tributes to the seven—year—old boy, archie york, who died in yesterday's house explosion in newcastle, as a second body, thought to be a man in his 30s, is recovered. the wife of a conservative councillor is jailed for more than two years for inciting racial hatred on the day of the southport attacks. and england's cricketers struggle in the second test against pakistan. and coming up on sportsday later in the hour on bbc news, we'll get the latest from the first semi—final at the womens t20 world cup, with the defdning champions australia taking on south africa in dubai. good evening.

israel's foreign minister has just confirmed that its soliders have killed the hamas leader in gaza yesterday. yahya sinwar is widely seen as architect of the october 7th attacks on israel which sparked this year—long war. he has been israel's number one tareget. dna tests were carried out to determine whether the hamas leader was one of three people killed during a ground operation in the city of rafah. our international editor jeremy bowen is injerusalem with the very latest. the official israel defense forces, idf, announcement has dropped on social media shortly. it confirms that yahya sinwar, the leader of the mass terrorist organisation, responsible for planning and executing the massacre on the 7th of october has been eliminated. it says it was a year—long pursuit. it says

yahya sinwar planned and executed the 7th of october massacre, promoted his murderous ideology both before and during the war and was responsible for the murder and abduction of many israelis. that official announcement comes after several hours of growing speculation, many reports on social media, which throughout the afternoon spread across israel. at the beach south of tel aviv, a lifeguard picked up his microphone. "attentional bathers, it's not ioo%, but there is a strong chance that the rat from the tunnels known as yahya sinwar is dead." celebrations started as the first reports were posted on social media during the afternoon. they knew sinwar�*s death would be a big victory for israel and a big defeat for hamas. israeli soldiers took photos of a dead man wearing combat gear

who looked like sinwar. the man was killed by a tank yesterday after a chance encounter with an israeli unit. yahya sinwar spent 22 years in israeli jails for killing four palestinians who'd collaborated with israel, so the security services have his dental records and dna. injail, he learned hebrew, studied his enemy and believed he had worked out how to fight them. on the 7th of october last year, in a meticulously planned series of attacks, sinwar and his men inflicted israel's worst—ever defeat. and a collective trauma that is still deeply felt. the killing of civilians, the hostagetaking, and the celebrations of their enemies recall for many israelis the nazi holocaust in the second world war. israel's response, a year of war, continued this morning. around 25 palestinians were killed and dozens more wounded

in the latest big raid onjabalia camp in northern gaza. israel said it bombed a hamas command centre. doctors said the casualties they saw were civilians. israel's response to the 7th of october attacks has killed at least 42,000 people in gaza. its war aims of destroying hamas and freeing its hostages had not yet been achieved, so killing yahya sinwar would be the biggest victory so far. israel does not let us report independently from gaza, but this reaction in khan younis was filmed for the bbc. dr muhammad ali masri said, "my message to the zionist enemy is that for every leader they assassinate, a thousand more will rise to take his place". the hamas organisation that sinwar and others built before the 7th of october attacks is largely broken. left of sinwar is ismail haniyeh, hamas�* political leader, who was assassinated injuly. the war goes on.

parachute drops of aid resumed after the americans said israel had to allow in more food and relief supplies. israelis are already celebrating killing sinwar, but hamas still has its hostages and is still fighting. studio: and jeremy joins us from jerusalem. if it is confirmed to be him, could this be the beginning of the end of this war that began with the october 7th attacks? i think ithinka i think a lot of people will be hoping that is the case but it is by no means certain. israel has said repeatedly, and i have no reason to think they will change that now, that this war goes on until hamas is destroyed as a political and military organisation, and until its hostages are released. now, neither of those things have happened. i think it's pretty certain hamas will fight on. i would say nearly every leader of hamas, if not every leader

