yeah live from london. this is bbc news. the syrian army says it has lost control of the key central city of hama. rebel forces say they've seized the city's prison, releasing hundreds of inmates. police in new york use facial recognition police in new york hunting the man who killed the boss of one of the world's biggest healthcare companies say shell casing use facial recognition in the hunt for a man, who shot dead the boss of major us health company. the french prime minister, michel barnier, has stepped down after only three months in office. president macron has accepted the prime minister's resignation and is now under pressure to name his successor fast. "country first, party

second" — prime minister keir starmer unveils his "plan for change", setting out pledges on extra police officers, more housebuilding and fixing the health system. hello, i'm ben brown. we begin this hour with developments in syria — these dramatic pictures were filmed by islamist rebels, triumphantly entering the city of hama — apparently unopposed. you can see the rebels riding in to the city on near—empty streets and being welcomed by cheering locals. in these pictures, the rebels turn the cameras round and film themselves celebrating. the syrian army says it has now withdrawn its forces

from the city of hama — effectively ceding control there to the rebels. the army said its troops pulled out after intense clashes and that they've redeployed, in the army's words — to �*preserve civilian lives and prevent urban combat�*. the rebel campaign to seize hama began just two days ago. it comes after their suprise capture of aleppo last week, which reignited the war in syria. joining me now is our correspondent barbara plett usher in beirut. this lightning offensive it seems to be continuing apace by the rebels?— the rebels? yes, they launch their offensive _ the rebels? yes, they launch their offensive last _ the rebels? yes, they launch their offensive last week - the rebels? yes, they launch their offensive last week and i their offensive last week and took the city of aleppo almost without resistance, that was a very speedy seizure of the city which surprised everybody, and then they pushed south to the next big city, hama, and the government did put up resistance, damascus sent reinforcements of soldiers to fight them off and they have been fighting there over the last couple of days but now they have managed to take the city. they have moved into hama

and seize control of the prison and seize control of the prison and released inmates and the army said it was redeploying outside hama to prevent civilian casualties. it seems to be another big retreat by the army and another big victory for the rebels and that is going to send shock waves through damascus. this city is on the road to damascus and there is one other major strategic city in between hama and the capital and the rebels say they will move that city. barbara, thanks forjoining us. with me is dr rim turkmani, a syrian academic at the london school of economics. thanks forjoining us. talk us through what is going on in syria right now. we have this offensive, so who are the

rebels?— offensive, so who are the rebels? . ~ ., rebels? going back to the re ort, rebels? going back to the report. you _ rebels? going back to the report, you described - rebels? going back to the i report, you described them rebels? going back to the - report, you described them as islamist groups, but these rebels are a coalition led by an islamist group but the bulk of it is actually ordinary syrian people, people who have come out of their cities and towns, and i have seen their brothers and sisters killed throughout i2 brothers and sisters killed throughout 12 years —— and they have seen. they were preparing for the cessation of hostilities and they have been preparing for the moment and the moment came with the weakening of iran, russia partly withdrawing from syria and they saw the opportunity to grab some of the cities, hoping to force assad to come to a serious settlement.- to force assad to come to a serious settlement. they have taken aleppo _ serious settlement. they have taken aleppo and _ serious settlement. they have taken aleppo and hama - serious settlement. they have taken aleppo and hama it - taken aleppo and hama it appears, and also harmless, thatis appears, and also harmless, that is where your family are from —— homs.

that is where your family are from -- homs._ that is where your family are from -- homs. yes, my father is there and — from -- homs. yes, my father is there and i— from -- homs. yes, my father is there and i play _ from -- homs. yes, my father is there and i play -- _ from -- homs. yes, my father is there and i play -- was - there and i play —— was pleading with him to leave the city but he said he is not going anywhere, which will probably be the attitude of most people there. people will be safe in the city because they know all the issues and they know all the issues and they are already aware of the sensitivities. we have many people in homs who are very supportive of the regime and they will be terrified, and the message i heard is that they are aware of this and they will not touch them, but what will happen on the ground but we don't know. it is important to watch because it is a very different composition to hama or aleppo. different composition to hama or meme-— different composition to hama or aleppo. this began with the arab spring — or aleppo. this began with the arab spring uprising _ or aleppo. this began with the arab spring uprising in - or aleppo. this began with the arab spring uprising in 2011 . arab spring uprising in 2011 and then we had the syrian civil war over many years, and that then it fell out of the

