Reading view

There are new articles available, click to refresh the page.

Japan's PM vows to stay on despite bruising exit poll

Getty Images Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba runs his eyes while standing behind microphones, wearing a suitGetty Images
Shigeru Ishiba has been Japan's prime minister since October 2024

Exit polls from a key election in Japan project the ruling coalition is set to lose its majority, putting the country's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba under immense political pressure.

Voters headed to the polls earlier on Sunday for the tightly-contested election, being held amid public frustration over rising prices and the threat of US tariffs.

Earlier polls had indicated that Ishiba's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its junior partner Komeito were at risk of losing their majority, having already lost their majority in Japan's more powerful lower house.

The coalition needs 50 seats to retain control of the 248-seat upper chamber - with an exit poll from public broadcaster NHK projecting them to win between 32 and 51.

NHK projected it "may be difficult for the ruling coalition to maintain their majority".

Half of the seats in the upper chamber were being voted on in Sunday's election, with members elected for six-year terms.

If the coalition takes home less than 46 seats, it would mark its worst performance since it was formed in 1999.

Ishiba's centre-right party has governed Japan almost continuously since 1955, albeit with frequent changes of leader.

The expected result underscores voters' frustration with Ishiba, who has struggled to inspire confidence as Japan struggles against economic headwinds, a cost-of-living crisis and trade negotiations with the United States.

Many are also unhappy about inflation - particularly the price of rice - and a string of political scandals that have beleaguered the LDP in recent years.

The coalition's loss would critically undermine its influence over policymaking, opening it up to major compromises with opposition parties, and could prompt Ishiba to quit less than a year after he was elected.

The last three LDP premiers who lost a majority in the upper house stepped down within two months, and analysts had predicted that a significant loss in this election would yield a similar outcome.

This would open the field for a potential run at the leadership by other notable LDP members, including Sanae Takaichi, who finished second to Ishiba in last year's general election; Takayuki Kobayashi, a former economic security minister; and Shinjiro Koizumi, the son of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.

In any case, a change of leadership within the ruling party would almost certainly unleash political drama and destabilise Japan's government at a pivotal moment in US-Japan trade negotiations.

Reuters Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who is also the leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), waves to voters from atop an election campaign van during the LDP's election campaign tour for the July 20, 2025 Upper House election, in Yokohama, south of Tokyo, Japan July 18, 2025. He is wearing a light grey suit with no tie, and has a slight smile on his face. Reuters

Support for the ruling coalition appears to have been eroded by candidates from the small, right-leaning Sanseito party, which drew conservative votes with its "Japanese First", anti-immigration rhetoric.

Sanseito first gained prominence on YouTube during the Covid-19 pandemic, spreading conspiracy theories about vaccinations and a cabal of global elites.

The fringe party's nativist rhetoric widened its appeal ahead of Sunday's vote, as policies regarding foreign residents and immigration became a focal point of many parties' campaigns.

Going off the NHK exit polls, it is on course to win seven seats.

Famous for its isolationist culture and strict immigration policies, the island nation has experienced a record surge in both tourists and foreign residents in recent years.

The influx has further driven up prices for Japanese people and fuelled a sentiment among some that foreigners are taking advantage of the country, aggravating discontent.

Against that same backdrop, Ishiba last week launched a task force aimed at tackling "crimes or nuisance behaviours committed by some foreign nationals", including those relating to immigration, land acquisitions and unpaid social insurance.

One person killed and two missing after six swept over Oregon waterfall

Deschutes County Sheriff's Office Police search for survivors who went over Oregon waterfallDeschutes County Sheriff's Office
Two people are still missing after six people were swept over the falls

One person has died and two people remain missing after a group of six people were swept over a waterfall in Oregon on Saturday afternoon, a local sheriff office said.

The Deschutes County Sheriff's Office said it rescued three people from the Deschutes River who were transported to the hospital, while another person was declared dead at the scene.

Emergency responders used drones to look for survivors near Dillon Falls after receiving an emergency call in the afternoon. and plan to resume search efforts on Sunday after pausing overnight.

Dillon Falls has a 15-foot (4.5-metre) drop that turns into "churning rapids in a quick, step ladder-like pattern", according to Visit Central Oregon.

The falls over the Deschutes River are near the city of Bend in the Deschutes National Forest, a popular spot for visitors.

Each summer, thousands of people boat, kayak or float on inner tubes on the river, which boasts whitewater areas as well as trout and salmon fisheries.

Local fire and police officers responded to 911 calls around 15:00 PDT (21:00 BST)

Officials have yet to name the victims so they can notify family members before.

Police launch underwater search for missing woman

Cheshire Police CCTV still of Rachel Booth with blonde hair tied back tightly. She walks past shelves of snacks to the garage till. She is wearing a sleveless black top.Cheshire Police
The last reported sighting of Rachel Booth was at a garage on the A556 in Northwich

An outdoor activity centre has temporarily closed as police search for a woman reported missing near the area.

Rachel Booth, aged 38, was last seen at about 03:50 BST on Saturday at Sandiway Garage on the A556 in Northwich, Cheshire Police said.

Insp James Wilson said officers were "becoming increasingly concerned for her welfare".

Wild Shore Delamere, which offers outdoor activities at its lake, said it had shut "due to ongoing police investigations in the surrounding area".

In a social media post, it said: "The incident is unrelated to Wild Shore - however we wish to help as much as possible - so we will be closing the site until further notice."

Portrait image of Rachel Booth who has blonde tresses and light brown eyebrows. She wears a light chain around her throat.
Rachel Booth, 38, was reported as missing on Saturday

Ms Booth is described as being 5ft 9in (1.75m), slim and with blonde hair. She is believed to have been wearing black leggings and a black top.

Insp Wilson appealed for anyone with information about her whereabouts to contact officers.

"We would also like to appeal directly to Rachel to get in touch to let us know you are OK," he added.

Read more stories from Cheshire on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC North West on X. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.

Israeli forces kill 67 Palestinians seeking aid in northern Gaza, Hamas-run ministry says

Reuters Image shows Palestinians carrying aid supplies in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza, on 20 July, 2025Reuters

The Israeli military has issued evacuation orders for a crowded part of central Gaza where it has not launched a ground offensive during its 21 months of war against Hamas.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Sunday that residents and displaced Palestinians sheltering in the city of Deir al-Balah should evacuate immediately and move towards al-Mawasi on the Mediterranean coast.

The evacuation demand, which could signal an imminent attack, has caused widespread panic among tens of thousands of Palestinians, as well as the families of Israeli hostages who fear their relatives are being held in the city.

The IDF has conducted airstrikes in the area, but it has not yet deployed ground troops.

On Sunday, the Israeli military dropped leaflets from the sky ordering people in several districts in southwest Deir al-Balah to leave their homes and head further south.

"The (Israeli) Defense Forces continues to operate with great force to destroy the enemy's capabilities and terrorist infrastructure in the area," the military said, adding that it had not yet entered these districts during the war.

The affected neighbourhoods of Deir al-Balah are crowded with displaced people living in tents.

Israeli sources told Reuters news agency that the reason the army has stayed out of these districts so far is because they suspect Hamas might be holding hostages there.

At least 20 of the remaining 50 hostages in captivity in Gaza are believed to still be alive.

Most of the Strip's population of more than two million people have been displaced at least once during Israel's war with Hamas, with repeated Israeli evacuation calls covering large parts of the territory.

The new evacuation orders came as health officials at Gaza City's Shifa Hospital said more than 40 people were killed and dozens injured by Israeli fire as crowds gathered to await the entry of UN aid lorries on Sunday morning.

Hospitals in the south said more people were also killed at aid points there.

The BBC has contacted the Israeli military to ask for a response.

The UN says civilians are starving in Gaza and has called for an urgent influx of essential goods.

But there have been almost daily reports of Palestinians being killed while seeking aid since the US- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) began operations in late May. Witnesses say most have been shot by Israeli forces. Israel says the new distribution system stops aid going to Hamas.

Israel launched its war in Gaza in retaliation for the Hamas-led attacks on 7 October 2023, which killed about 1,200 people and led to 251 others being taken hostage.

Israeli attacks have since killed more than 58,895 people in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. The ministry's figures are quoted by the UN and others as the most reliable source of statistics available on casualties.

Japan's ruling party set to lose majority, exit polls suggest

Getty Images Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba runs his eyes while standing behind microphones, wearing a suitGetty Images
Shigeru Ishiba has been Japan's prime minister since October 2024

Exit polls from a key election in Japan project the ruling coalition is set to lose its majority, putting the country's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba under immense political pressure.

Voters headed to the polls earlier on Sunday for the tightly-contested election, being held amid public frustration over rising prices and the threat of US tariffs.

Earlier polls had indicated that Ishiba's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its junior partner Komeito were at risk of losing their majority, having already lost their majority in Japan's more powerful lower house.

The coalition needs 50 seats to retain control of the 248-seat upper chamber - with an exit poll from public broadcaster NHK projecting them to win between 32 and 51.

NHK projected it "may be difficult for the ruling coalition to maintain their majority".

Half of the seats in the upper chamber were being voted on in Sunday's election, with members elected for six-year terms.

If the coalition takes home less than 46 seats, it would mark its worst performance since it was formed in 1999.

Ishiba's centre-right party has governed Japan almost continuously since 1955, albeit with frequent changes of leader.