of hamas, since the 1990s, has been assassinated by the israelis, and they have always found someone else, and they have always continued. they are under immense pressure, of course, but that has been the case now for months.— now for months. there is a rally takin: now for months. there is a rally taking place _ now for months. there is a rally taking place right _ now for months. there is a rally taking place right now— now for months. there is a rally taking place right now in - now for months. there is a rally taking place right now in tel - now for months. there is a rally i taking place right now in tel aviv. the families of hostages who are still in gaza. what could his death mean for them? i still in gaza. what could his death mean for them?— mean for them? i think they will robabl mean for them? i think they will probably be _ mean for them? i think they will probably be hoping _ mean for them? i think they will probably be hoping that - mean for them? i think they will probably be hoping that the - probably be hoping that the negotiations will resume. they will be hoping that the blockage was yahya sinwar, to getting an agreement. at the moment, this was confirmed to me by a senior diplomat this morning, there are no hostage negotiations taking place whatsoever. but there is a political angle to this in israel. many of the hostage families and many israelis believe the prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, wants to prolong the war in gaza for his own reasons of political survival, and because his

government is propped up by ultranationalists who say they will bring the government down if he does deals with hamas. so if that continues then the chances are, i think, the war goes on too. fiur think, the war goes on too. our international _ think, the war goes on too. our international editorjeremy bowen in jerusalem, thank you. we will have more from you on the news at ten o'clock. police in argentina have been describing the scene in the hotel room where the former one direction star, liam payne, was staying before he fell to his death from a third—floor balcony yesterday afternoon. hotel staff say they found "total disorder" including various broken items and packets of medication. police were called to the hotel after reports of an "aggressive man who may have been under the effects of drugs and alcohol". devastated fans have been gathering outside the hotel to mourn his death by lighting candles and singing songs. our correspondent ione wells is there.

that's right, and this case is so shocking because it speaks to one of the real paradoxes of fame. pop stars are people who seem to have it all. they are people that many envy, many look up to, and yet that spotlight means they have to battle their demons very publicly. from x factor boot camps to live tours and talking openly about some of his struggles, liam payne's career was forth defined at many moments by moments of survival, until now. today has certainly shone a spotlight on some of those struggles, leaving many questioning how this could possibly have happened. this is the hotel where liam payne died after falling off a third—floor balcony. emergency services called by emergency makoto staff on wednesday evening to stop this 911 called obtained by a local newspaper shows hotel workers were worried about his safety.— shows hotel workers were worried about his safety. what is happening at the location, sir? _

about his safety. what is happening at the location, sir? translation: i at the location, sir? translation: well, we at the location, sir? translation: well. we have _ at the location, sir? translation: well, we have got _ at the location, sir? translation: well, we have got a _ at the location, sir? translation: well, we have got a guest - at the location, sir? translation: well, we have got a guest who - at the location, sir? translation: well, we have got a guest who has| well, we have got a guest who has had too _ well, we have got a guest who has had too many drugs and alcohol, and while _ had too many drugs and alcohol, and while he _ had too many drugs and alcohol, and while he is _ had too many drugs and alcohol, and while he is conscious he is trashing the entire — while he is conscious he is trashing the entire room. you need to send someone, — the entire room. you need to send someone, please.— the entire room. you need to send someone, please. what is the hotel called? casa — someone, please. what is the hotel called? casa palermo. _ someone, please. what is the hotel called? casa palermo. you - someone, please. what is the hotel called? casa palermo. you need - someone, please. what is the hotel called? casa palermo. you need to| called? casa palermo. you need to send someone _ called? casa palermo. you need to send someone urgently _ called? casa palermo. you need to send someone urgently because i i send someone urgently because i don't _ send someone urgently because i don't know whether his life may be in danger, — don't know whether his life may be in danger, the guest's life. he is in danger, the guest's life. he is in a room — in danger, the guest's life. he is in a room with a balcony and we are a little _ in a room with a balcony and we are a little afraid — in a room with a balcony and we are a little afraid he may... he in a room with a balcony and we are a little afraid he may...— a little afraid he may... he fell after officers _ a little afraid he may... he fell after officers arrived _ a little afraid he may... he fell after officers arrived and - a little afraid he may... he fell after officers arrived and was l after officers arrived and was rushed to hospital. but his injuries were too severe and he couldn't be resuscitated. abs, were too severe and he couldn't be resuscitated— resuscitated. a lovely day here in argentina- _ resuscitated. a lovely day here in argentina- he — resuscitated. a lovely day here in argentina. he was _ resuscitated. a lovely day here in argentina. he was in _ resuscitated. a lovely day here in argentina. he was in the - resuscitated. a lovely day here in argentina. he was in the city - resuscitated. a lovely day here in argentina. he was in the city on i argentina. he was in the city on holida , argentina. he was in the city on holiday, spending _ argentina. he was in the city on holiday, spending time - argentina. he was in the city on holiday, spending time with - argentina. he was in the city on holiday, spending time with his| holiday, spending time with his girlfriend, katie cassidy. attending a concert of his former band—mate niall horan. this is how many of his fans remember him and one direction, full

