new figures from the eu's copernicus climate service extend the world's run of record—breaking air temperatures to ten months in a row. the average was 0.1 celsius above the previous high set in 2016, a significant margin by global standards. our climate editor justin rowlatt reports. last week the president of zimbabwe declared a national disaster because of a deep drought in the country. low rainfall slashed crop yields, driving up food prices and putting an estimated 2.7 million people at risk of hunger. it isjust million people at risk of hunger. it is just one example of a pattern of heat and drought affecting countries as far afield as southern europe and south east asia. this graph shows how marsh continue the wells are run of

record—breaking monthly temperatures, this extreme heat has got many climate scientists are worried. has got many climate scientists are worried-— are worried. the reality is that we — are worried. the reality is that we can _ are worried. the reality is that we can quantify - are worried. the reality is that we can quantify a - are worried. the reality is l that we can quantify a large proportion of the extra heat thatis proportion of the extra heat that is causing these records but not all of it. there needs to be a lot more science and there will be much more science coming out over the next weeks and months to understand what is happening to our climate system. is happening to our climate s stem. , , ., ., system. scientists agree what is causing _ system. scientists agree what is causing climate _ system. scientists agree what is causing climate change, - system. scientists agree what| is causing climate change, the vast quantities of planet warming gases humanity has been pumping into the atmosphere and in recent months a recurring weather event known as el nino has added an extra blast of heat into the air. that is weakening now so temperatures should begin to fall back later in the year. the problem is see temperatures remain extremely high, hitting many of the worlds coral reefs hard, suggesting global temperatures might not fall back as

expected, a sign that the world could be entering a new phase of more rapid climate change. let's speak to henna hundal, delegate to the un climate change conferences. good to talk to you again. is that what you are thinking, we are entering a new phase in this climate crisis?- are entering a new phase in this climate crisis? thank you for having _ this climate crisis? thank you for having me. _ this climate crisis? thank you for having me. unfortunately| this climate crisis? thank you i for having me. unfortunately we are coming off a string of ten months where we see these records being shattered and even more important than that we see the real—life impacts. a couple of weeks ago kids in south sudan could not go to school because of extreme heat, just two years ago we saw rhodes buckle in the uk because of extreme heat and in the us we saw emergency department visits rise tremendously during heat events. we also see populations such as the elderly

and inference, vulnerable populations, experience devastating consequences during these heat waves. not only do we see these records are being shattered we are unfortunately seeing populationsjust shattered we are unfortunately seeing populations just having a hard time adapting to these impacts. a hard time adapting to these im acts. ., , a hard time adapting to these im acts. . , ., a hard time adapting to these imacts. . , ., , impacts. certainly that is true because we — impacts. certainly that is true because we are _ impacts. certainly that is true because we are reporting - impacts. certainly that is true because we are reporting on | impacts. certainly that is true i because we are reporting on the invite all the time here in bbc news in all parts of the world. the impact it has on agriculture, people's lives, etc. the question now is it is becoming clear we are reaching — heading into the new phase, so what is being done about it? you are right, we chat about this issue all the time, almost monthly at them we look at taking a step back from a government perspective, a public policy perspective, what is actually changing? unfortunately this will probably not be the last of the records that will be broken. we need to kick into overdrive with regard to reducing our emissions and unfortunately thatis emissions and unfortunately that is not something that we

have put a lot of energy and effort towards. it is absolutely critical and at the un climate change conference last year countries promised to transition away from fossil fuels and that remains to be seen if that actually happens. where you are in california, you see a huge impact, water shortages. california has been radical in its thinking about how to combat that issue alone but also the wildfires you get every year, to what extent do you think this will be an issue in the election in the us in november? will there be on the minds of voters?— minds of voters? president biden made _ minds of voters? president biden made climate - minds of voters? president biden made climate action | minds of voters? president | biden made climate action a minds of voters? president - biden made climate action a key part of his agenda and you see young people reward him for that. we have to take two tracts of action here, fear driven and hope driven. the fear driven action, we know that angle, we know the crisis is existential and we know time is existential and we know time is slipping, we know that the impacts can be dire. there is also the hope driven action and thatis

