US President Donald Trump rejected a plan by Israel to kill Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, three US officials have told BBC's US partner CBS News.

Trump reportedly told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that assassinating Khamenei was not a good idea, according to one official. The president has not commented publicly on the report.

The conversation is said to have happened since Israel launched its attack on Iran on Friday.

During an interview with Fox News, Netanyahu did not directly confirm or deny a report from Reuters that Trump had vetoed a plan to killed the ayatollah.

"There's so many false reports of conversations that never happened and I'm not going to get into that," the Israeli prime minister said.

"But I can tell you I think we do what we need to do. We will do what we need to do and I think the United States knows what is good for the United States and I'm just not going to get into it."

An Israeli official told CBS News that "in principle," Israel does not "kill political leaders, we are focused on nuclear and military. I don't think anyone making decisions about those programs should be living free and easy."

Israel first launched an attack on Iranian nuclear infrastructure and other targets on Friday.

Iran later confirmed the head of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) intelligence unit, Mohammad Kazemi, had been killed, alongside a deputy and another commander.

The two countries have continued to launch massive strikes at each other since, with attacks entering a third day on Sunday.

In his latest post on Truth Social about the escalating situation in the Middle East, Trump said "Iran and Israel should make a deal", adding that he would get the two to cease hostilities "just like I got India and Pakistan" - referring to the recent confrontation between the countries.

In a separate post on Saturday, the president said the US "had nothing to do with the attack on Iran".

"If we are attacked in any way, shape or form by Iran, the full strength and might of the U.S. Armed Forces will come down on you at levels never seen before," he warned.

A 57-year-old man has been arrested in the US state of Minnesota on suspicion of killing a Democratic state lawmaker and her husband.

The arrest on Sunday night was the culmination of a huge two-day manhunt following the deaths of Melissa Hortman, a Minnesota Democrat, and her husband Mark. State Governor Tim Walz called it a "politically motivated assassination".

Police said Vance Luther Boelter was armed at the time of his arrest in a rural area west of Minneapolis, but gave himself up peacefully when challenged.

The suspect is also alleged to have shot and wounded Democratic State Senator John Hoffman, and his wife Yvette, who are both now awake in hospital.

Mrs Hoffman said on Sunday that both felt "incredibly lucky to be alive".

Boelter was detained after investigators found a car he allegedly used in Sibley County, about 50 miles (80km) from the murder scene in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota.

Air and SWAT teams were deployed to arrest the suspect in what was described as the largest manhunt in Minnesota's history.

No police officers were injured during his apprehension, and officials said they were not looking for any other suspects.

• What we know about the Minnesota shootings
• Minnesota assassination survivor and husband shot 17 times

Speaking at a press conference with other local officials on Sunday night, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said the attack was an "unspeakable act" that had "altered the state of Minnesota".

"This cannot be the norm. It cannot be the way that we deal with our political differences," Walz said.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey praised the "skill and bravery" of law enforcement agencies following Boelter's arrest.

"Political violence is abhorrent, it cuts against the most basic moral fabric of our democracy. It's critical that those who commit these acts be held accountable under the law," he added.

Boelter is accused of impersonating a police officer to carry out the attacks on Saturday, before exchanging fire with police officers and fleeing from the area of suburban Minneapolis.

Melissa Hortman had served in the Minnesota House of Representatives for 20 years, and was speaker of the chamber from 2019 to 2025.

Boelter, a former political appointee, was once a member of the same state workforce development board as Hoffman.

He is a security contractor and religious missionary who has worked in Africa and the Middle East, according to his online CV.

Boelter once preached as a pastor at a church in the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to Facebook photos.

Investigators reportedly found a list of "targets" in the vehicle that the suspect is thought to have driven for the alleged shootings.

Drew Evans, superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, told reporters that he would not describe the notebook found in the car as a "manifesto" as it was not "a treatise on all kinds of ideology and writings".

Local media have reported that the names included Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, congresswoman Ilhan Omar, and state Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison.

At the press conference following Boelter's arrest, Evans did not specify who was featured on the list, but said that state officials had contacted authorities in Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Nebraska and Iowa so that they could "notify individuals that were on that list".

"I could feel myself slip. I just woke up and I was laid on the floor on my back and I remember thinking, what am I doing here? I started panicking."

Jade Harrison is describing the moment she was thrown from a ride at Hull Fair in 2019.

She suffered serious injuries, some of which she is still dealing with, six years on.

Jade is one of thousands of people who have been injured at funfairs and amusement and theme parks in England, Scotland and Wales over the last decade, a BBC Panorama investigation has found.

There were 3,188 injuries in England, Scotland and Wales between April 2014 and March 2024, including slips, trips and falls, with 350 in 2023/24, according to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request put to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Funfair rides have to undergo major inspections when they are first manufactured and at least every year afterwards - and inspectors of those rides play a crucial role in ensuring their safety.

However, Panorama has discovered serious concerns within the industry about the regulation of these inspections as well as accidents, criminal convictions and safety warnings linked to one inspector in particular.

Jade's story

A trip to Hull Fair with friends was one of Jade's favourite annual traditions - but that changed in October 2019.

Jade, who's now 27, boarded the Airmaxx 360 ride which can reach speeds of up to 60mph. Just seconds after it started up, something worrying caught her attention.

She says she heard a clicking noise in her safety restraint, after which she began to slip out of her seat. She was thrown from the ride, flying through the air and hitting another nearby ride.

When she eventually opened her eyes, she had no memory of what had happened, or where she was.

"I could barely walk, I broke my jaw completely in half. I had damage to mainly back teeth on both sides. I had internal bruising, severe damage to both thighs, and then just bruising all over my body, like black, purple bruises," she says.

Surgeons had to remove two teeth that were unsavable, and placed three metal plates in her jaw. "They'll stay there," she says.

Jade received compensation from the ride's owners, who admitted liability for her accident on the AirMaxx 360.

However, she received a further shock in 2023 when the HSE – which investigates serious funfair accidents – confirmed there had been a fatality on exactly the same ride in Australia in 2014.

Eight year-old Adelene Leong died after being thrown from the Airmaxx 360. She was 3cm shorter than the ride's height requirement.

Panorama has seen documents, obtained by Jade through an FOI request, from the HSE's investigation into the Airmaxx 360 accident in Hull.

They say that "the mechanical design of primary and secondary locks that are intended to prevent movement of the restraint was found to be inadequate".

We also asked the Australian coroner for their report into the death of Adelene Leong.

This states that the safety of the machine was poor, particularly the locking mechanism of the restraints.

The ride was never used again in Australia after Adelene's death, but three years later, in 2017, it was sold to a UK owner.

Ride owners, or controllers, are responsible for making sure their amusements are safe by having them thoroughly inspected. All rides are supposed to undergo a major initial inspection, called a design review, to ensure they are operating safely.

The company that carried out the design review on the Airmaxx 360 was DMG Technical, owned by David Geary. Panorama has discovered he and his company have a history of inspecting rides later involved in funfair accidents.

In 2017, after a five-year-old's ankle was crushed by a rollercoaster, Mr Geary received a criminal conviction and a fine for failing to identify risks.

And in May 2024, he received a suspended prison sentence for a design review failure that contributed to a woman being thrown from a ride, leaving her in a coma for weeks.

As well as prosecuting him twice, Panorama has discovered that the HSE has also formally warned Mr Geary or his company about eight safety breaches over the past 10 years.

The HSE can ban inspectors but it rarely uses this power, and it did not take such action against Mr Geary.

The trade council for the funfair industry runs a safety scheme for ride inspectors, known as Adips (Amusement Device Inspection Procedures Scheme) which is endorsed by the HSE.

Despite Mr Geary's convictions, fines and the multiple HSE warnings, he and his company DMG Technical were allowed to continue operating, and both remained on the Adips-approved list until they were finally suspended in March 2025.

In May this year an Adips disciplinary hearing decided Mr Geary should remain suspended and said he would have to resign from DMG Technical if the company is to remain on the Adips register.

Mr Geary says that during his more than 30 years in the industry both he and his company "have prevented numerous incidents" and "the primary concern has always been public safety".

He also says he no longer carries out "any inspection work on amusement rides".

Regarding the Airmaxx 360 ride, Mr Geary says that it had been modified following the Australian accident, and may also have been tampered with before the UK one.

He says he cannot comment further as he did not carry out the ride's annual inspection.

'Not fit for purpose'

An industry insider who has spoken to Panorama anonymously, describes the current Adips scheme as "not fit for purpose".

He says: "There are some ride examiners who are not as competent as they should be and not as diligent as they should be."

Adips says the fairground industry "has a record that would be the envy of many industries in this country" but it "will always look at learning points to make things safer".

It says it is considering revising its disciplinary process so that suspension may be "the default position if enforcement action is taken by the police or regulator".

After Mr Geary's suspension, Adips gave the HSE a list of 87 ride designs he and DMG Technical had reviewed. The HSE has not shared it publicly, or explained what action, if any, it has taken as a result.

"If I was the Health and Safety Executive receiving that list of rides, I'd be concerned," says Alex Nicholls, a ride inspector and engineer.

The HSE has not commented on the list but says it expects those who enjoy fairgrounds to be kept safe and adds that incidents are rare.

It says it is currently reviewing its industry safety guidance "to decide whether it, and the system it underpins, remains fit for purpose".

Mr Nicholls says there needs to be a major overhaul of safety at funfairs: "We can't allow this to happen again. You know, the names will change, but if the game is the same, then we're just going to have the same problems over and over."

A chemical that scientists worry might have an impact on human reproduction has been found in rivers across the UK.