of smiles, feel—good tunes. # the story of my life... abs, of smiles, feel-good tunes. # the story of my life... a far cry from the — # the story of my life... a far cry from the image _ # the story of my life... a far cry from the image painted _ # the story of my life... a far cry from the image painted of - # the story of my life... a far cry from the image painted of his - # the story of my life... a far cry| from the image painted of his final moments. but it's no secret he faced troubles will stop he had spoken openly about mental health difficulties, struggled at times with fame, parenting a young son and alcohol. the with fame, parenting a young son and alcohol. , ., , ., alcohol. the problem we had in the band, and l— alcohol. the problem we had in the band, and i don't _ alcohol. the problem we had in the band, and i don't want _ alcohol. the problem we had in the band, and i don't want to _ alcohol. the problem we had in the band, and i don't want to seem - alcohol. the problem we had in the j band, and i don't want to seem like i'm whining and moaning about my life, whatever, but it feels like to me when we were in the band, the best way to security because of how big we got was to lock us in our room is. and of course, what is in a room is. and of course, what is in a room cross the minibar. at a certain point i decided to have a party for one and that carried on throughout many years of my life. the one and that carried on throughout many years of my life.— one and that carried on throughout many years of my life. the bbc has received a cease _ many years of my life. the bbc has received a cease letter— many years of my life. the bbc has received a cease letter against - many years of my life. the bbc has received a cease letter against the | received a cease letter against the singer from received a cease letter against the singerfrom earlier this received a cease letter against the singer from earlier this week from his former partner, a model. he had not responded to allegations. in a statement his family said he would forever live in the hearts and they would remember him for his kind, funny and brave soul. at the scene

of his death, fans came to pay their respects. just 16 when he rose to fame, just 31 when he died. many of his fans feel they grew up with him. with his death some theological part of their adolescence is gone too. liam payne's body has now been taken to a morgue where investigations are ongoing. an initial postmortem suggests he died from both internal and external bleeding and an inspection has been carried out on the site where he died where whiskey, a lighter and mobile phone was found. a search of his room was also carried out where police found total destruction. they found things broken and multiple packets of medication as well. investigations are going to be ongoing as more evidence is collected but for now fans continue to gather here, their tributes, lay lay flowers, many

around me in tears as they stand in shock at the news from yesterday evening. shock at the news from yesterday evenina. ., . , shock at the news from yesterday evenina. ., ~ , ., ~ shock at the news from yesterday evenina. ., ~ , ., ,, liam payne shot to worldwide fame as a singer in the massively successful group one direction, launching a solo career after the band went on an indefinite break in 2016. he was just 16 when he joined the band, two years after his first appearance in the talent show the x factor — his whole adult life was lived in the spotlight. in recent years, he'd talked about his struggles with alcoholism at the peak of his success. our culture editor katie razzall has more. # fly me to the moon, let me play among the stars... a 1a—year—old, singing frank sinatra. liam payne had the x factor. at his first audition in 2008, they spotted something magical. come back in a couple of years, simon cowell told him. # now... when the boy from wolverhampton

returned in 2010, singing again in front of the woman who would later become the mother of his child, the answer was... one massive fat almighty yes. when you do x factor, you get to know the families sort of so well in such a short period of time. his mum and dad werejust adorable. they were very proprietorial over him. they were never pushy. this was very much his dream. hejust loved to sing. the boy band created with liam payne on x factor didn't win the competition, but one direction became global chart toppers, reinventing the boy band for the 21st century, the first group in us history to see theirfirst four albums debut at number one. madison square garden, the world's most famous arena. that sums it up. children when they first found fame.

