President Joe Biden faces new questions over his candidacy in the November election – with his campaign events currently on pause due to a Covid-19 infection.

The top two Democrats in the US Congress, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, are both reported to have met him individually to express concerns over his bid for the White House.

Nancy Pelosi, the former House Speaker, has also privately told him that he cannot beat Donald Trump in November’s election, according to CNN.

Mr Biden’s re-election attempt was already being buffeted by growing dissent among top Democrats after his disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump last month.

Announcing his Covid infection on Wednesday, Mr Biden’s press secretary said the 81-year-old was facing mild symptoms.

He would isolate at his home in Delaware while carrying out “all of his duties fully”, said Karine Jean-Pierre. She added that the president was vaccinated and boosted. He has tested positive for Covid twice before.

Mr Biden was seen earlier in the day visiting supporters in Las Vegas and speaking at an event. He was forced to cancel a speech later in the day at UnidosUS, a Latino civil rights organisation.

It marked a sudden and debilitating end to a trip that was supposed to see Mr Biden hitting the campaign trail again with full force – after the pause sparked by the attempted assassination of his rival Trump.

The president had spent time in Las Vegas trying to revive his appeal among Hispanic voters, with whom his poll lead has slipped since 2020.

Later on Wednesday, he was seen moving slowly and cautiously up the steps to Air Force One. He was not wearing a mask. As he boarded the plane, he was heard to say: “Good, I feel good.”

Mr Biden has faced growing calls to withdraw from the election race in recent weeks.

During their separate private meetings with Mr Biden which took place last week, Mr Schumer and Mr Jeffries expressed concerns that his presence at the top of the November election ticket could hurt their chances for controlling either chamber in Congress, according to multiple reports.

After the reports, White House spokesman Andrew Bates said: “The president told both leaders he is the nominee of the party, he plans to win, and looks forward to working with both of them to pass his 100 days agenda to help working families.”

• Can Biden be replaced as nominee? It’s not easy

A spokesman for Mr Jeffries said, “it was a private conversation that will remain private”. Mr Schumer’s office called the reporting “idle speculation” but added the Democratic leader “conveyed the views of his caucus directly to President Biden”.

Ms Pelosi, too, is said by CNN to have told the president in a recent conversation that polling suggested he could harm the Democrats’ chances of winning the House in November.

The president pushed back, at which point Ms Pelosi asked for input on key data from the president’s long-time adviser, according to CNN, which cited four sources briefed on the call.

It is not clear when the conversation took place. Ms Pelosi’s office told CNN she had not been in touch with the president since Friday.

About two dozen Democratic politicians have publicly called for Mr Biden to step aside in recent weeks, including Adam Schiff, a congressman from California who has called on Mr Biden to “pass the torch”.

Mr Schiff said Mr Biden “has been one of the most consequential presidents in our nation’s history”, and he could “secure his legacy of leadership” by allowing another Democrat to step forward.

In an interview with BET, Mr Biden said he did not feel he could pass the mantle with the country so “divided”.

The president also said, for the first time, that he would consider dropping out of the race if any of his doctors said he had a “medical condition”.

Before the announcement of Mr Biden’s infection on Wednesday, reporters on the Las Vegas trip said they had been rushed off the site of a campaign stop at a Mexican restaurant to the city’s airport following the announcement.

The restaurant had been ablaze with colour, with Mexican art and guitars hanging from the walls and banners draped from the ceiling. One wall was adorned with “Biden-Harris” posters.

As ceiling fans swirled on low speed and Latino pop played quietly from the speakers, Mr Biden walked in via the kitchen door – which was flanked by a Secret Service detail – and entered a main dining area.

He shook hands with diners – who had clearly been prepared some time in advance for his arrival – kissed one and had selfies taken with others.

The president seemed somewhat stiffer and appeared slower than the day before, when he had given an energised performance in a speech to a national civil rights group.

Commenting later in the day on his Covid infection, the president’s doctor Kevin O’Connor said Mr Biden had presented with upper respiratory symptoms, including a runny nose and a cough, and had been given his first dose of Paxlovid.

He felt fine during his first event of the day but later tested positive, Dr O’Connor said.

Mr Biden posted on X to thank everyone for “the well wishes” and said he would “work to get the job done for the American people” while in recovery.

In another post on his account, he stated: “I’m sick” before going on to write “… of Elon Musk and his rich buddies trying to buy this election. And if you agree, pitch in here”.

The tweet pointed to a donations portal.

• POLICIES: Where Biden and Trump stand on key issues
• AMERICAST: Listen to latest episode on Biden’s Covid and Vance’s speech
• GLOBAL: What Moscow and Beijing think of rematch
• ANALYSIS: Could US economy be doing too well?
• ALTERNATIVES: Who else is running for president in 2024?
• VOTERS: US workers in debt to buy groceries

North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher makes sense of the race for the White House in his weekly US Election Unspun newsletter. Readers in the UK can sign up here. Those outside the UK can sign up here.

Donald Trump’s vice-presidential pick JD Vance vowed in a primetime speech to fight for working-class Americans that he argued had been “cast aside and forgotten” by the Democrats.

Introducing himself to millions of Americans watching on TV at home, the Ohio senator channelled his humble roots in the Midwest as he assailed “career politicians” like President Joe Biden.

He argued in his address at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, that Trump was the “last best hope” for Americans.

Trump and his running mate will challenge the Democratic White House ticket, currently Mr Biden and his Vice-President, Kamala Harris, in November’s election.

Mr Biden’s account on X, formerly Twitter, hit back at Mr Vance on Wednesday night, over his positions on abortion and Ukraine.

Mr Vance, 39, is hoping to become one of the youngest vice-presidents in US history.

In the speech, he charted his journey from a difficult childhood in small-town Ohio to the US Marines, Yale Law School, and finally the US Senate.

The author of best-selling memoir Hillbilly Elegy, about his impoverished family in Appalachian coal country, said “America’s ruling class” had destroyed communities like his hometown with trade agreements and foreign wars.

“From Iraq to Afghanistan, from the financial crisis to the Great Recession, from open borders to stagnating wages, the people who govern this country have failed and failed again,” he said.

He continued: “Donald Trump represents America’s last best hope to restore what – if lost – may never be found again.

• Analysis: JD Vance recounts ‘hillbilly’ roots but shows hard political edge
• Vance’s ‘Hillbilly Elegy’ becomes political lightning rod
• Vance ‘can only go up’: Republican voters applaud VP pick
• Who is Usha Vance, lawyer and wife of Trump’s VP pick?

“A country where a working-class boy, born far from the halls of power, can stand on this stage.”

The running mate, who is married to Usha Vance, a lawyer and daughter of Indian immigrants, said the US had traditionally welcomed newcomers, but that it ought not to import foreign labour.

“When we allow newcomers, we allow them on our terms,” he said.

Mr Vance was previously an opponent of Trump, once dismissing the Republican as an “idiot” who could become “America’s Hitler”.

By then a venture capitalist in Silicon Valley, he later mended fences with Trump.

He won the former president’s endorsement and was elected to the Senate in 2022, taking office the following year.

Democrats have seized on some of Mr Vance’s past statements, including that he doesn’t “really care what happens to Ukraine” and support for a nationwide abortion ban.

He has recently moderated his stance on abortion to align with the official Republican platform, which says the issue should be decided by individual states.

He did not mention the war in Ukraine during his speech, or say much at all about foreign policy, which was the theme of the third day of the party conference.

Mr Vance did say that US allies must share in the burden of securing world peace and America would avoid conflict but “punch hard” if provoked under a second Trump presidency.

He began his speech by talking about last Saturday’s assassination attempt on Trump.

“They accused him of being a tyrant,” he said. “They said he must be stopped at all costs. But how did he respond? He called for national unity, for national calm.”

In the immediate aftermath of the attack, Mr Vance blamed it on Mr Biden’s rhetoric and his warnings that his Republican rival poses a threat to democracy.

Most Americans had little knowledge of him until Wednesday night.

A CNN poll conducted last month showed that 13% of registered voters said they had a favourable opinion of Mr Vance and 20% an unfavourable one – nearly two-thirds either had never heard of him or had no opinion.

Some convention-goers on Wednesday said they were still learning about his biography.

Cindy Dore and Jackie Canon, two Republican delegates from Louisiana, said they were excited by Trump’s pick.

“He’s young, vibrant,” Ms Dore said.

She said she appreciated Hillbilly Elegy, but other than that, she didn’t know a lot about Mr Vance.

The speeches began shortly after it was announced that President Biden had been diagnosed with Covid-19 and temporarily suspended campaign activities.

The climax of the Republican convention will be Donald Trump’s speech on Thursday night.

Chris Devine – an associate professor of politics at the University of Dayton and co-author of Do Running Mates Matter? – told the BBC that vice-presidential picks tend to have quite a small effect on the overall race.

“If it’s the case that people look at JD Vance and see him as insufficiently experienced, they will think less of Donald Trump and his judgement,” he says. “Not by a lot, but potentially on the margins.”

But Mr Devine also noted that Mr Vance is an “incredibly talented communicator” despite being a relative political newcomer.

Cambodia has welcomed 60 baby Siamese crocodiles – a hatching record for the endangered species in this century, conservationists say.

They have called it a “real sign of hope”, after more than 20 years of efforts to revive the reptile’s numbers in the remote Cardamom Mountains.

The olive green freshwater reptile has a distinct bony crest at the back of its head – by some estimates, it can grow up to 3m or nearly 10ft.

Locals discovered five nests in May and the baby crocs were born at the end of June, conservationists said on Thursday.

Siamese crocodiles were once widespread throughout much of South East Asia.

But decades of hunting and habitat loss have tuned them into what conservations classify as “critically endangered” species. There are just 400 of them left in the world – and most of those are in Cambodia.

Given their dwindling population in the wild, “the hatching of 60 new crocodiles is a tremendous boost,” said Pablo Sinovas, who leads the Cambodia programme of conservation group Fauna & Flora.

He added that this was hugely encouraging for “collaborative conservation efforts” – in this case the efforts have involved conservationists, local NGOs and the Cambodian government.

The crocs were feared to be extinct until they were rediscovered in Cambodia in 2000.

Mr Sinovas says it Fauna & Flora has since worked with local officials to set up a programme to breed them in captivity before releasing them into suitable habitats across the Cardamom Mountains.

Local community wardens patrol crisscross mountains in regular patrols to ensure that the crocodiles are safe after release.

Since 2012, the programme has successfully let 196 Siamaese crocs back into the wild.

In May locals discovered nests in an area where the crocodiles had not been released before, suggesting that the species have been breeding in their natural habitat.

The conservation team then dispatched people to make sure the nests were protected round the clock – until all the eggs hatched, bringing 60 baby Siamese crocs into the world.

The southern Indian state of Karnataka has paused a bill that mandated quotas for locals in private sector jobs after pushback from tech companies.

The state cabinet had approved the bill on Monday, triggering protests from top industrialists and opposition leaders.

The bill requires firms to reserve 70% of non-management and 50% of management jobs for locals.

On Wednesday, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the bill would be reviewed in the next cabinet meeting before any decision was made.

The announcement came a day after he posted on X (formerly Twitter) that the bill would reserve “100%” of jobs for Kannadigas (natives who speak Karnataka’s local language Kannada).

The post was widely shared on X and sparked criticism from business leaders.

Mr Siddaramaiah deleted his post after the state’s Labour Minister Santosh S Lad clarified that jobs could be “outsourced” if skill sets were not available locally.

“But the government is trying to bring in a law to give preference to locally available skills,” he said.

In India, for a bill passed by a state to become a law, it has to be approved by the state’s assembly and receive the governor’s assent.

The new quota bill is is still some way away from these steps – and might even go back to the drawing board – but it has already triggered widespread outrage.

Bengaluru (formerly Bangalore) city – which is the state’s capital – is home to several top global information-technology (IT) firms like Google and Infosys, as well as start-ups.

It also has many top IT and engineering colleges, making it the preferred destination for people looking to study or work in the tech sector.

Job seekers from all over India migrate to the city for work, making it one of the most cosmopolitan ones in India. But this has drawn outrage from some sections of the local population, who say that migrants are taking away their jobs.

However, industrialists fear that the new bill will dent the secular image of the city and rob it of talent.

India’s top technology association, the National Association of Software and Service Companies (Nasscom), expressed its disappointment over the bill.

It said in a statement that the new bill would hamper the growth of the tech industry, force companies to relocate and stifle the growth of start-ups. It also sought an urgent meeting with the state’s authorities to discuss its concerns.

Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, who heads one of India’s top pharmaceutical companies – Biocon – which has its office in Bengaluru, also criticised the bill.

“As a tech hub we need skilled talent and whilst the aim is to provide jobs for locals, we must not affect our leading position in technology by this move,” she posted on X and called for “caveats that exempt highly skilled recruitment from this policy”.

This isn’t the first time that laws seeking to benefit locals while targeting outsiders have faced criticism in the state.

