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Dua Lipa has confirmed that she’s engaged to actor Callum Turner, saying it’s “a really special feeling”.

The singer, 29, has been with 35-year-old Londoner Turner for almost a year and a half.

He’s best known for roles in Fantastic Beasts and Masters of the Air, and was Bafta nominated in 2020 for BBC One’s The Capture.

“Yeah, we’re engaged,” she told British Vogue. “It’s very exciting. This decision to grow old together, to see a life and just, I don’t know, be best friends forever – it’s a really special feeling.”

The couple sparked engagement rumours last Christmas when she posted pictures of herself wearing a ring.

She told Vogue that Turner had the ring made for her after consulting with her best friends and sister.

“It’s so me. It’s nice to know the person that you’re going to spend the rest of your life with knows you very well.”

They have not yet set a wedding date, with Lipa saying she must first finish her current world tour – which ends in Mexico in December – and Turner is busy filming.

He is due to play the lead in the Apple TV sci-fi series Neuromancer, adapted from William Gibson’s 1984 novel.

“We’re just enjoying this period,” she said. “I’ve never been someone who’s really thought about a wedding, or dreamt about what kind of bride I would be. All of a sudden I’m like, ‘Oh, what would I wear?'”

How much attention did you pay to what’s being going on in the world over the past seven days?

Barry Tomes, who grew up in Birmingham, worked with the Beach Boys on and off for almost five decades.

Blending the style of The Rolling Stones with African beats and instruments, Zambian group Witch were revolutionary – then disappeared. No one could have predicted their return.

The group plans to host the first Fisherman’s Friends Festival in the late May bank holiday in 2026.

The rapper says his latest project aims to “create space” for underrepresented voices.

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Chancellor Rachel Reeves has refused to rule out future tax rises after the UK economy suffered its worst contraction for a year and a half in April.

The economy unexpectedly shrank by 0.3% after taxes increased for businesses, household bills jumped and exports to the US plunged.

The figures come a day after Reeves set out spending plans aimed at boosting growth, with funding increases for the NHS and defence, but budgets squeezed elsewhere.

Economists warned that a failure to increase UK growth would “almost certainly” lead to more tax rises later this year for the government to balance its spending commitments.

Reeves acknowledged the latest economic figures were “clearly disappointing” and refused to rule out tax rises when she next lays out her plans for the economy in the autumn Budget.

“No chancellor is able to write another four years of Budgets within a first year of government, you know how much uncertainty there is in the world at the moment,” she told the BBC.

Monthly figures on the economy are volatile, and the more stable three-month figure to April showed the economy grew by 0.7%.

“With spending plans set… any move in the wrong direction will almost certainly spark more tax rises,” said Paul Johnson, director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), an influential think tank.

Ruth Curtice, chief executive of the Resolution Foundation, agreed.

“A weaker economic outlook and the unfunded changes to winter fuel payments mean the chancellor will likely need to look again at tax rises in the Autumn,” she said.

In Wednesday’s Spending Review, Reeves prioritised ploughing billions into long-term projects, in a bid to boost economic growth and improve living standards.

But many of the chancellor’s plans such as new railway lines and the development of nuclear power plant Sizewell C will take years, with current day-to-day spending budgets being squeezed.

Council tax is also expected to rise to pay for local services.

Opposition parties said the chancellor’s previous decision to raise employers’ National Insurance contributions, which took effect in April, was dragging on growth.

The government is also paying more to borrow money.

Lindsay James, investment strategist at British multinational wealth management company Quilter, said this was due to investors being cynical over the government’s spending plans so demanding a higher return.

“With the economy now weakening, we can expect to see concerns around further tax rises increase as we near the autumn Budget – which is likely to weigh on growth even more.”

Growth rising steadily is widely welcomed, as it usually means people are spending more, extra jobs are created, more tax is paid, and workers get better pay rises.

But growth in the UK has been sluggish for many years.

The Office for National Statistics said a poor month for the services sector, which includes businesses ranging from shops and restaurants to hairdressers and financial firms, was behind the contraction in April.

Legal firms and property companies also “fared badly”, it said, following a strong March which saw many homebuyers rushing to complete purchases to avoid stamp duty increases that came in in April.

Lewis Eager, 26, works part-time for a supermarket in Southend-on-Sea, earning about £10,000 a year.

He welcomed the investment in apprenticeships announced in the Spending Review and hopes employers will respond by lowering barriers to applicants.

Lewis, who lives with his parents, estimated he had applied for more than 4,000 jobs but said he cannot find full-time work.

