after signing a mutual defence agreement with north korea. and scotland and switzerland have drawn 1—1 at the euros football tournament, keeping the scots' hopes alive in the competition. hello, i'm tadhg enright. and you are welcome to bbc news. we start with the general election in the uk and a second conservative candidate is being investigated by the gambling commission over a bet relating to the timing of the general election. laura saunders is the party's candidate in bristol north west and has worked for the party since 2015. it is understood she worked most recently in the party's international division. it is not known when the bet was placed. ms saunders has been approached

for comment and has not offered a response. yesterday, it emerged a police officer from the prime minister's protection team had been arrested and bailed in connection with similar allegations. here is our political editor chris mason. this was the prime minister in suffolk visiting a nuclear power plant. wherever he goes he has close protection officers out a view nearby. i was tipped off to that one of them had put that's on the timing of the general election, the mitch bolton believe acknowledging i was right. they were informed by the gabler commission, the regulator, on friday. they said the matter was immediately referred to offices in the mat was immediately referred to offices in the met police directorate of professional standards who opened investigation and the officer was also removed from operational duties. the officer

was subsequently arrested on monday 17 was subsequently arrested on monday i7june on suspicion of misconduct in public office. he was taken into custody and bailed pending further enquiries. the matter has also been referred to the independent office for police conduct. and that is not all. this is laura saunders, the conservative party candidate in bristol north west and has worked with the tories since 2015 including at their head office in westminster. i was tipped off that the gambling commission was looking into a bat from her about the timing of the general election. we don't know when the bat was placed or for how much. don't know when the bat was placed orfor how much. she has not commented tonight. the conservative party spokesman told the bbc we become that by the gabler commission about a small number of individuals as the gambling commission is independent body it would not be proper to comment further until only process is concluded. another one of those

individuals with another conservative candidate who was at promontory age of the prime minister. joe pike from our team caught up with him last week. , , ., ., ., week. did you have that information _ week. did you have that information when - week. did you have that information when you i week. did you have that. information when you place week. did you have that - information when you place your bet on the election stay? it is in independent _ bet on the election stay? it is in independent process from the gambling commission. | in independent process from the gambling commission.— gambling commission. i won't exand gambling commission. i won't expand on _ gambling commission. i won't expand on the _ gambling commission. i won't expand on the statement. - gambling commission. i won't expand on the statement. did | expand on the statement. did you have information you made the bat? i you have information you made the bat? . ., ., ., the bat? i made a huge error of judgement _ the bat? i made a huge error of judgement. that's _ the bat? i made a huge error of judgement. that's for _ the bat? i made a huge error of judgement. that's for sure. - judgement. that's for sure. misty williams _ judgement. that's for sure. i misty williams acknowledged publicly himself he placed a bit of £100 on a july election three days before it was called. fourweeks three days before it was called. four weeks of the day on from rishi sunak applause surprisingly with a summer election, its timing is still generating headlines. chris mason, bbc news. you can find a full list of candidates standing in the general election — including in bristol north west — on our website. just head to bbc.com/news. tens of millions of people across the world have been facing dangerously high temperatures.

hundreds of muslim worshippers are reported to have died in saudi arabia because of the scorching temperatures at the annual hajj pilgrimage. the saudi government has not released any figures, but several countries have confirmed the deaths of their citizens. the temperature in mecca exceeded 51 celsius on monday. ather hussein is an imam from the uk and currently in mecca. as you are walking you could not walk 20 yards except you would see someone struggling and people were doing whatever they could to shade themselves. they were taking water from kind individuals who are giving it out, they were taking shade and hotel reception, it was harrowing at times. i have never seen so many people struggle collectively. i think saudi authorities perhaps need to start thinking about controlling the numbers of how many pilgrims come each year and this has been discussed in

the past. it is a very sensitive issue but with climate change perhaps the fact that the pilgrimage takes place in summer, they could look into this in more detail.— this in more detail. that is the situation _ this in more detail. that is the situation at _ this in more detail. that is the situation at the - this in more detail. that is the situation at the hajj i the situation at the hajj pilgrimage in saudi arabia. wildfires in the us state of new mexico are continuing to burn out of control. they've now destroyed more than 1,000 homes and the entire population of one town was ordered to evacuate. it's not the only problematic weather in america. in the northeast of the united states, more than 70 million americans remain under heat alerts. will grant reports from california. awe—inspiring but deadly. a towering wall of flames and heat bearing down on the town in new mexico as overwhelmed local fire crews and forced residents to flee. mostjust thankful to live with their lives but shaken. frank and