After years of protests calling for preference to be given to Kannada language in business establishments, the government in February passed a law mandating that 60% of text on all signboards in the state should be in the local language.

But after criticism from various sections, including businesses in Bengaluru where many people are fluent in English and don’t speak the local language, the Karnataka High Court ordered the government not to take coercive action against establishments that didn’t implement the rule.

You don’t expect to meet an anti-Trump Republican at a Trump rally.

When 67-year-old US Army veteran Thomas Gleason arrived at former President Donald Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, he came looking for conversation.

A registered Republican who is opposed to Trump, Mr Gleason was wearing a placard proclaiming the former president a “threat to the Constitution” and challenging the former president’s supporters to a friendly debate.

“I had very civil discussions with a lot of people,” he recalled, “that was a pleasant surprise”.

Soon after, however, the jovial atmosphere of the rally turned to chaos, confusion and rage as shots rang out from a nearby rooftop.

“I immediately knew what it was. I recognised it as gunfire,” the former paratrooper told the BBC several days after the shooting. “Some people screamed, and a lot of people fell to the ground.”

The shooting grazed Trump’s ear and 50-year-old volunteer fire chief Corey Comperatore was left dead. Two others were seriously injured.

In the days after the shooting, rallygoers who were in attendance say that their initial feelings of shock have given way to anger, sadness, and fears for what the future may bring.

Many of those who attended the rally have directed their anger at the US Secret Service, which they see as having been responsible for security at the event – and, by extension, their own safety.

The Secret Service has said that local police were responsible for the outer cordons of security at the rally and had officers inside the building from where he was shooting.

But that does little to soothe the concerns of witnesses such as 66-year-old Kathleen O’ Shea, who laid the blame explicitly on the Secret Service’s embattled director, Kimberly Cheatle.

Two days after the shooting, Ms O’Shea told the BBC she was “furious” that an “epic failure” left a man dead and Trump – who she says she would “take a bullet for” – with a narrow escape.

“All I want to hear from her [Ms Cheatle] is that she resigns. She got a good, innocent American killed,” she added.

“She should offer her heartfelt condolences and apologies, and if she means it, she will resign.”

Jean Vincent, a Butler woman who attended the rally alongside her sister Suzanne, said that – no matter who was responsible for what part of security – the Secret Service “definitely dropped the ball” on 13 July.

“I get so emotional. I’m so upset someone could have killed us. Could have killed my children,” she said, adding that her son shielded her body during the shooting. “Someone has to be held responsible. They’ve got to learn.”

Ms Vincent said that when she heard the shooting her thoughts immediately went to the 2017 Las Vegas shooting, when dozens of people were killed by a gunman firing from the roof of a hotel.

“There could have been 200, 300 people killed,” she said. “It’s surreal. Nobody who was there can understand the security breach.”

Former Marine Teresa Wilson – an employee of a local police department elsewhere in Pennsylvania – was at the rally with a group of family members, including her elderly mother and teenage nephew.

She said she remains “infuriated” by a security set-up that she said left them “like sitting ducks”.

“It was a huge and embarrassing failure on their part,” she said. “It took two days for me to feel normal again. I was plagued by anxiety over the what-ifs.”

“Once I heard… early on about explosives being present, I struggled to shake the feeling of insecurity even though I was home and away from danger,” she added.

“My heart goes out to the families of the victims. If I had such a difficult time, I can’t imagine what they are going through.”

Residents of Butler and its surrounding county describe the largely rural area as friendly and neighbourly, a quiet place. The kind of town in which people know and help each other despite political differences.

Now, some residents fear that their town will forever be known for the events of 13 July.

Among them are partly retired psychiatrist Warren Goodrich and his wife Debbie.

The BBC first encountered them at the site of the rally, where they stood near Trump when he spoke.

When the shooting began, they took cover near a young girl who was pleading for her life, a sight that Mrs Goodrich said broke her heart.

“It’s been really hard on us emotionally,” Mrs Goodrich remarked a few days later. “It really hurts. It’s starting to hit us…. I’m just glad we’re alive.”

Over the course of more than 20 years in the town, the Goodrichs say they often tell people elsewhere that they are from Pittsburgh, knowing that few people will know where it is.

Looking to the future, Mr Goodrich said he is worried that Butler will have earned international notoriety and become a “shunned city”.

“It’s such a significant piece of history. But it’s irrational to blame the whole city,” he said. “It’s very, very sad.”

Echoing a sentiment heard several times by the BBC in Butler, Suzanne Vincent, Jean’s sister, said that she believes the town will “unfortunately be on the map” at a national level, comparing it to small towns like Uvalde, Texas, which have been marked by tragedies.

“That is so unfair,” she added. “But it’s changed this community, and it’s changed America.”

For now, the motive for the shooting remains unclear, and there has been so far no evidence that proves or even suggests that suspect Matthew Thomas Crooks was motivated by politics.

But some of those who witnessed the bloodshed in Butler said they feared that the attempted assassination of a presidential candidate could raise tensions and push people to extremes.

“It’s not just violence against people like Trump and Biden that I’m concerned about,” said Mr Gleason, the army veteran. “I’m also worried about violence against people who hold opposing views.”

Jean Vincent said that she believes the US has entered a “very, very scary” time in which tensions are running particularly high ahead of the November election.

“I fear that this country is sliding into chaos and is out of control. I just can’t believe everyone is acting so crazy,” she said. “There’s all this division. What happens in the upcoming election if people are not happy with the outcome?”

Others described the aftermath of the shooting with a feeling of disgust.

“It’s unacceptable, anywhere,” said Greg Smith, whose business is immediately adjacent to the rally area, hours after it took place.

“I don’t care what candidate you like, or what your philosophy is.

“No matter the political climate… there is no room for this, anywhere.”

An Indian preacher who led an overcrowded gathering in which 121 people were crushed to death has said he was “deeply disturbed” by the tragedy but that no-one could change destiny.

Bhole Baba’s comments to local journalists weeks after the crush in Hathras district in Uttar Pradesh state have caused outrage in India.

“Who can change the inevitable? Everyone who enters this world has to leave one day. Only the time is uncertain,” he said.

The crush took place in early July at a satsang – a Hindu religious gathering. Most of the victims were women.

The police have arrested some of the organisers of the event, including a man they claim is a key aide of the preacher. But Bhole Baba, a self-styled godman, has not been named in the police case or questioned yet.

He has also not been blamed in a report submitted by a special investigation team to the Uttar Pradesh government – the report holds the event organisers responsible and points out negligence by the police and local administration.

• What we know about the India crush that killed 121
• Grief and anger after India crush kills 121

Authorities said they had given permission for 80,000 people to gather but around 250,000 people attended the event. The police report said the crush took place when chaos broke out after a crowd rushed to gather dust touched by Bhole Baba’s feet as he was leaving.

But while speaking to reporters on Wednesday, the preacher denied this and repeated unproven allegations made by his lawyer that a “poisonous gas had been sprayed at the gathering” and that there was a “conspiracy to tarnish” his reputation.

The preacher’s lawyer had told the BBC earlier that allegations about his client being responsible for the tragedy were “false” and that the crush occurred “due to some anti-social elements”.

However, families of the people who died in the crush have blamed the preacher and demanded his arrest.

Many social media users have also expressed anger over his recent comments, with some calling for his arrest.

“Bhole Baba might be right in a way, but who caused the death[s],” one user asked on X (formerly Twitter).

Another user pointed out that the police hadn’t registered a case against the guru nor had questioned him about the incident.

“100% scot-free. Will likely do another satsang soon,” another user said.

Bhole Baba’s original name is Suraj Pal but he reportedly re-christened himself Narayan Sakar Vishwa Hari.

Details about his life are sketchy but he is believed to have been a former constable in the Uttar Pradesh police force who transformed himself into a religious preacher after leaving his job.

He has amassed hundreds of thousands of followers in Hathras and neighbouring districts. But his life and assets have come under scrutiny after the crush.

A collection of 3,404 eggs have been seized in Australia after a European operation into the illegal bird trade.

Investigators discovered the haul – believed to be worth $400,000 to $500,000 (£207,000 – £259,000) – at a property in Granton, Tasmania on 9 July.

The eggs had been blown – or hollowed out – meaning they only had ornamental value.

A 62-year-old man was being investigated but no arrests had been made, according to officials.

Environmental and wildlife crime has become one of the world’s largest and most profitable crime sectors and continues to grow as it pushes many species to the brink of extinction.

It is expected that the Australian suspect will appear in court at a later date for offences in contravention of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act 1999.

“[The man] is alleged to have been involved in the collection and harvesting of bird eggs from the wild and trading of both Australian native and CITES-listed bird eggs with people overseas,” a spokesperson from the federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) said.

CITES-listed means a species is listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), an international agreement between governments that aims to protect endangered plants and animals from international trade.

Analysis of the eggs is now underway to confirm what species they belong to, but they are believed to include rare and threatened species facing a high extinction risk.

Investigators believe they include eggs from the forty-spotted pardalote, which is found only on Tasmania’s Bruny Island, the swift parrot and the shy albatross.

The eggs in this collection were all blown or hollowed eggs, meaning the egg white and yolk had been removed.

In 2023, European authorities launched an investigation in relation to the illegal harvesting, collecting, trading, buying and selling of bird eggs within Europe and internationally.

A number of search warrants were undertaken resulting in the seizure of over 56,000 eggs.

CITES estimates international wildlife trade is worth billions of dollars – ranging from live animals, to products derived from them.

More than 40,000 species are covered by the agreement, with more than 180 countries agreeing, including Australia.

Tasmanian ecologist Dr Sally Bryant told ABC News that egg collecting “was probably happening more than any of us realise”.

She said: “We are well aware of these sorts of activities, but they’re very, very outdated — they are morally, ethically, legally corrupt.”

Collections of this size were put together by “skilled operators” over “many years”, she added.

The interference of threatened and migratory birds can carry a penalty of seven years imprisonment, a fine of $138,600 or both.

The export of Australian native specimens, including eggs, and the export or import of specimens, including eggs, on the CITES list has a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment, a fine $330,000, or both.

The possession of CITES-listed specimens, including eggs, can carry a penalty of five years imprisonment, a fine of $330,000 or both.

Tanya Plibersek, Minister for the Environment and Water, said: “Illegal trafficking and wildlife crime is fast becoming a threat for many of our species that are already at risk of extinction.

“We have to stamp out this terrible trade which sees our native animals captured in the Aussie bush and sent overseas to be sold.”

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has told the European Parliament she will focus on defence, security and climate policy if she is given a second term, ahead of a crunch vote in Strasbourg.

“Let us make the choice of strength,” she told the Parliament, promising a “European Democracy Shield”.

Ms von der Leyen, who has had the job of Commission president since 2019, will need 361 votes in the 720-seat Parliament to secure another five years in the job.

Support from her own centre-right European People’s Party (EPP), the Socialists & Democrats and the liberal Renew should give her enough votes.

There is no other candidate standing, but what makes the vote potentially tricky is that it is being held in secret – so MEPs can cast ballots without following their party line.

Ms von der Leyen attempted to address the concerns of each political group in a wide-ranging speech ahead of the vote, in which she made a series of policy pledges.

Reaching out to Green MEPs, she said she wanted the EU to stick to climate targets, and vowed that under her leadership the EU would introduce a 90% greenhouse gas emission-reduction target for 2040.

In a a nod to her own centre-right European People’s Party, she said she would launch common defence projects, including a European air shield. She also appeared to address right-wing concerns by promising to strengthen’s Europe’s borders by tripling the number of border guards.

There were also references to social rights, affordable housing and the need to end the “bloodshed in Gaza”, addressing the concerns of many MEPs on the left.

Ms von der Leyen elicited sustained applause when she condemned Hungary’s Viktor Orban for his recent trip to Moscow.

“This so-called peace mission was nothing but an appeasement mission,” she told MEPs, without naming the Hungarian leader.

She wrapped up her speech by calling for the Parliament to vote for her again: “History will keep knocking on Europe’s door, and the need for Europe will be stronger than ever.”

Whether the speech was successful in securing Ms von der Leyen a majority will become known later on Thursday.

The vote takes place at 13:00 (11:00 GMT), and the outcome will be announced two hours later.

European leaders officially nominated Ms von der Leyen at a summit in Brussels at the end of June.

The decision came despite resistance from Italy’s Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, who abstained from the vote after accusing fellow EU leaders of excluding parties like her own from the conversation.

If Ms von der Leyen does not pass today’s European Parliament vote, the EU will be back to square one, with leaders having to agree on a new candidate who would then need to be approved by the Parliament.

Although names have been floated, no obvious alternative candidate has emerged so far.

Ms von der Leyen won the job five years ago, when her name was put forward by EU leaders in a last-minute deal after a political stalemate over other contenders.

At the time, she was voted in with only nine votes over the required majority. Thursday’s vote might end up being just as close.

Since being nominated for a second term, Ms von der Leyen has held private meetings with some parliamentary groupings in an attempt to secure their votes.