Researchers from York University analysed samples from 32 rivers in all the UK's 4 nations and found traces of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) at 98% of the test locations.

TFA is what's known as a "forever chemical" which means that it breaks down extremely slowly in nature, and so accumulates over time.

As with other "forever chemicals", also known as PFAS, just how much a threat to human health and at what concentrations is still being researched.

But scientists in Germany say having looked at the impact of TFA on animals they want it to be classed as toxic for reproduction.

TFA forms when synthetic chemicals from other "forever chemicals" such as those found in pesticides and refrigerants are partially broken down.

"This molecule (TFA) is everywhere," Alistair Boxall, professor of Environmental Science at the University of York who carried out the research, told the BBC. "We will all be drinking water containing TFA every day - so we'll be exposed throughout our lifetime. It's that long-term, low level exposure that is the big concern."

This new study was funded by environmental charity Fidras and involved sampling in 5 rivers in Wales, 3 in Northern Ireland 14 in Scotland and 10 in the north of England. The highest concentration was recorded on the River Kelvin in Glasgow.

The River Ness, which flows from Loch Ness to the Moray Firth, was the only river sampled not to show traces of TFA.

Recent studies in the EU have found TFA to be widespread, including in wine and food, human blood and breast milk.

Authorities in Germany have been looking with interest at rising TFA levels in drinking water. In the last two decades its concentrations have gone up fourfold and researchers have been trying to establish what impact - if any - it might have on human health.

Citing scientific studies that showed TFA affecting rabbit and rat foetuses, the German Federal Environment Agency (UBA) has applied to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) for TFA to be classified as toxic for reproduction and harmful to the environment. That could eventually lead to recommendations being made in the EU as to how products containing TFA should be controlled.

"Currently, there are no expected adverse health effects from consuming water or food contaminated with TFA," said Andreas Hensel, president of the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR). "The new classification is an important step in preparing further measures to ensure that this remains the case in the future".

There aren't currently any rules or regulations in place to identify or reduce the concentrations of TFA either in the environment or in drinking water supplies in the UK.

But aware of concerns, the Drinking Water Inspectorate, which monitors and regulates drinking water quality in England and Wales, has just commissioned its own research. It will look at how much TFA is already in drinking water and what risk - if any - it poses.

"The information signposted by the University of York suggests that TFA can be formed from the degradation of PFAS-containing pesticides," Ann Bunting, Principal Inspector of the Drinking Water Inspectorate, told the BBC. "It is important that the fate of pesticides and other chemicals in the environment is understood, in order to protect drinking water sources."

A spokesperson for Water UK, which represents the UK's water companies, told the BBC: "We want to see PFAS, including TFA, banned and the development of a national plan to remove it from the environment which should be paid for by manufacturers."

Leaders of some of the world's wealthiest countries have descended on a luxury mountain lodge nestled in Canada's Rockies for this year's G7 summit.

The elite gathering comes as Western allies face numerous crises, from conflicts on three continents to global economic instability.

Canada chairs the G7 this year and will host leaders of Italy, US, France, Germany, UK and Japan in Kananaskis, Alberta. It has promised a set of streamlined priorities focused around the global economy and security.

But Mark Carney's carefully planned agenda has now been upended by the Israel-Iran conflict.

It is his first major international gathering as Canadian prime minister.

Here are five challenges ahead.

Big moment for Carney as Iran derails plans

This summit was set to be a test of his ability to meet three lofty goals he advanced for Canada - taking a leadership role on the global stage, becoming the strongest G7 economy and weaning off US dependency.

Now the Iran issue has suddenly shot to the top of the G7 agenda, forcing his officials to rejig their preparations.

But one thing is clear. Carney will be closely watched for how he handles US President Donald Trump, who has frequently undermined Canada's sovereignty.

• Iran issue sure to dominate G7 summit

John Kirton, director of G7 Research Group at the University of Toronto, says that scrutiny will start from the arrival ceremony, where he will need to show that he is treating Trump as an equal. And keep him in check when the meetings are under way.

The summit offers the potential to secure some Canadian wins, perhaps new trade and security deals with the US, hatched last month in Washington.

At that meeting, Carney gave the president some golf gear from the Kananaskis Country Club, a scenic course within the tightly controlled perimeter of the summit.

The Trump factor

The summit is taking place amid a global trade war started by Trump, who is using tariffs as a way to rebalance trading relationships. He has said the US has been "looted, pillaged, raped and plundered by nations near and far, both friend and foe alike".

It also comes as World Bank predicts the global economy will see the slowest decade for growth since the 1960s as the effect the US tariffs are felt, making it likely there will be some awkward - or "frank", in diplomatic lingo - conversations at this family gathering.

A discussion on the global economy will kick off the summit on Monday morning.

But Trump's November election win has shifted the global agenda beyond trade. The gathering offers the president a chance to secure wins on some of his other priorities, such as migration, critical minerals, security and drug trafficking - all of which are on the agenda later in the day.

The president has met each of his G7 counterparts since taking office but he will line up one-on-one meetings on the sidelines - he has already got Carney and the Mexican president in the diary.

There are currently two bilateral meetings on his schedule, according to US officials, though there no details on whom he is speaking with.

Avoiding a walkout like in 2018

This will be Trump's second time in Canada as US president, the first being a discordant summit in Charlevoix, Quebec, in 2018 shortly after he slapped steel and aluminium tariffs on Canada, Mexico and Europe.

Charlevoix was memorable for ending in acrimony and disarray - captured in a now-famous photo of former German Chancellor Angela Merkel confronting a defiant Trump as other world leaders and US aides looked on.

The leaders struggled to agree on language over global trade for the final communique - a moment captured in that Merkel image - before Trump left the summit early.

He headed to Singapore to sit down with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un while posting missives from Air Force One aimed at then Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Many of the tensions from seven years ago remain relevant today.

Carney hopes to avoid a similar derailment, and told Sky News last month that the lesson he took from that blow-up "is to be consistent - say the same thing in private as you do in public, say the same things after the summit as you do during the summit".

• Who's who in famous G7 photo

The G7 is a "consensus body. We work together", a senior Canadian government official said in a briefing last week.

With that in mind, Canada has chosen to eschew a final communique completely in favour of six of short joint statements on wildfires, critical minerals and other key agenda items.

Forest fires, AI, critical minerals and Ukraine

Canada's priorities for the confab are sharply focused on building stronger economies and strengthening peace and security, including harnessing the power of artificial intelligence and fortifying critical mineral supply chains.

While there are no broad commitments expected on climate change, it is integrated into the agenda, a senior government official told a briefing this week, pointing to an effort to improve the international joint response to the growing global forest fire threat.

Canada's worst wildfire season on record was in 2023 and this year could be on track to be the second worst. Smoke from the blazes has blanketed parts of North America and Europe and could be visible reminder to delegates in Kananaskis of the threat.

Ukraine is another pressing topic on the agenda, with President Volodomyr Zelensky there hoping to discuss continued support for his country, sanctions against Russia and future financing for reconstruction efforts.

Tuesday morning will focus on that conflict, with Ukraine expected to push for more sanctions on Russia.

Carney has also placed countering foreign interference - notably interference in global diaspora communities - high on the summit's agenda, setting up potential for tense discussions with some of the attending leaders who are not part of the G7.

Geopolitical minefields

As host, Canada also invites leaders not permanently attached to the seven-member group, and Carney has given a number the nod to attend, some more controversial than others.

As mentioned, Zelensky will be there.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also be a guest, with Carney saying there are important discussions that India, as a major economic force, should be a part of.

Modi's attendance comes amid deeply strained relations between the two countries over the murder of a Sikh separatist leader on Canadian soil.

• Carney invites Modi to G7, signalling thaw in relations
• Canada pledges to meet Nato's 2% defence spending target within a year

Canada has accused India of carrying out that targeted killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar two years ago and the G7 invitation has received backlash among some Sikh Canadians.

Mexico's President, Claudia Sheinbaum, has confirmed she will be in Kananaskis. Her presence sets the stage for talks on North American trade, which has been upended by Trump's tariffs. Sheinbaum has said she is keen to set up a one-on-one meeting with Trump, which would be the first between the pair.

Carney has also invited European and Nato leaders and his counterparts from Australia, South Africa, South Korea, Indonesia, and Brazil.

US singer Chris Brown has kicked off his UK tour in Manchester, days before he is due back in court after being arrested in the city last month.

The Grammy-winning star performed to thousands of fans at Manchester's Co-op Live arena on Sunday, with a string of stadium dates to follow in other cities.

On Friday, he will appear in court in London for the latest hearing after he was charged with grievous bodily harm over an alleged assault in a nightclub in 2023. The 36-year-old, who is free on £5m bail, has not yet been asked to enter a plea.

"Thank you for coming and supporting me," he said to fans in Manchester. "And thank you to the jail," he joked. "It was really nice."

A video montage was shown of his career highs and lows, including brief clips of TV news footage from outside the Manchester court after he was arrested, which was met by a supportive roar from his loyal fans.

The star is accused of inflicting an "unprovoked attack" on a music producer with a tequila bottle at a nightclub in London while on his last UK tour in 2023.

He was arrested when he returned to the country a month ago, when detectives from London's Metropolitan Police travelled to the hotel in which he was staying in Salford, Greater Manchester.

He was held in custody for almost a week, before being released after agreeing to pay a £5m security fee to the court.

A security fee is a financial guarantee to ensure a defendant returns to court. Mr Brown could be asked to forfeit the money if he breaches bail conditions.

However, the judge agreed that the singer could go ahead with his tour as part of his bail conditions, and he played the first night in Amsterdam last weekend.