connie, both 83, sheltering in an evacuation centre, lucky to have meted out at all. we could see the smoke _ have meted out at all. we could see the smoke chains _ have meted out at all. we could see the smoke chains and - have meted out at all. we could see the smoke chains and we i see the smoke chains and we were engulfed in smoke. that scared me to death. i were engulfed in smoke. that scared me to death.— scared me to death. i don't know whether _ scared me to death. i don't know whether we're - scared me to death. i don't know whether we're going l scared me to death. i don't i know whether we're going to scared me to death. i don't - know whether we're going to her home _ know whether we're going to her home. there are several people that area — home. there are several people that area just above us that lost — that area just above us that lost their_ that area just above us that lost their home. in california these and — lost their home. in california these and are _ lost their home. in california these and are all— lost their home. in california these and are all too - lost their home. in california| these and are all too familiar scenes. hillsides ablaze, thousands of hectares lost as tinder dry brush catches the light and firefighter struggling to bring around a dozen separate blazes under control. it dozen separate blazes under control. , ., , ., control. it is devastating especially _ control. it is devastating especially when - control. it is devastating especially when you - control. it is devastating especially when you get| control. it is devastating - especially when you get these wind driven fires and you have all this unburnt fuel combined with humidity, it can create massive damage. figs with humidity, it can create massive damage. as californians endured another _ massive damage. as californians endured another season - massive damage. as californians endured another season of - endured another season of rampant wildfires, warnings over extreme weather are in place across the country from heatwaves in the northeast to a

tropical storm in texas. a nation experiencing the real—time effects of climate change. this isjust the real—time effects of climate change. this is just the start. experts say this has been unusually early and aggressive fire season, with several months of hot dry weather ahead. the contrast with the scene in texas could not be starker. the first tropical storm of the hurricane season in the gulf of mexico has caused flooding in galveston and mexico itself. as north america braces itself are more extreme weather to come. will grant, bbc news, southern california. you heard will grant referencing galveston in texas. tropical storm alberto is forming in the gulf of mexico and texas is getting hit. we can bring you live pictures from the coastline. it is still no time there, it is quite dark, you can see palm trees blowing, bending, ishould

dark, you can see palm trees blowing, bending, i should say, in the wind. very strong waves hitting the shoreline as well. let's bring in matthew cappucci — a meteorologist for the myradar weather app who's based in washington. thank you forjoining us. you are a big country with lots of different weather problems across the continent. tell us more about the threat of tropical storm alberto. how much damage could it do? alberto forming an unusual way for this time of year. we had the central american gyro, big swell and atmosphere broad and diffused over the golf of mexico, yucatan peninsula and the west reviewed but we a low tide that be consolidated today and worked ashore an experiment at the same time broader circulation is putting moisture to texture —— texas with

rainfall this far, another tens of metres set to come and we have seen winds gusting up to 60 kilometres per hour but flooding is the main concern, both coastal and inland. let's shift gears — both coastal and inland. let's shift gears and _ both coastal and inland. let's shift gears and go _ both coastal and inland. let's shift gears and go to - both coastal and inland. let's shift gears and go to new. shift gears and go to new mexico, mexico itself and california. the wildfires there. what is the forecast that could make it easier or perhaps harder to bring these fires under control? that perhaps harder to bring these fires under control?— fires under control? that is a really good _ fires under control? that is a really good question. - fires under control? that is a - really good question. something strange happens today, moisture and easterly winds at the middle levels from the tropical storm we talked about, alberto crossed into eastern new mexico where the big fire was burning public evacuations early this week which help spot the rotating thunderstorm that rubbed golf ball —sized hail onto the wildfire along with prolific rainfall. on one hand the rainfall is good because it cuts back fire and on the other hand that leads to debris flows

and mud flows, prompting evacuation is their own flashlight emergencies. hot dry weather across the remainder of the worst leads to more rampant wildfire conditions, making it easierfor the wildfire conditions, making it easier for the fires to burn and feels to cure or dry. let's no to and feels to cure or dry. let's go to the _ and feels to cure or dry. let's go to the northeast _ and feels to cure or dry. let's go to the northeast were - and feels to cure or dry. let's go to the northeast were the | go to the northeast were the most densely populated parts of the country is. more than 70 million americans there remain under heat alerts. for how long? under heat alerts. for how lona ? , , under heat alerts. for how lon. ? , , ., under heat alerts. for how lonu? , , ., ., under heat alerts. for how 1.0"? , , ., ., ., ., long? this is a long duration, i stepped _ long? this is a long duration, i stepped outside _ long? this is a long duration, i stepped outside earlier- long? this is a long duration, i stepped outside earlier but| i stepped outside earlier but only being up to 30 seconds, it's more than enough for me, the upper 30s, around a0 cells is in some places and it feels like pushing to a0 celsius and a number of major northeast cities. a big hitjerome, don't be like a force field which pushes any storms away, jetstream, clouds, leaving the side to bake the ground with hot dry airand side to bake the ground with hot dry air and these damages are likely to stick around until at least friday or saturday and honestly i think there is a good chance a good link until early next week