Her attempts have not always been successful. After one such meeting, MEPs belonging to the Left grouping said they had decided not to vote for Ms von der Leyen due to her willingness to increase military and defence spending.

She also met with the Greens and received positive signals – although some MEPs said they would wait to hear Ms von der Leyen’s speech on Thursday before making a final decision.

She reportedly managed to convince some members of the right-wing European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) to back her, although the Romanian, French and Polish delegations have said they would vote against her.

The Italian prime minister, who leads the ECR, is also said to be holding off on making a decision on how she will instruct her 24 Italian MEPs to vote until after Ms von der Leyen’s address.

However, according to Italian media she is leaning towards endorsing Ms von der Leyen in exchange for Italy being offered a senior job in the next Commission – such as the coveted economy or competition portfolios.

Ms Meloni, who heads the far-right Brothers of Italy party, has gained a prominent status among European right-wingers.

The third biggest group in Parliament, the newly formed Patriots for Europe, has refused to back Ms von der Leyen. Formed by Hungary’s Viktor Orban, it includes the leaders of far-right parties in France, Austria and the Netherlands.

Some hurdles might also arise from within the centrist parties that constitute the core of Ms von der Leyen’s support base.

Several centrist Irish MEPs have said they will vote against Ms von der Leyen’s nomination because of her stance on the war in Gaza. Some French MEPs belonging to Ms von der Leyen’s own EPP grouping have also said they won’t support her.

Technology stocks around the world have slumped on fears about the global computer chip industry.

The sell-off came after a report that the Biden administration could be set to further tighten restrictions on exports of semiconductor equipment to China.

Comments by former US President Donald Trump that Taiwan, the biggest producer of chips, should pay for its own defence added to the concerns.

In the US, the tech-heavy Nasdaq index closed 2.7% lower on Wednesday, while chip stocks have also tumbled in Europe and Asia.

“Regardless of the outcome of the elections… I think we will see the US increase some of the restrictions” said Bob O’Donnell, chief analyst at TECHnalysis Research.

“How far they will take it, though, is the big question.”

In Asia, chip making giant TSMC lost 2.4% on Thursday, while semiconductor equipment maker Tokyo Electron was down by around 8.8%.

That came after Nvidia closed 6.6% lower in New York on Wednesday, while AMD lost more than 10%.

In Europe, shares in ASML, which makes chip making machines, tumbled by almost 11%.

The falls came after Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday that the US government is preparing to impose its tightest curbs yet on semiconductor making equipment to China if firms like ASML and Tokyo Electron continue to give the country access to their advanced chip technology.

ASML declined to comment when contacted by the BBC. Tokyo Electron did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The BBC has also asked the US Commerce Department for a statement.

The Biden administration has previously taken steps to restrict China’s access to advanced chip technology.

In October, it restricted exports to China of advanced semiconductors used in artificial intelligence (AI) technology.

The remarks on Taiwan by Mr Trump also hinted at possible disruption of global chip supplies.

Taiwan produces most of the world’s advanced chips.

“Investors always react to any remarks from the US but despite these comments, the long term business trend for the semiconductor industry is clearly going up,” said Marco Mezger, Executive Vice President of memory chip technology company Neumonda.

The US military has ended its mission to operate a temporary floating pier to deliver more aid to the Gaza Strip, after it was beset by weather, technical and security problems.

Supplies from Cyprus would now by shipped by US vessels to the Israeli port of Ashdod and then transported by lorry to northern Gaza via an Israeli-controlled crossing, the deputy head of Central Command said.

Vice-Adm Brad Cooper insisted the pier had enabled a “surge” in aid deliveries, noting that more than 9,000 tonnes had been delivered over two months.

However, it was operational for only about 20 days and had been out of action since 28 June because of bad weather.

The UN and other humanitarian organisations have said the total delivered via the pier represents a tiny fraction of the aid required by the 2.2 million Palestinians in Gaza. They say 500 lorries of aid and commercial supplies – equivalent to 10,000 tonnes – are needed daily.

They have also consistently stated – and the US has acknowledged – that the most effective and efficient way to get aid into Gaza is through land routes.

Adm Cooper told reporters that the pier mission had been a “historically unprecedented operation to deliver aid into an active combat zone without any US boots on the ground”.

“Our assessment is that the temporary pier has achieved its intended effect to surge a very high volume of aid into Gaza and ensure that aid reaches the civilians in Gaza in a quick manner,” he said.

He also argued that the mission had been cost-effective, saying it had cost less than the initial estimate of $230m (£177m).

The admiral said Israel was fully supportive of the US decision to end the pier mission and “transition” to the port of Ashdod, which is only 30km (19 miles) from northern Gaza.

Sonali Korde of USAid’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance said: “The key challenge we have right now in Gaza is around the insecurity and lawlessness that is hampering the distribution once aid gets into Gaza and to the crossing points.”

When the pier began operating in mid-May, US official suggested it would remain in place until August or September.

But after stormy weather in late May, four landing craft involved in the operation broke loose and were washed ashore. Parts of the pier also had to be taken to Ashdod for repairs.

The whole structure had to be moved to Ashdod three more times over the next month because of bad weather and maintenance before the US military decided to end the mission.

The US was also forced to deny what it said were fake social media reports that Israel had used the pier for a hostage rescue mission in central Gaza on 8 June.

However, resulting security concerns led the UN World Food Programme to stop collecting aid from the holding area next to the pier, leading to thousands of pallets of supplies building up. Eventually, contractors were hired to move the aid to warehouses so it would not spoil.

Last week, US President Joe Biden expressed disappointment with the pier mission, saying: “I was hopeful that would be more successful.”

Mr Biden announced that the pier would be constructed in March, in response to a UN-backed assessment which warned that famine was “imminent” in northern Gaza.

The latest assessment, from the end of June, said the available evidence did not indicate a famine was occurring there, citing an increase in the amount of food and other aid allowed in.

However, it warned that 495,000 people across Gaza were still facing “catastrophic levels” of hunger and that a “high risk” of famine would persist as long as the war between Israel and Hamas continued and humanitarian access was restricted.

UN officials blame the situation on Israeli military restrictions on aid deliveries, the continuing hostilities and the breakdown of law and order.

Israel insists that there are no limits to the amount of aid that can be delivered into and across Gaza and blames UN agencies for failing to distribute supplies. It also accuses Hamas of stealing aid, which the group denies.

Seven people have died, including three young children and a teenager, in a fire that broke out in the early hours of Thursday in the southern French city of Nice.

The local prosecutor said officials were investigating the blaze as a potential arson attack. The mayor of Nice said they had images that clearly showed the fire had been caused by petrol poured into a stairwell by hooded people during the night.

Flames engulfed the upper floors of an apartment block in the Moulins area of Nice, close to the city’s airport.

Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said three young children were among the victims and that police would “shed light on the circumstances of this terrible tragedy”.

The fire broke out on second floor and spread quickly to the upper floors. Nice prosecutor Damien Martinelli told journalists that in light of initial findings, “I have opened an inquiry into acts of arson as the cause of death.”

Local reports said the seven victims were all part of the same family. Officials said three adults, a teenager and younger children aged five, seven and 10 had died.

Two members of the family are said to have tried to escape through a window – one died and the other is in a critical condition.

Prefect Hugues Moutouh said everyone had been affected by the tragedy and “very determined to provide help and assistance to the survivors”.

One man called Iftahou told the Nice Matin website that he had arrived at the scene while the fire was burning and realised there was no hope for those inside.

The head of the Comorian community in the south of France, Najim Maecha, said he knew the family and that they had lived in Nice since about 2013.

Nice Mayor Christian Estrosi said the human toll of the disaster was extremely high. As well as the seven victims, another 30 people have suffered smoke inhalation.

“I’ve asked the interior minister to deploy security forces to ensure residents’ safety and avoid new incidents after this tragedy that’s being investigated as potential arson,” he said.

President Emmanuel Macron, on a visit to the UK, said “our thoughts are with the victims’ relatives. We are on their side and on the side of the people of Nice”.

JD Vance took the stage on Wednesday night at the Republican national convention and introduced himself to an American public that frankly knows little about him.

The 39-year-old also set the parameters for what could become a more clear and forceful ideological foundation to the populist conservative movement that Donald Trump brought to the White House, sometimes haltingly, in 2016.

The Ohio senator, first elected to public office just two years ago, began by recounting Donald Trump’s brush with death by an assassin’s bullet on Saturday.

He then turned to his own personal story – of a “hillbilly” childhood growing up in a family of limited means while his mother struggled with addiction.

He recounted his service in the US Marines after 9/11, which then helped pay his college tuition.

Some of his speech was lighthearted. As a graduate of the Ohio State University, he exchanged good natured barbs with the delegation from Ohio’s college sport arch-rival, Michigan.

He spoke about his grandmother, whom he called “Mawmaw” – which he noted was a term of endearment in the Appalachian community he hails from. He touted her toughness – recalling that the family had found “19 loaded handguns” in her home after she died – and said she had once warned that she would drive over a drug-dealing youth he was known to spend time with.

Then he pivoted to politics, and Mr Vance’s speech took on a harder edge. He outlined ideas he has spoken about before, but this time, put them in front of a national audience.

He railed against what he described as an out-of-touch elite. He blamed Joe Biden for supporting free trade deals and voting for the Iraq War (both of which were also backed by many Republicans).

“We need a leader who’s not in the pocket of big business but answers to the working man,” he said.

• Trump VP pick Vance vows to fight for ‘forgotten’ Americans
• Vance’s ‘Hillbilly Elegy’ becomes political lightning rod
• Vance ‘can only go up’: Republican voters applaud VP pick
• Who is Usha Vance, lawyer and wife of Trump’s VP pick?

The former venture capitalist criticised multinational corporations and described a growing wealth gap between “the few with power and comfort” and “the rest of us”.

It’s the kind of rhetoric that might find a comfortable home in the progressive left of the Democratic Party – and has made some business leaders in his own party wary of their new vice-presidential nominee.

Then Mr Vance moved on to a topic that keeps the Trump brand of politics distinct from the populist left.

He warned of the dangers of immigration, saying that undocumented migrants worsened the plight of working-class Americans by competing with them for jobs and limited housing.

He went on to a full-throated defence of American nationalism. He said that America was more than just a good idea, it was a “group of people with a shared history and a common future”.

“It is, in short, a nation,” he said.

Mr Vance, married to the daughter of Indian immigrants, quickly pointed out that the US welcomed “newcomers” – but with a key caveat.

“We allow them on our terms,” he said.

The newly minted vice-presidential running mate concluded with an extended description of his family burial plot on a mountainside in eastern Kentucky, where seven generations of his ancestors are interred.

He said that this kind of generational connection was the embodiment of a homeland that people would fight and die for – and it represented more than an abstraction.

“People don’t go and fight and die for abstractions,” he said. “But they will fight for their home.”

Time and time again in his speech, Mr Vance noted his Appalachian ties – through ancestry and history – and how many from the region migrated to work in factories in states like Pennsylvania and Michigan.

Those are the key electoral battlegrounds that could decide the forthcoming presidential election – and part of the reason Trump picked him as his running mate.

But Mr Vance’s selection was also a re-emphasis of the core tenets of Trump’s political movement – on immigration, on trade and on energy policy.

When Donald Trump was president, his biggest wins involved corporate tax cuts and government deregulation. With JD Vance in his White House, however, it means that the next time around – if there is one – his policies could move in a decidedly more populist direction.

At the very least, on Wednesday night, Mr Vance set out just such a path ahead.

When Usha Vance took to the stage at the Republican National Convention, she introduced the crowd to the “most determined person I know” – her husband JD Vance, the newly selected vice-presidential candidate.

“That JD and I could meet at all, let alone fall in love and marry, is a testament to this great country,” she told the crowd on Wednesday night.

Mrs Vance humanised the Ohio senator and running mate of Republican White House candidate Donald Trump by calling him a man who longed for a “tight-knit family”.

She also said her husband was a “meat and potatoes kind of guy” – but one who had adapted to her vegetarian diet and even learned how to cook Indian food for her mother.

While she does not seek out the political spotlight, Mrs Vance, 38, wields considerable influence over her husband’s career, Mr Vance has said before.

Mrs Vance – née Chilukuri, the child of Indian immigrants – was born and raised in the suburbs of San Diego, California.

The two met as students at Yale Law School in 2013, when they joined a discussion group on “social decline in white America”, according to the New York Times.

The content influenced Mr Vance’s best-selling 2016 memoir Hillbilly Elegy, about his childhood in the white working-class Rust Belt, which became a 2020 movie directed by Ron Howard.

Whilst her husband regularly rails about “woke” ideas he says are pushed by Democrats, Mrs Vance was formerly a registered Democrat and is now a corporate litigator at a San Francisco law firm which proudly touts its reputation for being “radically progressive”.

Mrs Vance previously graduated with a BA in history from Yale University and was also a Gates Scholar at Cambridge University, where she came away with an MPhil in early modern history, according to her LinkedIn profile.