headlines and we reached a stalemate but this is reigniting the war so where does this leave the assad regime?— does this leave the assad reuime? .,, ., ., ~' regime? people who work government _ regime? people who work government historically i regime? people who work- government historically against their will and by dictatorship, thatis their will and by dictatorship, that is the root of this, and this was not a civil war, there was a civil war element but this is a proxy will and everything happening now is mainly because of regional alliances and changes of dynamics with regional allies, and... ., ., , and... hezbollah have been weakened. _ and... hezbollah have been weakened. because - and... hezbollah have been weakened. because russia| and... hezbollah have been. weakened. because russia is fighting against ukraine as well, so the allies of assad have got other things on their mind? ~ , ,., , have got other things on their mind? ~ , mind? absolutely. on friday there was — mind? absolutely. on friday there was a _ mind? absolutely. on friday there was a meeting - mind? absolutely. on friday| there was a meeting between turkey and iran and russia and the fact there was an attempt to take homs before friday is to take homs before friday is to change the negotiation dynamics on that table —— to take hama. hama is significant, and also another nearby city, and also another nearby city, and the hope is that this will

change the outcome of the negotiations in favour of the opposition. d0 negotiations in favour of the opposition-— negotiations in favour of the ouosition. opposition. do you thing assad and his regime _ opposition. do you thing assad and his regime could _ opposition. do you thing assad and his regime could fall? - opposition. do you thing assad | and his regime could fall? they could, and his regime could fall? they could. for— and his regime could fall? they could, for the _ and his regime could fall? they could, for the first _ and his regime could fall? they could, for the first time - and his regime could fall? they could, for the first time i - could, for the first time i could, for the first time i could say that, assad is refusing every attempt for a political solution for negotiations, and turkey was trying to negotiate with him and what we are seeing lately is because of the failure of the negotiations with turkey, so if he continues to refuse to settle and agree to share power with his own people, not with the extremists, put them aside, and the people of syria deserve to have a stake in their own country, and not let him take the country to help.— country, and not let him take the country to help. thanks for “oininr the country to help. thanks for joining us- _ the country to help. thanks for joining us- to _ the country to help. thanks for

joining us. to hell. _ in new york city, police are hunting the gunman who shot dead the boss of one of the world's biggest healthca re companies. investigators say they've found one clue to who might have been responsible: the words "deny," "defend," and "depose" were carved into the shell casings recovered at the scene of the attack. this is the moment that 50—year—old brian thompson was fatally shot in the back and the leg in manhattan — close to times square. the suspect appeared to be waiting for thompson, who ran united healthcare, outside the hilton hotel. the suspect then fled the scene on foot and was last seen riding an electric bike through central park. let's speak to our north america correspondent nada tawfik in new york. intriguing clues that the police have found?- intriguing clues that the police have found? that is riuht. police have found? that is right- over— police have found? that is right. over 24 _ police have found? that is right. over 24 hours - police have found? that is right. over 24 hours since| police have found? that is - right. over 24 hours since the shooting and plenty of clues for investigators to look at, and you mention the latest breaking run there, shell

casings recovered on the scene with words written on them. defend, delay, depose, they are a reference to tactics that are used by insurance companies in america to try to get out of paying for the health care of people, their legitimate health claims, and so that may potentially offer close into a motive here. investigators are also looking at cctv footage, and the suspect was seen in a starbucks cafe before the shooting, and they are using facial recognition technology to try to identify him even though he is wearing a mask because they believe enough of his features were visible in the footage. they say he bought several items including a protein bar and water, and then threw them away in a trash so they believe they have a coffee cup to scan for any dna evidence. also, they are

looking at a location in upper east side manhattan where the suspect might have been the night before the shooting, so a lot of footage to look at, and there are drones and dogs combing every inch of the city to see where the suspect may have gone. certainly this is an incident that has really captured the attention of so many here because of the circumstances, in broad daylight, in a tourist safe area of manhattan, and just a fact that this is an executive of one of the largest companies in the country, largest insurers, and there has been a lot of talk about the insurance industry in this country and what this may mean if the motive is related to that. although america is used to gun violence, you could argue, this sort of targeted assassination of a very senior business executive is pretty rare?

