Israel's air defenses successfully intercepted two ballistic missiles launched by Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen, according to the military. The IDF confirmed that the missiles were shot down before crossing Israel's borders, and fortunately, there are no immediate reports of injuries or damage. Sirens blared across central Israel, Jerusalem, and surrounding towns, as well as in several West Bank settlements, signaling the attack. This incident marks the seventh Houthi attack on Israel since March 18, when the IDF resumed its offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. It's worth noting that this isn't the first time Israel has intercepted missiles launched by the Houthis. In a similar incident on October 7, the Israeli Air Force intercepted a missile launched towards Israeli territory by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Given the grim tone of much of the PM's speech, he is asked by the BBC whether he's been honest with the public about the potential for tax rises when the budget comes round in October.
He says he was clear during the election that income tax, national insurance and VAT "would not go up".
"That remains the position," he says.
He says that Labour's plans "were fully funded and fully costed" but that he did not expect the Conservatives leaving a black hole in public finances.
On the cuts to winter fuel payments, he says he "didn't want to have to deal with" the issue, "but we have to fix the NHS, we have to fix our homes, our schools, and pensioners rely on them in the same way as everybody else does".