the g7 agrees a $50 billion loan plan to fund ukraine's defence against russia. the un demands sudan's paramilitaries call off their eight—week siege of el fasher. joe biden says hamas remains "the biggest hang—up" in a ceasefire deal with israel. and — they're finally here — the euros kick off in germany today. a warm welcome to the programme. i'm mark lobel. leaders at the g7 summit in southern italy have agreed to lend ukraine $50 billion, taken from interest made on frozen russian assets, which the prime minister called "game—changing".

but it's still not clear precisely who is doing the lending. vicki young reports from the summit in puglia. he might consider this welcome respite from the election trail. rishi sunakjoined trail. rishi sunak joined leaders trail. rishi sunakjoined leaders from seven of the world's richest countries, and at least here there is a guarantee of a warm welcome from italia host, giorgia meloni, who boasted she led the strongest government of all. ukraine has been high on the agenda. president zelenskyy is here, shoring up support. mr sunak reiterated ukraine's right to self—defence in the face of russia plasma invasion. i've been discussing with my colleagues a game changing package of that would be funded by the prophets on seized russian assets. now this is something that i and the uk have personally championed and laid on for a while now, so it is very positive to see it close to the finish line. it will make an enormous difference.

the deal, a $50 billion loan, was finalised by the american and ukrainian presidents. put that money — and ukrainian presidents. put that money to _ and ukrainian presidents. pm that money to work for ukraine, another reminder to putin, we are not backing down. russian assets should _ are not backing down. russian assets should be _ are not backing down. russian assets should be used - are not backing down. russian assets should be used for- assets should be used for defending the lives of ukrainians from russian terror and for— ukrainians from russian terror and for repairing the damage appearance at a summit like this, but when he spoke to journalists here, he told us he was energised by the challenge she faced, and said he wouldn't stop making the case for a conservative government until the very last day of this election campaign. many of these leaders have watched as their popularity ratings have plummeted. fora their popularity ratings have plummeted. for a couple of threats. vicki young, bbc news,

puglia. the un security council has demanded that sudanese paramilitaries call off their eight—week siege of el fasher. more than 1.5 million people are sheltering in the city; food, water and medical supplies are running out. 1a countries voted in favour of the resolution, and russia abstained. the vote comes after multiple warnings from the un, including a call by the special advisor on the prevention of genocide for the security council and the international community to protect the sudanese people from existing and increasing risk factors of genocide. this council has sent a strong signal to the parties to this conflict today. this brutal and unjust conflict needs to end. today's resolution shows the council remains committed to supporting efforts for peace in sudan. , ., sudan. this resolution could not come — sudan. this resolution could not come at _ sudan. this resolution could not come at a _ sudan. this resolution could not come at a more - sudan. this resolution could i not come at a more precarious moment. — not come at a more precarious moment. the people of el fasher are trapped. they are

surrounded by heavily armed rsf, _ surrounded by heavily armed rsf, food, water, medicine and other_ rsf, food, water, medicine and other essentials are drying up. famine — other essentials are drying up. famine is_ other essentials are drying up. famine is setting in, and the threat — famine is setting in, and the threat of— famine is setting in, and the threat of further violence, including a large—scale massacre, looms large. south africa's newly—elected parliament meets today and is expected to re—elect president cyril ramaphosa to form an unprecedented coalition government, after his ruling anc cobbled together a coalition deal. the african national congress leader had called for a government of national unity after his party lost its absolute majority in last month's general election — for the first time in three decades — but two major leftist parties shunned the deal. at the top of the programme i was telling you about that loan deal made from frozen russian assets — deal made from frozen russian assets to— deal made from frozen russian assets to ukraine.