The expected result underscores voters' frustration with Ishiba, who has struggled to inspire confidence as Japan struggles against economic headwinds, a cost-of-living crisis and trade negotiations with the United States.

Many are also unhappy about inflation - particularly the price of rice - and a string of political scandals that have beleaguered the LDP in recent years.

The coalition's loss would critically undermine its influence over policymaking, opening it up to major compromises with opposition parties, and could prompt Ishiba to quit less than a year after he was elected.

The last three LDP premiers who lost a majority in the upper house stepped down within two months, and analysts had predicted that a significant loss in this election would yield a similar outcome.

This would open the field for a potential run at the leadership by other notable LDP members, including Sanae Takaichi, who finished second to Ishiba in last year's general election; Takayuki Kobayashi, a former economic security minister; and Shinjiro Koizumi, the son of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.

In any case, a change of leadership within the ruling party would almost certainly unleash political drama and destabilise Japan's government at a pivotal moment in US-Japan trade negotiations.

Reuters Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who is also the leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), waves to voters from atop an election campaign van during the LDP's election campaign tour for the July 20, 2025 Upper House election, in Yokohama, south of Tokyo, Japan July 18, 2025. He is wearing a light grey suit with no tie, and has a slight smile on his face. Reuters

Support for the ruling coalition appears to have been eroded by candidates from the small, right-leaning Sanseito party, which drew conservative votes with its "Japanese First", anti-immigration rhetoric.

Sanseito first gained prominence on YouTube during the Covid-19 pandemic, spreading conspiracy theories about vaccinations and a cabal of global elites.

The fringe party's nativist rhetoric widened its appeal ahead of Sunday's vote, as policies regarding foreign residents and immigration became a focal point of many parties' campaigns.

Going off the NHK exit polls, it is on course to win seven seats.

Famous for its isolationist culture and strict immigration policies, the island nation has experienced a record surge in both tourists and foreign residents in recent years.

The influx has further driven up prices for Japanese people and fuelled a sentiment among some that foreigners are taking advantage of the country, aggravating discontent.

Against that same backdrop, Ishiba last week launched a task force aimed at tackling "crimes or nuisance behaviours committed by some foreign nationals", including those relating to immigration, land acquisitions and unpaid social insurance.

England call in police over racist abuse of Carter

England call in police over racist abuse of Carter

Jess CarterImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Jess Carter has made 49 England appearances since her debut in 2017

  • Published

England defender Jess Carter says she will take a step back from social media after experiencing "a lot of racial abuse" during Euro 2025.

In a statement on Sunday, the Lionesses also said they would now stop the anti-racism move of taking a knee before matches, saying it was "clear we and football need to find another way to tackle racism".

The Football Association said it was "working with police to ensure those responsible for this hate crime are brought to justice".

"From the start of the tournament I have experienced a lot of racial abuse," said the 27-year-old Carter.

"While I feel every fan is entitled to their opinion on performance and result I don't agree or think it's OK to target someone's appearance or race.

"As a result of this I will be taking a step back from social media and leaving it to a team to deal with."

Carter, who has 49 England caps since her debut in 2017, was a member of the squad that won Euro 2022.

Having started her career at Birmingham City, she won five Women's Super League titles with Chelsea before leaving for Gotham FC last summer.

The United States National Women's Soccer League said in a statement: "We are heartbroken and outraged by the racist abuse directed at Jess Carter.

"Jess is not only a world-class football player, she is a role model, a leader and a valued part of our Gotham FC family.

"We stand with Jess, and we deeply appreciate the support for Jess from the Lionesses and England's Football Association as they compete at the UEFA Women's Championship."

More to follow.

Four remain in hospital after school coach crash

Getty Images Several bouquets of flowers laid in tribute to a boy who died. Many of them include notes and cards. There is also a teddy and a toy car on the ground.Getty Images
Hundreds of flowers were left outside Minehead Middle School following the death of a pupil

Four people remain in hospital after a coach crashed on its way back from a school trip to the zoo.

A major incident was declared on Thursday after the coach carrying Minehead Middle School pupils left the road near Wheddon Cross in Somerset and slid down a 20ft slope.

Avon and Somerset Police previously confirmed a 10-year-old boy had died in the crash.

Earlier, the force said two children remained in hospital in Bristol and two adults were still in hospital in Somerset. It also confirmed the coach involved in the incident was recovered on Saturday.

A police spokesperson said the investigation into the A396 Cutcombe Hill crash was ongoing.

Minehead Middle School, which has pupils aged between nine and 14, was closed on Friday as a stream of people paid their respects and left tributes at the gates.

The school is due to reopen on Monday.

Several fundraisers set up by residents have amassed more than £40,000 to help those affected by the tragedy.

Follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.

Related internet links

Moscow airports temporarily closed after Ukraine drone attacks

EPA/Shutterstock Passengers examine departure table waiting their flights at Sheremetyevo International Airport outside Moscow, Russia, 07 July 2025. EPA/Shutterstock
Airports in the Moscow region have been disrupted several times in recent months due to Ukrainian air attacks (recent image)

A sustained Ukrainian drone attack on Russia caused Moscow's major airports to be temporarily closed and saw at least 140 flights cancelled, officials said.

More than 230 Ukrainian drones were downed over Russia since Saturday morning - including 27 over the capital - according to the Russian defence ministry.

According to Russia's aviation watchdog, the four major airports serving the capital were disrupted and more than 130 flights also had to be redirected. All have since resumed normal operations.

Meanwhile, at least three people were killed during Russian air strikes on Ukraine overnight, according to regional officials.

Russia's Association of Tour Operators (Ator) said on Sunday that Moscow airports were closed 10 times in 24 hours due to the strikes.

The Kaluga region, southwest of Moscow, was also affected. Russia's defence ministry said it had intercepted 45 drones since Saturday morning, resulting in Kaluga International Airport also being temporarily closed.

Russia's defence ministry said drones were also shot down over regions near the Ukrainian border including Rostov and Bryansk, as well as over the Black Sea. No fatalities were reported.

This is not the first time that Ukrainian drone attacks have caused travel disruption in Russia. In May, at least 60,000 passengers were stranded at airports across the country after Kyiv launched more than 500 drones in a 24-hour period, according to Russia's defence ministry.

Regional officials in Ukraine said two people died after Russian air strikes in different parts of Donetsk, while a 78-year-old woman died after residential buildings burned down in Sumy.

Ukraine's air force said it shot down 18 out of 57 Russian drones overnight into Sunday, while a further seven drones were lost after their radars were jammed.

As well as Sumy and Donetsk, other front-line areas of Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk were attacked, as was Zaporizhzhia.

Donetsk Regional State Administration A person in a helmet stands looking at a damaged buildingDonetsk Regional State Administration
Several homes were damaged or destroyed overnight in Donetsk due to a Russian attack

The latest attacks come as the Kremlin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said that Russian President Vladimir Putin was ready to move towards a peace settlement with Ukraine but that Moscow's priority was to "achieve our goals".

"President Putin has repeatedly spoken of his desire to bring the Ukrainian settlement to a peaceful conclusion as soon as possible. This is a long process, it requires effort, and it is not easy," he said in a televised interview.

It has been nearly three-and-a-half years since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

On Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky proposed a new round of talks with Moscow, aimed at restarting negotiations that halted last month.

Previous attempts by Russia and Ukraine to negotiate an end to the fighting have failed to achieve a ceasefire, but have resulted in prisoner swaps.

Zelensky also repeated his readiness to meet Russia's Vladimir Putin face-to-face, saying: "A meeting at the leadership level is needed to truly ensure peace."

Ukraine was this week given a boost when US President Donald Trump - who has in the past often expressed support and admiration for Russia's leader - announced that the US would send "top-of-the-line weapons" to Ukraine via Nato countries.

Trump also threatened Russia with severe tariffs if a deal to end the war is not reached within 50 days, and later told the BBC that he was "disappointed" with Putin but "not done".

Reacting to this in Sunday's interview, Peskov said: "Everyone has grown accustomed to his [Trump's] rather harsh and straightforward rhetoric.

"At the same time, he reaffirms his intention to continue doing everything possible to facilitate a peaceful settlement."

Israel issues new evacuation orders in crowded central Gazan city

Reuters Image shows Palestinians carrying aid supplies in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza, on 20 July, 2025Reuters

The Israeli military has issued evacuation orders for a crowded part of central Gaza where it has not launched a ground offensive during its 21 months of war against Hamas.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Sunday that residents and displaced Palestinians sheltering in the city of Deir al-Balah should evacuate immediately and move towards al-Mawasi on the Mediterranean coast.

The evacuation demand, which could signal an imminent attack, has caused widespread panic among tens of thousands of Palestinians, as well as the families of Israeli hostages who fear their relatives are being held in the city.

The IDF has conducted airstrikes in the area, but it has not yet deployed ground troops.

On Sunday, the Israeli military dropped leaflets from the sky ordering people in several districts in southwest Deir al-Balah to leave their homes and head further south.

"The (Israeli) Defense Forces continues to operate with great force to destroy the enemy's capabilities and terrorist infrastructure in the area," the military said, adding that it had not yet entered these districts during the war.

The affected neighbourhoods of Deir al-Balah are crowded with displaced people living in tents.

Israeli sources told Reuters news agency that the reason the army has stayed out of these districts so far is because they suspect Hamas might be holding hostages there.

At least 20 of the remaining 50 hostages in captivity in Gaza are believed to still be alive.

