn them "into a comprehensive agreement that meets the needs of our people".

It's thought likely the targeted Hamas leaders were in the middle of discussing their formal response to the US ideas.

A Palestinian official earlier told the BBC the US plan would see the 48 remaining hostages in Gaza freed in the first 48 hours of a 60-day truce in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails and good-faith negotiations on a permanent ceasefire.

New league tables rating the performance of NHS trusts in England have been published for the first time, with specialist hospitals taking the top slots.

Number one is Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, followed by the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust, and the Christie NHS Foundation Trust.

At the bottom is Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King's Lynn, which has had major problems with its buildings because of structural weaknesses and the need for props to hold up ceilings.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the tables will identify where "urgent support is needed".

"Patients know when local services aren't up to scratch," he said, "and they want to see an end to the postcode lottery - that's what this government is doing."

The public will be able to check out the performance of their local hospital, ambulance service or mental health trust.

Trusts in England are ranked every three months and placed in four categories - with the top performers given more power over how they spend their money and those lower down encouraged to learn from the best trusts and receive support from national officials.

A spokesperson for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital said: "Our patients deserve the highest standards of care, and we are sorry that in some of our performance areas... we have fallen short. Immediate steps are being taken to address the issues."

But NHS Providers, representing trusts, said there were question marks over whether the league tables were accurately identifying the best performing organisations.

Chief executive Daniel Elkeles said: "For league tables to really drive up standards, tackle variations in care, and boost transparency, they need to measure the right things, be based on accurate, clear and objective data and avoid measuring what isn't in individual providers' gift to improve.

"Then they will drive improvement and boost performance. Anything less could lead to unintended consequences, potentially damaging patient confidence in local health services, demoralising hardworking NHS staff and skewing priorities."

The Department of Health said that from next year the best performing trusts would have more freedom to develop services around local needs while those facing challenges would receive "enhanced support" with their bosses held accountable with their pay reduced because of poor performance.

The highest rated leaders will be offered bigger pay packets to try to turn around struggling trusts.

The metrics used to draw up the rankings include patient waiting times for planned treatment and A&E care and also the financial performance of the trust. It is possible that a hospital rated highly for clinical care will be marked down if they are running up a larger than expected deficit.

Thea Stein, chief executive of the Nuffield Trust think thank, said it was understandable that the government was focussed on winning back public trust but added a note of caution.

"There's a risk that trusts will focus only on the measures that immediately boost their ranking, even if it's not necessarily best for patients," she said. "As finances have a particular sway on the rankings, this is of limited use for patients trying to choose the best hospital for their care."

Chris McCann from Healthwatch England said any league table must inform and not confuse people.

"It will be essential that the new dashboard clearly communicates the information that is most important to patients and that it is as accessible as possible," he said.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has entered the contest to be Labour's deputy leader, becoming the most senior figure to put her name forward so far.

Bell Ribeiro-Addy, MP for Clapham and Brixton Hill, is so far the only other declared candidate in the race to replace Angela Rayner in the deputy leader role.

Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee Emily Thornberry has said she is considering entering, while Tooting MP, and former deputy leader candidate, Rosena Allin-Khan has ruled herself out.

Candidates have until Thursday evening to get nominations from at least 80 Labour MPs in order to take part in the contest.

They will also need the backing of either 5% of local parties, or three Labour-affiliated groups, including two unions.

Those who clear the bar face a vote by party members, with the winner announced on 25 October.

The Duke of Sussex has made a personal donation of £1.1m to a BBC Children in Need project in Nottingham supporting young people who have been affected by violence.

Prince Harry is on the second day of a UK visit, where he's been attending charity events.

In Nottingham he visited the Community Recording Studio, an initiative supported by BBC Children in Need, where he applauded a rap music performance, giving a hug to one of the young people taking part.

The prince hoped the donation, from his own money rather than his Archewell organisation, would help "changemakers in the city continue their mission to create safe spaces, build trust, and offer hope and belonging to young people who need it most".

Looking relaxed and wearing jeans, Harry met youth workers and local groups at the recording studio and heard about their efforts to tackle violence in Nottingham, in a scheme supported by BBC Children in Need.

As well as showing a few dance moves when he arrived, he joined a roundtable conversation about tackling issues such as knife crime and creating more positive opportunities.

BBC Children in Need, supported by an annual TV fundraising drive, is now one of the country's biggest funders of independent youth workers.