absolutely. in this part of manhattan in this kind of targeted fashion, very rare, and it has made this murder mystery quite something that people want to see how it will be solved and what would have been the reason behind it. people on the internet looking at if the shooter was a trained assassin and somebody who was just disgruntled by having insurance claims denied, looking at the circumstances around it, but for people who knew brian thompson, his family and co—workers, they have released a statement describing him as a lovely individual and one they are shocked to have lost in this way.— lost in this way. thanks for “oininr lost in this way. thanks for joining us- _ lost in this way. thanks for joining us. we _ lost in this way. thanks for joining us. we are - lost in this way. thanks for joining us. we are going i lost in this way. thanks for joining us. we are going to turn our attention now to the political turmoil in france. where president macron

will address the nation in a few hours time. it follows michel barnier�*s resignation as prime minister, after his government was toppled in a no—confidence motion on wednesday evening. this is mr barnier arriving at the elysee palace to see president macron who only appointed him prime minister three months ago. he's the first french prime minister to be forced out like this in more than 60 years. his government collapsed after mps of both left and right voted overwhelmingly in support of the motion against him, after he had had used special powers to force through his budget without a vote. well, the constitution means there can't be another general election in france untiljuly next year, so for the moment politics and government seem to be in a state of some paralysis. live now to paris — and our southern europe correspondent mark lowen. we will hear from president macron a bit later today. intriguing to think what he

might say about this whole political crisis because his own political future is also at stake, some say. he own political future is also at stake, some say.— own political future is also at stake, some say. he has said that his intention _ stake, some say. he has said that his intention is _ stake, some say. he has said that his intention is to - stake, some say. he has said that his intention is to see . that his intention is to see out the rest of his presidential term which would be until the next presidential election in 2027, and he says he has no intention of standing down but there is a lot of anger against him and a lot of people who feel he is the person who has brought the country to a state of complete division and star cis. so far we have had a short statement from the elysee palace saying that president macron accepted the resignation of the outgoing prime minister michel barnier and says he will only lead a government that conducts day—to—day business over the next few days, we assume, until a successor is appointed. will president macron name his chosen successor in the address this evening? he will talk at

eight o'clock, prime—time, when it is the evening news, and he may say he's going to take some time to name his successor or he may name one, but he is under real pressure to act fast given the political turmoil and economic instability in the country. let's speak to nathalie oziol — deputy of the french national assembly. this is a moment when the budget deficit is very high and the debt is very high and there are wars on the doorstep of europe, but you voted no confidence in the prime minister?— confidence in the prime minister? , ., ., minister? the situation in france is _ minister? the situation in france is critical - minister? the situation in france is critical from - minister? the situation in | france is critical from that perspective, and this is the

result— perspective, and this is the result of— perspective, and this is the result of the political choices made — result of the political choices made by— result of the political choices made by emmanuel macron and his government. the deficit is because _ government. the deficit is because of the economic choices of macron— because of the economic choices of macron and of succeeding governments, so what happened yesterday was a major political event — yesterday was a major political event and michel barnier are and his— event and michel barnier are and his government were toppled and his government were toppled and ousted and now comes a time when _ and ousted and now comes a time when president macron will have to appoint a new government, so it is exactly— to appoint a new government, so it is exactly the same point where _ it is exactly the same point where we were about three months _ where we were about three months ago, when president macron— months ago, when president macron refused to respect the result— macron refused to respect the result of— macron refused to respect the result of the snap elections he provoked, he himself. so now it is time — provoked, he himself. so now it is time for— provoked, he himself. so now it is time for him to respect the voice — is time for him to respect the voice of— is time for him to respect the voice of the people because the left won— voice of the people because the left won these elections in spite — left won these elections in spite of— left won these elections in spite of every expectation, and a new— spite of every expectation, and a new popular front which is the coalition of the major left—wing parties, won these elections, so the democratic