Most of the Strip's population of more than two million people have been displaced at least once during Israel's war with Hamas, with repeated Israeli evacuation calls covering large parts of the territory.

The new evacuation orders came as health officials at Gaza City's Shifa Hospital said more than 40 people were killed and dozens injured by Israeli fire as crowds gathered to await the entry of UN aid lorries on Sunday morning.

Hospitals in the south said more people were also killed at aid points there.

The BBC has contacted the Israeli military to ask for a response.

The UN says civilians are starving in Gaza and has called for an urgent influx of essential goods.

But there have been almost daily reports of Palestinians being killed while seeking aid since the US- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) began operations in late May. Witnesses say most have been shot by Israeli forces. Israel says the new distribution system stops aid going to Hamas.

Israel launched its war in Gaza in retaliation for the Hamas-led attacks on 7 October 2023, which killed about 1,200 people and led to 251 others being taken hostage.

Israeli attacks have since killed more than 58,895 people in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. The ministry's figures are quoted by the UN and others as the most reliable source of statistics available on casualties.

Reform councillors obstructed by officials, Farage says

Jeff Overs/BBC Nigel Farage being interviewed in a TV studio by the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg, who has her back to the camera. Jeff Overs/BBC

Nigel Farage has accused some council officials of obstructing the work of Reform UK councillors, as he defended the way the party is running local authorities.

Reform gained control of 10 councils in May's local elections in England.

But the party's leader told the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme that in some areas Reform councillor were being "hamstrung" by existing bureaucracies.

Reform has pledged to cut wasteful spending and improve the efficiency of the councils it runs but some of its spending decisions have faced criticism, while opponents say there has been little concrete action to reduce costs.

In Warwickshire, opposition parties have criticised Reform UK for planning to hire political assistants at a cost of up to £190,000 a year, saying the money should be spent on front-line services instead.

The council's interim leader, George Finch, said the move was necessary because council staff have been unable to come up with "imaginative ideas" to resolve key issues.

The 19-year-old was put in charge of the council after Reform's previous council leader resigned, citing health reasons.

Challenged over whether this was a good use of taxpayers' money, Farage told the BBC: "At the moment, we're finding that we're very, very hamstrung.

"We're going into existing administrations, we're facing obstructionism in many places.

"And Warwickshire is a very, very good example."

He added: "It's better to have staff who support the will of the democratically elected councillors than it is to have public sector staff opposing them."

Warwickshire County Council has been approached for comment.

Farage said that in some areas Reform was "working reasonably well with existing administrations" but in others there was "genuine, deliberate obstructionism".

He added that some officials "don't want to show us the books" and where money is being spent.

Reform UK's Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) - modelled on the cost-cutting initiative set up by US President Donald Trump and previously led by billionaire Elon Musk - was launched in June.

The unit is made up of about 15 unelected volunteers and is run by Zia Yusuf, who quit as party chairman in June, before returning to Reform to head up Doge days later.

Reform says Kent County Council will be the first to be audited but in other areas, such as Staffordshire, the council says it is still waiting for the unit to start work.

Defending the pace of progress, Farage said: "Bear in mind, we're not the Labour Party. We haven't got hundreds of staff.

"We're a party that's been really active for just over a year. We're growing in size.

"Yes, we have a Doge team who've not been everywhere yet. But you've seen already, us highlighting examples of extravagant expenditure."

Farage was also challenged over spending decisions in Scarborough, where the town council has approved a 600% increase in the Reform mayor's allowance, from £500 to £3,500 a year.

The mayor has defended the move, saying the allowance helps to cover his expenses and allows him to carry out his duties efficiently.

Farage said he had "no idea" about the situation in the Reform-run council, adding: "Is he doing it or she doing it as a full-time job? I've no idea."

"What we could do is just get multi-millionaires to stand as candidates everywhere and indeed our Doge team are doing the work unpaid," he said.

"If people have got resources and they do it for free, that's great. I don't know the Scarborough Council situation."

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

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

Sewage discharges to halve by 2030 in 'water revolution', minister pledges

PA Media Environment Secretary Steve Reed. He is smiling and wearing a navy blue suit jacket with a white collared shirtPA Media

The number of times sewage is discharged by water companies will be halved by 2030, the environment secretary has pledged.

Steve Reed's vow marks the first time ministers have set a clear target on the issue, following public outcry over the pollution incidents.

It comes after data published by the Environment Agency on Friday showed serious pollution incidents by water companies in England rose by 60% in 2024 to the highest number on record.

Reed said families had "watched their local rivers, coastlines and lakes suffer from record levels of pollution" - but the Conservatives said Labour had "done nothing to stop water bill rises" despite "big promises" to reform the system.

The pledge forms part of wider government plans to improve the water sector, ahead of a landmark Water Commission review of the industry due to be published on Monday.

The plans announced on Sunday will also include a commitment to work with devolved governments across the UK to ban wet wipes containing plastic, among other measures.

Reed is also expected to confirm aims to cut phosphorus pollution from treated wastewater - which causes algae blooms that are harmful to wildlife - in half by 2028, compared to 2024 levels.

There has been widespread scrutiny of water companies over the increasing number of sewage discharges into UK waterways amid rising bills - all while the firms have paid out millions to executives and shareholders.

The Environment Agency said water companies recorded 2,801 pollution incidents in 2024, up from 2,174 in 2023.

Of those, 75 were considered to pose "serious or persistent" harm to fisheries, drinking water and human health - up from 47 last year.

At the same time, water bosses in England were paid £7.6m in bonuses, according to the government. In June, it barred them from being paid out at six firms that had fallen foul of environmental and consumer standards.

The Water Commission's chair will lay out his recommendations on how to improve the environmental and financial performance of the sector. The government will respond in Parliament.

Several UK media outlets reported on Friday that the report would suggest scrapping the regulator, Ofwat, altogether. A government spokesperson said it would not comment on speculation.

England has a combined sewage system, which means both rainfall and sewage are processed through the same system. Last year, rainfall levels were up, which could have overwhelmed some water company infrastructure.

However, despite variations in rainfall, discharges that result in serious pollution are a breach of their permits and legal obligations.

Many incidents are reported to the Environment Agency by the companies themselves, but of 4,000 inspections carried out last year by the regulator, nearly a quarter of sites were in breach of their permits.

A record £104bn is due to be invested into the water sector over the next five years to improve its infrastructure.

As a result, consumer bills are expected to rise on average by £123 annually - though for Southern Water customers this could be as much as £224.

The Environment Agency has also received £189m to support hundreds of enforcement offices to inspect and prosecute water companies, with the fines retroactively paying for this.

Conservative shadow environment secretary Victoria Atkins said the government "must be transparent about where the £104bn investment is coming from as some will come through customer bill rises".

She said plans "must also include credible proposals to improve the water system's resilience to droughts, without placing an additional burden on bill payers and taxpayers".

Performer unfurls Palestinian flag on Royal Opera House stage

Cast member unfurls Palestinian flag at Royal Opera House

A cast member at the Royal Opera House has unfurled a Palestinian flag on stage during the curtain call of Saturday's performance.

Video shows a brief scuffle as an official at the London venue tries unsuccessfully to stop the protest, with the performer refusing to let go of the large flag.

It came on the closing night of Il trovatore, a four-act opera by Giuseppe Verdi.

The Royal Opera House said the protest was "completely inappropriate for a curtain call".

A spokesperson said: "The display of the flag was spontaneous and unauthorised action by the artist.

"It was not approved by the Royal Ballet and Opera and is not in line with our commitment to political impartiality."

One cast member standing at the top of the stage is seen in videos of the incident silently displaying a large Palestinian flag, at one point shaking it gently.

While the audience continues to applaud the performance, a man from the stage wings is seen attempting to wrestle the flag away from the cast member but they resist and hold on to it for the remainder of the curtain call.

Other officials stood in the wings can then be seen shouting messages to the cast member.

Magdalini Liousa A performer dressed in a military costume with Viking horns holds a large Palestine flag on a stage at the Royal Opera House Magdalini Liousa
The performer held the flag during the curtain call of Il trovatore

One member of the audience posted on X: "Extraordinary scenes at the Royal Opera House tonight.

"During the curtain call for Il trovatore one of the background artists came on stage waving a Palestine flag.

"Just stood there, no bowing or shouting. Someone off stage kept trying to take it off him. Incredible."

The identity of the cast member is unclear, but Il trovatore has now finished its 11-night run at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.

The protest comes as the war between Israel and Gaza continues, with a ceasefire yet to be struck.

Man held on suspicion of double murder after fire

Police handout Sheila Jackson with blond hair smiles as Eric Greener with grey hair has his arm around her neck in front of a bar. Eric is also smiling.Police handout
Mr Greener and Ms Jackson died of their injuries shortly after the fire

A man has been arrested on suspicion of double murder after the deaths of an elderly couple in a fire at their home.

Grandparents Eric Greener, 77, and his partner Sheila Jackson, 83, died following the blaze at their home on South John Street, St Helens, on Tuesday, Merseyside Police said.

The force said an accelerant was used to start the fire.

A 31-year-old from St Helens was arrested earlier and has been taken into custody for questioning, it added.

Mr Greener died on Wednesday evening while Ms Jackson succumbed to her injuries on Thursday morning.

Det Supt Rachel Wilson said: "Although an arrest has been made, I would like to take this opportunity to remind people to pass on information directly to police or anonymously via Crimestoppers.​

"Extensive inquiries continue, and to that end we are still appealing for anyone with information to come forward, particularly if you live in the area of South John Street and recall seeing or hearing anything suspicious at around the time of the incident."