i'm joined by michael bociurkiw. he's a senior fellow at the washington, dc based atlantic council think—tank, and joins us from 0desa, in southern ukraine. where is this assistance needed most _ where is this assistance needed most and — where is this assistance needed most and what is the situation like from _ most and what is the situation like from where you are viewing it? ,, ., ., . like from where you are viewing it? ,, ., ., ~ .., it? suroor. well, i can tell ou it? suroor. well, i can tell you the — it? suroor. well, i can tell you the assistance - it? suroor. well, i can tell you the assistance is - it? suroor. well, i can tell you the assistance is very | you the assistance is very badly needed for air defence systems and the reason i say thatis systems and the reason i say that is over the past few hours they have been four or five air raid sirens here in odessa and pretty much across ukraine. it was described as a massive russian attack overnight. a mix of missiles and drones, and usually these are aimed at critical infrastructure, power plants, things like that. so these happen very, very frequently, and in odessa where i am right now, as you pointed out, is a critical component of the global food supply chain, so that is why this aid is needed so badly to protect cities like 0dessa, because otherwise it is good to have a big, big knock on effect on other parts of the world as well. ., ., , other parts of the world as well. ., ._ , ., other parts of the world as well. ., ._ i. ,. ,

well. from the way you describe it, it well. from the way you describe it. it sounds _ well. from the way you describe it, it sounds like _ well. from the way you describe it, it sounds like this _ well. from the way you describe it, it sounds like this amount. it, it sounds like this amount of money, which sounds like a lot, could be used up very quickly. it lot, could be used up very cuickl . . lot, could be used up very cuickl. ., quickly. it can, and basically what was — quickly. it can, and basically what was agreed _ quickly. it can, and basically what was agreed to - quickly. it can, and basically what was agreed to at - quickly. it can, and basically what was agreed to at the i quickly. it can, and basically| what was agreed to at the g7 was it is an interest—free loan for the ukraine, and was it is an interest—free loan forthe ukraine, and it is still a loan, and forthe ukraine, and it is stilla loan, and ukraine forthe ukraine, and it is still a loan, and ukraine has many loans to pay back since the start of the war, and i think that was done, to be honest with you, because it otherwise would have set off too many alarm bells of the european central bank and elsewhere, so that is why they kind of structured it that way. but no, it isn't enough. if you consider the national budget of ukraine, there is a $500 billion a month for a $5 billion a month for a $5 billion a month deficit because so much is going to the military effort, so yes, it will be used up very quickly. as you implied, they had to navigate a lot of practical hurdles to get this money but there is also diplomatic initiative here, isn't there, because there is talk that ukraine might not get exactly what they want at the upcoming

nato meeting, plus we were looking at the report from vicki young earlier, three or four leaders that all up for election, we don't know who will be at the other end of those elections, so they really wanted to get this deal done now for those reasons.- wanted to get this deal done now for those reasons. yes, and totally understandable. - now for those reasons. yes, and totally understandable. there i totally understandable. there is going to be a real shuffling of the deck, not least of which will be the united states in november. but we can't deny this was very impressive. three major initiatives. the sanctions against russia, the aid package, and also the diplomatic initiatives to help ukraine in the longer term. so it seems like things have come together but the leaders understandably are in a very big rush because they know change is coming. and i have to take my hat off to giorgia meloni of italy. she is the chair of this g7 meeting and i believe she really pushed through a lot of what came through a lot of what came through for ukraine at this particular summit. so they -ushed particular summit. so they pushed it _ particular summit. so they pushed it through. - particular summit. so they | pushed it through. vladimir

putin is going to be watching very closely. how is he likely to respond to this, comedy thing? to respond to this, comedy thin ? ~ ~ , thing? well, i think the past few hours — thing? well, i think the past few hours have _ thing? well, i think the past few hours have been - thing? well, i think the past few hours have been an - few hours have been an indication of that, sending more missiles and drones towards ukraine and targeting critical infrastructure, you see, because since the start of the war there has been this drip, drip, drip approach of aid to ukraine. where are those air defence systems that have been promised and where are those f—i6s? so he is exploiting that gap and i also think he is exploiting the psychological aspect. bombing ukraine relentlessly so that people will leave. at the ukrainian reform conference in berlin it was noticed there are so many millions and millions of ukrainians, many of the young age, gone, and whether they're going to come back is another question, who is going to help in the bill blair of ukraine? —— in the rebuilding of ukraine? ukraine? -- in the rebuilding of ukraine?— the us presidentjoe biden has said that hamas remains "the biggest hang—up" in a ceasefire deal between the group and israel.