Tony Okotie, the charity's director of impact, said the donation would help "create spaces where young people feel safe, heard, and empowered to build brighter futures".

There have been previous significant donations by the prince. He gave £1.2m of the proceeds from his memoir Spare to Sentebale, the charity he co-founded in southern Africa, which he subsequently left in an acrimonious dispute.

Prince Harry arrived in the UK on Monday - and went to lay a wreath on the grave of Queen Elizabeth II in Windsor, on the third anniversary of her death.

But it is still not known whether he will meet his father King Charles during this visit to the UK, despite much speculation that a meeting is on the cards.

The two men have not met face to face since February 2024 and Prince Harry has talked emotionally in a BBC interview about wanting a "reconciliation" with his family.

While Prince Harry has been in Nottingham, his brother the Prince of Wales has been carrying out his own engagements - visiting a housing project in south London as part of his Homewards campaign to tackle homelessness.

On Monday, Prince Harry had attended the WellChild awards in London, while his brother Prince William was at a Women's Institute meeting in Berkshire, with guests remembering the legacy of the late Queen Elizabeth.

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A woman has died attempting to cross the English Channel in a boat carrying migrants, according to Kent Police.

The overloaded dinghy suffered what the authorities are describing as a "catastrophic deflation" 10 miles (16km) off the coast of Dover at about 12:30 BST on Tuesday.

The UK Coastguard sent a Border Force vessel, two lifeboats and a helicopter to the scene – and issued a mayday call to other shipping in the area.

The woman was airlifted to Dover, but was pronounced dead, police said.

Several other people were pulled from the water, according to HM Coastguard.

A government spokesperson said: "We are shocked and saddened by this tragic incident. Our immediate thoughts are with all of those who have been affected.

"This latest tragedy underlines the terrible dangers of small boat crossings, and we continue to do everything we can to prevent callous criminals exploiting vulnerable people."

Meanwhile, an investigation has begun into whether a migrant boat reached the Kent coast without being intercepted by the Border Force.

The thousands of people crossing the English Channel are usually brought to shore in Border Force or RNLI boats, but one is reported to have slipped through on Saturday, the first time this has happened since December 2022.

Kent Police said five people were detained near Kingsdown and passed to immigration authorities, the same day as more than 1,000 people were recorded to have arrived in the UK by small boat.

Asked about the incident, the Prime Minister's spokesperson said: "My understanding is the circumstances of their arrival are being investigated, that all five people were placed under immigration control.

"We obviously have significant arrangements and technology in place to prevent uncontrolled landings."

About 500 people are believed to have made the crossing on Tuesday.

A total of 77 people lost their lives attempting the journey in 2024, according to the French authorities.

Thousands of migrants have crossed the Channel in small boats since the new "one in, one out" agreement with France took effect in August, figures from the Home Office show.

The plan proposes that for each migrant the UK returns to France, another person with a strong case for asylum in Britain will be allowed to stay.

More than 30,000 people have reached the UK in small boats so far in 2025 and more than 50,000 have crossed since Labour came into power in July 2024.

Additional reporting from PA Media.

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A man has been arrested on suspicion of possession of CS gas and causing a public nuisance following the partial evacuation of Heathrow Airport on Monday night.

Hundreds of people were forced to leave Terminal 4 at about 17:00 BST on Monday, before being allowed back in three hours later.

No hazardous materials were found but the Metropolitan Police discovered a can of CS spray which it said "caused a reaction to those within the airport". London Ambulance Service treated and discharged 20 people for "irritation".

The incident is not being treated as terrorism related, Scotland Yard said, and the 57-year-old suspect remains in police custody.

An investigation is ongoing, police added.

On Monday, a Heathrow spokesperson said the airport reopened to passengers shortly after 20:00 and they were "very sorry for the disruption caused".

Disruption to flights landing and departing from Terminal 4 appeared minimal during the evacuation, according to flight data.

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A well-known deodorant brand has apologised and recalled some of its roll-on products after customers were reportedly left with itchy, burning armpits.

Consumers of Mitchum's 48-hour roll-on anti-perspirant and deodorant complained on social media how they experienced "agonising weeping spots", redness and irritation after using the roll-ons.

Posting on TikTok, one customer claimed they wanted to "rip my armpits out", while another said her underarms felt like they were "on fire".