She said: "Please do not assume what you know has already been reported to us, as we can quickly make that assessment."

She also urged people not to comment or post on social media anything which could jeopardise the investigation.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.

Related internet links

Are we willing to drop cash Isas and take more risks with our money?

Getty Images Young woman sits on the couch with her feet up, coffee cup in hand, checking performance of shares on a laptop.Getty Images

Savers are missing out on financial rewards because the benefits of investing in stocks and shares are being drowned out by risk warnings, the chancellor says.

This week Rachel Reeves said savers would be sent details of investment opportunities if they have money in low-interest accounts.

And she won't completely rule out cutting the annual tax-free allowance of cash Individual Savings Accounts (Isas) to push people into stocks and shares Isas instead.

But what are her chances of making the UK a nation of investors, rather than risk-averse savers?

Experts say women are investing less than men, and have warned the chancellor that some of her ideas could backfire and put off potential new investors.

'Pink websites won't work'

Cash savings accounts are steady and safe. The amount of interest varies between account providers, but it is clear how much the returns will be. They are popular when putting money aside for emergencies, or for holidays, a wedding or a car.

By contrast, the value of investments in stocks and shares can go up and down, but with risk can come reward. Long-term investments can be lucrative, not only for individuals, but for the economy as a whole.

Laura Suter, director of personal finance at investment platform AJ Bell, says Reeves and the finance sector should start by making investing more attractive to women.

Having written reports on the Isa gender gap, she argues that, for too long, advertising about investing has been designed by men.

Lisa Caplan, director at investment company Charles Stanley, agrees. "It's not about making your website pink. It's about using less jargon, competitive language, and masculine imagery," she says.

"When clients who are women feel seen and understood, they will be more willing to trust their money to an adviser or even an investment platform. I think this is beginning to change."

Wendy Lanham, Laura Colucci and Jema Arnold sit, smiling, in a cafe with a flowering tree behind them.
Wendy Lanham, Laura Colucci and Jema Arnold (left to right) say investing should be more accessible

Jema Arnold is an investor, and works for UK shareholders' association ShareSoc. She wants investing to be part of general, honest conversation among friends, not private and hidden.

"I go to a book club. I want investing to be like that," she says.

She is joined in a London cafe by Laura Colucci, who is in her 40s, and Wendy Lanham, who is 71. All three are divorcees, who were forced to think about their relationships with money when their marriages ended.

Mrs Arnold was with an investment banker for 17 years. "In many ways I was a traditional housewife," she says. Her now ex-wife had managed that side of the finances.

"I'd switched off that part of my brain when raising a daughter. That was a mistake. I felt foolish. I had to switch it back on again fairly quickly."

Mrs Colucci was the same. "There were investments in my name," she says. "It was a huge learning curve in one year, when I had to take control."

Mrs Lanham put her money into savings accounts. Only later did she consider moving some into investments.

But that was a path that all three initially found difficult to join.

"People froze up and looked awkward when I talked about investing," says Mrs Arnold.

Male domination

Mrs Lanham says she joined a group which met to talk about investing. The membership was entirely male. "I bought myself a book called Investing for Idiots, went to a conference, and treated it like adult education," she says. "I did not know anything, but hung in there, and the organisation changed."

Now, the trio are members of SIGnet – a network of investor groups that meet in different parts of the UK, or online. It is not-for-profit and covers different areas of interest. It has lots of female members.

But they say the chancellor will have little hope of getting more people to invest without initially improving their understanding, especially if they are trying it for the first time.

"There's no point telling people to go and run a marathon when they've never run before," says Mrs Colucci.

British Gas Still from Tell Sid campaign with a man talking quietly to another manBritish Gas
The "Tell Sid" campaign is used as an example of encouraging investing

Reeves told financial services and business bosses in her Mansion House speech this week that the "negative" narrative around savers investing money in stocks and shares needed to change.

"For too long, we have presented investment in too negative a light, quick to warn people of the risks without giving proper weight to the benefits," she said.

She announced new adverts, reminiscent of the "Tell Sid" campaign of the 1980s, which encouraged people to invest in the newly privatised British Gas.

Targeted messages will also be sent by banks to people who have money in low-interest accounts.

Mrs Suter, from AJ Bell, says this needs to go beyond a "token effort".

"If it can get widespread coverage and enthusiasm, then it could make a difference," she says.

Isa debate

Carol Knight, chief executive of the Investing and Saving Alliance, says Reeves' ambition will be judged a success if more women, more people from ethnic minorities, and more people outside of London become investors.

But Anna Bowes, savings expert at the Private Office, says the chancellor risks her plan backfiring by encouraging people to invest now when markets are jittery due to global uncertainty. That could lead to short-term losses.

"This needs to be done very carefully or it could put off a generation of investors."

And she stresses that forcing people to consider a stocks and shares Isa by reducing the amount that could be put tax-free into a cash Isa would be a huge mistake.

Reeves has stepped back from immediately cutting the tax-free limit on cash Isas, following a backlash from banks and building societies.

But she is still keen to shift some of the £300bn in these accounts to being invested in the UK and its companies, despite "differing views on the right approach".

Any changes would have an impact on millions of people. Isas are incredibly popular - about 42% of UK adults have at least one.

Stocks and shares Isas are less popular but more money is held in them overall - around £431bn, compared to £294bn in cash Isas.

People with Isas are more likely to be older, with estimates suggesting about half of pensioners have one. And while more women have Isas overall, more men have the investment option, with women more likely to stick to the safety of cash.

Many investment companies that sell stocks and shares Isas back a change, while banks and building societies who dominate the cash Isa market are against it.

That debate is likely to pick up again as the chancellor's autumn Budget gets closer.

Nearly half of hospital loo users do not wash hands

EPA Sudsy hands are clasped together in a handwashing motion.EPA
A professor said that neglecting handwashing in hospitals can impact patients

Almost one in two of people that use a hospital toilet do not wash their hands, according to new research from the University of Surrey.

The 19-week study, in partnership with Bispebjerg hospital in Denmark, put sensors on toilet and sink pipes to monitor hygiene behaviours.

From 2,636 flushes, it revealed 43.7% (1,153 flushes) of people using a hospital toilet skipped handwashing, with figures peaking at 61.8% on certain weeks.

Despite assumptions that handwashing may be "second nature" after Covid-19, Dr Pablo Pereira Doel from the University of Surrey said this behaviour could "directly affect patient safety".

The study noted that handwashing figures were especially down at the start and end of each day, including typical mealtimes.

Prof Benjamin Gardner, from the University of Surrey, said: "Strategies that raise awareness at the crucial point in a bathroom visit and easily understood messaging about how to wash effectively – like singing Happy Birthday twice over – can help people form handwashing habits that last."

Guidance from NHS England says handwashing is one of the easiest ways of preventing food poisoning and other illnesses, such as the flu, especially in hospital settings.

"These findings are worrying but not surprising," Prof Carrie Newlands from the University of Surrey said.

Prof Newlands wants visual reinforcements, such as posters and hand-gel stations, to be replaced by "more effective behavioural strategies".

Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook or X. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.

At least 14 dead in South Korea floods and landslides

EPA/ Shutterstock Damage after heavy rain and flooding, Gapyeong, KoreaEPA/ Shutterstock
Strong floodwaters swept cars away in Gapyeong province

At least 14 people have died in floods and landslides caused by days of torrential rain in South Korea, the country's disaster management office has said.

There are fears the death toll could rise as rescue efforts continue, with 12 people reported missing.

Footage showed people wading through thick mud in the landslide-hit resort town of Gapyeong on Sunday as they made their way across a damaged bridge to evacuation shelters.

Further south, an entire village was covered with earth and debris following a landslide in the central Chungcheon region, according to video taken in the area on Saturday.

Nearly 10,000 people have evacuated their homes since the downpour began on Wednesday, while more than 41,000 households have temporarily lost power, as reported by local media.

The rain has largely subsided in the worst-hit southern and central areas, but more downpours are expected in capital Seoul and the country's northern regions on Sunday.

Thousands of roads and buildings have been damaged and submerged by raging floodwaters, with reports of damage to farmland and the widespread death of livestock.

Much of the destruction has been in the country's south, with six people killed and seven missing in Sancheong county.

Casualties have also occurred in a northern mountainous region near Seoul, as well as other western and northern areas.

Two people were killed and four were reported missing in Gapyeong on Sunday after a landslide engulfed properties.

Sixty-three people have been rescued while 285 others evacuated the area, Gyeonggi Province Fire Department said.

Serious landslide warnings have been issued in several regions nationwide.

The government launched a multi-agency recovery effort on Sunday.

Dozens dead after Ha Long Bay tourist boat capsizes in Vietnam

BBC 'Breaking' graphicBBC

Twenty-eight people have died after a tourist boat capsized in Vietnam in bad weather, according to local reports.

At least 14 people are said to be missing following the incident in Halong Bay, a popular tourist destination in the north of the country, the reports say.

Most of the passengers were reportedly Vietnamese visiting from Hanoi.

Heavy rain has been hindering the search for survivors, rescuers say.

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

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

Usyk and 'Ivan' - the untouchable duo who can't be beaten?

Usyk and 'Ivan' - the untouchable duo who can't be beaten?

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.