also the hope driven action and that is where you see young people who will be key for the electorate forjoe biden in the election really trying to drive home this message and you see them rising up and adopting this optimistic perspective that through the collective effort we can rally for change and i think that is quite inspiring and i would not discount those voices. we will talk to you — discount those voices. we will talk to you again _ discount those voices. we will talk to you again soon, - discount those voices. we will talk to you again soon, i - discount those voices. we will talk to you again soon, i am i talk to you again soon, i am sure. thank you. now to events in the middle east. israel's defence minister has told troops it's an opportune moment to reach a deal on the release of hostages held by hamas. a spokesman for qatar, which has been involved in the latest talks in cairo, has expressed cautious optimism. meanwhile, palestinians who have returned to the city of khan younis in gaza have spoken of the devastation they found after months of intense fighting. israel says its troops have pulled back from the area in southern gaza to prepare for the next stage of the conflict. meanwhile, more than 300 aid trucks have entered gaza —

the highest number in one day since the start of the war. 0ur middle east correspondent lucy williamson reports from jerusalem. for months, khan younis was a city of targets, its apartment blocks and hospitals seen by israel as hiding places for hamas. residents returned today searching for their city homes inside the concrete mountains as israel continued talks with hamas on a ceasefire deal. translation: the| destruction is huge. khan younis has been destroyed. it all needs to be rebuilt now. it's not suitable for animal to live in, let alone human being. translation: | wasn't . expecting this destruction. our biggest request is that they withdraw from our land. it's better for us to have tents on the rubble of our home rather than being displaced.

hamas launched rockets from khan younis, the army said, even as its troops withdrew. it hit back with airstrikes. israel's prime minister has promised total victory in this war, but hamas is still fighting and the withdrawal leaves just a skeleton israeli presence across the middle of the strip. this is being presented as a temporary tactical withdrawal and that buys benjamin netanyahu more time. under american pressure to agree a cease fire deal and pressure from his own cabinet to keep the war going, he's framing this as a pause, not an end in the fighting, keeping both foreign and domestic allies on track. translation: we are working constantly to l attain our objectives. first and foremost, the release of all of our hostages and the achieving of total victory over hamas. this victory requires entering rafah and eliminating the terrorist battalions there.

this will happen, there is a date. returning residents to their homes could smooth the path to a ceasefire deal, but it could also help those in israel who want to continue the war. israel is facing tough us demands to move refugees out of rafah before any ground offensive there. a day after the israeli withdrawal, it's clear how much the face of khan younis has changed, much less the face of the war. lucy williamson, bbc news, jerusalem. with me is now is said shehata from bbc arabic. good morning. let's start with the peace talks, what are you hearing about their progression? hearing about their rouression? ., ., , progression? unfortunately there are — progression? unfortunately there are problems. - progression? unfortunately there are problems. since i there are problems. since yesterday when the delegation of crew one and israel went back to consultation with their

leaders, the reporting from the middle east on different platforms is saying that hamas expresses their reservations about the proposal. it was in egypt, three stages, the exchange of hostages and prisoners and letting air trucks get in side. returning refugees from gaza from the south to the north but in camps, not in their homes, according to hamas. hamas is not happy with the proposal, it includes the inaudible of everywhere, even the proposal seen to be 500 metres away from the two ministries which link between the north and the rest of gaza for people to go back. the other one it is a permanent ceasefire in all inaudible. the