logicai— elections, so the democratic logical move would be to appoint a government from the new popular front. you appoint a government from the new popular front.— new popular front. you are not auoin to new popular front. you are not going to have _ new popular front. you are not going to have the _ new popular front. you are not going to have the support - new popular front. you are not going to have the support of i going to have the support of the right, so i figure it from your partner french politics would not have any more chance than michel barnier of getting unity? than michel barnier of getting uni ? ., . , unity? you are right, but michel barnier _ unity? you are right, but michel barnier was - unity? you are right, but - michel barnier was introduced as the — michel barnier was introduced as the one who would be the linking — as the one who would be the linking point between several groups — linking point between several groups and he was supposed to be groups and he was supposed to he the — groups and he was supposed to be the solution, and you can see — be the solution, and you can see where _ be the solution, and you can see where that led, he was toppled _ see where that led, he was toppled injust three months, and this— toppled injust three months, and this is extraordinary, not and this is extraordinary, not an ordinary political situation. what else is there to do— situation. what else is there to do but— situation. what else is there to do but respect the voice of the people? but to do but respect the voice of the people?— the people? but on your programme. _ the people? but on your programme, your- the people? but on your programme, your partyl the people? but on your - programme, your party supports lowering the retirement age and increasing the minimum age, but

francis heavily in debt and the deficit is very high, so how can france afford your programme?- can france afford your programme? the various governments, _ programme? the various governments, michel- programme? the various - governments, michel barnier, proposed _ governments, michel barnier, proposed the same solution, to cut expenses, and what he proposed was to cut 5.5 billion euros — proposed was to cut 5.5 billion euros in — proposed was to cut 5.5 billion euros in health care in general, so this has led to the huge — general, so this has led to the huge deficit we now have to resolve, _ huge deficit we now have to resolve, so this is a failure, unsuccessful, so we must change the logic— unsuccessful, so we must change the logic and our platform proposed to raise the receipts instead, — proposed to raise the receipts instead, for instance by taxing the richest, and the richest companies, and that is a solution _ companies, and that is a solution which has never been experienced and actually in the budget— experienced and actually in the budget we have managed to have many— budget we have managed to have many amendments so that an

alternative budget was voted in the end — alternative budget was voted in the end at the national assembly so when michel barnier used the — assembly so when michel barnier used the article of the constitution, he did so in order— constitution, he did so in order to _ constitution, he did so in order to enforce his austerity budget— order to enforce his austerity budget instead. there is a democratic problem at stake because _ democratic problem at stake because forcing a budget is not the solution and there is a political— the solution and there is a political issue at stake as well— political issue at stake as well because we radically disagree on the solutions and that is— disagree on the solutions and that is what you are seeing. but — that is what you are seeing. but the _ that is what you are seeing. but the people have voted on the 7th — but the people have voted on the 7th ofjuly and they rejected president macron's politics. _ rejected president macron's politics, and he did not win these — politics, and he did not win these elections. we politics, and he did not win these elections.— politics, and he did not win these elections. we wait to see what president _ these elections. we wait to see what president macron - these elections. we wait to see what president macron will- these elections. we wait to see what president macron will say| what president macron will say later this evening to sort out this intense chaos that france is now living through. natalie, thanks forjoining us. apm, we will know whether or not france has a name in the frame for

prime minister or whether it will be a caretaker government muddling through the next days and weeks. it muddling through the next days and weeks— and weeks. it will be fascinating _ and weeks. it will be fascinating to - and weeks. it will be fascinating to see i and weeks. it will be i fascinating to see what and weeks. it will be - fascinating to see what the president has got to say later. mark reporting from paris there. around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news.

to the middle east now. the human rights group, amnesty international has accused the state of israel of committing genocide against palestinians in gaza. the human rights group says it reached its conclusion after looking at what it called "the broader picture of israels military campaign and the cumulative impact of its policies." israels military responded saying the claims are "entirely baseless and fail to account for operational realities." it has repeatedly denied allegations of genocide. let's speak to our middle east correspondentjon donnison