This video can not be played

Media caption,

Usyk nicknames punch that knocked out Dubois

Oleksandr Usyk introduced Daniel Dubois and the world to his friend 'Ivan' at Wembley on Saturday.

The Ukrainian southpaw landed a flush left hook to seal a fifth-round knockout win and become undisputed heavyweight champion for a second time.

Usyk arrived for his post-fight news conference an hour after extending his undefeated record to 24, and after a swift night's work was happy to entertain the packed room.

"My left hook is called Ivan," Usyk said.

"Ivan is a Ukrainian name. Ivan is a big guy who lives in a village and works for his family. It's a hard punch, Ivan.

"The first time 2018 [I named it] was in the USA as a cruiserweight."

Dubois had already climbed off the canvas moments earlier following a right hook to the temple, but it was the sequence that followed with Usyk's favoured left that proved decisive.

It was another vintage performance from a master of the craft.

A 90,000-strong crowd had been forced to contend with heavy rain at Wembley Stadium earlier in the night, but it was worth persevering to watch the spectacle unfold.

Usyk excelled in all areas - escaping Dubois' attacks with slick footwork, returning with crisp shots on the counter and displaying pure heavyweight power.

The triumph has propelled Usyk into a very elite category - he joins Muhammad Ali as the only men to reign undisputed in the heavyweight division on two occasions.

Usyk is the best of his generation

Oleksandr Usyk holds up his arms as Daniel Dubois walks past in the ring at Wembley StadiumImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Usyk has fought at heavyweight eight times - and six of those bouts have been for world titles

If it wasn't already clear then it certainly is now. Usyk is the standout heavyweight of his generation.

Usyk has not just cleaned out his biggest rivals - Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua and Dubois - but he has gone all the way round the block and defeated each of them twice.

He dethroned Joshua in just his third fight as a heavyweight to become a unified champion and it has been an upward trajectory ever since.

The easy path is not one Usyk likes to explore.

After becoming the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the four-belt era by beating Fury in 2024, Usyk had the option to defend that status by accepting a mandatory defence of his IBF strap against Dubois.

However, he elected to vacate that title in order to pursue a rematch with Fury and record a second successive victory, before circling back to reclaim the IBF title from Dubois at Wembley.

"What he achieved today, it was designated by him a little bit more than a year ago," Egis Klimas, Usyk's manager, said.

"His decision was to vacate the title and let Dubois beat someone, and then to fight for a third time for undisputed. That was his plan a year ago. He is not just a good boxer but he is good mentally."

Usyk is head and shoulders above any active heavyweight, with Fury offering his greatest test, while Joshua and Dubois are several rungs down the ladder.

Many predicting a win for Dubois on Saturday did so on the basis that Usyk, 11 years the senior of the Briton, must be ready to decline.

That obviously isn't the case.

But where does this victory - his 15th knockout - leave him in the all-time heavyweight rankings?

Usyk has eight heavyweight fights under his belt and six of those have been for world titles.

There's an argument that the current era lacks great depth in the heavyweight division when comparing it to the previous century.

Through the 1960's, 1970's and 1980's the likes of Ali, Joe Frazier and George Foreman dazzled the masses.

Going back further, Joe Louis made 25 successful defences between 1937 and 1948.

A place in the top three might be something to consider when we have a completed body of work to assess when Usyk, who could still have a couple of fights left, finally decides to hang up the gloves.

But as an Olympic gold medallist, an undisputed cruiserweight champion and two-time undisputed heavyweight champion, a top-five all-time spot feels right already.

"I think he's [Oleksandr Usyk] a legend," former world champion Carl Frampton said on Dazn.

"He can compete in any era. He's beaten everyone and three of the top guys twice."

Who can stop Usyk?

The list of serious contenders for Usyk is short.

Queensberry's Frank Warren has seen two of his stable - Fury and Dubois - already go down against Usyk, but he has a third candidate waiting in the wings.

Joseph Parker is the interim WBO champion and kept a close eye on Usyk through fight week and on fight night.

The New Zealander is on a six-fight win streak and has previously held a world title.

At the other end of the scale is bright young Briton Moses Itauma.

The 20-year-old is unbeaten in 12 fights as a professional and has been hailed as the future of the division.

Itauma has only gone beyond two rounds in two of his bouts, has 10 knockouts on his CV and has been hailed as the future of the division.

But it feels premature to suggest he is ready for the greatest of this era.

No one is yet to formulate a blueprint to even get close to defeating Usyk.

Finding a current heavyweight that can match his all-round game has proved impossible and it shows no signs of changing.

Related topics

New criminal offence to target violence-obsessed suspects before they attack

Getty Images The police cordon in Southport following the attack. Getty Images
Three young girls were murdered and 10 others seriously injured by Axel Rudakubana in Southport in July 2024

The home secretary says a powerful new crime to target suspects who are found to be preparing mass killings will ensure their plotting is taken as seriously as terrorism.

Yvette Cooper said the criminal justice system had to be given new tools to respond to violence-fixated individuals who are not motivated by a particular ideology, in the wake of the Southport attack last year.

Terror suspects who take steps towards an attack can be jailed for life, even if their plans are not fully formed.

Cooper told the BBC that the government will "close the gap" between such offenders and lone, violence-obsessed individuals by giving police the power to apprehend them long before they can act.

Axel Rudakubana is serving a life sentence for murdering three girls when he attacked a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport almost a year ago.

Eight others girls were seriously injured, along with two adults who tried to stop the killer.

Had police found he had been researching a target prior to the attack, they could not have arrested and charged him with a serious offence because he had no ideological motive linked to the definition of terrorism.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's State of Terror series, which charts the response to violent extremism over the 20 years since the 7/7 bombings, Cooper said the police will get the power to prevent such individuals who do not have a clear ideology, in the same way they can with terror suspects.

Reuters Yvette Cooper in ParliamentReuters
Yvette Cooper said the government would "tighten" the law so planning a mass attack be "taken as seriously as terrorism"

"There is a gap in the law around the planning of mass attacks that can be just as serious [as terrorism] in their implications for communities, their impact, the devastation that they can cause and the seriousness of the crime," she said.

"We will tighten legislation so that that is taken as seriously as terrorism."

Cooper said the plan - which was briefly announced in March but not fleshed out until now - was for the new law to be similar to the exceptionally serious crime of preparing for acts of terrorism.

This legislation, brought in after the 2005 London bombings, is a vital counter-extremism tool that has jailed dozens of suspects.

It allows the police to arrest a terror suspect for the steps they take to prepare for an attack - such as researching a target.

But it stipulates that there must also be evidence the preparation is linked to an ideological cause, such as support of a group banned under terrorism laws.

Youtube Nicholas Prosper seen wearing a yellow bucket hat.Youtube
Nicholas Prosper was jailed for murdering his family - but was also researching a school attack

The planned non-terror offence would apply to a far wider range of scenarios, including the activity of individuals like Nicholas Prosper. He had been planning a mass school shooting before he was apprehended for murdering his family.

Cooper said: "We've seen cases of growing numbers of teenagers potentially radicalising themselves online and seeing all kinds of extremist material online in their bedrooms.

"They're seeing a really distorted and warped online world.

"We have to make sure that that the systems can respond while not taking our eye off the ball of the more long-standing ideological threats."

State of Terror continues on Monday on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.

Usyk destroys Dubois to reclaim undisputed heavyweight crown

Usyk blows Dubois away to reclaim undisputed crown

Oleksandr Usyk lands a left hand on Daniel DuboisImage source, Queensberry
Image caption,

Oleksandr Usyk (right) has won all four fights as a professional on UK soil

Oleksandr Usyk further cemented his place as one of boxing's greats by stopping Daniel Dubois in round five to become a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion.

The Ukrainian put on a masterclass in front of 90,000 fans at Wembley Stadium to dash Dubois' dreams of being the first Briton to unify the division in the four-belt era.

Usyk, 38, put Dubois down twice in the fifth and the Londoner was unable to return to beat the count the second time round.

He also stopped Dubois in 2023 and extends his perfect record as a professional to 24 victories.

"I'm sorry [Dubois], it's sport. My people wanted this win," Usyk told DAZN.

"Nothing is next. It's enough. Next, I want to rest. My family, my wife, my children, I want to rest now. Two or three months, I want to just rest."

Dubois – who beat Anthony Joshua to defend his IBF title in September – tastes defeat for the third time in 25 contests as a professional, with each of those losses coming inside the distance.

Usyk reclaimed the IBF title, which was stripped from him just weeks after unifying the division in 2023, and added it to his WBA (Super), WBO and WBC belts.

"I have to commend him on the performance, I gave everything I had. Take no credit away from that man, I'll be back," Dubois told DAZN.

"I was just fighting, trying to pick up round by round. It is what it is."

Usyk still top of the heavyweight pile

Daniel Dubois on the canvas with Oleksandr Usyk standing over himImage source, Queensberry
Image caption,

Usyk has now won all 13 of his world title fights across two divisions

The great and good of the boxing world turned out to watch the momentous occasion, with Roy Jones Jr and Frank Bruno among those at ringside.

WBO interim heavyweight champion Joseph Parker was also keeping a close eye on proceedings as he seeks a date with Usyk next.

Usyk, who has called the UK his second home, was welcomed warmly after Dubois had also been cheered to the ring.

It took no time for the fight to spark into life as Dubois doubled up on his jab but it was clear that Usyk wasn't going to be a sitting target. The former undisputed cruiserweight champion was far too slick, ducking under the jab and punishing Dubois regularly.

