Man held over Semenyo racist abuse report bailed

Antoine Semenyo reported being racially abused during the opening match of the Premier League season

A man who was arrested on suspicion of racially abusing Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo during the opening match of the Premier League season at Anfield has been bailed.

The Cherries' Friday game against Liverpool was briefly halted in the 29th minute after Semenyo flagged it up to the referee.

A 47-year-old man from Liverpool, who was arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence, has been conditionally bailed, Merseyside Police said.

The conditions include a ban on attending any regulated football match in the UK and not going within one mile of a designated football stadium.

Daughter driven to tears by mum's pension delays

5 hours ago Share Save Nicola Goodwin • @newsynicola BBC Midlands Investigations Share Save

BBC Annetta Stanley said she was worried she would not be able to pay her mother's medical bills

A retired accountant said she was left in tears after spending six months trying to get her elderly mother's private pension paid. Mervis Stanley had previously been receiving a widow's pension from her husband George's time working at Gillette in Reading. But the 87-year-old had not received any money since June 2024 and was not given a reason why by pension administrators Aon, her daughter Annetta Stanley claimed. After being contacted by the BBC, Aon said it would start paying Mrs Stanley's pension again, plus the money she was owed.

"The experience has left me in tears," Annetta said. "I'm fighting really hard on behalf of my mother but I'm really worried about the impact that not having the pension is having on her. "

Listen on BBC Sounds: George and Annetta came to the UK as part of the Windrush generation

Ms Stanley's father George came to the UK in the early 1960s as part of the Windrush generation that relocated to fill post-war labour shortages and rebuild Britain's economy. His wife, Mervis, and daughter, Annetta, followed a year later and the family lived in Birmingham before moving to Reading, where George worked in the Gillette factory. The couple retired to Jamaica in 1995 and George's work pension passed to his wife after his death in 2006. Monthly payments of about £500 went to his widow for 19 years but, after Aon took over as administrators of the scheme in 2024, the money stopped, said Ms Stanley, from Herefordshire. "My father worked really hard for that money so I feel very cross that someone can just stop it and not give me an explanation why," she said. "My parents came to the UK to help rebuild the economy. It's appalling that we've been treated this way."

Annetta Stanley Mervis and George married in Jamaica before moving to the UK

Ms Stanley, who has power of attorney for her mother and deals with all her financial affairs, said she had contacted Aon dozens of times by phone, email and letter since February, to establish why her mum's pension was stopped. "I'm currently paying her bills from her state pension but if I need to take her to the hospital, the money isn't there," she said. "She's an elderly woman with health issues who relies on carers to assist her with her daily tasks. "It's stopping her carers from doing what they can for her because they realise that money is short. "She likes going out but she's stuck in her house. "

Annetta Stanley Mervis Stanley moved back to Jamaica after 40 years of working in the UK

A spokesperson for Aon said "some of the paperwork it had received was not legally acceptable in the UK" and the company was waiting for some more information to be able to resolve the situation. They said they could not comment on individual cases but it was crucial to verify contact details to ensure that an individual had not died. Their statement added that its priority was "to pay the correct pension, to the correct recipient, at the correct time and we apologise for any distress to a member (or their family) where we are unable to do so". The company added that payments could be paused if items of post were returned unopened and that this was usual practice amongst UK pension schemes, designed to protect members and make sure that the correct people received benefits.

Months of frustration

Ms Stanley said her mum had not received any post from Aon. "Her carers have regularly checked at the post office. She's received letters about her state pension but nothing from Aon," she said. The 68-year-old said nobody from the company had apologised to her or her mother. "They haven't spoken to me in six months so I'm not expecting them to ring and apologise," she said. "It's so frustrating, I came to the BBC for help because there didn't seem to be anyone else who could help me. Things wouldn't have progressed if I hadn't. "I worry that the same thing could be happening to other people. I've worked in finance for 40 years, so I knew what to do, but it's been a difficult fight." A spokesperson for Aon said, after the BBC contacted them about Mrs Stanley's case, that, after receiving some more information, they have reinstated her pension and the company had arranged for her to be paid the money she was owed.