it comes as an israeli government spokesperson is warning that the country will respond with force to any aggression by hezbollah. the group said it launched a new rocket and drone attack from lebanon towards northern israel, targeting a number of israeli military sites. here's what some of president biden had to say. the bottom—line is i laid down an approach that has been endorsed by the un security council, by the g7, by the israelis, and the biggest hang—up so far is hamas refusing to sign on, even though they have submitted something similar. whether or not it comes to fruition remains to be seen. we are going to continue to push. i don't have a final answer for you. with me is bbc arabic�*s mohamed taha. president biden was ready how the world learned about the ceasefire deal, two weeks ago. there he is, he was meant to be

answering questions about another topic and got slightly frustrated with the support when asked about this, is it because he is frustrated by the lack of progress on this deal? indeed, this deal is not going anywhere, because hamas submitted a reply for the proposal, saying that there should be, from the beginning of starting their proposals, guarantees of a permanent ceasefire, a full withdrawal of israeli forces from gaza. israeli forces from gaza. israel will never, and the right—wing israeli government would never commit to that. israel wants a permanent presence in gaza that would guarantee them hunting hamas members at any moment, as exactly they do in the west bank, and hamas would never ever hand any hostages, knowing that after they would hand the hostages, the israeli forces would hunt them themselves.

apparently this is not an option for them. if apparently this is not an option for them.- apparently this is not an option for them. if you think there has — option for them. if you think there has to _ option for them. if you think there has to be _ option for them. if you think there has to be a _ option for them. if you think there has to be a deal, - option for them. if you thinkj there has to be a deal, think of outside pressures on both of them, america clearly pushing them, america clearly pushing the israelis. who would be pushing hamas behind the scenes for a deal? {iii pushing hamas behind the scenes for a deal? .., , pushing hamas behind the scenes for a deal? _, , ,, ., ., for a deal? of course, qatar and a permanent _ for a deal? of course, qatar and a permanent ceasefire l for a deal? of course, qatar| and a permanent ceasefire is for a deal? of course, qatar- and a permanent ceasefire is on the horizon. so if you agree now, that would happen one day. do you get a sense there's a lot of pressure from them at the moment? {iii lot of pressure from them at the moment?— lot of pressure from them at the moment? _, , , the moment? of course there is a lot of pressure _ the moment? of course there is a lot of pressure but _ the moment? of course there is a lot of pressure but hamas, - a lot of pressure but hamas, there are two parts to that, there are two parts to that, the political part, based on qatar, and the people fighting on the ground. so if they would convince the political side, the people who are on the ground that the israeli want really to kill them, they would never agree on a deal that

would keep the israeli forces inside gaza. for would keep the israeli forces inside gaza.— inside gaza. for israel, they are facing — inside gaza. for israel, they are facing resistance - inside gaza. for israel, they are facing resistance both i inside gaza. for israel, they are facing resistance both in the south and the north at the moment. {iii the south and the north at the moment. . ., , , the south and the north at the moment-— moment. of course they are firuhtin moment. of course they are fighting now _ moment. of course they are fighting now in _ moment. of course they are fighting now in the - moment. of course they are fighting now in the south - moment. of course they are | fighting now in the south and the north, they are fighting in gaza. we saw shelling in gaza, in the city of gaza and rafa, i9 in the city of gaza and rafa, 19 people died. the people who are expecting to celebrate ide on sunday are really desperate for age —— celebrate eid, as samantha power of the us said, development agencies, saying that only 90 tracks are in gaza every day. they need more than 400 trucks. they are really in a dire situation in the south. and in the north with his brother, how serious is that getting? brother, how serious is that caettin ? , , brother, how serious is that heflin ? , , ., , getting? this is really extremely _ getting? this is really extremely serious. i getting? this is really| extremely serious. we getting? this is really - extremely serious. we saw an exchange of shelling. the worst