He said he sees a “looming crisis” among young people unable to get on the jobs ladder.

Car manufacturing was also weak in April after the introduction of 25% tariffs on UK vehicles exported to the US. Cars are the UK’s biggest US export, with one in eight cars built in Britain shipped across the Atlantic.

Trade data showed the value of UK exports decreased by some £2.7bn in April, with goods to America alone falling by £2bn, the largest monthly fall on record in exports across the Atlantic.

Since April, the government has agreed a deal on tariffs with the US and has also made trade agreements with the European Union and India.

Despite the tariff pact with the US, a 10% import tax still applies to most UK goods entering America, with higher taxes for steel and cars until the deal comes into force.

Shadow chancellor Mel Stride blamed Reeves’ economic choices for the weak growth.

“The chancellor should have taken corrective action to fix the problems she has caused. But instead her Spending Review has all but confirmed what many feared: more taxes are coming.”

Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesperson Daisy Cooper said the figures were a “wake-up call for the government which has so far refused to listen to the small businesses struggling to cope with the jobs tax”.

In April, employers’ National Insurance contributions rose to 15% from 13.8%, with the threshold for payments reduced from £9,100 per year to £5,000.

Firms also saw minimum wages and business rates go up.

Ollie Vaulkhard, director of Vaulkhard Group which owns 17 hospitality venues across Newcastle upon Tyne, said the business was under pressure from the cost increases.

“Each one of those is manageable – you put them all into a pot, ultimately we’ve got to charge our customers more,” he said.

Council tax is expected to rise by 5% a year to pay for local services, documents in the Spending Review suggest.

Projects in the South West were not included in the chancellor’s spending review on Wednesday.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves pledges £39bn across 10 years for social and affordable housing in England.

After the government outlined its spending plans, people with a range of incomes give us their reaction.

The government is making financial contribution of £50m towards the redevelopment of Casement Park.

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Democratic US Senator Alex Padilla has been forcibly removed from a news conference held by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in Los Angeles.

Noem was offering the latest figures on immigration enforcement in the area, which has led to nearly a week of protests in the city, to members of the news media when Sen Padilla interrupted and started shouting a question.

Once removed from the room, the California senator was handcuffed.

Padilla’s removal caused condemnation on both sides of the aisle, with fellow senators calling the arrest shocking and a “sickening disgrace” and the Trump administration dubbing it “disrespectful political theatre”.

“I’m Senator Alex Padilla,” he said as he was confronted by authorities. “I have questions for the secretary!”

Noem, who was speaking about immigration and the protests in LA, continued addressing reporters and law enforcement officers while the senator was ejected from the room.

Padilla’s office said he was “forced to the ground and handcuffed” by federal agents when trying to ask the secretary a question, and added that he was not currently being detained.

The Department of Homeland Security said Padilla had engaged in “disrespectful political theatre” and that Noem met with the senator after the news briefing.

LA Mayor Karen Bass called the incident “absolutely abhorrent and outrageous”, adding that the Trump administration’s “violent attacks on our city must end”.

Padilla told reporters that he was already in the federal building for a previously scheduled meeting. He said he stopped by Noem’s news briefing because he and his colleagues have received “little to no information in response” to several immigration-related queries.

Padilla, the son of Mexican immigrants, is the most senior Democrat on the Senate’s Border Security and Immigration subcommittee.

“I came to the press conference to hear what she had to say, to see if I could learn any new additional information,” he said.

“If this is how the Department of Homeland Security responds to a senator with a question, you can only imagine what they’re doing to farm workers, to cooks, to day labourers out in the Los Angeles community and throughout California and throughout the country.”

He urged Americans across the country to “continue peacefully protesting” the Trump administration and its policies.

The DHS in a statement said Padilla didn’t identify himself and was not wearing the Senator’s pin on his clothing so officers thought he was an attacker.

Video footage of the incident shows Padilla saying he was he was a senator as he was being pushed outside the room.

California’s Governor Gavin Newsom called on Republican congressional leadership to condemn the detaining of Padilla.

“If they can handcuff a U.S. Senator for asking a question, imagine what they will do to you,” Newsom wrote on social media.

But the White House accused the California senator of storming the press conference, and said he “yelled and lunged toward Secretary Noem”.

“Padilla didn’t want answers; he wanted attention,” Abigail Jackson, White House spokesperson said. “Padilla embarrassed himself and his constituents with this immature, theater-kid stunt – but it’s telling that Democrats are more riled up about Padilla than they are about the violent riots and assaults on law enforcement in LA.”