She once clerked for Brett Kavanaugh, now a Supreme Court justice, on the District of Columbia court of appeals. Then she clerked for Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts. Both men are part of the highest court’s conservative majority.

And it is this stellar CV that leaves Mr Vance feeling “humbled” he has said.

“Usha definitely brings me back to Earth a little bit,” Mr Vance told the Megyn Kelly Show podcast in 2020. “And if I maybe get a little bit too cocky or a little too proud I just remind myself that she is way more accomplished than I am.”

“People don’t realise just how brilliant she is,” he added, saying she is able to digest a 1,000-page book in only a few hours.

She is the “powerful female voice on his left shoulder”, giving him guidance, he said.

In an interview on Fox News last month, she said: “I believe in JD, and I really love him, and so we’ll just sort of see what happens with our life.”

On Wednesday, she echoed that sentiment: “Neither JD nor I expected to find ourselves in this position”.

The couple wed in 2014 and have three children: two sons, Ewan and Vivek, and a daughter, Mirabel.

As Mr Vance took the stage at the Republican convention, he echoed previous praise he has made about his wife being a “incredible lawyer and a better mom”.

Speeding along a road in the foothills of the Swiss Alps, Fariba Hashimi rises out of the saddle of her £15,000 bike and works the pedals even harder to close the gap between her and her sister, Yulduz, a few metres up ahead.

Training rides like this are the last steps on a journey that began with the two siblings from rural Afghanistan racing in disguise on borrowed bikes, before having to escape when the Taliban came to power.

Now they’re on their way to the Olympic Games in Paris. And, despite a Taliban ruling banning women from sport, they will compete under their country’s flag.

In a world where many elite athletes take up sport almost as soon as they can walk, Fariba, 21, and Yulduz, 24, came late to cycling.

They grew up in Faryab, one of the most remote and conservative provinces in Afghanistan, where it was practically unheard of to see women on bicycles.

Fariba was 14 and Yulduz 17 when they saw an advert for a local cycle race and decided to take part.

There were two problems; they didn’t have a bike and they didn’t know how to ride.

The sisters borrowed a neighbour’s bike one afternoon. After a few hours, they felt they had got the hang of it.

Their next challenge was to avoid their family finding out what they were doing because of the stigma around women taking part in sport in conservative areas of Afghanistan.

The sisters used false names and covered themselves up, wearing big baggy clothing, large headscarves and sunglasses so people didn’t recognise them.

Race day dawned, and incredibly the sisters came first and second.

“It felt amazing,” says Fariba. “I felt like a bird who could fly.”

They kept on entering races and kept on winning until their parents eventually found out when they saw pictures of them in the local media.

“They were upset at first. They asked me to stop cycling,” Fariba says. “But I didn’t give up. I secretly continued,” she smiles.

It didn’t come without dangers – people tried to hit them with cars or rickshaws as they rode or threw stones at them as they cycled past.

“People were abusive. All I wanted to do was win races,” says Yulduz.

And the situation was about to get worse.

In 2021, four years after the sisters started riding, the Taliban retook control of the country and clamped down on women’s rights, restricting their access to education and limiting how they could travel. They also banned women from taking part in sport.

Yulduz and Fariba had dreamed of one day competing in the Olympics. Now they knew if they wanted to race at all they had to leave Afghanistan.

Using contacts in the cycling community they managed to secure seats on an Italian evacuation flight, along with three teammates.

Once in Italy, the women joined a cycling team and got proper coaching for the first time.

“Back in Afghanistan, we didn’t have professional training,” says Yulduz. “All we used to do was take our bikes and ride.”

But leaving their homeland and family was not easy.

“The biggest thing for me is to be away from my mother,” says Fariba. “I never thought that because of cycling I would be separated from my brothers and sisters.”

“I’ve sacrificed a lot.”

The Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan also threw into doubt whether the country would even be allowed to compete at the Olympics.

National Olympic Committees are supposed to select athletes for the Games without any government interference.

As the Taliban’s ban on women playing sport breaks this rule, by preventing women being chosen for Afghanistan’s team, it led to calls for the country to be banned from the Olympics – as it had been when the militant group was last in power.

But the International Olympic Committee wanted to find a way to allow Afghan women to compete at the Games.

Behind the scenes talks took place between the heads of Afghan sporting bodies, including some now living in exile, about putting together a special team to represent the country in Paris.

As time ticked by, and Paris 2024 got ever closer, it looked as if no Afghan athletes would be at the Games.

Then, in June, International Olympic Committee announced that it had arranged for a special gender-equal team representing Afghanistan to go the Paris Olympics. It would be made up of three women and three men. And both the sisters are among them.

“This was a big surprise for both of us,” says Fariba.

“We always dreamt of taking part in the Olympic Games, this is our dream come true,” Yulduz adds.

“Despite all the rights that were taken from us we can show that we can achieve great success, we will be able to represent 20 million Afghan women.”

The IOC say no Taliban officials will be allowed to attend Paris 2024.

The sisters are preparing for the Olympic road race event while riding for a development team run and funded by the UCI and based at the World Cycling Centre, an ultra-modern facility in the Swiss town of Aigle.

The elite facilities are a world away from the dusty roads in Afghanistan where Yulduz and Fariba first taught themselves to cycle.

But their spirit remains the same.

“We are each other’s strength – I support her and she supports me,” says Yulduz.

“Our achievement belongs to Afghanistan,” adds Fariba. “This belongs to Afghanistan women. I am going to the Olympics because of them.”

From causing seismic activity at Harry Styles concerts to Swifties boosting the UK economy during the Eras Tour, the power of teenage female pop fans shouldn’t be underestimated.

For playwright Yve Blake, the danger of dismissing these youngsters is the inspiration behind her new comedy musical Fangirls.

Following the life of 14-year-old Edna, who is obsessed with a boy band resembling One Direction, Fangirls explores “what it means to love something without apology”.

The idea came to Blake in 2015 after she witnessed a pivotal moment in the lives of thousands of teenage girls – Zayn Malik left One Direction.

Despondent and heartbroken fans across the world were shown weeping inconsolably – but for Blake, something even more interesting caught her eye.

“People started calling these young girls crazy, hysterical and psycho,” the writer explains. “I asked myself the question – would the same words be used to describe male football fans?

“The girls screaming at the top of their lungs at Taylor Swift concerts are cringe, but men running around with their tops off and fist pumping the air because England scored a goal are just supporting their country.

“It seems like there’s definitely a double standard there.”

But the musical doesn’t just praise fangirls.

“It’s a lot more nuanced than that,” Blake explains. “We look at the dark side of worshipping celebrities as well as praising the decision for girls to make an empowered choice to love something free of judgement.

“I’d describe it as a glittery trojan horse.”

The hit musical premiered in 2019 in Blake’s home country, Australia, and has been met with critical acclaim across three runs.

Its stint at the Sydney Opera House was awarded five stars by Time Out, which said “it deals with the exquisite pain of being a teenager, of having little agency and lesser respect from the world around you”.

In a four-star review, the Guardian called it “witty and agile” and said it “balances serious social reflections with a loving twinkle in its eye”.

Blake says the show “retains its fearlessness, cheekiness and naughtiness from Australia, but the screws have really been tightened”.

She is both excited and nervous about bringing the show to the Lyric theatre in Hammersmith, west London.

“Brits are definitely a lot more repressed than Aussies, so I don’t know if they can match the energy of previous runs,” Blake says.

At one point in the show, the stage is transformed into a concert venue and audience participation is encouraged.

“Theatre is so polite normally, but Fangirls is about unleashing your feral excitement and screaming like you’re 14 again.”

In Australia, Blake had no problem getting the audience involved – she tells the BBC that an older lady in the front row accidentally flashed the actors because she “was so in the moment and excitedly dancing”.

Playing the lead role of Edna is Jasmine Elcock, who got a golden buzzer on Britain’s Got Talent in 2016.

The singer was 14 when she reached the talent show final, and this is her first major acting role.

“I’m excited for people to be able to see the world through the eyes of a young girl,” Elcock says.

As a self-proclaimed fangirl, Elcock can relate to the feelings and emotions that the play delves into.

“I am a mega fangirl and at the moment I am absolutely obsessed with Little Simz. I can spend hours in my bedroom dancing and singing along to her,” she says.

In comparison, writer Blake explains she was a “victim of my own cringe growing up”.

“I was socially embarrassed to be a fangirl so I definitely repressed it as a teenager,” she says.

“As an adult that’s what made me interested in exploring this topic – I woke up to the fact that my cringe was a symptom of internalised misogyny because it’s only the things that teenage girls like that are ever called cringeworthy.”

It seems that for Blake, this play is a way for her to tell her younger self, and all teenage girls out that, that it’s OK to let lose and embrace being a fangirl.

In a sign of the seismic political changes in South Africa, John Hlophe, a once-celebrated judge whose career ended ignominiously with his impeachment just five months ago, has been parachuted into parliament to lead the official opposition.

Dr Hlophe is expected to be in full flight on Friday, when he will open the debate in response to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s speech on Thursday, setting out his new coalition government’s plans to tackle South Africa’s myriad problems – including an unemployment rate of 32%, high levels of crime, deteriorating infrastructure, and land ownership in a nation bedevilled by racial inequality.

“Watch this space. See him perform on Friday,” Dr Hlophe’s lawyer Barnabas Xulu told the BBC.

Dr Hlophe’s dramatic fall as a judge – and meteoric rise as a politician – can both be traced to former President Jacob Zuma, South Africa’s most polarising politician who defied the odds by making his own stunning comeback in the 29 May general election.

Less than three years after he became the first South African president to be jailed for an offence – contempt of court – Mr Zuma led his newly formed party, uMkhonto weSizwe (Spear of the Nation) into third spot in the election.

But as he was barred him from taking up his seat in parliament because of the 15-month jail sentence he had received, Mr Zuma turned to Dr Hlophe to take up the all-important post of Leader of the Opposition.

The post comes with an annual salary of just under 1.7m rand ($94,000; £73,000), which Dr Hlophe is likely to appreciate after reportedly losing his judge’s pension because of his impeachment for gross misconduct.

MK has become the official opposition because the second-biggest party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), has joined President Ramaphosa’s coalition government after his African National Congress (ANC) lost its majority in the election for the first time since the end of the racist system of apartheid in 1994.

Born in 1959, Dr Hlophe, who grew up as a child labourer in a family where his mother was a domestic worker and gardener and his father a security guard and traditional healer, went on to study law locally and abroad, acquiring a PhD from the UK’s prestigious University of Cambridge.

As a lawyer in South Africa, he took part in court battles challenging the draconian laws of the apartheid regime, before forging a career as an academic, returning to Cambridge as a Roman law tutor in 1987.

Despite this, Dr Hlophe is a fierce advocate for the “Africanisation” of South Africa’s legal system, saying it was “imposed on us” by colonisers, and which “we have mastered, by the way, even better than them” – a comment he made in an address to the African Legal Professionals Association in the coastal city of Durban soon after he joined MK in June.

“African law has never been allowed to develop and take its rightful place,” he added.

Dr Hlophe returned to the theme after being sworn in as an MP, saying MK was not “apologetic in our call for the law to be Africanised”.

“By that, we mean we bring back the laws that used to govern the African people. One of those laws is this: the land in Africa can never be the subject of private ownership. The land belongs to the nation,” he said.

Some critics saw Mr Zuma’s decision to appoint him as MK’s parliamentary leader as returning a political favour.

His impeachment in February ended a long-running saga that started in 2008 when two judges of South Africa’s highest court sent shockwaves through legal and political circles by accusing him of trying to improperly influence them to rule in favour of Mr Zuma in a corruption-related case that the controversial politician was fighting at the time.

Dr Hlophe denied the charges, with Mr Xulu telling the BBC that he simply had a “casual conversation” with the two judges about “legal principles” in what was a “novel” case – something that judges often do among themselves.

Mr Xulu said that Dr Hlophe was still challenging the lawfulness of his impeachment in the courts, though he did not see himself going back to being a judge.

Instead, Dr Hlophe had decided to branch out into politics, joining MK as it was his “ideal” political home, he said.

“He’ll continue the fight for justice and transformation in a different platform, the National Assembly, where he will have more freedom, more protection,” Mr Xulu added.

Dr Hlophe’s impeachment marked a sad end to his judicial career, as he was once among the cream of South Africa’s judges, or, as constitutional law expert Narnia Bohler-Muller put it in The Conversation magazine, he was “both brilliant and controversial, on and off the bench”.

At the age of 35, in 1995, just a year after the end of apartheid, he made history by becoming the first back judge in South Africa’s Western Cape province, and five years later its Judge President.

But his leadership there was turbulent, as he accused some of his colleagues of treating him as a “legal non-entity” and undermining him because he was black. He faced counter-claims of being verbally abusive and even assaulting a judge, which he dismissed as a malicious allegation based on rumour and gossip.

He was also embroiled in numerous other controversies – including allegations that he served as a non-executive director at a financial company, and was paid about $26,000 over three years in consultancy fees.