Southpaw Usyk punctuated each of the opening two rounds with a counter left and had Dubois looking a little unsteady in the second.

Dubois looked out of the ring to his father Stan between rounds for some advice but he still found it difficult to pin down the 2012 Olympic gold medallist.

Usyk unloaded in the fifth and sent Dubois tumbling to the canvas with a crisp left.

Dubois showed incredible spirit to beat the count but the writing was already on the wall.

Another trusty left hook landed clean on Dubois' chin and his corner threw in the towel as the referee reached the count of nine.

Dubois left with another rebuilding job

Oleksandr Usyk holds his four world titlesImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Usyk has now beaten Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Daniel Dubois twice

A third career defeat leaves Dubois in a difficult position and requiring another rebuild.

Dubois, 27, has not beaten a champion to claim a world title – he won the interim IBF belt and was subsequently elevated to full world champion before making one defence against Joshua.

Following his last defeat by Usyk, Dubois re-emerged with a newfound confidence but this loss will knock him back several steps.

He will have no shortage of options with the likes of interim WBC champion Agit Kabayel, WBA 'Regular' champion Kubrat Pulev or even the likes of Deontay Wilder to go after.

Usyk, meanwhile, is the A side in boxing's glamour division and has his pick of the bunch.

"Maybe it's Tyson Fury. Maybe we have three choices, Derek Chisora and Anthony Joshua, maybe Joseph Parker," Usyk told DAZN.

Dubois' team raised concerns over Usyk's age during fight week but he looked as good as ever.

As he has done in all previous rematches – against Fury and Joshua – Usyk used the data he had downloaded from the first encounter to his advantage.

Related topics

More boxing from the BBC

Syria struggles to quell deadly Bedouin-Druze clashes in south

Getty Images Syrian military and security forces in Suweida. Photo: 15 July 2025Getty Images
Syrian military and security forces in Suweida. Photo: 15 July 2025

The Syrian presidency says it will deploy a new force to halt the deadly sectarian clashes between Bedouin and Druze fighters in the south of the country.

Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa's office urged "all parties to exercise restraint", amid reports of renewed fighting near the city of Suweida on Friday.

Almost 600 people are reported to have been killed since the violence erupted on Sunday. Government troops deployed to the area were accused by residents of killing Druze civilians and carrying out extrajudicial executions.

Israel later struck targets in Syria to force the troops to withdraw from Suweida province. On Friday, the US ambassador to Turkey said that Israel and Syria had agreed a ceasefire.

In a post on X, ambassador Tom Barrack said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Sharaa "have agreed to a ceasefire" embraced by Syria's neighbours Turkey and Jordan.

"We call upon Druze, Bedouins, and Sunnis to put down their weapons and together with other minorities build a new and united Syrian identity in peace and prosperity with its neighbours," the envoy said.

Israel and Syria have not publicly commented on the reported ceasefire agreement.

Shortly before Sharaa's office announced its planned military deployment to the south, an Israeli official said Israel had agreed to allow the limited entry of Syrian Internal Security Forces personnel into Suweida for 48 hours to protect Druze civilians "in light of the ongoing instability".

Suweida's predominantly Druze community follows a secretive, unique faith derived from Shia Islam, and distrusts the current jihadist-led government in Damascus.

The BBC correspondent in the Syrian capital says that sectarian hatred of the Druze is now spreading across the country.

The Druze are a minority in Syria, as well as in neighbouring Lebanon and Israel.

Earlier this week, the UN human rights chief, Volker Türk, said his office had received credible reports indicating widespread violations and abuses, including summary executions and arbitrary killings in Suweida.

Among the alleged perpetrators were members of the security forces and individuals affiliated with the interim government, as well as local Druze and Bedouin armed elements, Türk said in a statement.

"This bloodshed and the violence must stop," he warned, adding that "those responsible must be held to account".

The BBC has contacted the Syrian government and security forces about allegations of summary killings and other violations.

In a televised address early on Thursday, Sharaa vowed to hold the perpetrators accountable and promised to make protecting the Druze a "priority".

"We are eager to hold accountable those who transgressed and abused our Druze people because they are under the protection and responsibility of the state," he said.

He went on to blame "outlaw groups", saying their leaders "rejected dialogue for many months".

At least 37 dead as tourist boat capsizes in Vietnam

BBC 'Breaking' graphicBBC

Twenty-eight people have died after a tourist boat capsized in Vietnam in bad weather, according to local reports.

At least 14 people are said to be missing following the incident in Halong Bay, a popular tourist destination in the north of the country, the reports say.

Most of the passengers were reportedly Vietnamese visiting from Hanoi.

Heavy rain has been hindering the search for survivors, rescuers say.

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

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

The Papers: 'Inquiry after SAS identities leaked' and 'brat & groom'

BBC "Inquiry after SAS identities leaked online" reads the headline on the front page of The Sunday Times.BBC
The army has launched an inquiry into the leaking of SAS identities as Defence Secretary John Healey is left "furious" over the breach, writes The Sunday Times. There were "100 arrests in umbrella protests for Palestine Action" it reports, with a splash of two women being accompanied by police officers under an umbrella. The King's residence at Highgrove "suffered an exodus of gardeners" who The Times writes were "complaining about the monarch's demands and low staff pay". A statement from the King's Foundation reported "high satisfaction rates among staff at the charity".
"Tell the truth on my son's murder" reads the headline on the front page of the Daily Mirror.
The father of Stephen Lawrence, the man murdered at a bus stop in 1993, gives an exclusive interview to the Daily Mirror ahead of the parole hearing of one of his son's killer's. "Tell the truth on my son's murder" reads the tabloid's headline. The Mirror have another exclusive on their front page with John Torode's wife Lisa Faulkner, following the MasterChef presenter's sacking.
"You mugs!" reads the headline on the front page of the Daily Star.
Here come the "brat & groom" writes the Daily Star as lime green maven Charli XCX wears white. Also on the Star's front page, actor Danny Dyer calls for working class leaders and names Sir Keir Starmer a "non-entity".
"Middle class face higher water bills" reads the headline on the front page of The Daily Telegraph.
"Middle class face higher water bills" reads the headline on the front page of The Daily Telegraph. Labour MPs "will be urged to introduce a nationwide scheme that would see poorer families given huge discounts on their charges". As part of the government's new RHSE curriculum, "pupils to be taught that 'feeling down' is not a mental health condition". Also in education news, teachers say "antisemitic abuse rife in schools". Elsewhere on the Telegraph's front, Chancellor Rachel Reeves could see a £5bn windfall "from seized Bitcoins" to help her "fill the black hole in the public finances".
"Top Starmer mandarin's firm is paid for 'spy ops" reads the headline on the front page of The Mail on Sunday.
The Mail on Sunday runs with an exclusive on the National Security Adviser Johnathan Powell, saying his firm is paid for "spy ops". The "Tories demand inquiry" over the "secret taxpayer-funded talks with "rogue states", it writes.
"NHS 'tourists' fleecing our hospitals for £200m" reads the headline on the front page of the Sunday Express.
"NHS 'tourists' fleecing our hospitals" writes the Sunday Express. Citing new figures, the paper reports that people coming from abroad have "deprived the cash-strapped NHS of a staggering £200m over the past five years".
News Daily banner

Sign up for our morning newsletter and get BBC News in your inbox.

News Daily banner

Ukraine seeks new round of talks with Russia

Reuters A close up of Volodymyr Zelensky speaking during a conference in Italy. He's wearing a black suit and is standing in front of a blue backdrop.Reuters

Ukraine has proposed a new round of peace talks with Russia, President Volodymyr Zelensky has said, in a move aimed at restarting negotiations that halted last month.

Senior security official Rustem Umerov has offered to meet the Russian side next week, Zelensky said in his evening address, adding that everything had to be done to get a ceasefire.

Zelenksy also repeated his readiness to meet Russia's Vladimir Putin face-to-face. "A meeting at the leadership level is needed to truly ensure peace," he said.

The proposal came hours after Ukraine was hit with another widespread air bombardment by Russia, which killed three people.

Ten regions of Ukraine, including several cities, were hit in the night between Friday and Saturday, Zelensky said earlier on Saturday.

Ukraine's military said more than 340 explosive and dummy drones and 35 cruise and ballistic missiles had been used, but many were downed.

Earlier this week, President Donald Trump said the US would send "top-of-the-line weapons" to Ukraine via Nato countries, while also threatening Russia with severe tariffs if a deal to end the war is not reached within 50 days.

Trump also warned that the US would impose 100% secondary tariffs targeting Russia's remaining trade partners if a peace deal with Ukraine was not reached by his deadline.

Two rounds of talks in Istanbul between Moscow and Kyiv have so far failed to result in any progress towards a ceasefire, but large-scale prisoner exchanges and deals to return the bodies of killed soldiers were agreed.

After the last round, which ended in early June, Ukrainian negotiators said Russia had again rejected an "unconditional ceasefire" - a key demand by Kyiv and its allies in Europe and the US .

Russia also outlined a list of demands, including calls for Ukraine to cede more territory and to reject all forms of Western military support.

At the time, Zelensky accused Moscow of "doing everything it can to ensure the next possible meeting is fruitless".

Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Russia currently controls about 20% of Ukraine's territory, including the southern Crimea peninsula Moscow annexed in 2014.