reservations expressed yesterday and they are not under pressure compared to israel because israel is under immense pressure compared to hamas. the cautious optimism from the spokesperson said there is some optimism but the pressure on hamas is less compared to israel but the concession that israel agreed or happy to agree with that is not up to the conditions of hamas. , ., , ., �*, hamas. tell us about israel's lans hamas. tell us about israel's plans for— hamas. tell us about israel's plans for rafah _ hamas. tell us about israel's plans for rafah now. - hamas. tell us about israel's. plans for rafah now. benjamin plans for rafah now. ben'amin netanyahu fl plans for rafah now. ben'amin netanyahu expressed _ plans for rafah now. benjamin l netanyahu expressed yesterday neta nyahu expressed yesterday that netanyahu expressed yesterday that the date was set to coincide rafah to eliminate hamas. the president of egypt, and friends and jordan express in an article published in the washington post and other media

outlets said any operation it would be disastrous because there is about 1.5 billion living there and most are refugees. if it does happen it will be more clearly, more violence and it might escalate because there is tension between israel and hezbollah and iran, vowing to retaliate because of what happened to the destruction of the consulate in syria. all of that will put pressure on mr netanyahu but it seems he is insisting that he will go to rafah to achieve this goal of victory. humanitarian aid, or trucks entered gaza yesterday than ever before since the start of the war, that talk is through that impact?— the war, that talk is through thatimact? , , , that impact? good news because for a lona that impact? good news because for a long time — that impact? good news because for a long time there _ that impact? good news because for a long time there was - that impact? good news because for a long time there was a - for a long time there was a push for 500 trucks to go there, part of this proposal, so 300 is not enough for better than before. this came after the pressure from the us on

israel because of the opening of the crossing, using the port to deliver aid and increase the amount, so israel is doing its bit in order to relieve the pressure from its stronger ally, the united states. thank ou ve ally, the united states. thank you very much _ ally, the united states. thank you very much for _ ally, the united states. thank you very much for bringing - ally, the united states. thank you very much for bringing us| you very much for bringing us up you very much for bringing us up to date. tens of millions of people across north america have witnessed the first total solar eclipse for 50 years. the rare phenomenon lasted for around 4 minutes as the moon moved in front of the sun completely blocking it. 0ur correspondent emma vardy is in dallas, where she waited for the huge crowds who'd flocked there. the path of the eclipse first touchdown on land along the west coast of mexico. modern technology meeting a phenomenon as old as the universe. as daylight returns, the shadow over the moon swept into the united states in indianapolis,

home of the indy 500, becoming a theatre to another display. the moon moving into perfect alignment with the earth. the outer atmosphere of the sun is visible here, the tiny light flares flickering into space. the corona was being studied by nasa as they continue to unravel the mysteries of the universe. unravel the mysteries of the universe-— unravel the mysteries of the universe. . , , ., universe. that is so beautiful. 0h m universe. that is so beautiful. oh my goodness. _ universe. that is so beautiful. oh my goodness. listen - universe. that is so beautiful. oh my goodness. listen for. universe. that is so beautiful. | oh my goodness. listen for the birds. cheering. beneath the skyscrapers of downtown dallas, rapture at the most cosmic spectacle the heavens can offer. this has been a surreal few minutes, what was a sunny day now feels sheerly. i have goosebumps. the cloud has moved aside injust goosebumps. the cloud has moved aside in just the goosebumps. the cloud has moved aside injust the right moment, so the crowd here are awestruck. it so the crowd here are awestruck.— so the crowd here are awestruck. it felt like a switch being _

awestruck. it felt like a switch being turned - awestruck. it felt like a i switch being turned down awestruck. it felt like a - switch being turned down on the sun, so very cool to see. i switch being turned down on the sun, so very cool to see.- sun, so very cool to see. i was amazed — sun, so very cool to see. i was amazed at — sun, so very cool to see. i was amazed at the _ sun, so very cool to see. i was amazed at the lights _ sun, so very cool to see. i was amazed at the lights on - sun, so very cool to see. i was amazed at the lights on the i amazed at the lights on the skyscrapers came on, and it was so cold — skyscrapers came on, and it was so cold and _ skyscrapers came on, and it was so cold and that it was just like — so cold and that it was just like beautiful, absolutely amazing. like beautiful, absolutely amazing-— amazing. the new york skyscrapers _ amazing. the new york skyscrapers brought i amazing. the new york i skyscrapers brought people closer to the solar eclipse of the century. while in arkansas, a mass wedding marked the moment, truly an eclipse of the heart and one that many people may never see quite like this again. a lot of pictures on a website, take a look, they are great. former us president donald trump says abortion rights should be decided by individual us states. he's been under pressure from conservative republicans, who have been calling for a nationwide abortion ban — an issue that could swing votes in november's election. 0ur north america correspondent tom bateman has more.