He denied any wrongdoing, saying he had declared his links with the company to the-then justice minister. The Judicial Services Commission (JSC) dismissed a case against him over the issue, saying there was a lack of evidence.

Now, he has become the first ex-judge to become not only the Leader of the Opposition, but also a member of parliament’s justice committee, and, to top it all, MK’s representative on the JSC.

Comprising both judges and cross-party MPs, the JSC is the very body that found Dr Hlophe guilty of gross misconduct, leading to parliament impeaching him.

It is also responsible for the appointment of judges, and will choose his successor as Western Cape Judge President.

His long-time adversaries have vowed to challenge his elevation to the JSC in court, with campaign group Freedom Under Law saying it was “irrational” for an impeached judge to be involved in the appointment of other judges.

Significantly, the ANC supported his appointment to the JSC, while two of its coalition partners, the DA and the Afrikaner nationalist Freedom Front Plus, opposed it.

William Gumede, an academic at Wits University’s School of Governance in Johannesburg, said the ANC’s decision did not come as a surprise.

“There are going to be big battles with MK, but this is not one that the ANC was prepared to fight because it could have set the wrong tone for the opening of parliament,” Prof Gumede told the BBC.

Furthermore, the ANC had to take into account the fact that Dr Hlophe remains popular, despite his impeachment, said Prof Gumede.

“Many black voters appear not to mind supporting people implicated in abusing public office, if these people can successfully cast themselves as victims of a conspiracy, supposedly by the ‘system’,” he added.

He said a lot now depended on how Dr Hlophe performed in parliament.

“If he provides effective opposition, MK could grow and he could potentially be its next leader,” Prof Gumede added.

This is a far cry from the 65-year-old’s childhood as a labourer for a sugar-cane farmer whom he called “filthy rich” – a man who went on to help finance his university education.

“I grew up poor, like most South Africans,” he told a podcast hosted by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), an opposition party with whom MK has formed an alliance in parliament.

“I started weeding sugar-cane fields at the age of 12. I would carry 12kg of fertiliser on my back and I would never look back. We used to work very hard, even Christmas and public holidays. There were just no holidays, considering there were no labour laws then,” Dr Hlophe added.

His comments are a poignant reminder of black people’s lives under white-minority rule – and the racial and ideological fault-lines that run through a country where black people have only been allowed to vote for 30 years.

• The ex-gangster who has become South Africa’s sports minister
• Behind the ‘Zuma tsunami’ in South Africa
• The winners and losers in South Africa’s historic new government
• Why voters fall out of love with liberation movements
• Cyril Ramaphosa – South African union leader, mine boss, president

Germany’s reputation for super-efficiency has suffered a body blow.

As football fans poured in and out of cities across the country for Euro 2024, they discovered the trains weren’t as good as they thought.

One supporters’ group even said services were better when Russia hosted the World Cup.

Fans praised “sensational” pricing deals which, for ticket holders, included discounted or even free local travel as part of a sustainability drive.

But Thomas Concannon from the Football Supporters’ Association complained: “We were in constant contact with fans who were experiencing problems.”

He believes surprise at the situation was partly borne out of a “pre-conceived reputation about Germany that the trains run on time”.

Lindsey and Darren Ramskill from Goole in East Yorkshire went to six out of England’s seven matches and experienced packed trains, stop-start services and poor communication.

“I’m not moaning about British trains anymore,” said Lindsey. “Ours are better.”

Another football supporter from the neighbouring Netherlands, who travels a lot for his work as a motivational speaker, was less shocked.

“If I can, I try to avoid Germany now because there are always problems,” said Wiebe Wakker.

After the England v Netherlands semi-final, his delayed journey out of Dortmund included an “unbearably hot” carriage with no functioning air conditioning.

“Everyone was sweating,” he said. It was so “horrible” he got off and took a taxi the rest of the way with some England supporters.

Within Germany there’s been exasperation with the Deutsche Bahn (DB) national rail operator for years.

Just 64% cent of long-distance trains ran on time in 2023. That compares with a declining level of punctuality in Great Britain of 67.8% trains arriving on schedule in the year to March 2023.

However, DB counts punctuality as a train arriving within six minutes of the original schedule whereas UK figures are for services that arrive within just one minute.

In Germany, calls for desperately needed investment are often heard as part of a wider debate about how to boost a flagging economy.

German transport lobby group Allianz pro Schiene (pro-Rail alliance) compared spending per person on railway infrastructure across 14 European countries including the UK, Germany, France, Spain and Italy.

It found Germany was 10th last year at €115 (£97) per person, while the UK was sixth and Luxembourg topped the group with €512 per head.

For Germans it is no surprise that well-used motto “Vorsprung durch Technik” (Headstart through Technology) belies a less potent, more sluggish, picture.

Europe’s largest economy has for years quite publicly struggled with how to modernise.

Analysts do not just blame a lack of investment but a failure to digitise the economy married with tedious red tape.

Rules and paperwork can suck up valuable time for both businesses and people.

One example, in Berlin, is that you are legally required to make an in-person appointment to register a new home address within two weeks.

But good luck getting one.

The local government website offers no available appointments at all on Wedneday, right through to mid-September.

Both private and public sectors have seen under-investment for years, says Professor Hubertus Bardt from the German Economic Institute (IW).

Railways have undergone a “here and there” approach to repairs, he says, which “causes delays and doesn’t really solve the problems”.

More major works are now getting going such as the five-month mega-renewal on the Frankfurt-to-Mannheim line.

But Professor Bardt believes a “huge programme” of broader spending is needed which looks well beyond the annual budgets that can cause political agony for Germany’s ruling coalition.

“We have thousands of bridges that have to be renovated or rebuilt,” he says. The problem is primarily in western Germany which is creaking under infrastructure built in the sixties and seventies, while the east saw fresh investment after the Berlin Wall came down in 1989.

The overall view for Germany is worrying, as economic growth forecasts continue to put it at the bottom of the pile when compared with other G7 major economies.

It’s projected to grow by just 0.2% this year, according to the International Monetary Fund and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Efficiency, unrivalled industry and punctuality are labels that have stubbornly stuck to Germany’s reputation abroad but have long worn thin at home.

In 2015 Australia’s multi-billion-dollar greyhound racing industry vowed it would clean up its act.

A damning investigation at the time had exposed the preventable deaths of as many as 17,000 young dogs a year – revelations so shocking the government of the day rushed to implement an ultimately short-lived ban.

Almost a decade later, Greyhound Racing New South Wales (GRNSW) – the epicentre of the sport in the country – is back in the spotlight for alleged abuse, due to the work of one whistleblower.

In an explosive report made public by lawmakers, the organisation’s former chief veterinarian has described the industry as a hotbed of “exploitation and suffering”, claiming that dogs are being raced at “barbaric” rates, euthanised without cause, or left to rot in metal cages when they can no longer compete.

Executive heads are rolling, and an inquiry, which GRNSW says it “welcomes”, has been announced to investigate the accusations, as calls from critics to have greyhound racing outlawed grow louder.

But despite evidence of slipping public support, the state’s premier has said he won’t shut down the sport, prompting a standoff with those calling for that to happen.

“The reality is the greyhound racing industry cannot exist without systemic animal cruelty,” says NSW Animal Justice MP Emma Hurst.

“It will be shut down – it’s just a matter of when.”

Australia has been touted as the world’s largest commercial greyhound racing industry – with roughly 60 tracks in operation. New Zealand, the US, the UK and Ireland are also home to markets, but none operate at the same velocity.

Thanks to online betting, Australia’s industry has seen rising profits in recent years, turning over A$8.3bn ($5.6bn; £4.3bn) in 2023 – with 75% of the money coming from Victoria and New South Wales (NSW), according to the greyhound protection organisation GREY2K.

The spark that ignited the current outcry over the sport’s practices was a “handover” letter, from GRNSW’s Chief Veterinary Officer Alex Brittan to his incoming replacement – his final act in a job that by his own account, had nearly broken him.

The 54-page document contains a litany of accusations – including claims that GRNSW had worked with vets “unaccepting of modern medicine” who were prone to euthanising dogs without cause, and that the company’s leadership was directing staff to treat animal welfare groups “as the enemy”.

Within hours of Mr Brittan’s letter becoming public, the chief of GRNSW Rob Macaulay had resigned and the rest of the company’s board is now fighting for their survival.

NSW’s Gaming and Racing Minister David Harris has announced an inquiry into Mr Brittan’s claims which will be led by the industry’s regulator – something which GRNSW has been quick to embrace.

“We welcome the opportunity for an external examination of our processes and record,” its acting CEO Wayne Billett wrote in a statement. And a spokesperson for GRNSW told the BBC that the organisation takes concerns related to animal welfare “very seriously”.

But Mr Brittan’s account differs.

In his letter he described witnessing “cases of extreme distress” in which competing dogs had “recent pools of blood” around them after ripping off their toenails while “clawing” at their caged doors.

He also called out a flurry of “preventable” on-track deaths, due to greyhounds running into poles with “no padding on them” and questioned the figures GRNSW had put forward concerning how many retired dogs it had found homes for – a practice which gives the sport its social licence to operate.

Mr Brittan says that of the roughly 4,200 dogs entering the industry each year, only 1,600 were making it out and finding owners, with the rest living out their days in “industrial kennels”.

Further – he alleged that a company programme which had been set up to export retired greyhounds to the US, so that they could find homes there, had an alarming lack of oversight.

To prove his point, he told the story of Carey – a dog who died at Sydney airport after confusing its travelling box with a racer’s starter box and running into a fence at full speed when the door opened.

NSW’s premier Chris Minns said he would examine all the allegations put forward by Mr Brittan, but quickly ruled out a blanket ban on greyhound racing in the state.

“We’re not going to shut down the industry, but we do take this report seriously,” he told reporters last week.

And Mr Harris reiterated that the government would make sure the industry was held to “the highest standards of animal welfare and integrity” once the new investigation had concluded.

But given GRNSW has weathered multiple crises – including a government-backed inquiry in 2016 which delivered findings of “systemic animal cruelty” and mass killings – advocates are sceptical another inquiry will yield results.

“The greyhound racing industry was already given a chance to clean up its act eight years ago, and it’s monumentally failed,” Ms Hurst told the BBC.

Mr Brittan has also challenged the impartiality of the current investigation – saying it should be done by an external source, rather than the industry’s own regulator.

And he questioned why an all-out ban had been taken off the table already.

“It could be perceived as concerning that the premier and gaming minister have stated that the outcome of the inquiry is a foregone conclusion and that, irrespective of any findings, all bets are on, and the gambling will continue,” he said, according to the Guardian.

Around the world, the prominence and popularity of dog-racing for sport has been in decline.

In the US for example – which used to be one of the sport’s largest industries – betting on greyhounds has been outlawed in all but a handful of states, and only two active tracks remain, both in West Virginia.

Advocates like Ms Hurst argue that the practice endures in Australia not because of community fanfare, but gambling profits.

The last time the industry was in the spotlight in 2016, over 80% of people polled by the country’s national broadcaster said they wanted to see it shut down.

And in recent years, it has been outlawed in the Australian Capital Territory, while petitions calling for other jurisdictions to follow suit have made their way to several state parliaments.

GRNSW says it has no plans to go anywhere – and that racing, which first came to the nation’s shores in the late 1800s, can be done “sustainably”.

But Ms Hurst, and others calling for an end to the sport, say that the latest spate of allegations present a unique “opportunity” to “listen to the community and ban this cruel industry”.

Hans de Borst’s hands were shaking as he flipped through the memorial service programme.

His 17-year-old daughter Elsemiek was on board flight MH17, 10 years ago to the day.

Hans was the first family member to arrive in the small amphitheatre at the heart of the MH17 national monument.

“How am I feeling?” Hans repeated my question. “A bit nervous.”

He gestured to the rows of benches where 1,300 relatives and dignitaries from around the world, including Dutch King Willem-Alexander, would soon be seated.

Two hundred and ninety eight people died on 17 July 2014 when the Malaysia Airlines passenger jet en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was hit by a Russian surface-to-air Buk missile, fired from an area of eastern Ukraine seized by Russian proxy forces.

Former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte was among the guests filing past fields of sunflowers on his way to the heart of the monument.

Mr Rutte, who is Nato’s next secretary general, was asked by the BBC if he and his government had done enough to get justice for the victims.

“I don’t know. I really don’t know.”

Two Russians and a Ukrainian national were convicted of murder in absentia by a Dutch court in 2022.

Igor Girkin, Sergei Dubinsky and Leonid Kharchenko all face life sentences but the three remain at large because Russia refused to surrender them to face justice.

The Buk missile system belonged to Russia’s 53rd Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade, based in Kursk, and the three men were all found guilty of transporting the missile into Ukraine.

The Kremlin has always denied any responsibility for the air disaster, which has left an indelible mark on the collective memory of the Dutch nation.

Mr Rutte noted the difficulties in pursuing justice and said he’d been moved by tributes paid in the run-up to Wednesday’s 10-year anniversary.