The company said it was "truly sorry" and explained how a change in the manufacturing process had led to the 100ml batches sold in the UK, Ireland and South Africa being affected and recalled.

Hundreds have taken to sharing videos of their experience on social media, including a customer who described how she was left in agony because of "weeping spots" under her arm.

"I won't be using any Mitchum products again because I'm not risking this happening again," she said.

One woman said she was unable to sleep after applying the roll-on to her skin because the deodorant left her with "second degree chemical burns on my armpits".

Another described her underarm skin as developing a pink rash which had "scabbed over".

A Mitchum spokesperson said the brand was "truly sorry some of our customers have experienced temporary irritation."

In a statement, the company said: "We want to reassure there has been no change to the formula of our products, but we have identified a change in the manufacturing process affecting one of our raw materials.

"This has impacted how the roll-on interacts with the skin of some users."

It said the issue had since been "resolved" and it was working to "remove the small amount of product" left in shops.

"In addition, we have reverted to the original manufacturing process to ensure no other batches are affected", the spokesperson said.

Mitchum advised all those affected to contact its customer services team so it could "make this right".

The firm has issued a list of all the affected 100ml roll-on products. These are:

• Powder Fresh
• Shower Fresh
• Unscented
• Pure Fresh
• Flower Fresh
• Ice Fresh
• Clean Control
• Sport

Israel carried out a strike on senior Hamas leaders in Qatar's capital, Doha, on Tuesday afternoon.

Qatar quickly accused Israel of "reckless" behaviour and breaking international law after the attack on a residential premises in the city.

The Israel Defense Forces claimed to have targeted those "directly responsible for the brutal October 7 massacre".

Here is what we know so far.

• Latest updates on Doha strike

How and where was attack carried out?

Explosions were heard and smoke was seen rising above the Qatari capital Doha early on Tuesday afternoon.

Verified footage showed smoke rising from a heavily damaged section of a complex next to Woqod petrol station on Wadi Rawdan Street, close to the West Bay Lagoon district north of central Doha.

According to the Israeli military, it conducted a "precise strike" targeted at Hamas senior leaders in Qatar using "precise munitions".

Israeli media says the operation involved 15 Israeli fighter jets, firing 10 munitions against a single target.

Qatar has hosted Hamas's political bureau since 2012 and played a key role in facilitating indirect negotiations between the group and Israel since the 7 October attacks.

Who was hit in the attack?

According to a Hamas official, members of the Hamas negotiating delegation were targeted during a meeting.

The IDF has said the strike was carried out on the group's "senior leadership", although it is not yet clear exactly which individuals were targeted.

What did the US know and did Trump give a 'green light'?

The office for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu put out a statement shortly after the strike, claiming the attack was "a wholly independent Israeli operation".

"Israel initiated it, Israel conducted it, and Israel takes full responsibility," it said in a statement.

The White House also quickly confirmed it was informed of the operation, almost certainly because of the proximity of the huge US airbase at al-Udeid, just outside Doha.

This means that Donald Trump had a chance to say no to Israel but chose to give a green light instead.

Given this was an attack on sovereign Qatari territory, questions remain over how this will affect the massive US airbase at al-Udeid and how it will affect US relations with all its Gulf Arab allies.

What were Hamas leaders doing in Qatar?

Qatar has acted as a mediator between Israel and Hamas and has hosted negotiations between them since October 2023.

A couple of days ago, Hamas said it welcomed "some ideas" from the US about how to reach a Gaza ceasefire agreement that it received through mediators. It said it was in discussion about how to turn them "into a comprehensive agreement that meets the needs of our people".

It's thought likely the targeted Hamas leaders were in the middle of discussing their formal response to the US ideas.

A Palestinian official earlier told the BBC the US plan would see the 48 remaining hostages in Gaza freed in the first 48 hours of a 60-day truce in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails and good-faith negotiations on a permanent ceasefire.

Nepal's Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has resigned in the wake of public outrage over the killing of 21 people in police clashes with anti-corruption protesters.

His office said he had stepped down to pave the way for a constitutional solution to the massive youth-led protests over widespread allegations of corruption and sparked by a social media ban, which has since been withdrawn.

The protests turned violent as thousands – many identifying themselves as Gen Z on placards and banners – took to the streets of Kathmandu on Monday.

Almost 200 people are believed to have been injured in clashes with police, who used tear gas, water cannons and live bullets as protesters scaled the walls of the parliament and other official buildings.