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BBC witnesses Israeli settlers' attack on Palestinian farm in West Bank

33 minutes ago Share Save Lucy Williamson BBC News, Turmus Aya, in the occupied West Bank Share Save

The BBC's Lucy Williamson witnessed an attack by masked settlers

From among the broken remains of Brahim Hamaiel's olive trees, in the occupied West Bank, we saw the masked men approach. A dozen settlers, charging down from the illegal outpost above his farm and across the field towards us, moving fast and carrying large sticks. A sudden and unprovoked attack. Brahim had been showing us the trees he said had been hacked to pieces this week by settlers from the outpost.

Fred Scott, BBC Masked settlers ran into the Palestinian farmland

His family have farmed olives here on land near Turmus Aya, for generations, making it a target for extremist settlers who think killing Palestinian trees and livestock will also kill the idea of a Palestinian State, by forcing residents like Brahim off their land. "Fear is natural," Brahim had told me, looking up at the ridge where tarpaulin flapped at the settlers' lookout post in front of a few caravans and makeshift homes. "But there's something stronger than fear that drives me to stay here – the scent of my ancestors and an attachment dating back hundreds of years – even if I pay the price with my blood." As the masked men run towards us, we pull back to the road and drive a safe distance away. Within minutes, some of Brahim's neighbours from the surrounding farms and villages gather with catapults and stones to confront the attackers.

Fred Scott, BBC Brahim Hamaiel stands next to the broken remains of his olive trees

Vegetation by the side of the road is set on fire, its smoke signalling the site of the confrontation, as settlers on a quad bike chase away a volunteer emergency crew trying to reach a farmhouse in the middle of the field. 'Stop shooting! My daughter is dead': Woman killed as West Bank power struggle rages This is now a familiar routine. Palestinians living in these villages south of Nablus say there are attacks and confrontations on their lands every week, and that settlers are using these kinds of tactics to take over the land, field by field. But the speed and spread of this attack is breathtaking. In little more than an hour, dozens of settlers had fanned out across the hills. We watched as they broke into an isolated building, and methodically set fire to vehicles and homes. Shepherds on the furthest ridge rushed their flocks away, as the hillside behind them broke into flames, smoke billowing up from several places. By then, Palestinians arriving from across the area to help their neighbours found the main access road blocked by the Israeli army, as the destruction continued. One Palestinian was reportedly beaten by settlers, and the army later told us that both sides had hurled rocks at each other, and that Palestinians had burned tyres. It said four Israeli civilians received medical treatment at the scene. Among the crowd waiting near the army roadblock, we found Rifa Said Hamail, her frantic gestures giving way to a warm smile and embrace when we spoke to her.

Fred Scott, BBC Israeli settlers set fire to vehicles and homes

Rifa told us her husband was trapped in their farmhouse near Brahim's olive farm, and surrounded by settlers, but that the army wouldn't let her pass. "Every other day the settlers do this to us – they attack us, cut down the olive trees, and burn the farms," she said. "This is not a life. No one can stop them. We have nothing to resist them with. They have weapons, we have nothing." We later learned that settlers had torched part of their property, and that Rifa's husband had been left with cuts to his face and leg, after being hit with rocks. The Israeli organisation Peace Now, which monitors the spread of settlements in the West Bank, says the number of outposts – and settler aggression – has multiplied since the Hamas attacks on Israel in October 2023, and the Gaza War that followed. Palestinian olive harvest under threat from Israeli attacks and restrictions Since the beginning of last year, it says, some 100 outposts have appeared across the West Bank. It also found that hundreds of square kilometres of land had been taken over by settlers in the past few years using the same violent pattern of intimidation – encouraged, it says, by government support and a lack of proper law enforcement by Israel. Last week, Israel's far-right Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, announced the creation of thousands of new housing units in a large West Bank settlement bloc further south, saying it would "bury the idea of a Palestinian state". Between 5-11 August, the UN Office for Humanitarian Affairs documented at least 27 settler attacks against Palestinians that resulted in casualties, property damage or both, across two dozen different communities. These attacks, it said, led to the displacement of 18 households. We weren't able to speak to any of the settlers involved in the attack we witnessed. The local settlers' council told us there were elements on both sides seeking provocation, which it strongly condemned. Brahim told us he had filed two separate complaints about the attacks on his land, but few Palestinians here have much faith in Israeli justice or security forces, saying repeatedly that they protect only the settlers. One of the volunteer emergency crews who came to help during the clashes on Saturday told me the Israeli army had prevented them from reaching the scene. "We were trying to rescue the young men, when the army came, honking at us and telling us to get away from here," Yahya al-Khatib said. "We were volunteers wearing our vests. We're not here to attack or harm settlers. We want to put out fires and treat injured people. But they [the army] stop us and stand in our way."