in the documentary about their rise, their parents reflected on losing their teenage sons to the touring life when they were just 16. he goes away for so long, liam's mum said. when the band split, liam payne collaborated with the likes of ed sheeran, although he neverfound the solo success that had come easily to them as one direction. life is about to turn surreal... a few years ago, liam payne wrote a letter to his younger self. you are now famous and it feels like you have peaked way too early, you cocky little hugger. but you have barely even started yet. take it down a notch and remember, it's a marathon, not a sprint. the band were all so lovely, always, but liam was kind of the grown—up one in the group, the wise one. and i can't bear that this is where liam's story has ended.

today, the singer rebecca ferguson described how she and liam payne had travelled together to x factor back in 2010. "if he hadn'tjumped on that train and jumped in that taxi, i believe he would be alive today. i have spoken for years about the exploitation and profiteering of young stars and the effects." it is one perspective, at a time people are looking for answers. all we know for certain is that liam payne has died too young, leaving behind his family and fans united in grief. liam payne, who's died at the age of 31. a second person has been found dead after a blast that destroyed three houses in newcastle yesterday. police say the victim found in the rubble is believed to be a man in his thirties. the seven—year—old boy who died has been named as archie york. from newcastle, here's fiona trott.

funny, mischievous, loving. that's how archie york's family described him. our hearts are broken, they say, and can never be repaired. this is what's left of his family home where he lay sleeping on the night of the explosion, his parents and two—month—old brother close by. they have been treated in hospital and are now being looked after by relatives. today, the police confirmed another body was found. the victim is believed to be a man in his thirties. another man is still being treated in hospital. as soon as archie york's name was put on social media, the tributes here have been going by the second. one of them is from his aunt. she told me he was such a loving little boy and always had a cheeky grin on his face. the cousin of the man who died in the explosion was here just a few moments ago. she described him as a one in a million. they came here because they needed comfort, and when you can't make sense of what happened, knowing that this entire estate has its arms around you mean

so much. the police say cordons will remain in place for some time. they, the fire service and gas engineers are all involved in the investigation into how this happened. in the meantime, there are people here in benwell whose lives have changed forever, still struggling to understand how anything so sudden, so violent, could have happened to an innocent child like archie. fiona trott, bbc news, newcastle. the social media platform instagram is to roll out new measures to fight the rise of "sextortion". that's a type of online blackmail in which a victim is persuaded to share explicit images and threatened with having them shared unless money is paid. the new controls include a video warning users of the dangers, which will appear in the feeds of millions of teenagers around the world. more details have emerged in court about the crimes committed by a man in what's thought to be the biggest ever uk case of catfishing. alexander mccartney, from newry, used a false identity to befriend victims on the internet

and then exploit them. one girl took her own life. some of what you're about to hear may be distressing. our ireland correspondent chris page was at the pre—sentence hearing at belfast crown court. what was said? the prosecution lawyer said the harm alexander mccartney had caused was unquantifiable. the charges relate to more than 60 child victims, but the court heard that in reality, there were many more. mccartney befriended them online posing as a teenage girl. he tricked them into sending him explicit images of themselves, and then he blackmailed themselves, and then he blackmailed the children. he said he would post the children. he said he would post the photos publicly unless they did what he said. and he ordered them to carry out what were described as acts of humiliation and abuse for his own sexual gratification. his victims were aged between ten and