The singer's Breezy Bowl XX tour is marking 20 years in the music industry. He has had 19 singles in the UK top 10 over that time, including number one hits Turn Up The Music and Freaky Friday.

Last week, he won the prize for best male R&B/pop artist at the BET Awards in Los Angeles.

After performing a second night in Manchester on Monday, he will move on to Cardiff's Principality Stadium on Thursday.

He will then appear at court on Friday with his co-defendant, Omololu Akinlolu, a 38-year-old who performs under the name HoodyBaby, also from the US.

After the hearing, Mr Brown is scheduled to play at London's Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday and Sunday, before further stadium shows in Birmingham and Glasgow, and two more arena dates in Manchester.

A rare copy of the first complete translation of the Bible into Welsh, printed in 1588, will go on display in Wales for the first time.

The book was translated in the year of the Spanish Armada – when Elizabeth I was monarch – by Bishop William Morgan as part of an effort to bring scriptures to people in languages they understood.

It has been kept in Westminster Abbey's library collection ever since, having only ever been used in service once.

The Bible will be on public display in the St Davids Cathedral in Pembrokeshire between 17 June and 9 July.

Bishop Morgan had been commissioned to produce a standard Welsh edition by bringing together previous translations of parts of the Bible.

He travelled to London to oversee the books going through the press, a process which lasted several weeks because the print workers did not speak Welsh.

During the work, Morgan stayed at Westminster Abbey's deanery which was the home of then-dean Gabriel Goodman – a fellow Welshman who was also a close friend.

Morgan presented the book to Goodman with a Latin inscription, recording that he was making a gift to the library.

Tony Trowles, librarian and head of the abbey's collection, said: "It has been in our library ever since.

"It is in remarkably good condition. The plan was to print 900 copies, with the idea for every chapel and church in Wales to have a copy of the Welsh Bible.

"Because they were used weekly or even daily, the ones that survive in Wales are not in such good condition."

Dr Trowles said the Bible was originally chained to the bookshelves of the abbey library so it could not be removed.

He said the printing process was "highly complex and technical" with each letter arranged backwards and several pages printed on one sheet.

The book was printed on paper and bound in leather over covers made from wood.

"This is the first time it has gone to Wales and we think the first time it has been exhibited," Dr Trowles said.

However, it was used in a service at St Benet Paul's Wharf – a church in London with a long association with the Welsh community – in 1988.

The Right Rev Dorrien Davies, the Bishop of St Davids, said: "It is a special treasure of the Welsh language and we are honoured to have it in St Davids Cathedral."

The Dean of St Davids, the Very Rev Dr Sarah Rowland Jones, said: "It seems fitting that its first visit to Wales should be here, to the home of our patron saint, at our spiritual heart.

"We look forward to having it on show before its return to the abbey, to share with Welsh Christians of all traditions, for whom Y Beibl Cyssegr-Lan of 1588 Bible is a uniquely valuable treasure in our heritage of faith and language."

Leonard Lauder, the businessman who built Estee Lauder into one of the world's biggest cosmetic makers, has died aged 92.

Lauder took over his parents company in 1958 and served as chief executive for 17 years. He was an accomplished dealmaker and bought brands including Clinique, Bobbi Brown and MAC.

"He was an icon and pioneer, earning respect worldwide. His energy and vision helped shape our company and will continue to do so for generations to come", said Stephane de La Faverie, chief executive of the Estee Lauder.

The New York-born billionare had an estimated wealth of $10.1bn (£7.5bn), according to the 2025 Forbes rich list.

Lauder passed away on Saturday surrounded by his family, said Estee Lauder in a statement.

Born in 1933, he was the eldest son of Estee and Joseph Lauder. He served as a lieutenant in the US Navy before joining the family business aged 25.

At the time, the firm's annual sales were less than $1m - about $11m in today's money. It is now a global cosmetics giant, operating in 150 countries with sales of $15.6bn last year.

Lauder led the firm's expansion into Europe and Asia and created its first ever research and development laboratory.

He took the company public in 1995, with its share price rising 33% on the first day of trading in New York.

Lauder stepped down as chief executive in 1999. He remained involved with the business and was chairman emeritus until his death.

Celebrities and business people have been paying tribute to Lauder.

Elizabeth Hurley, who got her first modelling job with his company, said on Instagram: "I called him my American Daddy and I can't imagine a world without him."

Steve Forbes, editor-in-chief at Forbes Media, said Lauder "lived life well, & his passing is the world's loss'."

"His legacy will be felt for generations to come," said multi-billionaire and former New York mayor, Mike Bloomberg.

Away from business, Lauder was passionate about art. In 2013, he pledged his billion-dollar collection of Cubist artworks to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

He was also an advocate for cancer research and served as the honorary chairman of the board of directors at the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

A survivor of Saturday's deadly attacks on two Minnesota lawmakers says she and her husband are both "incredibly lucky to be alive" after they were hit by 17 bullets.

State Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were gunned down at their home early on Saturday morning, but lived. Melissa Hortman - the top Democratic legislator in the state House - and her husband, Mark, were shot and killed.

Yvette Hoffman said in a statement that she and her husband John were "devastated" by the Hortmans' deaths.

Police are hunting for the suspect, Vance Luther Boelter, who wore a latex mask and posed as an officer to shoot the victims at their homes in suburban Minneapolis, before escaping on foot.

Mrs Hoffman's statement was shared on Instagram by Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar.

"John is enduring many surgeries right now and is closer every hour to being out of the woods," Mrs Hoffman wrote.

"He took 9 bullet hits. I took 8 and we are both incredibly lucky to be alive.

"We are gutted and devastated by the loss of Melissa and Mark. We have no words. There is never a place for this kind of political hate."

Police have not disclosed the killer's motive.

A Facebook post from someone identifying as Mrs Hoffman's nephew said she had thrown herself on her daughter during the assassination attempt, "using her body as a shield to save her life".

According to the Minnesota Star Tribune, the daughter, Hope, is in her 20s and was born with spina bifida, which her father previously cited as motivating him to get into state politics.

On Sunday, police said they had found an unoccupied car linked to the suspect in Sibley County, about 50 miles (80km) from the murder scene.

The discovery of the black sedan was alerted to local residents' mobile phones in a message that said: "Suspect not located. Keep your doors locked and vehicles secured."

A cowboy hat, similar to what Boelter, 57, was believed to have been wearing, was found nearby.

Police also said on Sunday that Boelter's wife had been detained in a traffic stop along with three relatives in a car in the city of Onamia, more than 100 miles from the family home in the rural community of Green Isle, on Saturday morning.

Jenny Boelter was released without being taken into custody because she was co-operative, Drew Evans, of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, told a news conference on Sunday evening.

Police have extended the search over state lines to South Dakota and the FBI has added Boelter to its most-wanted list, issuing a $50,000 reward.

Both of the targeted lawmakers belonged to Minnesota's Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party, which is affiliated with the national Democratic Party.

Authorities said they recovered a target list that included the names of state Democratic politicians from another vehicle used by the suspect.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, congresswoman Ilhan Omar, Klobuchar and Minnesota's other US senator, Tina Smith, were on the list – along with state Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, people familiar with the investigation told local media.

"Clearly, this is politically motivated," Klobuchar told NBC News' Meet the Press on Sunday morning.

President Donald Trump, a Republican, told ABC News on Sunday the attack was "a terrible thing".

Investigators say Boelter was disguised as a police officer when he carried out the attacks and had a vehicle that looked like a police car, equipped with flashing emergency lights.

The gunman first targeted the Hoffmans at their home in Champlin at around 02:00 local time on Saturday, authorities said.

Soon afterwards, Hortman and her husband, Mark, were shot and killed at their home in Brooklyn Park, eight miles away.

Officers arrived at the Hortmans' home and exchanged gunfire with the suspect at around 03:35. The suspect managed to flee, leaving behind his car, authorities said.

According to Boelter's CV, he has a background in security and military training.

The city of Brooklyn Park was silent on Sunday morning as the neighbourhood came to terms with a suspected political assassination on their doorstep.

A police car was parked outside the Hortmans' house and bright yellow caution tape surrounded the property.

Taha Abuisnaineh, who lives across the street, said he and his wife had known the family for more than 20 years.

"They were very nice neighbours in a very quiet neighbourhood," he told the BBC. "You don't see police activity in this neighbourhood. We are very shocked."

Two other nearby residents who did not want to be named said the suburban community was reeling.

"My next-door neighbour heard the shots," said one. "We've all been texting back and forth."

She and her husband described how they received an annual Christmas card from the Hortmans.

"What a big loss for Minnesota," she said.

In Sibley County, where the suspect's car was found, local resident Brian Liebhard also told the BBC of his shock.

"This guy needs to get caught," he said. "I don't agree with everything they [the two politicians] vote for, but this is sad - the guy went wacko."

The National Crime Agency (NCA) will carry out a nationwide operation to target and jail predators who have sexually exploited children as part of a grooming gang, according to the Home Office.

It said the NCA would work with police forces to give victims whose cases were not progressed through the criminal justice system "long-awaited justice" and prevent more children from being hurt by such crimes.

It comes ahead of the release of a report by Baroness Louise Casey on Monday on the nature and scale of group-based child sexual abuse.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced on Saturday there would be a full national statutory inquiry into grooming gangs covering England and Wales.

The NCA operation will aim to imprison more perpetrators of child sexual abuse, protect more victims and improve how local police forces investigate such crimes, the Home Office said.

It will also aim to "put an end to the culture of denial in local services and authorities about the prevalence of this crime".

The Home Office said police had reopened more than 800 historic cases of group-based child sexual abuse since the home secretary had asked them in January to look again at cases that were "closed too early and victims denied justice".