what we saw today was donald trump rejecting some of the hard—line positions that his republican colleagues have been arguing for — that being a nationwide ban on abortion. that is significant because donald trump has sold himself as the architect of the supreme court decision a couple of years ago to overturn roe v wade. that was a landmark ruling from 1973 that enshrined protections, constitutional protections for women across america to abortion. what donald trump is doing here is being strategic when it comes to the presidential election. he has seen that some of the harder positions on the issue of abortion haven't played well for many republicans, most notably in the mid—term elections a couple of years ago. he is very aware of that in an election that will be decided to a certain degree in the suburbs of several marginal swing states.

so i think a lot of this is about the electoral politics and he is saying it will basically be up to states themselves to decide how far to go on abortion bans. but already he is being severely criticised by pro—life groups — one of the leading ones said it was deeply disappointed in his decision. as for the democrats, well, joe biden intends explicitly to make this an issue that he is going to attack donald trump over and already his campaign had come out and said that donald trump was responsible for ripping away the rights of women. it said that women in america were, in their view, in the extraordinary position of having fewer rights today than their mothers or grandmothers because of the policies enacted after donald trump was president. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

the inquiry into the post office it scandal continues today. the campaigner, alan bates, is due to give evidence. he'll be followed by senior figures from the post office and fujitsu in the coming weeks. peter ruddick reports. the man who took on the post office. his story might now be 0ffice. his story might now be known around the world but today alan bates will once again be explaining how he was affected by a scandal dubbed the most widespread miscarriage ofjustice in british legal history. this any kicks of the latest phase of inquiring that is heard evidence more than two years and will now turn to the crucial question of who knew what and when. the former mel group boss is one of a handful of seniorfigures due group boss is one of a handful of senior figures due to appear this week, followed later this month by another whose role in the post office prosecution of

innocent sub—postmasters has been heavily criticised. the x chief executive who was stripped of her cbe earlier this year will give three days of evidence in may. she will be asked about draft reports uncovered by the bbc shows the post office carried on using public money to fund court action, despite knowing its defence was not true. where the fire began, victims told the bbc and the post office minister their battle was still far from one.— far from one. the life is slipping _ far from one. the life is slipping away- - far from one. the life is slipping away. 37 i far from one. the life is slipping away. 37 years | far from one. the life is i slipping away. 37 years in post office, so it feels like the office, so it feels like the live has been wasted. it feels like being stabbed in the back for serving the very people for the very nation on behalf of the very nation on behalf of the government. everybody will aet the government. everybody will get through _ the government. everybody will get through it- _ the government. everybody will get through it. the _ the government. everybody will get through it. the fact - the government. everybody will get through it. the fact that i get through it. the fact that when — get through it. the fact that when i _ get through it. the fact that when i was in hospital, the post — when i was in hospital, the post office sent their own