The protests continued on Tuesday, with demonstrators setting fire to the headquarters of the Nepali Congress Party and the home of former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba. The homes of several other politicians have also been vandalised.

Here's what we know about the protests.

What was the social media ban?

Social media is a big part of Nepali life. Indeed, the country has one of South Asia's highest user rates per capita.

The demonstrations were triggered by the government's decision last week to ban 26 social media platforms, including WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook, for failing to meet a deadline to register.

Critics accused the government of seeking to stifle an anti-corruption campaign with the ban, which was repealed on Monday night.

While the ban was a catalyst for the current unrest, protesters are also channelling a more deep-rooted dissatisfaction with the country's authorities.

What is happening across Nepal?

The ensuing demonstrations turned violent in Kathmandu and some other cities in Nepal.

On Monday, Nepal's Minister for Communication Prithvi Subba told the BBC police had had to use force - which included water cannons, batons and firing rubber bullets.

Some protesters managed to breach the perimeter of the parliament building in Kathmandu, prompting police to impose a curfew around key government buildings and tighten security.

On Tuesday, the BBC received reports of vandalism and arson against the homes of several high-ranking politicians.

Videos posted on social media showed damage to the home of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli in Balakot, Bhaktapur, who resigned on Tuesday.

Protesters were also reported to have targeted the residences of the Nepali Congress president and former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba in Budhanilkantha.

At least two people were reported to have been killed on Tuesday, bringing the total to 21 since the unrest began.

Many of the injured have been taken to local hospitals where crowds have gathered. BBC Nepali spoke to doctors who said they had treated gunshot wounds and injuries from rubber bullets.

Police have said several officers were also wounded, with casualty figures expected to increase.

Who is protesting?

Roused on social media and led by the nation's young people, this protest is unlike any seen before in Nepal.

The demonstrators identify as Gen Z, and the term has become a rallying symbol throughout the movement.

Although there has been no central point of leadership, a number of youth collectives have emerged as a mobilising force, issuing calls to action and sharing updates online.

Students from colleges and universities across Nepal's major cities - Kathmandu, Pokhara and Itahari - have been invited to join in uniform, books in hand, while videos circulating on social media show even schoolchildren participating in the marches.

What are the protesters' demands?

In Kathmandu, the number of protesters has been growing. Many carry banners and chant slogans demanding change.

Their two main demands have been clear: the government lifting the ban on social media, which has now happened, and officials putting an end to what they call "corrupt practices".

Protesters, many of them college students, have linked the social media blockade with curtailing freedom of speech, and widespread allegations of corruption among politicians.

"We want to see an end to corruption in Nepal," Binu KC, a 19-year-old college student, told BBC Nepali. "Leaders promise one thing during elections but never deliver. They are the cause of so many problems." She added the social media ban had disrupted her education, limiting access to online classes and study resources.

Subhana Budhathoki, a content creator, echoed the frustration: "Gen Z will not stop now. This protest is about more than just social media - it's about silencing our voices, and we won't let that happen."

What is the 'NepoKids' trend and how is it related to these protests?

A defining feature of the protest has been the widespread use of two slogans -#Nepo Baby and #Nepo Kids.

These two terms have gained popularity on social media in the past few weeks after a number of videos showing the lavish lifestyles of politicians and their families went viral in Nepal.

Protesters argue these individuals enjoy success and luxury without merit, living off public money while ordinary Nepalis struggle.

Viral videos on TikTok and Instagram have contrasted the lavish lifestyles of political families — involving designer clothes, foreign travel and luxury cars — with the harsh realities faced by young people, including unemployment and forced migration.

The slogans have become symbolic of a deeper frustration with inequality, as protesters compare the lives of the elite with those of everyday citizens.

What could happen next?

The protesters are showing no sign of backing down, and have largely defied an indefinite curfew in Kathmandu and beyond.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Oli resigned, after three other high-ranking politicians announced they were also stepping down.

Oli took over in July 2024, his fourth time in office, with the backing of the Nepali Congress Party.

Protesters are calling for accountability and reforms in governance. However, if the government fails to engage meaningfully, analysts warn the unrest could escalate further, especially as students and civil society groups join in.

'It is about legacy'

Plans to fight climate change by manipulating the Arctic and Antarctic environment are dangerous, unlikely to work and could distract from the need to ditch fossil fuels, dozens of polar scientists have warned.