"The vulnerable young girls who suffered unimaginable abuse at the hands of groups of adult men have now grown into brave women who are rightly demanding justice for what they went through when they were just children," Yvette Cooper said.

"Not enough people listened to them then," the home secretary added. "That was wrong and unforgivable. We are changing that now."

The Home Office said the national inquiry announced by the prime minister on Saturday would be able to "compel" investigations into "historic cases of grooming gang crimes".

That would ensure complaints and allegations of "mishandling, wrongdoing and cover-ups by police, agencies and other professionals and elected officials are brought to light and those responsible held accountable", the Home Office added.

It said the inquiry would report to a single chairperson and its panel would have the power to call witnesses to hearings.

The grooming gangs issue was thrust into the spotlight at the start of 2025, fuelled partly by tech billionaire Elon Musk, who had criticised Sir Keir for not calling a national inquiry.

A row between the two centred on high-profile cases where groups of men, mainly of Pakistani descent, were convicted of sexually abusing and raping predominantly young white girls in towns such as Rotherham and Rochdale.

On Saturday, Sir Keir said he had read an independent report into child sexual exploitation by Baroness Casey and would accept her recommendation for an inquiry covering England and Wales.

In January, the government stopped short of launching a statutory national inquiry intro grooming gangs despite the idea receiving support from some Labour MPs.

Instead, Cooper unveiled plans for five government-backed local inquiries - to be held in Oldham and four other area yet to be named.

She also announced a "rapid" three-month audit, led by Baroness Casey, into the data and evidence on the nature and scale of group-based child sexual abuse.

That report is expected to be published on Monday and Cooper is set to address the findings of the review in Parliament.

For months, the prime minister has faced criticism for not being willing to set up a national inquiry, with the Conservatives claiming they had forced him into a U-turn.

Shadow Chancellor Sir Mel Stride told the Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme that the decision to launch the inquiry should have happened "far, far earlier".

Chancellor Rachel Reeves defended the decision to launch a national inquiry, telling the programme on Sunday that ministers "never dismissed the concerns of victims" of grooming gangs.

Up to 100 truckloads of Scotland's waste each day will be moved to England once a landfill ban comes in at the end of the year, the BBC's Disclosure has been told.

The Scottish government is banning "black bag" waste from being buried in landfill from 31 December but acknowledges that there are not currently enough incinerators to meet the extra demand.

The ban, which covers biodegradable municipal waste (BMW), will apply to pretty much all domestic and commercial waste.

Scottish ministers said any export of waste should only be viewed as a "short-term solution".

The ban was originally meant to be in place by 2021 but was delayed because of the Covid pandemic and concerns that businesses were not ready.

It will see a string of materials banned from landfill, including non-recyclable black bag municipal waste, wood, textiles, paper and food.

Such biodegradable waste breaks down to produce methane, a greenhouse gas that is around 28 times more potent than carbon dioxide.

Some inert material, such as ash from incinerators and building rubble, will still be allowed at landfill sites.

The Scottish government wants to stop traditional black bag waste being buried in the ground by increasing recycling rates and using more energy-from-waste incinerators.

However, four years on from the date of the original plan, environmental consultants have concluded that hundreds of thousands of tonnes of rubbish still have no home.

More waste is already being sent to incinerators - or energy-from-waste sites - but not enough of them will be ready by the 31 December deadline.

It is leaving a "capacity gap" which is estimated by Zero Waste Scotland to be 600,000 tonnes in the first year of the ban.

Some councils and commercial waste companies have been approaching rubbish handling operators in England to negotiate "bridging contracts".

Because most incinerators run with very little spare capacity, it would mean sending Scotland's excess waste to be landfilled in England.

The UK government also wants to eliminate biodegradable waste from landfill and it announced a consultation earlier this year but there is currently no policy in place south of the border.

David Balmer, a waste expert from ERS Remediation, told the Disclosure programme: "You're looking at the equivalent of between 80 and 100 trucks minimum running seven days a week to take this material to a facility in England or abroad."

And there are concerns that logistically the transportation might not be fully achievable.

Alasdair Meldrum, director of waste management consultants Albion Environmental, said: "We've probably not got the trucks and vehicles to actually move it."

He added: "You've got the environmental impact of all that transport, it's nonsensical, but the people who have invested in incinerators are saying 'we've invested all this money because of the ban'.

"So, we're stuck in a really hard place."

While the reason for the ban is to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases coming from landfill sites, the short-term impact will be a rise in emissions from the fleet of heavy vehicles taking the waste to sites in Cumbria, Northumberland or potentially as far away as Manchester.

The long-term strategy had been to reduce the amount of "black bag" waste households generate, meaning less would have to be incinerated.

But domestic recycling rates have barely budged in a decade.

In 2013, Scottish homes recycled 41.6% of their waste but by 2023 that figure had increased by less than 2 percentage points to 43.5%.

The figures for England and Northern Ireland are slightly better but for Wales it is a massive 64.7%.

In Scotland, there are currently eight operational incinerators across the country.

Until 2022 there was a rush to build more but the Scottish government put the brakes on development fearing there would end up being an overcapacity.

The only additional ones which will now be built have already entered the planning process.

While incinerators are still responsible for a significant amount of greenhouse gases, experts say they are about a third less environmentally damaging than the methane caused by materials rotting in landfill sites.

As an additional benefit, they also produce some electricity and some recover heat to warm neighbouring homes and buildings.

Colin Church, who chaired an independent review into incineration in Scotland, believes the shift to incinerators has been the right choice.

He told Disclosure: "It's probably the best thing that we can do with waste, with our current levels of technology, and so capturing some energy from that is a good idea."

Circular economy

Environmental groups are concerned that contracts which guarantee waste being delivered by councils to incinerators will put off local authorities from investing in more recycling.

Kim Pratt, from Friends of the Earth Scotland, described the current waste management system as broken.

She said: "Incineration in Scotland is out of control.

"There have been incinerators built in Aberdeen, in Falkirk, there's one this year that's going to be built in North Ayrshire as well.

"All of these incinerators have communities locally who are opposing them."

Waste campaigner Laura Young said: "One of the worries is these are expensive facilities – expensive to run, big contracts involved in this – and it means that we need to utilise them.

"We built them so we need to use them."

The Scottish government points to a range of initiatives it has launched in recent years to tackle household waste and create a more "circular" economy, where material are reused over and over.

These include bans on single use vapes, forthcoming charges on disposable cups and a planned deposit-return scheme for cans and plastic bottles.

It said the "vast majority" of councils had alternative measures in place ahead of the landfill ban coming into force but they will "work closely with local authorities and sector bodies to monitor and review any related issues which may arise as the date of the ban approaches".

The Scottish government added: "Any export of waste should only ever be viewed as a short-term solution."

US singer Chris Brown has kicked off his UK tour in Manchester, days before he is due back in court after being arrested in the city last month.

The Grammy-winning star performed to thousands of fans at Manchester's Co-op Live arena on Sunday, with a string of stadium dates to follow in other cities.

On Friday, he will appear in court in London for the latest hearing after he was charged with grievous bodily harm over an alleged assault in a nightclub in 2023. The 36-year-old, who is free on £5m bail, has not yet been asked to enter a plea.

"Thank you for coming and supporting me," he said to fans in Manchester. "And thank you to the jail," he joked. "It was really nice."

A video montage was shown of his career highs and lows, including brief clips of TV news footage from outside the Manchester court after he was arrested, which was met by a supportive roar from his loyal fans.

The star is accused of inflicting an "unprovoked attack" on a music producer with a tequila bottle at a nightclub in London while on his last UK tour in 2023.

He was arrested when he returned to the country a month ago, when detectives from London's Metropolitan Police travelled to the hotel in which he was staying in Salford, Greater Manchester.

He was held in custody for almost a week, before being released after agreeing to pay a £5m security fee to the court.

A security fee is a financial guarantee to ensure a defendant returns to court. Mr Brown could be asked to forfeit the money if he breaches bail conditions.

However, the judge agreed that the singer could go ahead with his tour as part of his bail conditions, and he played the first night in Amsterdam last weekend.

The singer's Breezy Bowl XX tour is marking 20 years in the music industry. He has had 19 singles in the UK top 10 over that time, including number one hits Turn Up The Music and Freaky Friday.

Last week, he won the prize for best male R&B/pop artist at the BET Awards in Los Angeles.

After performing a second night in Manchester on Monday, he will move on to Cardiff's Principality Stadium on Thursday.

He will then appear at court on Friday with his co-defendant, Omololu Akinlolu, a 38-year-old who performs under the name HoodyBaby, also from the US.

After the hearing, Mr Brown is scheduled to play at London's Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday and Sunday, before further stadium shows in Birmingham and Glasgow, and two more arena dates in Manchester.

A chemical that scientists worry might have an impact on human reproduction has been found in rivers across the UK.

Researchers from York University analysed samples from 32 rivers in all the UK's 4 nations and found traces of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) at 98% of the test locations.

TFA is what's known as a "forever chemical" which means that it breaks down extremely slowly in nature, and so accumulates over time.

As with other "forever chemicals", also known as PFAS, just how much a threat to human health and at what concentrations is still being researched.

But scientists in Germany say having looked at the impact of TFA on animals they want it to be classed as toxic for reproduction.

TFA forms when synthetic chemicals from other "forever chemicals" such as those found in pesticides and refrigerants are partially broken down.

"This molecule (TFA) is everywhere," Alistair Boxall, professor of Environmental Science at the University of York who carried out the research, told the BBC. "We will all be drinking water containing TFA every day - so we'll be exposed throughout our lifetime. It's that long-term, low level exposure that is the big concern."