because the heat term mergers and reforms. because the heat term mergers and reforms-— and reforms. the age-old question _ and reforms. the age-old question with _ and reforms. the age-old question with extreme - and reforms. the age-old - question with extreme weather like this, what links can we draw between these incidents and climate change?- draw between these incidents and climate change? write off the bat we _ and climate change? write off the bat we know _ and climate change? write off the bat we know that - and climate change? write off the bat we know that heat - and climate change? write off. the bat we know that heat term always occur in the summertime but the scale is tilting to make them proportionately more intense, long duration and more severe so again that may be something we are seeing nowadays. i want to talk about the quality is cloud relationship. it is a relationship. it is a relationship that says every degree celsius in our temperature warmth, be able hold a a% more water, and you get heavier rainfall and my photo. where it is unavailable, you have more moisture sucks from the ground and dry conditions. in california that would mean more drought and wildfire activity out there whereas in texas now we are mostly exaggerated, because could support my flooding. nothing is caused by climate change but things are more worse and extreme due to human

influence on the atmosphere. matthew cappucci — a meteorologist for the myradar weather app who's based in washington. let's go back to galveston, texas, where you see live pictures from the coastline. tropical storm alberto is making landfall and you see the strength of the ways, how much the palm trees are blowing. those very strong winds. we will bring you more from there as the storm develops throughout the day. the leader of hezbollah has said the lebanese islamist movement will fight israel without rules and without limits if a wider conflict breaks out. hassan nasrallah also issued a warning to cyprus, saying it would be treated as a warring party if it allowed the israeli air force to launch attacks from the island. hezbollah has fired rockets and drones into northern israel since the hamas attacks of 7 october. israel has responded with air strikes that have killed hundreds of hezbollah fighters.

let's got more on this with mohamed taha from bbc arabic. thanks forjoining us. pretty dramatic words coming from the leader of hezbollah. how seriously think the risk is that the conflict is about to escalate? it that the conflict is about to escalate?— escalate? it is very serious and this — escalate? it is very serious and this appeared - escalate? it is very serious and this appeared clearly l escalate? it is very serious | and this appeared clearly or unhappiness of the old israeli media with the results of the meeting between the israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu and the american envoy for lebanon. when they met a few hours ago, apparently, the americans are not happy with plans already that israel put to launch a full—scale war against lebanon,

that could include also the infrastructure there, attacking the capital beirut and other facilities there.— facilities there. interesting because of— facilities there. interesting because of course - facilities there. interesting because of course these i facilities there. interesting l because of course these are words from hezbollah and are also a response to the statements from israel, articulating how they would handle a wider offensive from hezbollah. as we've said already, hezbollah has been attacking israel since 7 october, since the incursion into gaza, but how much more serious have things gotten on that front that we are talking about this right now because perhaps the rest of the world have been very focused on gaza and not big enough attention to what's been happening at the border with lebanon? let last da s of border with lebanon? let last days of the — border with lebanon? let last days of the most _ border with lebanon? let last days of the most escalation i days of the most escalation between the two parties on this front. we saw the killing of a big leader of hezbollah in southern lebanon and reports from southern lebanon about

villages completely destroyed, exactly like what happened in gaza by israeli shelling, also has showed in the last days images from a jeroen, and an intercepted jeroen, that managed to fly over high5, showing military facilities there and hezbollah threatening that any escalation would happen which means they will attack haifa, tel aviv and cyprus as well which is what i wanted for their opinion. let's talk more _ wanted for their opinion. let's talk more about _ wanted for their opinion. let's talk more about the _ wanted for their opinion. let's talk more about the hezbollah wanting to cyprus not to facilitate israel, not to allow the israeli airstrikes to take off from there. cyprus as it has no involvement. help our viewers to understand the situation.— situation. hezbollah is accusing _ situation. hezbollah is accusing directly - situation. hezbollah isl accusing directly cyprus situation. hezbollah is - accusing directly cyprus of allowing israel to use their military facilities and airports in attacking southern