These polar "geoengineering" techniques aim to cool the planet in unconventional ways, such as artificially thickening sea-ice or releasing tiny, reflective particles into the atmosphere.

They have gained attention as potential future tools to combat global warming, alongside cutting carbon emissions.

But more than 40 researchers say they could bring "severe environmental damage" and urged countries to simply focus on reaching net zero, the only established way to limit global warming.

Geoengineering - deliberately intervening in the Earth's climate system to counter the impacts of global warming - is one of the most controversial areas of climate research.

Some types are widely accepted - removing planet-warming carbon dioxide from the atmosphere via planting trees or using machines, for example, are recognised parts of net zero efforts.

Net zero means balancing the amount of planet-warming "greenhouse" gases produced by human activities with the amount being actively removed from the atmosphere.

But some more radical geoengineering ideas, like reflecting sunlight "are dealing with the symptoms of climate change rather than the causes," said lead author Martin Siegert, professor of geosciences at the University of Exeter.

For supporters, it is worth exploring techniques which could help rein in rapidly rising temperatures, which are already bringing severe impacts for people and ecosystems around the world.

But for opponents, the risks are simply too great – particularly for the fragile polar regions, about which much remains unknown.

The scientists behind the new assessment, published in the journal Frontiers in Science, reviewed the evidence for five of the most widely discussed polar geoengineering ideas.

All fail to meet basic criteria for their feasibility and potential environmental risks, they say.

One such suggestion is releasing tiny, reflective particles called aerosols high into the atmosphere to cool the planet.

This often attracts attention among online conspiracy theorists, who falsely claim that condensation trails in the sky – water vapour created from aircraft jet engines – is evidence of sinister large-scale geoengineering today.

But many scientists have more legitimate concerns, including disruption to weather patterns around the world.

With those potential knock-on effects, that also raises the question of who decides to use it – especially in the Arctic and Antarctic, where governance is not straightforward.

If a country were to deploy geoengineering against the wishes of others, it could "increase geopolitical tensions in polar regions", according to Dr Valerie Masson-Delmotte, senior scientist at the Université Paris Saclay in France.

Another fear is that while some of the ideas may be theoretically possible, the enormous costs and time to scale-up mean they are extremely unlikely to make a difference, according to the review.

One idea BBC News recently looked at was a plan to pump seawater over the surface of Arctic sea-ice in winter to thicken it, giving the ice a better chance to survive the summer.

But to cover 10% of the Arctic could require about 10 million seawater pumps, one estimate suggests.

A more fundamental concern is that these types of projects could create the illusion of an alternative to cutting humanity's emissions of planet-warming gases.

"If they are promoted… then they are a distraction because to some people they will be a solution to the climate crisis that doesn't require decarbonising," said Prof Siegert.

"Of course that would not be true and that's why we think they can be potentially damaging."

Even supporters of geoengineering research agree that it is, at best, a supplement to net zero, not a substitution.

"The need for emissions reductions comes first… almost anything we do is futile without it," according to Dr Shaun Fitzgerald, director of the University of Cambridge's Centre for Climate Repair, which has been involved in some of the projects highlighted.

The assessment raises "very valid concerns" about some of the ideas, but they need to be balanced against the risks from "the perilous state of the climate," he argued.

Like many other supporters of geoengineering research, Dr Fitzgerald does not support deploying it on a large scale yet, and acknowledged that further investigation might indeed find that the ideas are "bonkers".

But he argued that more research would allow society to make "more informed decisions" about whether they could help or hinder in the fight against climate change.

A UK government-backed agency recently announced nearly £60m of funding for such research, though the government says it has no plans to deploy them.

But the authors of the new assessment view these projects as so unrealistic that efforts would be better directed towards decarbonisation and polar research.

"There are some basic home truths that don't need an awful lot of research to come to a conclusion that they're not really viable," argued Prof Siegert.

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Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has entered the contest to be Labour's deputy leader, becoming the most senior figure to put her name forward so far.

Bell Ribeiro-Addy, MP for Clapham and Brixton Hill, is so far the only other declared candidate in the race to replace Angela Rayner in the deputy leader role.

Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee Emily Thornberry has said she is considering entering, while Tooting MP, and former deputy leader candidate, Rosena Allin-Khan has ruled herself out.

Candidates have until Thursday evening to get nominations from at least 80 Labour MPs in order to take part in the contest.