since this war began. but still limited to the southern lebanon, and northern israel. all the fear from the us and the whole world that this shelling would extend to the capital of lebanon, beirut, will extend in israel to cities like haifa and tel aviv, as happened in 2006, and this will be an explosion to the situation in the region. 0k, concerns — situation in the region. 0k, concerns remain _ situation in the region. 0k, concerns remain in - situation in the region. 0k, concerns remain in both - concerns remain in both borders. thank you very much mohammed for bringing us up to date. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

seven party leaders and representatives took to the stage yesterday evening for itv�*s second general election debate. topics including tax, immigration, nhs and the cost of living were discussed. helen catt reports. familiarfaces familiar faces with familiar pictures. i

familiar faces with familiar ictures. ., ~ ., pictures. i am angela rayner, labour's deputy _ pictures. i am angela rayner, labour's deputy leader, - pictures. i am angela rayner, labour's deputy leader, and l pictures. i am angela rayner, l labour's deputy leader, and we have the real chance to turn the page and have change in britain. good evening. ein penny mordaunt. and i'm| britain. good evening. ein - penny mordaunt. and i'm going to he _ penny mordaunt. and i'm going to be talking to you about which _ to be talking to you about which of _ to be talking to you about which of the taxes conservatives well cut, labour will he — conservatives well cut, labour will be trying to talk about the ones they are going to put up. the ones they are going to put u -. �* ., ., , ., up. but reform has meant nigel farare up. but reform has meant nigel farage had _ up. but reform has meant nigel farage had a _ up. but reform has meant nigel farage had a new— up. but reform has meant nigel farage had a new claim. - up. but reform has meant nigel farage had a new claim. just - farage had a new claim. just before we — farage had a new claim. just before we came _ farage had a new claim. just before we came on - farage had a new claim. just before we came on air- farage had a new claim. just before we came on air we overtook— before we came on air we overtook the _ before we came on air we. overtook the conservatives before we came on air we - overtook the conservatives in the national opinion- overtook the conservatives in the national opinion polls. . overtook the conservatives in| the national opinion polls. we are now— the national opinion polls. we are now the _ the national opinion polls. we are now the opposition - the national opinion polls. we are now the opposition to - are now the opposition to labour. , . . , labour. his claim is based on a pole for yougov _ labour. his claim is based on a pole for yougov which - pole for yougov which put them i% ahead on a pole for the tories the first time. psychologically that insignificant but it is within the margin of error and more polls will be needed to suggest a definite trend. what is clear though is that labour is still polling far ahead of both and in this debate it was noticed that angela rayner faced in this debate it was noticed that angela raynerfaced more tax than previously. bud tax than previously. and jell-o, which _ tax than previously. and jell-o, which of- tax than previously. and jell-o, which of your - jell—o, which of your party's u—turns are you most proud of, the ditching of the 28 million climate investment plan,