A few relatives of those who died exchanged hugs and hushed words with the man who was prime minister at the time of the disaster and stepped down little more than two weeks ago.

“I think he did everything he could,” said Silene Frederiksz, whose son Bryce was on board MH-17.

“And I’m optimistic that Dick Schoof [the new Dutch prime mininister] will keep pushing for justice and accountability. He was involved in the MH17 investigation; he understands.”

A decade on, the families are still searching for the truth, and acknowledgement of responsibility.

“MH17 keeps coming back to haunt me” said Piet Ploeg, whose nephew, brother and sister-in-law were all killed on 17 July 2014.

Of the 298 victims, 196 were Dutch but there were victims from many other countries including 43 from Malaysia, 38 from Australia and 10 from the UK.

Eighty children were among the dead.

Australian relatives also took part in a separate memorial service at Parliament House in Canberra.

The war in eastern Ukraine, at the time a few months’ old, erupted in February 2022 into a full-blown Russian invasion.

Many of the Dutch relatives believe the current hostilities could have been averted if the international community had taken a tougher stance in response to the shooting down of flight MH17.

The passenger jet exploded at 33,000ft (10,000m) and bodies and wreckage landed in fields of sunflowers near Hrabove in eastern Ukraine.

Sunflowers have since become a symbol of the tragedy and relatives carried them past flags flying at half-mast at the Dutch monument not far from Schiphol Airport.

Robbie Oehlers was one of the few relatives who travelled to the crash site in the aftermath of the disaster, in search of his niece, Daisy, and her boyfriend Bryce.

Every now and then planes rumbled above the sombre ceremony. Bryce’s mother Silene was among those who read out some of the 298 names.

Australian Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus, representing his country at the Dutch event, said those caught up in the tragedy of MH17 had shared a pursuit of justice, truth and accountability, but no words could ease the pain.

Further legal action is under way at the European Court of Human Rights and the International Civil Aviation Organization Council to hold Russia accountable under international law for the attack.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said it was inevitable that everyone guilty of this and other war crimes would “hear the verdicts they deserve”.

“They will never admit it,” said Robbie Oehlers of Russia’s leaders. “Yes, I just want them to say sorry, but Putin, he never will. And now with the change in our government. Today they are thinking about MH17 again, but tomorrow they have other priorities.”

For many of the families, the MH17 national monument has become a place of solace.

There are 298 trees planted at the monument in memory of every victim. At each tree relatives congregated to place flowers, candles and photos of their loved ones who never came home.

“Love is the strongest emotion. Today reminds us, we are not alone in our sadness,” said Prime Minister Schoof.

Piet Ploeg who spoke on behalf of the families, said it was heartwarming to see everyone come together and thanked Mark Rutte for his efforts.

The crowd applauded.

“The most important thing,” said Mr Ploeg, “is that this dark day in our history isn’t forgotten.”

A drug has increased the lifespans of laboratory animals by nearly 25%, in a discovery scientists hope can slow human ageing too.

The treated mice were known as “supermodel grannies” in the lab because of their youthful appearance.

They were healthier, stronger and developed fewer cancers than their unmedicated peers.

The drug is already being tested in people, but whether it would have the same anti-ageing effect is unknown.

The quest for a longer life is woven through human history.

However, scientists have long known the ageing process is malleable – laboratory animals live longer if you significantly cut the amount of food they eat.

Now the field of ageing-research is booming as researchers try to uncover – and manipulate – the molecular processes of ageing.

The team at the MRC Laboratory of Medical Science, Imperial College London and Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore were investigating a protein called interleukin-11.

Levels of it increase in the human body as we get older, it contributes to higher levels of inflammation, and the researchers say it flips several biological switches that control the pace of ageing.

The researchers performed two experiments.

• The first genetically engineered mice so they were unable to produce interleukin-11
• The second waited until mice were 75 weeks old (roughly equivalent to a 55-year-old person) and then regularly gave them a drug to purge interleukin-11 from their bodies

The results, published in the journal Nature, showed lifespans were increased by 20-25% depending on the experiment and sex of the mice.

Old laboratory mice often die from cancer, however, the mice lacking interleukin-11 had far lower levels of the disease.

And they showed improved muscle function, were leaner, had healthier fur and scored better on many measures of frailty.

I asked one of the researchers, Prof Stuart Cook, whether the data was too good to be believed.

He told me: “I try not to get too excited, for the reasons you say, is it too good to be true?

“There’s lots of snake oil out there, so I try to stick to the data and they are the strongest out there.”

He said he “definitely” thought it was worth trialling in human ageing, arguing that the impact “would be transformative” if it worked and was prepared to take it himself.

The big unanswered questions are could the same effect be achieved in people, and whether any side effects would be tolerable.

Interleukin-11 does have a role in the human body during early development.

People are, very rarely, born unable to make it. This alters how the bones in their skull fuse together, affects their joints, which can need surgery to correct, and how their teeth emerge. It also has a role in scarring.

The researchers think that later in life, interleukin-11 is playing the bad role of driving ageing.

The drug, a manufactured antibody that attacks interleukin-11, is being trialled in patients with lung fibrosis. This is where the lungs become scarred, making it harder to breathe.

Prof Cook said the trials had not been completed, however, the data suggested the drug was safe to take.

This is just the latest approach to “treating” ageing with drugs. The type-2 diabetes drug metformin and rapamycin, which is taken to prevent an organ transplant being rejected, are both actively being researched for their anti-ageing qualities.

Prof Cook thinks a drug is likely to be easier for people than calorie restriction.

“Would you want to live from the age of 40, half-starved, have a completely unpleasant life, if you’re going to live another five years at the end? I wouldn’t,” he said.

Prof Anissa Widjaja, from Duke-NUS Medical School, said: “Although our work was done in mice, we hope that these findings will be highly relevant to human health, given that we have seen similar effects in studies of human cells and tissues.

“This research is an important step toward better understanding ageing and we have demonstrated, in mice, a therapy that could potentially extend healthy ageing.”

Ilaria Bellantuono, professor of musculoskeletal ageing at the University of Sheffield, said: “Overall, the data seems solid, this is another potential therapy targeting a mechanism of ageing, which may benefit frailty.”

However, he said there were still problems, including the lack of evidence in patients and the cost of making such drugs and “it is unthinkable to treat every 50-year-old for the rest of their life”.

There has been outrage in Italy after a female tourist in Florence was pictured miming a lewd act on a statue of Bacchus, the Roman god of wine and excess.

In the photos – which were shared online by the social media account Welcome To Florence – the woman can also be seen kissing the life-size statue at night-time.

The Bacchus stands on a plinth on a street corner near the famous Ponte Vecchio bridge and is a modern replica of the 16th Century work by sculptor Giambologna. The original is kept in the nearby Bargello museum.

The photos sparked angry reactions from social media users, some of whom called for the woman’s arrest.

“This is the result of years of attempts at turning Florence into Disneyland,” said another.

Patrizia Asproni, the president of Confcultura, an association that promotes Italy’s cultural heritage, told Italian media that these “repeated shows of rudeness and barbarity” take place “because everyone feels entitled to do whatever they want with impunity”.

Ms Asproni called for the application of the “Singapore model” with “tight checks, sky-high fines and zero tolerance” for bad behaviour.

Antonella Rinaldi, Florence’s archaeology and fine arts superintendent, said: “Tourists are welcome here but they need to respect our artworks, be they originals or replicas.”

“Although I doubt this lady – whom I condemn – even knows the difference,” she added.

Florence is one of the world’s foremost tourist destinations.

In 2023, around 1.5 million people visited the city – which has a population of just 382,000 – between June and September.

Local residents have long struggled with the huge influx of tourists, which in the summer months turns Florence’s narrow streets into steady streams of people.

The so-called “overtourism” phenomenon has prompted several cities around the world to make changes to the way they welcome tourists.

Last month, the mayor of Barcelona pledged to eliminate short-term tourist lets in the city within five years, while several hotspots – like Venice or Japan’s Mount Fuji – have started to introduce daily charges to try to limit numbers.

The daughter of Dubai’s ruler appears to have announced her divorce on social media.

A post from the verified Instagram account of Sheikha Mahra bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said she was ending her marriage, and reads: “I hereby declare our divorce.”

The BBC has reached out to officials in the country to seek clarity on the matter.

There has been no public comment from Sheikha Mahra’s husband, Sheikh Mana bin Mohammed bin Rashid bin Mana Al Maktoum, or her father.

The post, which begins “Dear Husband”, concluded – “I divorce you, I divorce you, and I divorce you,” seemingly using the Islamic practice known as triple talaq.

The practice has been banned in many countries, but usually allows husbands to swiftly divorce their wives by saying “I divorce you” three times.

“Take care. Your ex-wife,” the post on Instagram added.

All images of Sheikha Mahra’s husband appear to have been deleted from her account. Sheikh Mana’s account likewise seems stripped of pictures of his wife.

The couple married in April 2023 in a lavish ceremony, and their first child was born two months ago.

Some comments from Instagram users have speculated that Sheikha Mahra’s account could have been hacked. There has been no official indication of this. At time of publication, the post declaring her divorce was listed as one day old.

Dubai’s government and the UAE Embassy in London did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Despite being Hollywood’s hottest new star, Glen Powell has said he will finish studying for his degree while shooting his next movie.

The actor – who recently starred in Top Gun: Maverick, Anyone But You and Twisters – plans to complete his Spanish and early American history degree at the University of Texas.

Powell, 35, is from Austin, Texas, and has recently moved back to his home state to be closer to his family, after living in Hollywood.

Speaking to IndieWire, Powell said he plans to attend Zoom classes while he’s working on his next film, a remake of 1987 sci-fi film The Running Man, in the UK.

“So I’m going to be in London, but I am going to be going back for proctored [supervised] exams,” he said.

“They’re letting me figure it out [with] distance learning.

“And I’m obviously going to be coming in, Zooming in for classes and whatnot, but I have to be back for the proctored exams.”

He will have to return to Texas “two or three times a semester”, and said The Running Man director Edgar Wright had been understanding.

“Edgar has been very nice about letting me finish my degree in the middle of his massive movie.”

In May, Powell was the cover star on a Hollywood Reporter issue about “the new A-list”.

He told the magazine he felt he was able to return to Texas because “getting to this point in Hollywood [means] that I can now leave Hollywood”.

He added that he felt “like I’ve earned the ability to go back to my family”, and was given the advice to move by fellow Texan actor Matthew McConaughey.

Powell also told the publication it was an “emotional thing” to finish the degree, which he started before he reached this level of fame.

“I think it’s really important to my mom and it’s more of an emotional thing for me,” he said.

The actor is incredibly close to his parents, who regularly attend press events with him, and two sisters.

In the interview with IndieWire, Powell clarified that he has “nothing against Hollywood” – but he would be happier spending time in Austin between projects.

“I love being around people who love entertainment, and I love what [Hollywood] represents.

“Coming here for little chunks of time and doing all the stuff I need to do here, it’s great.

“And I have nothing against Hollywood.

“I just realised, in terms of filling up the pieces of me that need to be refuelled between projects and doing stuff like that, that’s all Austin for me.”

The stars of Baby Reindeer and The Crown are among those nominated for this year’s Emmy Awards.

Scottish comedian Richard Gadd, creator of controversial Netflix series Baby Reindeer, has three nominations – for acting, writing and producing.

Jessica Gunning, who plays stalker Martha, is also nominated for an acting award, as are co-stars Nava Mau (Teri) and Tom Goodman-Hill (Darrien).

The series has 11 nominations in all. Most nominated is Japan-set samurai epic Shogun with 25, while The Bear has set a record for a comedy programme with 23.

The top Emmy nominees:

• Shogun – 25
• The Bear – 23
• Only Murders in the Building – 21
• True Detective: Night Country – 19
• The Crown – 18

Imelda Staunton is up for best lead actress in a drama, for playing Elizabeth II in the final series of Netflix royal drama The Crown.

Jonathan Pryce (Prince Philip), Dominic West (the Prince of Wales, Prince Charles), Elizabeth Debicki (Diana, Princess of Wales) and Lesley Manville (Princess Margaret) also have nominations.

And Claire Foy – who played Elizabeth II in the first two series – has a nomination for best guest actress, for returning in a final scene in which the monarch reflects on her life.

Olivia Colman, The Crown’s other former lead actress, is nominated for a different role – Chef Terry in US restaurant drama The Bear.

The Bear has 10 acting nominations in total, including for its stars Jeremy Allen White and Ayo Edebiri, and British guest actor Will Poulter.

Other nominated British actors include Idris Elba for Hijack, Gary Oldman and Jack Lowden for Slow Horses, Tom Hollander for Feud, Jonathan Bailey for Fellow Travelers, Michaela Coel for Mr & Mrs Smith, Matt Berry for What We Do in the Shadows, and Juno Temple for Fargo.

For murder mystery comedy Only Murders in the Building, the central cast members Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez are all in the running, alongside Meryl Streep, who joined for season three.