Fred Scott, BBC Mother of 18-year-old Hamdan Abu-Elaya cries at his funeral, after he was shot and killed by Israel troops

Man gets stadium ban after Semenyo racist abuse

Antoine Semenyo reported being racially abused during the opening match of the Premier League season

A man who was arrested on suspicion of racially abusing Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo during the opening match of the Premier League season at Anfield has been banned from every football stadium in the UK.

The Cherries' Friday game against Liverpool was briefly halted in the 29th minute after Semenyo flagged it up to the referee.

A 47-year-old man from Liverpool, who was arrested on Saturday on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence, has been conditionally bailed, Merseyside Police said.

The conditions include a ban on attending any regulated football match in the UK and not going within one mile of a designated football stadium.

Wayne Rooney says his former England team-mate Sol Campbell went six months without speaking to him after a penalty incident between the pair in Manchester United's 2-0 win against Arsenal during the 2004-05 season.

Arsenal, coached by Arsene Wenger, had been Premier League Invincibles the previous season, but Sir Alex Ferguson's United snapped their 49-game unbeaten league streak in an ill-tempered victory at Old Trafford.

Ruud van Nistelrooy gave the home side the lead from the penalty spot, after Rooney went down inside the box under the challenge of Arsenal centre-back Campbell.

Rooney, who had joined United from Everton earlier that summer, then sealed the victory in the 93rd minute - on his 19th birthday.

After the game, a slice of pizza was thrown at Ferguson by then 17-year-old Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas - a chaotic moment that would go on to be dubbed as the 'Pizzagate'.

"It was a big game for Arsenal. If they had won it, it was 50 games unbeaten for them," said Rooney, speaking on his new BBC podcast The Wayne Rooney Show.

"We beat them 2-0 and Campbell did not speak to me for over six months.

"We met up [during international duty] and Sol won't speak to me. Sometimes, I was with Sol and I'd say to him: 'Come on man, we are playing for England here'.

"But he wouldn't speak to me because he felt I dived. He left his leg out and I think there was a small contact."

Hurricane threatens US East Coast with life-threatening waves

Dangerous surf and rip tides have been forecast for the US East Coast

Erin, the first hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic season, "explosively deepened and intensified" on Saturday into a Category 5 storm, before briefly losing force and now regaining strength.

While Erin is not expected to make landfall on the islands, it is expected to bring rainfall of up to six inches (15.2cm) to the Turks and Caicos and the eastern Bahamas.

The rains caused by the storm are already beginning to hit the south-eastern Bahamas, and the Turk and Caicos Islands, where a tropical storm warning is in effect.

Hurricane Erin has strengthened to a Category 4 hurricane as it threatens to bring life-threatening surf and rip currents to the eastern coast of the United States.

More than 150,000 people were left without power in Puerto Rico after high winds damaged electricity lines, according to local energy company Luma.

But the firm said it had carried out emergency repairs and that by Sunday evening local time, 95% of its customers had working electricity.

The hurricane's outer rain bands have started to affect the Bahamas, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.

While the storm is not expected to hit the islands directly, the country's Disaster Risk Management Authority encouraged residents to prepare.

Its managing director, Aarone Sargent, told Bahamians to check which shelters were nearest to them and to ensure they knew of alternative shelters should the first one be full.

"These storms are very volatile and can make sudden shifts in movement," he said.

The NHC forecast is for the core of Erin to pass to the east of the south-eastern Bahamas today and move between Bermuda and the eastern coast of the US by the middle of the week.

It also said that Erin would remain "a large and dangerous hurricane" through this time.

The Outer Banks - a string of islands off the coast of North Carolina - are already bracing for heavy surf and high winds.

The authorities there have ordered a mandatory evacuation of Hatteras Island, warning that the main highway linking Hatteras to other islands could become impassable.

Forecasters have also warned of dangerous rip tides which could affect the entire US East Coast.