keeping the coulta child benefit cap or one of the others?— benefit cap or one of the others? ~ ., ., ., , ., ., others? what i am not proud of this we have — others? what i am not proud of this we have had _ others? what i am not proud of this we have had 40 _ others? what i am not proud of this we have had 40 years - others? what i am not proud of this we have had 40 years of. others? what i am not proud ofj this we have had 40 years of -- this we have had 40 years of —— 14 years — this we have had 40 years of —— 14 years of— this we have had 40 years of —— 14 years of the tories and the crashing _ 14 years of the tories and the crashing of the economy. labour is refusing _ crashing of the economy. labour is refusing to — crashing of the economy. labour is refusing to come _ crashing of the economy. labour is refusing to come again, - crashing of the economy. labour is refusing to come again, i - is refusing to come again, i ask— is refusing to come again, i ask them _ is refusing to come again, i ask them what _ is refusing to come again, i ask them what has - is refusing to come again, i. ask them what has happened is refusing to come again, i- ask them what has happened to labour? �* . ask them what has happened to labour? . ., ., labour? again, we have said we would have _ labour? again, we have said we would have action _ labour? again, we have said we would have action on _ labour? again, we have said we would have action on child - would have action on child poverty~ _ would have action on child poverty-— poverty. but you won't lift a conservative _ conservative policy that you are determined to- conservative policy that you are determined to press- conservative policy that you i are determined to press ahead with even— are determined to press ahead with even though _ are determined to press ahead with even though it _ are determined to press ahead with even though it damages i with even though it damages some — with even though it damages some of— with even though it damages some of our— with even though it damages some of our poorest - with even though it damagesl some of our poorest families. we wiii— some of our poorest families. we will not _ some of our poorest families. we will not do _ some of our poorest families. we will not do unfunded i we will not do unfunded spending commitments. the snp . uestion spending commitments. the snp question the _ spending commitments. the snp question the future _ spending commitments. the snp question the future of— spending commitments. the snp question the future of spending l question the future of spending under labour while criticising the tories must make handling of the economy. irate the tories must make handling of the economy.— the tories must make handling of the economy. we have had 14 ears of of the economy. we have had 14 years of austerity, _ of the economy. we have had 14 years of austerity, then - of the economy. we have had 14 years of austerity, then we i years of austerity, then we have had the damage of brexit and what that has done to the economy, the shrinking of the economy, the shrinking of the economy, the shrinking of the economy, the £40 billion worth of tax receipts which have disappeared out of the economy. and while conservatives's penny mordaunt had one contested accusation she wanted to level at her opponentsverre higher

taxes, highertaxes, higher taxes, higher taxes, higher taxes, highertaxes, higher taxes, highertaxes, higher taxes, highertaxes... taxes, higher taxes, higher taxes, higher taxes. .. what are ou on taxes, higher taxes. .. what are you on about? _ taxes, higher taxes. .. what are you on about? the _ taxes, higher taxes. .. what are you on about? the lib- taxes, higher taxes. .. what are you on about? the lib dems's i you on about? the lib dems's daisy cooper _ you on about? the lib dems's daisy cooper said _ you on about? the lib dems's daisy cooper said it _ you on about? the lib dems's daisy cooper said it was i you on about? the lib dems's daisy cooper said it was the i daisy cooper said it was the tories that had put them up and added more costs. the tories that had put them up and added more costs.— added more costs. the fact is the cost-of-living crisis i added more costs. the fact is the cost-of-living crisis has i the cost—of—living crisis has been made so much worse by the mini budget, which blew a hole in the public finances and made people's rent and mortgages go absolutely sky—high, and people have felt that he had and they are still trying to recover now. ., , ., are still trying to recover now. ., now. no post-show handshakes this time- _ now. no post-show handshakes this time. with _ now. no post-show handshakes this time. with less _ now. no post-show handshakes this time. with less than i now. no post-show handshakes this time. with less than three l this time. with less than three weeks to go, the gloves are off. helen catt, bbc news. plenty of coverage on the bbc website up—to—date �*s events. the bbc has identified what could be thousands of illegal sewage spills by english water companies in 2022. rainfall data has been cross—referenced with details of spills that had been reported to the regulators, to identify when raw sewage could have been released during dry periods,which is a breach of water companies permits. some of the water companies said the bbc�*s methodology was flawed.