Former vice-president and Trump opponent, Kamala Harris also criticised the move and said the California senator was trying to get answers for his constituents about the ongoing immigration raids in the state.

“United States Senator Alex Padilla was representing the millions of Californians who are demanding answers to this Administration’s actions in Southern California,” she said on Twitter. “This is a shameful and stunning abuse of power.”

The US defense secretary appeared to acknowledge incidental plans also exist for Panama, but avoided giving direct confirmation.

US Senator Alex Padilla was put in handcuffs after interrupting Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem during a news update on the Los Angeles ICE raids.

The appointees have “committed to demanding definitive safety and efficacy data”, the vaccine sceptic said.

US President Donald Trump will oversee a huge military parade in Washington DC on the same day as nationwide protests are planned.

Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano, one of the world’s most active, erupted for the 25th time since 23 December 2024.

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Multiple warnings for thunderstorms have been issued by the Met Office as torrential downpours look set to hit the UK.

The four yellow warnings cover southern England, Wales and southern Scotland over the next few days.

Meanwhile, the Environment Agency has declared a drought in Yorkshire following the UK’s driest spring in more than 100 years.

Temperatures are expected to surge over the coming days, with the peak on Friday set to match the previous hottest day of 2025 so far – when 29.3C (84.7F) was recorded in Kew Gardens on 1 May.

In Yorkshire, there has been less than 50% average rainfall in spring, and less than 75% average in May.

Welsh Water has also declared a drought developing zone in part of its network after the area’s driest spring since 1990.

A drought is a prolonged dry period that reduces available water supplies and can negatively impact the environment, people and wildlife.

The Environment Agency, works with the government, water companies and other organisations to manage water resources during a drought.

Depending on the severity and duration, customers could be asked to reduce water use and restrictions such as hosepipe bans could be implemented.

Last month, a drought was declared across north-west England after weeks of unusually dry weather led to low water levels in reservoirs and rivers.

The warnings for thunderstorms are in place in:

Northern Ireland has a yellow weather warning for rain between 06:00 and 21:00 on Thursday. It was previously a warning for thunderstorms.

The amount of rain will vary on Thursday, but some areas could have as much as 10-20mm (0.40-0.8in) in an hour which could cause some flash flooding.

The band of thundery showers will move northwards through the day and evening, with the showers less likely to be thundery over Scotland on Thursday night.

On Friday afternoon, thunderstorms are forecast to hit south-east England and East Anglia regions, with torrential downpours of 30-50 mm of rain expected.

This could lead to surface water flooding, made worse by the recent dry spring.

The thunderstorms could even form in lines, with hail, lightning and gusty winds possibly causing further problems.

Meanwhile, temperatures are expected to surge in parts of eastern England with the heat and humidity combining to bring thunderstorms.

Friday’s peak temperatures will reach 28-29C and will likely be recorded somewhere in south-east England or East Anglia.

A southerly wind will continue to drag in some very warm air from the near continent where temperatures have been over 30C, and over 40C in some parts of Spain.  

With cloud cover in the afternoon and thunderstorms moving on southerly wind, it will be hot and humid with the cloudiness limiting the daytime heating.

The first yellow heat-health alerts, issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), will come into effect later on Thursday.

They will cover the east of England, London, East Midlands and south-east England from 21:00 BST on Thursday until 08:00 on Sunday.

The heat-health alert means that there is likely to be increased use of health care services by vulnerable people and an increased risk to the health of people aged over 65 years or with pre-existing health conditions, including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

The rain and high winds experienced during stormy weather can damage homes and cause power outages.

Welsh Water says there will be no restrictions on customers’ use of water at this stage.

Weeks of unusually dry weather in the region has led to low water levels in reservoirs and rivers.

Yorkshire Water’s drought plan includes the possibility of hosepipe bans and other measures.

The Met Office warns frequent lightning, hail and strong, gusty winds will be additional hazards.

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A teenager who was tricked into going to boarding school in Africa has won a significant legal victory against his own parents.

The 14-year-old boy, who cannot be identified, was taken from London to Ghana in March 2024 after being told a relative was ill.

In fact, his parents wanted to get him out of London as they feared he was being drawn into criminal activity.

Unhappy and homesick in Ghana, the boy found lawyers and brought a case against his parents to the High Court in London, which ruled against him in February. On Thursday, he won a Court of Appeal bid, so the case will be reheard.

The most senior judge in the Family Division, Sir Andrew McFarlane, said there had been confusion in the previous decision.

“We have become more and more concerned as to the exercise the judge undertook,” he added.

“For those reasons – we are agreed remittal should be allowed.”

