america's defense secretary orders a guided missile submarine to the middle east, as fears grow of a wider regional conflict. hello. i'm lucy hockings. we start this half—hour with news that russia is evacuating people from another border region as ukraine continues its surprise week—long attack. more than 76,000 have been already evacuated from the neighbouring kursk region. they have been placed in temporary accomodations across russia. let's try to understand the view from inside russia with someone who knows a lot about what happens inside the country. sarah rainsford was the bbc�*s moscow correspondent from until her expulsion. she is now the bbc�*s eastern europe correspondent. sarah, does this ukrainian offensive inside russia have the potential to change russian public opinion?

i think it depends how long it lasts, how long did iranians go and how vladimir putin deals with it. we can't underestimate the significance of such a huge incursion, the occupation of russian territory for the first time since the second world war. a second border region of russia is now being evacuated. it has the power to make some russians think, ithink has the power to make some russians think, i think that is clear. looking at some of the reporting, even given the very controlled atmosphere there is in the russian press, it is clear that some people are questioning. there was an interesting report in a newspaper over the weekend talking to people who have been forced to leave their homes and they were angry, angry they were given notice. they talked

about state tv lying to them about what was happening and anger at the military, talking about corruption, the military�*s failure to contain what had happened. it was interesting to look when the questioning went a bit deeper, that those same people were still talking with supporter but the occupation of ukrainian land. they were still using insulting language to talk about ukrainians and were very negative about the west, talking about satanists in the west. so many russians now see themselves in a huge war against the west, russia against the west, russia is showing it is powerful, fighting back, and presenting itself as a massive force on the world stage. the power of the propaganda pushing that message home even as fats change on the ground, it may take some time before that filters through to people. it is a

key moment to watch is that more is very much brought home to russians. it is on their territory, they can't ignore it, especially in the kursk region. you've just released a book called �*goodbye to russia, a personal reckoning from the ruins of war�*, where you detail being expelled from russia. let's remind ourselves of that moment three years ago. this was the moment i discovered i was being expelled from russia. according to a specific law, i've been designated a threat to national security and, as such, i'm not allowed into the country. pulled aside at passport control, i was told the fsb security service had banned me for life. i recorded the conversation.

i remember that moment, we were worried about you, what would happen next. what is life like at the moment forjournalists in russia? looking at that now it seems almost ridiculous that it seems so shocking at the time because the trajectory since then has only been downwards. freedom of speech in russia was already massively under threat at the time i was expelled and my expulsion was to stop —— was part of a general slide. last year we saw the wall street journalist a general slide. last year we saw the wall streetjournalist reported being arrested for espionage, accused of espionage, blatantly false accusation and allegation and he was eventually released just recently. forthe he was eventually released just recently. for the russian independent media operating inside the country and has become impossible ever since the full—scale invasion of ukraine, the laws have

been tightened so much that essentially the truth has been criminalised. it is a criminal offence to talk about war, to contradict the official line on what is happening in ukraine. it is an extremely difficult and dangerous environment to operate in. this crushing of free speech has been a very long path in russia and it goes right back to the very origins of vladimir putin was my presidency. todayis vladimir putin was my presidency. today is the 24th anniversary of the sinking of the kursk submarine. at that point vladimir putin was already in power. he lied, he hit what had happened, stayed on holiday for five days and the press went to town. he was slanted in the press for that. town. he was slanted in the press forthat. he town. he was slanted in the press for that. he was so heavily criticised for failing to save two sub—mariners or even to accept foreign help that he began crushing free speech in russia and we worked towards for state propaganda machine now which is so powerful and has