some also said that many of the spills they had reported to the regulators were in fact equipment malfunctions. here's our environment correspondentjonah fisher. every year, the water companies release a summary of how often they spell raw sewage. they are big numbers, but you can't work out from them whether the spills were permitted or not. if there has been lots of rain or melting snow, spilling raw sewage can be illegal as it stops the system being overwhelmed and sewage backing up overwhelmed and sewage backing up into our homes —— can be illegal. the law is very clear, spills that take place and it hasn't rained breach of the water company's permits. when an overflow— water company's permits. when an overflow operates _ water company's permits. when an overflow operates on - water company's permits. when an overflow operates on a i water company's permits. when an overflow operates on a dry i an overflow operates on a dry day there is less water in the river, and that sort of sewage company becomes bigger, and that's when we have problems with ammonia, with dissolved oxygen what have you, so it actually causes problems for wildlife. ~ . , , actually causes problems for wildlife. . , , , actually causes problems for wildlife. . . , , , ., wildlife. which is why they are ille . al. wildlife. which is why they are illegal. absolutely. _

wildlife. which is why they are illegal. absolutely. to - illegal. absolutely. to pinpoint _ illegal. absolutely. to pinpoint possible i illegal. absolutely. to pinpoint possible dryl illegal. absolutely. to i pinpoint possible dry spells the bbc developed a methodology, which uses rainfall data from the met office to indicate if spills could have taken place when the weather was dry. we then asked all of england's water companies to provide us details of exactly when and where they spilled in 2022. a famously hot and dry year. we have a big bbc investigation. last year, three companies gave us their data, and we revealed 388 possible dry spells. six companies refuse the bbc�*s request, giving a variety of reasons, including citing the fact that they are under criminal investigation, an explanation which the regulators reject. we don't think it's good. we think it corrodes public trust in the industry. customers haste

in the industry. customers have aid for in the industry. customers have paid for these _ in the industry. customers have paid for these monitors - paid for the data, therefore i think— paid for the data, therefore i think companies should share that — think companies should share that. ~ , . , , think companies should share that. ~ , ., , , ., that. why are they refusing to share it with _ that. why are they refusing to share it with us? _ that. why are they refusing to share it with us? you - that. why are they refusing to share it with us? you have i that. why are they refusing to share it with us? you have to| share it with us? you have to ask them- — share it with us? you have to ask them. so _ share it with us? you have to ask them. so we _ share it with us? you have to ask them. so we did. - share it with us? you have to ask them. so we did. why i share it with us? you have to ask them. so we did. why do share it with us? you have to i ask them. so we did. why do the water companies _ ask them. so we did. why do the water companies refuse - ask them. so we did. why do the water companies refuse to i ask them. so we did. why do the water companies refuse to give l water companies refuse to give us the data from 2022? it does rather give the impression they have something to hide. i have something to hide. i disagree. so _ have something to hide. i disagree. so why would i have something to hide. i i disagree. so why would they withhold that? _ disagree. so why would they withhold that? all _ disagree. so why would they withhold that? all of - disagree. so why would they withhold that? all of that - disagree. so why would they i withhold that? all of that data is available — withhold that? all of that data is available in _ withhold that? all of that data is available in real— withhold that? all of that data is available in real time i withhold that? all of that data is available in real time on i is available in real time on their website.— is available in real time on their website. not from 2022. all of the _ their website. not from 2022. all of the data _ their website. not from 2022. all of the data is _ their website. not from 2022. all of the data is submitted i their website. not from 2022. all of the data is submitted to the regulator. the all of the data is submitted to the regulator.— the regulator. the regulator . ives the regulator. the regulator gives the data _ the regulator. the regulator gives the data because i the regulator. the regulator gives the data because the l gives the data because the water companies wouldn't. it is water companies wouldn't. it is for every individual _ water companies wouldn't. it 3 for every individual company to explain. we are the most transparent industry in the world when it comes to water. in the end, the environment agency stepped in and gave the bbc the companies's data. our analysis increases the total possible of dry spells in 2022 to nearly 6000, and those