This new study was funded by environmental charity Fidras and involved sampling in 5 rivers in Wales, 3 in Northern Ireland 14 in Scotland and 10 in the north of England. The highest concentration was recorded on the River Kelvin in Glasgow.

The River Ness, which flows from Loch Ness to the Moray Firth, was the only river sampled not to show traces of TFA.

Recent studies in the EU have found TFA to be widespread, including in wine and food, human blood and breast milk.

Authorities in Germany have been looking with interest at rising TFA levels in drinking water. In the last two decades its concentrations have gone up fourfold and researchers have been trying to establish what impact - if any - it might have on human health.

Citing scientific studies that showed TFA affecting rabbit and rat foetuses, the German Federal Environment Agency (UBA) has applied to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) for TFA to be classified as toxic for reproduction and harmful to the environment. That could eventually lead to recommendations being made in the EU as to how products containing TFA should be controlled.

"Currently, there are no expected adverse health effects from consuming water or food contaminated with TFA," said Andreas Hensel, president of the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR). "The new classification is an important step in preparing further measures to ensure that this remains the case in the future".

There aren't currently any rules or regulations in place to identify or reduce the concentrations of TFA either in the environment or in drinking water supplies in the UK.

But aware of concerns, the Drinking Water Inspectorate, which monitors and regulates drinking water quality in England and Wales, has just commissioned its own research. It will look at how much TFA is already in drinking water and what risk - if any - it poses.

"The information signposted by the University of York suggests that TFA can be formed from the degradation of PFAS-containing pesticides," Ann Bunting, Principal Inspector of the Drinking Water Inspectorate, told the BBC. "It is important that the fate of pesticides and other chemicals in the environment is understood, in order to protect drinking water sources."

A spokesperson for Water UK, which represents the UK's water companies, told the BBC: "We want to see PFAS, including TFA, banned and the development of a national plan to remove it from the environment which should be paid for by manufacturers."

The manhunt for a suspect in deadly attacks on Minnesota lawmakers continued into its second day on Sunday, as police extended the search over state lines to nearby South Dakota.

Minnesota state Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, were shot and killed in their home early Saturday morning .

Another lawmaker, state Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were also shot multiple times and injured.

Police are searching for Vance Luther Boelter, a 57-year-old who they say impersonated a police officer while carrying out the attacks. Federal authorities announced a $50,000 reward for information.

Both lawmakers belonged to Minnesota's Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party, which is affiliated with the national Democratic Party.

Senator Hoffman and his wife underwent surgery on Saturday, and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said he was "cautiously optimistic they will survive this assassination attempt."

• What we know about the attack on two Minnesota lawmakers

"Clearly, this is politically motivated," US Senator Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat who represents Minnesota, told NBC News' Meet the Press on Sunday morning.

Authorities said they recovered a target list from a vehicle used by the suspect that reportedly contained the names of several Democratic politicians who supported abortion rights, as well as abortion providers. The office of Tina Smith, Minnesota's other US Senator, confirmed to BBC News she was on the list.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) added Boelter to their most wanted list, and issued a $50,000 reward for information leading to his arrest and conviction.

"It is really not about any of us, it is this incredible woman that we lost, Melissa Hortman," Klobuchar said. "We think about her family today."

"I just wish everyone in the world political world knew this woman like we know her in Minnesota. Loved by Democrats and Republicans," Klobuchar said.

President Donald Trump is aware of the situation, but it was not clear if he would reach out to the state's leadership about the attack.

Governor Walz, a Democrat, was presidential candidate Kamala Harris' running mate in the 2024 election.

Despite the frantic search under way across the region, the city of Brooklyn Park, where Rep. Hortman lived, was still and silent on Sunday morning as the neighbourhood came to terms with the deadly attack.

A police car stood guard outside the Hortman's house, and bright yellow caution tape surrounded the home, now an active crime scene.

Taha Abuisnaineh, who lives across the street, said he and his wife had known the Hortmans for more than 20 years.

"They were very nice neighbours in a very quiet neighbourhood," he told the BBC. "You don't see police activity in this neighbourhood. We are very shocked."

Two other nearby residents who did not want to be named said this suburban community was reeling as news spread of the attack.

"My next-door neighbour heard the shots," said one. "We've all been texting back and forth."

She and her husband described how they received an annual Christmas card from the Hortmans - and recounted how Representative Hortman got along with local Republican politicians.

"What a big loss for Minnesota," she said.

US President Donald Trump rejected a plan by Israel to kill Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, three US officials have told BBC's US partner CBS News.

Trump reportedly told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that assassinating Khamenei was not a good idea, according to one official. The president has not commented publicly on the report.

The conversation is said to have happened since Israel launched its attack on Iran on Friday.

During an interview with Fox News, Netanyahu did not directly confirm or deny a report from Reuters that Trump had vetoed a plan to killed the ayatollah.

"There's so many false reports of conversations that never happened and I'm not going to get into that," the Israeli prime minister said.

"But I can tell you I think we do what we need to do. We will do what we need to do and I think the United States knows what is good for the United States and I'm just not going to get into it."

An Israeli official told CBS News that "in principle," Israel does not "kill political leaders, we are focused on nuclear and military. I don't think anyone making decisions about those programs should be living free and easy."

Israel first launched an attack on Iranian nuclear infrastructure and other targets on Friday.

Iran later confirmed the head of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) intelligence unit, Mohammad Kazemi, had been killed, alongside a deputy and another commander.

The two countries have continued to launch massive strikes at each other since, with attacks entering a third day on Sunday.

In his latest post on Truth Social about the escalating situation in the Middle East, Trump said "Iran and Israel should make a deal", adding that he would get the two to cease hostilities "just like I got India and Pakistan" - referring to the recent confrontation between the countries.

In a separate post on Saturday, the president said the US "had nothing to do with the attack on Iran".

"If we are attacked in any way, shape or form by Iran, the full strength and might of the U.S. Armed Forces will come down on you at levels never seen before," he warned.

"Stuck". That is the word most people who have spoken to the BBC use to describe life in Iran right now.

After three days of Israeli attacks, "everyone is trying to escape" Tehran "one way or another," one resident told BBC News Persian.

On Sunday, long queues formed at petrol stations across the city. Many people tried to leave for remote areas, away from any possible Israeli target, but could not even get out of the province because of heavy traffic.

"Tehran isn't safe, clearly," one resident said. "We get no alarms or warnings from officials about Israeli attacks. We just hear the blasts and hope our place isn't hit. But where can we go? Nowhere feels safe."

One person who managed to move from Tehran to another province said: "I don't think I've fully processed that I'm living in an active war zone, and I'm not sure when I'll reach acceptance."

"This is not my war. I'm not rooting for either side, I just want to survive along with my family."

Since Friday, Israel hit Iran with its biggest wave of air strikes in years.

Israel's strikes have led to retaliation from Iran, which has launched missile attacks on Israel.

At least 10 people have been killed in Israel, authorities said. Iranian media, citing the health ministry, reported that 128 people had been killed in Israeli attacks as of midday on Saturday.

One Iranian told the BBC she has not been able to sleep for two nights: "I've gone through really tough situations."

She said the current situation reminds her of bombings and going to shelters during the Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s, when she was a child.

"The difference is that back then, at least when an attack happened, we heard the air raid siren or at least warnings before it happened. But now, during this bombing or any air raid, there's no sirens or warnings."

Younger people, born after the war, do not know what it was like, BBC News Persian's Ghoncheh Habibiazad said.

One woman in Tehran said she has considered leaving the city to escape the attacks.

"We've all wanted to go to smaller cities or villages, anywhere we can go, but each of us has loved ones who can't leave, and we're thinking of them," she said. "What we're experiencing is not fair to any of us, the people of Iran."

"We're all trying to get through these days in fear, exhaustion, and a lot of stress, this is extremely hard and painful."

One resident in the capital said: "I can't just leave Tehran. I can't leave my elderly parents who can't travel far and long and leave the city myself. Besides, I need to show up to work. What can I do now?"

The internet has been unstable, so it is very hard to keep in touch with people inside the country.

Many of those living outside the country are sending messages to loved ones, hoping for a reply.

Some people have also received warnings from the Israel military asking all Iranians to leave areas near military sites. People in Tehran seem most worried about this.

"How are we supposed to know where a military site is and where isn't?" one said.

Separately, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a message to Iranians on the second day of the attacks said "the time has come" for Iranians to unite "by standing up for your freedom".

However, people in the country have so far chosen to stay safe and there is little evidence that Netanyahu's call has resonated on the ground, BBC News Persian's Daryoush Karimi said.

Inside Iran, what perhaps shocked people the most was the destruction of residential buildings, even more than the attacks on nuclear facilities and airbases, said BBC News Persian's Pouyan Kalani.

Many Iranians had not witnessed scenes like that since the end of the Iran-Iraq war - especially not on the streets of the capital.

Many of those in Tehran and elsewhere, recall the confusion of Friday: what exactly was happening; how widespread was it; and how could they protect themselves and their families?

Edited by Alexandra Fouché

Leaders of some of the world's wealthiest countries have descended on a luxury mountain lodge nestled in Canada's Rockies for this year's G7 summit.

The elite gathering comes as Western allies face numerous crises, from conflicts on three continents to global economic instability.

Canada chairs the G7 this year and will host leaders of Italy, US, France, Germany, UK and Japan in Kananaskis, Alberta. It has promised a set of streamlined priorities focused around the global economy and security.

But Mark Carney's carefully planned agenda has now been upended by the Israel-Iran conflict.

It is his first major international gathering as Canadian prime minister.