He urged the family to find a solution through constructive dialogue.

At the hearing, the boy’s barrister, Deirdre Fottrell KC, said he is “desperate” to return to the UK.

“He is culturally displaced and alienated,” she said.

“He considers himself abandoned by his family. He feels he is a British boy, a London boy.”

The boy remains in Ghana and has been attending a day school there.

His solicitor, James Netto, described the appeal ruling as a “hugely significant” decision that would “resonate across international family law.”

He said: “We are very pleased indeed that the Court of Appeal has allowed our client’s appeal, and has recognised the critical importance of listening to and assessing the voices of young people at the heart of legal proceedings that profoundly affect their lives.”

The parents’ barrister, Rebecca Foulkes, said that staying in Ghana was the “least harmful” option for the boy.

“The parents found themselves in a wholly invidious decision when they made the decision they made,” she said.

“Ghana provided a safe haven, separate from those who exposed him to risk.

“The least harmful option is for him to remain in Ghana.”

At the heart of the case is the tension between conflicting legal entitlements – the parents’ responsibility for their child, and the child’s own rights to make decisions about what happens to them.

The High Court had ruled the parents could send the boy to Ghana. But the Court of Appeal found that judge had not taken sufficient account of the boy’s own best interests and welfare, given he had recognised the boy was mature enough to make certain decisions for himself.

The boy previously told the court that he felt like he was “living in hell”.

He said he was “mocked” at the school in Ghana and “could also barely understand what was going on”.

During the previous judgment, High Court judge Mr Justice Hayden said the parents’ wish for their son to move to Ghana was “driven by their deep, obvious and unconditional love”.

He found that the boy, who had lived in the UK since birth, was at risk of suffering greater harm by returning to London.

He said that the boy’s parents believe “and in my judgement with reason” that their son has “at very least peripheral involvement with gang culture and has exhibited an unhealthy interest in knives”.

Sir Andrew said the case will now be reheard by a different judge, with the next hearing planned to take place in the next few weeks.

A full decision will be given in writing at a later date.

Hindu temples in Harrow and Neasden are offering special prayers for the Air India crash victims.

One British man, who was a passenger on the London-bound flight, survived the crash in Ahmedabad, western India.

Shortly after Shamiah McKenzie and Codee Godfrey carried out the attack, they mingled with police officers.

Six tourists staying at the Nana Backpackers hostel died in November from suspected methanol poisoning.

The video from police body-worn cameras showed what jurors heard was the bravery of the officers.

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There was disorder in Northern Ireland for the fourth night in a row but at a lower level than seen earlier this week.

In Portadown, County Armagh, on Thursday a crowd pulled bricks and masonry from a derelict building which they threw at police.

During the first three days of violence, which began in Ballymena, 41 officers were injured. Fifteen people have been arrested so far.

The disorder started on Monday after a peaceful protest over an alleged sexual assault in the County Antrim town.

In Portadown, police put out a warning on loudspeakers that they would fire baton rounds if the crowd did not disperse.

There is a heavy police presence in the centre of Portadown where around 400 protesters have gathered.

More than 20 police vehicles are parked along the main street and officers in riot gear have blocked a number of roads.

There was a peaceful protest earlier in the town but some disturbances developed, with masonry, including an empty beer keg, being thrown at police.

A police helicopter also hovered over the town centre.

Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) MLA Jonathan Buckley called for “calm”.

He said: “Nobody wants to see violence on our streets no matter where they come from in Northern Ireland. The scenes over the past few days have been disturbing.”

Earlier, a housing association warned its residents to leave their homes and take measures to protect their properties ahead of the protest.

Meanwhile in Ballymena, there is also a police presence, mainly in the Clonavon Terrace area, with a number of landrovers parked at locations where there had previously been trouble.

However, after three nights of violent disorder, the rioters appear to have stayed away.

On Thursday evening, around 100 people turned up at an anti-racism protest in west Belfast. Members of the Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance (NIPSA) trade union and representatives from People Before Profit addressed the crowd.

Also there, a number of people wearing black face coverings.

It passed off peacefully.

In a press conference earlier, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Chief Constable has said families hid in attics and wardrobes during violent disorder in Ballymena this week.

Jon Boutcher described the violence as “racist”, adding “the people who are threatening families who are different to them – that is racism”.

Mr Boutcher said after a peaceful protest was “hijacked” on Monday evening, police and the fire service had to help families “who have done nothing wrong”.

He added that: “We stand absolutely shoulder to shoulder with the diverse communities in Northern Ireland.

“These bigots and racists will not win the day.”