personal doctors to see if i was — personal doctors to see if i was actually ill. that is what really — was actually ill. that is what really hurt the most. the journey _ really hurt the most. the journey for _ really hurt the most. the journey for all _ really hurt the most. the journey for all of - really hurt the most. the journey for all of us i really hurt the most. the journey for all of us has i really hurt the most. the journey for all of us has been so painful— journey for all of us has been so painful that _ journey for all of us has been so painful that we _ journey for all of us has been so painful that we feel- journey for all of us has been so painful that we feel it i so painful that we feel it every— so painful that we feel it every day. _ so painful that we feel it every day. we _ so painful that we feel it every day. we still- so painful that we feel it every day. we still have | so painful that we feel it . every day. we still have to give — every day. we still have to give each _ every day. we still have to give each other— every day. we still have to give each other support i every day. we still have to i give each other support because it is not— give each other support because it is not over. _ give each other support because it is not over, it— give each other support because it is not over, it is— give each other support because it is not over, it is ongoing i it is not over, it is ongoing and — it is not over, it is ongoing and it— it is not over, it is ongoing and it is— it is not over, it is ongoing and it is still— it is not over, it is ongoing and it is still tough. - it is not over, it is ongoing and it is still tough. it i it is not over, it is ongoing and it is still tough. it is i and it is still tough. it is hard _ and it is still tough. it is hard to— and it is still tough. it is hard to get— and it is still tough. it is hard to get up— and it is still tough. it is hard to get up every- and it is still tough. it is i hard to get up every morning and keep— hard to get up every morning and keep battling _ hard to get up every morning and keep battling along. i hard to get up every morning and keep battling along. from the minister, _ and keep battling along. from the minister, an _ and keep battling along. from the minister, an apology. i and keep battling along. from the minister, an apology. can| and keep battling along. from| the minister, an apology. can i first say sorry _ the minister, an apology. can i first say sorry for _ the minister, an apology. can i first say sorry for everything, l first say sorry for everything, for everyone in this room and thousands around the country, decent lives wrecked through this. as, decent lives wrecked through this. �* . ., decent lives wrecked through this. �* . . , . ., decent lives wrecked through this. �* . . ., ., this. a clear statement of how he was the — this. a clear statement of how he was the scandal— this. a clear statement of how he was the scandal to - this. a clear statement of how he was the scandal to end. i he was the scandal to end. people should be prosecuted, thatis people should be prosecuted, that is my view and i think you and others i have spoke to feel that those within the post office and possibly further afield should go to jail. past afield should go to “ail. post office afield should go to “ail. post office ltd * afield should go to “ail. post office ltd is i afield should go to jail. post office ltd is stealing - afield should go to jail. post office ltd is stealing my i office ltd is stealing my livelihood.— office ltd is stealing my livelihood. . ., ., , livelihood. the tv drama means the long-running _ livelihood. the tv drama means the long-running enquiry - livelihood. the tv drama means the long-running enquiry may i the long—running enquiry may now also become a ratings

winner. it is expected to conclude this summer and make recommendations for further action next year. domestic abuse survivors have helped develop a new initiative designed to strengthen the process of obtaining a gun license in parts of england and wales. for the first time, the partners of people applying to own a gun will be asked questions in order to build a more detailed picture of the applicant, and it's already resulted in several licenses being refused or revoked. our reporter kathryn stanczyszyn has more. can you just show me the cabinet... when it comes to a gun licence, police carry out checks including wearable be stored on what it will be used for. , ., , , stored on what it will be used for. , ., _ , for. obviously we can see the bolts in here. _ for. obviously we can see the bolts in here. trish _ for. obviously we can see the bolts in here. trish is - bolts in here. trish is reapplying- _ bolts in here. trish is reapplying. it - bolts in here. trish is reapplying. it is i bolts in here. trish is reapplying. it is good bolts in here. trish is i reapplying. it is good for bolts in here. trish is - reapplying. it is good for hand e e reapplying. it is good for hand eye co-ordination. _ reapplying. it is good for hand eye co-ordination. also i reapplying. it is good for hand eye co-ordination. also for i eye co—ordination. also for fitness because it is quite a heavy thing and i am just really interested in it. in