Here are five challenges ahead.

Big moment for Carney as Iran derails plans

This summit was set to be a test of his ability to meet three lofty goals he advanced for Canada - taking a leadership role on the global stage, becoming the strongest G7 economy and weaning off US dependency.

Now the Iran issue has suddenly shot to the top of the G7 agenda, forcing his officials to rejig their preparations.

But one thing is clear. Carney will be closely watched for how he handles US President Donald Trump, who has frequently undermined Canada's sovereignty.

• Iran issue sure to dominate G7 summit

John Kirton, director of G7 Research Group at the University of Toronto, says that scrutiny will start from the arrival ceremony, where he will need to show that he is treating Trump as an equal. And keep him in check when the meetings are under way.

The summit offers the potential to secure some Canadian wins, perhaps new trade and security deals with the US, hatched last month in Washington.

At that meeting, Carney gave the president some golf gear from the Kananaskis Country Club, a scenic course within the tightly controlled perimeter of the summit.

The Trump factor

The summit is taking place amid a global trade war started by Trump, who is using tariffs as a way to rebalance trading relationships. He has said the US has been "looted, pillaged, raped and plundered by nations near and far, both friend and foe alike".

It also comes as World Bank predicts the global economy will see the slowest decade for growth since the 1960s as the effect the US tariffs are felt, making it likely there will be some awkward - or "frank", in diplomatic lingo - conversations at this family gathering.

A discussion on the global economy will kick off the summit on Monday morning.

But Trump's November election win has shifted the global agenda beyond trade. The gathering offers the president a chance to secure wins on some of his other priorities, such as migration, critical minerals, security and drug trafficking - all of which are on the agenda later in the day.

The president has met each of his G7 counterparts since taking office but he will line up one-on-one meetings on the sidelines - he has already got Carney and the Mexican president in the diary.

There are currently two bilateral meetings on his schedule, according to US officials, though there no details on whom he is speaking with.

Avoiding a walkout like in 2018

This will be Trump's second time in Canada as US president, the first being a discordant summit in Charlevoix, Quebec, in 2018 shortly after he slapped steel and aluminium tariffs on Canada, Mexico and Europe.

Charlevoix was memorable for ending in acrimony and disarray - captured in a now-famous photo of former German Chancellor Angela Merkel confronting a defiant Trump as other world leaders and US aides looked on.

The leaders struggled to agree on language over global trade for the final communique - a moment captured in that Merkel image - before Trump left the summit early.

He headed to Singapore to sit down with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un while posting missives from Air Force One aimed at then Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Many of the tensions from seven years ago remain relevant today.

Carney hopes to avoid a similar derailment, and told Sky News last month that the lesson he took from that blow-up "is to be consistent - say the same thing in private as you do in public, say the same things after the summit as you do during the summit".

• Who's who in famous G7 photo

The G7 is a "consensus body. We work together", a senior Canadian government official said in a briefing last week.

With that in mind, Canada has chosen to eschew a final communique completely in favour of six of short joint statements on wildfires, critical minerals and other key agenda items.

Forest fires, AI, critical minerals and Ukraine

Canada's priorities for the confab are sharply focused on building stronger economies and strengthening peace and security, including harnessing the power of artificial intelligence and fortifying critical mineral supply chains.

While there are no broad commitments expected on climate change, it is integrated into the agenda, a senior government official told a briefing this week, pointing to an effort to improve the international joint response to the growing global forest fire threat.

Canada's worst wildfire season on record was in 2023 and this year could be on track to be the second worst. Smoke from the blazes has blanketed parts of North America and Europe and could be visible reminder to delegates in Kananaskis of the threat.

Ukraine is another pressing topic on the agenda, with President Volodomyr Zelensky there hoping to discuss continued support for his country, sanctions against Russia and future financing for reconstruction efforts.

Tuesday morning will focus on that conflict, with Ukraine expected to push for more sanctions on Russia.

Carney has also placed countering foreign interference - notably interference in global diaspora communities - high on the summit's agenda, setting up potential for tense discussions with some of the attending leaders who are not part of the G7.

Geopolitical minefields

As host, Canada also invites leaders not permanently attached to the seven-member group, and Carney has given a number the nod to attend, some more controversial than others.

As mentioned, Zelensky will be there.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also be a guest, with Carney saying there are important discussions that India, as a major economic force, should be a part of.

Modi's attendance comes amid deeply strained relations between the two countries over the murder of a Sikh separatist leader on Canadian soil.

• Carney invites Modi to G7, signalling thaw in relations
• Canada pledges to meet Nato's 2% defence spending target within a year

Canada has accused India of carrying out that targeted killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar two years ago and the G7 invitation has received backlash among some Sikh Canadians.

Mexico's President, Claudia Sheinbaum, has confirmed she will be in Kananaskis. Her presence sets the stage for talks on North American trade, which has been upended by Trump's tariffs. Sheinbaum has said she is keen to set up a one-on-one meeting with Trump, which would be the first between the pair.

Carney has also invited European and Nato leaders and his counterparts from Australia, South Africa, South Korea, Indonesia, and Brazil.

MI6 will be led by a woman for the first time in the foreign intelligence service's 116-year history.

Blaise Metreweli, who joined the Secret Intelligence Service in 1999, will become the 18th chief of the organisation and take over from Sir Richard Moore later this year.

She is currently responsible for technology and innovation at the service and said she was "proud and honoured" to have been asked to lead.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the appointment "historic" at a time "when the work of our intelligence services has never been more vital".

MI6 is tasked with gathering intelligence overseas to improve the UK's security, with its core aims being to stop terrorism, disrupt the activities of hostile states, and bolster cyber-security.

Its chief, commonly referred to as 'C', is the only publicly named member of the service.

Ms Metreweli, 47, is currently Director General 'Q' - head of the crucial technology and innovation division that aims to keep the identities of secret agents secret, and come up with new ways to evade adversaries like China's biometric surveillance.

"MI6 plays a vital role - with MI5 and GCHQ - in keeping the British people safe and promoting UK interests overseas," she said.

"I look forward to continuing that work alongside the brave officers and agents of MI6 and our many international partners."

Ms Metreweli, who studied anthropology at the University of Cambridge, has previously held director level roles in MI5 - MI6's sister, domestic security agency - and spent most of her career working in the Middle East and Europe.

On the King's overseas and international birthday honours list in 2024, she received the Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) for her services to British foreign policy.

Speaking to the Telegraph in December 2021 when she was at MI5, under the pseudonym of "Director K", Ms Metreweli said threats to UK national security "really are diverse".

"The threats we are looking at primarily exist around protecting government, protecting secrets, protecting our people - so counter-assassination - protecting our economy, sensitive technology and critical knowledge," she said.

She added that "Russian state activity - not Russia itself - remains a threat" and that China was "changing the way the world is and that presents amazing opportunities and threats for the UK".

The organisation she will be running faces unprecedented and multiple challenges.

Geographically, these emanate primarily from Russia, China, Iran and North Korea, as the four nations co-operate ever more closely to undermine UK and Western interests across the globe.

But there are technical challenges too.

MI6's role is to recruit human agents to steal secrets from Britain's adversaries, which include both hostile nations and non-state groups like al-Qaeda.

In an age of rapid digital innovation, MI6 is having to pedal ever faster to stay ahead of its enemies and to remain relevant, when so much intelligence is now gathered online and from space.

Last September, outgoing chief Sir Richard - alongside then-CIA chief William Burns - warned that the international world was "under threat in a way we haven't seen since the Cold War".

Writing in the Financial Times, the pair said that beyond the war in Ukraine, the two foreign intelligence services were continuing to "work together to disrupt the reckless campaign of sabotage across Europe being waged by Russian intelligence".

Sir Richard and Mr Burns added that they saw the rise of China as the main intelligence and geopolitical challenge of the century. They also said they had pushed "hard" for restraint and de-escalation in the Middle East.

On Sunday, Sir Richard said he was "absolutely delighted" with the "historic appointment" of his colleague.

"Blaise is a highly accomplished intelligence officer and leader, and one of our foremost thinkers on technology," he said.

"I am excited to welcome her as the first female head of MI6."

Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who Ms Metreweli will be accountable to as MI6's new chief, said she was the "ideal" candidate and will ensure the UK is able to tackle the challenges of "global instability and emerging security threats".

"I would also like to pay tribute to Sir Richard Moore for his service and leadership," he said.

"I have worked closely with him over the past year and thank him for his valuable contribution enhancing our national security and protecting the British public."

Sir Keir also thanked Sir Richard for his "dedicated service".

"I know Blaise will continue to provide the excellent leadership needed to defend our county and keep our people safe," he added.

Additional reporting by Hollie Cole

The National Crime Agency (NCA) will carry out a nationwide operation to target and jail predators who have sexually exploited children as part of a grooming gang, according to the Home Office.

It said the NCA would work with police forces to give victims whose cases were not progressed through the criminal justice system "long-awaited justice" and prevent more children from being hurt by such crimes.

It comes ahead of the release of a report by Baroness Louise Casey on Monday on the nature and scale of group-based child sexual abuse.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced on Saturday there would be a full national statutory inquiry into grooming gangs covering England and Wales.

The NCA operation will aim to imprison more perpetrators of child sexual abuse, protect more victims and improve how local police forces investigate such crimes, the Home Office said.

It will also aim to "put an end to the culture of denial in local services and authorities about the prevalence of this crime".

The Home Office said police had reopened more than 800 historic cases of group-based child sexual abuse since the home secretary had asked them in January to look again at cases that were "closed too early and victims denied justice".