The first protest was organised hours after two teenage boys appeared before Coleraine Magistrates’ Court.

They spoke through an interpreter in Romanian to confirm their names and ages. Their solicitor said they would be denying the charges.

Mr Boutcher said in addition to the two teenagers who have been arrested and charged, there was “a third suspect who is currently outside the jurisdiction”.

“We will be bringing him back into the jurisdiction,” he added.

Mr Boutcher said the family of the young girl wanted the violence to stop.

“She’s been further traumatised by what has happened over the last three nights,” he said.

Police have described the disorder as “racist thuggery, pure and simple” and targeted at ethnic minorities and law enforcement.

Over the three days in Ballymena, police officers came under sustained attack with petrol bombs, heavy masonry, bricks and fireworks thrown in their direction.

Mr Boutcher called on those involved to stop and warned there would be prosecutions.

“Don’t come out onto the streets tonight. If you do we will police you, and we will deal with you through the criminal justice system.

“We’ll be releasing images of those responsible. We will be going after them.”

He said that three young people were in court in Ballymena on Thursday and remanded into custody for “these disturbances”.

Jody Esguerra is an outreach worker for the Filipino community and has been helping others find somewhere safe to stay.

He said he received reports of a family that was “stuck inside” their home with “mobs and protesters” trying to enter, while “smashing the windows and throwing projectiles”.

“They’re scared for their lives”, he said, and added that they don’t feel “welcome” anymore.

He said the family “didn’t expect any of this to happen”.

They were woken up by “loud noises” and realised people were “throwing rocks at their door… and all tried to hide”.

The Social Democrat and Labour Party (SDLP) leader Claire Hanna described the scenes in Ballymena over the past few days as “dystopian”.

“It was one of the most disturbing things I’ve seen in this very, very challenged place,” she said.

Mukesh Sharma, the chair of the Northern Ireland Policing Board, said: “This violence is racism – pure and simple.”

He said: “It is hard to find the words to describe the scenes of vitriol and hatred on our streets,” adding that it is “mindless violence that is simply wrecking communities”.

“This violence needs to stop before a life is lost or serious injuries sustained.”

On Wednesday, the PSNI confirmed that a significant number of extra police officers were being deployed into areas affected.

Police Scotland has agreed to send officers, after police in Northern Ireland requested extra support under mutual aid arrangements.

In Larne, masked youths attacked a leisure centre and set it on fire on Wednesday.

The centre had been providing emergency shelter for families following the clashes earlier in the week, the council said.

There have also been incidents in Carrickfergus, Coleraine, north Belfast and Newtownabbey.

Olympic swimmer Danielle Hill, who competed in both the Paris and Tokyo Games, was at the facility when the attacks took place.

She took the decision to cancel swimming lessons after spotting four masked men near the centre.

The 25-year-old said: “I mean, it’s sad. It’s awful. I lay awake last night. When there’s kids involved it’s upsetting.

“It shouldn’t be happening. There was no need for the violence.”

In a statement, a council spokesperson said they were “assessing the significant damage” and that “the centre remains closed”.

This follows a review of the cardiac surgery unit which revealed a culture of bullying and staff fearful of speaking out.

Arbour Housing says Thursday’s Portadown protest is “directed towards migrants” and “foreign nationals”.

A woman has been charged with causing death by careless driving after a pedestrian died in County Antrim.

Father-of-three John Devine, 37, was shot dead by loyalists at his home in 1989

A signed summary of BBC Newsline.

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An Air India passenger plane bound for London’s Gatwick airport crashed shortly after taking off in Ahmedabad, western India, on Thursday, killing 241 passengers and crew.

It later emerged that only one passenger, a British man, had survived.

Among those on board were Indian, British, Portuguese and Canadian nationals.

More than 200 bodies were recovered from the scene, but it is unclear how many are from those on board the plane, and how many are casualties from the ground.

Details are still emerging from the scene.

Air India flight AI171 left Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 13:39 local time (08:09 GMT), Air India said.

It was scheduled to land at London Gatwick at 18:25 BST.

The plane crashed on departure from Ahmedabad – where all operations have since been suspended.

According to flight tracking website FlightRadar24, the signal from the aircraft was lost “less than a minute after take-off”.

Flight tracking data ends with the plane at an altitude of 625ft (190m).

The plane gave a mayday call to air traffic control, India’s aviation regulator said. No response was given by the aircraft after that.

It crashed into a residential area called Meghani Nagar.

The plane crashed into a building used as doctors’ accommodation at the Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Medical College and Civil Hospital.