lebanon, cyprus as you say denies this, but apparently hezbollah has got different evidence. but the warning towards cyprus is a pressure on israel alliances, whether the opinion, whether the americans, that if this war would be widening, that attacks by hezbollah would not only will lead to israel, it would be also attacking other facilities outside israel. this would add to the divided alliance already between israel and the united states, there is a massive amount of divide about the continuing war in gaza, continuing war in gaza, continuing escalation in the south and hezbollah is playing this line very much.— this line very much. take us back to domestic _ this line very much. take us back to domestic politics . this line very much. take us back to domestic politics in | back to domestic politics in israel. how much has the dissolution of the war cabinet, the falling out between the

different parties within that war cabinet, got to do with this escalation of rhetoric about hezbollah? indeed. what is clear now _ about hezbollah? indeed. what is clear now is _ about hezbollah? indeed. what is clear now is that _ about hezbollah? indeed. what is clear now is that benjamin i is clear now is that benjamin netanyahu is leading a divided government, a divided society and divided alliance with the united states. the divided government, we saw also statements from daniel hagari yesterday to channel 13, the israeli channel 13, where he said that eliminating hamas ideology is not possible and this is a very alarming statement.— this is a very alarming statement. ., ., ., ., statement. mohamed taha from bbc arabic _ statement. mohamed taha from bbc arabic. cue _ statement. mohamed taha from bbc arabic. cue for _ statement. mohamed taha from bbc arabic. cue for that. - around the world and across the uk. this is bbc news.

vladimir putin is due to meet communist party leaders in vietnam today. the russian president arrived in hanoi on a flight from pyongyang, where he signed a defence agreement with the north korean leader kimjong—un.

unlike north korea, vietnam is not suspected of supplying russia with weapons and munitions for its war in ukraine. the us has voiced concerns at the visit, saying that no country should give the russian president a platform against the backdrop of the war in ukraine. let's speak to our correspondent shaimaa khalil who is following the story from seoul. visiting north korea or north korea hosting vladimir putin is one thing. how risky is it though for vietnam to rule out the red carpet like this? i would not say it is risky. vietnam and russia have had a long and very established friendship. this has been happening for many decades. remember historically the soviet union has provided economic and military assistance to vietnam during their war with the french and their war with the french and

the americans but also many of the americans but also many of the key figures in the leadership in vietnam have been educated in russia. they speak a language that have russian affiliation so the relationship is there a dentist established. 0f is there a dentist established. of course vietnam is going to have to tread a fine balance because while it boasts this bamboo diplomacy, the fact that they are friends with everyone and enemies with nine, the united states as you mentioned is not happy about this visit because they don't want anyone in the region and the world for that matter to as they say give vladimir putin a platform to promote his war in ukraine. vietnam is going to be closely looking at its national interests. russia is still a key partner when it comes to oil exploration in the disputed south china sea for example and while they are not their top economic partner right now, that's us and china, they still have to keep that balance. they still want to keep very friendly ties with russia. they have not condemned the russian war in ukraine but they also want to maintain good and

friendly ties with kyiv. before vladimir putin he will want to establish and show that again he has not run out of friends, he has not run out of friends, he has not run out of friends, he has not run out of options, he has not run out of options, he still has alliances in the region and for vietnam they want to also said that this relationship continues while they maintain the balance of other global powers and other global partners.— other global powers and other global partners. shaimaa khalil in seoul. thank— global partners. shaimaa khalil in seoul. thank you. _ let's get some of the day's other news now. a demonstration against anti—semitism has been held in paris, following the rape of a 12—year—old jewish girl on saturday in a suburb of the french capital. on tuesday, three boys aged between 12 and 13 were indicted on charges including aggravated rape, sexual assault, extortion and death threats. canada has listed the iranian revolutionary guards as a terrorist organisation. the decision means thousands of government officials in iran will be barred from entering canada. the revolutionary guards have their own powerful military force and are close

to iran's supreme leader. the republican governor of louisiana has signed a new law requiring the bible's 10 commandments to be displayed in every public school classroom. civil rights groups are expected to challenge the order — they say it goes against the us constitution. ecuador�*s government says almost all power has been a quick look at the scores from wednesday's euro 202a group matches. germany had another victory, beating hungary 2—0. croatia drew with their neighbours albania. and scotland went ahead against switzerland but had to settle for a draw. a short time after the final whistle, we caught up with our scotland correspondent catriona renton who'd been at a fan zone in glasgow while the match was played. look, this is a result for us tonight. we are absolutely thrilled that we've got a point. sometimes during that match, it looked a little bit