Mr and Mrs XCX: Brat star weds drummer of The 1975

Getty Images George Daniel and Charli XCX stand next to one another and alongside a display of white flowers.Getty Images

Pop star Charli XCX has confirmed her marriage to George Daniel, drummer of band The 1975, after a video snapped by a passer-by sparked online speculation of a wedding.

The pair were spotted posing on the steps of Hackney Town Hall on Saturday afternoon - Daniel in suit and tie and the 'brat' idol in white.

A TikTok post from the singer several hours later confirmed the nuptials, racking up 3.9m views and thousands of congratulatory comments for "Mr and Mrs XCX".

Charli XCX's album, Brat, became a global cultural phenomenon on its release last year. Filling social media feeds with viral videos and receiving critical acclaim, its success saw her perform a headline slot at Glastonbury in June.

The singer confirmed the news while dressed in an off-the-shoulder white dress and her signature dark wraparound sunglasses.

She stomped away from the camera – pretending to be annoyed – on a video beneath text that read, "When George isn't crying when he sees me walking down the aisle."

But "Luckily he did xx" was the accompanying caption.

A later post, which included shots of Daniel wearing Charli's veil, gave "bridal party energy", according to XCX.

The footage from outside Hackney Town Hall suggests the couple had an intimate ceremony.

The two have been public about their relationship for several years and shared engagement photos in 2023.

They have also worked together multiple times, first collaborating on Charli's song Spinning and then on Brat, with Daniel named as co-producer and co-writer of two songs.

He also took part in the viral "Apple dance" at one of Charli's London shows, appearing on the concert's screens in front of thousands of fans.

His band The 1975 is fronted by singer Matty Healy and are well known for their song Chocolate. Daniel has released several tracks as a solo artist in recent years.

'You're not really free' mistaken-identity murder fugitive told

Mohammed Ali Ege is wanted by police in connection to Aamir Siddiqi's murder

The grieving sister of a schoolboy stabbed to death in his own house in a mistaken identity hit has told a fugitive wanted in connected with his murder to "stop looking over his shoulder" and hand himself in.

It is 15 years since 17-year-old Aamir Siddiqi was attacked in front of his parents and two hitmen were convicted of his murder - but the man suspected of ordering the killing is still on the run.

Mohammed Ali Ege is one of Europe's most wanted men and Aamir's sister has appealed to him, telling him he's "not free" and always "worried about slipping up".

"He's got a family, he's got a mum and none of them are seeing him this is not living," said Nishat Siddiqi.

Her younger brother Aamir thought he was opening the door to a teacher when he was stabbed to death in a frenzied drug-fuelled attack by contract killers Jason Richards and Ben Hope.

The two heroin addicts were paid £1,000 to kill an innocent businessman and father-of-four who lived in a neighbouring street in Cardiff in an act of revenge over a property deal that turned sour.

But, in what the prosecution described as "staggering incompetence", Richards and Hope went to the wrong house in the Roath area of the Welsh capital.

Nishat Siddiqi A black-haired boy with a stripy jumpter and brown polo neck t-shirt is smiling while embracing a smiling lady with black hairNishat Siddiqi
Nishat Siddiqi said her little brother Aamir, 16 years younger than her, was the heartbeat of their family

The bright, ambitious student, who wanted to read law at Cardiff University, had turned down a game of football with his mates and was revising for his A-level exams upstairs at his home when the doorbell rang.

Aamir innocently answered his door expecting to see his local imam for a Koran lesson but was confronted by two balaclava-clad knifemen fuelled up on heroin who pushed their way in and stabbed him to death before he could say a word.

Richards and Hope were sentenced to life and ordered to serve a minimum of 40 years each in jail for killing Aamir in April 2010, but the man who detectives suspect ordered the contract killing fled the country.

Ege, suspected of conspiracy to commit murder, was arrested in India in 2011.

But after a six-year extradition process, he went back on the run by escaping through a railway station toilet window and now eight years later is believed to be in the Middle East.

"He's not truly free," Nishat told the BBC Sounds podcast Making Of A Fugitive.

"He's on the run, always looking over his shoulder, always worried about whether or not he's going to slip up."

South Wales Police have previously offered a £10,000 reward for any information that may lead to the arrest of the fugitive known as Wales' most wanted man.

South Wales Police Two head mugshots of a bald-headed manSouth Wales Police
Mohammed Ali Ege was arrested in India in 2011 after being accused of conspiracy to commit murder over Aamir Siddiqi's death but fled in 2017

"If you're innocent, you've got nothing to fear and you should come back home to clear your name," added consultant cardiologist Nishat, 48.

"You might think you're free because you escaped from police custody and have been on the run for years, but you've condemned yourself to a life of exile on the run, far from home."

Nishat, who is 16 years older than Aamir, also hopes her appeal on Making Of A Fugitive may urge someone to shop Ege to the authorities.

"Somebody somewhere might listen," she said.

Nishat Siddiqi A smiling woman wearing a white top and peach coloured headscarf and a bearded man with glasses wearing a blue shirt hug a young black-heared boy wearing with a blue Everton football top Nishat Siddiqi
Aamir's mother and father Parveen and Sheikh Iqbal Ahmed were also injured in the attack that killed their son Aamir

"If they know something and if they feel in their heart of hearts that they really ought to speak up then maybe this might inspire them to do just that.

"As a family we have suffered the kind of grief, shock and horror that never really leaves you. And in a weird way he's living that with us because he's not truly free."

Nishat still keeps her younger brother's wallet, reads his social media posts and keeps in touch with his old friends, like best mate Saeed Kidwai.

A woman with black hair wearing a blue suit smiling in front of a tree
Aamir Siddiqi's sister Nishat hopes the BBC podcast Making Of A Fugitive can help catch a fugitive who is wanted in connection with her brother's murder

On the day he was murdered, Saeed had asked Aamir to play five-a-side football but he chose to stay home to study for his A-level exams later that summer.

"I remember the match finished at 1:40pm and I later found out he passed away at 1:40pm," he remembered.

It's one of the sliding door "what if" moments that haunt Aamir's family and friends.

It was the end of the school term and Saeed recalled: "Just before he left he went around to a lot of the boys and he was like 'oh boys let me take a selfie with you because that'll be the last time I see you probably before I go to university'."

A graphic of the timeline of the international manhunt for Mohammed Ali Ege

Saeed did not have a picture, adding: "I was like 'I'll see you on the weekend or something'.

"I never thought in like a million years that would be the last time I'd see him," he said.

"I feel I've had a whole chapter of my life, graduating and getting married but my wife has never met him, my son will never meet him. How do I keep that memory alive?"

Saeed took his baby son to meet Aamir's parents Iqbal and Parveen, who were also injured in the attack.

"His mum was so affectionate and loving and his dad just held him for ages and it was really emotional for me to see," recalled Saeed.

Nishat Siddiqi A smiling young man wearing a black shirt with short hair laying on a white pillowNishat Siddiqi
His family said Aamir Siddiqi loved playing sports, especially football

"I thought this doesn't feel real. I still feel like I'm 17 or 18 in my heart and I'm still waiting for him to pop around the corner," he said.

"His number is still the first number I have in my phone book, because it's two A's in his first name. I still can't delete it.

Aamir's family love seeing his old friends grow into adults with families of their own and careers.

"It's so wonderful to see," said Nishat. "It also makes me so feel so sad because that should have been my brother as well."

Aamir's family found it hard to remain living in the same house after his death and they've since left Cardiff.

"We kept his clothes in his cupboard, his toys, everything for months on end," said Nishat.

South Wales Police Mugshots of a bald man with a white t-shirt on the left and a man wearing a black top on the rightSouth Wales Police
Sentencing them to life for murder in 2013, judge Mr Justice Royce said few would shed a tear if Aamir Siddiqi's killers Jason Richards and Ben Hope died in jail

"We even put on one of his jumpers because it smelt of him.

"There's a photograph of Aamir when he was enjoying his second birthday party, drinking some squash, and he's standing at the exact spot where he died.

"That's probably why we found it hard to live in the house again because the house was full of very happy memories."

South Wales Police praised the dignity of Aamir's family throughout such a traumatic ordeal and said they remain committed to tracing and arresting Ege.

"We would ask anyone who has information about his whereabouts to please get in touch – for Aamir's family," the police statement added.

If any of the issues in this copy have affected you, details of help and advice are available on the BBC Action Line website.

Bedouins and Druze clash in Syria despite 'immediate ceasefire'

Getty Images Syrian military and security forces in Suweida. Photo: 15 July 2025Getty Images
Syrian military and security forces in Suweida. Photo: 15 July 2025

The Syrian presidency says it will deploy a new force to halt the deadly sectarian clashes between Bedouin and Druze fighters in the south of the country.

Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa's office urged "all parties to exercise restraint", amid reports of renewed fighting near the city of Suweida on Friday.

Almost 600 people are reported to have been killed since the violence erupted on Sunday. Government troops deployed to the area were accused by residents of killing Druze civilians and carrying out extrajudicial executions.

Israel later struck targets in Syria to force the troops to withdraw from Suweida province. On Friday, the US ambassador to Turkey said that Israel and Syria had agreed a ceasefire.

In a post on X, ambassador Tom Barrack said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Sharaa "have agreed to a ceasefire" embraced by Syria's neighbours Turkey and Jordan.

"We call upon Druze, Bedouins, and Sunnis to put down their weapons and together with other minorities build a new and united Syrian identity in peace and prosperity with its neighbours," the envoy said.