been such an important tool in vladimir putin full—scale war in ukraine. vladimir putin full-scale war in ukraine. , ., ., , ., ukraine. does that mean there is no 0- osition ukraine. does that mean there is no opposition inside _ ukraine. does that mean there is no opposition inside russia? _ ukraine. does that mean there is no opposition inside russia? you - ukraine. does that mean there is no opposition inside russia? you talk l opposition inside russia? you talk in the book about the murder of boris nemtsov.— in the book about the murder of boris nemtsov. ~ . ., ., ., boris nemtsov. what about now? for me, that boris nemtsov. what about now? for me. that was — boris nemtsov. what about now? for me, that was perhaps _ boris nemtsov. what about now? for me, that was perhaps the _ boris nemtsov. what about now? for me, that was perhaps the darkest - me, that was perhaps the darkest moments at the time in russia. it was such a symbolic murder. boris nemtsov, a very important figure from the 1990s. his roots in politics were right back to the birth of democracy in russia. he emerged as a charismatic figure who boris yeltsin at 1.4 could be his successor, but in the end he went on to anoint vladimir putin. i think the murder of boris nemtsov, right next to the kremlin, it was so symbolic saying his body lying there in the tarmac in the rain, itjust

felt like the death of hope for many, many russians. there was a great outpouring of grief and anger at that point. i can come at the trajectory since then has been downwards. we have seen the crushing of all dissent within russia, the outlawing of all opposition to vladimir putin. alexei navalny, who emerged as a powerful and strong critic of vladimir putin, he was imprisoned, poisoned, is not dead and dissent is essentially impossible within russia. so many people have been silenced by the regime, but also have silenced themselves because they are too afraid to speak out, even though i do believe there are plenty of russian tree don't support the war in ukraine, i think overcoming the fear is to do anything about that is asking a huge amount of people in russia today. he asking a huge amount of people in russia today-— asking a huge amount of people in russia toda . . , , , ,., .

russia today. he has spent so much time in ukraine _ russia today. he has spent so much time in ukraine and _ russia today. he has spent so much time in ukraine and you _ russia today. he has spent so much time in ukraine and you write - russia today. he has spent so much time in ukraine and you write so - time in ukraine and you write so vividly about your experiences and the people you have spoken to there. tell us about the full—scale offensive, the disbelief when it started that people felt at the time. all these months now, do you get the sense that ukrainians are feeling a desire for a ceasefire was everybody so motivated wanton victory? everybody so motivated wanton victo ? ., ., ,., , everybody so motivated wanton victo ? ., ., , ., victory? one of the reasons i wanted to write the — victory? one of the reasons i wanted to write the book _ victory? one of the reasons i wanted to write the book was _ victory? one of the reasons i wanted to write the book was to _ victory? one of the reasons i wanted to write the book was to just - victory? one of the reasons i wanted to write the book was to just record | to write the book was to just record the moments that i have experienced and the people i had nats the moments that i have experienced and the people i had mats and the things that i have begun to document on the ground in ukraine. it felt particularly important at a time when truth was being criminalised in russia and when russia was lying about what's happening on the ground in ukraine. it felt so important to be able to document for myself what was happening and to report that on the ground. i have included a lot of that reporting in the book, just to

punctuate the narrative to show where the stifling of freedom in russia has ultimately led. the danger of vladimir putin, the path towards this terrible war. two stories and there, just fragments of the big story of the war. it is also about trying to remember the horror at the beginning of all this. nobody really believed in ukraine that this war was coming and now we are 2.5 years into that terrible conflict and i think people are exhausted, of course they are. so many people have lost their lives, so much destruction, so little idea of where ukraine next. of course people would like the fighting, the killing to end, but even then all the conversations i have had there i haven't heard anyone say they want it to be on russia because my terms. they need security guarantees, they need to know that whatever happens

next russia will not be able to do this again. ukraine has learnt more than anyone how dangerous vladimir putin? russia is. they want absolute security guarantees if this war a stand. he security guarantees if this war a stand. , ., ., security guarantees if this war a stand. ,., ., �* �* stand. he did report for the bbc from moscow— stand. he did report for the bbc from moscow for _ stand. he did report for the bbc from moscow for many - stand. he did report for the bbc from moscow for many years, . stand. he did report for the bbc. from moscow for many years, but stand. he did report for the bbc- from moscow for many years, but she did travel there as a teenager. you speak the language, have many friends. this is an opportunity to show photos from your gift to everyone from the 1990s! i wonder if there are things you miss about russia? ,., ., ~' there are things you miss about russia? ,., ., ~ , �* there are things you miss about russia? , �* ., ., ~ ., russia? the book isn't all dark and mise . russia? the book isn't all dark and misery- and _ russia? the book isn't all dark and misery. and wicketless. _ russia? the book isn't all dark and misery. and wicketless. there - russia? the book isn't all dark and misery. and wicketless. there are | misery. and wicketless. there are some light moments in there. there are memories of the 19905 when i first went to russia and encountered a place of great hope and great

possibilities. you asked whether i missed anything there, i miss the mi55ed anything there, i miss the idea of a free ru55ia, mi55ed anything there, i miss the idea of a free russia, a place where people can speak their mind openly, place where journali5t5 people can speak their mind openly, place where journalists can do job without fear, a place where people can speak to us, where was once welcomed with open open arms and i was welcomed as a student, the first we5terner to many people had nat. ye5, we5terner to many people had nat. yes, it was a chaotic and turbulent time, crime was rampant in so many people suffered so much, but it was also a window of hope and possibility and a window has now been closed. what i miss i5 possibility and a window has now been closed. what i miss is the idea that russia can be different and so many people have paid so heavily in the last year's for vladimir putin's vi5ion the last year's for vladimir putin's vision of russia, so many people have lost their lives. it is now a different russia and i feel that that russia is perhaps further away

thanit that russia is perhaps further away than it has been.— than it has been. sarah, thank you for speaking _ than it has been. sarah, thank you for speaking to _ than it has been. sarah, thank you for speaking to us. _ around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news.

turning to the middle east now and the pentagon says the us defense secretary, lloyd austin, has ordered a guided missile submarine to the region and has told an aircraft carrier 5trike group to sail to the area more quickly. that deployment of additional fighterjets and navy warships to the middle east was announced earlier this month as washington seeks to bolster defen5e5 following threats from iran and its ally hamas and his brother. continuing tension5 has led some airlines in the last few hours to extend their 5u5pen5ions of flights to several

countries in the region. let's cross live now to beirut, where we can speak to our correspondent hugo bachega. can you tell us more about the military hardware on its way to the kitchen? ., , ., military hardware on its way to the kitchen? . , ., ., ., . kitchen? there was an announcement esterda kitchen? there was an announcement yesterday that — kitchen? there was an announcement yesterday that the _ kitchen? there was an announcement yesterday that the pentagon - kitchen? there was an announcement yesterday that the pentagon was - yesterday that the pentagon wa5 scenting the submarine here to the region and it is really rare for the pentagon to give details about the deployment of 5ubmarine5, so i think it sends a clear message of how serious the situation is and sends a clear message to iran and to hezbollah will support israel at the country come5 hezbollah will support israel at the country comes under attack. there was a phone call yesterday between the us defence secretary and the israeli defence minister and the americans are telling israel that the us will do everything to defend israel. 0bviously the us will do everything to defend israel. obviously the backdrop to all of this is the current tension5 all of this is the current tensions between israel, iran and hezbollah

here in lebanon. there is an expectation of an attack on israel from high mass almost two weeks ago. what is very significant here as we haven't seen any indications of what iran might be planning to do. the americans the beginning that they were planning a wide5cale attack on israel. la5t were planning a wide5cale attack on israel. last week there were reports that tehran might have been per5uaded that tehran might have been persuaded to change its plans because of diplomatic pressure from western countries, from arab countries as well. in recent days there have been reports suggesting divi5ions there have been reports suggesting divisions between the new iranian president, who seems to be concerned about the consequences of an iranian attack on israel, and a'5 revolutionary guards who are in favour of a big attack on israel. i

can, we haven't seen clear signs, clear indications of what the iranians might be planning to do, so iranian5 might be planning to do, so there is a lot of speculation about there is a lot of speculation about the uranium plant and also about what hezbollah might be planning to do to respond to the assassination of a senior commander here two weeks ago. of a senior commander here two weeks am, ., , of a senior commander here two weeks a a 0. ., , , of a senior commander here two weeks auo. . , , ., , of a senior commander here two weeks ago. has there been any indications from hezbollah _ ago. has there been any indications from hezbollah about _ ago. has there been any indications from hezbollah about retaliatory . from hezbollah about retaliatory action? we from hezbollah about retaliatory action? ~ ., ., ., action? we heard from someone last week to give — action? we heard from someone last week to give a _ action? we heard from someone last week to give a speech, _ action? we heard from someone last week to give a speech, saying - action? we heard from someone last week to give a speech, saying that i week to give a speech, saying that the response was coming, that this response was going to be strong and effective. we have seen that there have been exchanges of fire along the border between lebanon and israel, but we haven't seen this response yet. in israel to have been re5pon5e yet. in israel to have been preparations by the military, especially in the northern part of the country, where ten5 especially in the northern part of the country, where tens of thousands of people have been evacuated because of the tensions were hezbollah, but we haven't seen

indications or signs of what hezbollah might be planning to do. here in lebanon the concern is that if there is a large—scale attack by hezbollah, this is likely to trigger an israeli re5pon5e hezbollah, this is likely to trigger an israeli response and we could see an israeli response and we could see an escalation that could engulf the entire country. most of the violence 5o entire country. most of the violence so far has been limited to areas around the border, but there is a real concern that we could see a wider conflict between hezbollah and israel. ,, ., ., ~ wider conflict between hezbollah and israel, ,, ., ., ~' , ., amid ongoing warnings of a wider escalation in the middle east, there is mounting concern about an increasingly unstable situation in the west bank. 615 palestinians have been killed since the start of the war in gaza, according to the palestinian authority health ministry. the un say at least 17 israelis, including 12 security forces personnel, have also been killed in the west bank. 0n the palestinian 5ide, many are armed fighter5 but others are civilian5. in one recent incident,

the focus fell on the killing of a young palestinian customs officer by an israeli undercover unit, an episode recorded on cctv. the bbc�*s diplomatic correspondent paul adams has been to the west bank town of tubas, where it happened.. a quiet morning in a west bank town, an anonymous white van pulls up next to a palestinian customs office. a guard, abdel na55er sarhan, emerges to see what's going on. an israeli soldier in plain clothe5 5hoot5 him dead. soon, the street is 5warming with other soldiers. the following day, a makeshift memorial at the spot where abdel na55er fell, the guard post and walls riddled with bullets. the israeli army says it came to tubas to arrest two wanted men. abdel na55er, it says, was killed in an exchange of fire, but that's not how this happened. it was just after 6am and abdel na55er and a colleague had just come on shift. the white van drew up here, just across the wall. the driver got out, said hello in arabic. abdel na55er walked out to greet him. second5 later, he was shot

and fell right here. translation: this rings a warning bell, especially for us _ in the security services. how can we enforce law and order and offer services to the people and protect them while you are obstructing my work and killing my officers? the shooting in tubas is part of a much, much bigger problem. with all eyes focused on gaza, another war is raging in the west bank, the israeli military cracking down on armed groups it says are being bankrolled by iran. from one city to another, one refugee camp to another, the brush fires are burning. more than 600 palestinians have been killed in the west bank since last october. as many a510,000 have been arrested. some fear this could erupt into a full—scale uprising. if it goes into an intifada, this is a much, much bigger problem. this is a much more

complicated problem to solve. militarily, we handle things. better, less, but when it goes into a civil rebel or intifada, it is a totally different story, and it might go there. in a refugee camp on the edge of nablu5, abdel na55er�*5 family is grieving, drawing their own conclusions about the actions of the israeli army. he is coming to kill, just to kill. muhannad can barely comprehend the loss of his son. the idf says it's still looking into what happened. it did not, we were told, go as planned. paul adams, bbc news, on the west bank. the paris 0lympic5 drew to a close on sunday night. more than two weeks of sporting excellence ending with a spectacular ceremony at the stade de france. there were fireworks, jubilant athletes and even a hollywood cameo.

emmanuel macron has been 5peaking live, waxing lyrical about the french team and the magnificent event5. we can go live now to paris and speak to our reporter who has been at the games for the last two and weeks. he was so jubilant, president macro, 5o he was so jubilant, president macro, so thrilled with how it was all gone. ha5 so thrilled with how it was all gone. has not been reflected in the papers today? hi. gone. has not been reflected in the papers today?— gone. has not been reflected in the papers today? hi, lucy. absolutely. the mood here _ papers today? hi, lucy. absolutely. the mood here still _ papers today? hi, lucy. absolutely. the mood here still does _ papers today? hi, lucy. absolutely. the mood here still does feel- papers today? hi, lucy. absolutely. the mood here still does feel very l the mood here still does feel very jubilant. it has been a massive two weeks of sport. la5t jubilant. it has been a massive two weeks of sport. last week did feel like a big celebration that has continued today. this one says paris 2024, the game of all the records. it is pointing to the first games with gender parity, the first games with gender parity, the first games with the opening ceremony outside of

the stadium. that is to stab to france from last night, the opening ceremony. this one isju5t 5imply thank you. it was a massive closing ceremony la5t thank you. it was a massive closing ceremony last night, it went on for quite some time. we saw leon marchant, the four—time medalli5t here, the star of the games here. anywhere he could see get5 ma55ive cheers. he took the flame to this dad to france and there was a party. all of the athlete 5till dad to france and there was a party. all of the athlete still in town came into the stadium. you saw the flagbearers, french djs play music and the golden voyager, an artistic expert —— exploration of the history of the olympics. then we have the speeches, then a celebration of volunteers. you saw the official

volunteer5. you saw the official handover to hollywood and la. a5 volunteer5. you saw the official handover to hollywood and la. as was rumoured, tom cruse came in from the ceiling, grab the flag on a motorbike and then went back to la. we saw some performances from billy eili5h, 5noop dogg. ifelt like a very cool event5. eili5h, 5noop dogg. ifelt like a very cool events. it was a big two weeks. we are quite exhausted. it is a hot day in paris, as well. i think people are quite relieved that we don't have to watch the athletes compete in this weather. flan don't have to watch the athletes compete in this weather. can that excitement _ compete in this weather. can that excitement and _ compete in this weather. can that excitement and are _ compete in this weather. can that excitement and are meant - compete in this weather. can that excitement and are meant to - compete in this weather. can that excitement and are meant to be l excitement and are meant to be maintained?— excitement and are meant to be maintained? ~ , , , ., maintained? absolutely. they wanted to brina this maintained? absolutely. they wanted to bring this game _ maintained? absolutely. they wanted to bring this game to _ maintained? absolutely. they wanted to bring this game to the _ maintained? absolutely. they wanted to bring this game to the city - maintained? absolutely. they wanted to bring this game to the city and - to bring this game to the city and have everyone feel a part of it. at the paralympics they want to keep that vibe a5 the paralympics they want to keep that vibe as well and we know some of those venue5 will be used. we