hairy, switzerland had two disallowed goals. but we got there, got a 1—1 draw, which means that we are still in this tournament and people here this evening have been in absolutely great spirits loving tonight and the atmosphere has been so positive. we picked ourselves up, we dusted ourselves down from friday's defeat to germany. and look at what we did today. and i've got some fans behind me here, who are really, really thrilled about the result. just tell me, megan, how you feel about the result tonight? do you know what? we're still in the game, so we're going to win, go on scotland! what about yourself? i feel exactly the same as megan. come on, scotland, boys! 1—1, a draw, we wouldn't normally be not happy, but we really are happy tonight with that. come on, scotland! we're really, really, really proud of that scottish team, aren't we? we really are. we're going to make it. you know what? scotland never wins, but we're always here to party.

come on, scotland. there you go. that kind of sums it up. not sure we can use this microphone ever again. but we have an absolutely fantastic night here today. everybody was in great, great spirits all the way through. we really picked ourselves up and we've proved that we are still in this tournament and we really hope that we are going to make it through to the next round, and we'll find that out on sunday when we play hungary. but we've got everything in it now. we've got everything to win it. still recovering from the night at the fern zone. and some good news for the world's best footballer — kylian mbappe trained with his french team—mates on wednesday, despite breaking his nose two days earlier. it wasn't a full session for mbappe and he was restricted to light exercises. it's still not clear whether he will play against the netherlands on friday. england have their second match of the tournament later, taking on denmark in frankfurt.

a win would see them into the last 16. kick—off in that match is at 5pm in the uk — and you can watch coverage from apm on bbc one. the charity english heritage says that celebrations i will have your business headlines in business today in a moment. stay with us here on bbc news. hello, there. wednesday was a decent day, right across all four nations. in fact, we saw temperatures in excess of 20 degrees, and we haven't seen that for over a week. but you may have heard a rumour that things are going to get warmerstill, and, infact, into next week we are likely to see temperatures widely into the mid—20s, maybe peaking

as high as 28 celsius, somewhere in south—east england. perhaps, for many, that's something to look forward to, but before we get too carried away, let's concentrate on the rest of this week — turning warmer, yes, with some sunny spells, but there will also be some rain pushing into the west. now, we can see the first signs of that through today, with this weak weather front here, but more significant rain waiting in the wings. but for the majority of us, it will be a dry, settled and sunny start, a beautiful start. a line of nuisance cloud, really from northern england down to wales and south—west england, that could produce the odd spot or two of rain, and some showery dribs and drabs across northern ireland and into southern scotland, with that weakening weather front. to the far north west, temperatures perhaps struggling — 15 degrees. generally, to the north, we're looking at 18—20 celsius, with highest values of 22 celsius, somewhere in the south—east. but it's certainly worth bearing in mind, if you're a hay fever sufferer, well, we are looking at very high pollen levels, quite widely, across the country. now, into friday, ourweather front will continue to push

in from the west. it will start to weaken off, as it drifts its away steadily east, but there's likely to be some heavier bursts, particularly across parts of northern ireland, as we go through the day on friday. some showery outbreaks of rain into western scotland, clouding over generally, but central and eastern areas should continue to see some sunshine, and, again, some warmth. we might see high teens, perhaps, in sheltered eastern areas of scotland. highest values, perhaps, of 23 celsius, somewhere in the south—east. now, that weatherfront, as it continues to track its way steadily east, will fragment and weaken, so there is a risk of some cloud, maybe a little bit of drizzle around on saturday, but on the whole, high pressure will build, and the winds are likely to swing around to more of a south—westerly for the second half of the weekend, and it's that south—westerly wind that will drive in this warmer air. so you can see, looking ahead, a lot of dry, settled, sunny weather, and turning increasingly warm. alleluia.

the bank of england is expected to keep uk interest rates unchanged later today despite falling inflation. we explain why. the great and the good of the global pharma industry meet in paris to discuss the future and funding for new vaccines.

and are diamonds losing their sparkle? as prices tumble, we talk to an industry insider to find out what's going on. welcome to business today, i'm tadhg enright. we start here in the uk, where later today, the bank of england makes its latest decision on uk interest rates. and even though we learned yesterday that inflation in may had fallen to its 2% target, no change in the cost of borrowing is expected. the bank is expected to hold the rate at 5.25%, a 16—year high, for the seventh meeting in a row. markets are not betting on a cut until august or even september, even though millions of households are still struggling with the cost of living.

robert wood, chief uk economist, pantheon