16. they were right across the world. one of them was a 12—year—old girl from outside the uk who took her own life six years ago. in the court, a statement was read out from her relatives. they said they had been robbed of many years with her. mccartney has pleaded guilty to manslaughter over her death. he has also admitted almost 200 other offences. he is 26 now. he was 17 when he began committing these crimes, and throughout the hearing, he sat in the dock looking at the floor with his head in his hands. he will be sentenced next week. chris pace, will be sentenced next week. chris page. thank _ will be sentenced next week. chris page. thank you- _ our top story this evening... israel says the leader of hamas, yahya sinwar, who masterminded the october 7th attacks, is very likely dead, killed by israeli troops in gaza. coming up, england's cricketers struggle in the second test against pakistan. an standby for the hunters moan. the largest and brightest supermoon coming up on sportsday in the next 15 minutes on bbc news. india's cricketers hit

a new test low, bowled out forjust 46 in bengaluru against new zealand their lowest score on home soil. stirling prize for architecture. over 140 million litres of sewage has been illegally discharged into windermere in the lake district during the last three years, by the water company, united utilities. data obtained by the bbc shows that the environment agency was unaware of the extent of the pollution in england's largest lake because the water company didn't report most of the discharges as pollution incidents at the time. joe crowley has the story. windermere, england's largest lake. described by the poet wordsworth as magnificent and beautiful, but that beauty is threatened by pollution. algal blooms turn the water green and can smother life below the surface.

sewage is the main culprit, and the bbc has discovered that in recent years, it was repeatedly dumped illegally into the lake through this pipe. it came from this pumping station. sites like this often have permits which allow them to discharge sewage into the environment, but only according to certain conditions when it's absolutely necessary to stop the sewage system from being overwhelmed. but our analysis of united utilities' own data for 2021 to 2023 shows that the company has been breaching the conditions of its permit and dumping sewage that should have been treated. during that time, more than 143 million litres of sewage was illegally discharged directly into windermere. these discharges, in breach of the permit, should have been reported to the environment agency at the time, but in most cases united utilities failed to do so.

this is about the jewel in the crown of the lake district national park. and it's being used as an open sewer. part of their permit is to ensure that they are complying and that they're analysing the data so they're either incompetent — at that point, remove their licensing — or they knew about this and they've profited from it and it's windermere that's suffered from it. and i think it's the latter. united utilities told us it's committed to being fully transparent, and that they self—report over 94% of potential pollution incidents. the company says a technical issue meant some of the discharges in question were potentially non—compliant, and says they've implemented changes to prevent a reoccurrence. they say they reported these as soon as they became aware, but they don't explain why, for most of them, that wasn't until earlier this month, after being approached by the bbc and the environment agency. the ea has launched a criminal investigation and says it will review its scope following the bbc�*s findings that the illegal pollution in windermere started as early as 2021.

united utilities was recently awarded the top four—star environmental rating by the agency, and last week was given permission to raise bills as a reward for its good performance. joe crowley, bbc news, windermere. the wife of a conservative councillor has been jailed for 31 months after pleading guilty to inciting racial hatred on the day three girls were murdered in the southport attacks. lucy connolly from northampton called for hotels housing asylum seekers to be set on fire and for mass deportations, in a post on the social media platform x. jo black reports. a mother, former child minder and wife of a tory councillor, and now lucy connolly is in custody, jailed for inciting racial hatred. on the 29th ofjuly, the day of the southport attacks, ms connelly, from

northampton, used the platform x to say, mass deportation now. she then used expletives as she called for hotels, housing asylum seekers, to be set on fire. she finished her remarks by saying "if that makes me a racist, so be it". although the disorder in the following days and weeks cannot be directly linked to comments of this sort, last month, ms connelly did plead guilty. today at her sentencing hearing, the court heard that the post had been viewed 310,000 times, with 940 reposts. her barrister said whatever her intention, it was short lived and she didn't expect the violence that followed and tried to quell it. the defence also said ms connelly had lost a baby several years ago, which can only have drastic, detrimental effect on someone.— effect on someone. when you published _ effect on someone. when you published those _ effect on someone. when you published those words, - effect on someone. when you published those words, you i effect on someone. when you | published those words, you are effect on someone. when you - published those words, you are well aware of how volatile the situation was. as everyone is aware. that