Elsewhere, Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon will go head-to-head for their roles in The Morning Show, while Jodie Foster and Robert Downey Jr are among the other big names on the shortlists.

The Emmys are the most prestigious honours in the US TV industry.

The winners will be announced on 15 September.

Outstanding drama series

• The Crown
• Fallout
• The Gilded Age
• The Morning Show
• Mr & Mrs Smith
• Shogun
• Slow Horses
• 3 Body Problem

Outstanding comedy series

• Abbott Elementary
• The Bear
• Curb Your Enthusiasm
• Hacks
• Only Murders in the Building
• Palm Royale
• Reservation Dogs
• What We Do in the Shadows

Outstanding limited or anthology series

• Baby Reindeer
• Fargo
• Lessons in Chemistry
• Ripley
• True Detective: Night Country

Outstanding lead actor in a drama series

• Idris Elba – Hijack
• Donald Glover – Mr & Mrs Smith
• Walton Goggins – Fallout
• Gary Oldman – Slow Horses
• Hiroyuki Sanada – Shogun
• Dominic West – The Crown

Outstanding lead actress in a drama series

• Jennifer Aniston – The Morning Show
• Carrie Coon – The Gilded Age
• Maya Erskine – Mr & Mrs Smith
• Anna Sawai – Shogun
• Imelda Staunton – The Crown
• Reese Witherspoon – The Morning Show

Outstanding lead actor in a comedy series

• Matt Berry – What We Do in the Shadows
• Larry David – Curb Your Enthusiasm
• Steve Martin – Only Murders in the Building
• Martin Short – Only Murders in the Building
• Jeremy Allen White – The Bear
• D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai – Reservation Dogs

Outstanding lead actress in a comedy series

• Quinta Brunson – Abbott Elementary
• Ayo Edebiri – The Bear
• Selena Gomez – Only Murders in the Building
• Maya Rudolph – Loot
• Jean Smart – Hacks
• Kristen Wiig – Palm Royale

Outstanding lead actor in a limited or anthology series or movie

• Matt Bomer – Fellow Travelers
• Richard Gadd – Baby Reindeer
• Jon Hamm – Fargo
• Tom Hollander – Feud: Capote vs The Swans
• Andrew Scott – Ripley

Outstanding lead actress in a limited or anthology series or movie

• Jodie Foster – True Detective: Night Country
• Brie Larson – Lessons in Chemistry
• Juno Temple – Fargo
• Sofía Vergara – Griselda
• Naomi Watts – Feud: Capote vs The Swans

The daughter of Dubai’s ruler appears to have announced her divorce on social media.

A post from the verified Instagram account of Sheikha Mahra bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said she was ending her marriage, and reads: “I hereby declare our divorce.”

The BBC has reached out to officials in the country to seek clarity on the matter.

There has been no public comment from Sheikha Mahra’s husband, Sheikh Mana bin Mohammed bin Rashid bin Mana Al Maktoum, or her father.

The post, which begins “Dear Husband”, concluded – “I divorce you, I divorce you, and I divorce you,” seemingly using the Islamic practice known as triple talaq.

The practice has been banned in many countries, but usually allows husbands to swiftly divorce their wives by saying “I divorce you” three times.

“Take care. Your ex-wife,” the post on Instagram added.

All images of Sheikha Mahra’s husband appear to have been deleted from her account. Sheikh Mana’s account likewise seems stripped of pictures of his wife.

The couple married in April 2023 in a lavish ceremony, and their first child was born two months ago.

Some comments from Instagram users have speculated that Sheikha Mahra’s account could have been hacked. There has been no official indication of this. At time of publication, the post declaring her divorce was listed as one day old.

Dubai’s government and the UAE Embassy in London did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

President Joe Biden faces new questions over his candidacy in the November election – with his campaign events currently on pause due to a Covid-19 infection.

The top two Democrats in the US Congress, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, are both reported to have met him individually to express concerns over his bid for the White House.

Nancy Pelosi, the former House Speaker, has also privately told him that he cannot beat Donald Trump in November’s election, according to CNN.

Mr Biden’s re-election attempt was already being buffeted by growing dissent among top Democrats after his disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump last month.

Announcing his Covid infection on Wednesday, Mr Biden’s press secretary said the 81-year-old was facing mild symptoms.

He would isolate at his home in Delaware while carrying out “all of his duties fully”, said Karine Jean-Pierre. She added that the president was vaccinated and boosted. He has tested positive for Covid twice before.

Mr Biden was seen earlier in the day visiting supporters in Las Vegas and speaking at an event. He was forced to cancel a speech later in the day at UnidosUS, a Latino civil rights organisation.

It marked a sudden and debilitating end to a trip that was supposed to see Mr Biden hitting the campaign trail again with full force – after the pause sparked by the attempted assassination of his rival Trump.

The president had spent time in Las Vegas trying to revive his appeal among Hispanic voters, with whom his poll lead has slipped since 2020.

Later on Wednesday, he was seen moving slowly and cautiously up the steps to Air Force One. He was not wearing a mask. As he boarded the plane, he was heard to say: “Good, I feel good.”

Mr Biden has faced growing calls to withdraw from the election race in recent weeks.

During their separate private meetings with Mr Biden which took place last week, Mr Schumer and Mr Jeffries expressed concerns that his presence at the top of the November election ticket could hurt their chances for controlling either chamber in Congress, according to multiple reports.

After the reports, White House spokesman Andrew Bates said: “The president told both leaders he is the nominee of the party, he plans to win, and looks forward to working with both of them to pass his 100 days agenda to help working families.”

• Can Biden be replaced as nominee? It’s not easy

A spokesman for Mr Jeffries said, “it was a private conversation that will remain private”. Mr Schumer’s office called the reporting “idle speculation” but added the Democratic leader “conveyed the views of his caucus directly to President Biden”.

Ms Pelosi, too, is said by CNN to have told the president in a recent conversation that polling suggested he could harm the Democrats’ chances of winning the House in November.

The president pushed back, at which point Ms Pelosi asked for input on key data from the president’s long-time adviser, according to CNN, which cited four sources briefed on the call.

It is not clear when the conversation took place. Ms Pelosi’s office told CNN she had not been in touch with the president since Friday.

About two dozen Democratic politicians have publicly called for Mr Biden to step aside in recent weeks, including Adam Schiff, a congressman from California who has called on Mr Biden to “pass the torch”.

Mr Schiff said Mr Biden “has been one of the most consequential presidents in our nation’s history”, and he could “secure his legacy of leadership” by allowing another Democrat to step forward.

In an interview with BET, Mr Biden said he did not feel he could pass the mantle with the country so “divided”.

The president also said, for the first time, that he would consider dropping out of the race if any of his doctors said he had a “medical condition”.

Before the announcement of Mr Biden’s infection on Wednesday, reporters on the Las Vegas trip said they had been rushed off the site of a campaign stop at a Mexican restaurant to the city’s airport following the announcement.

The restaurant had been ablaze with colour, with Mexican art and guitars hanging from the walls and banners draped from the ceiling. One wall was adorned with “Biden-Harris” posters.

As ceiling fans swirled on low speed and Latino pop played quietly from the speakers, Mr Biden walked in via the kitchen door – which was flanked by a Secret Service detail – and entered a main dining area.

He shook hands with diners – who had clearly been prepared some time in advance for his arrival – kissed one and had selfies taken with others.

The president seemed somewhat stiffer and appeared slower than the day before, when he had given an energised performance in a speech to a national civil rights group.

Commenting later in the day on his Covid infection, the president’s doctor Kevin O’Connor said Mr Biden had presented with upper respiratory symptoms, including a runny nose and a cough, and had been given his first dose of Paxlovid.

He felt fine during his first event of the day but later tested positive, Dr O’Connor said.

Mr Biden posted on X to thank everyone for “the well wishes” and said he would “work to get the job done for the American people” while in recovery.

In another post on his account, he stated: “I’m sick” before going on to write “… of Elon Musk and his rich buddies trying to buy this election. And if you agree, pitch in here”.

The tweet pointed to a donations portal.

• POLICIES: Where Biden and Trump stand on key issues
• AMERICAST: Listen to latest episode on Biden’s Covid and Vance’s speech
• GLOBAL: What Moscow and Beijing think of rematch
• ANALYSIS: Could US economy be doing too well?
• ALTERNATIVES: Who else is running for president in 2024?
• VOTERS: US workers in debt to buy groceries

North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher makes sense of the race for the White House in his weekly US Election Unspun newsletter. Readers in the UK can sign up here. Those outside the UK can sign up here.

You don’t expect to meet an anti-Trump Republican at a Trump rally.

When 67-year-old US Army veteran Thomas Gleason arrived at former President Donald Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, he came looking for conversation.

A registered Republican who is opposed to Trump, Mr Gleason was wearing a placard proclaiming the former president a “threat to the Constitution” and challenging the former president’s supporters to a friendly debate.

“I had very civil discussions with a lot of people,” he recalled, “that was a pleasant surprise”.

Soon after, however, the jovial atmosphere of the rally turned to chaos, confusion and rage as shots rang out from a nearby rooftop.

“I immediately knew what it was. I recognised it as gunfire,” the former paratrooper told the BBC several days after the shooting. “Some people screamed, and a lot of people fell to the ground.”

The shooting grazed Trump’s ear and 50-year-old volunteer fire chief Corey Comperatore was left dead. Two others were seriously injured.

In the days after the shooting, rallygoers who were in attendance say that their initial feelings of shock have given way to anger, sadness, and fears for what the future may bring.

Many of those who attended the rally have directed their anger at the US Secret Service, which they see as having been responsible for security at the event – and, by extension, their own safety.

The Secret Service has said that local police were responsible for the outer cordons of security at the rally and had officers inside the building from where he was shooting.

But that does little to soothe the concerns of witnesses such as 66-year-old Kathleen O’ Shea, who laid the blame explicitly on the Secret Service’s embattled director, Kimberly Cheatle.

Two days after the shooting, Ms O’Shea told the BBC she was “furious” that an “epic failure” left a man dead and Trump – who she says she would “take a bullet for” – with a narrow escape.

“All I want to hear from her [Ms Cheatle] is that she resigns. She got a good, innocent American killed,” she added.

“She should offer her heartfelt condolences and apologies, and if she means it, she will resign.”

Jean Vincent, a Butler woman who attended the rally alongside her sister Suzanne, said that – no matter who was responsible for what part of security – the Secret Service “definitely dropped the ball” on 13 July.

“I get so emotional. I’m so upset someone could have killed us. Could have killed my children,” she said, adding that her son shielded her body during the shooting. “Someone has to be held responsible. They’ve got to learn.”

Ms Vincent said that when she heard the shooting her thoughts immediately went to the 2017 Las Vegas shooting, when dozens of people were killed by a gunman firing from the roof of a hotel.

“There could have been 200, 300 people killed,” she said. “It’s surreal. Nobody who was there can understand the security breach.”

Former Marine Teresa Wilson – an employee of a local police department elsewhere in Pennsylvania – was at the rally with a group of family members, including her elderly mother and teenage nephew.

She said she remains “infuriated” by a security set-up that she said left them “like sitting ducks”.

“It was a huge and embarrassing failure on their part,” she said. “It took two days for me to feel normal again. I was plagued by anxiety over the what-ifs.”

“Once I heard… early on about explosives being present, I struggled to shake the feeling of insecurity even though I was home and away from danger,” she added.

“My heart goes out to the families of the victims. If I had such a difficult time, I can’t imagine what they are going through.”

Residents of Butler and its surrounding county describe the largely rural area as friendly and neighbourly, a quiet place. The kind of town in which people know and help each other despite political differences.

Now, some residents fear that their town will forever be known for the events of 13 July.

Among them are partly retired psychiatrist Warren Goodrich and his wife Debbie.

The BBC first encountered them at the site of the rally, where they stood near Trump when he spoke.

When the shooting began, they took cover near a young girl who was pleading for her life, a sight that Mrs Goodrich said broke her heart.

“It’s been really hard on us emotionally,” Mrs Goodrich remarked a few days later. “It really hurts. It’s starting to hit us…. I’m just glad we’re alive.”

Over the course of more than 20 years in the town, the Goodrichs say they often tell people elsewhere that they are from Pittsburgh, knowing that few people will know where it is.

Looking to the future, Mr Goodrich said he is worried that Butler will have earned international notoriety and become a “shunned city”.

“It’s such a significant piece of history. But it’s irrational to blame the whole city,” he said. “It’s very, very sad.”

Echoing a sentiment heard several times by the BBC in Butler, Suzanne Vincent, Jean’s sister, said that she believes the town will “unfortunately be on the map” at a national level, comparing it to small towns like Uvalde, Texas, which have been marked by tragedies.

“That is so unfair,” she added. “But it’s changed this community, and it’s changed America.”

For now, the motive for the shooting remains unclear, and there has been so far no evidence that proves or even suggests that suspect Matthew Thomas Crooks was motivated by politics.