A photograph taken after the crash shows abandoned tables and plates of food in the canteen of the hostel. At the far end of the room, people have gathered to inspect a huge hole in the wall apparently caused by the impact of the plane.

One woman at the scene told ANI that her son jumped from the second floor of the hostel, sustaining injuries, when the plane crashed there.

Verified footage taken in central Ahmedabad showed huge plumes of black smoke in the sky.

The BBC’s Roxy Gagdekar said people near the scene were running to “save as many lives as possible”.

He said emergency services were involved in a rescue operation and trying to extinguish a fire, and described seeing bodies being taken from the area.

Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told a press briefing that “we have lost a lot of people”.

Air India later issued a statement confirming 241 people on board the plane had been killed. The airline said the “sole survivor” was being treated in hospital.

Ahmedabad’s police chief GS Malik said it was highly likely that there were also casualties on the ground where the plane crashed, and warned that “some locals” would have died.

Warning: the following clip contains distressing footage.

Air India confirmed that there were 242 passengers and crew members on board the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, which has a total of 256 seats.

There were 169 Indians, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese nationals, one Canadian and 12 crew on the plane.

The sole survivor of the crash has been named as Vishwashkumar Ramesh, a British man who was sitting in seat 11A.

He was quoted by Indian media as saying: “Thirty seconds after take-off, there was a loud noise and then the plane crashed. It all happened so quickly.”

The BBC spoke to one of his relatives, Ajay Valgi in Leicester, who said Vishwashkumar had called the family to say he was “fine”.

Mr Valgi said Vishwashkumar did not know the whereabouts of his brother, also called Ajay, who was also on the plane.

Three Britons from Gloucester – Akeel Nanabawa, his wife Hannaa Vorajee and their daughter Sara – are thought to be among those who were on the flight. In a statement, Gloucester Muslim Society said it was “profoundly heartbroken” and offered its “deepest condolences” to the family.

Ammaarah Taju, the granddaughter of a couple on the plane, told the BBC from her parents’ home in Blackburn how the family is “clinging onto hope” they are still alive.

Adam Taju, 72 and his 70-year-old wife Hasina were flying with their son-in-law Altafhusen Patel, 51, who lives in London with his wife.

Leicester East MP Shivani Raja told BBC News she understood there were a “handful of Leicester residents” on board but stressed she was still waiting for “official reports” to confirm the news.

She said her community, which has a high population of British-Gujaratis, were “all really horrified and devastated” by the crash.

An “emergency centre has been activated” and a support team put in place for families seeking information, Air India’s chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran said.

Gatwick Airport said a reception centre for relatives of passengers was being set up and said British nationals with concerns about friends or family should call 0207 008 5000.

The aircraft involved was a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, and the Air India crash is the first time it has come down like this.

The model was launched 14 years ago. Just six weeks ago, Boeing lauded the fact that it had reached the milestone of carrying one billion passengers.

Air India operates a fleet of more than 190 planes including 58 Boeing aircraft, according to its website.

In a statement, Boeing said: “We are in contact with Air India regarding Flight 171 and stand ready to support them. Our thoughts are with the passengers, crew, first responders and all affected.”

Aviation experts have told the BBC the position of the plane’s wing flaps as it took off may have caused a problem for the plane.

One video verified by the BBC shows the plane descending before a large explosion occurs as it hits the ground.

“When I’m looking at this,” aviation analyst Geoffrey Thomas said, “the undercarriage is still down but the flaps have been retracted.”

Another expert, Terry Tozer, said: “It’s very hard to say from the video for sure, it doesn’t look as if the flaps are extended and that would be a perfectly obvious explanation for an aircraft not completing its take-off correctly.”

“That would point to potential human error if flaps aren’t set correctly,” said Marco Chan, a former pilot and a senior lecturer at Buckinghamshire New University, “but the resolution of the video is too low to confirm that.”

Air India confirmed on X that the flight was “involved in an accident today after take-off”.

It said it was fully co-operating with authorities investigating the crash and would provide further updates and has set up a dedicated passenger hotline to provide further information: 1800 5691 444

A spokesperson for Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport said all operations had been suspended until further notice, and they advised passengers to check with their airline before travelling to the airport.

Tata Group, which owns Air India, has said it will give 1 crore rupees – the equivalent of around £86,000 – to the families of each person killed in the crash.

The chief executive of Air India, Campbell Wilson, described his “deep sorrow” following the incident.

“This is a difficult day for all of us at Air India and our efforts now are focused entirely on the needs of our passengers, crew members, their families and loved ones,” he said in a video statement.