They will also need the backing of either 5% of local parties, or three Labour-affiliated groups, including two unions.

Those who clear the bar face a vote by party members, with the winner announced on 25 October.

A gravely injured girl was stabbed six times as she shielded her little sister from the Southport attacker, a public inquiry heard.

Both sisters survived but the eldest was severely wounded in killer Axel Rudakubana's attack on a Taylor Swift themed dance workshop on 29 July 2024.

Their mother read a statement to the Southport Inquiry at Liverpool Town Hall earlier where she called her daughters her "heroes".

She told the hearing the girls' father found the eldest covered in blood outside the studio and "fainted" from the shock.

Alice Aguiar, nine, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and six-year-old Bebe King died in the attack on Hart Street , while eight other children and two adults were seriously wounded.

The inquiry's first phase will examine the killer's history and his dealings with relevant agencies, along with any missed opportunities to prevent what happened.

• 'There is no end to this,' mum of Southport survivor tells inquiry

It has been hearing further evidence from the families of survivors about the day itself and its ongoing impact.

The mother of the two girls, called C2 and C7 to protect their anonymity like all the surviving children, said she wanted the inquiry to "find answers".

Describing the moment their father found the girls in the chaotic aftermath of the attack, she said he first found the youngest child sheltering in a nearby house.

She said she had no idea where the eldest was, so he ran back outside and eventually spotted "two small legs sticking out from behind a white van" where the older sister was being treated.

Her mother said: "Unbelievably brave in the moment, she told her daddy that she was ok.

"It was in that moment, seeing our daughter so gravely injured, covered in blood and barely breathing that the weight of it all overwhelmed him.

"It was too much for his body to process and he fainted."

'Pure fear'

She said the girls had eventually been able to describe what happened when Rudakubana attacked the studio - with the youngest initially thinking he had come to show them the dance class teacher Leanne Lucas's new puppy.

After attacking other children and Ms Lucas, the killer turned on the eldest stabbing her in the chest and arm.

He then stood over her younger sister with the knife raised.

Their mother said her eldest later told her: "Mum, she was crouched, she couldn't move, her face was pure fear."

"Our eldest, just a child herself and already injured, dragged her sister in front of her to protect her," she said.

"She was then stabbed another six times in the back. She says she felt that like she was being repeatedly punched from the force."

'Systems failed'

Both girls managed to scramble free and were treated at Alder Hey Children's Hospital.

Their mother, who says she is on medication since the attack, said: "It reached into every corner of our family and left none of us the same."

Earlier the parents of another girl caught up in the attack said it was preventable and urged a public inquiry to "expose the failures" that allowed it to happen.

The mother of child L said the knowledge that Rudakubana was "known to multiple agencies" is a "burden we carry every day".

She said she hoped the inquiry would "shine a light into the darkest corners of the systems that failed".

The mother of another girl who was stabbed but survived the attack, refered to as child C4, also gave evidence.

She said C4 now "spends her young life scanning her surroundings for danger" and that the once strong bond she had with her father is now damaged as their daughter finds it "difficult to trust men".

Fighting back tears, the mother told the inquiry team how proud she is of her daughter and that "her finest qualities shone through in the darkest of moments".

The inquiry continues.

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A US congressional panel has released a redacted copy of an alleged "birthday book" given to Jeffrey Epstein in 2003 celebrating his fiftieth birthday.

The book was released with a trove of documents that include the late convicted paedophile financier's will and his personal address book - with contacts that include royalty, politicians across the globe, celebrities and models.

The 238-page book contains messages and photos sent by many of Epstein's friends, including a letter carrying a signature resembling US President Donald Trump's. Trump has denied ever writing the birthday note.

Epstein, a well-connected financier and convicted sex offender, was found dead by suicide in 2019 while awaiting a trial for sex trafficking.

What was released and why now?

The House Oversight Committee last month issued a legal summons for the executors of Epstein's estate to produce a number of documents, including a birthday book which contains the note purportedly from Trump.

Lawyers for the estate sent documents to the committee afterwards.

On Monday, the committee released the alleged birthday book as well as Epstein's will, entries from his contact books containing addresses from 1990 to 2019, and a non-prosecution agreement signed by him.

The release came with a note from the committee's chairman James Comer, which criticised Democratic members of the committee who earlier on Monday released pages of the book that purportedly contained Trump's signature. The White House denied Trump was involved with the note and said the signature on the note did not match that of the president.