But some of those who witnessed the bloodshed in Butler said they feared that the attempted assassination of a presidential candidate could raise tensions and push people to extremes.

“It’s not just violence against people like Trump and Biden that I’m concerned about,” said Mr Gleason, the army veteran. “I’m also worried about violence against people who hold opposing views.”

Jean Vincent said that she believes the US has entered a “very, very scary” time in which tensions are running particularly high ahead of the November election.

“I fear that this country is sliding into chaos and is out of control. I just can’t believe everyone is acting so crazy,” she said. “There’s all this division. What happens in the upcoming election if people are not happy with the outcome?”

Others described the aftermath of the shooting with a feeling of disgust.

“It’s unacceptable, anywhere,” said Greg Smith, whose business is immediately adjacent to the rally area, hours after it took place.

“I don’t care what candidate you like, or what your philosophy is.

“No matter the political climate… there is no room for this, anywhere.”

Cambodia has welcomed 60 baby Siamese crocodiles – a hatching record for the endangered species in this century, conservationists say.

They have called it a “real sign of hope”, after more than 20 years of efforts to revive the reptile’s numbers in the remote Cardamom Mountains.

The olive green freshwater reptile has a distinct bony crest at the back of its head – by some estimates, it can grow up to 3m or nearly 10ft.

Locals discovered five nests in May and the baby crocs were born at the end of June, conservationists said on Thursday.

Siamese crocodiles were once widespread throughout much of South East Asia.

But decades of hunting and habitat loss have tuned them into what conservations classify as “critically endangered” species. There are just 400 of them left in the world – and most of those are in Cambodia.

Given their dwindling population in the wild, “the hatching of 60 new crocodiles is a tremendous boost,” said Pablo Sinovas, who leads the Cambodia programme of conservation group Fauna & Flora.

He added that this was hugely encouraging for “collaborative conservation efforts” – in this case the efforts have involved conservationists, local NGOs and the Cambodian government.

The crocs were feared to be extinct until they were rediscovered in Cambodia in 2000.

Mr Sinovas says it Fauna & Flora has since worked with local officials to set up a programme to breed them in captivity before releasing them into suitable habitats across the Cardamom Mountains.

Local community wardens patrol crisscross mountains in regular patrols to ensure that the crocodiles are safe after release.

Since 2012, the programme has successfully let 196 Siamaese crocs back into the wild.

In May locals discovered nests in an area where the crocodiles had not been released before, suggesting that the species have been breeding in their natural habitat.

The conservation team then dispatched people to make sure the nests were protected round the clock – until all the eggs hatched, bringing 60 baby Siamese crocs into the world.

A collection of 3,404 eggs have been seized in Australia after a European operation into the illegal bird trade.

Investigators discovered the haul – believed to be worth $400,000 to $500,000 (£207,000 – £259,000) – at a property in Granton, Tasmania on 9 July.

The eggs had been blown – or hollowed out – meaning they only had ornamental value.

A 62-year-old man was being investigated but no arrests had been made, according to officials.

Environmental and wildlife crime has become one of the world’s largest and most profitable crime sectors and continues to grow as it pushes many species to the brink of extinction.

It is expected that the Australian suspect will appear in court at a later date for offences in contravention of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act 1999.

“[The man] is alleged to have been involved in the collection and harvesting of bird eggs from the wild and trading of both Australian native and CITES-listed bird eggs with people overseas,” a spokesperson from the federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) said.

CITES-listed means a species is listed in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), an international agreement between governments that aims to protect endangered plants and animals from international trade.

Analysis of the eggs is now underway to confirm what species they belong to, but they are believed to include rare and threatened species facing a high extinction risk.

Investigators believe they include eggs from the forty-spotted pardalote, which is found only on Tasmania’s Bruny Island, the swift parrot and the shy albatross.

The eggs in this collection were all blown or hollowed eggs, meaning the egg white and yolk had been removed.

In 2023, European authorities launched an investigation in relation to the illegal harvesting, collecting, trading, buying and selling of bird eggs within Europe and internationally.

A number of search warrants were undertaken resulting in the seizure of over 56,000 eggs.

CITES estimates international wildlife trade is worth billions of dollars – ranging from live animals, to products derived from them.

More than 40,000 species are covered by the agreement, with more than 180 countries agreeing, including Australia.

Tasmanian ecologist Dr Sally Bryant told ABC News that egg collecting “was probably happening more than any of us realise”.

She said: “We are well aware of these sorts of activities, but they’re very, very outdated — they are morally, ethically, legally corrupt.”

Collections of this size were put together by “skilled operators” over “many years”, she added.

The interference of threatened and migratory birds can carry a penalty of seven years imprisonment, a fine of $138,600 or both.

The export of Australian native specimens, including eggs, and the export or import of specimens, including eggs, on the CITES list has a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment, a fine $330,000, or both.

The possession of CITES-listed specimens, including eggs, can carry a penalty of five years imprisonment, a fine of $330,000 or both.

Tanya Plibersek, Minister for the Environment and Water, said: “Illegal trafficking and wildlife crime is fast becoming a threat for many of our species that are already at risk of extinction.

“We have to stamp out this terrible trade which sees our native animals captured in the Aussie bush and sent overseas to be sold.”

Donald Trump’s would-be assassin was flagged as “suspicious” by the Secret Service up to an hour before he began shooting but was lost in the crowd, lawmakers have been told by law enforcement officials.

In two closed briefings to lawmakers in the House and Senate on Wednesday, law enforcement officials, including the Secret Service, shared limited new information about security and the man who opened fire at a Trump rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday.

Wyoming Senator John Barrasso said the Secret Service told them they had spotted the attacker one hour before the attack, but then lost sight of him.

“He was identified as a character of suspicion because [he had] a rangefinder as well as a backpack. And this was over an hour before the shooting actually occurred,” he told Fox News.

“So, you would think over the course of that hour, you shouldn’t lose sight of the individual.”

A rangefinder is an instrument that can be used to help measure the distance to a target.

It was also revealed during the briefings that the gunman had visited the site of the attack, the Butler County fairgrounds, at least once in the days before the assassination attempt and had previously searched on his phone for symptoms of a depressive disorder, an official familiar with the briefing told CBS News, the BBC’s news partner.

The attacker had also used his phone to search for images of both Donald Trump and President Joe Biden. FBI Director Wray told lawmakers on the call that more than 200 interviews had already been conducted and 14,000 images reviewed.

• What we know about the Trump attacker
• Police were stationed in building Trump gunman shot from
• Tragedy at Trump rally upends election campaign – for now

However, multiple Republican senators criticised the lack of transparency from investigators on their call and expressed outrage that Trump was allowed to take the stage even after a threat was identified.

“I am appalled to learn that the Secret Service knew about a threat prior to President Trump walking on stage,” tweeted Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee.

A law enforcement official involved in the investigation told CBS that a sniper from a local tactical team deployed to assist the Secret Service took a picture of the gunman looking through the rangefinder, and immediately radioed to a command post to report the sighting.

According to ABC News and other US outlets, the 20-year-old gunman was spotted again on the roof of a building 20 minutes before the attack began, officials revealed.

He was killed by Secret Service snipers within 26 seconds of opening fire on Trump.

Multiple senators who participated in the call complained that investigators did not answer their questions and demanded the resignation of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle.

“The egregious security failures and lack of transparency around the assassination attempt on President Trump demand an immediate change of leadership at the Secret Service,” tweeted Utah Senator Mike Lee.

Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson called the briefing to lawmakers “unbelievably uninformative” and said investigators only took four questions from lawmakers.

Other senior Republicans also called for Ms Cheatle to resign. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said after the call that “the nation deserves answers and accountability” and a change in leadership at Secret Service would be “an important step in that direction”.

House lawmakers similarly were briefed on Wednesday by law enforcement about security and what led up to the Saturday shooting.

Republican Speaker of the House Mike Johnson also called for Ms Cheatle to quit. He said he plans to open an investigation in the House.

“It’ll be comprised of Republicans and Democrats to get down to the bottom of this quickly, so the American people can get the answers that they deserve,” he told Fox News.

FBI Director Chris Wray, who participated in the calls, told lawmakers that no motive has yet been identified for the gunman.

Ms Cheatle, a 27-year veteran of the Secret Service, is due to testify next week to the Republican-controlled House Oversight Committee and House Homeland Security Committee.

She has said the agency relied on local police to secure the building where the gunman climbed to the roof and perched his rifle.

A local officer came face-to-face with the gunman on the roof moments before the attack, Butler Township Manager Tom Knights told CBS.

The officer was searching after reports about a suspicious person. He was hoisted on to the roof by another officer and saw the suspect pointing a rifle directly at him, Mr Knights said.

The officer was in a “defenceless” position and let go, falling to the ground. He then alerted others to the gunman. Moments later, the shooting started.

The attack is being investigated by the Department of Homeland Security’s inspector general, and President Biden said he would direct an independent review be opened.

Donald Trump’s vice-presidential pick JD Vance vowed in a primetime speech to fight for working-class Americans that he argued had been “cast aside and forgotten” by the Democrats.

Introducing himself to millions of Americans watching on TV at home, the Ohio senator channelled his humble roots in the Midwest as he assailed “career politicians” like President Joe Biden.

He argued in his address at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, that Trump was the “last best hope” for Americans.

Trump and his running mate will challenge the Democratic White House ticket, currently Mr Biden and his Vice-President, Kamala Harris, in November’s election.

Mr Biden’s account on X, formerly Twitter, hit back at Mr Vance on Wednesday night, over his positions on abortion and Ukraine.

Mr Vance, 39, is hoping to become one of the youngest vice-presidents in US history.

In the speech, he charted his journey from a difficult childhood in small-town Ohio to the US Marines, Yale Law School, and finally the US Senate.

The author of best-selling memoir Hillbilly Elegy, about his impoverished family in Appalachian coal country, said “America’s ruling class” had destroyed communities like his hometown with trade agreements and foreign wars.

“From Iraq to Afghanistan, from the financial crisis to the Great Recession, from open borders to stagnating wages, the people who govern this country have failed and failed again,” he said.

He continued: “Donald Trump represents America’s last best hope to restore what – if lost – may never be found again.

• Analysis: JD Vance recounts ‘hillbilly’ roots but shows hard political edge
• Vance’s ‘Hillbilly Elegy’ becomes political lightning rod
• Vance ‘can only go up’: Republican voters applaud VP pick
• Who is Usha Vance, lawyer and wife of Trump’s VP pick?

“A country where a working-class boy, born far from the halls of power, can stand on this stage.”

The running mate, who is married to Usha Vance, a lawyer and daughter of Indian immigrants, said the US had traditionally welcomed newcomers, but that it ought not to import foreign labour.

“When we allow newcomers, we allow them on our terms,” he said.

Mr Vance was previously an opponent of Trump, once dismissing the Republican as an “idiot” who could become “America’s Hitler”.

By then a venture capitalist in Silicon Valley, he later mended fences with Trump.

He won the former president’s endorsement and was elected to the Senate in 2022, taking office the following year.

Democrats have seized on some of Mr Vance’s past statements, including that he doesn’t “really care what happens to Ukraine” and support for a nationwide abortion ban.

He has recently moderated his stance on abortion to align with the official Republican platform, which says the issue should be decided by individual states.

He did not mention the war in Ukraine during his speech, or say much at all about foreign policy, which was the theme of the third day of the party conference.

Mr Vance did say that US allies must share in the burden of securing world peace and America would avoid conflict but “punch hard” if provoked under a second Trump presidency.

He began his speech by talking about last Saturday’s assassination attempt on Trump.

“They accused him of being a tyrant,” he said. “They said he must be stopped at all costs. But how did he respond? He called for national unity, for national calm.”

In the immediate aftermath of the attack, Mr Vance blamed it on Mr Biden’s rhetoric and his warnings that his Republican rival poses a threat to democracy.

Most Americans had little knowledge of him until Wednesday night.

A CNN poll conducted last month showed that 13% of registered voters said they had a favourable opinion of Mr Vance and 20% an unfavourable one – nearly two-thirds either had never heard of him or had no opinion.

Some convention-goers on Wednesday said they were still learning about his biography.

Cindy Dore and Jackie Canon, two Republican delegates from Louisiana, said they were excited by Trump’s pick.

“He’s young, vibrant,” Ms Dore said.

She said she appreciated Hillbilly Elegy, but other than that, she didn’t know a lot about Mr Vance.

The speeches began shortly after it was announced that President Biden had been diagnosed with Covid-19 and temporarily suspended campaign activities.

The climax of the Republican convention will be Donald Trump’s speech on Thursday night.

Chris Devine – an associate professor of politics at the University of Dayton and co-author of Do Running Mates Matter? – told the BBC that vice-presidential picks tend to have quite a small effect on the overall race.

“If it’s the case that people look at JD Vance and see him as insufficiently experienced, they will think less of Donald Trump and his judgement,” he says. “Not by a lot, but potentially on the margins.”

But Mr Devine also noted that Mr Vance is an “incredibly talented communicator” despite being a relative political newcomer.