India’s aviation minister said he had directed “all aviation and emergency response agencies to take swift and coordinated action”.

Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjaparu added on X: “Rescue teams have been mobilised, and all efforts are being made to ensure medical aid and relief support are being rushed to the site.”

Officials have been instructed to carry out “immediate rescue and relief operations” and to make arrangements on a “war footing,” the chief minister of Gujarat said.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was “stunned and saddened” by the crash.

“It is heartbreaking beyond words,” he said in a statement on X, adding he had been in touch with officials assisting those affected.

UK Prime Minster Sir Keir Starmer said the scenes emerging from Ahmedabad were “devastating”.

“I am being kept updated as the situation develops, and my thoughts are with the passengers and their families at this deeply distressing time,” he said.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the UK was working with local authorities in India to “urgently establish the facts” and provide support.

The King said he and Queen Camilla were “desperately shocked by the terrible events in Ahmedabad this morning” and extended his sympathy to those affected.

He said in a statement: “I would like to pay a particular tribute to the heroic efforts of the emergency services and all those providing help and support at this most heartbreaking and traumatic time.”

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Details are still emerging, but these are the people so far confirmed by the BBC to have died.

Hindu temples in Harrow and Neasden are offering special prayers for the Air India crash victims.

One British man, who was a passenger on the London-bound flight, survived the crash in Ahmedabad, western India.

Vishwashkumar Ramesh is only passenger to survive the Air India crash that killed 241 people.

India can’t grow enough apples to meet demand but farmers are struggling to raise production.

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A London-bound Air India plane carrying 242 people crashed into a residential area shortly after take-off in Ahmedabad, western India.

The airline says 241 people on the plane were killed – one passenger, a British national, survived and is receiving treatment in hospital.

Dramatic footage shows the aircraft taking off before coming down in a built-up area.

Plumes of black smoke are then seen rising high into the sky after an explosion. Authorities launched a major rescue operation.

Briton Vishwashkumar Ramesh survived the crash, and met the Indian home affairs minister in hospital.

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The constitutional court voted unanimously to uphold president Yoon’s impeachment following his short-lived declaration of martial law.

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Myanmar’s military government says at least 2,000 people were killed in last week’s 7.7 magnitude quake.

Friday’s powerful earthquake in Myanmar was also felt in Ruili, a border city in neighbouring China.

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Almost all those on board an Air India flight bound for London Gatwick Airport that crashed shortly after take-off in western India have died, the airline has confirmed.

There were 242 passengers and crew on board the plane, including 169 Indian nationals, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese nationals and one Canadian.

Officials earlier said some local people would also have died, given the populated area of Ahmedabad where the plane came down.

One passenger, British national Vishwashkumar Ramesh, survived the crash and was treated in hospital for injuries.

Details are still emerging, but these are the people so far confirmed by the BBC to have died.

Three of the British nationals thought to have died in the incident were a family who lived in Gloucester.

Akeel Nanabawa, his wife Hannaa Vorajee and their four-year-old daughter Sara Nanabawa were all on board the flight.

A statement from Gloucester Muslim Society said it passed on its “most sincere and deepest condolences”.

“No words can truly ease the pain of such a profound loss, but we pray that the family may find solace in the tremendous outpouring of compassion and solidarity from communities across the world.

“May their cherished memories provide comfort, and may they rest in eternal peace.”

Adam Taju, 72, and his wife Hasina, 70, were flying back from Ahmedabad with their 51-year-old son-in-law, Altafhusen Patel. All three lived in London.

The couple’s granddaughter, Ammaarah Taju, spoke of her shock and disbelief at her parents home in Blackburn.

She said her father, Altaf Taju, had driven to London to be with his sister as they received updates about the crash from Air India and government officials.

Fiongal and Jamie Greenlaw-Meek, a married British couple, ran a spiritual wellness centre in London.

They posted on Instagram earlier on Thursday saying they were about to board the flight from Ahmedabad airport.

In the video, they were seen laughing and joking with each other about their trip to India.

Also on the plane were Javed Syed and his wife Mariam, from west London.

They were been onboard with their two young children.

Mrs Syed worked at Harrods and Mr Syed worked at a west London hotel.

Ajay Kumar Ramesh was on the flight, sat alongside his brother, the British surviving passenger Vishwashkumar Ramesh.

His cousin, Ajay Valgi, told the BBC that Vishwashkumar Ramesh had called his family to say he was “fine”, but he did not know the whereabouts of his brother.

Vijay Rupani, former chief minister of India’s Gujarat state, was killed in the crash, the country’s civil aviation minister told reporters.

