George Wright

Parents receiving and paying child maintenance tell BBC Panorama that failures by the Child Maintenance Service have caused financial hardship, anxiety and severe stress. Mothers describe unpaid arrears, reliance on food banks and ineffective enforcement, while fathers report calculation errors, incorrect account records and escalating bills. The Department for Work and Pensions says the service successfully arranges payments in most cases, acknowledges that some cases have been mishandled and points to modernization efforts. The government plans to move all parents to the Collect and Pay system and reduce fees, following criticism from a House of Lords report.

Liechtenstein has changed its royal succession rules from male primogeniture to absolute primogeniture, meaning the first-born child will inherit the throne regardless of sex. The reform will not alter the current succession because Hereditary Prince Alois remains the heir; it applies to descendants of Alois and Hereditary Princess Sophie. The change was announced on Liechtenstein’s national day and follows the United Kingdom’s 2011 reform allowing first-born daughters to inherit the throne.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected Donald Trump's 15-point Gaza plan, insisting that Israel will not withdraw its forces until Hamas is genuinely and completely disarmed. Hamas said it remains committed to the agreement but tied the surrender of heavy weapons to an end to Israeli attacks and a withdrawal from Gaza. Trump-appointed diplomat Nickolay Mladenov defended the plan as a phased, verifiable process and urged Israel to give it a chance. Netanyahu faces pressure from far-right coalition partners to take a harder line, while the war has displaced about 1.9 million people and killed more than 73,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry.

Boris Nadezhdin, a Russian anti-war politician who was barred from challenging Vladimir Putin in the 2024 presidential election, says he has fled Russia after being designated a foreign agent. Speaking from Paris, he said he was alive and free and would later explain his plans. Nadezhdin had intended to run in September's parliamentary elections but abandoned the campaign after the designation and an extremist-symbols charge linked to an image of Alexei Navalny. His earlier presidential campaign called for ending the war in Ukraine and restoring relations with the West, but Russian authorities rejected his candidacy over disputed signatures. The report says Russia's political opposition is increasingly constrained, with prominent figures jailed, exiled or dead, while Putin is positioned to remain in power until 2036.

Russian anti-war politician Boris Nadezhdin says he has left Russia after being designated a foreign agent and facing an extremism-related charge. He was previously barred from challenging Vladimir Putin in the 2024 presidential election and later forced to abandon a parliamentary campaign. From Paris, Nadezhdin said he was alive and free but needed to decide what to do next. His departure highlights the shrinking space for credible opposition in Russia, where leading dissenters are increasingly jailed, exiled or dead.

A magnitude 6.8–7.1 earthquake struck Kumamoto prefecture on Japan’s Kyushu island, killing at least 13 people and leaving others missing or trapped beneath collapsed structures. The Aeon Mall suffered a collapse and deaths, while a chimney at Nippon Paper Industries’ Yatsushiro plant also collapsed. More than 100 aftershocks followed, roads and a footbridge were damaged, electricity was cut to tens of thousands of households, and railway services were suspended. The Japan Meteorological Agency warned that strong earthquakes could continue, while an initial tsunami warning was lifted within two hours.

A magnitude 6.8–7.1 earthquake struck Kumamoto prefecture on Japan’s Kyushu island, killing at least 13 people and leaving others missing or in cardiopulmonary arrest. Rescue teams are searching collapsed areas at Aeon Mall and Nippon Paper Industries’ Yatsushiro plant, while damage has also affected Kumamoto Castle, roads, a footbridge and rail services. More than 100 aftershocks followed, tens of thousands of households lost power, and the Japan Meteorological Agency warned of potentially severe earthquakes over the next several days. A tsunami warning issued after the quake was lifted within two hours.

David Willey, a longtime BBC foreign and Vatican correspondent, has died at 93 after a career spanning more than 50 years reporting from Algeria, Vietnam, China and especially Rome, where he covered five papacies and became a leading expert on Vatican affairs. He was awarded an OBE, wrote a book on Pope Francis and continued working into his nineties. Colleagues praised his authority, generosity and storytelling, recalling his coverage of major events including the 1981 assassination attempt on John Paul II and the signing of the Treaty of Rome. Willey died of heart failure in Italy, where he had lived for decades.

Prince Harry met bereaved military children at a charity festival in Warwickshire, discussing how he copes with grief, stress and anniversaries related to his mother’s death. He highlighted exercise, nature and shared traditions as ways of managing difficult emotions and encouraged the children to talk openly about their feelings. The visit concluded his UK trip, which included a private reunion with the King and Queen and followed legal setbacks, including the loss of a High Court claim involving the Daily Mail’s publisher.

Prince Harry spoke with bereaved military children in Warwickshire about coping with grief, marking his mother’s anniversaries and using exercise to manage stress. The visit concluded his UK trip, which included a private family reunion with the King and Queen. His return also coincided with losing a High Court claim over alleged unlawful information gathering.

An Israeli drone strike on a car in southern Lebanon killed four people, including a headteacher, in the deadliest attack since last month’s ceasefire. Israel said the vehicle posed a threat near a security zone, while Lebanon reported that the victims were returning from a family visit. The strike occurred amid continued tensions despite a renewed truce backed by the United States, with thousands killed and more than a million displaced since hostilities began. Parts of southern Lebanon remain under Israeli occupation with no timeline for withdrawal.

George Cottrell, a long‑time ally of Nigel Farage and a convicted fraudster, is under scrutiny after reports that he provided undeclared support to Farage before his election as a Reform UK MP. The support allegedly included security, social‑media assistance, and financial benefits. Reform UK denies any rules were broken, arguing the help was personal and pre‑election. Cottrell’s background includes aristocratic ties, work in cryptocurrency ventures, and an eight‑month US prison sentence following an FBI sting. His close involvement with Farage continued through the 2024 election campaign. Questions also remain over a separate £5m gift to Farage from billionaire Christopher Harborne, which is under investigation by the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner.

George Cottrell, a convicted fraudster and long‑time associate of Nigel Farage, is under scrutiny after reports that he provided undeclared support to Farage ahead of the 2024 election. The assistance allegedly included social‑media staffing, security and travel, which parliamentary rules may have required Farage to register. Reform UK denies any wrongdoing, arguing the support was personal and pre‑dated Farage’s election. Cottrell’s background includes aristocratic family ties, a fraud conviction in the US and involvement in crypto‑linked ventures. His longstanding personal and political relationship with Farage included arranging staff, negotiating media deals and funding travel. Parliamentary authorities are separately investigating a large gift to Farage from billionaire Christopher Harborne. Farage rejects allegations of rule‑breaking and dismisses the reporting as politically motivated.

Germany’s domestic intelligence service reported a sharp rise in far-right extremists, reaching 58,700, with thousands considered potentially violent. The increase is linked partly to the growth of the AfD, which remains under scrutiny as a suspected extremist organization. Intelligence threats primarily stem from Russia, China, and Iran, while left-wing extremism and Islamist extremism also rose. Officials warned of potential unrest surrounding upcoming AfD events as the party gains electoral momentum in eastern regions.

Germany’s domestic intelligence service reports a sharp rise in far-right extremism, identifying nearly 60,000 individuals, including 5,600 deemed prone to violence. The increase is attributed in part to the growth of the AfD, which remains classified as a suspected extremist organisation despite court challenges. Intelligence threats from Russia, China and Iran persist, while left-wing extremism and Islamist activity also show increases. Officials warn of potential unrest surrounding upcoming AfD events, and note growing far-right efforts to recruit youth, including through music events. The report highlights continued influence of conspiracy narratives among far‑right groups, including Reichsbürger and Selbstverwalter movements.