Israel and Syria have not publicly commented on the reported ceasefire agreement.

Shortly before Sharaa's office announced its planned military deployment to the south, an Israeli official said Israel had agreed to allow the limited entry of Syrian Internal Security Forces personnel into Suweida for 48 hours to protect Druze civilians "in light of the ongoing instability".

Suweida's predominantly Druze community follows a secretive, unique faith derived from Shia Islam, and distrusts the current jihadist-led government in Damascus.

The BBC correspondent in the Syrian capital says that sectarian hatred of the Druze is now spreading across the country.

The Druze are a minority in Syria, as well as in neighbouring Lebanon and Israel.

Earlier this week, the UN human rights chief, Volker Türk, said his office had received credible reports indicating widespread violations and abuses, including summary executions and arbitrary killings in Suweida.

Among the alleged perpetrators were members of the security forces and individuals affiliated with the interim government, as well as local Druze and Bedouin armed elements, Türk said in a statement.

"This bloodshed and the violence must stop," he warned, adding that "those responsible must be held to account".

The BBC has contacted the Syrian government and security forces about allegations of summary killings and other violations.

In a televised address early on Thursday, Sharaa vowed to hold the perpetrators accountable and promised to make protecting the Druze a "priority".

"We are eager to hold accountable those who transgressed and abused our Druze people because they are under the protection and responsibility of the state," he said.

He went on to blame "outlaw groups", saying their leaders "rejected dialogue for many months".

Home secretary pledges new power to stop violent attackers

Getty Images The police cordon in Southport following the attack. Getty Images
Three young girls were murdered and 10 others seriously injured by Axel Rudakubana in Southport in July 2024

The home secretary says a powerful new crime to target suspects who are found to be preparing mass killings will ensure their plotting is taken as seriously as terrorism.

Yvette Cooper said the criminal justice system had to be given new tools to respond to violence-fixated individuals who are not motivated by a particular ideology, in the wake of the Southport attack last year.

Terror suspects who take steps towards an attack can be jailed for life, even if their plans are not fully formed.

Cooper told the BBC that the government will "close the gap" between such offenders and lone, violence-obsessed individuals by giving police the power to apprehend them long before they can act.

Axel Rudakubana is serving a life sentence for murdering three girls when he attacked a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport almost a year ago.

Eight others girls were seriously injured, along with two adults who tried to stop the killer.

Had police found he had been researching a target prior to the attack, they could not have arrested and charged him with a serious offence because he had no ideological motive linked to the definition of terrorism.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's State of Terror series, which charts the response to violent extremism over the 20 years since the 7/7 bombings, Cooper said the police will get the power to prevent such individuals who do not have a clear ideology, in the same way they can with terror suspects.

Reuters Yvette Cooper in ParliamentReuters
Yvette Cooper said the government would "tighten" the law so planning a mass attack be "taken as seriously as terrorism"

"There is a gap in the law around the planning of mass attacks that can be just as serious [as terrorism] in their implications for communities, their impact, the devastation that they can cause and the seriousness of the crime," she said.

"We will tighten legislation so that that is taken as seriously as terrorism."

Cooper said the plan - which was briefly announced in March but not fleshed out until now - was for the new law to be similar to the exceptionally serious crime of preparing for acts of terrorism.

This legislation, brought in after the 2005 London bombings, is a vital counter-extremism tool that has jailed dozens of suspects.

It allows the police to arrest a terror suspect for the steps they take to prepare for an attack - such as researching a target.

But it stipulates that there must also be evidence the preparation is linked to an ideological cause, such as support of a group banned under terrorism laws.

Youtube Nicholas Prosper seen wearing a yellow bucket hat.Youtube
Nicholas Prosper was jailed for murdering his family - but was also researching a school attack

The planned non-terror offence would apply to a far wider range of scenarios, including the activity of individuals like Nicholas Prosper. He had been planning a mass school shooting before he was apprehended for murdering his family.

Cooper said: "We've seen cases of growing numbers of teenagers potentially radicalising themselves online and seeing all kinds of extremist material online in their bedrooms.

"They're seeing a really distorted and warped online world.

"We have to make sure that that the systems can respond while not taking our eye off the ball of the more long-standing ideological threats."

State of Terror continues on Monday on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.

'Great British Energy solar panels' were made in China

PA Media UK households are installing more heat pumps and solar panels than ever before, the body that accredits low-carbon products has said. Issue date: Monday August 14, 2023.PA Media

The first schools in England to install what the government described as "Great British Energy solar panels" were made in China, the BBC has learned.

The first 11 schools involved in the GB Energy scheme bought solar panels from Aiko and Longi, two Chinese firms.

The government said the scheme was "the first major project for Great British Energy - a company owned by the British people, for the British people".

Labour MP Sarah Champion said GB Energy should be buying solar panels from companies in the UK rather than China, where there have been allegations of forced labour in supply chains.

"I'm really excited about the principle of GB Energy," she told BBC News.

"But it's taxpayers' money and we should not be supporting slave labour with that money. And wherever possible, we should be supporting good working practices and buy British if we can."

She added: "That means that yes, unfortunately, in the short term, solar panels are probably going to be slightly more expensive.

"There are solar panels made around the world in Taiwan, Canada, even in the UK."

Longi and Aiko both told the BBC they forbid forced labour in their production and supply chains.

China is the world's leading producer of solar panels and the suppliers in the Xinjiang region have been linked to the alleged exploitation of Uyghur Muslims.

Earlier this year, the law was changed to ban GB Energy from investing in renewables if there is evidence of modern slavery in their production.

China has dominated the market and, according to the International Energy Agency, the country's global share in all the manufacturing stages of solar panels exceeds 80%.

Champion, who is chair of the International Development Select Committee, said "abuse in renewable supply chains is insidious and hard to root out".

But she urged ministers to exclude known human-rights offenders from winning public contracts.

A GB Energy spokesperson said all of the solar contracts issued under the schools initiative complied with the UK's modern slavery rules.

The Xinjiang challenge

Up to 50% of the world's supply of polysilicon - a key component in solar panels - is estimated to come from the Xinjiang region.

Mark Candlish is the director of GB-Sol, which calls itself the only manufacturer of conventional solar panels in the UK.

He said polysilicon was "a key social issue facing our industry, with the risk of forced labour in the main mining areas".

He added: "The global solar market is so dominated by China that it is difficult to avoid buying Chinese if you want the low cost energy and low carbon benefits of solar PV."

Many businesses and governments - including the UK's - buy Chinese solar panels because they are cheaper than those made elsewhere.

Two thirds (68%) of the solar panels imported by the UK came from China in 2024, according to HMRC trade data. That's an increase on the figure in 2023, when Chinese products accounted for 61% of UK solar imports.

A report by Sheffield Hallam University in 2023 linked various solar companies to suppliers in the Xinjiang region.

One of the report's authors, Alan Crawford, said the general lack of transparency in the entire solar supply chain was greater now than it was in 2023, when his Over-Exposed report was published.

"Companies that were willing to comment are now silent," he said.

'Ethical supply chains'

GB Energy is a state-owned company that was set up by the Labour government to invest in renewables, such as solar power.

In its first big investment, GB Energy is spending about £200m on rooftop solar for 200 schools and NHS hospitals across the country.

The first tranche of this funding has been spent on the Chinese solar panels for the 11 schools.

The Department for Education told the BBC which companies had made the solar panels in response to a freedom of information request.

A GB Energy spokesperson said the company would "lead the way in ethical supply chains" and insisted there was "no place for forced labour or unethical practices in the UK's energy transition".

The spokesperson added: "That is why we are introducing a statutory duty on Great British Energy to prevent modern slavery in its supply chains, and reviewing supplier transparency and disclosure standards to ensure confidence in all public-facing renewable programmes.

"All contracts issued under this schools and hospitals solar initiative complied with UK procurement rules, including extensive requirements under the Modern Slavery Act.

"GBE will seek to uphold these requirements in its contracting arrangements and are actively engaging with international partners to raise the bar globally on solar supply chain accountability."

China has been accused of committing crimes against humanity against the Uyghur population and other mostly-Muslim ethnic groups in the north-western region of Xinjiang.

In state-sponsored programmes, detainees are forced to produce goods including polysilicon, a core ingredient in solar panels, according to the US Department of Labor.

The Chinese government has denied all allegations of human rights abuses in Xinjiang.

Longi and Aiko are both members of the Solar Stewardship Initiative, which is a scheme designed to develop confidence in the supply chain and the responsible sourcing of solar panels.

An Aiko spokesperson said the company was "committed to upholding the highest standards of ethical business conduct and responsible sourcing".

"We take any concerns related to human rights and labour practices seriously and expect our suppliers to do the same," the spokesperson said.

"As part of our ongoing efforts, we engage with suppliers to promote transparency and continuous improvement in line with international guidelines. We are also closely monitoring global supply chain developments and remain committed to working with stakeholders to support a fair and sustainable solar industry."

Longi said it regretted the findings of the Sheffield Hallam University report and "categorically affirms that forced labour has no place within our supply chain".

A company spokesperson said the conclusions in the Over-Exposed report "may not fully reflect the comprehensive measures Longi has implemented to ensure full compliance with international labour standards".

"Independent third-party audits play a critical role in verifying compliance and identifying potential risks," the spokesperson said.

"While the complexity of global supply chains presents challenges, Longi remains steadfast in its efforts to eliminate any risks associated with forced labour."

❌