Rupani served as the chief minister of the western Indian state from 2016-21.

He was a member of the governing BJP party.

Singson was a member of the cabin crew on board Air India flight 171, her family said.

Outside the Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad, her cousin, T. Thanglingo Haokip, told the BBC he was trying to get information about her but was unsuccessful.

He added that Singson had a mother and brother who were “wholly dependent on her” as she “was the only breadwinner” in her family.

Hindu temples in Harrow and Neasden are offering special prayers for the Air India crash victims.

Vishwashkumar Ramesh is only passenger to survive the Air India crash that killed 241 people.

India can’t grow enough apples to meet demand but farmers are struggling to raise production.

London-bound flight carrying 242 people crashed shortly after take-off in Ahmedabad, western India.

Experts told the BBC that a flap issue, engine failure or a bird strike are among the possible causes of the crash.

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A British man has walked away from the wreckage of the Air India crash that killed 241 people in an extraordinary tale of survival.

Vishwashkumar Ramesh was in seat 11A on the London-bound Boeing 787 flight when it crashed shortly after take off in Ahmedabad, western India.

Mr Ramesh’s brother, Nayan Kumar Ramesh, told BBC News Vishwashkumar “has no idea how he survived” and escaped the plane as the only survivor.

Air India said all other passengers and crew were killed – including 169 Indian nationals and 52 Britons.

Nayan told the BBC “it feels great seeing him [Vishwashkumar] doing well” but he was worried about his other brother Ajay, who was also onboard.

“We were all in shock as soon as we heard what happened, just utter shock. Speechless,” he said.

“He [Vishwashkumar] himself has no idea how he survived, how he got out the plane.

“When he called us he was just more worried about my other brother, like ‘Find Ajay, find Ajay.’ That’s all he cares about at the moment.”

A relative called Jay told the PA news agency: “He’s got some injuries on his face. He was painted in blood. He’s doing well I think. It’s a big shock.”

Video shared on social media showed Mr Ramesh walking towards an ambulance, with smoke billowing in the background.

He was later seen in a hospital bed meeting Indian interior minister Amit Shah.

Dr Dhaval Gameti, who treated Mr Ramesh, said: “He was disorientated, with multiple injuries all over his body. But he seems to be out of danger.”

Indian media said he shared his boarding pass, which showed his name and seat number.

The businessman, who was born in India and has lived in the UK since 2003, has a wife and four-year-old son. The BBC understands he was born in India, but has lived in the UK for many years.

The plane crashed into accommodation used by trainee doctors less than a minute after take-off in Ahmedabad in the state of Gujarat. It is not clear how many people on the ground died and the cause of the crash is still unknown.

Three Britons thought to have died on the flight have been named by Gloucester Muslim Society as Akeel Nanabawa, his wife Hannaa Vorajee and their daughter Sara.

“They touched lots of people and they will be missed by lots of people,” imam Abdullah Samad.

Couple Fiongal and Jamie Greenlaw-Meek, who run a spiritual wellness centre in London, are also thought to have been on the flight.

They laughed and joked in an Instagram video as they told of their “10-hour flight back to England”.

Their firm the Wellness Foundry has been approached for comment.

Also on the plane were Javed and his wife Mariam Syed, from West London, alongside their two young children.

Ammaarah Taju, the granddaughter of a couple from Blackburn who were onboard the flight, said she was in shock and disbelief.

Adam Taju, 72, and his wife Hasina, 70, were flying back from Ahmedabad’s International Airport with their 51-year-old son-in-law, Altafhusen Patel who lives in London with his wife.

In a statement from the King, he said he and his wife were “desperately shocked by the terrible events in Ahmedabad this morning”.

“Our special prayers and deepest possible sympathy are with the families and friends of all those affected by this appallingly tragic incident across so many nations, as they await news of their loved ones,” the statement added.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said his thoughts were with the families who were going to be “absolutely devastated by this awful news”, while his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi said it was “heart-breaking beyond words”.

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy has arranged crisis teams in India and the UK, and has chaired a meeting of the government’s emergency committee in response to the crash.

London Gatwick Airport confirmed that a reception centre for relatives of passengers was being set up where information would be provided, and that it was liaising closely with Air India.

It said on X: “British nationals who require consular assistance or have concerns about friends or family should call 0207 008 5000.”

Air India flight AI171 left Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 13:39 local time (08:09 GMT), Air India said.

It was scheduled to land at London Gatwick at 18:25 BST.

One video verified by the BBC shows the plane descending before a large explosion as it hits the ground.

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