"The vulnerable young girls who suffered unimaginable abuse at the hands of groups of adult men have now grown into brave women who are rightly demanding justice for what they went through when they were just children," Yvette Cooper said.

"Not enough people listened to them then," the home secretary added. "That was wrong and unforgivable. We are changing that now."

The Home Office said the national inquiry announced by the prime minister on Saturday would be able to "compel" investigations into "historic cases of grooming gang crimes".

That would ensure complaints and allegations of "mishandling, wrongdoing and cover-ups by police, agencies and other professionals and elected officials are brought to light and those responsible held accountable", the Home Office added.

It said the inquiry would report to a single chairperson and its panel would have the power to call witnesses to hearings.

The grooming gangs issue was thrust into the spotlight at the start of 2025, fuelled partly by tech billionaire Elon Musk, who had criticised Sir Keir for not calling a national inquiry.

A row between the two centred on high-profile cases where groups of men, mainly of Pakistani descent, were convicted of sexually abusing and raping predominantly young white girls in towns such as Rotherham and Rochdale.

On Saturday, Sir Keir said he had read an independent report into child sexual exploitation by Baroness Casey and would accept her recommendation for an inquiry covering England and Wales.

In January, the government stopped short of launching a statutory national inquiry intro grooming gangs despite the idea receiving support from some Labour MPs.

Instead, Cooper unveiled plans for five government-backed local inquiries - to be held in Oldham and four other area yet to be named.

She also announced a "rapid" three-month audit, led by Baroness Casey, into the data and evidence on the nature and scale of group-based child sexual abuse.

That report is expected to be published on Monday and Cooper is set to address the findings of the review in Parliament.

For months, the prime minister has faced criticism for not being willing to set up a national inquiry, with the Conservatives claiming they had forced him into a U-turn.

Shadow Chancellor Sir Mel Stride told the Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme that the decision to launch the inquiry should have happened "far, far earlier".

Chancellor Rachel Reeves defended the decision to launch a national inquiry, telling the programme on Sunday that ministers "never dismissed the concerns of victims" of grooming gangs.

US singer Chris Brown has kicked off his UK tour in Manchester, days before he is due back in court after being arrested in the city last month.

The Grammy-winning star performed to thousands of fans at Manchester's Co-op Live arena on Sunday, with a string of stadium dates to follow in other cities.

On Friday, he will appear in court in London for the latest hearing after he was charged with grievous bodily harm over an alleged assault in a nightclub in 2023. The 36-year-old, who is free on £5m bail, has not yet been asked to enter a plea.

"Thank you for coming and supporting me," he said to fans in Manchester. "And thank you to the jail," he joked. "It was really nice."

A video montage was shown of his career highs and lows, including brief clips of TV news footage from outside the Manchester court after he was arrested, which was met by a supportive roar from his loyal fans.

The star is accused of inflicting an "unprovoked attack" on a music producer with a tequila bottle at a nightclub in London while on his last UK tour in 2023.

He was arrested when he returned to the country a month ago, when detectives from London's Metropolitan Police travelled to the hotel in which he was staying in Salford, Greater Manchester.

He was held in custody for almost a week, before being released after agreeing to pay a £5m security fee to the court.

A security fee is a financial guarantee to ensure a defendant returns to court. Mr Brown could be asked to forfeit the money if he breaches bail conditions.

However, the judge agreed that the singer could go ahead with his tour as part of his bail conditions, and he played the first night in Amsterdam last weekend.

The singer's Breezy Bowl XX tour is marking 20 years in the music industry. He has had 19 singles in the UK top 10 over that time, including number one hits Turn Up The Music and Freaky Friday.

Last week, he won the prize for best male R&B/pop artist at the BET Awards in Los Angeles.

After performing a second night in Manchester on Monday, he will move on to Cardiff's Principality Stadium on Thursday.

He will then appear at court on Friday with his co-defendant, Omololu Akinlolu, a 38-year-old who performs under the name HoodyBaby, also from the US.

After the hearing, Mr Brown is scheduled to play at London's Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday and Sunday, before further stadium shows in Birmingham and Glasgow, and two more arena dates in Manchester.

Big Zuu drops a 'siuuu'

Welcome to Manchester, Carlos

Record-breaker Rooney

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Rachel Reeves has insisted ministers "never dismissed the concerns of victims" of grooming gangs, as she defended the decision to launch a national inquiry after months of pressure.

The chancellor said Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was focused on victims "and not grandstanding".

Sir Keir has faced criticism for resisting calls for such an inquiry, with the Conservatives claiming they forced him into a U-turn.

Former detective Maggie Oliver, who resigned from Greater Manchester Police over the way grooming cases were handled in Rochdale, said the Conservatives and Labour had both been "dragged kicking and screaming to this point".

The prime minister said on Saturday he had read an independent report into child sexual exploitation by Baroness Louise Casey and would accept her recommendation for an inquiry, covering England and Wales.

The report is expected to be published on Monday and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is set to address the findings of the review in Parliament.

At the start of the year, the government dismissed calls for a national inquiry.

Sir Keir and other ministers argued the issue had already been examined in a seven-year inquiry led by Professor Alexis Jay.

Appearing on the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, Reeves was asked whether the prime minister had been wrong to initially resist the idea.

She replied: "We've never dismissed the concerns of victims. These are the most important people in those discussions."

Reeves said the government had been focused on implementing the recommendations of Professor Jay's review.

"But the prime minister wanted to assure himself he was doing everything that was necessary, which is why he asked Baroness Casey to do this rapid review," she added.

When asked if Sir Keir had changed his mind on the need for a national inquiry, Reeves replied: "Our prime minister has always been really focused on the victims, and not grandstanding but actually doing the practical things to ensure something like this never happens again."

Ms Oliver said the inquiry was "an important step on the journey to change" and that Baroness Casey's report would "lift the lid on what has been going on".

But she said Labour and the Conservatives had "equally failed" to confront the issue of grooming gangs, so "won't get a single bit of thanks" from her.

"For me, I can only look at them with contempt, because I see on the ground the suffering that their neglect has caused," she added.

Appearing on the same programme, shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride said the decision to launch the inquiry should have happened "far, far earlier".

He said the Conservatives had been "calling for this for many, many months" and accused Sir Keir of dismissing their concerns as "some kind of far-right bandwagon".

"That was the wrong response," Stride said. "This is just another example of the prime minister being pressurised by us into U-turning."

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) said it was pleased the prime minister accepted the recommendations of Baroness Casey's report.

But the charity's chief executive Chris Sherwood said "a national inquiry into abuse by organised networks must not delay urgent action on child sexual abuse that is long overdue".

He said survivors had already waited more than two years for the recommendations from Professor Jay's report to be implemented.

Professor Jay's inquiry found institutional failings, with tens of thousands of victims across England and Wales.

The seven-year investigation concluded child sexual abuse was "epidemic" across the two nations and made 20 recommendations in the final report published in 2022.

The grooming gangs issue was thrust into the spotlight at the start of this year, fuelled partly by tech billionaire Elon Musk, who criticised Sir Keir for not calling a national inquiry.

A row between the two centred on high-profile cases where groups of men, mainly of Pakistani descent, were convicted of sexually abusing and raping predominantly young white girls in towns such as Rotherham and Rochdale.

In January, the government stopped short of launching a statutory national inquiry into grooming gangs, despite the idea receiving support from some Labour MPs.

The statutory inquiry now backed by the prime minister will be able to compel witnesses to provide evidence.

The government has already announced plans for five local inquiries, to be held in Oldham and four other areas yet to be named.

A senior government source said the national inquiry would "co-ordinate a series of targeted local investigations".

Are you missing the drama of The Traitors? Fear not because the New Zealand version drops on BBC Three and iPlayer on Monday.

But that's not all the next seven days have in store.

Yungblud’s new album is out, 28 Years Later is released in UK cinemas, gaming fans have Date Everything to look forward to, and Benson Boone is also dropping a new album.

Read on for what's coming up this week...

Your next Traitors fix

This Monday, we’re gearing up to watch 22 New Zealanders lie, cheat and betray their way to winning up to $100,000 (£44,000).

That’s right, it’s time for series two of The Traitors NZ, filmed at Claremont Manor at the foot of Mount Horrible (no, really).

As with the British version, the show is a study in human nature, as alliances form early on, and suspicions run rife.

The series already aired in NZ, with the New Zealand Herald saying it could be “the reality TV hit of the year”.

But one thing it doesn’t have is Claudia Winkleman and her epic wardrobe.

Instead, it's hosted by New Zealand broadcaster Paul Henry. Don’t worry, his outfits are just as fabulous.

Yungblud's shackles are off

Yungblud, the chart-topping singer who set up his own festival, is dropping his new album Idols on Friday.

I was lucky enough to see him at a party in central London recently, where I got a sneak preview of the new album - a blend of his signature pop-punk and emotional depth.

The 27-year-old artist - whose real name is Dominic Richard Harrison - was there alongside Florence Pugh, who stars in the music video for one of his new songs, Zombie.

He said the new record, made in the north of England with his best mates, was his "most ambitious and exciting music to date".

Yungblud is known for his committed young fanbase and, with his new album, he's said he wants to make that community even bigger.

Harking back to the sounds of Queen and David Bowie, he told my colleague Mark Savage that it would "reclaim the good chords" (Asus4 and Em7, in case you're wondering). "The shackles are off," he said.

28 Years Later hits cinemas

By Alex Taylor, culture reporter

Batten down the hatches and don't make a sound - this week sees director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland unleash 28 Years Later.

It's a long-awaited return for the UK-based zombie horror series that first infected audiences in 2002 with 28 Days Later.