who is in jerusalem. what are amnesty international saying? this is an utterly damning report from amnesty international that accuses israel not just international that accuses israel notjust of war crime in of having committed genocide and continuing to commit genocide against the palestinian people in gaza. it accuses israel of treating palestinians as subhuman and it accuses the international community of shameful failure to stop israel from carrying out what it says is genocide. i mentioned the response from israel to that, so tell us a bit more about what israel has said? , . , said? they have entirely rejected _ said? they have entirely rejected it _ said? they have entirely rejected it and _ said? they have entirely rejected it and they - said? they have entirely rejected it and they say| said? they have entirely i rejected it and they say this is a fabricated report from a fanatical organisation but

there is a growing chorus of people using similar language to amnesty we have —— and we have the process in the international court of human justice who says there is plausible evidence of genocide being carried out by israel, and a former defence minister under netanyahu sang ethnic cleansing was happening in gaza, and a very well known historian and professor of holocaust studies in israel who said that genocide is taking place and has compared it to what happened in both bosnia and rwanda. so the israeli government rejects this but there is a growing chorus of voices who are accusing israel of genocide. voices who are accusing israel of genocide-— of genocide. bring us up-to-date _ of genocide. bring us up-to-date with - of genocide. bring us| up-to-date with what of genocide. bring us - up-to-date with what has been up—to—date with what has been happening on the ground in gaza in the last couple of days. people are dying every day, and i saw the figures from the hamas run ministry of health

which the un considers reliable, 48 people killed yesterday including children, and a strike on a camp housing displaced people, supposedly in the safe zone in the south of gaza, where more than ten people were killed. the humanitarian situation is absolutely desperate, it is getting colder, and also wet, so it is grim. getting colder, and also wet, so it is grim-— so it is grim. thanks for “oininr so it is grim. thanks for joining us- _ a couple who buried their 3—year—old son in their back garden have been convicted of causing or allowing the death of a child. its believed the child died from starvation — his remains were found at their former family home in birmingham in 2022. our correspondent phil mackie is there.

this is a complex case and a very tragic one because it involves the test of the young child and missed opportunities to intervene before and after he died —— involves the death. his remains were found in a shallow grave in birmingham probably two years after his death, and also a child who was lost to the system, and we have just had the verdict come through, guilty of allowing the death of child and cruelty as well and also perverting the course ofjustice.— well and also perverting the course ofjustice. course of 'ustice. this was his arrest in — course ofjustice. this was his arrest in december _ course ofjustice. this was his arrest in december 2023. - course ofjustice. this was his arrest in december 2023. he | arrest in december 2023. he made sure his wife was filming as he was screaming. there was as he was screaming. there was a young child living in the cramped and squalid space and they were so badly malnourished they were so badly malnourished they could barely walk. if they hadn't been taken to hospital, at least one of them may have died. �* ., ,

at least one of them may have died.�* . , , at least one of them may have died.�* . , ., died. i'm a disabled person and i can died. i'm a disabled person and i can hardly _ died. i'm a disabled person and i can hardly move. _ died. i'm a disabled person and i can hardly move. the - died. i'm a disabled person and i can hardly move. the child i i can hardly move. the child survived _ i can hardly move. the child survived and _ i can hardly move. the child survived and is _ i can hardly move. the child survived and is being - i can hardly move. the child survived and is being cared | survived and is being cared for, but we cannot identify them. the couple had been living off grid in that caravan in somerset relying on charity hand—outs, and during questioning day revealed they had a son abiyah who died years earlier i had been buried in the garden of their former home in birmingham, and his remains were found in this shallow grave. while they lived in the house the couple were constantly posting increasingly bizarre videos of themselves but tellingly, none of their son. the man was studying genetics at university when because of online conspiracy theories committee rejected modern medicine. along with his partner, they withdrew from society and their beliefs mixed african religion with new age mysticism and they practised an extreme form of legalism. it has been impossible to