Comer said the Democracts were "cherry-picking documents and politicizing information received from the Epstein Estate".

Who wrote in the alleged birthday book?

Entries from 40 people, divided into several categories such as "friends", "business", "science" and "Brooklyn", were published, though the names under "family" and "girl friends" were redacted.

These people are not accused of any legal wrongdoing in connection with Epstein's case.

The alleged Donald Trump entry which appears on page 165, contains a signed note, with the final line reading: "Happy Birthday - and may every day be another wonderful secret."

A woman's body was drawn around the text. This matches descriptions by the Wall Street Journal which first reported the letter in July.

The White House said the president "did not draw this picture, and he did not sign it."

The document also contained a message which appears to have been written by former US President Bill Clinton. The author wrote about Epstein's "childlike curiosity" and a "drive to make a difference".

Clinton's office has not responded to a BBC request for comment.

The entry by Lord Peter Mandelson, currently the UK ambassador to the US, calls Epstein "my best pal" and includes several photographs.

Alongside one picture of Lord Mandelson with two women, whose faces are obscured, he writes about meeting Epstein's interesting – in inverted commas – friends.

An official spokesperson for Lord Mandelson has told the BBC that he "has long been clear that he very much regrets ever having been introduced to Epstein," adding: "This connection has been a matter of public record for some time."

There isn't a letter from Prince Andrew. But an entry from an unidentified woman says that thanks to Epstein she had met the Prince, Bill Clinton and Trump. The woman goes on to say she has "seen the private quarters of Buckingham Palace" and "sat on the Queen of England's throne." Prince Andrew has previously denied any wrongdoing.

What are the other entries about?

There's a wide range of content from people from all walks of life - from occupants of the White House to women working as masseuses.

An unidentified woman recalled how she was a 22-year-old restaurant hostess until she met Epstein, after which she travelled the world and met many notable people including royals.

There were also photos of Epstein throughout the years - from his private jet to a random Asian medicine shop, and him embracing women whose faces were redacted.

Others sent him photos, some containing lewd scenes featuring wild animals from a safari including zebras and lions.

BBC director general Tim Davie has said he is "not letting anything lie" when it comes to rooting out abuses of power within the corporation.

"If you're not living the values, it is clear you leave the BBC or there are consequences," he told MPs on Tuesday, adding that no one was "irreplaceable".

Davie is facing questions from the Culture, Media and Sport Committee on a number of scandals.

One of the topics discussed was the MasterChef crisis, after both of its presenters - Gregg Wallace and John Torode - were sacked following a report which upheld allegations against them.

During the hearing, Davie discussed some of the changes that have been made to how abuses of power are dealt with following a recent review into the BBC's workplace culture.

"There are consequences, we are not mucking around now," he said.

He insisted the report had shown that the BBC does not have "a toxic culture".

But he also said there were "pockets where things were not right".

Davie would not comment on whether there were currently further scandals about workplace behaviour and abuses of power brewing.

He also said he couldn't guarantee there would never be someone else abusing their power.

"Because culture is ongoing," he said. But he added that he thought "we're at a moment in society where we're calling it out".

An anonymous benefactor is offering a £100,000 reward for information on a missing man's whereabouts.

Jack O'Sullivan, who was 22 at the time of his disappearance, was last seen in March 2024 after he attended a house party in the Hotwells area of Bristol.

His mother, Catherine O'Sullivan, said she had initially questioned whether the offer was genuine. "Once we established that it was real, we were overcome by the generosity... it was a lot to take in," she said.

"If it does help us get some answers or find out where Jack is, we will be eternally grateful."

Mr O'Sullivan's brother, Ben, added: "We're in a position where we'll take any help we can get... any chance of being able to get the answers we require, we'll take."

Since Mr O'Sullivan's disappearance, his family have received abusive and threatening messages from strangers - with some people claiming to be holding Jack and demanding a ransom. His mother said this has been difficult to cope with.

"We get all sorts of peculiar messages and nasty information... it is incredibly hard to deal with but we are just doing what we can to try and understand what's happened," she said.

The family have been supported by The Missing People charity, which displayed several digital posters across Bristol to help raise awareness.

Police launched an "extensive" investigation the day Mr O'Sullivan went missing, with more than 30 different teams helping with the search.

On the night he went missing, Mr O'Sullivan had attended a birthday party in Hotwells and told his mother he would take an Uber home after leaving the party.