The protagonist, 12-year-old Spike (Alfie Williams), lives with his parents Jamie (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) and Isla (Jodie Comer). He's only ever known life on an island connected to the quarantined British mainland by a single, heavily defended causeway.

I've seen a sneak preview, and while I can't say much, the trademark realism and unrelenting tension persists. Fans of The Last of Us will love this.

As for those fan theories sparked by the trailer? Despite speculation that Cillian Murphy appears as a zombie, Boyle has confirmed to IGN that the Oscar-winner, who made his name in the original film, will only reprise his role as Jim in the next instalment - already shot and due for release next year.

Objects of affection

By Tom Richardson, Newsbeat reporter

It is perhaps not so surprising that a video game created by two veteran voice actors opens with the main character at risk of losing their job to AI.

But where Date Everything! goes next is somewhat more unexpected.

Players don a pair of high-tech glasses called "Dateviators" that turn household objects including fridges, doors and lamps into potential love interests.

Creators Robbie Daymond (Critical Role) and Ray Chase (X-Men '97, Jujutsu Kaisen) obviously raided their contact books, as each item is brought to life in the form of a human cartoon avatar created by a star from the worlds of gaming and anime.

In a bit of fortuitous timing, this celebration of their craft arrives on consoles and PCs from Tuesday, just days after a months-long video game acting strike was suspended.

Flip out over Benson Boone's new album

By Mark Savage, music correspondent

King of the backflip Benson Boone had the most-streamed track in the world last year with Beautiful Things - earning enough money to buy his first house - but now he's ready to move on.

"I'm getting to the point where I just want people to know that there's more than just that song," he told Rolling Stone earlier this year.

The results have been mixed. His comeback single Sorry I'm Here For Someone Else, a propulsive new wave anthem, peaked at number 20 in the UK charts, while Beautiful Things still continued to remain stubbornly lodged in the top 10.

But his new album, American Heart, is worth your attention. The title track is a widescreen anthem about a near-fatal car accident he got into as a teenager; Mr Electric Blue is a spirited tribute to his dad (featuring the lyric, "Watch the way you talk to me/If you want to keep your two front teeth"); and the second single Mystical Magical features a falsetto so ridiculous its almost endearing.

Repackaging the sounds of Queen and Elton John for the TikTok generation, it's efficient and catchy – though I'd avoid the saccharine Momma Song if you have an aversion to schmaltz.

Other highlights this week

• Untold Legends: Hedy Lamarr drops on the BBC World Service on Monday
• Gianni Versace Retrospective opens at Arches London Bridge on Monday
• Supersonic, a documentary about Oasis, is re-released in a limited number of cinemas on Monday
• Royal Academy Summer Exhibition opens on Tuesday
• Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, series two, drops on Netflix on Wednesday
• Sheffield DocFest starts on Wednesday
• Heston: My Life with Bipolar is released on BBC Two and iPlayer on Thursday
• The Isle of Wight Festival starts on Thursday
• Haim's new album, I Quit, drops on Friday
• Grenfell: Uncovered is released on Netflix on Friday

A person has suffered serious injuries after an "incident" involving a vehicle at a multi-storey car park at London Luton Airport, police said.

Emergency services were called to the car park shortly before 11:00 BST.

Bedfordshire Police said their officers, ambulance and fire crews are still on the scene.

The force urged any witnesses to contact them.

Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.

Doctors in India say 270 bodies have been recovered from the site of Thursday's plane crash in Ahmedabad.

The London-bound aircraft crashed into a residential area shortly after take-off killing all but one of the 242 passengers, a 40-year-old British man.

Officials have been trying to establish how many people were killed on the ground and have been continuing the slow process of matching DNA samples to confirm the victims' identities.

Vigils honouring the dead have taken place across India and the UK.

The company building the HS2 rail line between London and Birmingham has reported one of its subcontractors to the tax authorities over possible fraud.

Whistleblowers made allegations over the way pay was handled for some construction staff on the high-speed line.

HS2 Ltd said last month it was conducting its own investigation, looking into two firms who supplied it with workers. The company has now also referred the matter to HMRC.

The firms in question were providing workers to Balfour Beatty Vinci (BBV), a contractor for HS2.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander is expected to raise the issue in Parliament this week. It is the latest difficulty to beset the troubled giant rail infrastructure project.

HS2 has faced myriad challenges and spiralling costs since it was first announced in 2009.

It was originally designed to boost capacity on the railways between the north and south of England but the last, Conservative, government decided to scrap the second phase of the project, which included building lines to Manchester and Leeds.

Earlier this year whistleblowers flagged concerns over the way some subcontracted staff were being paid. They said self-employed workers had been falsely declared as salaried staff, with "fake" payslips submitted at a higher payrate. The allegations were first published in the i newspaper in May.

One of the labour suppliers is understood to remain suspended from new contracts while inquiries continue.

An HS2 spokesperson said: "We treat all whistleblower allegations seriously and are continuing to conduct our own investigation."

The firm said it encouraged anyone with relevant information to report it via confidential internal channels.

The Department for Transport said last month it had "a zero-tolerance attitude towards fraud, bribery, and corruption" and would ensure any claims of wrongdoing were thoroughly investigated.

Large asylum seeker sites like Wethersfield air base in Essex are set to be expanded under plans to end the use of asylum hotels, the BBC can reveal.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves pledged to stop using taxpayer-funded hotels by 2029 in her Spending Review, saying this would save £1bn.

One of the ways the Home Office hopes to achieve this is by moving asylum seekers from hotels into cheaper alternative forms of accommodation.

Sir Keir Starmer pledged to close the Wethersfield asylum facility during last year's election campaign, but the BBC understands that site and another in Huddersfield are among those under consideration for extensions.

A Home Office spokesperson said the government was "making strong strides to deliver a more sustainable and cost-effective asylum accommodation system".

"This includes ending the use of hotels, testing new locally-led models, and working closely with local authorities and other departments to ensure a fairer, more efficient approach," they added.

"Our use of any property or Home Office-owned site will be used in line with the permissions set by planning permissions."

The taxpayer cost of asylum hotels has rocketed in recent years, with total accommodation contracts now set to be worth £15.3bn over a 10-year period.

But while extending large sites might be cheaper, the move is likely to anger local residents and refugee rights groups.

In April last year, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the Wethersfield site couldn't be "seen as either a sustainable solution for housing asylum seekers nor value for money for the taxpayer".

Conservative MP Sir James Cleverly, whose Braintree constituency includes Wethersfield, said the existing cap on the number of people living at the facility "was there to protect the safety and security" of constituents, and "those working at and living on the site".

Sir James, who became home secretary shortly after the first asylum seekers moved into Wethersfield, said the government plan to potentially expand the site was "disgraceful and shows just how out of touch they are with the concerns of local communities".

In March, the High Court found the previous Conservative government's use of Wethersfield to house asylum seekers was unlawful, after three men argued they were living in "prison-like" conditions.

The former RAF base has been housing asylum seekers since 2023. It has a current capacity of 800, but is thought to house closer to 500 people at present.

The Home Office contract for the base is held by Clearsprings, whose founder Graham King recently became a billionaire, according to the Sunday Times rich list.

The Helen Bamber Foundation, a human rights groups, has previously said that accommodating people at the base causes harm to their physical and mental health.

Kamena Dorling, the group's director of policy, told the BBC that Wethersfield "should be closed immediately, not extended".

She said: "Housing people, including survivors of torture and trafficking, in an isolated, overcrowded camp reminiscent of an open-air prison, with inadequate healthcare and legal services, is an inhumane way to treat those seeking protection."

Savings target

A pair of former student accommodation blocks in Huddersfield, acquired by the Home Office last year, could also be extended.

The buildings, constructed in 2019, have a current capacity of 650 but have never been occupied because of safety concerns.

Any extensions to asylum seeker accommodation would be paid for using money earmarked for investment from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, meaning it could be borrowed without falling foul of the chancellor's strict spending rules.

Home Office figures released last month show that as of March, there were about 100,000 asylum seekers in government-funded accommodation, with about 32,000 of those in hotels.

Cooper hopes to end the use of hotels by reducing small boat crossings, speeding up the asylum application process and moving people into alternative accommodation.

Following the chancellor's Spending Review, there had been some confusion over what that alternative accommodation might be.

Chief secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones told BBC Newsnight the government would be "upgrading current facilities, which will include some extensions".

But on Thursday, the prime minister's official spokesman refused to comment on whether new accommodation would be built.

A senior Home Office source has now confirmed to the BBC that while there were no plans for entirely new accommodation blocks, extensions of current facilities will be built and other existing accommodation such as unused student blocks will be rented.

The £1bn saving which the chancellor said would come from reducing hotel use has already been taken out of the Home Office budget.

The Home Office has a new target for how much additional asylum accommodation needs to be created to help achieve the saving, but that exact figure is unknown.

The BBC understands that moving around 14,000 asylum seekers from hotels into other forms of accommodation would likely achieve a saving of £1bn.

A senior Home Office source said they were "confident" they could save the required money, but acknowledged that failing to hit the target would force the department to ask Reeves for more funding to avoid having to make cuts elsewhere.

The number of asylum seekers in hotels is far lower than the record figure in 2023, but has increased since Labour came to power last year.

The latest statistics go up to March and therefore don't take into account the knock-on effect of increased small boat crossings in the months since.

The UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has advised against all travel to Israel amid an escalation in the country's military activity with Iran.

The advice, which covers Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, means travel insurance could be invalidated if individuals do not follow it.

It comes as missiles have been launched by both countries in recent days with Israeli airspace remaining closed.

"The situation has the potential to deteriorate further, quickly and without warning," the FCDO said.