Economy

Amid a deadly war in Gaza, new lives begin. But newborn babies and those still in the womb are among the worst hit by the harsh conditions.

With acute shortages of food, the UN says that one in 10 new babies is underweight or premature. There has also been an increase in miscarriages, stillbirths and congenital abnormalities.

At Nasser hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis, Malak Brees, now seven months pregnant, fears the Israeli bombings and evacuation orders, and losing her baby.

"I'm frightened that I could have a premature birth at any time and that my amniotic fluid isn't enough for the baby to grow in," she tells the BBC.

Malak did not expect to conceive her second child. Six weeks ago, she lost a lot of amniotic fluid, putting her baby in danger.

"The doctors told me it was due to malnutrition and exhaustion… They told me it was in the hands of God – the foetus could survive or die."

Residents are calling for urgent repair work to be carried out on a canal bridge which is in an "appalling" state.

Lower Hempsted Bridge in Gloucestershire provides pedestrian access over the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal but the tarmac on the structure is wearing away and exposing the wooden foundations. It is currently closed for safety reasons.

The Hempsted Residents Association has been urging the Canal and River Trust and Gloucestershire County Council to take action and repair the bridge, but they said no work has been done yet.

In a statement, the Canal and River Trust said it has approached the county council to discuss the repairs required.

A man has been charged with murder following a fatal stabbing.

Emergency services were called to a property on Davies Road in Longhedge, Salisbury at 07:52 BST on Saturday, where 52-year-old Darren Hughes was found deceased.

Alfie Miller, 21, of Willow Drive in Durrington, has been charged with his murder. He has been remanded in custody and will appear at Swindon Magistrates' Court on Monday.

His family are being supported by specialist officers, Wiltshire Police said.

Police cordons outside of the property have been removed but a spokesperson for Wiltshire Police said a continued police presence will remain in the area for several days.

Nests for up to 1,050 kittiwakes could be installed at a landmark hotel as part of efforts to limit noise and mess from the birds.

A council-funded study identified the terrace of Scarborough's Grand Hotel as a "highly suitable" location to house a series of artificial nesting structures (ANS).

It was one of four sites inspected by an ornithologist as part of ongoing work aimed at managing the impact of the town's kittiwake population.

Members of North Yorkshire Council's Scarborough and Whitby area committee are set to discuss the findings at a meeting on Friday.

Earlier this year the council drafted a new strategy aimed at addressing issues around noise, mess and aggressive behaviour by sea birds in the town – of which kittiwakes are thought to be the "most abundant".

As part if the study, four sites were inspected – Star Map in South Cliff Gardens, the derelict concrete chalets, and the Old Bathing Building.

The report found the Grand Hotel's terrace to be "the most significant" location, describing it as an "almost perfect ecological site" due to its "close proximity to existing nesting colonies and its orientation towards the sea".

It said the hotel's terrace presented a "maximum design opportunity" for an artificial nesting structure with up to 1,050 nesting spaces, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, though said such sites "may only ever be 50 to 60 per cent occupied when fully colonised".

It was also noted that the structures "do not need to be elaborate or expensive" and could be as simple as a series of purpose-made shelving, made from marine ply or other durable wood and supported by a steel structure.

The report added that the installation of ANS in the town "represents an opportunity beyond just re-locating numbers of breeding Kittiwake" and could lead to an approach problems caused by the birds which "considers both the needs of local residents and businesses and the support of wild bird populations".

A man has been jailed for a series of sexual assaults on a boy.

In March, Stephen Mitchell, 67, of Northstead Flats, Scarborough, admitted six charges, including raping the boy on five occasions, four counts of indecency with a child, and one charge of indecent assault against a child.

The offences, dating back to the 1990s, began when the boy was of primary school-age, and continued for a number of years.

Appearing at York Crown Court on Tuesday, Mitchell was jailed for10 years and nine months, and issued with an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

The court case detailed the course of the abuse, which began with Mitchell grooming the primary school-aged victim by buying him food and allowing him to watch cartoons with him on satellite TV.

He then began to show the victim pornographic films, which was followed by Mitchell performing sex acts on himself in front of the child. Mitchell's activity then escalated to inciting the boy to reciprocate.

The abuse continued over a period of years, with Mitchell threatening to abuse another, younger, child if his victim told anyone.

In a personal impact statement, his victim, now an adult, addressed Mitchell directly.

"You no longer control me, and you cannot destroy me or my family," he said.

"I am closer to my family than I have ever been and can enjoy a life outside work.

The statement recalled how the victim has "used work as a tool – to push my thoughts and feelings to the back of my mind – and worked long, long hours".

"No more. I can now enjoy a life where you have no power. I have come through this as a much stronger person.

"I will never forgive you Mitchell – the gates of hell are waiting for you."

'Depraved abuse'

Police Staff Investigator Anne Yates said: "Mitchell has shown no remorse for the horrific abuse that he inflicted on an innocent child.

"The victim has shown immense courage in coming forward and providing the evidence that gave Mitchell no option but to plead guilty."

She said no child should experience the trauma this victim had had to endure over a prolonged period of time.

"But he has come through this strong, and with hope for the future, which is truly admirable.