possible spills lasting 29,000 hours. are you surprised at the scale of this? i hours. are you surprised at the scale of this?— scale of this? i would like to say i am _ scale of this? i would like to say i am surprised. - scale of this? i would like to say i am surprised. i - scale of this? i would like to say i am surprised. i am notj say i am surprised. i am not surprised. these networks haven't been invested in for decades. that investment is to take place. decades. that investment is to take place-— decades. that investment is to take lace. ., , take place. the water companies sa the take place. the water companies say the bbc's — take place. the water companies say the bbc's methodologies i take place. the water companies | say the bbc's methodologies was flawed. they also said one of the possible —— many of the possible spills we identified were in fact equipment malfunctions.- were in fact equipment malfunctions. ., ., , ., malfunctions. the data is not sufficient _ malfunctions. the data is not sufficient enough _ malfunctions. the data is not sufficient enough to - malfunctions. the data is not sufficient enough to consider| sufficient enough to consider whether the spill was dry or wet. we do want to see any into our waterways regardless of whether it is dry or wet. water companies _ whether it is dry or wet. water companies must _ whether it is dry or wet. water companies must from - whether it is dry or wet. water companies must from this i whether it is dry or wet. water| companies must from this year publish information about their spells as they have happened, and what investigators like this one in essex are being recruited by the environment agency —— spills. data has made us aware of the scale of the sewage problem. the question now is how we fix it. jonah fisher, bbc news.

for millions of football fans young and old, today is the day, because the european football championships kicks off today with 24 teams including england and scotland battling out i was next month hoping to emerge victorious. tens of thousands of scottish fans have already travelled to munich for tonight's opening game against germany, but who do we think will come out victorious? football journalist tim vickery joins us live from rio de janeiro. no one better to ask. tim, i'm not sure what time the games will be on view, probably about lunch time i would imagine? yes, ourtime, they lunch time i would imagine? yes, our time, they will be 10am, one in the afternoon. pavic. :: , , pavic. 40. so it is bad news for those who _ pavic. 40. so it is bad news for those who have - pavic. 40. so it is bad news for those who have to i for those who have to work during the daytime. they all live on brazilian tv —— perfect. i live on brazilian tv -- perfect-— perfect. i fear production mi . ht perfect. i fear production might fall _ perfect. i fear production might fall a _ perfect. i fear production might fall a little - perfect. i fear production might fall a little bit i perfect. i fear production i might fall a little bit during vital games but there you have it. it is the third euros with 24 teams. and this, i think this is a magical moment, this

now. i this is a magical moment, this now. i won't ask you about tonight's — now. i won't ask you about tonight's match, _ now. i won't ask you about tonight's match, between | now. i won't ask you about i tonight's match, between the favourites, well, normally you would think germany are the favourites tonight, they are the hosts, they are historically a very strong team though they haven't done particularly well in the recent euros. but if recent form is anything to go by, the tartan army stand a chance, don't they? army stand a chance, don't the ? ~ ., army stand a chance, don't the? ., they? well, always make your predictions — they? well, always make your predictions after _ they? well, always make your predictions after the _ they? well, always make your predictions after the event, i predictions after the event, that i think is a wise strategy. 20 years ago, no one saw greece coming but they ended up winning the euros. i am sure people in munich are hearing scotland coming, with that invasion of the supporters, but there is no doubt about it, germany are the big favourites. i wouldn't place too much importance on the terrible results they got last year. it is a different coach since then. julian nagelsmann. and i always fear that the germans will rise to the occasion. they may not be the occasion. they may not be the out and out tournament favourites. i think most people would put france and perhaps england above them, but don't

rule out the germans. i england above them, but don't rule out the germans.- england above them, but don't rule out the germans. i want to turn to england _ rule out the germans. i want to turn to england now. _ rule out the germans. i want to turn to england now. their- turn to england now. their first match is on sunday against serbia. mitrovic has been talking a big game but if we look at the england team, harry kane, foden, bellingham, could this be the year? they got to the quarters of the world cup, the final of the last euros, could this be the yearfor last euros, could this be the year for gareth southgate? well, possibly. like most fans, i am very much infused by this generation of attacking talent that england have, but i am somewhat worried about the other end of the field. i don't think england's defensive resources are anything like as good as the attacking resources. for me, perhaps the most important player in the team might be manchester city right back, kyle walker, because his pace and experience could help provide defensive cover to a back unit there that i think could be a little bit