gwent. _ really interested in it. in gwent, police have come up with another safeguard for those who want to become licensed gun holders. a questionnaire for the people closest to the applicant, their partner. i5 applicant, their partner. i3 domestic abuse assessment. talking to yourself and your partner. talking to yourself and your artner. , , ., partner. trish is a gun applicant _ partner. trish is a gun applicant herself i partner. trish is a gun applicant herself and l partner. trish is a gun i applicant herself and so is partner. trish is a gun - applicant herself and so is her boyfriend, so she is answering these extra questions as well. are you aware if your partner is on prescription medication or non—prescription medication? not that i am aware. has or non-prescription medication? not that i am aware.— not that i am aware. has your artner not that i am aware. has your partner ever _ not that i am aware. has your partner ever threatened i not that i am aware. has your partner ever threatened to i not that i am aware. has your| partner ever threatened to use or has used a weapon on you? no. it is a good idea and i think— no. it is a good idea and i think everyone should do it. the — think everyone should do it. the checks need to be done to make — the checks need to be done to make shooting safe.— make shooting safe. rhianna knows too — make shooting safe. rhianna knows too well _ make shooting safe. rhianna knows too well what - make shooting safe. rhianna knows too well what can i make shooting safe. rhianna i knows too well what can happen when a license and up in the wrong hands.— when a license and up in the wrong hands. the relationship lasted over — wrong hands. the relationship lasted over five _ wrong hands. the relationship lasted over five years, - wrong hands. the relationship lasted over five years, it i lasted over five years, it became increasingly abusive, and it is when i finally

managed to end the relationship, that is really stalking ramped up. four months after that, stalking ramped up. four months afterthat, i stalking ramped up. four months after that, i was held at gunpoint by the perpetrator overnight, and it was the most horrific eight hours, but that was the culmination of years of abuse and his controlling behaviour. d0 abuse and his controlling behaviour.— abuse and his controlling behaviour. , ., ~ behaviour. do you think there was any other— behaviour. do you think there was any other questions i behaviour. do you think there was any other questions we i behaviour. do you think there i was any other questions we need to look at or adapt or change? some of this will be... she has heled some of this will be... she has helped police _ some of this will be... she has helped police develop - some of this will be... she has helped police develop these i helped police develop these additional questions known as project titanium.— project titanium. there is a law that — project titanium. there is a law that still _ project titanium. there is a law that still needs - project titanium. there is a law that still needs to i project titanium. there is a i law that still needs to change in working on this project will help her... if this project was in existence at the time, i had when asked the question is, even though i did not know about the abusive relationship, the way the questions are formulated, it may have started a thought process with me thinking he got a second, i am experiencing this. it would have absolutely rung alarm bells for everyone i was speaking to. it

bells for everyone i was speaking to.— bells for everyone i was speaking to. it is currently bein: speaking to. it is currently being trialled _ speaking to. it is currently being trialled in _ speaking to. it is currently being trialled in a - speaking to. it is currently being trialled in a number| speaking to. it is currently i being trialled in a number of authors, including the metropolitan police and has been used in 5000 applicants so far. ~ ., ., been used in 5000 applicants so far. . . . , been used in 5000 applicants so far. . . ., , , far. we have had seven cases durin: far. we have had seven cases during his _ far. we have had seven cases during his trial— far. we have had seven cases during his trial with _ far. we have had seven cases during his trial with the i far. we have had seven cases during his trial with the three | during his trial with the three forces were we have either revoked or refused a licence. that is seven cases are potentially could have gone on to domestic abuse homicide. we had one case where the partner was contacted and she stated she could not speak to the enquiry officer at her home because she was being controlled and coerced so much. that licence was then refused and also as well we could put a safeguard in place for that person. safeguard in place for that erson. ., , ~ person. for campaigners like rhiannon. — person. for campaigners like rhiannon, when _ person. for campaigners like rhiannon, when the - person. for campaigners like rhiannon, when the stakes l person. for campaigners like | rhiannon, when the stakes of this high, those questions are crucial. if this high, those questions are crucial. , ., u, this high, those questions are crucial. , crucial. if you can prevent one, crucial. if you can prevent one. is — crucial. if you can prevent one. is ever _ crucial. if you can prevent one, is everjust - crucial. if you can prevent one, is everjust the - crucial. if you can prevent one, is everjust the one | crucial. if you can prevent - one, is everjust the one life, if you can imagine a stone thrown into what, it is the ripples from that. to prevent anyone else suffering anything