establish the exact cause of abiyah's death but experts say he probably staffed because he was not getting enough nourishment. no one could get through to them and they became aggressive when challenged. he is aggressive when challenged. he: is extremely arrogant man who placed himself as the head of a fictional country, to the extent that they had even made own passports, such was the extent of their delusion. there was only one disciple, and that was only one disciple, and that was his partner, who i think it's a very weak minded individual and went along with whatever he said. fine individual and went along with whatever he said.— whatever he said. one of the many tragedies _ whatever he said. one of the many tragedies in _ whatever he said. one of the many tragedies in this - whatever he said. one of the many tragedies in this case l whatever he said. one of the | many tragedies in this case is that there were lots of people raising concerns about what was going on inside the house, neighbours confronted the family and the police visited on a number of occasions, but there was no intervention and abiyah died and was buried in the garden without anybody knowing. mr; the garden without anybody knowina. ~ , . , the garden without anybody knowina. g . , ., ., knowing. my child is none of our knowing. my child is none of your business. _ knowing. my child is none of your business. the - knowing. my child is none of your business. the police i knowing. my child is none of| your business. the police did t to your business. the police did try to find — your business. the police did try to find abiyah _ your business. the police did try to find abiyah in - your business. the police did try to find abiyah in 2021 - your business. the police did try to find abiyah in 2021 but | try to find abiyah in 2021 but

by then he was already dead but they left without finding his makeshift grave. there was a mix—up later when they checked records and so the case was not followed up. it records and so the case was not followed up-_ followed up. it is a very sad case, incredibly _ followed up. it is a very sad case, incredibly harrowing l followed up. it is a very sad l case, incredibly harrowing to think of the medical evidence we have heard to think about how much pain the boy was in, and my heart goes out to abiyah and my heart goes out to abiyah and the fact there was opportunities to save him. but he was not saved. br; opportunities to save him. but he was not saved.— he was not saved. by the time they were _ he was not saved. by the time they were stopped, _ he was not saved. by the time they were stopped, their - he was not saved. by the time l they were stopped, their second try was also severely ill, and the safeguarding review it's been carried out to see where the could be improved. phil mackie, birmingham. i have talked about the mistakes that were made in birmingham that, and the couple were eventually tracked down to a caravan in somerset, and unusually, in this case, we talk about failures authorities when the life of a young child has been lost, but there was an

intervention, a tenacious social work in somerset who managed to break through those various restrictions that the family imposed on visitors, and to their own curiosity and willingness to investigate, they managed to save one child who was close to salvation but also another one who we cannot identify, and it was to the investigation by the social worker that the police found that abiyah had died in birmingham and been buried two years earlier. because the couple had effectively dropped out of society, almost dropped off the radar, and it took a long time for them to be caught up long time for them to be caught up with. they will learn lessons in birmingham as a result of this, they say, and the couple themselves will discover their sentences in coventry next thursday. thanks forjoining _ coventry next thursday. thanks forjoining us- _ coventry next thursday. thanks forjoining us. phil— coventry next thursday. thanks forjoining us. phil mackie - forjoining us. phil mackie reporting. plenty more coming up including

the latest on syria where we have dramatic developments with islamist rebels entering the city of hama triumphantly. stay with us here on bbc news. hello there. stormy weather is heading our way over the next few days as we head into the start of the weekend. this is where we see the arrival of the next named storm. this is storm darragh, named by the met office. biggest impacts are likely to be from the strength of the wind, although there's the risk of some flooding and briefly, some snow in the scottish hills as well. this is the cloud head that's going to develop into the storm, but already ahead of that, a different system is bringing more cloud and it's bringing some rain in from the west as well. but we have quite mild air across us today. so temperatures could be as high as 13 or 14 in england and wales, but we've got wet weather around as well.

gusty winds with that quite heavy rain. that's going to sweep across during this evening, followed by a few showers for a while, but tending to become dry and clear overnight and it will be a bit colder as well. shouldn't get too cold because there's enough of a breeze blowing, but the greatest risk of frost is likely to be across some eastern areas of scotland. now many places will start tomorrow dry with some early sunshine, a few showers in western scotland and over the irish sea. but gradually we saw the cloud on the earlier satellite picture. we're going to get swamped by this cloud. it will cloud over more and more, and we start to see the winds picking up and the rain arriving. and this is the start of storm darragh. now temperatures are going to be lower than today on friday, 7 to 9 degrees typically, but the winds will continue to strengthen overnight and into the weekend. the centre of the storm moves right over the uk, and on friday night there'll be some snow over the scottish hills as well. the strongest of the winds are going to start to arrive from the early hours of the morning as the storm

pushes away into the north sea. so we've got this amber wind warning from the met office.