vulnerable. i tend to the view that defences win tournaments, and that makes me a little bit concerned for england's chances. concerned for england's chances-— concerned for england's chances. , . chances. many concerns about didier deschamps's _ chances. many concerns about didier deschamps's france's i didier deschamps's france's defence. we don't know what he's going to do, who is going to pick. it he's going to do, who is going to ick. , to pick. it is extraordinary, the amount _ to pick. it is extraordinary, the amount of— to pick. it is extraordinary, the amount of players i to pick. it is extraordinary, the amount of players that j the amount of players that french football produces, it really is extraordinary, because french football culture i think, in many ways, is far weaker than the football culture of the other western european nations but they are producing so many players in so many different positions on the field. they were just a great save away from winning the world cup in qatar a year and a half ago, and they go into this tournament as the favourites. quick predictions for tonight, germany against scotland? germany against scotland ? sorry, germany against scotland? sorry, my scottish germany against scotland? 5°i’i’y, my scottish friends, i can't see past a germany win, maybe by 3—1. we can't see past a germany win, maybe by 34-— can't see past a germany win, maybe by 3-1. we will come back to ou maybe by 3-1. we will come back to you on — maybe by 3-1. we will come back to you on that. _ maybe by 3-1. we will come back to you on that. kick— maybe by 3-1. we will come back to you on that. kick off at - to you on that. kick off at 8pm, uk time. see you later.

hello, there. just starting off with confirmation of probably what you already know — so far this month, it has been cold, temperatures running about two degrees celsius below average and, i suppose, on thursday — a case in point — we had a lot of cloud around, outbreaks of rain and, quite widely, temperatures of around four or five degrees below average for the time of year. one exception, northern scotland, where we had some sunny skies and also temperatures were a bit above average. but otherwise, it was a disappointing day on thursday, thanks to this area of cloud and rain, an area of low pressure — an area of low pressure that you're going to get really quite bored with over the next few days, because it will still be on our charts through friday, through saturday, through sunday, and it's still there even into monday. so, we're looking at a stuck weather pattern with loads of showers around. now, looking at the weather picture, friday morning, we start off on a mild note. probably a bit of sunshine for eastern areas to start off with, and dry weather.

showers get going from the west from the word go, and the showers become really extensive through the day, some of them heavy with hail and thunder. more general outbreaks of rain for northern scotland, particularly in the morning, where it's also going to be windy and cold. temperatures around 12 or 13 degrees here. 0therwise, temperatures staying well below average, in any case — around 15 to 18 degrees for most of us. now, through friday evening, there will be some further showers coming and going, particularly across western areas. might have some more general outbreaks of rain here, by the end of friday night and the start of saturday morning. saturday, then, the same area of low pressure is with us. probably something a bit brighterfor a time across western scotland, but some heavy rain for eastern scotland. the winds picking up across southern counties of england, with gusts running into the 40s of miles an hour. that's going to make it feel a little on the cool side, as well. and if that weren't enough, through the afternoon, there'll be loads of showers around — again, some of them heavy with hail and thunder. across the board, our temperatures below average forjune. little change, really, through sunday. this time, though, it looks like we could see some heavier

bursts of rain working across northern ireland into northern england and scotland. thundery showers developing elsewhere, with some sunny spells in between, so it won't be raining all day across the midlands, wales, east anglia, southern england but the temperatures for most areas continue to run a little below average for the time of year. however, for a couple of days next week, it looks like temperatures will get closer to average, but it doesn't last long — it turns cooler later in the week, showers never far away.

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