"I hope he continues to move on with his life, putting this trauma behind him, knowing that Mitchell is now facing the consequences of his depraved abuse."

A motorcyclist has died after his Yamaha motorcycle crashed.

The rider, aged in his 20s, reportedly collided with a bollard on Droxford Road, Bournemouth, at about 22:40 BST on Tuesday Dorset Police said.

He was pronounced dead at the scene. The force said the man's next of kin had been informed and were being supported by specialist officers.

Dorset Police said officers were continuing to carry out a detailed investigation to establish the full circumstances of what happened.

Witnesses or drivers who may have relevant dashcam footage are being urged to come forward.

A 94-year-old woman has been seriously injured after being hit by a car on Merseyside.

The pedestrian was struck by a black Mini Cooper Countryman car on St Albans Road, Wallasey, Wirral at about 12:25 BST, Merseyside Police said.

She was taken to hospital where she is being treated for her injuries.

The 89-year-old driver of the car stopped at the scene and has been helping officers with their inquiries, the force said.

One lane of St Albans Road has been closed while investigations are carried out to establish what happened.

Stewart Gardiner has been elected as the leader of the opposition Conservative group on Cheshire East Council.

He succeeds Janet Clowes, who has led the Tories since 2019, following her decision to stand down as leader following a period of ill health. She will continue to serve as a councillor.

Liz Wardlaw has been named as Gardiner's deputy.

Cheshire East Council is led by a coalition of the Labour and Independent groups.

"Both Stewart and Liz are committed to robustly holding this failing administration to account over the year ahead and are looking forward to setting out their positive vision for the future of Cheshire East," the new leadership group said in a statement.

Clowes said she decided to step down after being rushed to hospital in March and taking six weeks off to recover.

"In consultation with my husband and sons," she said, "I have decided that this is an opportune moment to step back from the roller-coaster that is inherent in any form of political leadership and that has marked our lives as a family for the past six years.

"In short, to take stock and reset what has been a frenetic work-life balance."

Firefighters have announced they will be paying tribute to their "colleague and friend" over the weekend.

In a Facebook post, Bicester Fire Station invited the community to show support to Jennie Logan, who was one of the three victims of the devastating blaze at Bicester Motion on 15 May.

Two other firefighters suffered serious injuries – one remains in hospital in a stable condition and the other has been discharged.

The post says the cortege will take place at 10:00 BST on Saturday and will travel from Banbury Road in the town to the fire station on Queen's Avenue, where a minute's silence will be held.

Ms Logan, 30, was killed in the blaze that engulfed a hangar at Bicester Motion alongside her colleague Martyn Sadler, 38, and father-of-two Dave Chester, 57.

Thames Valley Police said police, fire and Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation work at the scene had concluded and it had been handed back to the site operator.

The force said it was still being treated as an unexplained death investigation.

Paying tribute after the fire, the family of Ms Logan said her "bravery and fearlessness shone through right until the end".

The family of Mr Sadler, who previously worked for Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) and was also part of London Fire Brigade, said being a firefighter was "always in his blood", adding that he was "the true definition of a hero".

Mr Chester's family described him as "Bicester born and bred" with a "quirky sense of humour".

Bicester Motion is home to more than 50 specialist businesses, focused on classic car restoration and engineering on the former site of RAF Bicester.

Bicester Fire Station said road closures would be in place from 09:30 BST to support the funeral procession.

The route will be lined with firefighters and emergency service partners.

The service added that people's presence "will mean so much to us and Jennie's family and friends".

"We thank you for your patience and understanding as we honour our colleague," the Facebook post added.

Drivers inhaling nitrous oxide from balloons is a "massive problem" in parts of Bradford, councillors have heard.

A meeting of the council's Corporate Scrutiny Committee was also told that car parks in the district had become "hot spots" for the use of the substance, more commonly known as "laughing gas".

Abuse of the gas, which was classified as a Class C drug in 2023, criminalising its possession for recreational use, was becoming popular with young women too, the committee heard.

Councillor Sirferaz Saddiq, of the Bradford Independents Group, told the meeting some fatal car crashes in recent years had involved drivers inhaling nitrous oxide, and asked: "Are we doing anything about that?"

Labour councillor Nazam Azam, chair of the committee, said: "I could take you to two or three car parks an evening and you would see it openly used.

"I know there are a lot of pressures on police, but I was told that when it was made illegal, it would be clamped down on, but it hasn't."

Azam also said: "It is not only young men using these balloons, it is across the board. I often see young women driving with balloons."

Saddiq added: "It is a massive problem in my area."

'Effect on health'

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Insp Nick Haigh, of West Yorkshire Police, told the meeting that while it was illegal to possess or distribute nitrous oxide to inhale, it was legal to possess it for some purposes, such as catering.

Labour councillor Kamran Hussain, executive for safer communities, said Bradford's Alcohol and Drugs Partnership was working "extremely hard" on the issue of laughing gas.

"We are letting people know the effect it is having on their health. We're telling young people the harm it can do them," he said.

Insp Haigh agreed that it was also a "priority" for the police.

As part of the meeting, the committee received an update on road safety and casualty figures.

Members were told that accident figures were down slightly, but the number of people killed or seriously injured on Bradford's roads had increased.

West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds