and to urgently do so now. joining me tonight are seema mehta, political writer at la times and peter walker, political correspondent political correspondent at the guardian. we will get to our panel shortly but let me first bring you the latest bbc headlines. two children have died and nine others were injured in a knife attack at a dance workshop in southport. a 17—year—old boy has been arrested on suspicion of murder. in the last hour, king charles has sent his most heartfelt condolences to the families of those caught up in the attack. britain's new finance minister, rachel reeves, has announced spending cuts on road and hospital building projects, as well as winter fuel payments.

she told parliament this was because of a massive shortfall in funds that her labour government had inherited. former bbc news presenter huw edwards has been charged with three counts of making indecent images of children. in a statement, the metropolitan police said the offences, which are alleged to have taken place between december 2020 and april 2022, relate to images shared on a whatsapp chat. mr edwards will appear in court on wednesday. a very warm welcome to the programme. the israeli prime minister says there must be a severe response to the weekend attack on the northern druze village of majdal shams that killed 12 children. the associated press reported this afternoon that in response, hezbollah has begun moving precision—guided missiles into position in southern lebanon. an official with the iran—backed group stressed they did not want a war with israel, but if it came to it they will fight without limits. the americans — with the french —

are applying diplomatic pressure. the white house is afraid that any expansion of the war could affect the course of the presidential election. and what happens on the lebanese border would undoubtedly influence the hostage negotiations with hamas in the gaza strip. here's the former british ambassador to iran, sir richard dalton. i think there is a 50—50 chance of a major war. israel has shown in its response to iran earlier in the year that it is able to send its political message through military means to a country it regards as an aggressor with some subtlety and with limited military force, and it is to be hoped that that is the sort of strategy which israel is going to adopt this time. if it doesn't, and if it goes into lebanon, if it engages in an attempt to severely degrade and destroy a high proportion of hezbollah�*s capabilities, then all bets are off and iran might be tempted to

come to the assistance of its ally and we might find a very severe rain of missiles on many, many targets inside israel. sir richard dalton speaking to us within the last hour. lebanon is an extremely sectarian country and i think there are some iith sects that have representation in the government and the military and civil service but hezbollah are very powerful and could potentially take over the country if they wanted to so you think about how much they are listening to other parts of the government but for a country that is already on its knees economically, a walk would be disastrous. it already on its knees economically, a walk would be disastrous.— walk would be disastrous. it would be disastrous _ walk would be disastrous. it would be disastrous for _ walk would be disastrous. it would

be disastrous for everyone - walk would be disastrous. it would i be disastrous for everyone concerned and lebanon has been in trouble for and lebanon has been in trouble for a long time economically and there are social problems there too and the last thing it needs is a proxy war in which it gets a lot of missiles landing on its side and for every country in the world, probably if the uk had a wish list of things it did not want to happen, the uk government, this would be very near the top because there is no easy way out and as your interviewee said there, it is probably 50—50 now and countries like the uk which have a lot of knowledge of the region but these days very little sway can't do it very much butjust to urge people on all sides to be as cautious as they can and it is not a good situation for anyone to be in. find situation for anyone to be in. and in the worst-case _ situation for anyone to be in. and in the worst—case scenario, this would be a regional war of the kind we have not seen in many, many years. this would be the gulf countries coming in, perhaps iran facing up against the united states, and that big political ramifications

99 days from an election. absolutely, you already have former president _ absolutely, you already have former president trump's campaign arguing that there _ president trump's campaign arguing that there were so many queue up was when he _ that there were so many queue up was when he was _ that there were so many queue up was when he was president and that is not entirely true but there is obviously so much chaos going on around _ obviously so much chaos going on around the — obviously so much chaos going on around the world right now and the ongoing _ around the world right now and the ongoing conflict between israel and hamas— ongoing conflict between israel and hamas is_ ongoing conflict between israel and hamas is already showing up in our elections _ hamas is already showing up in our elections and it is definitely tilting — elections and it is definitely tilting and dividing democratic voters — tilting and dividing democratic voters and in key states like michigan where you have a large number— michigan where you have a large number of— michigan where you have a large number of muslim american voters, the conflict — number of muslim american voters, the conflict in the middle east has already— the conflict in the middle east has already impacted on our election and if it were _ already impacted on our election and if it were to— already impacted on our election and if it were to grow, it would be another— if it were to grow, it would be another talking point that republicans would use to argue that vice president kamala harris should not been _ vice president kamala harris should not been elected because during their tenure has been so much conflict — their tenure has been so much conflict around the world. and joe biden has invested _ conflict around the world. and joe biden has invested enormous - conflict around the world. and joe - biden has invested enormous amount of time in the ceasefire in the gaza strip which has not yet come to pass. what it is role in all of this? in one sense he could be seen

as a lame duck president, on the other, he has six months to run and may have more leeway than any other president. we may have more leeway than any other resident. ~ , ., . , president. we should also remember that before joe _ president. we should also remember that before joe biden _ president. we should also remember that before joe biden was _ president. we should also remember that before joe biden was president i that before joe biden was president and vice _ that before joe biden was president and vice president, he was senator for decades— and vice president, he was senator for decades and his portfolio was ready— for decades and his portfolio was ready foreign policy and he knows all these — ready foreign policy and he knows all these foreign leaders and has relationships that other people don't _ relationships that other people don't have so i think he is hoping that makes— don't have so i think he is hoping that makes a difference but again, this conflict has been going on for so long _ this conflict has been going on for so long and while the us and others were trying — so long and while the us and others were trying to broker a ceasefire, certainty — were trying to broker a ceasefire, certainly the united states has really — certainly the united states has really sort of stood by israel and it is a _ really sort of stood by israel and it is a long — really sort of stood by israel and it is a long time ally so there are two sides— it is a long time ally so there are two sides to the equation. peter, we had in our headlines _ two sides to the equation. peter, we had in our headlines the _ two sides to the equation. peter, we had in our headlines the german - had in our headlines the german representative urging people to get out of lebanon. how dangerous is this for a new government? you have a 50-50 this for a new government? you have a 50—50 chance of a major conflict and a major conflagration. what does labour do tonight in the way they

prepare for this? i labour do tonight in the way they prepare for this?— labour do tonight in the way they prepare for this? i think they have to listen to _ prepare for this? i think they have to listen to foreign _ prepare for this? i think they have to listen to foreign office - prepare for this? i think they have to listen to foreign office experts| to listen to foreign office experts and if the labour government is powerless on several fronts, and it of this is international conflict thanit of this is international conflict than it knocks everything out of the water for them when they are trying to find their feet and the second thing is that the labour party in particular has had a lot of political trouble over this in the general election this month and there were four mps who lost their seats to independent candidates who were kind of pro—gaza and stood on the basis they put the labour party had been to israel. is the basis they put the labour party had been to israel.— the basis they put the labour party had been to israel. is that why they are considering _ had been to israel. is that why they are considering this _ had been to israel. is that why they are considering this pause - had been to israel. is that why they are considering this pause or - had been to israel. is that why they are considering this pause or the i are considering this pause or the cessation of defence exports to israel you might get an announcement on in the next few days? i israel you might get an announcement on in the next few days?— on in the next few days? i think the will on in the next few days? i think they will probably _ on in the next few days? i think they will probably move - on in the next few days? i think they will probably move in - on in the next few days? i think they will probably move in that | they will probably move in that direction — they will probably move in that direction . , , , direction anyway, but probably losin: direction anyway, but probably losing four _ direction anyway, but probably losing four seats _ direction anyway, but probably losing four seats is _ direction anyway, but probably losing four seats is a _ direction anyway, but probably losing four seats is a sign - direction anyway, but probably losing four seats is a sign of. losing four seats is a sign of political trouble they are in and i get the sense were already a bit more in that direction that the

previous conservative government was and now they are in office they can kind of gradually do this but at the back of their minds very, very much is the fact that at the start of the gaza conflict starmer phrased some things in a way he would not have liked to have done and that paul has caused months of trouble for them. of course the us provides the bulk of the arm so if the uk were to stop it wouldn't cause much trouble for israel but it does send a signal and we were reporting the other day that there were moving towards recognising a palestinian state as well so relations between israel and the uk at the moment moving in a direction we have not seen for some time. all these questions will of course be put to the vice president kamala harris and there has not been much foreign policy exposure for the presumed democratic nominee so far but it doesn't seem to be holding her back. in fact the recent trajectory is stunning. one poll this weekend suggests her net favourability has jumped 12 points since the republic convention,

while donald trump has gone backwards. in seven days she has raised $200 million, two thirds of that coming from first—time donors. the campaign has signed 170k new volunteers and a newly established tiktok account now has over 3 million followers. the trump campaign is having some difficulty picking a line of attack, although the former president is trying a number of different approaches. she was a bum three weeks ago. she was a bum. kamala harris was the original marxist district attorney. she destroyed san francisco and she will destroy our country. ultra—liberal kamala harris will deliver crime, chaos, mayhem and death to our country. i will restore law and order, justice in america. but suddenly the democrats look more coherent, and they have an attack line of their own. we're not afraid of weird people. laughter we're a little bit creeped out, but we're not afraid. donald trump has been

resorting to some wild lies about my record and some of what he and his running mate are saying, well, it'sjust plain weird. laughter that is no coincidence, is it, seema mehta? the government was saying they are a bit freaked out by all of it is and then the campaignjumped on it and they have jumped it is and then the campaignjumped on it and they havejumped on everything that has found an audience on social media. right, it has been a — audience on social media. right, it has been a bizarre _ audience on social media. right, it has been a bizarre campaign - audience on social media. right, it has been a bizarre campaign this i has been a bizarre campaign this year, _ has been a bizarre campaign this year. quite — has been a bizarre campaign this year, quite frankly, and one of the things— year, quite frankly, and one of the things since — year, quite frankly, and one of the things since the president announced he wouldn't seek re—election and vice president kamala harris, it became — vice president kamala harris, it became clear she would be the democratic nominee, it has been interesting to see how they pace it out and _ interesting to see how they pace it out and part of the campaign is really— out and part of the campaign is really driven by how much of a lack of enthusiasm there was for president biden's election campaign and a _ president biden's election campaign and a tot— president biden's election campaign and a lot of money invested in social— and a lot of money invested in social media stuff and former

president trump's running mate jd vance, _ president trump's running mate jd vance, his — president trump's running mate jd vance, his comment about kamala harris _ vance, his comment about kamala harris being a childless cat woman and therefore not having a stake in the future — and therefore not having a stake in the future of the country has got so much _ the future of the country has got so much exposure on the airways and they have — much exposure on the airways and they have kind of let them stick their— they have kind of let them stick their feet — they have kind of let them stick their feet in they have kind of let them stick theirfeet in their they have kind of let them stick their feet in their mouth, sitting back, _ their feet in their mouth, sitting back, because that has got all the media _ back, because that has got all the media coverage and then on the social— media coverage and then on the social media front there is a lot of excitement— social media front there is a lot of excitement among young people and there are _ excitement among young people and there are lots of memes where if president — there are lots of memes where if president biden did them, he is an older— president biden did them, he is an older man — president biden did them, he is an older man so it wouldn't look that good, _ older man so it wouldn't look that good, but — older man so it wouldn't look that good, but with kamala harris, they had something from the 90s with a son. had something from the 90s with a song saying by the by, trump, i can't _ song saying by the by, trump, i can't remember the song, sorry. was at the can't remember the song, sorry. —" at the backstreet boys? can't remember the song, sorry. was at the backstreet boys? yes, - can't remember the song, sorry. was at the backstreet boys? yes, thank . at the backstreet boys? yes, thank ou! but at the backstreet boys? yes, thank you! but they _ at the backstreet boys? yes, thank you! but they have _ at the backstreet boys? yes, thank you! but they have really _ at the backstreet boys? yes, thank. you! but they have really embraced, whether— you! but they have really embraced, whether it's — you! but they have really embraced, whether it's pop culture,

influences, all of that, and i can run the — influences, all of that, and i can run the her— influences, all of that, and i can run the her campaign in 2020 when she ran— run the her campaign in 2020 when she ran for— run the her campaign in 2020 when she ran for president unsuccessfully and she _ she ran for president unsuccessfully and she is— she ran for president unsuccessfully and she is a — she ran for president unsuccessfully and she is a better candidate now number— and she is a better candidate now number one, and she is a better candidate now numberone, but and she is a better candidate now number one, but numbertwo, you did not see— number one, but numbertwo, you did not see the _ number one, but numbertwo, you did not see the amount of ointment back then that _ not see the amount of ointment back then that you see for her to date. and they— then that you see for her to date. and they have opportunities to sustain edge, vice president pick still to come and the convention which is three weeks again so they really can seize the spotlight in the coming weeks. —— amount of excitement. the coming weeks. -- amount of excitement-— excitement. they have been dominating _ excitement. they have been dominating the _ excitement. they have been dominating the headlines i excitement. they have been l dominating the headlines and excitement. they have been i dominating the headlines and they have been smart about running out endorsements like nancy pelosi, former— endorsements like nancy pelosi, former speaker of the house and some other top— former speaker of the house and some other top figures and then former president— other top figures and then former president obama which is probably the most _ president obama which is probably the most influential figure in democratic politics in the united states— democratic politics in the united states today so they have been smart about _ states today so they have been smart about basing how this is all unfolded and you are right that she will help— unfolded and you are right that she will help out vice president pick and there — will help out vice president pick and there will be a lot of coverage of that— and there will be a lot of coverage of that and — and there will be a lot of coverage of that and then you go into the democratic convention in chicago so

there _ democratic convention in chicago so there are _ democratic convention in chicago so there are in — democratic convention in chicago so there are in the headlines half the time and — there are in the headlines half the time and it— there are in the headlines half the time and it looks like they have every— time and it looks like they have every opportunity to do so for the next few— every opportunity to do so for the next few weeks which, unless they have an _ next few weeks which, unless they have an error from someone which can always— have an error from someone which can always happen in politics. the have an error from someone which can always happen in politics.— always happen in politics. the main attack line that _ always happen in politics. the main attack line that came _ always happen in politics. the main attack line that came from - always happen in politics. the main attack line that came from the i always happen in politics. the main | attack line that came from the biden presidency, peter, was that donald trump was a threat to democracy and let's hear what you said on friday night when he was out on the campaign. —— what he said. i don't care but you have to get out and vote and christians, get out and vote just this time. you won't have to do it any more, four more years, it will be fixed, it will fine, you won't have to go it any more. i love you christians, i'm not christian, you christians, i'm not christian, you have to get out and vote. in four years' time, you won't have to go out and vote again, we will have it fixed, you won't have to vote.

lots of interpretations on that comment but what do you think, peter? ., , ., , .,, comment but what do you think, peter? ., , ., , peter? lots of people saying if you listen to the _ peter? lots of people saying if you listen to the context _ peter? lots of people saying if you listen to the context of _ peter? lots of people saying if you listen to the context of the - peter? lots of people saying if you listen to the context of the whole i listen to the context of the whole speech, it doesn't mean that, in there are lots of things that i said that as to be by people and there is the context but i don't know what context you can put on that and that is the argument that if there is someone with the kind of tendencies towards that and he tells you what they are, you should probably listen to them, and watching the campaign from the uk point of view has been quite interesting because there was a period whenjoe biden was still in place and his campaign was not going at all well, there was almost this acceptance among politicians in the uk that trump and jd vance were the people they would have to work with and there was this sort of informal competition amongst people in labour as to who knewjd vance the best and saying, i read his book, he is not actually that bad, but the tone has changed quickly and i know when it an expert enough to know what will

happen but the british mood has certainly changed.— happen but the british mood has certainly changed. interesting. and i was certainly changed. interesting. and i was talking _ certainly changed. interesting. and i was talking last _ certainly changed. interesting. and i was talking last week _ certainly changed. interesting. and i was talking last week about i certainly changed. interesting. and i was talking last week about this l i was talking last week about this interesting article that tim abbe took root in the atlantic and he had interviewed people on the trump side who said it was less about kamala harris and more about the machine of the democratic party and when it works which we are starting to see in the figures i set out at the top it is really quite effective, and if you have different groups within the party and within the base coming out and campaigning and 170,000 new campaigners, that is quite formidable.— campaigners, that is quite formidable. ~ , ., ~ campaigners, that is quite formidable. ~ , . ,, ., formidable. writes, i was talking to a olitical formidable. writes, i was talking to a political science _ formidable. writes, i was talking to a political science professor - formidable. writes, i was talking to a political science professor at i formidable. writes, i was talking to a political science professor at the l a political science professor at the other— a political science professor at the other day— a political science professor at the other day and normally the democratic party can be very factional— democratic party can be very factional and likes to argue amongst itself but _ factional and likes to argue amongst itself but they are really united right _ itself but they are really united right now to defeat donald trump and you are _ right now to defeat donald trump and you are seeing a level of unity we haven't seen in quite some time and normally the democratic party, it can be _ normally the democratic party, it can be really chaotic and disorganised but they are really

united — disorganised but they are really united behind kamala harris's campaign and presidency. it is going well at the moment, _ campaign and presidency. it is going well at the moment, but _ campaign and presidency. it is going well at the moment, but 99 - campaign and presidency. it is going well at the moment, but 99 days i campaign and presidency. it is going well at the moment, but 99 days is| well at the moment, but 99 days is an eternity in american politics. around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

during the election campaign here in the uk, the labour party were extremely disciplined, especially when it came to messaging on the economy. but governing is different to campaigning. and today, rachel reeves was laying the ground for some extremely difficult decisions she says she will be forced to make, because she has been left with a £22 billion black hole by the previous government. the chancellor has set out a number of cuts she will be making to balance the books. she is ditching £1 billion of unfunded transport projects, including the stonehenge tunnel under the a303. pensioners not in receipt of pension credit will not get this year's winter fuel payment. the last government's plan to build a0 new hospitals,

which she says was behind target, will be reviewed along with a number of railway improvements. gone is the advanced british standard, a new educational qualification that was supposed to replace a levels. and the chancellor is launching a multi—year spending review of all government departments. i can understand why people and members are angry, i am angry too. the previous government let people down. hear, hear! mr speaker, the previous government made commitment after commitment without knowing where the money was going to come from. they did this repeatedly, knowingly and deliberately. today, i am calling out the conservatives' cover—up and i'm taking the first steps to clean up what they have left behind. the former chancellor, jeremy hunt, said that the government's accounts were audited five weeks ago and he accused his successor of playing politics with the accounts.

mr speaker, if you're in charge of the economy, it's time to stop trash—talking it. what's the point of going to new york or brazil to bang the drum for more investment if you come home with a cock—and—bull story about how bad everything is? she should stop playing politics with britain's reputation and get on with running the economy. where the government will make investment is in salaries and rachel reeves confirmed today that she would implement the recommendations of the public sector pay review bodies and she has revealed that the offer for the junior doctors will be equivalent to a 22% pay rise over two years and some of that is backdated to last year and that will be put to the bma's members. there was enough in this mini financial statement to fill about ten front pages, private school bat coming in in january, a pages, private school bat coming in injanuary, a freeze on some of the hospital spending, the 10 million pensioners who will go without winter fuel allowance. she could

have waited until october and the budget to put that out and instead has done it in the summer. is that smart politics?— has done it in the summer. is that smart politics? labour would argue that it is, although _ smart politics? labour would argue that it is, although i— smart politics? labour would argue that it is, although i don't- smart politics? labour would argue that it is, although i don't know i that it is, although i don't know about quite argue that is the case but time will tell. everybody knew that whichever government took over, the fiscal inheritance they took over was not very good and there is a lot of things that haven't been sorted out and public finances are in a bit of a mess, but the longer term thing a labour government are trying to do is that they are both trying to do is that they are both trying to do is that they are both trying to say they are making difficult choices of this new road isn't built, if this hospital isn't built, that is not ourfault, it is the fault of the previous government, and any kind of wider sense, they are trying to stick this label onto the conservatives that they not only didn't really know what they were doing with the economy, they didn't really care. they are all these examples that rachel reeves and other ministers have listed of actions which the conservative government, they say, didn't take over its last weeks and months and there are prisons that

are completely full and they didn't do anything about that and the difficult decisions on public sector pay, one of them the teachers�* independent pay review organisation had come up with a take at the teachers was supposedly going to be paid and it was sat on the former education secretary�*s desk for weeks apparently, so it is this long—term political goal to try to present themselves as being the fiscally responsible government and the conservatives not really knowing what they are doing.— what they are doing. turning the tables on the _ what they are doing. turning the tables on the conservatives i what they are doing. turning the tables on the conservatives who | what they are doing. turning the i tables on the conservatives who did just that in 2010. do you think the public engage of that and that cuts through? you have something similar in united states with donald trump saying that you biden has been the worst president they have ever had an economically speaking and joe biden would point in the national debt under donald trump but does that matter to voters? i debt under donald trump but does that matter to voters?— that matter to voters? i think it does ut that matter to voters? i think it does put more _ that matter to voters? i think it does put more bits _ that matter to voters? i think it does put more bits if— that matter to voters? i think it does put more bits if you i that matter to voters? i think it does put more bits if you could| that matter to voters? i think it i does put more bits if you could our economic— does put more bits if you could our economic numbers, unemployment is down _ economic numbers, unemployment is down and _ economic numbers, unemployment is down and the job numbers are good

but people — down and the job numbers are good but people are still feeling pain when _ but people are still feeling pain when they go to the grocery store and feel— when they go to the grocery store and feel of their automobiles with -as and feel of their automobiles with gas at _ and feel of their automobiles with gas at the — and feel of their automobiles with gas at the gas station so i think that is— gas at the gas station so i think that is the _ gas at the gas station so i think that is the reality you see in the numbers— that is the reality you see in the numbers versus how people are feeling — numbers versus how people are feeling and how people feel really influences how they vote, so yes, people _ influences how they vote, so yes, people hear about the broader numbers— people hear about the broader numbers and the national debt and the deficit— numbers and the national debt and the deficit but what impacts people more _ the deficit but what impacts people more viscerally is how they feel when _ more viscerally is how they feel when they are sitting at the dinner table _ when they are sitting at the dinner table and — when they are sitting at the dinner table and making their budget and figuring _ table and making their budget and figuring out what food they can buy and how _ figuring out what food they can buy and how much they can spend on a vacation _ and how much they can spend on a vacation or— and how much they can spend on a vacation or whatever and that is what _ vacation or whatever and that is what really impacts how people feel about _ what really impacts how people feel about politicians and elected officials. | about politicians and elected officials. ~ , ., . . officials. i think you are right and it does come _ officials. i think you are right and it does come down _ officials. i think you are right and it does come down to _ officials. i think you are right and it does come down to the - officials. i think you are right and it does come down to the cost i officials. i think you are right and it does come down to the cost of| it does come down to the cost of living. peter, iwanted it does come down to the cost of living. peter, i wanted to ask you, we have a lot of new task forces or quangos and we had quite a few under the last government and now we have morphed with great british energy and a new national wealth fund and the new national infrastructure and service transformation authority and great british railways and to date

she announced a new office value for money but why do we need these quangos? is there not the tea mug or expertise within government departments to do this work? this expertise within government departments to do this work? as with all quangos. — departments to do this work? as with all quangos. some — departments to do this work? as with all quangos, some of— departments to do this work? as with all quangos, some of them _ departments to do this work? as with all quangos, some of them are i all quangos, some of them are necessary, so you could argue with great british energy if there is to be this massive government push for clean wind power and government heft as a means to attract lots of private money into that than having this flagship semi company does make sense but other quangos arguably make less sense. this latest kind of common sense, making sure value for money quango, i mean, the proof will be in the pudding but there is a very strong argument that it just covers what the obr and each retreat themselves and the ministers to should also be doing. but this is the time of government where you kind of set up all these things and sometimes they work and sometimes they don�*t but it is all connected

to this wider idea that labour are trying to give of them being the fiscally prudent, careful people who quietly get the job done as a way from the political noise of the tories over the past 1a years. from the political noise of the tories over the past 14 years. well, recess just — tories over the past 14 years. well, recess just ahead _ tories over the past 14 years. well, recessjust ahead of _ tories over the past 14 years. well, recessjust ahead of us _ tories over the past 14 years. well, recessjust ahead of us so - tories over the past 14 years. well, recessjust ahead of us so it - tories over the past 14 years. well, recessjust ahead of us so it will. recess just ahead of us so it will stop for a short period of time before we resume in september and both we go to the break ijust want to bring you some reaction from the prince and princess of wales to that appalling incident in southport earlier today where so many children were stabbed. the prince and princess say... is17—year—old man has been arrested

under the suspicion of murderjust a short time ago and we did get a statement from king charles as well and the queen who expressed their heartfelt condolences to the parents of those involved and we will take a short break and after that break get some reaction to the election in venezuela. hello there. it�*s been quite a pleasant day for scotland and northern ireland, many places dry with some spells of sunshine, temperatures a bit above average. but across england and wales, we�*ve had clear blue skies like these. and in the hottest spots around the capital, i�*ve seen a few places get up to 29. could this be the start of a heatwave? well, yes, it could, because we need three consecutive days with temperatures of around 27 or 28 for a heatwave to be declared, and i think between monday, tuesday and wednesday, we�*re quite likely to see that across parts of south—east england, east anglia and the midlands. so for some, monday represented the first day of a heatwave. overnight tonight, after such a hot day, those temperatures taking a while to drop away, particularly across eastern areas of england.

a weak weather front could bring an odd shower, really, to parts of scotland and northern ireland, although many places will probably stay dry. temperatures by the end of the night, down to around 12 to 15 degrees for most. on into tuesday�*s forecast, more of the same, really, for england and wales, the heat really building. looks like being the hottest day of this week. for northern ireland and scotland, a bit of patchy cloud, a few isolated showers across the far north possible, but most places will stay dry and fine. with temperatures getting well into the 20s here, it should feel quite pleasant. but a hot day for england and wales. top temperatures up to 32 degrees in london. the significance of that is the current highest temperature of the year so far is 31.9, so we�*re going to be there or thereabouts on tuesday for the hottest day of the year so far. for wednesday, again, a lot of dry weather, could be an odd isolated shower around, but for most, it�*s another fine day with warm spells of sunshine, hot weather continuing across parts of england in particular — temperatures 30 degrees or so in london. but then we see a change to thundery weather conditions on into thursday. now, the amount of rain we�*re going to get from these thunderstorms on thursday is going to vary a lot from place to place.

some places might not get very much, but others could see the best part of a month�*s worth of rain over the space of a few hours, and so there is the threat of seeing some flash flooding. we are going to firm up on the areas most likely to see that over the next few days. temperatures still well above average, but starting to come down a little bit. and then for friday and the weekend, this area of low pressure starts to influence the weather from the atlantic. now, around that, it will be quite windy across the north—west with plenty of showers. in the south, there�*s a question mark as to how much rain we eventually see. bye for now.

welcome to the context on bbc news. president biden has unveiled a proposalfor sweeping reform of the us supreme court — with plans to establish term limits and form an ethics code. pictures here in caracas, rightfully sticking to the streets, and as we have been watching, more and more

people coming onto the streets of caracas, we have seen tires burn on the bridges, and you can see there some of the protesters going out on that bridge had, throwing stones at the right police, and we were warned earlier in the programme that there would be more unrest over the election results at the weekend. nicolas maduro declared himself the winner of the presidential election, the government controlled electoral authority comparing that nicolas maduro 154 —— 51% of authority comparing that nicolas maduro154 —— 51% of the vote compared to his opposition. the government—controlled electoral authority claimed maduro won 51% of the vote compared with 44 for his rival, the former diplomat edmundo gonzalez urrutia. but it has been met with some scepticism in washington. we have serious concerns that the results announced does not reflect the will or the votes of the venezuelan people. it is critical that every vote be counted fairly and transparently, that election officials immediately

share information with the opposition and independent observers without delay,