like that, it is pretty momentous. kathryn stanczyszyn, bbc news. we have the top business stories here next injust we have the top business stories here next in just a moment, including a look at what is happening with the panama papers, rememberthat? panama papers, remember that? do panama papers, rememberthat? do you any moment. —— see you any moment. hello. monday was quite a quiet day of weather, really. we had some sunny spells breaking through the cloud, for example, here in cambridgeshire. and across large parts of england, it was a warm day for april, with temperatures topping out at 19 degrees celsius at kew in london. these temperatures are around 5 or 6 degrees above average. it's going to be a much cooler kind of day for tuesday. notjust cooler, it's going to be wet and windy for many as well. the change is down to an area of low pressure. this area of cloud you can see swirling to the southwest of the uk and that's essentially pushing northwards and eastwards over the next 12 hours. we already have quite a bit of rain with us at the moment and the rain across northern ireland and scotland could be heavy enough to cause some localised flooding.

20—a0mm of rain, not a huge amount in the grand scheme of things, however, edinburgh, for example, has already had over 1.5 times the april average rainfall, even though we're onlyjust over a week into the new month. so this extra rainfall could be enough to cause some localised flooding. the weather will tend to brighten up from the west as we go through the day. sunshine and showers follow our main band of rain through. it's also going to be a windy, gusty kind of day. particularly for england and wales, gusts widely running into the 40s of miles a hour, but could reach around 50 or 60mph around some coastal areas, with the rain reluctant to clear away from eastern scotland and parts of northeast england. our temperatures are about 10 to 12 degrees for most. now, that will clear through and we're left with some colder air as we head into the first part of wednesday. potentially chilly enough to give an odd nip of frost for the early part of wednesday morning. should be a fine start to the day with sunshine. then it clouds over with the next weather system moving in from the west, bringing more rain. now, even as the rain pushes through across wales and southwest england, it probably will stay

rather cloudy, the weather that follows. however, it will start to turn a bit milder again with southwesterly winds, temperatures around 13—15 degrees. and that warming trend continues as we head into thursday. again, we've got southwesterly winds with us, but this time, after a cloudy start, the clouds should tend to thin and break up and we'll see some spells of sunshine coming through quite widely. yeah, there'll be a few showers for the north and west of scotland, but otherwise, it's mostly dry. and those temperatures — 17 for aberdeen, 17 for belfast, but highs could reach around 19 or 20 across parts of eastern england. it stays pretty mild then towards wales and england as we head into the weekend. temperatures could reach the low 20s for some.

live from london, this is bbc news. the world's largest chipmaker, tsmc, makes a further big investment in the us with a third factory in arizona. ireland's parliament is poised to elect its new taoiseach. the fine gael leader, simon harris, will become the country's youngest ever leader. what are his plans for the economy? welcome aboard this autonomous bus. also in the programme, we take a ride on the self—driving night bus now serving the streets of seoul. and as millions look to the skies across north america, we take a look at the impact of the solar eclipse on us businesses and tourism.

hello. i'm sally bundock with the top business stories. and we start with the microchip giant taiwan semiconductor manufacturing company, or tsmc as it's also known. it has agreed to build a third factory in arizona, raising its total investment in the united states to $65 billion. the us government has committed a tenth of that figure in subsidies and a further $5 billion in possible loans to support the plans. the deal is part of an effort to boost semiconductor production in the us. the us is currently highly dependent on asia, especially taiwan, for chips. but it has been pushing to expand local supply amid increased tensions with china, citing economic and national security risks.