volatility led to serious disorder in a number of areas of the country where mindless violence was used to cause injury and damage to wholly innocent members of the public and to their properties. has innocent members of the public and to their properties.— to their properties. as her husband ray connolly. _ to their properties. as her husband ray connolly, left _ to their properties. as her husband ray connolly, left the _ to their properties. as her husband ray connolly, left the court, - to their properties. as her husband ray connolly, left the court, he - ray connolly, left the court, he made no comment, but has previously spoken of his wife's regret. jo connolly, bbc news, at birmingham crown court. england's cricketers are in a battle to avoid defeat in the second test in pakistan. england's cricketers are in a battle to avoid defeat in the second test in pakistan. on a frenetic day of tumbling wickets in multan, england closed on 36—2 in their second innings. they need 297 to win the match. joe wilson reports. there is something different about this pakistan team. he's called sajid khan. oh, beauty! on this pitch, he can do magic.

sajid took so many wickets, everyone knew the celebration. england's first innings, 291 all out — ok. but next in multan, the roles changed. pakistan's batters facing england's spin bowlers. yeah. and taken, and gully. and taken, and gully. but brydon carse, bowling but brydon carse, bowling fast, saw two catches fast, saw two catches dropped in the same over. dropped in the same over. hard, hot work, and hard hard, hot work, and hard to stay positive. to stay positive. because that batter, salman ali because that batter, salman ali agha, remained and excelled. agha, remained and excelled. his precious runs took his precious runs took pakistan's lead to 296. pakistan's lead to 296. and on this frantic day 3, pakistan and on this frantic day 3, pakistan were soon back in the huddle. were soon back in the huddle. england's batters back england's batters back in the middle and in a muddle. in the middle and in a muddle. they quickly lost two wickets london, they quickly lost two wickets in their second innings. in their second innings. at play�*s start and at play�*s start and day's end, sajid khan. day's end, sajid khan. the match is almost pakistan's. the match is almost pakistan's. joe wilson, bbc news. joe wilson, bbc news. we were hoping to bring you live we were hoping to bring you live

scenes of the full moon rising over scenes will see it.

tonight that you will see it. further west, we have a frontal system moving in, so more cloud here, but for england and wales, there is clear skies will continue through the night. try and see that supermoon during the early half of the night because as we go through the night because as we go through the night, because of the clear skies in the light winds, we could see some dense fog forming across england and wales. temperatures through the night falling down to single figures. tomorrow morning, the fog could be an issue. ourfirst widespread dense fog potentially across england and wales. there has been a lot of heavy rain this month, and that moisture means the fog could be quite stubborn. the early morning fog will gradually lift away to sunny spells. in the west, the wind strengthening. there will be some rain arriving, particularly across northern ireland and north—west scotland by the end of the day. it is quite showery across north—west england and wales. the best of the sunshine, still pleasant in terms of the feel of the weather, we should see highs of 17 degrees.

through friday evening, a spell of heavy rain and as that rain continues to push steadily eastwards, it will start to weaken a touch through the night. early on saturday carmoy start—up grey and wet and the rain will linger into saturday afternoon across east anglia, brightening up to sunny spells and scattered showers behind. in terms of the feel of the weather, we are looking at 13 to 17 again. as we are looking at 13 to 17 again. as we move into sunday, the weather story potentially deteriorates. we are going to see a deep area of low pressure. look how many isobars are attached to this low. this significant low has the potential to be our first named storm of the season, even if it doesn't get the name, it is going to bring some wet and windy weather with severe gales on the southern flank of that low. the position of that low is still subject to question at the moment. keep watching the forecast for sunday. and that's bbc news at six. now it's time to join our colleagues for the news where you are.

goodbye. hello and welcome to sportsday. england make a shaky start to thekir chase in mulktan as pakistan look to square the series. australian dream's are dashed in dubai, the champions knocked out by south africa in the t20 world cup semi—finals. and there been more reaction to thomas tuchels england appointment, we'll hear from prmier league managers and an england player. iam here i am here in central london ready for the women's rugby. also coming up on sportsday... and battling back from drink, drug and covid bans, champion jockey oisin murphy tells us about his return to the top. i had to refocus and