have been 5peaking of those venue5 will be used. we have been speaking to some people from the international paralympic committee and i want this exact extended to the paralympics a5 committee and i want this exact extended to the paralympics as well. they kick off on the 20th of august. we are expecting 4,000 athletes and 22 disciplines. you will see some more fir5ts. their opening ceremony will go down to chantilly today. the place within any real hub of energy. already it is a fun atmosphere, a fun place to be and they are expecting tanks of thousands of people for paris it is the first time that the summer paralympics are being held in paris, so another piece of history. we spoke to a french paralympian yesterday who said it was such an honour to have a tear. so, definitely lots of energy

going into the paralympics. i'm sure a lot of records will be broken again, as well. thank you so much. today is world elephant day. let's take a look at some elephants at �*adventures with elephant5�*, a south african re5erve—5anctuary for rescued elephants, aiming to promote educating and conserving wildlife. hello again. we've had some heavy thundery downpours, especially in parts of the north and the west this morning, and also some high temperatures to start the day. it's going to be hot and humid once again in parts of the south eastern quarter, with some areas potentially reaching 35 celsius. that will make it the hottest day of this year so far. now, as we go through the course of this morning into the afternoon, what you'll find is all those thunderstorms will clear away. there'll be a lot of dry weather, a lot of sunshine. there's a chance you could catch the odd thunderstorm in parts of lincolnshire or yorkshire and the odd shower moving

from the midlands towards the south east, but they will be the exception rather than the rule. fre5her in the north and west, hot and humid with highs up to 35 in the south east and quite windy too across the northwest. that will ease as we go through the evening and overnight period. a lot of clear skies. if you're hoping to see the meteor shower, you could well be in luck. but out towards the west, the could is going to build and we'll see the arrival of some rain. the other thing is, it's still going to be quite a fresh night for many areas away from the south east, where it will still feel quite humid. now, if we pick up that weather front tomorrow, it's out in the west. through the course of the day, it's going to be drifting eastwards, but it will continue to weaken in doing so. so a lot of dry weather, a fair bit of sunshine to start the day. 0ur weather front pushes from the west to the east. you can see how it wraps around bringing more rain into the outer hebrides. windy acro55 parts of western scotland and northern ireland, and still hot and humid as we push down towards the south east, with highs up to 28. 0ur weather front eventually makes

it on wednesday down towards the south east. a ridge of high pressure builds acro55 us, so a lot of dry weather and a fair bit of sunshine as the dregs of our weather front continue to pull away. a cooler day for the south east with highs up to 24, but that's still around about what we'd expect at this time of year and another weather front waiting in the wings. that weather front will come into the north west and sink southwards during the course of thursday. ahead of it, some sunshine and on the other side of, it too, we are looking at some 5un5hine as well. temperatures up to about 23 or 24. and then as we head into friday and saturday, still a fair bit of dry weather around, you might catch the odd shower. there's some rain in the forecast as well, not all of us seeing it, and a little bit fre5her.

today at one. a bbc investigation into the stabbing of three people in nottingham is told of missed opportunities to stop the killer. medical records reveal a doctor warned three years before the attacks that valdo calocane's mental illness was so severe he could "end up killing someone". for so long we had thought it would end in tragedy. but i thought the tragedy would be him taking his own life, and it was infinitely worse than that. also on the programme. thousands of homes and a children's

hospital are evacuated, a5 fierce wildfire5 reach the outskirts of the greek capital athens. water companie5 could face paying double the current compensation to customers they fail. and team gb's 0lympians head home after a spectacular closing ceremony in paris. it has been nice to reflect on what happen— it has been nice to reflect on what happen yesterday, it has been amazing, _ happen yesterday, it has been amazing, and the crowd is something i will amazing, and the crowd is something iwill remember amazing, and the crowd is something i will remember for the rest of my life. in sport. around 200 team gb athletes let the train take the strain as they make their way back from the paris 0lympics, many medal—winners among them. good afternoon and welcome to the bbc news at 0ne. a doctor who treated valdo calocane three years before he fatally stabbed three people in nottingham

warned that his mental illness was so severe he could "end up killing someone".