At 03:24 GMT, Mr O'Sullivan tried to phone a friend who was still at the party.

He was not able to reach them and when the friend called back 10 minutes later, they only managed to say "hello" before the phone line went dead, police said.

However, Mr O'Sullivan's phone remained active on the Find My Friends app until 06:44 GMT.

Avon and Somerset Police said it would now launch a "further review" of its investigation.

A spokesperson added they had "always taken an evidence-led, open-minded and transparent approach, with the shared aim of finding Jack".

"So we can be certain we've done everything possible to find Jack, a senior investigator in Avon and Somerset Police is carrying out a further review of the investigation," they said.

"We continue to ask the public to come forward with any information about Jack's disappearance."

Ms O'Sullivan remains determined to solve the mystery of what happened to her son.

"It still dominates my thoughts, that's why we're so eager to get some answers and get Jack home. Living with hope is something that I still take as a positive, and that hope won't diminish," she added.

"It's like being on the worst roller coaster ride of your life... you've got constant anxiety but without an explanation for it, that's the hardest thing to deal with."

Police are urging anyone with information to come forward. People can also give information by contacting the charity Missing Persons, or through the family's webpage.

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The ban on disposable vapes is failing to stop millions being thrown away incorrectly, and the devices are still causing chaos for the waste industry, a boss at a leading firm has said.

"We're seeing more vapes in our system, causing more problems, more fires than ever before," said Roger Wright, the company's strategy and packaging manager.

Vape firms have launched cheap reusable devices so instead of refilling and recycling them, people were binning them and buying more, he said.

A spokesperson for the vape industry said the June ban had been a success, and any rise in devices being thrown away was likely down to black market trade.

In April and May, the last two months before the ban, Biffa's recycling facilities in Suffolk, Teesside and London saw around 200,000 vapes on average incorrectly mixed in with general recycling.

For the three months since the ban in June, the average figure has been 3% higher.

Biffa handles almost a fifth of the UK's waste, and Mr Wright reckons the rest of the industry will be seeing a similar picture, suggesting around a million vapes a month going into general recycling.

This may partly be because large stocks of disposables were sold off cheap before the ban came into force.

But the vape industry's response to the ban has also contributed, says Mr Wright.

Big vape firms launched a range of reusable models which are very similar to the most popular disposable vapes, at similar prices.

By adding a replaceable nicotine pod and a USB recharging port, they can be sold as reusable, but Mr Wright suspects many are still being thrown away.

"We still see a lot of these reusables in the bins, because people have used them as a disposable item," he says.

The ban has also led to a big increase in the number of different kinds of vapes on the market, as firms launched dozens of new products to try to get round the ban.

"The innovation's gone crazy to try and get around the ban. Ironically it makes our job of recycling them - if we collect them - much harder," said Mr Wright.

But Marcus Sexton, chairman of the Independent British Vape Trade Association, argues that the ban has been a success.

"We can see through the data consumers are refilling and recharging devices," he said.

"So actually if Biffa's findings are true, this is about disposable products washing through the system, either through illegal traders or through the illegal black market," he added.

Vapes contain lithium batteries, which can catch fire when crushed. This often happens in bin lorries or recycling centres - one of the reasons they were banned in June.

They call them "bombs in bins" because of the fires they cause. Vapes should be returned to stores or recycling centres for specialist handling, not added to general recycling or general waste.

In June alone, Biffa had to deal with 60 fires caused by vapes and other small electrical items – once the fire has raged, it's hard to pinpoint the exact cause.

Biffa said dealing with this problem cost the UK waste industry a billion pounds a year.

The ban on disposable vapes was partly designed to curb the many millions of devices which were incorrectly thrown away.

Vapes mixed in with general waste, which is often ultimately incinerated, cause less serious problems than those in general recycling.

Mr Wright said collecting vapes and electrical devices directly from people's homes alongside general waste and recycling would be part of the solution.

"I think that would massively improve the collection rates," he said. "You're more likely to put it out on the kerbside than you are to bother to go down to your corner shop and give it back." Some councils already do this.

A government spokesperson said: "Single-use vapes get kids hooked on nicotine and blight our high streets - it's why we've taken tough action and banned them."

It said it has made in compulsory for retailers to provide recycling bins, and its circular economy strategy due later this year aims to increase the reuse and recycling of electrical equipment.